JoeJoe's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency
Aug 25, 2015 6:28:14 GMT -5
Logan, Bryan "Buzz" Worthy, and 3 more like this
Post by Joey Flash on Aug 25, 2015 6:28:14 GMT -5
Pillar Man - (29/08/09)
At twenty years old, Joseph Maliganaggi was about to become a made man. Robert Facchetti smiled at his foster son, they were sat in Robert’s club ‘La Societa’, it was a newly founded Brooklyn hotspot that had found fame recently through a couple of high profile celebrity appearances and incidents. It was also the operating base of the largest criminal empire on the East Coast, the Facchetti family. With the backing of the eponymously powerful Sicilian Allegri’s they had in five years swept from New Jersey to Massachusetts. At thirty nine years of age Robert Facchetti had the world in his palm.
Robert: It looks like you’re happy…
He paused.
Robert: But you’re not.
He raised his hand to beckon the barman.
Robert: Another whiskey for Joseph, just a refill of water for me. He gave his tankard up.
Sat next to him was the most important reason for all his success. He had first found Joseph at the ripe old age of fourteen, when the raggedy haired youth in his blind impudence had the audacity to try to jack Robert’s wallet. He caught and thrashed the boy, who rather than cry, rather than scream, just simply stared, stared defiantly in Robert’s eyes. That told Robert absolutely everything he needed to know, he had to have this child.
Joey: What on earth makes you think that?
Joseph Malignaggi let a nervous chuckle. At twenty years old Joseph Malignaggi was his de-facto second in command and almost the sole reason for the ascension of his power base. He had a mind so sharp, so calm, calculated and wise. The biggest thing about him though, the reason that day six years ago he took the young street rat under his wing, he just had a…he couldn’t describe if to anyone, but if you ever spoke more than two words to Joseph you knew, he just had…an ‘aura’ about him.
Robert: I know what this day means to you. Let me be up front and frank, I’m speaking both as your boss and as your friend. You’ve been invaluable to me Joseph.
Joey looked up from his drink and gave a little grin.
Joey: I dunno about that.
Robert: Bullshit, you know it better than anyone, you done good kid. Nah.
He gave Joseph a loving slap around the face.
Robert: It’s a big day for you; believe me you’ve done more for your age than I had as close as five years ago. You’ve earned everything you’re going to get today.
Joey downed his whiskey and smiled. He didn’t want much in life, he had it all. He owned his own house, a second home, three cars and had the most beautiful woman he could ever hope for. Now this? To be recognised by his mentor, by his peers as a man of honour, a man they can trust and put their life in…it gave him chills. The thing that made his heart sing over any other was the fact that finally, he would have a family. Joey looked at Robert and batted his hand away.
Joey: You giving me all this bullshit is really helping my mood!
Moments later the barman reappeared with more whiskey in hand for Joey and water for Robert; Robert motioned for a yet glass of whiskey for Joey, he didn’t complain. Robert stood up and whispered to the barman, slipping a crisp fifty into his pocket.
Joey: Damn you’re generous today.
Robert turned to Joey and smiled once more, Joey had already knocked the new drink back.
Robert: Why not? It’s a day of great victories. It makes me sad looking at you like this Joseph, this is your big day, where is your excitement, puff your chest out, act like a man!
Joey: I am excited, I just dunno…
Robert: I know. You don’t know if this is the life for you.
Joey looked back at him speechless.
Joey: I-
Robert: I understand. To me Joseph you have the most untapped potential in the world, I see a lot of myself in you, no, that’s a lie. I used to see a lot of myself in you. I saw a leader, a visionary, a man to trust and rely on.
Joey felt his head pounding and his vision beginning to blur, he tried to stand up but his legs gave way and he crumpled to the floor.
Joey: God I’m sorry.
Robert knelt down and stroked the hair from Joey’s face.
Robert: Sorry for what? Looking at you right now, it’s clear that you were never meant to be a leader, you never meant to rule, this isn’t Joseph Malignaggi. I promised to you that we’d rise together, and we did it didn’t we Joseph? For years it was ‘just wait’ and ‘you’ll get what you deserve soon’ This was your driving force for so long, you’ve been skipping down the yellow brick road toward and pulled back the curtain to find the Wizard already dead before you got there.
Joey: What are you talking about? Give me a hand up Robert. I think I need to sober up.
Robert kissed Joey on the forehead and stood up, he took a deep breath, checking his watch.
Robert: I think it’s about time for last call.
Joey looked at him perplexed for a moment until the door to the function room they were in opened and in walked two of Robert’s men. Marco and Anthony closed the door and stepped toward Joey, these were people Joey had grown up with, shared drinks with, laughed with, cried with, made money and memories with. It was then that Joey understood what was happening here. He looked at Robert with pleading eyes.
Joey: Robert?
Robert Facchetti simply walked away, not sparing a single thought for the boy he had seen grow into a man alongside him, he clapped Anthony on the shoulder and smiled.
Robert: Make it quick, he doesn’t deserve pain.
Joey: R-Robert?! Please, what-
Robert: Enough, be a man for once.
Anthony and Marco reached into their jackets and each pulled out pistols, levelling them at a cowering Joseph. Be a man and just accept death huh? Today was supposed to be the next chapter in Joseph Malignaggi’s life, honour and respect, trust and family. Instead all he had gotten was the exact opposite?
Joey: Why?!
Robert: Why? It’s simple Joseph, you have all the potential and talent in the world to be the king, but at the end of the day it is simple, the reason I can’t allow you to be made today, the reason I can’t allow you to remain part of my crew, the reason that I never ever for once thought of you as anything but a simple fucking tool, you’re no family of mine…you’re too soft.
Joey blinked the tears away. When you’re staring down the barrel of a gun, what exactly are you supposed to feel? Is it supposed to be fear? Joey didn’t know about that. Maybe the first time it was, and the time after that, but he guessed it’s like anything else in the world the more something happens to you, the less you seem to care about it. Why was it taking so long? He looked at Anthony and Marco.
Joey: Getting cold feet?
The two men looked at each other and laughed.
Anthony took a step forward and pressed the gun against Joey’s forehead.
Anthony: I’m savouring this; your tears are beautiful Malignaggi.
His voice was as cold as the steel against Joey’s head; he felt his stomach knot and his heart begin resonating a loud thudding pulse through his body. Huh, well ain’t that a bitch. It is fear after all. For the first time in what seemed an eternity, fear, true to god fear. Interesting, Joey thought. Was he sad? Was he hollow? Was he…weak? Maybe, maybe he was, but the first time in what seemed like an eternity he didn’t have a poisonous, cancerous snake coiled around his life sapping his life and his happiness away. Now Joey’s light at the end of the tunnel, his wizard behind the curtain had become a man right in front of him, and my tin heart was beating nothing but vengeance.
