Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Apr 25, 2014 14:48:30 GMT -5
The clock turns to 02:00 and we hear a soft thud, an exhalation of breath followed by a familiar voice.
'I'm sorry...it's never taken this long before...'
We then pan out and see the hotel room of Travis Roberts, he and his girlfriend Claudia-Jean are both in the bed, his face is plastered in disappointment but CJ looks far more amused.
CJ – 'Don't worry, I blame Canada myself.'
CJ smirks as she pokes Travis in the ribs playfully, but he is not in the mood.
Travis – 'It's not funny This was meant to be a special night...the first time you came on the road with me...and I don't perform...fully.'
CJ snuggles up to him.
CJ – 'I wouldn't say that...there's more than one way to skin a cat as you aptly displayed.'
This does not improve Travis' mood.
Travis – 'That's not the point, this has never happened before, Travis Roberts isn't just 'Blessed' in one ring you know? It's unacceptable.”
CJ realises this is more serious than she had first assumed.
CJ – 'You're being too hard on yourself, there's a lot going on right now, work isn't exactly relaxing for you and I know how difficult...us...must be for you, I know it's not easy for you to trust...'
Travis' head turns quickly, his eyes wide with panic as he looks at her.
Travis – 'No, No, No! This isn't about you, or us. It's entirely down to me, I'm to blame.'
CJ's face becomes a little more stern.
CJ – 'Stop that right now! I will not having you beating yourself up over this, we're in a strange room, in a strange part of an already strange country, the night before one of your company's important events, which as ever, you will be a big part of.'
Travis – 'A show that I'm listed at the bottom of the card of, Kurt Brady has a higher billing than me!'
CJ – 'I don't know who that is.'
Travis – 'Exactly my point.'
CJ shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
CJ – 'And you're missing my point. I don't know who pretty much anybody is in your company, and from what I do know about some of them I'm perfectly fine keeping it that way. So I take it being so low on the card means you'll most likely start the show, right?'
Travis – 'Right.'
CJ – 'Then I don't see the problem, surely you'll go out there and give the crowd something no-one else can follow and steal the show right at the start?'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'You're picking this up all quite quickly, and normally that would be the case, but not at No Holds Barred.'
CJ – 'Why not?'
Travis – 'Because every match has a stipulation attached, and the matches themselves become the star of the show, a match named 'Redneck Water Torture' is unlikely to be a dull affair.'
CJ – 'So? That means you have a wacky match too, right?'
Travis – 'I'm in a Blindfold Match, and it's exactly what it sounds like.'
CJ – 'So you'll both be blindfolded? That seems dumb.'
Travis – 'It's dull, that much is for sure, where as the rest of the card already have a head start in terms of entertainment I'm going to be starting from a negative. No-one comes out of a Blindfold Match looking good.'
CJ – 'It doesn't sound great, do they give out blindfolds to the audience too?'
Travis laughs and pulls her closer to him.
Travis – 'Now that's and idea.'
CJ – 'See, this is all natural, you're stressed at work, we're in unfamiliar surroundings and you've got a lot on your mind.'
Travis shrugs.
Travis – 'I've been in worst positions during my career, that’s definitely not a deciding factor in tonight's disappointment.'
CJ looks puzzled.
CJ – 'Disappointment? Speak for yourself, but I was not saying that that was the reason, just highlighting you've got a lot on your mind right now.'
Travis – 'And that's my point, I am used to having a lot on my mind, I spent half of last year not only putting together one of the most spectacular returns this industry has seen, but also working on the logistics of creating the most hated group in the industry today, and that was on top of having to reacclimatise myself to a company where Jet Somers behaviour isn't considered grounds for lifetime detention and review. Compared to that my plate is empty at the moment.'
CJ slumps down, realising this isn't going to end any time soon.
