Post by C.J. Gates on Sept 17, 2013 23:23:45 GMT -4
"I guess this is my fight now, too.
"Or at least, that's what last week showed me. I mean, while Biggs has been trying to survive what the Black Hand has been doing, last week they seemed to be focusing in on me as well. They seemed to be willing to take me out just to prove a point. Just to make themselves known.
"And I'm okay with that. Truly. After all, Biggs is my friend, and if I can help him out in this battle he's waged in, then I will help him out. I will stand by him and I will fight alongside of him every step of the way. He's being targeted weekly? Then so am I.
"Last week, Biggs and I managed to beat Tommy Knox and Niobe Martin to prove a point to the Black Hand. We showed them that no matter how much they want to try and intimidate us, it won't work. We will still get the job done and we will still leave our mark. They tried to get under our skin, and while Biggs and I were the ones to run, we did so for our own safety.
"We did so, so that we didn't end up being just another stat to the Black Hand. We saw what Madison did to Kurt Styles earlier in the night, and we didn't want any part of that. So when they opening was seen, we took it and we escaped their attempt at a trap.
"I say attempt because if it was an actual success, Biggs and I wouldn't be standing. Or at least, I can only assume that was their intent. Instead, Biggs and I are looking at singles matches against the two people we beat last week. We are looking at matches that we can use to prove a point.
"That point?
"That no matter what you hand out to us, no matter how much punishment you give us, we will always get right back up and rejoin the fight. Look at Biggs. He was getting attacked by Jennings on a weekly basis, yet he still stood back up and fought on. And won.
"And I'm the exact same.
"Which you'll find out in time. And Niobe will find out about this week. No matter the mean streak you have, no matter the anger you have, no matter who your partners are, I am not going to give up. I am not going to cower away and refuse to fight you. From bell to bell I am going to bring everything I have to your doorstep Niobe.
"I'm going to go big."
"So how was your date?"
C.J. Gates looks up from the sidewalk and spots Vincent James walking towards him. Gates is currently standing outside of a restaurant.
"Date?" Gates asks. "What are you talking about?"
James smiles and nods his head behind Gates where the secretary from last week can be seen getting into a cab. As she does, she glances back at Gates and smiles, waving slightly. "I saw the two of you together."
"We were just getting a bite to eat," Gates tries to reason.
"And the goodnight kiss?"
Gates smiles. "You see everything, don't you?"
"Did you forget what my real job is?"
Gates shrugs. "I guess I don't want to accept that you're really some sort of undercover mafioso."
James chuckles. "So how was your date?"
"It wasn't-" Gates starts but James simply raises an eyebrow. "Fine. It was a wonderful evening."
"But here's the burning question," James begins. "How long has this been going on?"
"A few months now," Gates says, which causes James to raise both eyebrows this time.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Gates says. "Shocked that a girl like that could date me?"
"She's very attractive, I won't deny it, but no, not that," James says. "I'm shocked that it has been going on as long as it has and I'm just now learning about it."
"Well, that was kind of the point," Gates says. "Given everything that is going on, I didn't want her to become wrapped up in it. I didn't want everyone to start putting goons on her to protect her. I wanted her to be able to live a normal life, you know?"
"I guess that's a good point. And commendable. Though you know, now that I know about her, I'm going to have to-"
"Don't."
"Don't?"
"Don't tell my mom."
James laughs a bit harder this time. "Jesus, it's like we're in middle school all over again. 'Don't tell my mom'." He laughs a bit more.
"I'm serious," Gates says. "If for no other reason then I don't want her to start getting her hopes up or to start getting herself in the way. Abby and I have a good thing going, and I don't want her to get in the way."
James falls silent and nods his head. "Well, I'm still going to have to make sure she's protected. Last thing we need is for people to get to you through her."
Gates nods. "I guess I can allow that."
"Besides, if she means that much to you," James begins, "then this might be the best way to go."
Gates smiles. "Fair enough. I knew you'd understand."
"Still can't believe you were seeing her without me knowing," James chuckles. "I usually know what you've got going on. Hell, if you hadn't hired her as your secretary, I might never have known."