They say that you never hear the bullet that kills you. Joey didn’t know about that. This gunshot was as hollow, as terrible and as loud as anything I’d ever heard, then a second gunshot rang out and then nothing but silence as the casing rattled to the floor. Joey opened his eyes to gun smoke and gore. Anthony and Marco lay lifeless on the floor, their heads mangled by a deadly 9mm makeover.
Robrert: They always were stupid, when I told them I wanted the great Joseph Malignaggi murdered today they virtually jumped at the chance.
He looked down at their bodies.
Robert: What a pity, did you know Joseph, that poor Anthony here had been siphoning money from the collections he was doing? Did you know Marco was doing the same? I suppose they thought they could take money out of my pocket and treat themselves to nice clothes and fancy cars. That’s not on is it Joseph?
Joey: Y-You mean…
Robert: Exactly, this was a ploy to lure them here and get rid of them for good.
Joey broke out in more tears and smiled.
Robert: What’s the smile for? Oh, oh no Joseph, this is still…
He raised his gun toward Joey.
Robert: Very much real.
Joey wiped the tears away and shot Robert a look, a look that made Robert hesitate for a moment. The same look a young Joseph gave to Robert that made him re-assess everything, a look that told Robert everything he needed to know about this situation. There would be no begging. In that one moment Joey’s resolve turned from gelatine to titanium, Joey needed to buy some sand for his shattered hour glass, he had to test to see if Robert was selling any.
Joey: To be stabbed in the back isn’t so bad. But to be stabbed in the front with absolutely no defence for it by the only fucking guy you have a shred of trust in. What the fuck? This ain’t a way to go out.
Robert: You know the saying ‘I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees?’ Well please you must tell me how it feels to die on your knees like the coward you are.
Joey: No Robe-
Joey staggered forward and fell to his knees next to the lifeless Anthony. His chest was burning; it felt like someone took a white hot poker and jammed it through his ribcage. He pressed his hands against his sternum to find warm thick red liquid slowly leaking across his palms. For all the pain Joey’s focus was hazy, fixed on the table where his final shot of whiskey lay, he wouldn’t even get to have one last drink.
Robert: This is life Joseph. To be king this is what you need in life. Flip a coin, one side Robert Facchetti, husband, father, good citizen, philanthropist, other side murderer, arms dealer, drug smuggler. Joseph Malignaggi? No wife, no children, no friends, no decency, no legacy, most definitely not a killer.
Joey spat his blood on the floor.
Joey: I have no wife…
He crawled across the floor an inch.
Joey: I have no children…
Another.
Joey: I have no friends.
Another.
Joey: I have no decency, I have no legacy, I have no fucking…family. But you’re wrong about one thing.
Robert: Oh?
A mocking smile creeping across his thin features as thumbed back the hammer.
Joey: I am a killer.
Using all the power left in his legs he yanked Anthony’s body on top of his own and reached for the gun underneath, another shot from Robert rang out and more pain flooded Joey’s senses. He could feel the steely taste of blood rising through the back of his throat. It was that feeling again, time seemed to slow to a crawl, Joey reached out at the pistol and using the last of his strength dove away with it. Spinning sharply it seemed like his body was running purely on muscle memory and force of will as the sight lined up with the forehead of Robert Facchetti. He remembered all their times together, the meals, the drinks, playing with Robert’s daughters…and erased it to nothing.
Robert Fachetti’s head flew back with a jet stream of red as he crumpled to the floor. The silence was deafening. Joey’s vision was hazy now; he could feel the beat of my heart slow. Looking down he could see his white shirt soaking up the blood, whoever cleans this mess up is gonna have one hell of a job. He edged toward the table and reached a nearly limp arm upward and grabbed the glass of whiskey.
Joey: Robert?
He didn’t know whether he wanted him to respond or not. It didn’t matter; no response was going to come. Joey looked over to where Robert laid, eyes open and seemingly burying through Joey’s heart. He felt my body go cold with a shiver; it was as if his soul was judging Joey. He didn’t know how to describe what he felt next; if Joey had to put it into words he guessed warmth, and happiness.
Maybe that was just something that happens to someone when they’re about to die, the brain sending little electrical signals to make you think ‘It’s going to be okay’, but shit, sometimes that wasn’t such a bad thing. Joey spat some more blood from his mouth.
Joey: Last call.
He laughed. Raising the glass of whiskey he knocked the drink back. The start of the drink always begins with a gleeful grin of expectation and relief, the final sip always ends with a feeling of gut wrenching emptiness. This time though, god damn, the taste was heaven.
The Ultimate Being
A lone hooded figure was stood in the middle of the empty graveyard. A thin sheet of rain was covering the sky with its cascading beauty in the moonlight, the wind is so still that the only sound is of the tinkling of the water on the ground. We see the figure lower its hood to reveal Joey Flash, stood solemnly looking over a grave.
The grave reads:
Joey: Now I know what you’re thinking, bullshit right? Well let me lay out exactly what’s going to happen in this promo, I’m not going to play up to expectation and perception. I’m not going to talk about your past couple of months of failure, nor your fall from top tier to obscurity, and fuck I’m not even going to talk about Imperium cos I don’t need that shit to chalk you out…
He pauses and smiles.
Joey: …who the fuck am I kidding? That’s ALL I’m gonna talk about!
Z-McMorris, got a face like a keyed Taurus. Right? This is how we started last time. We ended last time with me putting you solidly in that standard issue leather bag. Let’s get it. People calling this the match between the two hardest shooters in the federation, let’s call it what it is, the best wrestler in the world against an overrated, sloppy faggot with an ego ten times his talent level. People shouldn’t even be calling it such a thing, this is quality intricate promo work against your sloppy comedy slash novelty act. You’re as braindead as you are undead, learn to put together coherent speech before coming at me. Kindergarten shit with swearwords and a plastic sword can’t trade blades with Shakespeare holdin a rapier.
I feel embarrassed to be mentioned in the same bracket with you when it comes to this shit, this is so easy I’m feeling sorry for you already. Like legitimately, you’re probably crying into Buddy Roman’s crotch right now, he’ll use your tears as lube to routinely fuck his other worthless new acquisition Scarecrow. We fought for the first and only time nine months ago, well I fucked you well and good back then and right now it’s about time for that chestburster to explode and finish the fucking job. You thought you could give me that baptism by fire back then right? You thought you could body me, straight up murder me. ‘Let’s get rid of this punk, my shoot’ll scare him off’ oops, sorry. The fire you bring I snuffed it out…
He opens and closes his hand into a fist.
