HWA Message Board: Training Day

Location: HWA Academy, Private Training Room #1

It had been 24 hours since Wisdom Parker had announced the confirmed mixed tag teams for the Sadie Hawkins Edition of Havoc for the last episode in January. The internet wrestling community had been set atwitter regarding not only the teams but also the matches that were to take place for a unique Havoc, none more so than the highly-anticipated match-up between the newly-engaged couple of Sean Parker and Michelle Learner taking on the eclectic team of Starlight Kid and Tobias Clarke.

Michelle had been conflicted over the last day or so. She was nervous about getting in the ring with someone like Tobias but also excited about getting back in the ring with Starlight Kid. She’d developed quite the budding friendship with the international star and had enjoyed helping her transition to life in America. Sean meanwhile, whilst he understood Michelle’s trepidation, was excited to get his hands on Tobias who hadn’t been shy of throwing not-so-subtle digs in his direction for the last several months.

Off-camera, Sean was adorned in his training attire of shorts and a y-back personalised Sky Assassin Venum©️ vest top and standard wrestling boots. His gaze was fixed on Michelle as she worked through a set of warm-up drills. Michelle was clad in her own simple training gear as well, her petite frame moved with hesitation as she practiced quick step-ins and palm strikes against a padded dummy, but her face betrayed her uncertainty. Her blonde hair, tied into a neat ponytail, bobbed with each motion, something Sean wasn’t ignorant to either. He loved Michelle’s pureness, her integrity, her unyielding ability to try and see the best in people. But he knew that Tobias would take advantage of her come Havoc.

(Sean): You’re overthinking again.

Michelle froze mid-motion, her Disney-like eyes darting to him.

(Michelle): I can’t help it… Tobias is sneaky, Sean, you saw the way he tried to cheat to win the World Title! What if I mess up? What if I freeze out there?

(Sean):You won’t.

Sean pushed off the ropes and walked over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, crouching slightly to meet her eyes.

(Sean): I’ve told you a thousand times, babe, you’re better than you think you are. You’ve proven it before and you’re going to do it again on Monday!

Michelle bit her lip, fidgeting with the edge of one of her elbow pads.

(Michelle): This is different, this isn’t you or Matt or Jeremy with me in the ring training. This is the real deal and Tobias doesn’t just wrestle, he plays a little dirty sometime and you know how I get when someone tries to throw me off.

Sean tilted his head, offering a small smirk.

(Sean): That’s what I’m here for, remember? If Tobias tries to mess with your head, I’ll make sure he regrets it.

Michelle sighed, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward ever so slightly.

(Michelle): It’s not that simple, this is a tag team match, I’m supposed to pull my own weight remember?

(Sean): It is simple. We focus on what we do best. You’re fast, smart, and you can outmaneuver anyone in that ring. Me? I’ll be your backup, your wrecking ball when you need it. We’ve got this.

Sean held out his hand, palm up, and Michelle hesitated for only a moment before placing hers on top of his.

(Michelle): Okay.

Her reply was soft but her voice started to gain a little more strength.

(Michelle): Let’s do it.

Sean smiled broadly, giving her a quick kiss on the lips and her hand a squeeze.

(Sean): That’s my girl! Look… I know you won't like this, but I think, if you're going to get the edge on Tobias and hang with Starlight, you need to add something to your arsenal....

(Michelle): Ummmm ok….like what?

(Sean): My Masamune Decapitation. It's perfect for you, it's quick, you can hit out of nowhere and with the right amount of momentum, you can hit it like a truck, even against someone like Tobias!

Michelle froze, her hand pausing mid-motion as she reached for her water bottle. She turned to look at Sean, her l eyes wide with surprise.

(Michelle): I can’t do that, Sean, that's... that's your move! It's what you’re known for. Why would I-?

(Sean): -Exactly! It's my move because it works. It’s explosive, it’s fast, and it can take down anyone if it’s done right. But here’s the thing, you’ve got the speed and agility to make it even better. You could catch someone like Tobias completely off-guard with it. Trust me, it’s perfect for you!

Michelle shifted uncomfortably, her gaze dropping to the canvas. She’d seen Sean nail his Masamune Decapitation countless times over the years, and watched him clatter his elbow square into the face of countless opponents. Could she do that? Especially against someone she considered a friend like Starlight?

