Post by Alex Kiseragi on Jul 3, 2010 18:44:17 GMT -5
After Synergy
They made their escape, getting away before anyone got any ideas of paying them back. The two of them slunk and stumbled to the back, leaving the roaring crowd behind them. Duncan nursed a plethora of bruises and a newly split lip on top of his injuries from the match at the shows opening. Johnny tried to walk tall but was visibly wincing, unsurprisingly given the number of red and purple shapes covering his body.
“It’s not my night.” Duncan muttered, dejected. “That guy…” he winced poking a sore patch on his jaw. “That guy’s a monster.”
“Shut it.” Johnny snapped at him. “Monster my ass. Who the bloody hell is he anyway?
There was a pause, Duncan frowning slightly at his partner, trying to further into what he was saying. “What?” he asked.
“Who…the bloody hell…is he?” Johnny said, overly enunciating each word and pointing back towards the ringside area.
“Um. It’s Declan Prescott.” Duncan started to explain cautiously, still finding it hard to believe that it could be a genuine question. He waited a second until Johnny’s eyes grew wide and he gestured for him to carry on. “The founder of GIW. It’s first champion. The original Heart and Soul of the Company.” Johnny said nothing so Duncan carried on. “Did you never watch GIW before?”
“Of course I bloody didn’t. Why would I?”
“Because they’re one of America’s premier Wrestling Federations?” Duncan asked.
“Bollocks.” Johnny snapped back and started to walk away again spurring Duncan to jog to catch up with him. By the time he did so, Johnny was in full flow.
“Who the fuck does he think he’s messing with? Does he think we’re just some muppets he can use to make his big comeback off? He thinks he can come out while we’re making a point and get away with it? Oh no. Oh no no no. This isn’t over. This is far far from over. He’s going to see that he made a mistake. A big mistake.”
The two of them strode as purposefully as two recently humiliated men could. Passing around a corner, the two of them almost walked straight into The Dragon walking the other way. Both parties stopped and stepped back, putting an arms reach between them.
“Well look who it is.” Johnny said, starting to smile he malicious smile.
“Yeah, just look.” Alex replied, smirking slightly.
“Because I’m feeling generous, if you start running now, we won’t chase you and kick your ass.” Johnny said, taking a step forward and squaring up to Alex. He was embarrassed and itching to redeem himself, even if no-one was there to see it.
Alex took a deep breath and a step forward of his own, looking down on the smaller man. “You know that sounds like a great offer but, aren’t you those guys who just got their asses handed to them out there?” he replied, gesturing in the rough direction of the ring.
Duncan straightened up behind his partner and folded his arms. Johnny looked back over his shoulder, then back at Alex. “Well I count two of us and one of you.” he said and jabbed a finger into Alex’s chest.
“Yeah, but I don’t have little things like this.” Alex threw a short right hook that landed directly on a bright red bruise just below Johnny’s rib. The Brigadier General let out a short cry before he could even think about stifling it and dropped to a knee. Behind him Duncan lurched forward but Alex raised his left hand, pointing his finger to a similar mark on the right side of the Captain’s chest. Without having to say a word, Duncan backed down, stepping back and turning side on, opening the hallway for Alex to pass them by. The Dragon lowered his hands to his sides and walked past him, stern faced until he was several metres ahead and out of view, then he smiled.
On the ground Johnny pushed himself back up, shrugging Duncan off violently as he tried to help him up. The Brigadier General turned to go after him but was held back as Duncan grasped his arms and hooked them behind him.
“Not today Johnny.” Duncan said with as much calm assertiveness as he could muster. To his surprise, Johnny relaxed, he hunched shoulders slumped and he exhaled a deep breath. As soon as Duncan loosened his grip Johnny threw him off and turned around, striding back down the hall in their original direction.
