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| Matt Hodges |
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Posted by: Matt Hodges - 04-25-2020, 12:07 PM - Forum: Inactive
- No Replies
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-----------------------------------
PERSONAL INFORMATION
-----------------------------------
Wrestler's Alias: Matt Hodges
Wrestler's Real Name: Matt Hodges
Twitter Handle (if applicable): Matt Hodges hates twitter.
Pic Base: Cillian Murphy
Height: 6 ft 1 in.
Weight: 226 lbs
Birthdate: 4/6/83
Birth Place: n/a
Current Residence: Miami, Florida
Physical Description: Now more focused than he once was, Hodges is more toned and slightly more dense with muscle. He keeps his hair neatly cut and his face cleanly shaved. He has piercing bright blue eyes.
WRESTLING INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------
Wrestling Style: Ground and pound/mat wrestler
Alignment (Face/Tweener/Heel): Heel
Years Pro: 16
Theme Song: “I Want It All” - Queen
Finishers: Fisherman Brainbuster, Euthanasia II
Finishers Descriptions (If Needed):N/A, Bar Arm Sleeper
Signature Moves: Exploder Suplex into turnbuckle, Pendulum Samoan Drop
Signature Moves Descriptions (If Needed):
Common Moves:
Standing Sleeper
Knife Edge Chops
Foot choke
Knee drops from second rope
Elbow Grinds on the mat
Double Leg Takedown
Chin Lock
Crossface Chickenwing
Hammerlock scoop slam
Suplex variations
Forearm Blows
**NO PUNCHES PLEASE**
Strengths: Hodges is an extremely gifted technical wrestler and uses this to his advantage, excelling at keeping his opponents grounded. He is also willing to take liberties that otherwise ought not to be taken in wrestling contests, such as refusing to break holds until the count and disregarding the ref.
Weaknesses: Matt Hodges is slow afoot. Whereas in his earlier career he was able to take chances, coming off the top rope is not something he is able to do at this stage in his career. He is not a particularly gifted striker. Whereas he used to employ a Thai Swing Kick as a high impact move, he is unable to do so now. He has also suffered a number of injuries in his career, notably to his right knee. The longer a match goes on, the more of a liability it becomes.
Entrance:
I Want It All!
I Want It All!
I Want It All!
And I Want It Now!
The opening guitar riff of Queen’s “I Want It All” and Matt Hodges makes his way out from behind the curtain to momentous boos from the crowd. He pays no heed as he walks down to the ring, smirking. The fans sing “Matt Hodges sucks!” in unison with the chorus of the song. Hodges slow moves up the steps, wipes his foot on the apron, and gets into the ring. He walks into the opposite corner and pulls on the top rope. “I Want It All” dies out as the fans continue to chant “Matt Hodges sucks!”
Biography: Matt Hodges has never really cared what anyone thinks. He’s selfish and has backstabbed friends and partners at every turn, most notably James Exeter. All of Matt Hodges’ stock came to fruition when he became the first man to win Taking Hold of the Flame and the main event at Rise to Greatness that came with it.
Matt Hodges began referring to himself as WORLD CLASS around that time. Since then, Hodges has suffered a string of injuries that had forced him into an early retirement. At 37 years old, he is now married with two children and resides in Florida.
Sample RP:
HANDLER'S INFORMATION
-------------------------------------------------
Handler's First Name:
Email:
Skype:
Discord:
Other:
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| Amelia & Gracie, Seduction |
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Posted by: Simple77 - 04-23-2020, 11:58 PM - Forum: The 2020 World's Best: Phase 2
- No Replies
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“Ok, so maybe that didn’t go exactly as we had planned it. Not the attack on HUNG of course, though he seems like a nice enough kid which is why Supergirl and I decided to make the save when Avery and Santos assaulted him after our match.
Our match with HUNG and Delilah, I mean we lost damn it!
What the hell Nana! I thought that we were supposed to be the favorites in this whole thing, since we have been tag team partners for longer than I can keep track of. Now if you look back through our history you will realize rather quickly that yes, we DID lose a fair amount of the time, though more often than not it was for SWA World Tag Team Championship. We lost a match for those championships more times than we care to count, because honestly we lost so often going for them that it became a running joke.
Particularly we used to lose matches for those belts to Standing Room Only a lot! I mean Simon Lyman ended up on top of me so many times that last year in 2010 that Trinity Street may have become suspicious if she didn’t know that Amelia and I were an item.”