CJ – 'For what it's worth, I don't agree. You've told me you have trouble opening yourself up and trusting others, and here you are with two new associates, one of whom you know little about and the other, from what you've told me, is a Machiavellian sociopath. That's got to be weighing on your mind.'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'I'm sure a lot of people would agree with you, but it's simply not the case. Dirge may be one of the most ruthless and manipulative men on the planet, but so's Donovan, and I'd trust that man with your life. Another trait they both share is loyalty, when they say they have your back, they have it. I don't need to spend my time second guessing it, that'd be as pointless as waiting for Eden Morgan to make a good decision. And Alan, well there’s just something familiar about Alan that I can't quite put my finger on'
CJ scrunches up her face in concentration.
CJ – 'You mentioned being the most 'hated' group in the business today, maybe that’s got something to do with it, maybe subconsciously negative reactions are playing on you.'
Travis lets out another chuckle.
Travis – 'Even if I'd started to care about what other people think, I don't believe any of them know why they hate us, they're just following the reactions of the herd. The most repeated criticism is a reference to a 90's horror film and our name, I wonder if Paul Levesque and his three friends faced similar barbs regarding their name and a dreadful 2001 flick starring David Duchovny and Seann William Scott.'
CJ – 'I love David Duchovny, Californication is one of my favourite shows.'
Travis smiles once more.
Travis – 'You know the character Atticus Fetch was loosely based on 'The Healdiner', in fact I was in early talks to star...'
CJ looks shocked and excited.
CJ – 'Oh My God! What happened?'
Travis – 'It took a while, and a few drinks, but we all eventually remembered I can't act my way out of a paper bag.'
CJ sticks her bottom lip out.
CJ – 'Awww, poor baby! You and David on screen, that would have made me so hot.'
Travis looks her in the eyes.
Travis – 'Getting you hot isn't the problem here.'
CJ tilts her head.
CJ – There really isn't a problem.
Travis – 'I appreciate you saying that, but there clearly is one or we wouldn't be having an in-depth conversation about my career right now, we'd be doing something else. And I made a promise not to bore you with work stuff tonight.'
CJ – 'You don't bore me, and don't make out like you do. I don't mind talking to you about anything.'
Travis – 'I know but we shouldn't be talking at all now, at least not in full sentences.'
CJ grabs Travis's face softly with both hands and kisses him on the forehead.
CJ – 'Has anyone ever told you that you think too much.'
Travis looks confused.
Travis – 'That's never been seen as a negative in the circles I run in, hell a lot of people in the industry would do well to start thinking at all let alone too much.'
CJ – 'But there is always something going on up there, I've spent enough time with you this year to see that you never switch off, you know that’s not healthy, right?'
Travis – 'That's just who I am, if I stopped thinking I'd be like the Beta Travis, an amusing soul floating aimlessly along surrounded by windowlickers and competing for titles with Kurt Brady and Ezekiel Pax. No thanks.
CJ – 'Again I...'
Travis – 'Don't know who I'm talking about, I only wish I could share your innocence.'
CJ – 'But why would you have to think of them? You're a big star, surely they've got something worthy of your standing in the industry lined up for you tomorrow.'
Travis – 'Cypress Morgan, the former World Heavyweight Champion.'
CJ bursts out in a smile.
CJ – 'I know that name, isn't he the one you and the guys have been making an example of?'
Travis looks at her in the eyes, expressionless.
Travis – 'We have not gone out of our way to do anything of the sort, the example of himself he is making is entirely his own responsibility.'
CJ – 'Well, from what Vix says he's been pissed at you for months now, and you guys have been poking him like an angry bear.'
Travis shrugs.
Travis – 'It's nothing more than business, Cypress happened to be in possession of what we wanted when we wanted it, there was nothing personal in it, I mean sure we took a few liberties, gave him ammunition to be a hypocrite ever since, but it was never anything but business. It could have been Jet Somers, Phrixus Deimos, Kurt Brady....'
Travis catches the expression on CJ's face as he reels of names at her.
Travis – 'It didn't matter who held the title, we'd have done the same thing to them. I'm sure Cypress takes some solace in the idea that he is some special little snowflake that we targeted, but that simply isn't the case.'
