Post by Gjenrei on Oct 30, 2011 0:53:35 GMT -6
Have you literally learned nothing, Seth? Has stepping through those ropes week after week imparted nothing in you but results and numbers? They say that pain is the ultimate teacher, that a person can overlook a lesson a thousand times, but let it cause them pain once, and they will suddenly understand what they have been missing.
It seems clear now what I must do.
If I am to help you learn your lesson, to help you learn what's important, and what is just a meaningless number, I must partly take this dream away from you. In truth I will not be standing over your shoulder, making sure you never succeed. But in this day, when this fog has been lifted over your eyes, you will see that the first step is the hardest.
And your first step, does not include walking home with some belt.
It includes walking in the door, depressed and dejected. Because you will have realized that dreaming is exactly what it means.
A dream.
Your childhood is alive and well inside you Seth. I can see it in your eyes every time you excitedly speak of what your dreams for the future are. This is not a place for children, not a place for dreams. This is a world where the people who spend all their time trying to achieve their dreams, always have the hardest paths to get there. And often, they find themselves only getting what they thought they wanted, after they no longer care.
They stop reaching for the stars, and take hold of what is in front of them. When it does matter how long the road is, you have the strength to keep walking. I wish you would just understand this now, so I would not be forced to make you understand.
Do you know what being meager is?
Do you know what it is like to try to dream of the future, only to find that the nagging doubts and concerns of tomorrow push themselves in front of your dreams and remind you that reality is far harsher than you can imagine?
Do you know what it is like to suffer, when you should be enjoying your days?
These are things you will come to know, and even if you think you already have, you have not. Even if you think that something you suffer through made you stronger, it did not. Even if you think something you witnessed made your skin thicker and more resilient, it did not.
You are lost and alone, Seth. So much like the dreaming child you said you once were. The dreaming child that to this day, you still remain. I care not to make you suffer out of spite or malice, but if I must show you that the path your own is full of self inflicted sorrow, then I will. I am not doing anything to you that would not happen without my aid, I am simply speeding the process along, that is all.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. And from what I see, you have yet to step your first foot out the door on this venture.
This is my last implore. Leave the dreams at the door. Leave the desires for what you will be one day as an unimportant pipe dream in your mind. Do not make me take this away from you just to show you that the world is harsh and unimaginably cruel.
Do not make me, make you, grow up in one night.
I may not want to, and I may not like it. But I will if I have to. If you persist in this silly foolishness, your road to this glory you crave will not start with a victory over Gjenrei, it will not start with an X Championship reign.
It will simply start with a painful lesson..
I cannot guarantee you will not forget this lesson. But I can assure you that if you do, you will learn it again.
Over and over...
Until the dream dies..
Sooooo, what's up guys?
His name was Orlando, after the city he was conceived in. He was a former soldier in the army, and after his services were no longer needed after the gulf, he did what many men who know nothing but the battlefield do. He became a soldier for another cause.
Nice to see you too.
Always so polite. So, what's the job Reirei?
His pocketbook. He was a mercenary through and through. And no, I am not fond of him calling me Reirei.
We're going to have a chat with a car thief. We just need a little...
Tactical support.
I was going to say firepower to keep the man honest, but that works as well.
Pay rate?
See what I mean?
Standard rate.
Goodie. How big are we talking here?
Little more than a skirmish, little less than Armageddon.
Suhweeet!
Garett looked at me, his eyebrow raised in question. He had always wondered how I could work with a man like Orlando, but I knew him to be one of the most trustworthy men I have ever come across in this line of work or any other. He was a steady hand, kept his cool under pressure, and knew what had to be done when it had to be done, without being told.
Be ready by tomorrow then?
Hmmm..
He paused to think, allowing our waitress time to serve our next round of drinks. The staff at Rosa's is very nice I thought.
Not for what I'd want, but I can be ready for what you want.
Good.
Garett nudged me in the side and motioned his head towards the door. Orlando caught the motion, but did not immediately whip around to look.
Eight o'clock.
Target?
Yes.
Orlando made the motion of pretending to make an exit. He shook both our hands, smiled broadly and acted like we were deep in conversation. Then he headed for the door. The thumbs up he flashed us before he stepped out into the sun showed that he was aware of the situation.
He travels light.
Three guards, possibly four. Handguns in shoulder holsters. Off the rack suits. Standard "private security".
I used that term loosely. These men had the look of wanting to kill. Seperating Omar from his goon squad would be a little tougher without gunplay. Especially in a crowded place like this.
Change of plans.
Something on your mind, brother?
Postponing the timetable. There isn't enough space here to do what we need to do without the chance of a bodycount being too high. We are going to need prep time. Can you get a bug?
An electronic listening device, but I am sure most of you knew that.
Sure. I carry a few in the car, just in case.
Slip out. Plant one in his car.
You got it brother.
He was gone. I stood up, placing several bills on the table to cover our tab, plus a tip for the nice lady who served us. Then I stepped over to the bar. The woman behind it came up to me, and I placed a hundred dollar bill, courtesy of my other job, on the plank.
Whatcha need hun?
That man down there. The bald one with the goatee?
The one standin next to Omar?
Yes. Him. It's his birthday today, and I was wondering if you could make him one of those fruity drinks with the sparklers. And if I could get a few people to sing happy birthday, that would be nice.
She smiled at me, taking my cash, making change for one of those drinks, then placing the change in her cleavage. She motioned for the three waitresses on staff to come to the bar.
You got it hun.
I smiled.
Thank you, so much.
The look on their face was priceless. The quartet of women ignored his protests that it was in fact not his birthday, and soon the rest of the bar joined in the merriment. The distraction was twofold. I slipped out unseen, and Garett had no problems placing a listening device in the car, wired to the power windows.
What's going on in there?