"I know," Gates says. "That kind of happened because I needed some help running things and she offered to lend a hand. Figured it couldn't hurt, right?"
"Could work out well for you," James says, elbowing Gates in the ribs. Gates simply smiled and shook his head slightly. The two turn and begin to walk down the sidewalk. "So, the Black Hand," James eventually says. "They seem like a bunch of pricks."
"You might be right," Gates says. "I mean, they're low lifes who enjoy attacking people en masse rather then fighting them face to face. They're a group that wants the world, without having to earn it. They're a bunch of people who want to just beat everyone into submission."
"But that's not how it works."
"That's not how it works," Gates echoes. "They have to earn their stripes, and I don't think they have. At least, not in APW."
"But elsewhere?"
"I haven't memorized their histories," Gates says, "so they could be sixteen time World champions elsewhere. I just figured that it might not translate, you know? They already feel like they should be handed the world on a silver platter, yet I don't think they've exactly earned it, you know?"
"Not even Knox?" James asks. "Isn't he the Overdrive champion or something?"
"He is," Gates says, "and he might be the only one that has really earned it. He beat a tough competitor in Evan Envi, something I believe Michael Jennings failed to do. And then they failed to beat New Gen Rising for the title shot. It just seems like a lost of wasted opportunities for a group that feels like they are the best thing going."
"Maybe it's just a matter of time."
Gates nods. "I can concede that. They've got some people that could have great careers if they put things together and stopped this pack of dogs mentality. If they actually took pride in what they did, they might be something. Until then, though, they're all wasted chances, really."
"I can't wait till they hear you saying that."
"They won't like it," Gates smiles. "But then again, I'm not in the business of having them like it, you know? I'm just telling it the way that I see it, and I see them as potential taking the wrong route to the top."
"Maybe they all just need a week to break out," James says. "Maybe this is Niobe's week."
"It could be," Gates says. "Like I said, I won't rule it out, but I also wouldn't be surprised if she fell flat on her face. Out of all of them she's the one I haven't figured out. She's the wild card."
"So she could surprise you?"
"Oh, she probably will," Gates says. "She will probably show me a different side to her then I have ever seen in the past. I hope she does, because that would make the match something that the fans could really get behind."
"And something to impress your girl," James teases.
"If that happens, it happens," Gates says. "I'm not out there to impress Abby. I'm out there to give the fans a good match and to give Niobe a challenge. To put her to the test to see if she has what it takes to move up to the next tier. To really take on all the challenges laid out before her."
"Would you be worried if she failed?"
Gates stays silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think so. If she doesn't manage to live up to what I expect, then so be it. I'm not going to be worried about it. I won't lose sleep."
"Well, I guess you've got a bit of a flight ahead of you," James says. "Since you guys are on that International tour."
"Definitely do," Gates says. "It will give me time to learn a bit more about Niobe Martin.
"It will give me time to prepare for what is to come."
"What do you think of me, Niobe?
"Of course, the question is rhetorical, but it would be interesting, that's for sure. There are people out there who see my good nature and assume that I want to stray away from fighting women. They see me as the typical knight in shining armor, the one who would more likely be saving damsels in distress rather then fighting them.
"Maybe you're like that. Maybe you think I won't be willing to give it my all because you're female. Of course, we did fight last week, so I'm sure you aren't the sort of person who thinks that way, are you? You are the sort who probably thinks that I am worthless. That even though I have accomplished so much in my time in this business, I am still worthless.
"Those people make me laugh, if for nothing else then their short sighted views. Sure, I might not have won a title in APW since losing the Undisputed title to Kurt Noble, and I'm sure a lot of people will look at that as a means to tear me down. Hell, you might even do it, Niobe, though in your case, I'd have to ask, what makes someone successful.
"If you discredit all that I've done, what are you comparing it to? Yourself and your oodles of title wins and title shots? Like I said, I haven't won a title since then, but I've at least won the chance to compete for the belts. I've had tag team title shots, Overdrive title shots, Undisputed and World Heavyweight title shots. I've made sure to keep competing at a high level and I made sure to keep my name relevant.
"What about you?
"What have you done? I might be jumping the gun, but if you are the sort of person who wants to discredit all that I have done, I hope you have something to back it up with. I hope you can say something more then "yeah, but you've lost all those title shots you've had".
