Post by The Anarchist on Jun 15, 2017 23:46:35 GMT -5
OOC: This wasn't a planned RP. But I felt a surge of inspiration and decided to write one. Enjoy!
------------
My eyes had matching luggage.
As I stare vacantly in the mirror at myself, all I could think about is the price I paid for agreeing to a crucification match. I had not had a good night of sleep since the loss. Since the shame. Since the downfall.
My body hurt. In just a little over a month, I would be thirty nine years old. I had been fortunate on the injury front throughout my career. But the tires had some loss of tread from the rigors of being a professional wrestler.
The drugged effect of Nathan’s hatpins had finally been expelled from my body. I think. I’m talking to myself in front of the mirror, so there’s that. The holes were pinprick small. My hands. Feet. Neck. All victim to a lunatic magician.
Destiny was not happy with me. Who could blame her? I put my well being on the line and for what? To destroy the man with the same hair color as the so-called President’s skin? Well, not really. But covfefe. What about the prestige of merging an outgoing North American title with my International? A title I held for almost ten months. Her concern both before and after came from a place of deep love.
Had I listened to my wife, the match would have never happened under such circumstances. We could have settled it one-on-one, but I was consumed, blinded, determined to put an end to Nathan’s cowardice. Earlier in the night, Gabriel had secured his next opportunity at a title. He came up short in dethroning Kyle Shane for the Underground, who on the same night, backed up his talk and cemented his name as a force in Pure Class Wrestling by retaining his Underground title AND defeating two other opponents in the finals of the Icemann Invitational.
Gabriel would not be denied a second time, as he put High Tide down at Living a Legacy. So congrats to him.
The reflection was blurring now. My eyes didn’t want to focus. I turned on the cold water and splashed some in my face. My hands gripped the sink. My mind zeroed in on the sound of the stream.
“Fucking loser. You’re so stupid.” I told myself. Had Gabriel been anywhere near, I’d have to show him how a self flogging was to be done. This loss ate away at me. Praise Seromine. Praise the Lord. That was the mantra I said each and every time out.
What would be praised now?
I could feel the tension tightening my muscles. It drew a wince. A painful reminder that I went to war and lost.
Went to war...and lost.
My children were beside themselves when we returned to the home away from our real home. Kristen had watched me the longest, so she was a rock for her younger siblings. I had always tried my best to shield them from watching their father portray a character on television. Least until they got older. But that character had found itself at the crux of our home life as well. Something I promised myself YEARS ago, would not happen again.
“Fucking loser. You’re so stupid.”
Nothing, absolutely nothing, meant more to me than the well being and happiness of my family. My daughters understood it was just what I did for work. That I wasn’t actually that spooky cult leader portrayed on the shows. Even if that spooky cult leader existed after they went to bed. My followers had limited interaction with the girls, but were good around them when they did happen.
They weren’t bad people. They were just removed from a bad place in their own lives and given a sanctuary of safety.
Lifting my head up after a deep sigh, the reflection now showed Destiny standing behind me. After she turns the water off, she gently takes my hands and rests her head against my arm.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“No.” I said with apathy. “I’m sorry I let you down...that I let everyone down.”
“Stop...” Destiny cooed as she turned me around. “Look at me.”
I didn’t want to. But did so anyway.
“Someone had to lose. That’s the nature of the business. You know that. I know that. I don’t think you were very smart to take that stipulation, but what’s done is done.”
“Was this God--”
An index finger to my lips quieted that talk.
“Not now. Seromine is just a character, babe. It’s not YOU. Leave it where it belongs and rest.”
I nodded in agreement. Her lips found their way to mine for a few seconds. As she pulled away and opened her eyes, a smile crept across her face for the first time since we got home.
“I’m entering Battlebowl.”
That smile ended.
“No you aren’t. Jason, don’t. You NEED to take a break. Not participate in another match.”
“It’s not even dangerous. I have been wanting to see this in PCW for years. I may not be one hundred percent, but I’ll be healed enough to participate.”
Her eyes narrowed. If I wasn’t still hurting, she would no doubt make sure I was. “Why? What do you expect to gain?”
“I don’t---”
And I couldn’t answer that. She had me stumped for an answer. Either by way of clouded mind or honestly having no response. She ran a hand through her brown hair and looked away. A quick laugh to herself was met with a rolling of the eyes. Then they laser focused on mine.
“Babe. I understand why you feel like you have to be there. Ok? I do. It isn’t the match or the stupid trophy the winner will receive. It’s because you feel like you need redemption. Is Nathan going to be in it?”
I shrugged. “We aren’t friends. So I don’t know. I don’t know who all is going to be in it. Nobody does. Nobody will until the night of the show. Hell, we could end up TEAMING together if he is!” I had to laugh at the absurd idea. No matter how real it could be. Destiny herself found the thought amusing, but quickly shut down her giggles.
“You really think you can compete that quickly?”
“Yes. No. I hope so?”