CJ – 'Well Vix says you didn't leave it there and you've done everything you can to piss him off since.'
Travis – 'There's a reason your sister hasn't been booked on a card in months, and that's a great example of why. Cypress is the one who couldn't let go.'
CJ – 'But why would you keep doing things to frustrate him?'
Travis considers this for a moment, as if he'd never had to think of an answer to this question before, and then he shrugs.
Travis – 'Because it's fun.'
CJ – 'Really?'
Travis – 'Don't sound so surprised, this is Sports Entertainment, and if we left it up to the rest of them that 'entertainment' would be convoluted, clichéd, confusing and downright illogical. It might be a simple tactic, but pissing off Cypress Morgan gets the desired results.'
CJ – 'So when you cheated him out of a title shot, that was just to annoy him and not because you think he'd “kick Donovan's ass all over Canada” like Vix suggested the other night?'
Travis eyes widen and he raises both eyebrows.
Travis – 'Wow! Cypress obviously isn't the only one we've pissed off, your sister isn't too pleased with me either is she?'
CJ – 'Vix isn't your biggest fan right now, that's for sure.'
Travis – 'That honour has always been Jet Somers'. That reminds me I have been meaning to ask, was she dropped on her head a lot as a child?'
CJ doesn't respond and for the first time we see her pissed off as her eyes narrow. Travis holds his hands up defensively.
Travis – 'I'm playing.'
CJ relaxes.
Travis – 'But she really does have awful taste'
CJ – 'She always has had, her first serious boyfriend looked like Sloth from the Goonies.'
Travis – 'That explains the Jet fascination! Finally an answer.'
Travis slides into the bed a little more with a smug and content look on his face.
CJ – 'She's not always wrong though.'
Travis – 'She is about Cypress. For one thing I was only handing back to him what he dished out at Horizons to his own sister. If he's willing to screw her out of an opportunity to compete for the title and pass it off as business and nothing personal, why shouldn't I do the same?Especially when I'm the one who allowed her that opportunity in the first place. If using your own relationship with your sister as a way to screw her out of the title to gain a shot yourself isn't personal I really can't see why he'd have a problem with my actions.'
CJ – 'I don't know all the details, but if that’s what happened he does sound a little like a whiny bitch.'
Travis laughs at her insult.
Travis – 'Exactly! It almost baffles me that the fans actually cheer for a guy drowning in his own hypocrisy.'
That confused expression crosses CJ's face once more.
CJ – 'Almost baffles you?'
Travis – 'I've done my fair share of signings and meet and greets, once you've been forced to make conversation with our fans nothing surprises or baffles you.'
CJ looks back at him blankly.
Travis - 'They're a strange bunch.'
CJ sniggers.
CJ – 'So you're not obsessed with making this guys life a living hell?'
Travis – 'His life? We don't care about that. We're just conducting business as should be expected, he's the one who's obsessed, and it doesn't make much sense really.'
CJ – 'Well, I guess taking the title from him is a big deal.'
Travis – 'But it shouldn't be. If that was the only thing in his life, sure it might be acceptable, but it's not. Whilst we're not trying to ruin his life, that doesn't mean others aren't.'
CJ – 'You're going to need to explain.'
Travis – 'I wasn't the only big name to return last year, a name from the Morgan family's past was tempted back, and ever since there have been incidents you wouldn't believe could occur on a live show. This man is definitely mentally ill, has a world view that makes Hannibal Lecter look like a children's entertainer, and loves to destroy the lives of those he sets his sights on. He's had a long history with Cypress' wife and has been gunning for her since at least the end of last year. Given his history he is a genuine threat to his entire family.'
CJ – 'Okay...that's...well...Ok. What's Cypress doing about that?'
Travis – 'That's my point he's shown more concern over the World Heavyweight Championship than his own wife and mother of his children! He's spent nearly three months crying about being screwed whilst his wife is being stalked by an unhinged fiend and his identity confused sidekick.'