“Hey now, not so fast there Good Doctor. I will have everyone know in case they weren’t there at the time that Donovan Kayl used to spend a lot of time on top of me in 2010 also. You weren’t the only one here who used to get pinned by those two guys all of the time!
Anyway, like Gracie was saying before she got sidetracked because we do have a tendency to get sidetracked a lot, we didn’t plan on losing to Delilah and HUNG. Does anyone really plan on losing a match though? Because to me that would seem rather pointless. I digress though, we did lose, though to be fair, Delilah and HUNG are really very good, much better than people might have expected them to be for teaming together for the first time.
That was what happened to us in the second round. In the first round THAT did go according to plan with the two of us getting the victory over Faustina Santos and JaMarcus Avery, the first time we had been in a match together in nine years. They also lost their second round match and maybe that is why they decided to have such poor sportsmanship on display and attack Delilah and HUNG.”
“Right, and we couldn’t let that happen so we got back in the ring with some nice steel chairs at our sides because steel chairs help keep things like douches away. Hence we got the douches to leave the ring rather quickly after that and made sure that HUNG and Delilah were ok, which they were so cool!
I still wonder if HUNG is family to our friend WELL HUNG?”
“I am going to say probably not since I don’t believe there is anything in his name that says Hungate, and that was WELL HUNG’s last name. But that is just a guess.”
“Ok, so you are probably right. Anyway, what was I babbling on about?”
“Can’t say that I know honestly babe, I think the last thing you were trying to say was that it was good that we got back into the ring with the steel chairs when we did, so that HUNG was not hung out to dry Avery and Santos.”
“Right, thanks sweetie!”
“Anytime babe!”
“After that though, during the last week something pretty important came up, something that I can say I never thought was going to happen again, but now that it has?
Well I am excited about it!”
“Ditto for me, so now are we going to tell them about it or what?”
“Of course we are!”
The Home of Amelia Robson and Grace Morningwood
Monday, April 20th 2020
Toronto, Ontario
8 am.
“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bacey….”
Not even wanting to pull her head out from beneath the covers, Gracie instead answers without opening her eyes.
Gracie: “If it is before 10 o'clock you should know that this is a terrible idea Amelia, trying to get me out of bed.”
Turning over with her eyes still shut, Gracie comes to the realization that she is not alone in the bed, as that is clearly Amelia who is snoring peacefully alongside of her. Realizing this, and then realizing that she does in fact smell at least like somebody tried their best to make eggs and bacon, Gracie suddenly becomes very nervous and pops her head out from under the covers to see the couples four year old son Donovan waving.
Donovan: “Hi Mom! I made breakfast for you and Mom!”
Yep, definitely wide awake now, no doubt about it.
Gracie: “Donnie...thank you, and how did you get the stove on in the kitchen to make the eggs and bacon?”
Donovan: “I turneded it on myself so that I could make that surprise for you and Mom. I am very smart.”
Pointing at his head to show just how smart his Gracie laughs at Donovan until she remembers some very important things, while getting up and throwing on her slippers and walking to the kitchen, Donovan following closely behind her.
Gracie: “Oh yes you are, very smart, but I need to ask you Mister, who told you that you could turn on the stove by yourself?”
Looking at Gracie with a look that says she was caught in the cookie jar, Donovan gives her a sheepish grin shrugging his shoulders.
Donovan: “It wouldn’t be a very big surprise if I waked you or Mom up first and asked you to turn on the oven first so that I could make you eggs and bacon.”
Gracie: “I agree, it wouldn’t be a very big surprise no, but it would be a very big surprise for both of us if we ended up having to get a new house because our very smart little goob…”
Taking the opportunity to change the subject, Donovan knows what is probably coming and immediately objects, rather loudly as well
Donovan: “Please don’t call me that anymore Mom! You said that you wouldn’t anymore and I know how you have said that you do not like it when people lie to me. ”
Gracie: “Right you are, right you are I have said that I do not like it when people lie to you, and that would be a lie, so I will be sure not to do that, at least as much as I can remember. But you also interrupted me, and it was right when I was going to ask if you think that your Mom and I would enjoy buying a new house because our very smart little Mister forgot to shut the stove off and the house ended up burning down?”
Donovan’s mouth is suddenly open very wide as he watches Gracie reach up and turn off the burner on the stove. Instantly Donovan slumps his shoulders.
Donovan: “I am sorry Mom. You can call me a goober now if you want to because that was a very goober like thing to do.”
Gracie laughs, shaking her head while picking Donovan up.
Gracie: “No, I am not going to call you a goober.”