(Michelle): No, it’s not right Seam, I can’t just mooch your signature move. You’ve worked so hard to make that move iconic. People will think I’m just copying you like couples who wear the same outfit, only they won’t think it’s cute.

Sean let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.

(Sean): You’re not copying me. You’re making it your own. Look, the Masamune Decapitation isn’t just my move, it’s a tool, and the way you use it will be different. You’ve got a unique style. You can add your own flair, your own stamp on it.

(Michelle): But I’ve never tried it before… What if I can’t pull it off? What if I bounce off Tobias?

(Sean): That’s why we’re here, training. Look, I get it, babe, it's a hard-hitting move, it’s gonna hurt whoever you hit it with. But you need something that can stop Tobias in his tracks, let him know he’s not gonna run over you. You’ve got the technique, you’ve got the precision. Now, you just need the confidence.

Michelle hesitated, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her top.

(Michelle): It’s not just about the move, Sean. What if I mess it up? What if I... I don’t live up to what people expect from me? This is a huge moment in HWA, the first night like this with intergender matches. I don’t want to try something like this and it blows up in my face…

Sean reached out, placing both hands gently on her shoulders and locking eyes with her.

(Sean): Sweetheart, listen to me. You’ve got nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. I know you can do this. I know you can make this work. Let’s just try it, okay? One step at a time. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll figure something else out. Deal?

She studied him for a long moment, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Finally, she let out a slow breath and gave a hesitant nod.

(Michelle): Alright. We can try it. But no promises I won’t fall on my face.

Sean grinned, stepping back to give Michelle some space. She stood nervously by the ropes, her fingers curled around the top strand as Sean stepped to the center of the ring. He rolled his shoulders, a confident smirk playing on his lips as he positioned himself a few feet away from the training dummy. As he moved himself into position, Sean began bouncing on the balls of his feet.

(Sean): Before we get started, let me show you exactly how it’s done. It’s all about speed, momentum, and precision.

Michelle nodded silently as Sean crouched slightly, his body coiled like a spring.

(Sean): It’s simple, you gotta start with a hard run, build that speed, and then shift all your weight into the strike. You’ve got to commit to it completely though; half-measures won’t work with it.

With that, Sean launched himself forward. His boots pounded against the canvas as he built up speed and, as he neared the dummy, his arm cocked back, the point of his elbow poised for impact. At the perfect moment, he lunged forward, driving his elbow with unrelenting force into the side of the dummy’s head. The dummy rocked violently on its stand, its base nearly tipping over from the sheer force of the strike. Sean followed through, his momentum carrying him a few steps past the target before he stopped, turning back. Michelle’s jaw dropped as she stared at the dummy, its head tilted awkwardly from the impact.

(Michelle): I don’t think I can do Sean! It's too much!

(Sean): Yes, you can, I promise you can. The key here isn’t just the power, it’s the timing. You’ve got to line it up perfectly, commit to the run, and let your body do the rest. You’re smaller than me, but that’s an advantage. You’re faster, and your precision is better. Trust me, babe, you can make this move lethal!

Michelle hesitated, glancing from Sean to the wobbling dummy, still not convinced.

(Michelle): I don’t know….you make it look so… effortless. What if it doesn’t work against someone like Tobias? What if I just bounce off him like I’m in a bouncy castle or something?! And do I use it on Starlight? I want to win but I don’t want to hurt anyone more than what’s necessary!

(Sean): It will work, I promise you, sweetheart. Tobias, I can guarantee you, won’t pull any punches with you and neither should you. I promise you, babe, you’ve got everything you need to pull this off. This move isn’t about brute strength, it’s about technique and heart and you have them both in spades!

She exhaled slowly, still not entirely convinced but Sean was more experienced than her in the ring and wouldn’t have suggested it if he didn’t think she could do it. She eventually nodded.

(Michelle): Alright. I’ll give it a shot.

Sean grinned.

(Sean): That’s my girl!

