The end is not the beginning for Mishy
Oct 31, 2023 8:03:46 GMT -6
Bonzo, Tractorpull, and 5 more like this
Post by hawkeye on Oct 31, 2023 8:03:46 GMT -6
Forgoing a press conference to avoid potential unpleasant queries from Tractorpull, BLONDE! and their media colleagues, the Consortium empty out a board room at the cracker giant’s corporate headquarters and televise via their Twitch, Facebook Live and YouTube channels.
On the side of a long conference table opposite a HISC camera crew, podium placed dead center, sit Michelle Williams to stage right and, to the blonde’s right, long-time rival then compatriot Natalie Portman. On the opposing side of the dais are recent fellow vanquished fighter Dove Cameron and a Consortium suit familiar to most.
Not wasting any time, Mishy, wearing a casual black t-shirt and faded blue jeans, black Chuck Taylors and a pair of conspicuous sunglasses moves to the microphone.
She takes a glance at a set of cards and places them aside, deciding to speak from her heart instead of prepared notes. She removes her shades, setting them by the cards, purple and red bruises from her recent disaster made more evident.
Michelle clears her throat, a wistful smile emerging.
“I’m not interested in being a gracious loser, so don’t expect me to come up here and congratulate Vanessa Hudgens for retaining her titles. What I will do is offer my sincere respect and that without any hesitation. Vanessa is the toughest fighter I’ve ever faced. When you consider that includes an all-time great and one that will be in this very room, not to mention Claire f’n Danes, that says a lot.
“I want to make clear there are no excuses. I fully believed I would be flyweight champion again. A lot of naysayers didn’t and I guess they have the ultimate evidence in their pocket after those 13 rounds of hell, not to mention what Nessa put me through afterward. I knew if my body gave out before Nessa’s, I’d receive no mercy and believe me, she would have been given the same result with the opposite outcome.
“In that last round, when she came after me and I wanted, no, I needed an answer, I didn’t have one. God knows, it’s not the first time that’s happened to me in a ring, but this time, this time will be the last time.”
Michelle’s voice cracks and she suppresses a sniffle.
“As much as it pains me, I’m officially announcing my retirement from active participation in the FCBA. After 40, you can always hear the clock ticking in the background and that end of that fight was as loud an alarm as I ever need to hear. It’s time to admit some hard facts about Mother Nature and Father Time and I’m finally ready to do it with Vanessa’s abundant help.
“Some other credit where it’s due. It was really Brec Bassinger who placed the question foremost in my mind. I so enjoyed testing myself against the young up-n-comers over the last few years. It kept me young. But that girl was a special case. She showed not a hint of intimidation when she should have. In my mind, she shouldn’t have beat me, but she did. And then she beat me again. And then at September to Remember, she beat me again. It seemed inexplicable, but I can see now it isn’t. At this point, in 2023, she’s the one with the answers, not me. I didn’t want to face that fact.
“I thought there was one surefire way to sweep all of those doubts aside and that’s by beating the best and make myself the best again. It’s why I prevailed on Dove to give me her opportunity, which I now regret, not because of the result, but because I took away a chance she should have had.”
A choking Michelle turns to a misty-eyed Dove.
“I’m sorry.”
The Hall of Famer turns back to the camera.
“I selfishly wanted a different answer than the one I was sensing might be true. Unfortunately, Nessa answered it in the worst way possible and with an exclamation point. Shouting it out to everyone while whispering it in my ear. Me helpless to say otherwise. And I’m as helpless to say otherwise tonight.
“There’s no exhaustion, no coercion, no fear when I say she is the Conqueror of Mishy. I wanted that last taste of the top, and yes I was very close to getting it, but Nessa provided a final bitter, salty meal of abs. Maybe, it couldn’t end any other way. I was destined to keep going until that happened. And now it has.
“My claim to be the best ever was stolen from me. I played with fire one too many times and was burned by a woman who I believe will face the same fate one day from the ‘next Nessa’ following behind. I don’t doubt it may take many years and will be by a better woman than Camila Mendes, but it will come Nessa. Don’t ever think it won’t.
“And so I bid my farewell to competitive boxing. I have nothing against the Cougar division, but I have no interest in stepping in the ring after fighting the best. Finally, I’d like to ask Dove and Nat to come up here and join me.”
The brunettes bracketing Michelle rise, Portman containing her emotions better than a hard-swallowing Dove. In turn, each gives Mishy a heartfelt hug. They turn to face the camera side by side.
“I’d also like to announce I’m not dying,” Michelle adds with a chuckle. “There’s no tragedy here. But Dove and I also feel it’s a good time to terminate my time as her manager. Whenever she feels ready to come back, and might I say better than ever, she will be doing so without my guidance. While some may see this as corroborating evidence of rumblings outside the Consortium there’s conflict between us, we see it as time for Dove to leave the nest and spread her wings. And if it eliminates potential media distractions, all the better. I’ll still offer my services to Natalie Alyn Lind and Peyton Roi List if they believe I can be useful.”
Mishy turns and gives a peck on the bowed forehead of the weepy Cameron.
Natalie cranes her neck to the microphone from the opposite direction.
“And Miss Fittest. Just to let you know. When you dispense with Camila. I will be after your tail.”
And in a not at all Ivy League-level debate tactic, Natty runs a thumb across her throat.
“Dude,” Mishy says with an adoring softness. “I love you.”
The infamous blonde and brunette pillars of the Consortium share a fist pound then decide another embrace would be better. Michelle turns back to the lens.
