Post by kris on Sept 16, 2011 23:02:29 GMT -5
Time heals all wounds.
At least, that's what a lot of people have told Natalie Burrows over the years. Usually, it was some token attempt at soothing her troubled soul, their generic way of telling her that she would get through whatever rough patch she was experiencing… but as she grew older and wiser, the Southern Belle had come to realize that the old adage just wasn't true. Sure, she hadn't broken down and cried about the loss of her mother in almost a year's time, but that didn't mean that part of her didn't ache at the relationship that she would never have the chance to repair, so many words unspoken. Even with her religious beliefs, trying to relay those sentiments through prayer just wasn't the same as being able to sit down across from Angela to have a conversation. That had been the catalyst for her change in perception, truth be told - and it was an understandable one, a constructive one even. Even with her decision to live every day as if it could be her last so that she wouldn't be leaving any regrets behind, however, there were some decisions that still remained difficult for her to make. Would it be prudent to allow a certain Young Gun to become more than an acquaintance? Could she keep herself from repeating the same mistake she had in trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders?
A sigh escapes the Southern Belle's lips as she sits back on her heels near the now largely-blank dirt of her vegetable garden, the only remaining plants a couple of tomato vines and a pumpkin vine which held two gourds. Even now, keeping her hands dirty provided her with the clarity of mind that she needed to keep from being swept away in a tide of 'what ifs' and 'maybe so's… although that didn't stop them from showing themselves every now and again. Natalie needs to keep her mind clear going into her match at Sunday Night Vengeance, that much was for certain. Even if she now holds a singles victory in the EUW, the fact remained that she needs to overcome Danny Tenfold in order to truly throw her hat into the ring for the Lionheart Championship - and a win over her would be exactly what the doctor ordered in regards to asserting that she did indeed deserve a chance at topping the current champion. Such is what guides her to her feet, the Southern Belle dusting off the knees of her jeans as she turns her gaze to properly meet the camera's lens. Dressed otherwise in her usual Duke hooded sweatshirt, Natalie's blond curls are free to blow about in the breeze as they will as she offers up a nod of greeting to the camera, her tone thoughtful when she begins to speak.
After awhile, the constant insults, the degradation, the condescension and the attempted bullying and the misogyny and the barbed comments… they can really wear on a girl. It would get old for anyone, I imagine, being told over and over again that you're not worthy of going out there and doing your job after spending so many years training just as hard--if not harder-- than the others on the virtue of something you can no more help than breathing. Heck, Mister Ashen obviously believed everything that he had heard from the people that think this to be a man's world unless there's baby oil or evening gowns involved, considering how he couldn't even so much as give me a single, solitary second of attention until he saw fit to try to ask me out on a date! To be thought of as so insignificant, so much of a pushover that the blood I've spilled, the sweat I've made, and the tears I cried are all ignored on account of something that ultimately means so little in the ring… is it any wonder that I kicked him as hard as I could before pinning him for the three? It isn't often that I take satisfaction in doing so, but Bless it felt good to show him just how wrong he was about me-- how wrong this entire company, as a whole, was about me. I've heard the comments about how it's such a stunner that I actually wrestle in that ring, that I'm talented at what I do instead of being the total mess that they expected me to be… and I am going to make the roster believe, be it one-by-one or en masse, that I am a threat to their chances of winning, that I am someone to be taken seriously, and that I am a viable contender for the Lionheart Title. Being victorious last week was a good first step for that… but this week, I have the chance to not just take another step toward that goal, but to concretely prove it. The stakes keep getting higher and higher, as the weeks go on-- and honestly?
I wouldn't have it any other way.
The Southern Belle smiles to herself as she nods to affirm that point, clearly pleased at punch at this development… and it's not hard to figure out why.