"Point is, I've had them.
"Point is, you haven't.
"But like I said, I don't want to say this because I think you are worthless in your own right. I say this because I want to nip things in the bud. I want to be able to throw down the gauntlet so that you can't come out and spout off lie after lie, so that you can't tear me down.
"Then again, who's really going to listen to you?
"That doesn't mean that you're unimportant or boring. What I meant is that the fans, the people who you would be trying to sway in your favor, already know everything there is to know about me. They know what I've done and what I'm capable of. They know that if there is some sort of injustice floating around the APW, then I am not that far behind, doing what I can to put a stop to it.
"They know that I have their back, no matter what you want to say to try and make them think other wise. Level One and Terry Marvin spent months trying to convince the fans that I was a selfish prick, but in the end, the fans were still there to cheer me on. The fans still had my back.
"Though maybe this isn't about what we've done or who we are. Maybe this whole thing is simply about what we're going to do when we step into that ring this week. I mean, we can simply knock it down to that much and see how it all plays out.
"So maybe that is what we should do. Forget about what we think we are and what we think the other person is and let our fighting do the talking. With that, though, it means that the appearance of the Black Hand will show me what you are truly about, Niobe. It will show me exactly what I thought about you was right.
"It will show me that you are unable to get the job done on your own. You will be seen as someone who needs to rely on others just to keep her head above water. It will show that you might not be what everyone thought you were going to be.
"But of course that only matters if it's important to you. It only matters if you feel like being defined like that is a bad thing. Who knows? Maybe you'll see it as a good thing. You'll see it as you being classified as not one to mess with.
"It's all a matter of opinion, right?
"We know my opinion on the matter, but that's me. Hopefully, at some point between now and Overdrive, you realize that getting those goons involved is going to be bad for your business. Not because they're going to cost you the match, but just because it shows that you can't do things on your own.
"Or it shows that they don't think you can get the job done.
"One of the two.
"But I'll wait for you in the ring, Niobe. Then we can figure out who is who and what is what.
"Then we can go big or go home."
"Or at least, that's what last week showed me. I mean, while Biggs has been trying to survive what the Black Hand has been doing, last week they seemed to be focusing in on me as well. They seemed to be willing to take me out just to prove a point. Just to make themselves known.
"And I'm okay with that. Truly. After all, Biggs is my friend, and if I can help him out in this battle he's waged in, then I will help him out. I will stand by him and I will fight alongside of him every step of the way. He's being targeted weekly? Then so am I.
"Last week, Biggs and I managed to beat Tommy Knox and Niobe Martin to prove a point to the Black Hand. We showed them that no matter how much they want to try and intimidate us, it won't work. We will still get the job done and we will still leave our mark. They tried to get under our skin, and while Biggs and I were the ones to run, we did so for our own safety.
"We did so, so that we didn't end up being just another stat to the Black Hand. We saw what Madison did to Kurt Styles earlier in the night, and we didn't want any part of that. So when they opening was seen, we took it and we escaped their attempt at a trap.
"I say attempt because if it was an actual success, Biggs and I wouldn't be standing. Or at least, I can only assume that was their intent. Instead, Biggs and I are looking at singles matches against the two people we beat last week. We are looking at matches that we can use to prove a point.
"That point?
"That no matter what you hand out to us, no matter how much punishment you give us, we will always get right back up and rejoin the fight. Look at Biggs. He was getting attacked by Jennings on a weekly basis, yet he still stood back up and fought on. And won.
"And I'm the exact same.
"Which you'll find out in time. And Niobe will find out about this week. No matter the mean streak you have, no matter the anger you have, no matter who your partners are, I am not going to give up. I am not going to cower away and refuse to fight you. From bell to bell I am going to bring everything I have to your doorstep Niobe.
"I'm going to go big."
-------------------------------------------------
"So how was your date?"
C.J. Gates looks up from the sidewalk and spots Vincent James walking towards him. Gates is currently standing outside of a restaurant.
"Date?" Gates asks. "What are you talking about?"