Joey: …like that. What’s napalm to a fuckin H-Bomb? All you did was affirm everything I thought about the company and its talent level. Absolute dogshit. You held the Television Title and the Tag Team Title at that time on that Jonny Fly steez. So when I waltz in and see that the shit you bring every week is good enough to succeed I laughed, I laughed and then I fucking destroyed you. What’s happened since then to our careers? Oh surprise surprise, everything I said back then came true, Joey Flash is at the top of the game and one match away from ruling it all and you? Well, you’re facing and losing to people like Spencer Adams and Raymond Hatcher. Wow, what a pro you are, what happened to the great almighty ZMAC? The guy people feared and revered? I would talk about your fall from grace but you couldn’t even fall with grace.
Even now you see the talent level and the way shit has evolved and that little ego trip in the back of your head says to you ‘Yeah I might not be able to win every week but if I actually TRY I can beat anyone?’ Really? That sounds like the typical excuse of an insecure self-doubting fucking loser. You’re that good? Prove it. You’re facing Joey Flash, I’ve embarrassed you at every turn, I crushed Imperium from underneath your very nose. I’m the reason you are where you are, obscurity and irrelevant. There are no excuses for this match, do or do not, right? There is no try ya cunt. This match will prove two things.
1) You are a prolific liar
2) You are no longer a relevant wrestler in this federation and can barely be considered a threat to even the lowliest of peons in this company.
You don’t ‘Try’ against Joey Flash? Please, kill yourself now. So come on Zombie, what’s wrong? Taken so many bumps of coke that you can’t even see all the fucking bumps in the road your career is taking? Your credibility is taking? You use that shit as a crutch so people don’t see where your talent level really lies. You are now taking to challenging, note the word, challenging, because you still don’t fucking win, for meaningless bottom feeding titles. If you ever see Joey Flash challenging for the Internet or People’s titles? Please shoot me in the face. This is where your desperation is at this point, you can’t even beat Spencer Adams, SPENCER ADAMS? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS?! The guy is the definition of ‘generic stock loser wrestler’ and big bad ZMAC can’t even touch that guy’s title? Oh my fucking god ZMAC, what is wrong with this picture?
You went from beastmode champion, to mid card challenger to fucking butt of a joke. What’s next, Tyler Walker and Biohazard for you? Maybe Adam Young…oh wait that was me.
Joey smiles.
Joey: I do this shit as a chess move, you do it because it’s actually where you belong now, and it’s pitiful. Let’s play a game of ‘irony’ ZMAC shall we? Damn right I’m becoming Batesian in my shoot, fuckin deal with it faggot. You said:
“He'll be Josephine Flash, the one and done jobber bum from The Bronx. But he'll always have regrets. He'll always have the regret that he stepped foot into WCF and tried to make a name off a Vapor King. He'll always have the regrets of thinking that wrestling was going to be easy and he'll always, ALWAYS regret the day he stepped into the ring with The Coked Up Mad Man. And you'll- well you'll just regret everything all over again”
Nine months later.
Joey Flash
- Greatest winning record in WCF history
- Dominant Television Champion
- Part of the GREATEST Tag Team Champions in WCF history (if any of The Thickness happens to know Zombie McMorris or by any chance be watchin this, you fucking suck and myself and Fly would kill you with ease.)
- Most dominant and impactful culture changing year in WCF history
- Mainstay at the top tier of the federation, one match away from being Champion of it all.
- Joined Vapor Kings
- Destroyed Vapor Kings
- Brought Zombie McMorris into uberstable Imperium promising glory…
- …provided destruction and doomed this faggot to the bottom of the card and turned Buddy Roman from credible mastermind to a fuckin blinkered chump.
Zombie McMorris
- Challenging for Internet and People’s titles.
- No notable other events or matches.
Yeah, I really regretted that one.
It’s easy Mr McMorris because I MAKE it easy, for one such as yourself who can’t comprehend half the shit I do it’s okay, don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand and walk you through every move I use to beat your ass at Revenge.
But wait, Joey Flash still hasn't talked about these things:
- The formation and fall of Imperium
- Scarecrow/Buddy/ZMAC clusterfucking
- The 'Face Turn'
- The inner psyche and implosion of ZMAC's confidence.
This promo is a fucking preview ZMAC. I have one more of pure overkill to send your way. This is to let you know just how out of your depth you are, I'm going to let you know what's coming and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. You can predict a hurricane but ain't shit you can do when it's tearing your house and your life to shreds. So let the bells ring, let Mr McMorris come with the best he has, it won't be enough, it won't even be close to enough. I'm intrigued to see what excuses you come up with for this one sided thrashing, at least be creative, but maybe that's asking a bit much cos you've not shown you've got a creative bone in your fuckin body since I got here. So lets hear another two rambling promos of nonsensical worthless indirect insults that do nothing to my credibility or character, lets see your character go from drunken/drugged up mess to drugged up mess with no progression, intrigue or thought provoking emotion.
You are bland fucking caricature of a 'badass wrestler', you embody everything every fifteen year old creates on WWE 2k15 and those same kids are calling people 'faggots' and attacking their friends at school...or shit maybe they're just Joey Flash fans.
He smiles.
You're a terrible wrestler ZMAC, you've stepped so beyond the veil or mediocrity nothing could save you. What's next for you following this loss? Are we gonna get a blog post with 'Zombie McMorris retires'? Or are we going to enjoy another few years of you scrambling against the wind here in WCF? You're barely even midcard filler anymore, it makes me sick, it makes me sad, cos you COULD be something, you COULD have been something, but watching you having all these fresh meals in front of you and somehow that hunger has just gone, seeing you limp meekly around with direction it makes me almost cry...
...because this is going to feel like I'm putting my own dog to sleep.
Ripple (29/08/15)
La Societa belonged to Joseph Malignaggi now. It was six years ago today since the night Joey’s world crashed down around him and he killed Robert Facchetti. It took weeks in hospital, Joey being jailed for the killing of Robert and…and…the elimination of the people who had seen him that night. Robert Facchetti’s wife and two little girls saw the figure they knew as ‘Uncle Joey’ come staggering through the halls of La Societa before rushing up to find their beloved Robert dead on the floor. It had been years and years now and still Joey couldn’t remember, he couldn’t remember. He was in so much pain and on such a concoction of so many drugs that nightmares, dreams and reality melded into one another, he had only spoken to one person while in prison but who…who had he called? This question plagued him even now, the feeling he had deep down in his gut, the feeling that he had started to think about more and more lately was that if he hadn’t have made that call then Robert’s wife and his two young girls would still be alive today. Sure he’d be in prison, or dead, but his conscience and subconscious mind wouldn’t be absolutely positively destroyed. The one memory Joey Flash wanted to remember from that time period is the only one that didn’t haunt his every waking thought. Who did he call? They were the cause of all this, all the pain, all the suffering.
