Post by Amber Mansley on Aug 23, 2024 9:18:57 GMT -5
Do you think you both are different because you like catering to people's needs? Because your moral compass points north that it absolves you in your eyes? You fail to realize that the moral compass pointing north always has you looking south when you know you're not as virtuous as you thought.
DEFENSE
The Palm Beach Courthouse and District of Clerks became the battlefield for the right to her father's inheritance. The opposing warlords of Amber Mansley and her stepmother, Janet, on different tables of the courtroom surveyed by the Honorable Moroe Bakersfield, were at each other's throats through their representation. However, the support of Janet through her family and representation behind her could have been more generous on the lack of support from Amber despite her father's team being the ones to help mediate the action.
"Your honor." Janet's lawyer spoke in a harsh tone, condescending and arrogant, but with the evidence provided by her stepmother, Amber was concerned. Behind the desk, she sat with her hands clasped together, her thumbs twiddling with each other as she awaited his words. "It's clear by the evidence of his medical records, the timing of his heart attack, the in-patient care for hospice, and his support from Janet's family. Amber has never been present in her father's life after she abandoned him after turning 18 years old."
Her right fist balled under the table. She did her best to keep her composure in her most pristine executive outfit, with her wavy blondish hair flowing down her back. It was a hard pill to swallow. The day she regretted being used as tangible evidence to steer her away from her father. When she looked at Janet away at her table, she despised the facade of her theatrical crying and sorrows to buy sympathy from the civil jury.
God, that woman deserved to be punched in the face.
Amber wanted to rip the hair from her head. "And on top of that, your honor, when her father was in the hospital, she traveled the world, reaping the spoils of her professional wrestling career worldwide! Her father was in the hospital, and she was hurting people for a living! Her father would never have wanted her to do that!"
"Objection, hearsay!" Amber's lawyer interrupted fiercely on her behalf. The objection was sustained, and Janet's expression broke in her step-daughter's direction to see Amber on the verge of losing her temper. However, her representation assured her everything would be okay as the opposing lawyer continued.
"Your honor, I'll say this. Janet has been there since the death of her biological mother, Eva-"
"Don't say her name!" Amber exploded as she stood up, protesting the presenting lawyer. Her team helped her calm down as the judge slammed his gavel, and she sat down, rocking back and forth. "And she deserves to be rewarded."
Knowing it was over, Amber sighed and rested her head on the table in defeat.
"Not so fast!"
IRONY
Erza Gideon,
Are you kidding me?
Are you freakin' kidding me?
You spent your entire life disparaging everything I have done in the company the moment you became the number one contender to my X-Division Championship. You've been on the frontline telling the world that I don't deserve to be a champion and pushing this agenda: through hard work and determination, integrity, honesty, sheer will, and heart, you will be better than me.
My question is: How long were you fooling everyone?
Because I saw right through it.
I was wondering why you were so adamant about trying to expose me as a fraud or tell me how much of a pathetic person I am using this narrative of how I'm evil. When in reality, you have done worse than what I've done and put on a facade that you are this honorable individual behind it.
You are the fakest person in this company.
You have everything a fortunate person has. Your family? They are titans in this world. Your mother is a chief technical officer of a global conglomerate dynasty, and your father is a world-renowned neurosurgeon. Do you think they got where they are without getting their hands dirty? By playing a humanitarian and being a sacrificial, selfless person?
How many of the thousands of low-entry employees trying to make a living from paycheck to paycheck were let go because your mother decided to buy you toys now and then? How many people did she leave high and dry on the streets so you could go to Disneyland and take pictures at the expense of others losing their jobs?
Or better yet, to your father, the world-renowned neurosurgeon. Did you ever wonder how many malpractice cases he had swept under the rug or how many times he held up hospital resources when he had surgeries started late or failed to do his medical records in time, all to put food on your table?
Ezra. You have both a mother and a father. I have neither.
You're the runt of a litter of world-class athletes given scholarships to universities through connections your parents have, taking away opportunities from hard-working students who want to achieve goals.
You have your wrestling academy in El Paco, Texas, and when you signed to WGWF, you didn't do it alone. You had the mentor of the WGWF World Champion, Cholo, giving you advice on how to become an instant star.
And yet, I'm the one who is entitled, right?
You're a living prick of entitlement. You have everything going for you. You have the white picket fence of a nuclear family, the guaranteed ticket to walk a golden road, and the support of a financial kingdom that loves you. How do you respond?
"And then there's you."
Of course, it's hard to understand that you're just you and that all you want to do is be a good person.