James smiles and nods his head behind Gates where the secretary from last week can be seen getting into a cab. As she does, she glances back at Gates and smiles, waving slightly. "I saw the two of you together."
"We were just getting a bite to eat," Gates tries to reason.
"And the goodnight kiss?"
Gates smiles. "You see everything, don't you?"
"Did you forget what my real job is?"
Gates shrugs. "I guess I don't want to accept that you're really some sort of undercover mafioso."
James chuckles. "So how was your date?"
"It wasn't-" Gates starts but James simply raises an eyebrow. "Fine. It was a wonderful evening."
"But here's the burning question," James begins. "How long has this been going on?"
"A few months now," Gates says, which causes James to raise both eyebrows this time.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Gates says. "Shocked that a girl like that could date me?"
"She's very attractive, I won't deny it, but no, not that," James says. "I'm shocked that it has been going on as long as it has and I'm just now learning about it."
"Well, that was kind of the point," Gates says. "Given everything that is going on, I didn't want her to become wrapped up in it. I didn't want everyone to start putting goons on her to protect her. I wanted her to be able to live a normal life, you know?"
"I guess that's a good point. And commendable. Though you know, now that I know about her, I'm going to have to-"
"Don't."
"Don't?"
"Don't tell my mom."
James laughs a bit harder this time. "Jesus, it's like we're in middle school all over again. 'Don't tell my mom'." He laughs a bit more.
"I'm serious," Gates says. "If for no other reason then I don't want her to start getting her hopes up or to start getting herself in the way. Abby and I have a good thing going, and I don't want her to get in the way."
James falls silent and nods his head. "Well, I'm still going to have to make sure she's protected. Last thing we need is for people to get to you through her."
Gates nods. "I guess I can allow that."
"Besides, if she means that much to you," James begins, "then this might be the best way to go."
Gates smiles. "Fair enough. I knew you'd understand."
"Still can't believe you were seeing her without me knowing," James chuckles. "I usually know what you've got going on. Hell, if you hadn't hired her as your secretary, I might never have known."
"I know," Gates says. "That kind of happened because I needed some help running things and she offered to lend a hand. Figured it couldn't hurt, right?"
"Could work out well for you," James says, elbowing Gates in the ribs. Gates simply smiled and shook his head slightly. The two turn and begin to walk down the sidewalk. "So, the Black Hand," James eventually says. "They seem like a bunch of pricks."
"You might be right," Gates says. "I mean, they're low lifes who enjoy attacking people en masse rather then fighting them face to face. They're a group that wants the world, without having to earn it. They're a bunch of people who want to just beat everyone into submission."
"But that's not how it works."
"That's not how it works," Gates echoes. "They have to earn their stripes, and I don't think they have. At least, not in APW."
"But elsewhere?"
"I haven't memorized their histories," Gates says, "so they could be sixteen time World champions elsewhere. I just figured that it might not translate, you know? They already feel like they should be handed the world on a silver platter, yet I don't think they've exactly earned it, you know?"
"Not even Knox?" James asks. "Isn't he the Overdrive champion or something?"
"He is," Gates says, "and he might be the only one that has really earned it. He beat a tough competitor in Evan Envi, something I believe Michael Jennings failed to do. And then they failed to beat New Gen Rising for the title shot. It just seems like a lost of wasted opportunities for a group that feels like they are the best thing going."
"Maybe it's just a matter of time."
Gates nods. "I can concede that. They've got some people that could have great careers if they put things together and stopped this pack of dogs mentality. If they actually took pride in what they did, they might be something. Until then, though, they're all wasted chances, really."
"I can't wait till they hear you saying that."
"They won't like it," Gates smiles. "But then again, I'm not in the business of having them like it, you know? I'm just telling it the way that I see it, and I see them as potential taking the wrong route to the top."
"Maybe they all just need a week to break out," James says. "Maybe this is Niobe's week."
"It could be," Gates says. "Like I said, I won't rule it out, but I also wouldn't be surprised if she fell flat on her face. Out of all of them she's the one I haven't figured out. She's the wild card."
"So she could surprise you?"
"Oh, she probably will," Gates says. "She will probably show me a different side to her then I have ever seen in the past. I hope she does, because that would make the match something that the fans could really get behind."