Joey sat inside the La Societa conference room, the same place five years ago he had lost everything. All traces of that night, of Robert Facchetti were gone now. Joey sat alone at the head of the long table. He poured himself another glass of whiskey, fitting, and raised it in a toast.
Joey: Here’s to Joey Flash, king of the fucking world.
He began to laugh before being jolted to alertness by the door opening, any fear Joey had was quickly dispersed as stood in the doorway, glass of wine in hand, was Alessandra Allegri. She glided through the doorway and sat at the other end of the table.
Alessandra: King of the fucking world? Sounds divine.
She swept her jet black hair aside and let out a laugh, a laugh that still made Joey go weak at the knees even now.
Joey: What are you doing here?
Alessandra: It’s four in the morning and you’re still drinking. What’s going on in that head of yours?
Joey sighed.
Joey: Where’s Christian?
Alessandra: God, do I have to get the third degree every time? Guillermo is watching him.
Guillermo, this was a new name.
Joey: Who the fuck is Guillermo?
Alessandra: Language. He’s a friend.
Joey: A friend? A friend, a friend like Vincenzo? That kind?
The night Alessandra saved Joey from being executed by her long-time friend and mentor Vincenzo was one of the most harrowing times of his life. It had turned Alessandra from mother and lover to monster and killer in just six bullets as he witnessed her butcher two unarmed men and then prepare Vincenzo for death at Joey’s hands. With friends like that who needs fuckin enemies?
Alessandra: No, he’s…
Joey: What? Trustful? Let me guess, another person who watched over you from childhood?
Alessandra: No.
Joey: Then what?
Alessandra: He’s just a good friend, for a long time.
Joey stood up.
Joey: A good friend, a ‘let’s fuck?’ good friend? What?
Alessandra: Joseph, enough.
Joey began pacing up and down the room sporadically taking sips of his whiskey.
Joey: I’m sorry, just…my trust level is complete and utter shit right now.
Alessandra regarded him for a moment; he was so nervous and pre-occupied.
Alessandra: Do you trust me?
He turned to her…he liked to think he did, he so badly wanted to say yes…
Joey: Yes.
He didn’t know whether that was the truth or not.
Alessandra: Good. I’m not going to lecture you Joseph…
Joey: Oh here comes a fucking lecture then.
Alessandra: But you’re a month away from your biggest match of your career right? That’s what you told me?
Joey: and?
Alessandra: And, do you think it’s right to be so drunk you can hardly stand up?
Joey turned to her and took a staggering step toward her.
Joey: Do you know what today is?
Alessandra thought for a moment and shook her head. Joey pointed at the floor next to where Alessandra was sat.
Joey: That is where I killed Robert.
Alessandra bit her lip and took a sip of wine.
Alessandra: Oh…
Joey: Yeah, six years ago.
He made a gun with his hand and made a *pow* noise before taking a couple of steps and sitting down next to Alessandra, he held his thoughts inside for a moment before sweeping his hair away from his face and looking at her.
Joey: Am I a terrible person?
No. That was the answer Alessandra wanted to give, Joseph had always killed to protect and survive. He wasn’t an evil man, far from it, in any other situation anywhere else in the world Joseph Malignaggi would be a doctor, a psychiatrist, a social worker, he would be a god damn saint. Here though? She looked at the only living creature she has ever considered as a non-expendable quantity in her life; she could see the sadness in his posture, the hate in his eyes, the depression in his voice.
Alessandra: No, you’re not a terrible person.
Joey: You’re one to judge.
He regretted saying it a second later but she simply smiled at him.
Alessandra: You’re a great partner and a great father. You are my soul mate Joseph. That’s all I know.
Did people without souls have soul mates? Joey almost said it, but held back.
Joey: I’m sorry. I’m sorry you have to deal with this shit all the time.
Alessandra: It’s not shit, I love you.
Joey: Who’d love this?
He held his arms out and looked down at his feet then at her.
Joey: What do you care?
Alessandra: I care Joseph. I care more than you know. I would do anything to protect you.
Joey took a drink and began pacing back away from her.
Alessandra: Anything. Joseph…I’m here for you. I was here for you after Robert died…
Joey: Was killed. Robert was killed. I shot him in the head.
Alessandra: …was killed. I’m here for you now, this the exact same desperate voice I remember, the same pleading and demanding of reassurance that everything would be okay when you called me the night they arrested you. Everything worked out okay then didn’t it? I was there for you, I’m here for you now.
Joey stopped in his tracks; his drink fell to the floor, the glass shattering on impact and the tinkling of the shards on the wooden floor punctuating the silence.
Joey: W-what did you say?
Alessandra regarded him quizzically.
Alessandra: I’m here for you now.
Joey: No, that’s not what I meant.
He turned round, a mix of drunken emotions across his face, a cocktail of despair and anger awash the expression of Joey Flash.
Joey: No, what the fuck did you just say?
Alessandra stood up and placed her own drink on the table.
Alessandra: Joseph?
Joey took a few steps toward her and was now face to face.
Joey: What the FUCK did you just say?
Alessandra stared him down, a stern look across her face.
Alessandra: I’m here for you.
She went to take his hand but it had already escaped her grasp and was now wrapped around her throat.
Joey: I called you.
Alessandra: J-Joe-
The pain and the suffering that had plagued Joey Flash for six years, the guilt of Robert’s wife, Robert’s beautiful two children. Lucia and Emily. He had held them when they were born, he played soccer with them as little ones, he read them stories, they had fought over who Joey liked better, and they had even called him ‘Uncle’. They were the only people that could condemn Joseph Malignaggi to a life in prison, if they were alive Joey would be gone today and none of this life would have existed. Joey would trade everything for peace of mind, for those children to be alive, for the guilt, for the hatred to be there. He made one phone call while in jail, that one phone call was a death sentence to the Facchetti family and Joey didn’t even realise it. He didn’t order any deaths, he didn’t actively have these people killed, and he didn’t phone a hitman or an associate to help him with the issue. All Joseph Malignaggi did was call the one person he loved, cared for and trusted more than anyone else in the world.
He stared at the face of his ‘soul mate’, the love of his life, “I was there for you” she had said. She struggled and tried to bat him away as his grip around her throat tightened. The one person who could have the reach and the power to commit a triple homicide and sweep it under the rug, she was his fiancée, but this woman was the daughter of Bernardo Allegri and the heir to the whole fucking empire. Alessandra Allegri.
Joey: You.