CJ – 'You don’t know that, that could just be for the business, you don't know what goes on behind closed doors.'
Travis – 'In the Morgan household? That's a blessing not a curse, but I can venture a pretty good guess, it will involve a lot of alcohol and his wife wearing a strap-on. But it still doesn't make sense.'
CJ – 'Why not?'
Travis – 'Because he picked me! He could have the match of his choice, challenge anyone, and rather than aiming his frustrations at the people targeting his wife, he comes for me based on some insignificant slight! I'm more of a priority to him than the people threatening to tear his family apart? Tell me that this makes any sense and that they're the actions of a loving Husband? I should be flattered, but it's ridiculous.'
CJ – 'Well, it does make sense if you look at it from another angle.'
Travis – 'Which is?'
CJ – 'He doesn't give a fuck about his family, at least not as much as he does for his career. From what I've heard that’s not uncommon in your profession, hell it's not uncommon in a LOT of professions, and you've already said he used his sister to get the title in the first place. From what your telling me, it really isn't hard to come to the conclusion that he values success in the ring over a stable and loving family.'
Travis looks up at the ceiling.
Travis – 'And we're the bad guys?'
CJ snuggles up closer to Travis.
Travis – 'And we'll keep being the bad guys, when I beat Cypress, no-one will cheer for me, no-one will comment that maybe Cypress should have got his priorities straight, and that’s fine, like I say our fans are a strange breed. But the worst part is, Cypress won't even see the truth, he'll convince himself his 'crusade' against The Puppet Masters is just and his reckless actions will eventually tear his family apart, another tragedy will befall them, and it will be his fault because his focus is in the wrong place, his eyes are off the ball, hell they might as well be blindfolded.'
CJ tilts her head, her mouth screws up and she looks at Travis for what almost turns into an uncomfortably long time.
CJ – 'Why do you care what happens to his family?'
Travis – 'I'm not a monster, I don't wish ill on anyone’s family, I don't enjoy watching tragedy occur to any of my fellow professionals, especially in slow motion. For all our differences we all ended up here, calling this place home, so fundamentally there’s something similarly wrong with all of us.'
CJ – 'He'd probably find a way to blame you guys for anything anyway.'
Travis – 'It sure seems that way.'
CJ – 'Maybe you can beat some sense into him later today?'
Travis lets out an uncontrollable laugh, inside wishing it was as infectious a laugh as Tony Atlas'.
Travis – 'If it was as easy as some hard blows to the head to do that, Cypress would be a genius by now. Sadly if I prevail over him it will be a shallow victory, how can I take any pride in beating someone who's clearly teetering on the precipice of disaster?'
CJ - 'And if you lose you'll look like a fool.'
Travis' jaw drops open.
Travis – 'Yeah...thanks...for that.'
CJ – 'Aww Baby! I didn't mean you will lose...'
Travis – 'No, you're right. More than you know. A loss will give more ammunition to my doubters, and as shocking as it may be there are quite a few of them. I've heard such ludicrous things as the theory that I ride on Donovan's coat tails! Which makes perfect sense considering I won both the Battleground match and the Global Challenge within my first year back after a 3 year hiatus, not to mention being instrumental in the actions that put Donovan back at the pinnacle of the business after years of obscurity in my absence.'
CJ looks concerned for the first time tonight.
CJ – 'Is that what's been bothering you? Are you jealous of Donovan?'
Travis – 'Are you serious? I couldn't be happier for him, he deserves this after what he's had to tolerate in this place for so long without me. Anyone who thinks we have any problems is insane. I can guarantee Donovan is as grateful that I'm back in his life as I am that he's back in mine. Coat tails my ass.'
CJ looks over at the clock.
CJ – It's almost three, if you're going to show me the wonders of Winnipeg before you're due at the arena we should get some sleep.
Travis looks down and a very big smile crosses his face.
Travis – 'Actually...'