It means that management is beginning to see me as more than a pretty face, and it is quite the refreshing change indeed… just like my match this week. It's not just because of the opportunity it presents me with, either; it's on account of how, since the first time that I signed the dotted line and became a member of the roster? This match is going to be a simple, clean, honest competition between two opponents that respect one another… just like it’s supposed to be. And at this point? It'd be more of a surprise if it turned out to be anything but, I think. After all, if anyone else on this roster would know, all too well, how it feels to be the underdog in just about every match that he steps into... then it would be you, Mister Tenfold, and to be honest? I'm over the moon for you finally becoming the Lionheart Champion, sugah, and even though we may be climbing into the ring across from one another… congratulations, from the bottom of my heart. Make no mistake that I was cheering for you to overcome Misters Bane and Viper, and you deserve that success. I must admit that the championship does a rather good job of complimenting that cute smile of yours--
As soon as those words leave her mouth, Natalie's eyes go wide, and she slaps a hand over her mouth. Blushing to beat the band, she takes a moment to gather herself before she continues, clearing her throat awkwardly.
B-But, ah, whether or not you're handsome means just as little as my looks do… w-when it comes to the ring, anyway. And that's what this is all about-- proving that I am capable of not only standing toe-to-toe with you, but overcoming you. Mind you, I'm not saying that it's going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination… I respect you, and what you are capable of in the middle of that ring. There's no doubt that you embody the idea of the lionhearted, from your bravery to your perseverance to your endurance in the face of unfavorable odds... but you're not the only one, Mister Tenfold, not by a long shot. All the more you need to do is look at my career, even my presence here in this match to know that. You are not alone in defying the odds, being underestimated and overlooked-- Heck, in our match? Your underdog advantage-- and you've done a rather good job of turning it into exactly that, rather than letting it be a weakness-- is nowhere to be found on account of how, for once? You're not the smaller one, the perceived weaker link in our match. I wonder how that feels for you, Mister Tenfold, to be in such an unfamiliar position over someone else… and while you may hold the advantage on paper, I will not allow you to hold onto that in the ring. If anything, I'm going to go out there and do everything in my power to pull that new, shiny pedestal out from beneath you.
Another deep breath… and the Southern Belle successfully gets her mind back on track. That little misstep is one that she wishes she could take back, but ultimately? She's not going to allow it to derail things any longer.
I know, it seems contradictory for me to be saying that I respect you one minute, and that I intend on beating you the next… but really? It isn't, not in the slightest. It is because I respect you, because I think so highly of you that I am going to put the pedal through the Gosh-darned floor to get the job done. You deserve nothing less than my absolute best, and you had best believe that I am going to give it to you-- and unfortunately for you, I have fought far too hard and for far, far too long to let this-- no, to let you stop me from making an impact. I know that I haven't been around this particular dance hall for too long, but I've invested most of my life into honing my craft so that I could even have this chance to do what I love… and I'm sorry, Mister Tenfold, but I've got to be selfish on this one. One single misstep is all the more it would take to put me back at the bottom of the pile again, and if it comes down to either me moving ahead or tumbling back? Then my choice ought to be clear as day-- and it’s also one that you, of all people, couldn't possibly hold against me since you'd do the same thing in my shoes. You've had to, just the same as anyone else, in order to get where you are today-- and just like I will, come Vengeance.
There's a quiet conviction in her voice, that much is for sure… but where that well and truly gleams is in those windows to the soul. It's a veritable inferno, the competitive fire and drive to succeed that burns within the Southern Belle-- and it is this she draws upon.
There is no question that you are an incredible talented competitor, Mister Tenfold-- and I'd never take that away from you. No, this is going to come down to the intangible within, that drive to thrust my shoulder up and keep going no matter how badly I hurt, and will ache the next morning… and that is exactly what I am going to do. You can hit me with everything you've got, and I'm going to keep getting right back up, swinging for the fences all the while. You can doubt my chances of victory all you like, just the same as you can second-guess my ability in the ring or my ability to surprise you by pinning your shoulders to the canvas for the three-count-- if it helps you feel better, then by all means. However, questioning the strength of my heart… is a mistake that you will only make once.
And that isn't a threat… it is a promise, one that the Southern Belle will never, ever even dream of breaking. The scene fades as Natalie offers up her nod of parting, remaining steadfast both in her stance… and in her plans for victory.