“This isn’t over!” he yelled to no-one in particular as he disappeared.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Week
It was early. Well, maybe not by everyone’s standards but it was for The Dragon. He pulled up outside his Academy, exited his car and made his way inside. Unsurprisingly the gym was quiet. Only a couple of die-hards were pumping iron and hitting bags leaving his coaching staff unaffected. A group of them had laid claim to the ring nearest the door for social purposes. Jacob, Rico, Darrell and Nick sat or stood around the ring talking. Rico was the first to see Alex coming from his usual perch upon the turnbuckle.
“Hey, the boss is here!” he announced to the rest of the group happily. They stirred, looking back or turning around to see the entrance and the gyms founder making his way inside for the first time in over two weeks. Assorted greetings mingled and overlapped one another to create a welcoming white noise.
“Hey.” Alex replied with a half wave as he reached ringside. He hopped onto the apron, on one knee and straightened up to climb in through the ropes. He shook hands and gave classic man style hugs before taking his own place in the rough circle the coaches had formed. There was a lull in conversation, an almost awkward pause. The four coaches looked between each other uneasily. Even Alex couldn’t fail to notice the tension. “What?” he asked, looking between each of them, waiting for some kind of explanation.
“We just…” Jacob eventually spoke up. “We just wanted to say sorry. About the title and everything.” The others started to nod.
Alex shook his head. “You guys have nothing to be sorry about. Besides, I’m ok now. It’s time to worry about what’s next. Agreed?” Words and nods of affirmation came from all of them and Alex smiled. “Good. Now I’m sure I can’t be the only one who saw this weeks Synergy card.” More nods. “Didn’t think so. So I hope you’ll agree that when one door closes another one opens. Seems despite losing I’ve made am impression on the men at the top again.”
“Yeah I heard you broke Russo’s foot with your face.” Darrell cut in. They laughed again lightly.
“Well I’ll take that as some kind of pay back.” Alex replied. “I’m hoping I can take credit for the shiner he had under his eye too.
“On the subject.” Nick said. “Savana taking his title shot on the show threw the division wide open. A win or two will throw you right in for a rematch.”
“Weren’t you listening?” Rico replied rapidly. “If Alex wins this week he goes into the vote for the World Heavyweight title contender for In Your Hands.”
“When did you say that?” Nick asked, looking around.
“When we mentioned the card for the week.” Rico snapped back. “And everyone said they’d seen it.”
“I didn’t.” Nick said defensively. Rico added something else in rapid fire Spanish that none of the rest of them could translate but all fully understood. Alex said a quiet thank you that he only had one coach with the temper of the Great Flying Ant.
“Right, well, you know now. No need for this to get ugly.” Alex said, holding his arms up in a semi-mocking calming gesture.
“Well, against who?” Nick asked, giving Rico a sideways look, waiting for the little Mexican to snap at him again. He didn’t.
“Derek Felix.” Darrell said, seemingly unimpressed.
“The Brick City Boyz are back?” Nick asked again. Everyone groaned.
“Don’t you pay attention to anything?” Jacob asked.
“I had a busy week.” Nick protested. “Some guys organising a crazy cage fighting tournament so who does everyone want to help tighten up their striking?”
“That’s the weakest excuse I ever heard.” Darrell added.
As Nick was about to speak up to defend himself again Alex politely cut him off. “Anyway…” he said, trailing off and pausing to let everyone get their concentration back. “I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that this is a pretty big deal for me. So I need all of you to help me make the most of it. We know it’s Derek Felix. We’ve seen him before. Brainstorm.”
“He’s going to fly at you.” Rico called out. “That’s his style.”
“He’s got some good kicks too.” Nick added. “I doubt he’ll try to trade shots with the strongest legs in Pro Wrestling though.”
Alex smirked at the compliment. “He’s cocky. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I think the standard high flyer game plan applies.” Jacob said. “Ground him and apply your weapons.”
“Right. How are we going to do it?” Alex asked the group.
They thought for a second. “The legs.” Nick said. “Take them out, he can’t fly and he can’t kick.”
“Just what I was thinking.” Alex said. “Plan for the week.”