Did you not hear? Someone is having a birthday.
He saw my expression, and chuckled, shaking his head.
Priceless.. I love it when a plan comes together.
It seems clear now what I must do.
If I am to help you learn your lesson, to help you learn what's important, and what is just a meaningless number, I must partly take this dream away from you. In truth I will not be standing over your shoulder, making sure you never succeed. But in this day, when this fog has been lifted over your eyes, you will see that the first step is the hardest.
And your first step, does not include walking home with some belt.
It includes walking in the door, depressed and dejected. Because you will have realized that dreaming is exactly what it means.
A dream.
Your childhood is alive and well inside you Seth. I can see it in your eyes every time you excitedly speak of what your dreams for the future are. This is not a place for children, not a place for dreams. This is a world where the people who spend all their time trying to achieve their dreams, always have the hardest paths to get there. And often, they find themselves only getting what they thought they wanted, after they no longer care.
They stop reaching for the stars, and take hold of what is in front of them. When it does matter how long the road is, you have the strength to keep walking. I wish you would just understand this now, so I would not be forced to make you understand.
Do you know what being meager is?
Do you know what it is like to try to dream of the future, only to find that the nagging doubts and concerns of tomorrow push themselves in front of your dreams and remind you that reality is far harsher than you can imagine?
Do you know what it is like to suffer, when you should be enjoying your days?
These are things you will come to know, and even if you think you already have, you have not. Even if you think that something you suffer through made you stronger, it did not. Even if you think something you witnessed made your skin thicker and more resilient, it did not.
You are lost and alone, Seth. So much like the dreaming child you said you once were. The dreaming child that to this day, you still remain. I care not to make you suffer out of spite or malice, but if I must show you that the path your own is full of self inflicted sorrow, then I will. I am not doing anything to you that would not happen without my aid, I am simply speeding the process along, that is all.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. And from what I see, you have yet to step your first foot out the door on this venture.
This is my last implore. Leave the dreams at the door. Leave the desires for what you will be one day as an unimportant pipe dream in your mind. Do not make me take this away from you just to show you that the world is harsh and unimaginably cruel.
Do not make me, make you, grow up in one night.
I may not want to, and I may not like it. But I will if I have to. If you persist in this silly foolishness, your road to this glory you crave will not start with a victory over Gjenrei, it will not start with an X Championship reign.
It will simply start with a painful lesson..
I cannot guarantee you will not forget this lesson. But I can assure you that if you do, you will learn it again.
Over and over...
Until the dream dies..
Sooooo, what's up guys?
His name was Orlando, after the city he was conceived in. He was a former soldier in the army, and after his services were no longer needed after the gulf, he did what many men who know nothing but the battlefield do. He became a soldier for another cause.
Nice to see you too.
Always so polite. So, what's the job Reirei?
His pocketbook. He was a mercenary through and through. And no, I am not fond of him calling me Reirei.
We're going to have a chat with a car thief. We just need a little...
Tactical support.
I was going to say firepower to keep the man honest, but that works as well.
Pay rate?
See what I mean?
Standard rate.
Goodie. How big are we talking here?
Little more than a skirmish, little less than Armageddon.
Suhweeet!
Orlando
Nutcase Merc
[/center]Nutcase Merc
Garett looked at me, his eyebrow raised in question. He had always wondered how I could work with a man like Orlando, but I knew him to be one of the most trustworthy men I have ever come across in this line of work or any other. He was a steady hand, kept his cool under pressure, and knew what had to be done when it had to be done, without being told.
Be ready by tomorrow then?
Hmmm..
He paused to think, allowing our waitress time to serve our next round of drinks. The staff at Rosa's is very nice I thought.
Not for what I'd want, but I can be ready for what you want.
Good.
Garett nudged me in the side and motioned his head towards the door. Orlando caught the motion, but did not immediately whip around to look.
Eight o'clock.
Target?
Yes.
Orlando made the motion of pretending to make an exit. He shook both our hands, smiled broadly and acted like we were deep in conversation. Then he headed for the door. The thumbs up he flashed us before he stepped out into the sun showed that he was aware of the situation.
He travels light.
Three guards, possibly four. Handguns in shoulder holsters. Off the rack suits. Standard "private security".
I used that term loosely. These men had the look of wanting to kill. Seperating Omar from his goon squad would be a little tougher without gunplay. Especially in a crowded place like this.
Change of plans.
Something on your mind, brother?
Postponing the timetable. There isn't enough space here to do what we need to do without the chance of a bodycount being too high. We are going to need prep time. Can you get a bug?
An electronic listening device, but I am sure most of you knew that.
Sure. I carry a few in the car, just in case.
Slip out. Plant one in his car.
You got it brother.
He was gone. I stood up, placing several bills on the table to cover our tab, plus a tip for the nice lady who served us. Then I stepped over to the bar. The woman behind it came up to me, and I placed a hundred dollar bill, courtesy of my other job, on the plank.
Whatcha need hun?
That man down there. The bald one with the goatee?
The one standin next to Omar?
Yes. Him. It's his birthday today, and I was wondering if you could make him one of those fruity drinks with the sparklers. And if I could get a few people to sing happy birthday, that would be nice.
She smiled at me, taking my cash, making change for one of those drinks, then placing the change in her cleavage. She motioned for the three waitresses on staff to come to the bar.
You got it hun.
I smiled.
Thank you, so much.
The look on their face was priceless. The quartet of women ignored his protests that it was in fact not his birthday, and soon the rest of the bar joined in the merriment. The distraction was twofold. I slipped out unseen, and Garett had no problems placing a listening device in the car, wired to the power windows.
What's going on in there?
Did you not hear? Someone is having a birthday.
He saw my expression, and chuckled, shaking his head.
Priceless.. I love it when a plan comes together.