Be the first to arrive… and the last to leave.
Even though Natalie was by no means the first member of the EUW roster to arrive in Italy, she was definitely one of the first active competitors to arrive at the arena. Not that anyone would really notice her presence; despite being rather adept at social graces, the Southern Belle prefers her solitude to ready herself for competition-- and since she's mentally preparing for a match as major as this one against Danny Tenfold, she has shut herself away from the rest of the world for hours. Dimly, she can hear the tillings and killings of the other members of the roster, of the innumerable techs and assistants and managerial sorts going about their business… but she pays them no mind, turning her attention inward instead. Just as she said to her opponent, that is what will be the deciding factor-- so she cannot, will not allow that to falter. As her mind drifts through the moments from her past that have defined her career, from her first time running the ropes at the tender age of ten or darn near putting Amy Chastaine through the ring with a top-rope Hitting Bottom mere months ago-- months that felt like years-- one moment comes to the surface… and it is one that she seizes, her eyes closing as she recalled the scent of rain, of droplets hitting the roof that had stretched over her head that afternoon roughly a year ago...
The slightest of smiles tugs at the Southern Belle's lips as she nods in affirmation of that memory, that bolt of inspiration that served to be her turning point. It wasn't until after that realization that she had turned her career around, racking up victories and eventually impressing EUW's talent scouts enough to offer her the chance to make history…
So make history she would.
At least, that's what a lot of people have told Natalie Burrows over the years. Usually, it was some token attempt at soothing her troubled soul, their generic way of telling her that she would get through whatever rough patch she was experiencing… but as she grew older and wiser, the Southern Belle had come to realize that the old adage just wasn't true. Sure, she hadn't broken down and cried about the loss of her mother in almost a year's time, but that didn't mean that part of her didn't ache at the relationship that she would never have the chance to repair, so many words unspoken. Even with her religious beliefs, trying to relay those sentiments through prayer just wasn't the same as being able to sit down across from Angela to have a conversation. That had been the catalyst for her change in perception, truth be told - and it was an understandable one, a constructive one even. Even with her decision to live every day as if it could be her last so that she wouldn't be leaving any regrets behind, however, there were some decisions that still remained difficult for her to make. Would it be prudent to allow a certain Young Gun to become more than an acquaintance? Could she keep herself from repeating the same mistake she had in trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders?
A sigh escapes the Southern Belle's lips as she sits back on her heels near the now largely-blank dirt of her vegetable garden, the only remaining plants a couple of tomato vines and a pumpkin vine which held two gourds. Even now, keeping her hands dirty provided her with the clarity of mind that she needed to keep from being swept away in a tide of 'what ifs' and 'maybe so's… although that didn't stop them from showing themselves every now and again. Natalie needs to keep her mind clear going into her match at Sunday Night Vengeance, that much was for certain. Even if she now holds a singles victory in the EUW, the fact remained that she needs to overcome Danny Tenfold in order to truly throw her hat into the ring for the Lionheart Championship - and a win over her would be exactly what the doctor ordered in regards to asserting that she did indeed deserve a chance at topping the current champion. Such is what guides her to her feet, the Southern Belle dusting off the knees of her jeans as she turns her gaze to properly meet the camera's lens. Dressed otherwise in her usual Duke hooded sweatshirt, Natalie's blond curls are free to blow about in the breeze as they will as she offers up a nod of greeting to the camera, her tone thoughtful when she begins to speak.