Donovan: “Thank you!”
Gracie: “You’re welcome little Mister. But please don’t use the stove by yourself, even if you are trying to surprise Mom and I with something, alright? You are just to young and Mom or I never would want anything to happen to you
Looking over Gracie, Donovan nods.
Donovan: “Or the house Mom?”
Gracie laughs again while hugging the child tighty.
Gracie: “Yes, and the house of course.”
Gracie and Donovan continue to hug each other so tightly that they don’t even notice that they are joined in the kitchen by the recently awakened Amelia, who comes in and gives each of them a quick kiss on the check.
Gracie: “Well hey sweetie, when did you decide to roll out of bed?”
Amelia: “Oh I don’t know, around about the time that I could hear our son screaming for you to please not call him a goober again.”
Gracie tries to hide her face from Amelia who is just shaking her head back and forth while it is Donovan’s turn to laugh now, even as he sticks up for Gracie.
Donovan: “It’s ok Mom, Mom did not call me a goober even when I told her that she could because I was doing something that was kind of like a goober.”
Amelia cocks her head to one side.
Amelia: “I see Donnie, and what were you doing that was so much like a goober that you told Mom that she could actually call you a goober?”
Donovan turns and tries to hide his head against Gracie, who is having none of it for him unfortunately.
Gracie: “No, no, Donnie, I think your Mom needs to know what you were up to this morning and I think that it is better if she hears it from you, rather than me, don’t you think?”
Donovan: “No I don’t think, that is how I ended up in this situation to begin with.”
Amelia stands with her arms crossed over her chest.
Amelia: “Donnie?”
Donovan: “I was trying to surprise you and Mom by making you eggs and bacon for breakfast. Mom said though that I should not use the stove without one of you in here to help me, because I accidentally left the stove turned on when I was done cooking and Mom said if there was an accident that me or the house could be burned down.”
Amelia shakes her head in agreement, then gives Donovan another kiss on the cheek.
Amelia: “That is right, and we don’t want anything to happen to you and also preferably to the house either.”
Donovan: “That is what Mom said too.”
Amelia: “Well your Mom is pretty smart.”
Gracie: “You are pretty bright there yourself Supergirl.”
Donovan: “I thought that I was the smart one here!”
Both Amelia and Gracie look at Donovan followed by looking at each other and laughing again, while smiling at their son.
Amelia: “I think that all three of us are pretty smart, what would you say babe, do you think that is true?”
Gracie: “I think that there is a certain amount of truth to that yes.”
Amelia: “And what do you think, little Mister?”
Looking back and forth between his two Moms, Donovan starts to give the girls a wide-eyed smile.
Donovan: “Yes, I think we are all pretty smart here, but I must say that I think that I am the smartest!”
Both of the girls laugh again at their son.
Amelia: “I think that could be very true little Mister.”
Gracie: “You will get no arguments from me.”
Looking at Gracie kind of oddly, Amelia turns back to Donovan.
Amelia: “So Donnie, did you make certain to tell your Mom that you will never use the stove without having one of us help you again?”
Donovan nods.
Donovan: “Yes, I even made sure that I promised mom. I will not touch the oven without having help from one of you again.”
Amelia: “Well that is good enough for me, Gracie?”
Immediately noticing that something was off right there, Gracie nods trying to figure out what is going on.
Gracie: “Yeah, that is all that I needed to hear, sure.”
Amelia: “Alright. Say little Mister, why don’t you run along and go play in your room for a little bit. There is something that you Mom and I need to discuss, just the two of us, alright?”
Donovan: “Alright.”
Gracie sets Donovan on the floor and she and Amelia watch as he runs off to play in his room before Gracie turns and looks at Amelia.
Gracie: “You called me Gracie.”
Amelia: “Your name is Gracie.”
Gracie: “Yes, but you call me by my name only when there is something important that we must discuss immediately. So Amelia, what is up, spill it.”
Amelia bows her head.
Amelia: “I have a bit of a confession to make. I lied when I said what woke me up this morning.”
Gracie: “You weren’t woken up by our son screaming at me not to call him a goober? Wow sweetie, you really have to work on what it is that you call important.”
Amelia: “No, I heard him yelling at you while I was on the phone.”
Gracie looks oddly confused.
Gracie: “I never heard the phone ring?”
Amelia: “That’s because it was a call on my cell phone.”
Gracie: “Ooooooo scadalous!”
Amelia: “Oh would you just shush and let me finish?”
Gracie: “Already, already, I was being a brat. Continue. Who was calling you before nine o’clock in the morning?”