She sighs and crosses her arms. I saw an opening and took it. My hands poked around at her sides, drawing her into fits of laughter, shifts away from it and pleas to stop. Each time I did this, I could feel the sting radiate up into my wrist. Having this sort of playful interaction allowed me to block it out. I wrapped my arms around her and held tight, kissing her on the head after.
“I’ll make you a deal. Let me have this one match. Regardless if I win or lose, I’ll take a break from the ring.”
“Mmm..” Her fingers were now gliding along my forearm. She was stronger than she looks and had little resistance from me as she walked us to our bed. As we fell backwards, she remained on top of me, shifting herself around so that we were face to face now. “Do you absolutely PROMISE, you will be one and done?”
“I promise.”
“With sugar on top?”
“Of course.”
She smirked. “And a cherry?”
“We aren’t making an ice cream sundae, dear.” I laugh. Her hands were now moving mine above my head.
“Not yet that is...” punctuated with a wink.
“I’m supposed to be healing, remember?”
“Oh. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you, hehe.”
Another kiss, a more passionate one this time. Before it could escalate any further in the morning, she stops herself and finds resignation in us cuddling. Until…
“Now that we’ve got an understanding...Kristen, could you come in here. Your father and I have something we need to talk to you about.”
“In a sec!”
“Bring your sisters with you!”
“This couldn’t wait until AFTER we return?”
“Nope!”
This had been discussed more and more after my last trip from those God damn hatpins. The scamper of footsteps echoed off the wooden steps in the far distance. It wouldn’t be long before the little dev—darlings came into the bedroom. “What is it?” asked Kristen, puzzled by the request.
Destiny sighed. I scanned their faces as stoically as I possibly could muster. Anxiety was beginning to fill the room.
“Tell them, babe.”
Just like that the spotlight was burning on me like a person of interest being questioned.
“...We”
“We are moving back home!”
Thanks hun. Love you too. Anxiety had to flipped to excitement. The older two had no trouble deciphering it.
“You mean...we’re going back to ANAHEIM?!”
“Yes!”
“Seriously?!”
“Yes.”
Kristen could hardly contain herself. She had been wanting this. I had thought I was doing right by my family in getting them the hell out of...well. Hell. To their credit, they stuck it out and actually adjusted all things considered. But they needed to be back to what they knew, with people they knew. You would think Christmas had come early with all of the impromptu jumping and hollering they were doing. Destiny laughed to herself.
“What will happen to the others?”
Her question waited until things were back to me and her. “They have a home here. Perhaps they’ll find use for it. They’ll be safe.”
“And Gabriel?”
“Nathan is in his crosshairs now. Maybe he can do what I couldn’t. But, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I have complete faith in him."
------------
My eyes had matching luggage.
As I stare vacantly in the mirror at myself, all I could think about is the price I paid for agreeing to a crucification match. I had not had a good night of sleep since the loss. Since the shame. Since the downfall.
My body hurt. In just a little over a month, I would be thirty nine years old. I had been fortunate on the injury front throughout my career. But the tires had some loss of tread from the rigors of being a professional wrestler.
The drugged effect of Nathan’s hatpins had finally been expelled from my body. I think. I’m talking to myself in front of the mirror, so there’s that. The holes were pinprick small. My hands. Feet. Neck. All victim to a lunatic magician.
Destiny was not happy with me. Who could blame her? I put my well being on the line and for what? To destroy the man with the same hair color as the so-called President’s skin? Well, not really. But covfefe. What about the prestige of merging an outgoing North American title with my International? A title I held for almost ten months. Her concern both before and after came from a place of deep love.
Had I listened to my wife, the match would have never happened under such circumstances. We could have settled it one-on-one, but I was consumed, blinded, determined to put an end to Nathan’s cowardice. Earlier in the night, Gabriel had secured his next opportunity at a title. He came up short in dethroning Kyle Shane for the Underground, who on the same night, backed up his talk and cemented his name as a force in Pure Class Wrestling by retaining his Underground title AND defeating two other opponents in the finals of the Icemann Invitational.
Gabriel would not be denied a second time, as he put High Tide down at Living a Legacy. So congrats to him.
The reflection was blurring now. My eyes didn’t want to focus. I turned on the cold water and splashed some in my face. My hands gripped the sink. My mind zeroed in on the sound of the stream.
“Fucking loser. You’re so stupid.” I told myself. Had Gabriel been anywhere near, I’d have to show him how a self flogging was to be done. This loss ate away at me. Praise Seromine. Praise the Lord. That was the mantra I said each and every time out.
What would be praised now?
I could feel the tension tightening my muscles. It drew a wince. A painful reminder that I went to war and lost.
Went to war...and lost.
My children were beside themselves when we returned to the home away from our real home. Kristen had watched me the longest, so she was a rock for her younger siblings. I had always tried my best to shield them from watching their father portray a character on television. Least until they got older. But that character had found itself at the crux of our home life as well. Something I promised myself YEARS ago, would not happen again.
“Fucking loser. You’re so stupid.”
