Post by Merlot Ayano on Nov 7, 2015 23:06:06 GMT
A Right to Be Hostile
Word Count: 490
The camera faded in. Merlot Ayano sat on a locker room bench. Her sports bra and torso were drenched in sweat, as if she had just been working out. Her breathing was heavy. Merlot took in a deep breath. As she exhaled, she turned her head towards the camera.
“As of late, Seishin has been a place of hostility. Everyday it seems that the roster members are at each other's throats. There seems to be a great divide between us traditional Japanese Joshi, and the unruly Gaijin.
“Do you know why that is Natalie? Or, should Merlot say, do you truly understand why?”
She paused for second. “Natalie, on the surface, it may appear that we Japanese are racist or prejudice. It might also appear we aren’t accepting of outsiders coming into Seishin…
“Natalie, Merlot is explaining this because you are a Gaijin yourself. I want you to know that is not the case―we aren’t prejudice; we are far from it. Certain people, like Saito-chan, get carried. But it’s not because she, or we, hate Gaijin―it’s because of our passion for this sport.
“What you’ve got to remember is, Joshi wrestling hasn’t been around very long. It didn’t get popular until 1970 or so. That’s what, two generation removed? Maybe three? That means this industry was built on the backs of our mothers and grandmothers.
“Hence the reason there’s such a backlash when Gaijin come into Seishin and act foolish. It’s like they’re shitting on our culture―we have a right to be hostile!”
Merlot nodded her head.
“Natalie, I brought all that up to say, you are distinguished from most of the Gaijin here. And I don’t know about anyone else, but Merlot appreciates that. From the little bit that I know about you, you don’t see Seishin as a swift way to get rich and famous. And, unlike others, you didn’t just come here to get a piece of gold. You are a hard worker, you want to improve and gain knowledge. However, most importantly, Merlot can see that you have a real love for the sport.”
She used her forearm to wipe her dripping sweat away from her forehead.
“I respect you, Natalie―and that’s the very reason why I’m going to kick your ass when we meet at Seishin Five.” Merlot peered deeply into the camera; her eyes were unmoving. “One of the reasons that I fell in love with the sport of wrestling was the competition; there’s nothing more enthralling than two warriors going to battle and waging war in the center of that ring. Natalie, you are young, talented, and hungry. I’m just as talented and hungry―and that’s the making of a great battle.
“However, more so Natalie, I’ve got to uphold the honor and integrity of Joshi wrestling. You’ve done nothing wrong, but your peers have. Defeating you is going to correct some of those wrongs…
“And it shall restore honor to our foremothers’ sacrifice.”
END
