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Post by DMis on Feb 2, 2016 15:23:18 GMT -5
Chrys smiled back to her date. A wonderful night and a beautiful day arrises. Heck even I'm routing for Donnie, she thought as her eyes went to the screen again.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 2, 2016 22:29:18 GMT -5
(Okay, it is at this point that I'm going to be censoring spoilers for potentially major plot points. Just highlight the text to read it all if you are so inclined. If you haven't seen Creed yet... WHY? GO SEE IT!)
Snuggled up close to Chrys, Toby continued to watch with a near permanent smile on his face, captivated by the romance between Donnie and Bianca... the bond between Donnie and Rocky... the deal to have Donnie fight the light heavyweight world champion...
Amazing as it all was, Toby's smile fell when things took a sharp turn... in the form of Rocky being diagnosed with cancer, a revelation that did finally move him to tears and prove to him that Stallone's subtle performance was one of the best of his career. Here was a man who had lost everyone he loved and was past his prime, now facing the toughest losing battle of his life and being forced to confront his mortality. He couldn't blame Rocky for not wanting to fight. Toby had certainly had his own defeatist moments. But... seeing him give up like this was heartbreaking, and Donnie taking it as hard as he did was even more so.
And that got Toby thinking... Donnie was a man who never knew his father, forced to fight all his life to get by and make something of himself. After growing up practically alone, he finally had Rocky to look up to and in turn give the aged fighter a renewed purpose in life. Their relationship up until now had been informative, compassionate, even humorous... but thinking about this... Toby could now truly see how much Donnie and Rocky needed each other.
He could see that Donnie had done just as much to help Rocky as Rocky had done for him.
............
If only Toby could have repaid his father figure like that...
If only he could have saved him...
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Post by DMis on Feb 2, 2016 22:43:48 GMT -5
Chrys snuggled. She gave a weak sad sigh seeing Rocky's cancer struggles almost mirror what her father went through before he passed.
May those we have lost guide us through our darkest hours... She thought as her hand gave a light squeeze to Toby's.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 2, 2016 22:54:04 GMT -5
Toby squeezed her hand right back, briefly reaching up with his other hand to wipe his tears off. Slowly and much more subtly, his smile returned when the final training montage began, showing the duality between both men's battles. Soon enough, it was time for the final fight... Rocky and Bianca there to support Donnie... the young boxer clad in his father's American flag shorts, proudly bearing the family name.
Once again, as the match began, Toby was excitedly eating up the action, though his eyes occasionally flicked between the screen and Chrys as if checking to see if she was enjoying seeing Donnie's fight as much as he was.
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Post by DMis on Feb 2, 2016 22:57:45 GMT -5
With her free hand, Chrys was jabbing at the air. A smile showed on her face as tears showed. A few wet spots were on her jacket.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 2, 2016 23:14:03 GMT -5
Toby smiled at her and continued to watch, barely holding in his excitement as the two boxers kept at it, going the distance, taking and dealing damage. Donnie taking a fall... brought back to his senses by his loved ones... by visions of his father... getting up in time for Round 12.
And then, the music...!
It took every bit of Toby's power not to leap out of his seat in absolute euphoria.
The final round was every bit as heart-pounding as a climax should be, and it did not disappoint. Donnie throwing punches like the two men he looked up to most, knocking the champion down for the first time in his career... and even though the champ got back up and won by split decision, all that mattered was that Donnie had made it as far as he did.
Finally, Donnie had proven to the world that he was a fighter, one worthy of his father's name. And Toby could let out the breath he had been holding up until the fade to the final scene...
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Post by DMis on Feb 2, 2016 23:18:02 GMT -5
Chrys mentally cheered. "It moments like this where I miss my dad... I think he would have liked it, always talked about showing me the Rocky movies when I was older..." she whispered as the credits rolled.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 2, 2016 23:28:41 GMT -5
Toby beamed as he watched Donnie and Rocky climb those iconic stairs, standing in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, looking out across the landscape, musing on the bright horizon their lives had to offer... it really was the perfect way to wrap up a great story.
As the credits began, intercut with stills from the movie, Toby nodded at Chrys's comment, rubbing her shoulder with sympathy. "I hear that. My... dad..." A bit of a stretch, but Joshua might as well have been his father. "...was really into this too. I could swear that half of his life lessons were based on movies."
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Post by DMis on Feb 3, 2016 0:10:23 GMT -5
She gave a small weak smile. "I think they would have gotten along wonderfully," Chrys offered.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 3, 2016 9:31:57 GMT -5
"No doubt. That man could get along with anyone," Toby weakly chuckled as he pulled his phone out and turned it back on.
Once he did, he was bombarded with multiple messages from Jen demanding to know where he was. "Oh jeez!" Immediately, Toby started texting her a response, letting her know what was going on.
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Post by DMis on Feb 3, 2016 12:12:02 GMT -5
Chrys slightly snickered as Toby texted. "Worried house mate?" She asked as he furiously typed away.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 3, 2016 22:35:08 GMT -5
Another nervous laugh later, Toby answered, "...Yeah. I was definitely gone longer than I had intended. Probably should've said something." He shrugged and put his phone away again. "Too late now, and hey, I can take care of myself. Regardless, I probably should be heading home."
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Post by DMis on Feb 3, 2016 22:42:07 GMT -5
"Mind me walking you home? Or would you rather fly?" Chrys offered as they filed out of the theater. She reached for a token.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 3, 2016 22:46:25 GMT -5
Toby smiled a little and shrugged again. "I could do either or. Thanks."
He pushed open the door for Chrys as they stepped into the twilight-drenched outside world. "I... had a great day today."
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Post by DMis on Feb 3, 2016 22:52:42 GMT -5
Chrys smiled before hugging the boy close and pecking him on the cheek. "It was a great evening for me as well," she offered as she tucked the token away. "Walking gives us more time to be together."
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