No, we're not hanging around for that, not even if Batman masks, Oreo cream and pulleys are involved.
'I'm sorry...it's never taken this long before...'
We then pan out and see the hotel room of Travis Roberts, he and his girlfriend Claudia-Jean are both in the bed, his face is plastered in disappointment but CJ looks far more amused.
CJ – 'Don't worry, I blame Canada myself.'
CJ smirks as she pokes Travis in the ribs playfully, but he is not in the mood.
Travis – 'It's not funny This was meant to be a special night...the first time you came on the road with me...and I don't perform...fully.'
CJ snuggles up to him.
CJ – 'I wouldn't say that...there's more than one way to skin a cat as you aptly displayed.'
This does not improve Travis' mood.
Travis – 'That's not the point, this has never happened before, Travis Roberts isn't just 'Blessed' in one ring you know? It's unacceptable.”
CJ realises this is more serious than she had first assumed.
CJ – 'You're being too hard on yourself, there's a lot going on right now, work isn't exactly relaxing for you and I know how difficult...us...must be for you, I know it's not easy for you to trust...'
Travis' head turns quickly, his eyes wide with panic as he looks at her.
Travis – 'No, No, No! This isn't about you, or us. It's entirely down to me, I'm to blame.'
CJ's face becomes a little more stern.
CJ – 'Stop that right now! I will not having you beating yourself up over this, we're in a strange room, in a strange part of an already strange country, the night before one of your company's important events, which as ever, you will be a big part of.'
Travis – 'A show that I'm listed at the bottom of the card of, Kurt Brady has a higher billing than me!'
CJ – 'I don't know who that is.'
Travis – 'Exactly my point.'
CJ shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
CJ – 'And you're missing my point. I don't know who pretty much anybody is in your company, and from what I do know about some of them I'm perfectly fine keeping it that way. So I take it being so low on the card means you'll most likely start the show, right?'
Travis – 'Right.'
CJ – 'Then I don't see the problem, surely you'll go out there and give the crowd something no-one else can follow and steal the show right at the start?'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'You're picking this up all quite quickly, and normally that would be the case, but not at No Holds Barred.'
CJ – 'Why not?'
Travis – 'Because every match has a stipulation attached, and the matches themselves become the star of the show, a match named 'Redneck Water Torture' is unlikely to be a dull affair.'
CJ – 'So? That means you have a wacky match too, right?'
Travis – 'I'm in a Blindfold Match, and it's exactly what it sounds like.'
CJ – 'So you'll both be blindfolded? That seems dumb.'
Travis – 'It's dull, that much is for sure, where as the rest of the card already have a head start in terms of entertainment I'm going to be starting from a negative. No-one comes out of a Blindfold Match looking good.'
CJ – 'It doesn't sound great, do they give out blindfolds to the audience too?'
Travis laughs and pulls her closer to him.
Travis – 'Now that's and idea.'
CJ – 'See, this is all natural, you're stressed at work, we're in unfamiliar surroundings and you've got a lot on your mind.'
Travis shrugs.
Travis – 'I've been in worst positions during my career, that’s definitely not a deciding factor in tonight's disappointment.'
CJ looks puzzled.
CJ – 'Disappointment? Speak for yourself, but I was not saying that that was the reason, just highlighting you've got a lot on your mind right now.'
Travis – 'And that's my point, I am used to having a lot on my mind, I spent half of last year not only putting together one of the most spectacular returns this industry has seen, but also working on the logistics of creating the most hated group in the industry today, and that was on top of having to reacclimatise myself to a company where Jet Somers behaviour isn't considered grounds for lifetime detention and review. Compared to that my plate is empty at the moment.'
CJ slumps down, realising this isn't going to end any time soon.