Amelia: “The head road agent who also works for talent relations for SCW, Dean Black.”
Gracie’s ears perk up.
Gracie: “Alright, I am listening.”
Amelia: “Well apparently not only was Dean watching us in the first two rounds of this tournament, but so was Sasha the promoter of SCW and it seems that they really liked what they saw.”
Gracie: “You have my undivided attention.”
Amelia: “They liked what they have seen so much that they would like for us to come in and discuss the two of us joining SCW full time as a tag team!”
Gracie: “No way!”
Amelia: “Yes way!”
Gracie: “So what did you say?”
Amelia: “I told him that we have a lot too discuss but that we certainly would like to talk about a possible contract with SCW.”
Gracie: “I can’t believe this is happening!”
Amelia: “I know right?!”
Gracie: “I guess we do have a lot to discuss.”
Amelia: “Yes we do.”
And we fade.
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| Chapter II: Fair Warning |
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Posted by: Reyes - 04-23-2020, 11:58 PM - Forum: The 2020 World's Best: Phase 2
- No Replies
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6:30 AM.
Devin Brando’s eyes snapped open upon hearing the first note of his alarm. He did not respond with a groan or a tired attempt to hit the snore button. He rose, cracking his shoulder as he often did. When he did, he felt a glimmer of pain on his side, nestled underneath his ribs. When he looked down, he saw a bruise had formed. Without a second thought, he pressed his fingers against it, and it was fresh. It was the result of his work earlier but instead of wincing, Devin could only smile.
Those kids--no, those competitors. They brought it, and they called him on his bullshit. When he was backstage and he heard them speak, he chuckled. Devin wondered if Lyza heard him. Pina Coladas were spunky and they were driven. They told him that they heard what he said before, which was fair. They might not have entirely understood his point but he was entertained by their antics. And they beat him and Lyza.
Commendable.
The growing pains in his body were an annoyance, but Devin Brando was in the ring again, and he was alive.
April 13th, 2020 - San Juan, Puerto Rico (OFF CAMERA)
The last time he was in the ring, he carried fifteen extra pounds of gold with him. He had fashioned his face with striking white paint to tell the story of a monster. He was resolute in his ideals to be one, and he had lost himself there. He drove spikes into the head of his victims. He tried to end the careers of anyone who came up close to him. Devin Brando was a tumor a year ago, and he was malignant. Worst of all, the acts did not bring him any sort of happiness. Instead, it filled a hole in the pit of his soul with something fraudulent.
Though when the time came for companies to die, Devin did not rush for something else. Instead, he kept away from the business that he was aiming to taint. He went home, to the coldness and loneliness. The solitude helped him because it forced him to confront his demons. Devin did not challenge them, no, he merely allowed them to stay with him. He found it hypocritical to try to kill them when he was the one to invite them in.
As he looked himself in the mirror, each time he got a chance to stare into his eyes, he did. A man could not walk through life without being to do so. Unfortunately, Devin found a bruise around his eye. It did not bother him as much as it tickled him. The injury was coupled with some wrinkles, and that fact almost made him laugh. It was probably a kick from Delilah. The point of the foot caught him flush, and he did not feel anything, due to the intensity of it. The thought removed him from any other self-reflection. And he was thankful.
It was disappointing to lose to the younger generation, but it was not the first time that it happened to the eleven-year veteran. In fact, it was promising, and it showed how the wrestling world would be shaped. In addition, he and Lyza padded their rough start with a win. They were still in the running, and it became a test of whoever could try to keep striving beyond 2nd place.
“What am I doing chasing some kids for first place?” Devin mumbled to himself.
When he drew the curtains, he was greeted by the now-familiar brightness of Puerto Rico. It still seared his eyes a bit. He would not get used to it; his eyes were accumulated to the darkness of Canada. Luckily, he had bought some shades prior to heading to the arena. He stretched his back, feeling a remnant of pain there. The mix of pain from the matches and nagging injuries came to haunt him early in the morning. He decided to go ahead and get his workout, perhaps it would alleviate some of the aching.
When he was done, the world began to wake up. Once it got its own stretches in, Devin had already packed his bags and was waiting for the time to leave. He was going from one bright place to another. Yet, in Puerto Rico, he had some history. Several rivals-turned-friends invited him out. It was not entirely unfamiliar to him. Jamaica was not a place he had ever dreamt of going to. The climate was not his interest nor was it a locale that he found he would thrive in. His phone buzzed with a notification. When he picked it up, he noted the time.