"And something to impress your girl," James teases.
"If that happens, it happens," Gates says. "I'm not out there to impress Abby. I'm out there to give the fans a good match and to give Niobe a challenge. To put her to the test to see if she has what it takes to move up to the next tier. To really take on all the challenges laid out before her."
"Would you be worried if she failed?"
Gates stays silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think so. If she doesn't manage to live up to what I expect, then so be it. I'm not going to be worried about it. I won't lose sleep."
"Well, I guess you've got a bit of a flight ahead of you," James says. "Since you guys are on that International tour."
"Definitely do," Gates says. "It will give me time to learn a bit more about Niobe Martin.
"It will give me time to prepare for what is to come."
-------------------------------------------------
"What do you think of me, Niobe?
"Of course, the question is rhetorical, but it would be interesting, that's for sure. There are people out there who see my good nature and assume that I want to stray away from fighting women. They see me as the typical knight in shining armor, the one who would more likely be saving damsels in distress rather then fighting them.
"Maybe you're like that. Maybe you think I won't be willing to give it my all because you're female. Of course, we did fight last week, so I'm sure you aren't the sort of person who thinks that way, are you? You are the sort who probably thinks that I am worthless. That even though I have accomplished so much in my time in this business, I am still worthless.
"Those people make me laugh, if for nothing else then their short sighted views. Sure, I might not have won a title in APW since losing the Undisputed title to Kurt Noble, and I'm sure a lot of people will look at that as a means to tear me down. Hell, you might even do it, Niobe, though in your case, I'd have to ask, what makes someone successful.
"If you discredit all that I've done, what are you comparing it to? Yourself and your oodles of title wins and title shots? Like I said, I haven't won a title since then, but I've at least won the chance to compete for the belts. I've had tag team title shots, Overdrive title shots, Undisputed and World Heavyweight title shots. I've made sure to keep competing at a high level and I made sure to keep my name relevant.
"What about you?
"What have you done? I might be jumping the gun, but if you are the sort of person who wants to discredit all that I have done, I hope you have something to back it up with. I hope you can say something more then "yeah, but you've lost all those title shots you've had".
"Point is, I've had them.
"Point is, you haven't.
"But like I said, I don't want to say this because I think you are worthless in your own right. I say this because I want to nip things in the bud. I want to be able to throw down the gauntlet so that you can't come out and spout off lie after lie, so that you can't tear me down.
"Then again, who's really going to listen to you?
"That doesn't mean that you're unimportant or boring. What I meant is that the fans, the people who you would be trying to sway in your favor, already know everything there is to know about me. They know what I've done and what I'm capable of. They know that if there is some sort of injustice floating around the APW, then I am not that far behind, doing what I can to put a stop to it.
"They know that I have their back, no matter what you want to say to try and make them think other wise. Level One and Terry Marvin spent months trying to convince the fans that I was a selfish prick, but in the end, the fans were still there to cheer me on. The fans still had my back.
"Though maybe this isn't about what we've done or who we are. Maybe this whole thing is simply about what we're going to do when we step into that ring this week. I mean, we can simply knock it down to that much and see how it all plays out.
"So maybe that is what we should do. Forget about what we think we are and what we think the other person is and let our fighting do the talking. With that, though, it means that the appearance of the Black Hand will show me what you are truly about, Niobe. It will show me exactly what I thought about you was right.
"It will show me that you are unable to get the job done on your own. You will be seen as someone who needs to rely on others just to keep her head above water. It will show that you might not be what everyone thought you were going to be.
"But of course that only matters if it's important to you. It only matters if you feel like being defined like that is a bad thing. Who knows? Maybe you'll see it as a good thing. You'll see it as you being classified as not one to mess with.
"It's all a matter of opinion, right?
"We know my opinion on the matter, but that's me. Hopefully, at some point between now and Overdrive, you realize that getting those goons involved is going to be bad for your business. Not because they're going to cost you the match, but just because it shows that you can't do things on your own.
"Or it shows that they don't think you can get the job done.
"One of the two.
"But I'll wait for you in the ring, Niobe. Then we can figure out who is who and what is what.
"Then we can go big or go home."
