A Matter Of Opinion

[TheSuitedOwl]

Hearing her answer Rabbit would nod her and gesture for Yuki to follow. As she skated slightly ahead and begun gathering all her thoughts into something more cohesive. Although she couldn't help but wonder the futility of all of this. Yuki was more than likely to brush her off than listen to her. After all why would any veteran listen to some random rookie who barely had her training wheels off. Sure, she was a veteran in a combat sport but how much did that actually matter? Rabbit wasn't sure however she could at least hold out some hope. Seeing that Yuki was al least still willing to hear her out.

Not long after though she would spot her bench. Slightly off the beaten path and under the shade of the surrounding trees. It would be isolated enough for their chat and nice enough to give Yuki a chance to rest. As Rabbit quickly moved to remove any leafs and dirt off it's surface. Then took a seat and waited for Yuki to get comfortable enough in hers before she would begin. "... Okay... So... I use to run in a Roller Derby team. Best in the country actually." Rabbit said with a smirk filled with pride. Before it would quickly disappear as Rabbit pushed on shaking her head.

"...Anyway what I'm trying to say is that I know my shit. And a lot of what I'm about to say comes from this but you gotta understand one thing. I think Deathmatches are corporate bullshit. It's a nice publicity stunt for the league and you do get a bit of favor from the suits in the end but, it's a rotten deal. Few people watch those fucking things for it to every be worth it." Rabbit explained with a hint of irritation in her voice. Before she would finally sigh and turn to Yuki. "Unless... Someone ended up with a strange idea in their head. So would you mind telling me yours? I can kind of guess but I'd rather hear it from you."

[CaptainL]

Yuki stuck her hands in her pockets, following after Rabbit. Although the white-haired girl had skates on, she was so kind as to slow down enough for Yuki to keep up, and Yuki nodded in a show of appreciation. In truth, as storied as her career was - ascending to fame on the indies, becoming a main eventer in LAW, facing Aoi Fukiwara in a title match, and most recently taking part in one of the most grueling and harrowing matches of her life and still only narrowly losing - Yuki was still getting used to the fact that those around her saw her as that big a deal. She was always a humble girl, with no specific aspirations besides striving to be the best she could be, and to live up to her own goals and pursuits. She didn't see Rabbit as an inferior, even if she was frustrated with her trying to impede on her business. She was, however, curious to see what she had to say.

Soon enough, they arrived at their destination, with Rabbit clearing off a space to sit. Yuki followed her down, adjusting her position before she let out a huff and slumped against the back of the bench. Once she was settled, she leaned toward Rabbit with a curious eye, wondering what she was getting at. Hearing her describe her involvement with roller derby, Yuki had no idea what relevance it had to the topic at hand. But she was willing to hear her out all the same - and when she heard her feelings on deathmatches, Yuki let out a sigh, glancing down at the ground. She figured it'd turn to this. She still wasn't sure how this related to Rabbit's roller derby credentials, but she would need to explain her side of the story anyway.

"You...don't understand," she said. "I'm sorry, it sounds harsh, but...it's not about how many people watched the match. It's not about the fans for anything I do, really. I wrestle for myself, because it's what I live for. It makes me feel fulfilled in my life."

"And in that case...it didn't matter if it was one person watching or a million, I still had to do it. Amano was challenging me to something that would truly push my limits. Something like nothing else I'd ever put myself through. She thought that I'd back down...and I wanted to prove to her that I wouldn't. I wanted to put myself through whatever pain and whatever harm I needed to to demonstrate that I wasn't afraid of anything. It wasn't about the fans, it was for me..." Yuki looked off, her feet idly kicking in the air as she spoke. "And, even if I got pretty banged up from it...I don't have any regrets. If anything, it proved to me I really do have the will to succeed. Going into that match, I wasn't sure if I could really do it, but I did, all the same. That counts for something, I think."

[TheSuitedOwl]

Hearing Yuki's rebuttal Rabbit would stay in relative silence. She didn't want to interrupt the superstar even as she started to feel mischaracterized or misunderstood. Yuki was giving out important information, information she wasn't fully aware of, and didn't want to poison the well before the two would get into the meat and potatoes of the problem.

"No. Don't be, I need to hear it but you misunderstand my issue... What you just said do you think it's healthy?..." Rabbit asked. As she purposefully left some dead air in between them so Yuki could reflect before continuing. Though for Rabbit the answer was obviously especially when the person arguing against her wasn't in the best shape at the moment.

"In both roller derby and wrestling, there aren't that many rules for us to follow. So a lot of times we have to lead by example. Which works well until someone takes it too far and decides that breaking someone's leg or clawing their face-off, isn't that big of a deal compared to their fucking pride or rep." Rabbit said. Glancing at Yuki's hands for a moment before she would quickly look away and keep going.