8:26 AM.
There was a text from Lyza. Seeing her name made him squint.
“Why did I let you talk me into this?”
He snickered at the message and attempted to stuff his phone back into his pocket. When he did, it felt it vibrate--a phone call. He took it back out, expecting to see Lyza’s name. That wasn’t the case. Instead, the name that he saw was one that sent shivers down his spine. Devin narrowed his eyes and answered it, regardless of how he felt internally.
“Hello, Sirena,” he greeted his former boss.
“Приветик,” Sirena van Dyne greeted Devin with a tone that he was unfamiliar with. It was too sweet, but he knew that it was her making fun of the situation already. She let out a light giggle. “It has been far too long,” she continued.
“Yes, it has been. For good reason,” Devin explained, opting to sit down in the nearest chair.
“I’m hurt, Devin,” Sirena’s voice returned back to what he was familiar with, the dry, stoic expression.
“No, you’re not,” it was an immediate retort, something he hardly thought about.
“Well, if I wasn’t before, I definitely am now. I see that playing with that young lady has gotten you a tad more brazen,” a veiled expression of hostility, “and I don’t know if I like it or not.”
“Right,” Devin said. “What do you need, Sirena? You’re not one to call someone to check in on them. You don’t even do that with your daughter.”
Sirena remained quiet but broke said silence with a sharp breath. “Devin, you don’t have to be so miserable about this. I’m not calling you to come back. I’m calling you because I’m honestly concerned.”
“Concerned? I’m fine.”
“No, for your well-being. There have been reports of some of your former co-workers being targeted by someone. We figured it out recently, and I need you to stay cautious. It’d be a shame if you were--” Sirena paused. Devin was about to reply, but soon enough, Sirena piped up. “I don’t want to find you dead somewhere for something that I did.”
“For something you did?” Devin addressed the most pressing statement. “Sirena, what did you do?”
Sirena van Dyne was a businesswoman in every sense of the word. Her pharmaceutical company, Blacklight, was always doing well. Though it came with its questionable decisions and its secrets that many people never heard of. Sirena never slipped up, Devin knew this much. Even if she did, no one would ever know because she was an expert at being able to bounce back at a moment’s notice. Small failures were merely audibles for her, and she made good on all of them in Devin’s experience of working for her.
Though his work wasn’t always so pleasant.
“Someone found out the truth.”
Those words struck Devin with a gravity he wasn’t expecting.
“What are you talking about, Sirena?”
Sirena did not answer, perhaps because she didn’t want to. “Be careful, Devin. And...keep your new friend safe. She seems like a good person.”
The CEO hung up the phone, leaving Devin with only a palpable silence to comfort him.
It was pointless to try to process it anymore. Yet, it left him with some pause about staying within the hotel. If Sirena called him and knew what Devin was up to, he wasn’t safe. It was an annoyance if anything. He didn’t get to try the cuisine that the driver told him to when he got into town. Frustrations aside, Devin Brando scooped up his bags and made his way for the airport.
He could only hope that there wasn’t anyone after him.
◼◼◼
Frustration was the first emotion Lyza felt after night one of the World’s Best: Tag Team Tournament. Being used to working for herself under her own terms, never consulting with anyone had caught up to her in Puerto Rico. As opposed to a prior tag team endeavor with a “green” partner, it would seem like her alliance with Devin would be fool-proof, but even then, there was always that .01% chance and it came in an unusual way.
She never doubted the potential from rookie competitors in the past, yet she was able to come out on top in the end. What was different about The Pina Coladas? Their natural talent along with the teachings of decorated wrestlers permeated through them. If she were to recommend wrestlers to follow when the current talent retires, it’d be them.
Despite the outcome, she had no intention of giving up on the team she formed with Devin as there was room for improvement. She knew there was something from the moment she had a sparring session with him. Being a successful team also entails to each member having the capacity to challenge the other. Redemption was achieved on night two after defeating Honourable Win, a team consisting of seasoned wrestlers. The added pressure of needing to be on the scoreboard may have lit a spark within her to keep pushing forward. Raise a shoulder, kick out, do whatever was needed to stay alive and that she did along with her partner.
April 16, 2020, NYC (Off Camera)
Days after round two took place, Lyza returned to her apartment in New York City. It seemed impractical to fly back to the mainland when she could wing it in the Caribbean until necessary. Other than wanting to do laundry and pack different clothing, she wanted to handle a personal affair.