CJ – 'For what it's worth, I don't agree. You've told me you have trouble opening yourself up and trusting others, and here you are with two new associates, one of whom you know little about and the other, from what you've told me, is a Machiavellian sociopath. That's got to be weighing on your mind.'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'I'm sure a lot of people would agree with you, but it's simply not the case. Dirge may be one of the most ruthless and manipulative men on the planet, but so's Donovan, and I'd trust that man with your life. Another trait they both share is loyalty, when they say they have your back, they have it. I don't need to spend my time second guessing it, that'd be as pointless as waiting for Eden Morgan to make a good decision. And Alan, well there’s just something familiar about Alan that I can't quite put my finger on'
CJ scrunches up her face in concentration.
CJ – 'You mentioned being the most 'hated' group in the business today, maybe that’s got something to do with it, maybe subconsciously negative reactions are playing on you.'
Travis lets out another chuckle.
Travis – 'Even if I'd started to care about what other people think, I don't believe any of them know why they hate us, they're just following the reactions of the herd. The most repeated criticism is a reference to a 90's horror film and our name, I wonder if Paul Levesque and his three friends faced similar barbs regarding their name and a dreadful 2001 flick starring David Duchovny and Seann William Scott.'
CJ – 'I love David Duchovny, Californication is one of my favourite shows.'
Travis smiles once more.
Travis – 'You know the character Atticus Fetch was loosely based on 'The Healdiner', in fact I was in early talks to star...'
CJ looks shocked and excited.
CJ – 'Oh My God! What happened?'
Travis – 'It took a while, and a few drinks, but we all eventually remembered I can't act my way out of a paper bag.'
CJ sticks her bottom lip out.
CJ – 'Awww, poor baby! You and David on screen, that would have made me so hot.'
Travis looks her in the eyes.
Travis – 'Getting you hot isn't the problem here.'
CJ tilts her head.
CJ – There really isn't a problem.
Travis – 'I appreciate you saying that, but there clearly is one or we wouldn't be having an in-depth conversation about my career right now, we'd be doing something else. And I made a promise not to bore you with work stuff tonight.'
CJ – 'You don't bore me, and don't make out like you do. I don't mind talking to you about anything.'
Travis – 'I know but we shouldn't be talking at all now, at least not in full sentences.'
CJ grabs Travis's face softly with both hands and kisses him on the forehead.
CJ – 'Has anyone ever told you that you think too much.'
Travis looks confused.
Travis – 'That's never been seen as a negative in the circles I run in, hell a lot of people in the industry would do well to start thinking at all let alone too much.'
CJ – 'But there is always something going on up there, I've spent enough time with you this year to see that you never switch off, you know that’s not healthy, right?'
Travis – 'That's just who I am, if I stopped thinking I'd be like the Beta Travis, an amusing soul floating aimlessly along surrounded by windowlickers and competing for titles with Kurt Brady and Ezekiel Pax. No thanks.
CJ – 'Again I...'
Travis – 'Don't know who I'm talking about, I only wish I could share your innocence.'
CJ – 'But why would you have to think of them? You're a big star, surely they've got something worthy of your standing in the industry lined up for you tomorrow.'
Travis – 'Cypress Morgan, the former World Heavyweight Champion.'
CJ bursts out in a smile.
CJ – 'I know that name, isn't he the one you and the guys have been making an example of?'
Travis looks at her in the eyes, expressionless.
Travis – 'We have not gone out of our way to do anything of the sort, the example of himself he is making is entirely his own responsibility.'
CJ – 'Well, from what Vix says he's been pissed at you for months now, and you guys have been poking him like an angry bear.'
Travis shrugs.
Travis – 'It's nothing more than business, Cypress happened to be in possession of what we wanted when we wanted it, there was nothing personal in it, I mean sure we took a few liberties, gave him ammunition to be a hypocrite ever since, but it was never anything but business. It could have been Jet Somers, Phrixus Deimos, Kurt Brady....'
Travis catches the expression on CJ's face as he reels of names at her.
Travis – 'It didn't matter who held the title, we'd have done the same thing to them. I'm sure Cypress takes some solace in the idea that he is some special little snowflake that we targeted, but that simply isn't the case.'