God, even I can't stomach that fake persona.
But I get why you can't stand me, Erza. It's so obvious that I figured it out when you hyper-fixated on me. You hate that with everything you have; you can't seem to be the one thing you desperately want to be.
Authentic.
I've been myself since the moment I debuted in WGWF. I never got the lifestyle you had growing up, and I never had to be cuddled and fed breastmilk from the bosom of everyone around me. I'm living from the blood of my own family, who is gone, and having to suffer the consequences of it.
So how dare you waltz in pretending to be high and mighty when you are the scum trying to mask himself as someone good in this world.
I lie, I cheat, and I align with the most vicious people in this company. The Fortunate Ones, but I'm honest about my type of person. I don't need to hide or sugarcoat. I'm an open book, and that bothers you. Xavier was right to call you out in front of Cholo because at least he knows what you have to do to become the best in this business.
The X-Division Championship has been mine because no one can do what I do in this ring. I am talented but cunning and willing to go further than anyone to hold this championship. So, while you're preaching, no one can outwork you, and no one has had the opportunity to because you've been suffocated to be the graceful kid your entire life.
Well, Summer Madness, all that ends. You get what you want and will have the biggest match of your career. You prophesized my downfall, but what do you forget that while this may be the biggest match of your career? It's only another championship defense for me.
That is the reality, Ezra.
No matter how often you try to put me down or pretend I'm nothing, I am everything you want to be.
Despite living an upper-middle-class life compared to your extravagant foundation, I came from nothing. I built myself to be mentored by Joe Montouri, welcomed to the Fortunate Ones, and became the longest-reigning X-Division Champion in WGWF history. I did that, and it kills you inside that it isn't you.
So what will you do now?
When everything you try to do fails, what is your next step?
Go home. Return to your mom and dad, share your dinner, sit at the table, and enjoy your family because I cannot do that anymore. God, you are the pitiful man crying wolf but using propaganda to gain sympathy. All you are is a propaganda machine pandering to the fans to at least attempt to seem like you have what it takes to beat me.
You make me sick.
I wish I could have been in your position to truly accept what I have around me and at least be with my family again. However, I'll enjoy retaining my championship belt and reminding the world that I am the only one fortunate in this match.
OFFENSE
The clicks of suede black shoes walking down the aisle in the courtroom surrendered the attention of all. When Amber looked over her shoulder, she felt relieved—almost saved by God himself—to see Attorney David Krappinschitz marching down the aisle to end this nonsense."Your honor, what is he doing-"
"Your honor, I am here to help represent Ms. Amber Mansley. I have new evidence that the court must admit and publish regarding her stepmother's involvement in her father's heart attack before Amber's accusation of being the sole perpetrator." The judge leans back in his chair and orders him to be with Amber as the defense has rested. David unlocks his silver briefcase and hands the bailiff two documents, a flash drive, and a CD. Amber's stepmother, Janet, leans forward, worried about the sudden intrusion.
"As you can see." He began his deliberation using the on-screen presentation to his advantage. "From his autopsy, Mr. Mansley was subjected to a poisonous substance, a modified form of tetrodotoxin designed to slow a heartbeat to one beat per minute. The toxin was ingested through the digestive and gastric bypass, which means he was poisoned through the food."
"OBJECTION!" Janet's lawyer quelled in his remark. However, the judge overruled the objection. Amber's eyes were watching closely, wondering if the following words he said would be valid.
"Your honor, the evidence is clear. Amber Mansley, his first and only daughter, was not the cause of her father's passing. The one responsible is the woman sat over there." He points to Janet. "She poisoned him after marrying her because she was jealous of the relationship between a father and a daughter."
"THAT'S BULLSHIT!" Janet stood up with her family behind her in the seats, immediately arguing at the top of her lungs. The courtroom delved into chaos with the judge banging on his gavel demanding order, but she was overwhelmed with rage, for even her representation took steps back away. Police officers and security personnel flooded the courtroom to maintain decorum, ultimately leading to Janet and her family being held in contempt. Amber and her team were positioned away from the chaos for their safety.
However, the judge ordered a recess, allowing the defendant and team to be in the hallway as the situation was controlled. Amber stormed off to the women's bathroom and slammed the door behind her. She stood in front of the mirror, head down, tears flowing down her face after finally knowing what had been in her suspicion for many years.
The sobbing was prominent, but her rage was flowing.
She wanted vengeance, and she wanted to cause pain.