"That "match" was brutal and I'm glad your feeling well about it but how far is this going to go? People look to you and whether you care or not that horror show you put on inspired them."

[CaptainL]

Once she'd said her part, Yuki looked back up at Rabbit, focusing her gaze on the white-haired girl. But when she heard the next thing out of her mouth, she fell silent.

Healthy? Yuki realized then that that was a question she had never heard anyone - including herself - ask before. And, honestly, she was surprised that no one had. All this time, she had devoted her life to wrestling, sacrificing everything else to the pursuit of becoming the best competitor she could be. She felt happiest when she knew she had succeeded, and when she knew she had given her all in any challenge. But...was she supposed to? Especially when it had seen her to a hospital bed?

She didn't have an answer to that. All she did was let out a sigh, turning her gaze downward to stare at the ground. As Rabbit continued, she sunk further into a slump; her body practically deflated with another long, deep breath. What Rabbit said was true. She had lost control of herself in that match, and done things that she never would have expected herself to be capable of. Yuki thought that she was a calm person, that she knew what she wanted and how to achieve it. Above all, she didn't want to let her emotions rule her. But that was exactly what had happened this time. And now, what was to come of it? Yuki had felt the guilt of failing herself. But now, was she failing others too? That was another prospect she hadn't considered.

The girl bent over at the waist, placing her head in her hands. She didn't look back at Rabbit, as though she felt ashamed to. "...I'm not going to lie," she said. "I...fucked up back there. I can't dance around that. I let myself get carried away, and...I'm probably lucky neither of us didn't get hurt more. But...what can I do about it? Apologize? To who? Maizono wouldn't accept it, she told me as much. I just...have to move forward, I guess. And hope that I handle it better next time."

Then, though, Yuki lifted her head, looking Rabbit in the eye. "But...would I do a match like that again? Honestly...I wouldn't say no, on principle. It's about me, if anything."

[TheSuitedOwl]

Like standing over a cliff waiting for the ground to eventually rush up to you. Rabbit held her breath. She just didn't know what Yuki might say or what sort of personality she had. Hell, all of this could still blow up in her face and although she may have done this a few times in her roller derby career. She wasn't an expert and perhaps in one particular case she probably made it worse.

And that was with people that liked her, knew her, respected her! Why wouldn't Yuki react negatively, rebuke her and tell her to fuck off? She was the wrestling prodigy and despite their age difference the veteran out of the two. So compared to her Rabbit was basically a nobody.

Yet even so the young athlete felt a need to intervene . She knew from experience that people like Yuki probably weren't heading in the best direction, their mentality could be toxic if not tempered well. So for the sake of Yuki and maybe the league Rabbit had to try and brace for the worst. Thankfully no such thing played out and as the raven haired woman continued to talk much of Rabbit's anxiety and tension seemed to slowly evaporate from her.

And although it wasn't exactly what Rabbit had wanted. It was nonetheless refreshing to hear and at the very least a better place for them to start than when they originally met. "... Wwwell I kinda suspected as much." Rabbit eventually replied. As she awkwardly broke eye contact to rub the back of her head. "You didn't really strike me as the cowardly type. Hehe..." Rabbit lightly laughed. Only to frown halfway through when she recalled seeing Yuki throw herself into a line of barbwire. "Ugh. Look you don't have to apologize or make some cringe speech in front of everyone. For now how about you don't do anything super crazy and if you find yourself in that ring again. You don't try to drag it." Rabbit finished. Once again making eye contact with Yuki as she gave the Dynamite Schoolgirl a toothy grin and a fist she could bump. "Fair?"

[CaptainL]

When approached about their actions in the ring, it wasn't uncommon for wrestlers to get defensive - to make excuses, or to try to intimidate their would-be advisor into silence. Yuki wasn't like that, though. Despite the bloodshed and horror she had just been through, she was still a modest girl, one who kept to herself and who strove for success in the ring not for the sake of money or glory but because it was what she had a passion for, and what she knew she could do best. She could accept that she had made mistakes - particularly when it came to what message she set for others. Part of what kept Yuki going was the knowledge she was being an inspiration for those around her - proof that anyone could achieve greatness if they tried, if even an unassuming high school girl could go toe to toe with the Lightweight Champion. She grew tense at the thought that she might have inspired anyone else to risk their lives and livelihoods in such a way.

But it was another one of Yuki's principles that she would never give up, or back down. Reiko had issued this challenge. She had been the one who decided their match on her terms, and Yuki refused to reject them. Rabbit was right - she wasn't a coward. She had to finish what she started. And she couldn't quite be sure this was finished.

Seeing the white-haired girl's gesture, Yuki bumped her fist, looking up at her with a smile of her own - albeit one more hesitant and awkward. But no sooner had she done that, she glanced down with a sigh.

"I mean, yeah. Yeah, I can try, but...if push comes to shove, I'm still going to do what I have to."