CJ – 'Well Vix says you didn't leave it there and you've done everything you can to piss him off since.'
Travis – 'There's a reason your sister hasn't been booked on a card in months, and that's a great example of why. Cypress is the one who couldn't let go.'
CJ – 'But why would you keep doing things to frustrate him?'
Travis considers this for a moment, as if he'd never had to think of an answer to this question before, and then he shrugs.
Travis – 'Because it's fun.'
CJ – 'Really?'
Travis – 'Don't sound so surprised, this is Sports Entertainment, and if we left it up to the rest of them that 'entertainment' would be convoluted, clichéd, confusing and downright illogical. It might be a simple tactic, but pissing off Cypress Morgan gets the desired results.'
CJ – 'So when you cheated him out of a title shot, that was just to annoy him and not because you think he'd “kick Donovan's ass all over Canada” like Vix suggested the other night?'
Travis eyes widen and he raises both eyebrows.
Travis – 'Wow! Cypress obviously isn't the only one we've pissed off, your sister isn't too pleased with me either is she?'
CJ – 'Vix isn't your biggest fan right now, that's for sure.'
Travis – 'That honour has always been Jet Somers'. That reminds me I have been meaning to ask, was she dropped on her head a lot as a child?'
CJ doesn't respond and for the first time we see her pissed off as her eyes narrow. Travis holds his hands up defensively.
Travis – 'I'm playing.'
CJ relaxes.
Travis – 'But she really does have awful taste'
CJ – 'She always has had, her first serious boyfriend looked like Sloth from the Goonies.'
Travis – 'That explains the Jet fascination! Finally an answer.'
Travis slides into the bed a little more with a smug and content look on his face.
CJ – 'She's not always wrong though.'
Travis – 'She is about Cypress. For one thing I was only handing back to him what he dished out at Horizons to his own sister. If he's willing to screw her out of an opportunity to compete for the title and pass it off as business and nothing personal, why shouldn't I do the same?Especially when I'm the one who allowed her that opportunity in the first place. If using your own relationship with your sister as a way to screw her out of the title to gain a shot yourself isn't personal I really can't see why he'd have a problem with my actions.'
CJ – 'I don't know all the details, but if that’s what happened he does sound a little like a whiny bitch.'
Travis laughs at her insult.
Travis – 'Exactly! It almost baffles me that the fans actually cheer for a guy drowning in his own hypocrisy.'
That confused expression crosses CJ's face once more.
CJ – 'Almost baffles you?'
Travis – 'I've done my fair share of signings and meet and greets, once you've been forced to make conversation with our fans nothing surprises or baffles you.'
CJ looks back at him blankly.
Travis - 'They're a strange bunch.'
CJ sniggers.
CJ – 'So you're not obsessed with making this guys life a living hell?'
Travis – 'His life? We don't care about that. We're just conducting business as should be expected, he's the one who's obsessed, and it doesn't make much sense really.'
CJ – 'Well, I guess taking the title from him is a big deal.'
Travis – 'But it shouldn't be. If that was the only thing in his life, sure it might be acceptable, but it's not. Whilst we're not trying to ruin his life, that doesn't mean others aren't.'
CJ – 'You're going to need to explain.'
Travis – 'I wasn't the only big name to return last year, a name from the Morgan family's past was tempted back, and ever since there have been incidents you wouldn't believe could occur on a live show. This man is definitely mentally ill, has a world view that makes Hannibal Lecter look like a children's entertainer, and loves to destroy the lives of those he sets his sights on. He's had a long history with Cypress' wife and has been gunning for her since at least the end of last year. Given his history he is a genuine threat to his entire family.'
CJ – 'Okay...that's...well...Ok. What's Cypress doing about that?'
Travis – 'That's my point he's shown more concern over the World Heavyweight Championship than his own wife and mother of his children! He's spent nearly three months crying about being screwed whilst his wife is being stalked by an unhinged fiend and his identity confused sidekick.'