Michelle moved to her starting position and as she glanced toward the dummy, she replayed Sean’s demonstration in her head. Build speed, commit fully, strike with precision. She swallowed hard, adjusted her elbow pad, and nodded to herself. Taking a deep breath, she took off, sprinting towards the dummy. As she got within striking distance, she pulled her arm back and, at the last moment, Michelle lunged forward, driving her elbow into the head of the dummy with all the force she could muster. Although the impact wasn’t as thunderous as Sean’s, it was still solid as the dummy’s head rocked back considerably. Sean clapped his hands enthusiastically rushing towards Michelle and lifting her up by the waist exuberantly.

(Sean): Let’s f*cking go! Sorry! That’s exactly what I’m talking about! See? You can do it! You were like an arrow! Straight into the target, boom!

Sean clapped his hands loudly together creating a bang sound to emphasise his point.

(Michelle): I did it!

She almost screamed out loud with excitement. Despite it being a dummy, she felt proud of herself, so much so that she didn’t even hear Sean’s potty mouth.

(Michelle): Okay, lemme try one more time.

Sean reset the dummy in place and Michelle positioned herself once again, and charged out towards it, flinging her tucked arm out like a tree branch pulled back and smacked the dummy once more. She felt her confidence building and smiled giddily at Sean who looked at her with such pride on his face.

(Sean): I told you! Didn’t I tell you! You were like a beautiful angelic arrow!

Sean’s eyes then widened as soon as the latter words left his mouth, like a lightbulb just went off in his head and he clicked his fingers in Michelle’s direction.

(Sean): A Celestial Arrow! That’s your new move!

(Michelle): I'm so excited, thank you for showing me. You know...

She moved closer to Sean smiling, her hands behind her back as she twisted from side to side in a girly fashion.

(Michelle): Don't tell Sensei… but you make a pretty good instructor.

Sean found it ironic that he felt himself blushing slightly with Michelle’s compliment. He attempted to brush it off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

(Sean): It’s nothing, especially when you’re so good at following directions. So, are you a little a bit more excited about Havoc now?

Michelle maintained her teasing posture before bringing her hand up and putting her thumb and index close together to emphasize her point.

(Michelle): A tad!

She smiled and her face turned to sudden surprise as Sean pulled her in by the waist, giving his fiancée a long but not too passionate kiss. When their lips parted, Michelle slapped Sean lightly and playfully on the shoulder.

(Michelle): You’ll get us in trouble, mister!

(Sean): Hey, you just learned you’re a total badass when you want to be, what can I say? I couldn’t help myself!

Michelle couldn't help but giggle, stroking either side of Sean's chin affectionately.

(Michelle): Well, don’t get too excited, you! We still have to win the match!

(Sean): Don’t you worry about that, we’re going to be absolutely fine!

Sean gently placed his hands on Michelle’s hips.

(Sean): I’m just so happy we get to finally be in the ring together, it just feels right.

(Michelle): I know, my brothers were so excited when Mrs Parker made the announcement!

Sean smirked.

(Sean): You do know, she’s soon going to be your mother-in-law, or as good as anyway. You can call her Wisdom!

(Michelle): Yeah, but she’s still my boss! It feels weird!

(Sean): I can’t even begin to tell you how unbelievably adorable you are.

Michelle playfully hit Sean on the shoulder again.

(Michelle): Stop making fun of me, you! You know what I mean!

(Sean): I know, you know I’m just teasing. You know what, we’ve been training for a while and I don’t know about you but I’ve worked up quite the appetite. Why don’t we go and grab a bite? Go to that seafood place you like?

Michelle's eyes widened.

(Michelle): You read my mind! I’m just gonna grab a shower and then we can head?

(Sean): Sounds like a plan! Meet you outside the Academy in twenty minutes?

(Michelle): It’s a date!

Sean smirked as he and Michelle climbed out the ring and began to head their separate ways towards the men and women’s locker rooms. Just as Sean was about to leave, Michelle spun him around and planted a big kiss on his lips, stepping up on her tippy toes.

(Michelle): Thank you, Sean. For today. I love you.

(Sean): Hey, I love you too and we’re a team, literally now! You know I’ll always do what I can to help you with anything. Inside and outside the ring.

Michelle leaned up again and kissed Sean on the cheek this time.

(Michelle): My amazing Sky Assassin!

The scene faded to black.