“We’ll work on avoiding and countering a high flying offense.” Rico stated.
“We can look at some of your mat wrestling. When you get him down we want to keep him there.” Jacob added.
“Light conditioning drills. Just to make sure you haven’t dropped a step anywhere in the last couple of weeks.” Darrell said.
“Then we can work your leg kicks. Give you some real tree chopping power.” Nick finished up.
Alex smiled broadly. “Thanks guys. That sounds perfect. Let’s see this one through. Hands in.”
They all looked at him curiously as he stepped forward and held his hand out, palm down.
“What is it? 1995?” Nick remarked.
“Just do it.” Alex said with a half smile. One by one the coaches closed in and laid their hands one atop the other. “World Title on three. 1, 2, 3.”
“World Title!”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two of them sat in the corner of a dark room, largely illuminated by the bright spotlights currently shining on a Union Jack flag hanging against a wall. The Royal 1st Battalion looked even more ridiculous than normal, still wearing their now trademark red coats but with their ring gear replaced by breeches and knee high riding boots.
“I feel like a right twat.” Johnny said. He’d been openly voicing his displeasure in such a way for half an hour now.
“Yeah well, let’s just get the promo over with and we can lose the stupid costumes.” Duncan replied, not much happier.
“You know I hate this guy right. You’d better let him have it.”
“You could just do the talking yourself.” Duncan suggested, already knowing the answer. Johnny frowned and scowled at him, confirming it. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll think of something.” he added.
“You’re up guys.” the floor manager told them before taking his place amongst the cameras.
Duncan got up first, Johnny following a few moment behind. The two of them took their places in front of the camera. As usual Duncan on the right of shot, Johnny of the left. The scene through the rolling cameras shows two uniformed men stood in front of a rigid Union Jack flag.
“People of the Commonwealth.” Duncan began. “Only a week ago, we, the men of the Royal 1st Battalion, in our mercy, displayed our force against a pair of uncivilised bandits. A display that, if received, could save much bloodshed in the coming campaign. But in your ignorance and misplaced patriotism it seems a resistance has arisen. A resistance that deemed itself worthy of not only impeding our most righteous of campaigns, but of laying it’s hands on the Brigadier General himself.”
Duncan gestured to Johnny beside him who was doing his usual snarling down the camera routine.
“You may think you guerrilla action will save you but you’re wrong. All you’ve done is shown us your cowardice and further proven how far you’ve fallen as a nation. This will only strengthen our resolve to be your salvation!”
Beside him Johnny’s eyes grow wide and his face appears manic. A look that seems out of place in the context.
“But once again we show you our mercy. Where our forces could run you through, crush you beneath our boots and leave you for the vultures. Instead, your new leader, the bandit Prescott has received the challenge for a duel. An honourable contest between leaders like in the battles of old. A fight that will save lives on both sides. But it won’t save you Prescott.”
Johnny starts to shake his head, the manic look still in his eyes.
“Because when you laid hands on the Brigadier General himself you signed your own warrant. The most dangerous man in the Empire when he’s in a good mood and now he’s angry, and you Prescott, you’re in the way.”
Johnny now starts to nod.
“That’s why Prescott come Monday you had best prepare your apologies and declare your allegiance to the Queen because if you don’t, the Brigadier General is not only going to defeat you. He’s going to break you in both body and mind. He’s going to embarrass you in front of your followers and show them the fraud they have aligned themselves with. He will leave naught but a shattered mess as carrion for birds and wolves and when it is all over, your insurrection will serve as nothing more than an example to those who would attempt to copy you. So it is demanded. So it shall be.”
“Cut.” the voice comes from off camera. “Good work guys.”
Johnny and Duncan step away from the stage then pause and look at each other. “Still hate yourself?” Duncan asked. Johnny looked down at the ground and walked away. Johnny started to nod. “Yeah. Me too.”
