“You’ll get ‘em next time Marquise!”
“Bridges could’ve been better in the #BunkhouseStampede”
“All smiles, but where’s the street tough guy?”
“He almost had it! You’ll solve the next problem for sure!”
“Was that a casting couch joke? He knows what that is?”
Marquise Bridges is scrolling through social media a few
Days after the Bunkhouse Stampede match, which he
Ended up being runner-up in, to Cali’s victory.
There is a mix of positive and negative comments on
His performance, but he takes it all in stride. Keeping,
His positive attitude, he “hearts” every single post,
Even the bad ones. He even laughs at a few of them.
He swipes over to another app on his phone,
The icon is a blue square with a segmented red arrow
Coming from the bottom left corner and pointed to the
Top right corner. “Fly Delta” is the text displayed on the
App once it is fully loaded.
“Yo, how long until our flight?”
The familiar raspy voice of Marquise’s friend and trainer,
Mac, is heard directly next to him.
“Well, it’s almost 10 PM, so it shouldn’t
Be too much longer now, really”
-
“13 god damn hours. You got me here
About to fly with Delta for 13 fuckin’ hours.”
-
“You could use a little more excitement and
Culture in your life, Mac. It would do you some good.”
-
“Ya know, you’re lucky you’re my friend…
And you paid for the ticket, so I couldn’t
Say no to you anyway.”
-
“I appreciate you, Mac, haha.”
-
“Shut the fuck up, Smiles.”
They sit in an almost empty airport, save for a few
Businesspeople and tired families trying to get home.
Their flight has been delayed multiple times, leaving them
Stuck in the airport for hours. Trying to keep a positive attitude
While dealing with delays, airport security and potentially stale
Airport chips would take a toll on anybody. It’s certainly taken one
On Mac, while Marquise has tried to remain cool.
*ping*
“Huh?”
-
“What happened Smiles, we delayed again?”
-
“No, I just got a notification on Twitter about my match.”
-
“Did Digital Vroom-Vroom lose in Elden Ring and go crazy?”
There is a small pause as Marquise stares
At Mac with a bewildered look on his face.
“How in the hell do you know what Elden Ring is?”
-
“Once of the kids at the org introduced me to it.
Beat one boss, but Keep losing to
FUCKING TIBIA MARINER!”
-
“You know what, I’m surprised you made it past
One boss at all. Good job, my man.”
Mac glares at Marquise, somehow more
Annoyed now then he’s been all day or
When he lost to Tibia Mariner for the 12th time.
“Anyway, my match with Cali is getting a ton of buzz.
I think she was talking about it online and got people into it.”
-
“I’m surprised you two aren’t in some crazy gimmick match again.”
-
“Yeah, Bunkhouse was pretty weird and old-school.”
-
“It was. Damn, does that booker got a fetish
For matches with weird old shit involved, or something?
Started with Bunkhouse, now he lightened up,
but what’s next, a ‘King of the Road’ match?”
-
“Dear God, don’t give them any ideas.”
The two of them laugh at the absurdity of that match.
After a few beats, Mac begins to explain what the
Match Marquise is competing in actually is.
“Here’s the deal. The match you’re in is going
To be a tough one. Cali is a dangerous chick, you already know that.
I know you said you wanted a straight up match, but you can’t
Always trust people in this business. And with that
Wannabe porn-producer tryna get in her ear,
You never know where her head might be at."
-
“Wait, you think she’ll do something dirty?”
-
“Maybe, I mean she might kick you in the balls too if she wants.
Bright side, you would then be in the right if you kicked her in the cu-”
-
“Hey, ok, I get it. You’re paranoid, but I’ll watch out.”
-
“That little firecracker kicked your ass in there last time.
It was pretty embarrassing having my best friend, a guy I trained,
Get his ass kicked by the little gamer-girl hottie.”
-
“You’re trying to insult both me and her, but it really sounds like
You’re somehow trying to compliment her as well. I said it before,
I’m not going to hook you up with Cali, Mac.”
-
“Just let me meet her.”
-
“I mean I’m not going to outright torture her and introduce the two
Of you, but whatever you say or do when Cali and I
Do our charity thing, Is on you. If she knocks you out,
I’m going to have the time of my life laughing my head off.”
-
“She’d love me!”
-
“You barely love you.”
-
“That’s beside the point.”
“Flight 117 to Tokyo, Japan now boarding at gate H3.”
The airport intercom announces the flight to Japan that
Marquise Bridges and Mac have been waiting HOURS for.
They happily get up from their chairs and make their way
Over to their gate. Once all the monotonous proceedings
Are done, they take their seats on the plane for a 13 hour flight.