At twenty years old, Joseph Maliganaggi was about to become a made man. Robert Facchetti smiled at his foster son, they were sat in Robert’s club ‘La Societa’, it was a newly founded Brooklyn hotspot that had found fame recently through a couple of high profile celebrity appearances and incidents. It was also the operating base of the largest criminal empire on the East Coast, the Facchetti family. With the backing of the eponymously powerful Sicilian Allegri’s they had in five years swept from New Jersey to Massachusetts. At thirty nine years of age Robert Facchetti had the world in his palm.
Robert: It looks like you’re happy…
He paused.
Robert: But you’re not.
He raised his hand to beckon the barman.
Robert: Another whiskey for Joseph, just a refill of water for me. He gave his tankard up.
Sat next to him was the most important reason for all his success. He had first found Joseph at the ripe old age of fourteen, when the raggedy haired youth in his blind impudence had the audacity to try to jack Robert’s wallet. He caught and thrashed the boy, who rather than cry, rather than scream, just simply stared, stared defiantly in Robert’s eyes. That told Robert absolutely everything he needed to know, he had to have this child.
Joey: What on earth makes you think that?
Joseph Malignaggi let a nervous chuckle. At twenty years old Joseph Malignaggi was his de-facto second in command and almost the sole reason for the ascension of his power base. He had a mind so sharp, so calm, calculated and wise. The biggest thing about him though, the reason that day six years ago he took the young street rat under his wing, he just had a…he couldn’t describe if to anyone, but if you ever spoke more than two words to Joseph you knew, he just had…an ‘aura’ about him.
Robert: I know what this day means to you. Let me be up front and frank, I’m speaking both as your boss and as your friend. You’ve been invaluable to me Joseph.
Joey looked up from his drink and gave a little grin.
Joey: I dunno about that.
Robert: Bullshit, you know it better than anyone, you done good kid. Nah.
He gave Joseph a loving slap around the face.
Robert: It’s a big day for you; believe me you’ve done more for your age than I had as close as five years ago. You’ve earned everything you’re going to get today.
Joey downed his whiskey and smiled. He didn’t want much in life, he had it all. He owned his own house, a second home, three cars and had the most beautiful woman he could ever hope for. Now this? To be recognised by his mentor, by his peers as a man of honour, a man they can trust and put their life in…it gave him chills. The thing that made his heart sing over any other was the fact that finally, he would have a family. Joey looked at Robert and batted his hand away.
Joey: You giving me all this bullshit is really helping my mood!
Moments later the barman reappeared with more whiskey in hand for Joey and water for Robert; Robert motioned for a yet glass of whiskey for Joey, he didn’t complain. Robert stood up and whispered to the barman, slipping a crisp fifty into his pocket.
Joey: Damn you’re generous today.
Robert turned to Joey and smiled once more, Joey had already knocked the new drink back.
Robert: Why not? It’s a day of great victories. It makes me sad looking at you like this Joseph, this is your big day, where is your excitement, puff your chest out, act like a man!
Joey: I am excited, I just dunno…
Robert: I know. You don’t know if this is the life for you.
Joey looked back at him speechless.
Joey: I-
Robert: I understand. To me Joseph you have the most untapped potential in the world, I see a lot of myself in you, no, that’s a lie. I used to see a lot of myself in you. I saw a leader, a visionary, a man to trust and rely on.
Joey felt his head pounding and his vision beginning to blur, he tried to stand up but his legs gave way and he crumpled to the floor.
Joey: God I’m sorry.
Robert knelt down and stroked the hair from Joey’s face.
Robert: Sorry for what? Looking at you right now, it’s clear that you were never meant to be a leader, you never meant to rule, this isn’t Joseph Malignaggi. I promised to you that we’d rise together, and we did it didn’t we Joseph? For years it was ‘just wait’ and ‘you’ll get what you deserve soon’ This was your driving force for so long, you’ve been skipping down the yellow brick road toward and pulled back the curtain to find the Wizard already dead before you got there.
Joey: What are you talking about? Give me a hand up Robert. I think I need to sober up.
Robert kissed Joey on the forehead and stood up, he took a deep breath, checking his watch.
Robert: I think it’s about time for last call.
Joey looked at him perplexed for a moment until the door to the function room they were in opened and in walked two of Robert’s men. Marco and Anthony closed the door and stepped toward Joey, these were people Joey had grown up with, shared drinks with, laughed with, cried with, made money and memories with. It was then that Joey understood what was happening here. He looked at Robert with pleading eyes.
Joey: Robert?
Robert Facchetti simply walked away, not sparing a single thought for the boy he had seen grow into a man alongside him, he clapped Anthony on the shoulder and smiled.
Robert: Make it quick, he doesn’t deserve pain.
Joey: R-Robert?! Please, what-
Robert: Enough, be a man for once.
Anthony and Marco reached into their jackets and each pulled out pistols, levelling them at a cowering Joseph. Be a man and just accept death huh? Today was supposed to be the next chapter in Joseph Malignaggi’s life, honour and respect, trust and family. Instead all he had gotten was the exact opposite?
Joey: Why?!
Robert: Why? It’s simple Joseph, you have all the potential and talent in the world to be the king, but at the end of the day it is simple, the reason I can’t allow you to be made today, the reason I can’t allow you to remain part of my crew, the reason that I never ever for once thought of you as anything but a simple fucking tool, you’re no family of mine…you’re too soft.
Joey blinked the tears away. When you’re staring down the barrel of a gun, what exactly are you supposed to feel? Is it supposed to be fear? Joey didn’t know about that. Maybe the first time it was, and the time after that, but he guessed it’s like anything else in the world the more something happens to you, the less you seem to care about it. Why was it taking so long? He looked at Anthony and Marco.
Joey: Getting cold feet?
The two men looked at each other and laughed.
Anthony took a step forward and pressed the gun against Joey’s forehead.
Anthony: I’m savouring this; your tears are beautiful Malignaggi.
His voice was as cold as the steel against Joey’s head; he felt his stomach knot and his heart begin resonating a loud thudding pulse through his body. Huh, well ain’t that a bitch. It is fear after all. For the first time in what seemed an eternity, fear, true to god fear. Interesting, Joey thought. Was he sad? Was he hollow? Was he…weak? Maybe, maybe he was, but the first time in what seemed like an eternity he didn’t have a poisonous, cancerous snake coiled around his life sapping his life and his happiness away. Now Joey’s light at the end of the tunnel, his wizard behind the curtain had become a man right in front of him, and my tin heart was beating nothing but vengeance.