They made their escape, getting away before anyone got any ideas of paying them back. The two of them slunk and stumbled to the back, leaving the roaring crowd behind them. Duncan nursed a plethora of bruises and a newly split lip on top of his injuries from the match at the shows opening. Johnny tried to walk tall but was visibly wincing, unsurprisingly given the number of red and purple shapes covering his body.
“It’s not my night.” Duncan muttered, dejected. “That guy…” he winced poking a sore patch on his jaw. “That guy’s a monster.”
“Shut it.” Johnny snapped at him. “Monster my ass. Who the bloody hell is he anyway?
There was a pause, Duncan frowning slightly at his partner, trying to further into what he was saying. “What?” he asked.
“Who…the bloody hell…is he?” Johnny said, overly enunciating each word and pointing back towards the ringside area.
“Um. It’s Declan Prescott.” Duncan started to explain cautiously, still finding it hard to believe that it could be a genuine question. He waited a second until Johnny’s eyes grew wide and he gestured for him to carry on. “The founder of GIW. It’s first champion. The original Heart and Soul of the Company.” Johnny said nothing so Duncan carried on. “Did you never watch GIW before?”
“Of course I bloody didn’t. Why would I?”
“Because they’re one of America’s premier Wrestling Federations?” Duncan asked.
“Bollocks.” Johnny snapped back and started to walk away again spurring Duncan to jog to catch up with him. By the time he did so, Johnny was in full flow.
“Who the fuck does he think he’s messing with? Does he think we’re just some muppets he can use to make his big comeback off? He thinks he can come out while we’re making a point and get away with it? Oh no. Oh no no no. This isn’t over. This is far far from over. He’s going to see that he made a mistake. A big mistake.”
The two of them strode as purposefully as two recently humiliated men could. Passing around a corner, the two of them almost walked straight into The Dragon walking the other way. Both parties stopped and stepped back, putting an arms reach between them.
“Well look who it is.” Johnny said, starting to smile he malicious smile.
“Yeah, just look.” Alex replied, smirking slightly.
“Because I’m feeling generous, if you start running now, we won’t chase you and kick your ass.” Johnny said, taking a step forward and squaring up to Alex. He was embarrassed and itching to redeem himself, even if no-one was there to see it.
Alex took a deep breath and a step forward of his own, looking down on the smaller man. “You know that sounds like a great offer but, aren’t you those guys who just got their asses handed to them out there?” he replied, gesturing in the rough direction of the ring.
Duncan straightened up behind his partner and folded his arms. Johnny looked back over his shoulder, then back at Alex. “Well I count two of us and one of you.” he said and jabbed a finger into Alex’s chest.
“Yeah, but I don’t have little things like this.” Alex threw a short right hook that landed directly on a bright red bruise just below Johnny’s rib. The Brigadier General let out a short cry before he could even think about stifling it and dropped to a knee. Behind him Duncan lurched forward but Alex raised his left hand, pointing his finger to a similar mark on the right side of the Captain’s chest. Without having to say a word, Duncan backed down, stepping back and turning side on, opening the hallway for Alex to pass them by. The Dragon lowered his hands to his sides and walked past him, stern faced until he was several metres ahead and out of view, then he smiled.
On the ground Johnny pushed himself back up, shrugging Duncan off violently as he tried to help him up. The Brigadier General turned to go after him but was held back as Duncan grasped his arms and hooked them behind him.
“Not today Johnny.” Duncan said with as much calm assertiveness as he could muster. To his surprise, Johnny relaxed, he hunched shoulders slumped and he exhaled a deep breath. As soon as Duncan loosened his grip Johnny threw him off and turned around, striding back down the hall in their original direction.
“This isn’t over!” he yelled to no-one in particular as he disappeared.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Week
It was early. Well, maybe not by everyone’s standards but it was for The Dragon. He pulled up outside his Academy, exited his car and made his way inside. Unsurprisingly the gym was quiet. Only a couple of die-hards were pumping iron and hitting bags leaving his coaching staff unaffected. A group of them had laid claim to the ring nearest the door for social purposes. Jacob, Rico, Darrell and Nick sat or stood around the ring talking. Rico was the first to see Alex coming from his usual perch upon the turnbuckle.