“Fucking finally! Ah god damn it, that’s right,
This is still a 13 hour flight…”
-
“You’ll live. We’ll be in Tokyo in no time.”
-
“13 HOURS!”
-
“Excuse me, ma’am, can my buddy here get something
To calm his nerves? Maybe help him sleep?”
-
“Yes, right away sir.”
-
“Thank you very much, appreciate it.”
-
“What was that about?”
-
“I don’t want to hear you complain for a 13 hour flight.
I also don’t want us to get arrested when we land
Because you might say something dumb.”
-
“Fair enough.”
After more of the usual airport/airplane happenstance,
Their flight finally takes off and they’re Tokyo-bound.
After a 13 hour flight, and a day to rest,
Marquise Bridges and Mac are out and about
In Tokyo to help Marquise prepare for his match
Against the uber tough Cali Hayama. They walk down the
Crowded streets; Mac seems to be looking for something
Specific, while Marquise follows him.
“How is it that I’m the one who prepared the trip,
But you’re the one that has something planned for me?”
-
“Listen, I might look like a lazy rat, which I might be,
But when I knew we were coming here, I made a call
To a friend of mine that would be willing to help us out.”
-
“You……know someone from Tokyo?”
-
“Yeah, well sorta. They weren’t born here, but they’re Jap
And moved here to get back in touch with their roots.”
-
“Ok, wow, firstly don’t ever call someone that’s
Japanese a, well, what you just said. Secondly,
What do you have planned?”
-
“You’re a boxer, right? You’re a street fighter at heart, right?
You don’t exactly have that hardcore, ‘strong-style’ instinct that
Digital Vroom-Vroom got. There’s always room to learn and
WHERE THE FUCK IS THIS PLACE AT?!”
Since he can’t read Japanese, Mac pulls
His phone out to look at a picture of the
Building he’s searching for. After a long while
Of looking around like a madman, he finally
Locates the building. It’s in an alley. On the front of it is a
Neon sign that’s struggling to stay lit, and a rusty staircase
That leads to a single door on the second level.
“Ah, there it is! Come on, you’ve got someone to meet.”
-
“Oh boy, if they know you, I’m sure they’re great.”
-
“Oh cut ya sarcasm, Smiles.”
The two incredibly out of place men make their way
Up the creaky stairs and mac opens the door to the building.
They head inside and are met with what can only be
Described as “final boss” music.
Going absolutely batshit throwing a
Mix of strikes on a heavy bag at the other end
Of the room is a woman about the height of Cali Hayama
Herself…but noticeably more muscular.
She wears a black and red bodysuit and has her
Hair back in a tight, high ponytail.
She notices Marquise and Mac over by the door and darts straight at them.
She jumps into the air and lands on Mac, taking him down to the ground.
“AHHHH!”
-
“Hello, Mac!”
-
“What the hell, K!”
-
“Missed you!”
-
“Get off of me!”
Marquise, laughing his ass off, helps Mac up once this
“K” woman gets off of him. She Looks at Marquise and
Sizes him up.
“This him?”
-
“No, it’s the other black guy in the room,
Of course it’s him!”
-
“Man, subtlety is not your strong suit.”
-
“My name is Kaida, but everyone calls me K.”
-
“Marquise, Marquise Bridges.”
He holds out his hand to shake K’s. She simply
Stares at it and then looks back at his face.
She smiles at him.
“Well, you’re already nicer than Mac.
But you have to earn that handshake, Marquise Bridges.”
-
“Ok, I’m game, What’s the plan then, K?”
-
“This!”
Her gleeful exclamation is the complete opposite of
Her actions, as she pulls out a brand new kendo stick.
Marquise stares at K, a look of worry on his face.
“Yeah, good luck buddy. Imma go watch some of those
Weird Japanese cartoons she got in the back. Shit
With tentacles, it’s wild. Hey, actually that suited weirdo trying to talk to Cali
Might like it, maybe we should send him some from here.”
-
“Ok Marquise Bridges. You do as I say, when I say. You will do it
Well, or I beat you like a rabid dog. You’re finished when
I say you’re finished, not when you feel like giving up.
You seem tougher than my ex over there, so hopefully
Mac hasn’t given you any of his bad qualities.”
-
“Wait, woah, hold up. You and Mac dated?!”
-
“Mhm. We only split up because I moved out here. That’s the past,
This is now. Shirt off, get to the heavy bag first. Let’s go!”
K smacks the kendo stick off the ground
And it lets off a “loud thwack” sound.
Marquise Bridges does as he’s told and removes his shirt
Before heading over to the heavy bag.
“Show me what Mac’s taught you.”
-
“Alright, you got it.”
Marquise lets off a quick jab…
THWACK
And his back is belted with the kendo stick.