They say that you never hear the bullet that kills you. Joey didn’t know about that. This gunshot was as hollow, as terrible and as loud as anything I’d ever heard, then a second gunshot rang out and then nothing but silence as the casing rattled to the floor. Joey opened his eyes to gun smoke and gore. Anthony and Marco lay lifeless on the floor, their heads mangled by a deadly 9mm makeover.
Robrert: They always were stupid, when I told them I wanted the great Joseph Malignaggi murdered today they virtually jumped at the chance.
He looked down at their bodies.
Robert: What a pity, did you know Joseph, that poor Anthony here had been siphoning money from the collections he was doing? Did you know Marco was doing the same? I suppose they thought they could take money out of my pocket and treat themselves to nice clothes and fancy cars. That’s not on is it Joseph?
Joey: Y-You mean…
Robert: Exactly, this was a ploy to lure them here and get rid of them for good.
Joey broke out in more tears and smiled.
Robert: What’s the smile for? Oh, oh no Joseph, this is still…
He raised his gun toward Joey.
Robert: Very much real.
Joey wiped the tears away and shot Robert a look, a look that made Robert hesitate for a moment. The same look a young Joseph gave to Robert that made him re-assess everything, a look that told Robert everything he needed to know about this situation. There would be no begging. In that one moment Joey’s resolve turned from gelatine to titanium, Joey needed to buy some sand for his shattered hour glass, he had to test to see if Robert was selling any.
Joey: To be stabbed in the back isn’t so bad. But to be stabbed in the front with absolutely no defence for it by the only fucking guy you have a shred of trust in. What the fuck? This ain’t a way to go out.
Robert: You know the saying ‘I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees?’ Well please you must tell me how it feels to die on your knees like the coward you are.
Joey: No Robe-
Joey staggered forward and fell to his knees next to the lifeless Anthony. His chest was burning; it felt like someone took a white hot poker and jammed it through his ribcage. He pressed his hands against his sternum to find warm thick red liquid slowly leaking across his palms. For all the pain Joey’s focus was hazy, fixed on the table where his final shot of whiskey lay, he wouldn’t even get to have one last drink.
Robert: This is life Joseph. To be king this is what you need in life. Flip a coin, one side Robert Facchetti, husband, father, good citizen, philanthropist, other side murderer, arms dealer, drug smuggler. Joseph Malignaggi? No wife, no children, no friends, no decency, no legacy, most definitely not a killer.
Joey spat his blood on the floor.
Joey: I have no wife…
He crawled across the floor an inch.
Joey: I have no children…
Another.
Joey: I have no friends.
Another.
Joey: I have no decency, I have no legacy, I have no fucking…family. But you’re wrong about one thing.
Robert: Oh?
A mocking smile creeping across his thin features as thumbed back the hammer.
Joey: I am a killer.
Using all the power left in his legs he yanked Anthony’s body on top of his own and reached for the gun underneath, another shot from Robert rang out and more pain flooded Joey’s senses. He could feel the steely taste of blood rising through the back of his throat. It was that feeling again, time seemed to slow to a crawl, Joey reached out at the pistol and using the last of his strength dove away with it. Spinning sharply it seemed like his body was running purely on muscle memory and force of will as the sight lined up with the forehead of Robert Facchetti. He remembered all their times together, the meals, the drinks, playing with Robert’s daughters…and erased it to nothing.
Robert Fachetti’s head flew back with a jet stream of red as he crumpled to the floor. The silence was deafening. Joey’s vision was hazy now; he could feel the beat of my heart slow. Looking down he could see his white shirt soaking up the blood, whoever cleans this mess up is gonna have one hell of a job. He edged toward the table and reached a nearly limp arm upward and grabbed the glass of whiskey.
Joey: Robert?
He didn’t know whether he wanted him to respond or not. It didn’t matter; no response was going to come. Joey looked over to where Robert laid, eyes open and seemingly burying through Joey’s heart. He felt my body go cold with a shiver; it was as if his soul was judging Joey. He didn’t know how to describe what he felt next; if Joey had to put it into words he guessed warmth, and happiness.
Maybe that was just something that happens to someone when they’re about to die, the brain sending little electrical signals to make you think ‘It’s going to be okay’, but shit, sometimes that wasn’t such a bad thing. Joey spat some more blood from his mouth.
Joey: Last call.
He laughed. Raising the glass of whiskey he knocked the drink back. The start of the drink always begins with a gleeful grin of expectation and relief, the final sip always ends with a feeling of gut wrenching emptiness. This time though, god damn, the taste was heaven.
The Ultimate Being
A lone hooded figure was stood in the middle of the empty graveyard. A thin sheet of rain was covering the sky with its cascading beauty in the moonlight, the wind is so still that the only sound is of the tinkling of the water on the ground. We see the figure lower its hood to reveal Joey Flash, stood solemnly looking over a grave.
The grave reads:
Imperium
2015-2015
Rest in Peace Bobby Cairo, Natural ICE Beckman, Kaz Mazy.
Coming soon to a grave near you: Zombie McMorris.
2015-2015
Rest in Peace Bobby Cairo, Natural ICE Beckman, Kaz Mazy.
Coming soon to a grave near you: Zombie McMorris.
Joey: Now I know what you’re thinking, bullshit right? Well let me lay out exactly what’s going to happen in this promo, I’m not going to play up to expectation and perception. I’m not going to talk about your past couple of months of failure, nor your fall from top tier to obscurity, and fuck I’m not even going to talk about Imperium cos I don’t need that shit to chalk you out…
He pauses and smiles.
Joey: …who the fuck am I kidding? That’s ALL I’m gonna talk about!
Z-McMorris, got a face like a keyed Taurus. Right? This is how we started last time. We ended last time with me putting you solidly in that standard issue leather bag. Let’s get it. People calling this the match between the two hardest shooters in the federation, let’s call it what it is, the best wrestler in the world against an overrated, sloppy faggot with an ego ten times his talent level. People shouldn’t even be calling it such a thing, this is quality intricate promo work against your sloppy comedy slash novelty act. You’re as braindead as you are undead, learn to put together coherent speech before coming at me. Kindergarten shit with swearwords and a plastic sword can’t trade blades with Shakespeare holdin a rapier.
I feel embarrassed to be mentioned in the same bracket with you when it comes to this shit, this is so easy I’m feeling sorry for you already. Like legitimately, you’re probably crying into Buddy Roman’s crotch right now, he’ll use your tears as lube to routinely fuck his other worthless new acquisition Scarecrow. We fought for the first and only time nine months ago, well I fucked you well and good back then and right now it’s about time for that chestburster to explode and finish the fucking job. You thought you could give me that baptism by fire back then right? You thought you could body me, straight up murder me. ‘Let’s get rid of this punk, my shoot’ll scare him off’ oops, sorry. The fire you bring I snuffed it out…
He opens and closes his hand into a fist.