“Hey, the boss is here!” he announced to the rest of the group happily. They stirred, looking back or turning around to see the entrance and the gyms founder making his way inside for the first time in over two weeks. Assorted greetings mingled and overlapped one another to create a welcoming white noise.
“Hey.” Alex replied with a half wave as he reached ringside. He hopped onto the apron, on one knee and straightened up to climb in through the ropes. He shook hands and gave classic man style hugs before taking his own place in the rough circle the coaches had formed. There was a lull in conversation, an almost awkward pause. The four coaches looked between each other uneasily. Even Alex couldn’t fail to notice the tension. “What?” he asked, looking between each of them, waiting for some kind of explanation.
“We just…” Jacob eventually spoke up. “We just wanted to say sorry. About the title and everything.” The others started to nod.
Alex shook his head. “You guys have nothing to be sorry about. Besides, I’m ok now. It’s time to worry about what’s next. Agreed?” Words and nods of affirmation came from all of them and Alex smiled. “Good. Now I’m sure I can’t be the only one who saw this weeks Synergy card.” More nods. “Didn’t think so. So I hope you’ll agree that when one door closes another one opens. Seems despite losing I’ve made am impression on the men at the top again.”
“Yeah I heard you broke Russo’s foot with your face.” Darrell cut in. They laughed again lightly.
“Well I’ll take that as some kind of pay back.” Alex replied. “I’m hoping I can take credit for the shiner he had under his eye too.
“On the subject.” Nick said. “Savana taking his title shot on the show threw the division wide open. A win or two will throw you right in for a rematch.”
“Weren’t you listening?” Rico replied rapidly. “If Alex wins this week he goes into the vote for the World Heavyweight title contender for In Your Hands.”
“When did you say that?” Nick asked, looking around.
“When we mentioned the card for the week.” Rico snapped back. “And everyone said they’d seen it.”
“I didn’t.” Nick said defensively. Rico added something else in rapid fire Spanish that none of the rest of them could translate but all fully understood. Alex said a quiet thank you that he only had one coach with the temper of the Great Flying Ant.
“Right, well, you know now. No need for this to get ugly.” Alex said, holding his arms up in a semi-mocking calming gesture.
“Well, against who?” Nick asked, giving Rico a sideways look, waiting for the little Mexican to snap at him again. He didn’t.
“Derek Felix.” Darrell said, seemingly unimpressed.
“The Brick City Boyz are back?” Nick asked again. Everyone groaned.
“Don’t you pay attention to anything?” Jacob asked.
“I had a busy week.” Nick protested. “Some guys organising a crazy cage fighting tournament so who does everyone want to help tighten up their striking?”
“That’s the weakest excuse I ever heard.” Darrell added.
As Nick was about to speak up to defend himself again Alex politely cut him off. “Anyway…” he said, trailing off and pausing to let everyone get their concentration back. “I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that this is a pretty big deal for me. So I need all of you to help me make the most of it. We know it’s Derek Felix. We’ve seen him before. Brainstorm.”
“He’s going to fly at you.” Rico called out. “That’s his style.”
“He’s got some good kicks too.” Nick added. “I doubt he’ll try to trade shots with the strongest legs in Pro Wrestling though.”
Alex smirked at the compliment. “He’s cocky. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I think the standard high flyer game plan applies.” Jacob said. “Ground him and apply your weapons.”
“Right. How are we going to do it?” Alex asked the group.
They thought for a second. “The legs.” Nick said. “Take them out, he can’t fly and he can’t kick.”
“Just what I was thinking.” Alex said. “Plan for the week.”
“We’ll work on avoiding and countering a high flying offense.” Rico stated.
“We can look at some of your mat wrestling. When you get him down we want to keep him there.” Jacob added.