After awhile, the constant insults, the degradation, the condescension and the attempted bullying and the misogyny and the barbed comments… they can really wear on a girl. It would get old for anyone, I imagine, being told over and over again that you're not worthy of going out there and doing your job after spending so many years training just as hard--if not harder-- than the others on the virtue of something you can no more help than breathing. Heck, Mister Ashen obviously believed everything that he had heard from the people that think this to be a man's world unless there's baby oil or evening gowns involved, considering how he couldn't even so much as give me a single, solitary second of attention until he saw fit to try to ask me out on a date! To be thought of as so insignificant, so much of a pushover that the blood I've spilled, the sweat I've made, and the tears I cried are all ignored on account of something that ultimately means so little in the ring… is it any wonder that I kicked him as hard as I could before pinning him for the three? It isn't often that I take satisfaction in doing so, but Bless it felt good to show him just how wrong he was about me-- how wrong this entire company, as a whole, was about me. I've heard the comments about how it's such a stunner that I actually wrestle in that ring, that I'm talented at what I do instead of being the total mess that they expected me to be… and I am going to make the roster believe, be it one-by-one or en masse, that I am a threat to their chances of winning, that I am someone to be taken seriously, and that I am a viable contender for the Lionheart Title. Being victorious last week was a good first step for that… but this week, I have the chance to not just take another step toward that goal, but to concretely prove it. The stakes keep getting higher and higher, as the weeks go on-- and honestly?
I wouldn't have it any other way.
The Southern Belle smiles to herself as she nods to affirm that point, clearly pleased at punch at this development… and it's not hard to figure out why.
It means that management is beginning to see me as more than a pretty face, and it is quite the refreshing change indeed… just like my match this week. It's not just because of the opportunity it presents me with, either; it's on account of how, since the first time that I signed the dotted line and became a member of the roster? This match is going to be a simple, clean, honest competition between two opponents that respect one another… just like it’s supposed to be. And at this point? It'd be more of a surprise if it turned out to be anything but, I think. After all, if anyone else on this roster would know, all too well, how it feels to be the underdog in just about every match that he steps into... then it would be you, Mister Tenfold, and to be honest? I'm over the moon for you finally becoming the Lionheart Champion, sugah, and even though we may be climbing into the ring across from one another… congratulations, from the bottom of my heart. Make no mistake that I was cheering for you to overcome Misters Bane and Viper, and you deserve that success. I must admit that the championship does a rather good job of complimenting that cute smile of yours--
As soon as those words leave her mouth, Natalie's eyes go wide, and she slaps a hand over her mouth. Blushing to beat the band, she takes a moment to gather herself before she continues, clearing her throat awkwardly.
B-But, ah, whether or not you're handsome means just as little as my looks do… w-when it comes to the ring, anyway. And that's what this is all about-- proving that I am capable of not only standing toe-to-toe with you, but overcoming you. Mind you, I'm not saying that it's going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination… I respect you, and what you are capable of in the middle of that ring. There's no doubt that you embody the idea of the lionhearted, from your bravery to your perseverance to your endurance in the face of unfavorable odds... but you're not the only one, Mister Tenfold, not by a long shot. All the more you need to do is look at my career, even my presence here in this match to know that. You are not alone in defying the odds, being underestimated and overlooked-- Heck, in our match? Your underdog advantage-- and you've done a rather good job of turning it into exactly that, rather than letting it be a weakness-- is nowhere to be found on account of how, for once? You're not the smaller one, the perceived weaker link in our match. I wonder how that feels for you, Mister Tenfold, to be in such an unfamiliar position over someone else… and while you may hold the advantage on paper, I will not allow you to hold onto that in the ring. If anything, I'm going to go out there and do everything in my power to pull that new, shiny pedestal out from beneath you.
Another deep breath… and the Southern Belle successfully gets her mind back on track. That little misstep is one that she wishes she could take back, but ultimately? She's not going to allow it to derail things any longer.
I know, it seems contradictory for me to be saying that I respect you one minute, and that I intend on beating you the next… but really? It isn't, not in the slightest. It is because I respect you, because I think so highly of you that I am going to put the pedal through the Gosh-darned floor to get the job done. You deserve nothing less than my absolute best, and you had best believe that I am going to give it to you-- and unfortunately for you, I have fought far too hard and for far, far too long to let this-- no, to let you stop me from making an impact. I know that I haven't been around this particular dance hall for too long, but I've invested most of my life into honing my craft so that I could even have this chance to do what I love… and I'm sorry, Mister Tenfold, but I've got to be selfish on this one. One single misstep is all the more it would take to put me back at the bottom of the pile again, and if it comes down to either me moving ahead or tumbling back? Then my choice ought to be clear as day-- and it’s also one that you, of all people, couldn't possibly hold against me since you'd do the same thing in my shoes. You've had to, just the same as anyone else, in order to get where you are today-- and just like I will, come Vengeance.