Then, she learned that anyone who disguises themselves as perfect is the most imperfect person in the world. She wanted justice, true justice, for the man she loved more than anything, and he was taken from her. Amber's eyes stared right back at her, and she didn't see herself; she saw a demon awaiting spring.
SURFACE
Kenji, Kenji, Kenji.
How many times are we going to see you in your Superman era?
The children, honor, respect, and nothing else are without meaning? Giving it your all?
It's respectable. I love the idea of holding your ground and being steadfast in the light of danger. But with all that, life does have its way of reminding you that you can only be a Nancy Sue for so long. You feel cheated. You were the original number-one contender until management sent you packing to Brawl at the time and named a new one, Ezra Gideon, in your absence.
I know what it means to feel cheated, but working with Ezra, the man who wants my X-Division Championship, to gain some sort of advantage? That's very uncharacteristic of you, especially since you lost to him, which means you're starting to show cracks in your armor.
Is the honorable Kenji Miyamoto working with the enemy to go after little ol' Amber Mansley? The enemy of my enemy is my friend? It's brilliant.
You're starting to understand the reality of life—the reality of war. There is no honor, especially amongst thieves such as yourself and Ezra. Do you feel justified in doing this? No. I see it in your eyes: desperation taking hold of you. You've been playing sideman on a different brand, watching me hold everything you want. Everything you earned to have this championship opportunity has been skewered, and it kills you inside.
We are enjoying watching you break from the inside out. No matter how many times you appeal to the children, the fans, or even your own master, I am the one you want to serve, especially knowing I am holding the one thing you came from Japan to hold: the X-Division Championship.
But you were surprised to find out this?
You came from Japan and boasted about having an entire nation behind you. The Rising Sun in the land of the free, the weight on your shoulders was too much of a burden knowing you were held back from achieving what you wanted, but what you failed to realize was that the mission you were on was going to fail regardless. Kenji, I'm the X-Division Champion, and I don't need to fool myself with riddles or fake obligations to do what's right. I only need to ensure that I and my family stay because that's what we do.
On the other hand, you are why people such as Ezra have this over-inflated idea of achieving a dream that is just a pipe dream. Do you have what it takes to carry the mantle? I've proven that I can be the best damn champion in this company; hell, I'm the longest active champion as we speak.
Why? I don't need to pretend I'm something I'm not.
I don't waste my time eating ramen or observing people in their natural habitat, and I damn sure don't lose matches to people who were given opportunities right in front of my face.
And I don't need to surround myself with "yes" men telling me what I want to hear. If it hadn't been for Joe telling me to my face, I would have never been where I am now. Kenji, you make me sick.
Who are you, Kenji? This sad little story of a man trying to be a good man isn't cut out for this company. We've seen what happens to normal people: They get hurt and suffer more. So, what is behind this Mona Lisa of yours? Did you create your painting thinking you were going to be the pure one, or maybe there's blood hidden on the canvas?
I'm waiting to see the real you.
I want the Miyamoto that people fear. Hell, maybe I should take you to Japan and hold you down to be engraved with the symbolism of the Yakuza so you can understand how cruel this world is. I always thought I could be that good girl, but the world doesn't care about morality. It only wants results.
You weren't the result, Kenji. You may have been the original number one contender, but you're starting to understand that you're a contender of millions. I am a champion of one.
It's okay, Kenji. This is the land of opportunity, but what they fail to tell you when you land on American soil is that this is the land of the elite. Don't blame me for your failure; blame Ezra. When the match begins and the time starts counting down, how long can you trust him before he stabs you in the back?
Or better yet, how long will you take your knife and rip his throat with it so it could be you and no one else? You're tired of being the sideman, so step up and take control of yourself in your pathetic life once and for once.
After all, it must be hard to be a soldier, and is never the master suitable?
You can bow to me in respect after I kick your ass.
Amber-san.
It does have a nice ring to it.
CHOICE
Every step down the stairs was slow and heavy on her high pink heels. A black Rolls Royce awaited her in the courtyard, and she opened the door to sit inside the passenger seat. Amber leaned back against the headrest, eyes closed, biting her lip to remain calm until he spoke.
"How'd it go?" The man sitting behind the wheel was Joe, her mentor and now her older brother in her eyes. Amber looked at him and then just held him close as he wrapped his right arm around her shoulders, bawling out in frustration and agony over the court proceedings. He consoled her. Of course, Joe loved her like a little sister, and it pained him to see the woman he chose to mentor go through such tribulations. "What will you do now?"
She lifted her head, and it was the face of a demon.
Start the clock