Nothing, absolutely nothing, meant more to me than the well being and happiness of my family. My daughters understood it was just what I did for work. That I wasn’t actually that spooky cult leader portrayed on the shows. Even if that spooky cult leader existed after they went to bed. My followers had limited interaction with the girls, but were good around them when they did happen.
They weren’t bad people. They were just removed from a bad place in their own lives and given a sanctuary of safety.
Lifting my head up after a deep sigh, the reflection now showed Destiny standing behind me. After she turns the water off, she gently takes my hands and rests her head against my arm.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“No.” I said with apathy. “I’m sorry I let you down...that I let everyone down.”
“Stop...” Destiny cooed as she turned me around. “Look at me.”
I didn’t want to. But did so anyway.
“Someone had to lose. That’s the nature of the business. You know that. I know that. I don’t think you were very smart to take that stipulation, but what’s done is done.”
“Was this God--”
An index finger to my lips quieted that talk.
“Not now. Seromine is just a character, babe. It’s not YOU. Leave it where it belongs and rest.”
I nodded in agreement. Her lips found their way to mine for a few seconds. As she pulled away and opened her eyes, a smile crept across her face for the first time since we got home.
“I’m entering Battlebowl.”
That smile ended.
“No you aren’t. Jason, don’t. You NEED to take a break. Not participate in another match.”
“It’s not even dangerous. I have been wanting to see this in PCW for years. I may not be one hundred percent, but I’ll be healed enough to participate.”
Her eyes narrowed. If I wasn’t still hurting, she would no doubt make sure I was. “Why? What do you expect to gain?”
“I don’t---”
And I couldn’t answer that. She had me stumped for an answer. Either by way of clouded mind or honestly having no response. She ran a hand through her brown hair and looked away. A quick laugh to herself was met with a rolling of the eyes. Then they laser focused on mine.
“Babe. I understand why you feel like you have to be there. Ok? I do. It isn’t the match or the stupid trophy the winner will receive. It’s because you feel like you need redemption. Is Nathan going to be in it?”
I shrugged. “We aren’t friends. So I don’t know. I don’t know who all is going to be in it. Nobody does. Nobody will until the night of the show. Hell, we could end up TEAMING together if he is!” I had to laugh at the absurd idea. No matter how real it could be. Destiny herself found the thought amusing, but quickly shut down her giggles.
“You really think you can compete that quickly?”
“Yes. No. I hope so?”
She sighs and crosses her arms. I saw an opening and took it. My hands poked around at her sides, drawing her into fits of laughter, shifts away from it and pleas to stop. Each time I did this, I could feel the sting radiate up into my wrist. Having this sort of playful interaction allowed me to block it out. I wrapped my arms around her and held tight, kissing her on the head after.
“I’ll make you a deal. Let me have this one match. Regardless if I win or lose, I’ll take a break from the ring.”
“Mmm..” Her fingers were now gliding along my forearm. She was stronger than she looks and had little resistance from me as she walked us to our bed. As we fell backwards, she remained on top of me, shifting herself around so that we were face to face now. “Do you absolutely PROMISE, you will be one and done?”
“I promise.”
“With sugar on top?”
“Of course.”
She smirked. “And a cherry?”
“We aren’t making an ice cream sundae, dear.” I laugh. Her hands were now moving mine above my head.
“Not yet that is...” punctuated with a wink.
“I’m supposed to be healing, remember?”
“Oh. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you, hehe.”
Another kiss, a more passionate one this time. Before it could escalate any further in the morning, she stops herself and finds resignation in us cuddling. Until…
“Now that we’ve got an understanding...Kristen, could you come in here. Your father and I have something we need to talk to you about.”
“In a sec!”
“Bring your sisters with you!”
“This couldn’t wait until AFTER we return?”
“Nope!”
This had been discussed more and more after my last trip from those God damn hatpins. The scamper of footsteps echoed off the wooden steps in the far distance. It wouldn’t be long before the little dev—darlings came into the bedroom. “What is it?” asked Kristen, puzzled by the request.
Destiny sighed. I scanned their faces as stoically as I possibly could muster. Anxiety was beginning to fill the room.
“Tell them, babe.”
Just like that the spotlight was burning on me like a person of interest being questioned.
“...We”
“We are moving back home!”
Thanks hun. Love you too. Anxiety had to flipped to excitement. The older two had no trouble deciphering it.
“You mean...we’re going back to ANAHEIM?!”
“Yes!”
“Seriously?!”
“Yes.”
Kristen could hardly contain herself. She had been wanting this. I had thought I was doing right by my family in getting them the hell out of...well. Hell. To their credit, they stuck it out and actually adjusted all things considered. But they needed to be back to what they knew, with people they knew. You would think Christmas had come early with all of the impromptu jumping and hollering they were doing. Destiny laughed to herself.
“What will happen to the others?”
Her question waited until things were back to me and her. “They have a home here. Perhaps they’ll find use for it. They’ll be safe.”
“And Gabriel?”
“Nathan is in his crosshairs now. Maybe he can do what I couldn’t. But, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I have complete faith in him."