There's a quiet conviction in her voice, that much is for sure… but where that well and truly gleams is in those windows to the soul. It's a veritable inferno, the competitive fire and drive to succeed that burns within the Southern Belle-- and it is this she draws upon.
There is no question that you are an incredible talented competitor, Mister Tenfold-- and I'd never take that away from you. No, this is going to come down to the intangible within, that drive to thrust my shoulder up and keep going no matter how badly I hurt, and will ache the next morning… and that is exactly what I am going to do. You can hit me with everything you've got, and I'm going to keep getting right back up, swinging for the fences all the while. You can doubt my chances of victory all you like, just the same as you can second-guess my ability in the ring or my ability to surprise you by pinning your shoulders to the canvas for the three-count-- if it helps you feel better, then by all means. However, questioning the strength of my heart… is a mistake that you will only make once.
And that isn't a threat… it is a promise, one that the Southern Belle will never, ever even dream of breaking. The scene fades as Natalie offers up her nod of parting, remaining steadfast both in her stance… and in her plans for victory.
-------------------------♥-------------------------
Be the first to arrive… and the last to leave.
Even though Natalie was by no means the first member of the EUW roster to arrive in Italy, she was definitely one of the first active competitors to arrive at the arena. Not that anyone would really notice her presence; despite being rather adept at social graces, the Southern Belle prefers her solitude to ready herself for competition-- and since she's mentally preparing for a match as major as this one against Danny Tenfold, she has shut herself away from the rest of the world for hours. Dimly, she can hear the tillings and killings of the other members of the roster, of the innumerable techs and assistants and managerial sorts going about their business… but she pays them no mind, turning her attention inward instead. Just as she said to her opponent, that is what will be the deciding factor-- so she cannot, will not allow that to falter. As her mind drifts through the moments from her past that have defined her career, from her first time running the ropes at the tender age of ten or darn near putting Amy Chastaine through the ring with a top-rope Hitting Bottom mere months ago-- months that felt like years-- one moment comes to the surface… and it is one that she seizes, her eyes closing as she recalled the scent of rain, of droplets hitting the roof that had stretched over her head that afternoon roughly a year ago...
What if my time never comes?
The question wai murmured softly as the Southern Belle looked out over her back yard, her head tilting forward as she sighed. She's dressed simply in a blue ribbed tank-top and a pair of denim shorts, bare feet standing on the varnished hardwood of her porch. A mug which once held tea sat empty on the railing beside her as the blond took a deep breath, her eyes closing. She remained that way for a moment, curls obscuring her expression... although at this point, it wasn't exactly hard to tell just how she's feeling. Natalie almost sounded depressed when next she spoke to the empty air.
Not everyone that comes into this business reaches their dreams, be it from injury or interference - or, Heck, just a lack of talent. I know that I am paying my dues much as everyone else has... but when will I have paid enough? How many more pounds of flesh does this business want from me before it will finally be satisfied enough to let me past this wall?
A pause; Natalie shook her head, her gaze once again rising to the back yard.
Mmn... I don't really think that it's fair of me to blame the industry for my shortcomings since Lord knows that it doesn't owe me a thing. It's not the one that keeps falling short no matter how hard it tries, either. No, that falls solely on my shoulders. Even when it's on account of someone sticking their noses where it's not welcome... I know that it's ultimately me at fault for not keeping an eye on them, or keeping too much of an eye on them. Maybe I'm not talented enough to make my mark on this business... not one that will endure the test of time, anyway. I hate letting down the fans and the people that support me, but will I ever be truly worthy of their praise? Heck, am I worthy of it now? I'm nothing special, just an ordinary girl trying to make it in this extraordinary business--
Silence, a realization overtaking the blond that had been evading her for the past few days... one that sounded a little hokey, but it didn't stop it from being true. Just where the bolt of inspiration came from is unknown, although... in hindsight? Natalie wouldn't be able to keep from thinking that her father reached down from Heaven to give her a gentle nudge in the direction she needed to go.