There’s a side that Miss Reyes has masterfully maintained under wraps from the general public and even her loved ones. She hides in plain sight, often coming off as non-threatening and inviting, but behind her charm and bright smile, there was an added layer of mystery. Some sleuths have attempted to unveil what was beneath, but to no avail - thanks to her ability to stay a few steps ahead.
With disease supposedly being at every turn and corner, she seems relaxed walking on Water Street in downtown, Manhattan. Rather than an over-the-top costume as an alternative to protective gear, she dons a tan trench coat and knee-high boots. Rather than wearing a face mask, her face remains covered with a scarf. She stood out from the scattered joggers and bike riders that were out for their evening exercise in athletic gear.
She finds her destination on a cobblestone road, which at one point was filled with benches and chairs for patrons to sip and eat next to their restaurant or bar of choice. The Dead Mouse Grocery and Frog, a bar she has frequented in the past looks abandoned from the outside. A sign on the front says, “Delivery & Takeout Only. This includes frozen margaritas and any beer that’s not Corona.”
She scoffs at the sign before opening the door with a gloved hand. There’s a young woman behind the bar packing to-go goods in a paper bag and a male in a bike helmet waiting to take the order for delivery. Lyza steps to the side, leaving the path clear for the gentleman to exit. She then walks up to the bar, patiently waiting for the bartender to acknowledge her after making a quick run to the kitchen with a new online order that came in.
“Hey, there. What can I get for ya?” The bartender asks in a cheery tone.
Lyza unwraps the scarf and leans in slightly, citing the following,
“Leave me a place underground, a labyrinth,
where I can go, when I wish to turn,
without eyes, without touch,
in the void, to the dumb stone,
or the finger of shadow.”
“Pablo Neruda, he’ll accept that. Meet me at the end,” the young woman instructs.
Lyza turns to her left to walk over to the end of the bar. The bartender extends her hands to take Lyza’s coat, showing off a navy blue cocktail dress underneath. She then leads the way to the kitchen, walking past the prep area and the cook who remains focused on his job as he dips a basket of breaded calamari in a deep fryer.
They reach the end of the kitchen and enter the walk-in refrigerator. Lyza shivers a bit while looking around the room, seeing the usual array of vegetables and boxes of assorted meats and seafood. The bartender stops at the end of the storage area and reaches down to pull a handle from the floor. She raises the disguised door from beneath, and points over to Lyza to make her way.
There was no point in turning back. She carefully makes her way over to the hole, stepping inside to reach a set of stairs going downward. A dim light guides her as she makes it to the bottom. She looks behind her, seeing the bartender lower the door from the food storage area.
Alone, Lyza walks past the empty cellar until she reaches another door that takes her through a narrow hallway. The music blaring was indicative of how close she was to reaching point b in this evening venture. She turns to her right and pushes the double doors ahead of her to find a decorated room filled with dozens of individuals dressed to the nines, dancing, and mingling against New York state orders. Servers circulated the room with trays of appetizers and champagne. Upon taking a closer look, some of the guests’ faces were recognizable from TV and social media. Celebrity chefs, plastic surgeons, musicians, actors, and so forth are gathering as if a global pandemic was nonexistent.
“I bet some of these pendejos posted pictures of themselves in pajamas with sad expressions adding a ‘stay home’ hashtag,” she says to herself in a sarcastic tone.
“Watch out!” yells a man, who gently moves Lyza out of the way to catch a roll of toilet paper that was thrown at him like a football.
“Hello, fellow non-essential,” Lyza quips, noticing the man’s athletic ability and physique. She keeps it moving, maintaining her destination in mind. It fascinated her that as soon as she would step out of this establishment, the vibe would be the complete opposite. Being surrounded by individuals with uncovered faces, laughing, and exchanging words within inches of one another felt...wrong.
She spots a round table with four middle-aged men smoking cigars and walks towards them with purpose. She pulls an empty chair towards her and takes a seat to join them. The man across from her snaps his fingers for the remaining individuals to clear the area. Once they leave, the man proceeds with greeting her.
“Lyza. It takes the world going to hell for you to pay you number one fan a visit?”
“That’s just the cherry on top of everything else. I’m here to tell you that I’m done with this game of ping pong, Glen. I need to get in touch with your superior,” she says, calmly.
“I’ll see what can be arranged,” he says, putting out the cigar over an ashtray. “You know, you must be special considering the amount of patience that is required in dealing with you through the years. How’s young Diana doing?”
Lyza’s heart nearly broke at the memory of the little girl she fostered. Diana was another kept secret as she didn’t want to exploit the circumstances. She just wanted to help out a family in need while they sorted their immigration status.
