Forged Steel's Wrestling Journal

Entry 23

Looking back and reflecting on it all, I wasn't entirely honest about my interactions with Glitter's brothers. While I certainly did wrestle and submit them, as well as the rest of her family liking me for standing up to their antics, I was an instigator of problems yet again. Like many times in my life, I should have let it go but I took it personally. What led up to the fight was my doing.

The ladies had went to make dinner for everyone, and I was sitting in their living room. As I was minding my own business, Broke decided to ask why a specimen like myself didn't join and that my work ethic would see me at a high rank. Instead of explaining diplomatically that I was never interested, I instead explained my hate for all things military, didn't explain what it did to my family, and that I'm proud to be a conscription dodger back home. The last bit is why I can't go home for any longer than a few days.

Chip overheard and tried to say that their teasing was meant in jest, but I took further exception, saying that there's no joke in making someone relive the harassment they endured in school, just so you can feel like you're superior to someone who's accomplished more in a decade than you will in your life.

With that, I left and then the fight occurred soon after.

That was a week ago as I write now. They did call us to apologize a few days after, and I made sure to apologize for myself. Glitter was a little confused by it, so I explained everything she missed between myself and her brothers. She's worried about my anger problems, and by how they seem to flare up more easily around her. It's a valid concern, and I don't know why I feel like I have to “protect” her, nor do I know what I try to protect her from. I suppose the only bright side is that I don't let it well up inside me.

Another mutual off day we had, and I spent most of it serving as her pillow while she watched her soaps. Seeing that my experience with her brothers was still bothering me, she offered to lighten up the mood by taking me out to a Russian restaurant and bar near the edge of town. I hadn't heard about the place, but after just one time there, I really wish that I had and regret it took me eight months to find it. Judging by the reaction of everyone who was there, they probably wished I had as well.

The food is heavenly, like I was back home. While nobody can compare to Babushka’s cooking, this place came very close, and maybe only my bias keeps me from considering it equal. Fresh pierogis hot and out of the pan, shchi from scratch by the pot, and local fermented kvass by the gallon and garnished by mint right off the plant. Glitter had never tried Russian cuisine before, but such a divine experience here I could tell made her a fan already. I was just left to wonder if that was how it always was or if they were putting extra effort in just for me.

The atmosphere of the place was just as great; loud, rowdy, have to yell over partying to talk at your table. This was what a party should be, not those stuffy, stiff, uptight ordeals constantly held at the palace. It was lively and fantastic, even with the repetitive celebrity fawning I was getting. The gawking should have been expected on my part, being a proudly Russian wrestler, babyface at that, and in an unmistakably Russian restaurant and bar. I had to turn down many freebies offered, although Glitter humorously had no such objections.

The bar also had wall-to-wall options, every drink you could think of and then some, but what caught my eye was Dedushka’s vodka, front and center. I ordered a bottle of it and Glitter and I shared a bit of it over our late lunch. I had to insist several times that I pay for it, which the barkeeper finally relented on, compromising with me on a discount.

By the bar there was also karaoke, which was the source of most of the background noise. Most of the songs coming up and patrons were howling over were contemporary pop. As I passed by on a trip, I asked out of curiosity and it turned out they did indeed have folk music as well as military traditionals.

As I came back to the table Glitter was giggling at me. She was clearly joking when she asked if I was going to get up on stage. I said if she wanted me to, I would with no regrets. With a heavy laugh she again slapped me and said to stop flattering her. Well, watch this.

I walked up to the mic, the crowd dying down as I took hold and popped a couple bits into the machine. I looked over the options and found my mark, starting up about the only song I knew through, the folk traditional Korobeiniki. A bit embarrassingly the crowd loved it and joined in, though their heartfelt chanting still wasn't enough to cover my awful singing. Across the room, I saw Glitter in tears, laughing, with the biggest smile on her face that I'd seen.

After the song finished, I got a long round of cheers. Being a self-promoter, I took the opportunity to hype them up for this Friday's match between myself and Vice Grip with an impassioned promo. Setting the mic down to another raucous round of cheers, I walked back to Glitter who surprised me with a kiss. “How did I ever get so lucky to find a goofball like you?”

With her arms around my waist tight, I paid the tab and we left back to the heart of town. Before the end of next week, I should remember to make a Russian dinner for Glitter. As we walk past the Crystal Heart, I remarked on what a lovely date she took me on, then she said it wasn't over yet. Curious, I followed her and she took me to the arena, which had a crowd around. I asked if it was a play, and she handed me a ticket “Not quite.” It was a Canterlot University vs Crystal Empire College basketball game.

It wasn't too much a surprise to see Glitter cheering louder for Crystal Empire than I was for Canterlot, since I don't want to risk spoiling my goodwill here, but it was certainly a surprise to see her being the loudest in our section. She also has a huge mind for the game, calling over half of the plays before they even happened and a few times even before I could recognize them. I had always figured she was interested, but I didn't know she was a fanatic.

She felt bummed for me after the game because Crystal Empire won the shootout, upsetting Canterlot who was ranked 4th in the nation coming into today. I said it's just a game at the end of the day, and besides, I only just know the coach and his staff now. While it's nice to watch good basketball and cheer for the university I went to, I don't get that attached anymore. We had taken the long way back to enjoy the northern lights and put up at her place for the night.

Every day I become more attached to Glitter. Now I know for sure that if I ever do get married, it will be to her.