...or is that why they rally behind me? Because I won't let this business change me, because I give everything I have each and every time I get into that ring... because I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and work just as hard as my parents and their parents worked to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads? If they would've given up when things got rough, I wouldn't be standing here today - Heck, I might not have been born! Even if he's not on this Earth anymore, I know that my dad would be proud of me for not backing down from what I believe in no matter what I've gone through. Win or lose, I've done my family right in how I've gone about business here since I've proven, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that even if I have been pinned... I've never been defeated. The only person that can truly defeat me is me... and I can't-- no, I won't give up. I won't give in to the doubters that have told me that I'm too soft to be here since I'm still standing after everything I've endured. That's proof enough for me that I can make it... and that I will make it, come Hell or high water.
The question wai murmured softly as the Southern Belle looked out over her back yard, her head tilting forward as she sighed. She's dressed simply in a blue ribbed tank-top and a pair of denim shorts, bare feet standing on the varnished hardwood of her porch. A mug which once held tea sat empty on the railing beside her as the blond took a deep breath, her eyes closing. She remained that way for a moment, curls obscuring her expression... although at this point, it wasn't exactly hard to tell just how she's feeling. Natalie almost sounded depressed when next she spoke to the empty air.
Not everyone that comes into this business reaches their dreams, be it from injury or interference - or, Heck, just a lack of talent. I know that I am paying my dues much as everyone else has... but when will I have paid enough? How many more pounds of flesh does this business want from me before it will finally be satisfied enough to let me past this wall?
A pause; Natalie shook her head, her gaze once again rising to the back yard.
Mmn... I don't really think that it's fair of me to blame the industry for my shortcomings since Lord knows that it doesn't owe me a thing. It's not the one that keeps falling short no matter how hard it tries, either. No, that falls solely on my shoulders. Even when it's on account of someone sticking their noses where it's not welcome... I know that it's ultimately me at fault for not keeping an eye on them, or keeping too much of an eye on them. Maybe I'm not talented enough to make my mark on this business... not one that will endure the test of time, anyway. I hate letting down the fans and the people that support me, but will I ever be truly worthy of their praise? Heck, am I worthy of it now? I'm nothing special, just an ordinary girl trying to make it in this extraordinary business--
Silence, a realization overtaking the blond that had been evading her for the past few days... one that sounded a little hokey, but it didn't stop it from being true. Just where the bolt of inspiration came from is unknown, although... in hindsight? Natalie wouldn't be able to keep from thinking that her father reached down from Heaven to give her a gentle nudge in the direction she needed to go.
...or is that why they rally behind me? Because I won't let this business change me, because I give everything I have each and every time I get into that ring... because I'm willing to roll up my sleeves and work just as hard as my parents and their parents worked to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads? If they would've given up when things got rough, I wouldn't be standing here today - Heck, I might not have been born! Even if he's not on this Earth anymore, I know that my dad would be proud of me for not backing down from what I believe in no matter what I've gone through. Win or lose, I've done my family right in how I've gone about business here since I've proven, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that even if I have been pinned... I've never been defeated. The only person that can truly defeat me is me... and I can't-- no, I won't give up. I won't give in to the doubters that have told me that I'm too soft to be here since I'm still standing after everything I've endured. That's proof enough for me that I can make it... and that I will make it, come Hell or high water.
The slightest of smiles tugs at the Southern Belle's lips as she nods in affirmation of that memory, that bolt of inspiration that served to be her turning point. It wasn't until after that realization that she had turned her career around, racking up victories and eventually impressing EUW's talent scouts enough to offer her the chance to make history…
So make history she would.