Joey: …like that. What’s napalm to a fuckin H-Bomb? All you did was affirm everything I thought about the company and its talent level. Absolute dogshit. You held the Television Title and the Tag Team Title at that time on that Jonny Fly steez. So when I waltz in and see that the shit you bring every week is good enough to succeed I laughed, I laughed and then I fucking destroyed you. What’s happened since then to our careers? Oh surprise surprise, everything I said back then came true, Joey Flash is at the top of the game and one match away from ruling it all and you? Well, you’re facing and losing to people like Spencer Adams and Raymond Hatcher. Wow, what a pro you are, what happened to the great almighty ZMAC? The guy people feared and revered? I would talk about your fall from grace but you couldn’t even fall with grace.
Even now you see the talent level and the way shit has evolved and that little ego trip in the back of your head says to you ‘Yeah I might not be able to win every week but if I actually TRY I can beat anyone?’ Really? That sounds like the typical excuse of an insecure self-doubting fucking loser. You’re that good? Prove it. You’re facing Joey Flash, I’ve embarrassed you at every turn, I crushed Imperium from underneath your very nose. I’m the reason you are where you are, obscurity and irrelevant. There are no excuses for this match, do or do not, right? There is no try ya cunt. This match will prove two things.
1) You are a prolific liar
2) You are no longer a relevant wrestler in this federation and can barely be considered a threat to even the lowliest of peons in this company.
You don’t ‘Try’ against Joey Flash? Please, kill yourself now. So come on Zombie, what’s wrong? Taken so many bumps of coke that you can’t even see all the fucking bumps in the road your career is taking? Your credibility is taking? You use that shit as a crutch so people don’t see where your talent level really lies. You are now taking to challenging, note the word, challenging, because you still don’t fucking win, for meaningless bottom feeding titles. If you ever see Joey Flash challenging for the Internet or People’s titles? Please shoot me in the face. This is where your desperation is at this point, you can’t even beat Spencer Adams, SPENCER ADAMS? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS?! The guy is the definition of ‘generic stock loser wrestler’ and big bad ZMAC can’t even touch that guy’s title? Oh my fucking god ZMAC, what is wrong with this picture?
You went from beastmode champion, to mid card challenger to fucking butt of a joke. What’s next, Tyler Walker and Biohazard for you? Maybe Adam Young…oh wait that was me.
Joey smiles.
Joey: I do this shit as a chess move, you do it because it’s actually where you belong now, and it’s pitiful. Let’s play a game of ‘irony’ ZMAC shall we? Damn right I’m becoming Batesian in my shoot, fuckin deal with it faggot. You said:
“He'll be Josephine Flash, the one and done jobber bum from The Bronx. But he'll always have regrets. He'll always have the regret that he stepped foot into WCF and tried to make a name off a Vapor King. He'll always have the regrets of thinking that wrestling was going to be easy and he'll always, ALWAYS regret the day he stepped into the ring with The Coked Up Mad Man. And you'll- well you'll just regret everything all over again”
Nine months later.
Joey Flash
- Greatest winning record in WCF history
- Dominant Television Champion
- Part of the GREATEST Tag Team Champions in WCF history (if any of The Thickness happens to know Zombie McMorris or by any chance be watchin this, you fucking suck and myself and Fly would kill you with ease.)
- Most dominant and impactful culture changing year in WCF history
- Mainstay at the top tier of the federation, one match away from being Champion of it all.
- Joined Vapor Kings
- Destroyed Vapor Kings
- Brought Zombie McMorris into uberstable Imperium promising glory…
- …provided destruction and doomed this faggot to the bottom of the card and turned Buddy Roman from credible mastermind to a fuckin blinkered chump.
Zombie McMorris
- Challenging for Internet and People’s titles.
- No notable other events or matches.
Yeah, I really regretted that one.
It’s easy Mr McMorris because I MAKE it easy, for one such as yourself who can’t comprehend half the shit I do it’s okay, don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand and walk you through every move I use to beat your ass at Revenge.
But wait, Joey Flash still hasn't talked about these things:
- The formation and fall of Imperium
- Scarecrow/Buddy/ZMAC clusterfucking
- The 'Face Turn'
- The inner psyche and implosion of ZMAC's confidence.
This promo is a fucking preview ZMAC. I have one more of pure overkill to send your way. This is to let you know just how out of your depth you are, I'm going to let you know what's coming and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. You can predict a hurricane but ain't shit you can do when it's tearing your house and your life to shreds. So let the bells ring, let Mr McMorris come with the best he has, it won't be enough, it won't even be close to enough. I'm intrigued to see what excuses you come up with for this one sided thrashing, at least be creative, but maybe that's asking a bit much cos you've not shown you've got a creative bone in your fuckin body since I got here. So lets hear another two rambling promos of nonsensical worthless indirect insults that do nothing to my credibility or character, lets see your character go from drunken/drugged up mess to drugged up mess with no progression, intrigue or thought provoking emotion.
You are bland fucking caricature of a 'badass wrestler', you embody everything every fifteen year old creates on WWE 2k15 and those same kids are calling people 'faggots' and attacking their friends at school...or shit maybe they're just Joey Flash fans.
He smiles.
You're a terrible wrestler ZMAC, you've stepped so beyond the veil or mediocrity nothing could save you. What's next for you following this loss? Are we gonna get a blog post with 'Zombie McMorris retires'? Or are we going to enjoy another few years of you scrambling against the wind here in WCF? You're barely even midcard filler anymore, it makes me sick, it makes me sad, cos you COULD be something, you COULD have been something, but watching you having all these fresh meals in front of you and somehow that hunger has just gone, seeing you limp meekly around with direction it makes me almost cry...
...because this is going to feel like I'm putting my own dog to sleep.
Ripple (29/08/15)
La Societa belonged to Joseph Malignaggi now. It was six years ago today since the night Joey’s world crashed down around him and he killed Robert Facchetti. It took weeks in hospital, Joey being jailed for the killing of Robert and…and…the elimination of the people who had seen him that night. Robert Facchetti’s wife and two little girls saw the figure they knew as ‘Uncle Joey’ come staggering through the halls of La Societa before rushing up to find their beloved Robert dead on the floor. It had been years and years now and still Joey couldn’t remember, he couldn’t remember. He was in so much pain and on such a concoction of so many drugs that nightmares, dreams and reality melded into one another, he had only spoken to one person while in prison but who…who had he called? This question plagued him even now, the feeling he had deep down in his gut, the feeling that he had started to think about more and more lately was that if he hadn’t have made that call then Robert’s wife and his two young girls would still be alive today. Sure he’d be in prison, or dead, but his conscience and subconscious mind wouldn’t be absolutely positively destroyed. The one memory Joey Flash wanted to remember from that time period is the only one that didn’t haunt his every waking thought. Who did he call? They were the cause of all this, all the pain, all the suffering.
