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Posted by Tobias Clarke & Starlight Kid
on January 23, 2025, 9:48 am
(Starlight Kid): Tobias-san… I read your message. You say, ‘I choose you.’ Like I am Pokémon? Your words… they no good. They hurt. You make fun of my English… my culture. Like joke? Why? In Japan, we respect. We honor each other. You no honor me. I try hard. I try fit in here. But your words make it hard for me.
She pauses for a bit, trying her best to translate from Japanese to English, trying to recall the lessons she’d been taking.
(Starlight Kid): I come America to… grow. To show world I am strong puroresurā. But you… I see you. You try cheat Stu-E Price for world title. That no honor. No respect. I no want be part of dis. That not me.
She pauses again, her voice softening as she looks away, conflicted.
(Starlight Kid): But… all others have tag partner. I… I have no choice. If I no team with you, I no compete. I no show my skills. So, I accept, Tobias-san. But listen. You try cheat? You try trick? I leave you. You fight alone! I fight for honor. Not for you. Remember that. See you in Seattle!
With her head held high, she walks away as the scene is paused.
Zooming out, what is revealed is a large flatscreen TV mounted on the wall, Starlight Kid’s latest promo being viewed upon it.
Panning around, seated in two of the comfy leather seats is Starlight Kid herself, looking decidedly frustrated and ill at ease.
The other is Tobias Clarke. A man showing complete obliviousness to the other’s demeanour as he turns to face her.
(Tobias): Buddy, listen. You got off on the wrong foot there.
He gestures towards the TV with one hand, carrying on.
(Tobias): That right there… that was misinterpretation… you gotta work with me here buddy. I mean… what was it?
He pulls back the promo to the early portion of it, hitting play.
(Starlight Kid): Tobias-san… I read your message. You say, ‘I choose you.’ Like I am Pokémon? Your words… they no good. They hurt. You make fun of my English… my culture. Like joke?
He hits the pause button.
(Tobias): You’re lashing out here buddy. Yes, I did choose you. No other f*cker did. Because they think you’re not cut out for this. But not me.
He taps his chest with the remote.
(Tobias): I see the real you.
He hits play again.
(Starlight Kid): I come America to… grow. To show world I am strong puroresurā.
Again, he pauses, looking genuinely quizzical at her.
(Tobias): Though buddy, c’mon. You’re talking about pasta there… no smoke without fire, poor English… eh buddy, can you see it?
Starlight’s eyes, even with the mask on, couldn’t have rolled more if she had tried. Although her grasp on English was basic at best, she was getting better and even some small subtleties were starting to become apparent.
(Starlight): Puroresurā is pro wrassler, Tobias-san! Not pasta! See, you still mock me!
She throws an accusatory finger in his direction.
(Starlight Kid): I no get picked because I am new, yes? But I am champion! In Japan, I am Goddess of Stardom! Kiriyama-san? He knows this, is why he invited me to HWA! You are not nice person! I only… team with you… so I can compete at Havoc!
Tobias claps his hands together.
She finally gets it.
(Tobias): Exactly! You are new! No one gives a sh*t if you were champion in Japan! You’ve hurt Parker… and that…
A nod of the head towards her.
(Tobias): Big fan of by the way.
He makes a dismissive wave of the hand at her.
(Tobias): Listen, you got invited here just like I did. Why? Because it gives this place a sheen of respectability. But at the end of the day, it’s a fix. It’s all stacked against me…
He catches himself, adding hurriedly.
(Tobias): And you, of course. But you’re welcome, for being able to compete at Havoc.
Tobias spoke quite fast and his accent was a little different to that of other Americans. She heard Tobias say Parker and instantly knew what he meant with no need for translation.
(Starlight Kid): What happened to Sean-san! That was…how do you say? Axe-dent! And I no need to say thank you! I mean what I say before, you try cheat against Michelle-san and Sean-san and I leave you!
Starlight folds her arms across her chest emphatically, as if to punctuate the last part of her statement.
(Tobias): Sure, “accident”…
His fingers flash up in emphasis there.
(Tobias): … wink wink, nudge nudge buddy. Sure.
He sighs dramatically, as if he was a teacher and she was a child.
(Tobias): Listen up. The odds are stacked against us. It’s Parker and Michelle. Sure, she’s the liability here, but you can bet that he’s going to have every advantage that can be put his way by management and his little flock of assh*les who like to ride coattails. And besides honey, this is America, winning is winning.
(Starlight Kid): You talk very fast, Tobias-san. I no understand ri-a-birity? And you are wrong, winning not winning if you cheat! The mat, in ring? It is…. How you say? Sacred? You cheat to win, you not good enough!
(Tobias): Calm down there Gunther…
He makes a ‘woah’ motion with his palms facing Starlight Kid, fingers outstretched.
(Tobias): That friend of Hans has his little buddies to back him up. We don’t.
He prods at her.
(Tobias): It’s just me and you… and if you don’t buck up your ideas of what it’s like in this sh*tshow of a federation, then I guess it’ll be mostly me.
This time he gestures out to the wider Academy beyond the room that they’re in.
(Tobias): You’ve seen the type of people they let in here. Sacred? Those f*ckers couldn’t even spell the word let alone tell you what it means. This is dog eat dog buddy…
Starlight looks like she wasn’t sure how to even react to this guy. In lieu of even trying to interpret or understand what he was saying by, she opts for a shrug.
(Starlight Kid): I do not speak much Engrish, Tobias-san but dogs make more sense dan you! I have… how you say? Appointment? hai, appointment. See you at Havoc!
She turns and walks away from Tobias, shaking her head as she does so.
Watching her go, Tobias turns around with a look of disgust.
(Tobias): Rude! I was going to talk game plan, strategise and everything else. What could be more important than that… than me?
He almost looks dejected.
But not quite. This is Tobias afterall.
He reaches into his pocket, taking out a folded piece of paper which he opens.
(Tobias): I was even going to show her my latest haiku.
The camera pans over his shoulder, looking down.
It’s about one of their opponents.
“Sean Parker's weak game, Fumbles, falls, and brings no fame, Shame is his true name.”
(Tobias): Urgh, no matter.
He uncaringly lets it fall onto the floor and gets to his feet.
(Tobias): Time to kill, maybe I’ll go watch those idiots train below.
With a mocking laugh at the thought of observing those in the Academy, he makes for the door.
End scene.
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