“Better, now that she’s reunited with her family,” Lyza replies. She scans the room quickly in search of vigilant eyes, including the surveillance system. “I meant what I said. The surprise visits, the cryptic shit - all of that has to go. I’m not the weapon or whatever it is that the higher-ups want to call it.”
“That’s where it gets complicated. You are close to becoming what my superior envisioned, and you were one of the few to survive the process to date. I’d say you were born to do this.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this. I don’t even believe that my mother’s doctor was transparent” she says, shaking her head “no” at one of the servers offering her a drink. Feeling defeated, she lets out a sigh. “Let me get through the remainder of spring. I need to at least feel something other than what’s happening here.”
There was no reason for her to stick around unless the person she actually wanted to speak with would agree to meet. She gets up from her seat and walks away from Glen and the COVID Party. She gets to the narrow hallway en route to the main level of the venue. On the opposite side, there’s a rotund man in a pinstripe suit and a fedora who approaches her.
“Leaving already? C’mon, it’s not like you have anywhere else to be. I could really make it worthwhile for you,” he says, running a finger over her gloved hand.
“Nah,” she says, pulling away. She steps to the side to distance herself further as she continues walking. The man turns around, catches up to her again, and places his hand on the small of her back. Lyza hits him with her left elbow and quickly turns around to knee him in the midsection. As he hits the ground, the hallway goes pitch black. She kicks him while he’s down several times until she can no longer feel him attempting to fight back.
“AY! ‘Cha doin’?” a voice echoes from the party room entrance. The lights come back on in the hallway. Glen and his associates rush over to see the man in the pinstripes laid out on the cold concrete floor seemingly stunned by what just happened to him.
“One of our VIP’s. This is a problem,” Glen says as his associates try to help the fallen man.
Days later (On Camera)
The scene opens up in the same location Devin Brando recorded his previous promo, yet this time he is not alone. Lyza Reyes is beside him wearing a long majestic red and gold robe. She is balancing a scepter over the palm of her hand while Devin looks on from the throne. She catches the red light of the camera from the corner of her eye and sets the accessory to the side before speaking.
“Greetings and salutations to the viewers and listeners. I hope you’re all safe and sound! My associate and I are delighted to be here before heading to Jamaica and Cuba for the World’s Best: Tag Team Tournament.”
She nods reassuringly while Devin maintains a neutral expression.
“With some downtime between rounds, of course, there was an opportunity to properly reflect and let things marinate in our heads after what happened on nights one and two of the tournament. Between night one and two, there was that brief period of hurt after coming up short against The Pina Coladas. Much like an energetic toddler bumping into something, I took the fall and had no choice but to get up without hesitation as night two was still in the cards. Losing back to back would be devastating and would be a disservice to my partner, the fans, and anyone with expectations of us putting forth an excellent fight.
For the amount of content received and hours spent reviewing talent footage, SCW narrowed it down to six tag teams. Mind you, there were likely to be entrants with years of experience working as a unit, but they chose Devin and yours truly. So for me to throw it away like that? I wasn’t going to let it happen. And if you were to believe that our victory against Honourable Win was nothing else but a fluke? Then I don’t know what to tell ya.”
There was a brief silence as Lyza looked away from the camera to gather her thoughts.
“Nights one and two clearly set the tone of what to prepare for. There’s no denying the flaws and miscalculations that were displayed. Synchronization and receptivity were slightly delayed which I take responsibility for. I pride myself on being an easy person to work with and I’m all for collaborating when the reward is high. Obviously I had a moment of weakness where I wanted to prove that I was more than capable when instead I overcompensated. Rest assured that this isn’t habitual or something I’m known for. If anything, I was told in the past that I needed to come out of my shell more. Imagine me holding back? Balance. It always comes back to finding a balance between complacency and chaos.
And that’s where I get to test things out with The Dresser Boys. Marcus V. Lopez and Violator’s reunion from what I was told was something you’d see in a James Franco and Seth Rogan project. Marcus being a casual-cool cat with trying to get the band back together, you couldn’t help but cheer for the guy! And in a moment where the camera focused on Violator, capturing his expression as the viewers clenched to their seats wondering if he would say yes or no. I’ve seen prom proposal videos and that was nothing compared to the interaction between The Dresser Boys at the Devil’s Lettuce Shop in New Joizy!”
Her sarcastic nature shines as she makes devil horns with her hands. Devin shakes his head, not saying anything. Yet, there’s a sliver of a grin on his face that he’s trying to hide.