[TheSuitedOwl]

Even as two fist bumped in agreement Rabbit could tell they still weren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye. Though rather than pressing on it any further Anya chose to ignore it for now. Not only had Yuki listened but she agreed! She actually agreed! Probably the only person besides her tag partners that understood from where she was coming from. So whatever hang ups they had. Rabbit sure as hell wasn't going to be the one risking what little progress she made just because Yuki thought a little differently from her. They just had to cross that bridge when they got there.

For now, Anya just needed to lighten up the mood. This whole time she had felt like she had been stuck in the air wondering if she could even stick the landing after a difficult trick. Only now did she feel like she could relax. "Hehe... Not like I could force you. And I'd probably need a whole derby team for just that." Rabbit joked. As she jabbed her hand into the front pocket of her biker shorts and pulled out a crumpled old receipt. On the back of which had a few places and times written out in a blue pen. "It's a list of places me and the girls hangout. Be cool if you could join us some time. Though a few of these are parking lots so..." Rabbit paused. Realizing how stupid it was to hand someone something so messy and cryptic like her handwriting. "Oh. Sorry, you would probably do better with my phone number." Anya thought out loud.

Dropping the paper between them. While she dug through her backpack for a few seconds. Then after reemerging with a cellphone in hand she would ask. "So, uh, what's your number Ironfoot?"

[CaptainL]

Yuki knew what Rabbit was getting at. The path she was walking down was a dangerous one. If either she or Amano had messed anything up in their last match, either one of them could have been seriously injured - or worse. And Yuki had been just as much to blame as her opponent was. Amano had spent the whole match taunting her and bringing that anger out of her, yet Yuki had let herself get lost in her rage and desperation, throwing aside everything she was holding back just to prove her point. She sighed again, just thinking back on it. It was a painful memory, not just for the physical sensations it stirred up, but for how much it reminded her of how she'd lost her cool, and broken one of her biggest promises to herself.

And yet...in the end, she couldn't say she wouldn't do it again. She didn't want it to ever be necessary - but she knew that things weren't quite done between Reiko and her. The match had happened in the first place because Yuki was determined never to back down from a challenge, and to always set out to prove her strength. She wasn't just trying to maim Amano for no reason. It was her proving that she wasn't above it all - that she was willing to risk the worst if it meant standing up for herself, and showing the world she could be a fighter. Even after everything, she still held onto her philosophy. And though she'd try her best to stay out of trouble, she couldn't in good conscience lie to Rabbit and tell her that she'd never do it again.

Fortunately, Rabbit seemed to understand. Yuki looked back up at her, and hearing the tone in her voice, she smiled. Even if the two didn't agree, Rabbit wasn't going to hold that against Yuki, and the dark-haired girl was happy to hear she wouldn't let it get in the way. She even giggled to herself at Rabbit's joke - and as soon as she did, the tension seemed to lift from the two of them. Yuki's stern and stoic air melted away. They weren't two wrestlers standing at a crossroads in a battle of wills - they were just two girls at the park. "Hah! I'd like to see that..."

Yuki looked over at the receipt Rabbit handed her, tilting her head to the side to try and make sense of it. She bit at her lip, trying not to let her confusion show on her face too much - she was struggling to read it, but she didn't want to be rude. Rabbit seemed to pick up on it either way, asking Yuki her number - and the Dynamite Schoolgirl set the receipt down to tell her.

First, though, she paused a little at what Rabbit had called her. "Ironfoot...I like it." She winced at the thought of the puncture wounds she'd incurred, but she knew why Rabbit had dubbed her so. Despite the pain and hardship she'd endured, Yuki was still willing to fight through it all, just to prove that she could. It was the same reason she'd gotten into this mess in the first place - but Rabbit could appreciate that part of her all the same. And if that's what she was going to be known for...then Yuki knew everything she'd gone through wasn't for naught.

"So...does that mean I'm an honorary member of the team, now? Maybe I should pick up skating lessons." After a chuckle, she gave Rabbit her number.

[TheSuitedOwl]

As much as Rabbit hated the thought she couldn't actually stop people like Yuki. Short of fighting them every step of the way. All Rabbit could really do was warn them of the troubling road they were heading and pray that they would at least hear her out. The rest was up to them as corny as that was, it was the frustrating truth of the matter.

Though Yuki did give her hope. She was smart, preceptive, and clearly with a straight head on. Meaning she wasn't just doing this with blind passion but principled morals. Sure she couldn't exactly agree with all of it but she could at least respect it. It was after all more than what she could say about most.

"Hehe! Yeah the name suits you. You couldn't be more solid." Rabbit answered. Her words clearly implying more than just her physical capacity but simply left at that as they moved on. "Hell yeah! My team would love it and if your serious we could teach you." Anya rambled off. Seemingly relieved that she could finally stop walking on eggshells and start talking normally as she readied her thumb to take Yuki's number.

End