“AH! What, did I do something wrong?!”
-
“You throw, I hit. Keep going. We move on when I say so.”
Marquise shakes his head and readies up at the bag again.
He throws another strike.
THWACK
He pauses to regain his composure, but continues.
Later in the training, we see Marquise doing push-ups with
K sitting cross-legged on his back. She taps the back of his legs,
Snuggly, with the kendo stick to get a reaction out of his calf muscles.
We now see another scene, this one with Marquise being stretched by
Multiple painful submission-like maneuvers, including some that seem
Like they’d be employed to get information out of someone. He is visibly
Uncomfortable, in pain even, but holds in any reaction.
A third scene, this time K is holding on to Marquise’s legs..
As he does pull-ups hanging from a light fixture decently high off the ground.
He looks to be incredibly focused and determined. In a display of almost cruelty,
K has Marquise’s head submerged in a tub of water as she wails on his torso,
Both with her own limbs and various objects around her. Hands, belts, sticks,
Pieces of wood and metal, her legs and even Marquise’s own shirt, soaked in water.
This type of training goes on for hours. After that time has passed,
K stops for a moment to begin the end of training.
“Ok, Marquise Bridges. One more thing.”
-
“Yeah…what..ya got.”
-
“Back to the heavy bag, go. Like the beginning.”
Marquise heads back to the heavy bag and,
Without saying a word, throws a strike, making a
Loud thump.
THWACK
THUMP
THWACK
THUMP
THWACK
THUMP
THWACK
THUMP
THWACK
This goes on without hesitation…this time from both of them.
They repeat this for about another five minutes, until K finally
Lets up on the kendo stick shots.
“We’re done, Marquise Bridges. You’ve survived
Little Dragon’s Dojo.”
-
“So…that’s what you call this place?”
K reaches out her hand and offers a handshake to Marquise. He puts his hand out to meet hers.
After the handshake, Marquise collapses to a seated position, now able to
Give his body a break after a full day of training.
“Yes. It’s my name. Kaida means Little Dragon.
And this torture factory is my fun little Dojo, if you will.”
-
“Fun?”
Mac has finally emerged from K’s office and joins
Her and Marquise by the heavy bag.
“Ya nearly killed him for a whole day. How ya feelin’ Smiles?”
-
“Great, Mac. Great. I totally can’t taste my own spinal fluid right now.”
-
“Fantastic! See, now I think you’re ready for Digital Vroom-Vroom!”
-
“Speaking of her…I know of Cali Hayama. I’ve seen her matches. Not sure if
She knows who I am, but I know that I’ve prepared you well enough.
The rest is up to you. She’s dangerous. Despite what she may appear
To be, she definitely isn’t someone to take lightly.
Her reputation speaks for itself. This one day of training
Might prepare you for one match…it might not. But you at least
Know what to expect. You at least know how to endure.
I like how happy, positive, and uplifting you are, Marquise.
But none of that matters in a match against someone like her.
If you thought that I kicked your ass here…then you’ll be shocked by her.
I was being nice, she won’t be, at least not in the ring.”
-
“I know. I’m not going to underestimate her. She’s a cool person, but
Extremely capable and very smart. Even though it’s a straight up match,
I’m going to treat it like it needs to be treated. A fight to end all fights.”
-
“Exactly, ya gettin’ it, Smiles. You lost your last match
Because you didn’t take it seriously enough.
Even if it’s something completely ridiculous,
Or it’s against a person you might consider a friend or a good guy,
You always gotta remember to treat competition like competition.
You’re doing everything for all the right reasons, yeah, but you have to
Make sure that you’re always “The Solution” in the ring as well as out of it.”
-
“You think you’re going to beat Cali Hayama, Marquise?”
-
“Yeah, and you’ll probably fly to New York to kick my ass if I don’t, haha.”
The trio share a laugh together.
Marquise looks up at Mac, who has his hand
On K’s shoulder.
“Hey Mac, sorry that I’m going to have to get the W against your little crush
When we get back to the states.”
-
“YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON CALI HAYAMA?!”
-
“Ah shit…”
THWACK
THWACK
THWACK
Kaida is chasing Mac, hitting him as hard as
She can with the kendo stick. Marquise claps
And laughs as this is happening, while Mac yells
Out a multitude of profanities. Bridges takes out
His phone and sends a text message to his friend
Eliza Torres, who is watching his dog Baxter back in
Brooklyn. He tells her that he’ll be back in the states
Soon. He then posts a message to social media aimed
At Cali Hayama:
“Fun time in training in Tokyo. Would you recommend
I check out Canada too? PS, looking forward to our match (and our charity stream!)”