“Light conditioning drills. Just to make sure you haven’t dropped a step anywhere in the last couple of weeks.” Darrell said.
“Then we can work your leg kicks. Give you some real tree chopping power.” Nick finished up.
Alex smiled broadly. “Thanks guys. That sounds perfect. Let’s see this one through. Hands in.”
They all looked at him curiously as he stepped forward and held his hand out, palm down.
“What is it? 1995?” Nick remarked.
“Just do it.” Alex said with a half smile. One by one the coaches closed in and laid their hands one atop the other. “World Title on three. 1, 2, 3.”
“World Title!”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two of them sat in the corner of a dark room, largely illuminated by the bright spotlights currently shining on a Union Jack flag hanging against a wall. The Royal 1st Battalion looked even more ridiculous than normal, still wearing their now trademark red coats but with their ring gear replaced by breeches and knee high riding boots.
“I feel like a right twat.” Johnny said. He’d been openly voicing his displeasure in such a way for half an hour now.
“Yeah well, let’s just get the promo over with and we can lose the stupid costumes.” Duncan replied, not much happier.
“You know I hate this guy right. You’d better let him have it.”
“You could just do the talking yourself.” Duncan suggested, already knowing the answer. Johnny frowned and scowled at him, confirming it. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll think of something.” he added.
“You’re up guys.” the floor manager told them before taking his place amongst the cameras.
Duncan got up first, Johnny following a few moment behind. The two of them took their places in front of the camera. As usual Duncan on the right of shot, Johnny of the left. The scene through the rolling cameras shows two uniformed men stood in front of a rigid Union Jack flag.
“People of the Commonwealth.” Duncan began. “Only a week ago, we, the men of the Royal 1st Battalion, in our mercy, displayed our force against a pair of uncivilised bandits. A display that, if received, could save much bloodshed in the coming campaign. But in your ignorance and misplaced patriotism it seems a resistance has arisen. A resistance that deemed itself worthy of not only impeding our most righteous of campaigns, but of laying it’s hands on the Brigadier General himself.”
Duncan gestured to Johnny beside him who was doing his usual snarling down the camera routine.
“You may think you guerrilla action will save you but you’re wrong. All you’ve done is shown us your cowardice and further proven how far you’ve fallen as a nation. This will only strengthen our resolve to be your salvation!”
Beside him Johnny’s eyes grow wide and his face appears manic. A look that seems out of place in the context.
“But once again we show you our mercy. Where our forces could run you through, crush you beneath our boots and leave you for the vultures. Instead, your new leader, the bandit Prescott has received the challenge for a duel. An honourable contest between leaders like in the battles of old. A fight that will save lives on both sides. But it won’t save you Prescott.”
Johnny starts to shake his head, the manic look still in his eyes.
“Because when you laid hands on the Brigadier General himself you signed your own warrant. The most dangerous man in the Empire when he’s in a good mood and now he’s angry, and you Prescott, you’re in the way.”
Johnny now starts to nod.
“That’s why Prescott come Monday you had best prepare your apologies and declare your allegiance to the Queen because if you don’t, the Brigadier General is not only going to defeat you. He’s going to break you in both body and mind. He’s going to embarrass you in front of your followers and show them the fraud they have aligned themselves with. He will leave naught but a shattered mess as carrion for birds and wolves and when it is all over, your insurrection will serve as nothing more than an example to those who would attempt to copy you. So it is demanded. So it shall be.”
“Cut.” the voice comes from off camera. “Good work guys.”
Johnny and Duncan step away from the stage then pause and look at each other. “Still hate yourself?” Duncan asked. Johnny looked down at the ground and walked away. Johnny started to nod. “Yeah. Me too.”
x2
Really like the dynamic between them, though. Think I enjoy their stuff more than Alex’s. Not sure why, I guess I just like the relationship they have, though I don’t think I’ve fully understood it just yet. Have you ever, like, written a promo from the perspective of the fan watching and then from the perspective of R1B in the same RP? That would be cool I think.