“It’s going to take more than war paint and channeling a furry friend to get one over us. Granted, I did notice the creativity of Marcus in using the ropes as a weapon for his opponent Jamarcus. This allowed Violator to capitalize on his submission hold on Faustina, which will not happen in round three. So if you’re still feeling crafty, make sure to have plans B, C, and D on deck.”
She glances over at Devin, nudging him gently to take his turn. Devin doesn’t talk at first until Lyza’s nudging becomes a tad harder. Soon enough, he lets out a low groan. The Last King isn’t dressed in any ceremonial, no, he let Lyza handle that front. He stares at the throne with a questionable expression before letting his focus settle on the camera and the promotional material at hand.
“Sadly, Violator decided to get into my face.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Unlike Pina Coladas, I don’t have the respect for people who lose themselves to the hype. Maybe there was something in the air. Maybe the return to the ring got the man a little too jumpy, but he decided to mouth off to me. And well, I take umbrage with that. If I recall his exact words--”
Devin clears his throat unceremoniously. Earlier, he had been quiet and non-attentive. Yet, his cold glare settles on the camera, invoking the feeling of clear hostility.
“My ass was next?”
Narrowing his eyes, Devin allows the quote to linger in the air.
“Momentum is a powerful thing, I know from experience. In this game of chasing the first place position, it’s the momentum that will begin to tell the story of the victors. For me, though, it always helps to have some agitation fueling your punches. I don’t particularly care for people that don’t know when to keep walking.”
For a moment, the quiet visage Devin had faded into something more aggressive. Though, Devin’s attention trickles over to his tag team partner. Lyza stands there, twirling around her specter. The act makes Devin drop his vicious stance, and he lets it go with a sigh.
“So then, what are you going to do to ensure that my partner and I lose to you two? See, I’m a dosage of reality. Lyza stated that your entire purpose here is the comeback tour, the buddy stoner movie, and possibly a feel-good story. But when you step to us, the script is going to change a bit. I’m not going to say there won’t be a happy ending. I find that to be crass. You two have plenty of the tournament left to succeed.”
He offers the camera a smirk.
“This match, though? It’s the bump in the road that every protagonist has to go on to change themselves. Maybe this coming loss will tell you all that what you bring to the table isn’t enough. Maybe it tells you both to get your act entirely together. It may just tell you that you made a mistake in trying to antagonize people. I’m not sure what conclusion you’re going to find, but it will be just like how it was with Honourable Win.”
“However, as always, there’s someone else. We have Seduction. They’re another team with unfinished business,” Devin says, arching an eyebrow. Perhaps the amount of teams with that inspiration gets to him. “The first time that I’ve seen them, they presented their resume to me. Although it was impressive, I couldn’t do anything but ignore it. Because this is a tournament where anyone can win. Pina Coladas are a testament to that statement. So, in this realm, what do resumes provide for us?”
“Nothing but wasted time.”
The corner of Devin’s mouth tugs downward.
“And you’ve spent additional time speaking on your sex lives, minor political stances, and any other things that derailed what you were speaking on.”
“Now beyond some statistics that don’t really matter, what do you offer?”
Devin looks as if he was about to say something egregious. However, with a soft chuckle, he changes paths.
“Unity.”
He says with finality.
“That’s the advantage you have. Lyza and I aren’t as close as you two,” Devin briefly looks over to his tag partner and back, “and that’s beautiful in a way. Though, how fleeting can that unity be in the face of hungry competitors like Lyza and myself? If we go back to the idea of momentum, yours got shot when you fell to Pina Coladas. So, you’re chasing what we already have--you want what we have. And like the Dresser Boys, we have no time to waste giving you two that chance.”
With that being said, Lyza looks at the camera matter-of-factly.
“He’s got a point there, ladies. What good is a two-page resume when you’re getting passed on for upstarts fresh out of their graduation ceremony? Having unfinished business can be a bit of a pain because all you want to do is move on. Being married, adopting a child, surely there’s a picket fence somewhere. ‘Unfinished business’ is such a drag. Wouldn’t Dr. Grace Morningwood be of better use at the ‘front lines’ or somewhere around that? But hey, do you. Nobody’s stopping you from aspiring to be the top team. And with being as close-knit as you two are, it’s nice to have that shoulder to cry on and openly express concerns to one another. Take that as some sort of consolation if you must.”
She shrugs lightly.
“And we offer our condolences,” Devin says leaning forward. Lyza does her classic wink and finger gun gesture as the scene fades to black.
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