CJ – 'You don’t know that, that could just be for the business, you don't know what goes on behind closed doors.'
Travis – 'In the Morgan household? That's a blessing not a curse, but I can venture a pretty good guess, it will involve a lot of alcohol and his wife wearing a strap-on. But it still doesn't make sense.'
CJ – 'Why not?'
Travis – 'Because he picked me! He could have the match of his choice, challenge anyone, and rather than aiming his frustrations at the people targeting his wife, he comes for me based on some insignificant slight! I'm more of a priority to him than the people threatening to tear his family apart? Tell me that this makes any sense and that they're the actions of a loving Husband? I should be flattered, but it's ridiculous.'
CJ – 'Well, it does make sense if you look at it from another angle.'
Travis – 'Which is?'
CJ – 'He doesn't give a fuck about his family, at least not as much as he does for his career. From what I've heard that’s not uncommon in your profession, hell it's not uncommon in a LOT of professions, and you've already said he used his sister to get the title in the first place. From what your telling me, it really isn't hard to come to the conclusion that he values success in the ring over a stable and loving family.'
Travis looks up at the ceiling.
Travis – 'And we're the bad guys?'
CJ snuggles up closer to Travis.
Travis – 'And we'll keep being the bad guys, when I beat Cypress, no-one will cheer for me, no-one will comment that maybe Cypress should have got his priorities straight, and that’s fine, like I say our fans are a strange breed. But the worst part is, Cypress won't even see the truth, he'll convince himself his 'crusade' against The Puppet Masters is just and his reckless actions will eventually tear his family apart, another tragedy will befall them, and it will be his fault because his focus is in the wrong place, his eyes are off the ball, hell they might as well be blindfolded.'
CJ tilts her head, her mouth screws up and she looks at Travis for what almost turns into an uncomfortably long time.
CJ – 'Why do you care what happens to his family?'
Travis – 'I'm not a monster, I don't wish ill on anyone’s family, I don't enjoy watching tragedy occur to any of my fellow professionals, especially in slow motion. For all our differences we all ended up here, calling this place home, so fundamentally there’s something similarly wrong with all of us.'
CJ – 'He'd probably find a way to blame you guys for anything anyway.'
Travis – 'It sure seems that way.'
CJ – 'Maybe you can beat some sense into him later today?'
Travis lets out an uncontrollable laugh, inside wishing it was as infectious a laugh as Tony Atlas'.
Travis – 'If it was as easy as some hard blows to the head to do that, Cypress would be a genius by now. Sadly if I prevail over him it will be a shallow victory, how can I take any pride in beating someone who's clearly teetering on the precipice of disaster?'
CJ - 'And if you lose you'll look like a fool.'
Travis' jaw drops open.
Travis – 'Yeah...thanks...for that.'
CJ – 'Aww Baby! I didn't mean you will lose...'
Travis – 'No, you're right. More than you know. A loss will give more ammunition to my doubters, and as shocking as it may be there are quite a few of them. I've heard such ludicrous things as the theory that I ride on Donovan's coat tails! Which makes perfect sense considering I won both the Battleground match and the Global Challenge within my first year back after a 3 year hiatus, not to mention being instrumental in the actions that put Donovan back at the pinnacle of the business after years of obscurity in my absence.'
CJ looks concerned for the first time tonight.
CJ – 'Is that what's been bothering you? Are you jealous of Donovan?'
Travis – 'Are you serious? I couldn't be happier for him, he deserves this after what he's had to tolerate in this place for so long without me. Anyone who thinks we have any problems is insane. I can guarantee Donovan is as grateful that I'm back in his life as I am that he's back in mine. Coat tails my ass.'
CJ looks over at the clock.
CJ – It's almost three, if you're going to show me the wonders of Winnipeg before you're due at the arena we should get some sleep.
Travis looks down and a very big smile crosses his face.
Travis – 'Actually...'
No, we're not hanging around for that, not even if Batman masks, Oreo cream and pulleys are involved.