Joey sat inside the La Societa conference room, the same place five years ago he had lost everything. All traces of that night, of Robert Facchetti were gone now. Joey sat alone at the head of the long table. He poured himself another glass of whiskey, fitting, and raised it in a toast.
Joey: Here’s to Joey Flash, king of the fucking world.
He began to laugh before being jolted to alertness by the door opening, any fear Joey had was quickly dispersed as stood in the doorway, glass of wine in hand, was Alessandra Allegri. She glided through the doorway and sat at the other end of the table.
Alessandra: King of the fucking world? Sounds divine.
She swept her jet black hair aside and let out a laugh, a laugh that still made Joey go weak at the knees even now.
Joey: What are you doing here?
Alessandra: It’s four in the morning and you’re still drinking. What’s going on in that head of yours?
Joey sighed.
Joey: Where’s Christian?
Alessandra: God, do I have to get the third degree every time? Guillermo is watching him.
Guillermo, this was a new name.
Joey: Who the fuck is Guillermo?
Alessandra: Language. He’s a friend.
Joey: A friend? A friend, a friend like Vincenzo? That kind?
The night Alessandra saved Joey from being executed by her long-time friend and mentor Vincenzo was one of the most harrowing times of his life. It had turned Alessandra from mother and lover to monster and killer in just six bullets as he witnessed her butcher two unarmed men and then prepare Vincenzo for death at Joey’s hands. With friends like that who needs fuckin enemies?
Alessandra: No, he’s…
Joey: What? Trustful? Let me guess, another person who watched over you from childhood?
Alessandra: No.
Joey: Then what?
Alessandra: He’s just a good friend, for a long time.
Joey stood up.
Joey: A good friend, a ‘let’s fuck?’ good friend? What?
Alessandra: Joseph, enough.
Joey began pacing up and down the room sporadically taking sips of his whiskey.
Joey: I’m sorry, just…my trust level is complete and utter shit right now.
Alessandra regarded him for a moment; he was so nervous and pre-occupied.
Alessandra: Do you trust me?
He turned to her…he liked to think he did, he so badly wanted to say yes…
Joey: Yes.
He didn’t know whether that was the truth or not.
Alessandra: Good. I’m not going to lecture you Joseph…
Joey: Oh here comes a fucking lecture then.
Alessandra: But you’re a month away from your biggest match of your career right? That’s what you told me?
Joey: and?
Alessandra: And, do you think it’s right to be so drunk you can hardly stand up?
Joey turned to her and took a staggering step toward her.
Joey: Do you know what today is?
Alessandra thought for a moment and shook her head. Joey pointed at the floor next to where Alessandra was sat.
Joey: That is where I killed Robert.
Alessandra bit her lip and took a sip of wine.
Alessandra: Oh…
Joey: Yeah, six years ago.
He made a gun with his hand and made a *pow* noise before taking a couple of steps and sitting down next to Alessandra, he held his thoughts inside for a moment before sweeping his hair away from his face and looking at her.
Joey: Am I a terrible person?
No. That was the answer Alessandra wanted to give, Joseph had always killed to protect and survive. He wasn’t an evil man, far from it, in any other situation anywhere else in the world Joseph Malignaggi would be a doctor, a psychiatrist, a social worker, he would be a god damn saint. Here though? She looked at the only living creature she has ever considered as a non-expendable quantity in her life; she could see the sadness in his posture, the hate in his eyes, the depression in his voice.
Alessandra: No, you’re not a terrible person.
Joey: You’re one to judge.
He regretted saying it a second later but she simply smiled at him.
Alessandra: You’re a great partner and a great father. You are my soul mate Joseph. That’s all I know.
Did people without souls have soul mates? Joey almost said it, but held back.
Joey: I’m sorry. I’m sorry you have to deal with this shit all the time.
Alessandra: It’s not shit, I love you.
Joey: Who’d love this?
He held his arms out and looked down at his feet then at her.
Joey: What do you care?
Alessandra: I care Joseph. I care more than you know. I would do anything to protect you.
Joey took a drink and began pacing back away from her.
Alessandra: Anything. Joseph…I’m here for you. I was here for you after Robert died…
Joey: Was killed. Robert was killed. I shot him in the head.
Alessandra: …was killed. I’m here for you now, this the exact same desperate voice I remember, the same pleading and demanding of reassurance that everything would be okay when you called me the night they arrested you. Everything worked out okay then didn’t it? I was there for you, I’m here for you now.
Joey stopped in his tracks; his drink fell to the floor, the glass shattering on impact and the tinkling of the shards on the wooden floor punctuating the silence.
Joey: W-what did you say?
Alessandra regarded him quizzically.
Alessandra: I’m here for you now.
Joey: No, that’s not what I meant.
He turned round, a mix of drunken emotions across his face, a cocktail of despair and anger awash the expression of Joey Flash.
Joey: No, what the fuck did you just say?
Alessandra stood up and placed her own drink on the table.
Alessandra: Joseph?
Joey took a few steps toward her and was now face to face.
Joey: What the FUCK did you just say?
Alessandra stared him down, a stern look across her face.
Alessandra: I’m here for you.
She went to take his hand but it had already escaped her grasp and was now wrapped around her throat.
Joey: I called you.
Alessandra: J-Joe-
The pain and the suffering that had plagued Joey Flash for six years, the guilt of Robert’s wife, Robert’s beautiful two children. Lucia and Emily. He had held them when they were born, he played soccer with them as little ones, he read them stories, they had fought over who Joey liked better, and they had even called him ‘Uncle’. They were the only people that could condemn Joseph Malignaggi to a life in prison, if they were alive Joey would be gone today and none of this life would have existed. Joey would trade everything for peace of mind, for those children to be alive, for the guilt, for the hatred to be there. He made one phone call while in jail, that one phone call was a death sentence to the Facchetti family and Joey didn’t even realise it. He didn’t order any deaths, he didn’t actively have these people killed, and he didn’t phone a hitman or an associate to help him with the issue. All Joseph Malignaggi did was call the one person he loved, cared for and trusted more than anyone else in the world.
He stared at the face of his ‘soul mate’, the love of his life, “I was there for you” she had said. She struggled and tried to bat him away as his grip around her throat tightened. The one person who could have the reach and the power to commit a triple homicide and sweep it under the rug, she was his fiancée, but this woman was the daughter of Bernardo Allegri and the heir to the whole fucking empire. Alessandra Allegri.
Joey: You.