“So that’s it. I’m out. I know a lot of you, maybe most of you will be happy. I’m glad I could lighten your day. And as for Vanessa. She’s your problem now. So have fun. And kick her ass for yourselves, not me.”
On the side of a long conference table opposite a HISC camera crew, podium placed dead center, sit Michelle Williams to stage right and, to the blonde’s right, long-time rival then compatriot Natalie Portman. On the opposing side of the dais are recent fellow vanquished fighter Dove Cameron and a Consortium suit familiar to most.
Not wasting any time, Mishy, wearing a casual black t-shirt and faded blue jeans, black Chuck Taylors and a pair of conspicuous sunglasses moves to the microphone.
She takes a glance at a set of cards and places them aside, deciding to speak from her heart instead of prepared notes. She removes her shades, setting them by the cards, purple and red bruises from her recent disaster made more evident.
Michelle clears her throat, a wistful smile emerging.
“I’m not interested in being a gracious loser, so don’t expect me to come up here and congratulate Vanessa Hudgens for retaining her titles. What I will do is offer my sincere respect and that without any hesitation. Vanessa is the toughest fighter I’ve ever faced. When you consider that includes an all-time great and one that will be in this very room, not to mention Claire f’n Danes, that says a lot.
“I want to make clear there are no excuses. I fully believed I would be flyweight champion again. A lot of naysayers didn’t and I guess they have the ultimate evidence in their pocket after those 13 rounds of hell, not to mention what Nessa put me through afterward. I knew if my body gave out before Nessa’s, I’d receive no mercy and believe me, she would have been given the same result with the opposite outcome.
“In that last round, when she came after me and I wanted, no, I needed an answer, I didn’t have one. God knows, it’s not the first time that’s happened to me in a ring, but this time, this time will be the last time.”
Michelle’s voice cracks and she suppresses a sniffle.
“As much as it pains me, I’m officially announcing my retirement from active participation in the FCBA. After 40, you can always hear the clock ticking in the background and that end of that fight was as loud an alarm as I ever need to hear. It’s time to admit some hard facts about Mother Nature and Father Time and I’m finally ready to do it with Vanessa’s abundant help.
“Some other credit where it’s due. It was really Brec Bassinger who placed the question foremost in my mind. I so enjoyed testing myself against the young up-n-comers over the last few years. It kept me young. But that girl was a special case. She showed not a hint of intimidation when she should have. In my mind, she shouldn’t have beat me, but she did. And then she beat me again. And then at September to Remember, she beat me again. It seemed inexplicable, but I can see now it isn’t. At this point, in 2023, she’s the one with the answers, not me. I didn’t want to face that fact.
“I thought there was one surefire way to sweep all of those doubts aside and that’s by beating the best and make myself the best again. It’s why I prevailed on Dove to give me her opportunity, which I now regret, not because of the result, but because I took away a chance she should have had.”
A choking Michelle turns to a misty-eyed Dove.
“I’m sorry.”
The Hall of Famer turns back to the camera.
“I selfishly wanted a different answer than the one I was sensing might be true. Unfortunately, Nessa answered it in the worst way possible and with an exclamation point. Shouting it out to everyone while whispering it in my ear. Me helpless to say otherwise. And I’m as helpless to say otherwise tonight.
“There’s no exhaustion, no coercion, no fear when I say she is the Conqueror of Mishy. I wanted that last taste of the top, and yes I was very close to getting it, but Nessa provided a final bitter, salty meal of abs. Maybe, it couldn’t end any other way. I was destined to keep going until that happened. And now it has.
“My claim to be the best ever was stolen from me. I played with fire one too many times and was burned by a woman who I believe will face the same fate one day from the ‘next Nessa’ following behind. I don’t doubt it may take many years and will be by a better woman than Camila Mendes, but it will come Nessa. Don’t ever think it won’t.
“And so I bid my farewell to competitive boxing. I have nothing against the Cougar division, but I have no interest in stepping in the ring after fighting the best. Finally, I’d like to ask Dove and Nat to come up here and join me.”
The brunettes bracketing Michelle rise, Portman containing her emotions better than a hard-swallowing Dove. In turn, each gives Mishy a heartfelt hug. They turn to face the camera side by side.
“I’d also like to announce I’m not dying,” Michelle adds with a chuckle. “There’s no tragedy here. But Dove and I also feel it’s a good time to terminate my time as her manager. Whenever she feels ready to come back, and might I say better than ever, she will be doing so without my guidance. While some may see this as corroborating evidence of rumblings outside the Consortium there’s conflict between us, we see it as time for Dove to leave the nest and spread her wings. And if it eliminates potential media distractions, all the better. I’ll still offer my services to Natalie Alyn Lind and Peyton Roi List if they believe I can be useful.”
Mishy turns and gives a peck on the bowed forehead of the weepy Cameron.
Natalie cranes her neck to the microphone from the opposite direction.
“And Miss Fittest. Just to let you know. When you dispense with Camila. I will be after your tail.”
And in a not at all Ivy League-level debate tactic, Natty runs a thumb across her throat.
“Dude,” Mishy says with an adoring softness. “I love you.”
The infamous blonde and brunette pillars of the Consortium share a fist pound then decide another embrace would be better. Michelle turns back to the lens.
“So that’s it. I’m out. I know a lot of you, maybe most of you will be happy. I’m glad I could lighten your day. And as for Vanessa. She’s your problem now. So have fun. And kick her ass for yourselves, not me.”
