Post by Teo Blaze on Jan 3, 2016 16:32:12 GMT -5
Your winner, and still People’s Champion.
Those were the words. That was the victory. That was the moment that he had been waiting for days, weeks, months to hear. The decisive end, the stopping point, that ONE moment where it would all be worth it, where all the trials, the tribulations, the loss and sacrifice would be worth it…right?
Mirrors. If there was one thing that Hector had told him over and over again…never to look into the mirrors, never find yourself staring back at you, because you won’t ever like what you see. Standing in a cold, grey locker room, staring wistfully into his own reflection, Teo del Sol could say without a doubt he now understood what his mentor had meant.
Teo’s treasured mask lay neatly folded next to the People’s championship on a bench behind him. Through bloody combat with Kyle Kemp, he had found himself the sole possessor of the precious piece of cloth once again, and yet he had grown accustomed to seeing his own face in the mirror after every match.
Mirrors were important, they granted one total clarity- a man canfool his friends, can fool his family, can even fool himself. But you can’t fool a mirror.
The face staring back at him, the bloodied, bruised, and scarred lump of flesh that showed every single sting that Kyle Kemp had lashed across it, that was what greeted Teo after the hellacious encounter. Despite himself, Teo had flinched when he saw what the match had done to him- his eye swollen shut, a rather large gash across his forehead, and…a chipped tooth.
Teo gingerly feels the sharp edge of the break, a momentary shock of pain surging as he runs the tip of his finger along it…a pain which subsides almost immediately as his finger slides from it, and the tooth unceremoniously falls into the bathroom sink below with a sad “plink”. Teo freezes in place, his eyes locked at the ivory stump that once rooted firmly in his mouth, unable to bring himself to look away and yet unable to process what had just happened. Though he was aware, it was as though his brain refused to acknowledge the damage, refused to look back up at the mirror.
Teo’s stupor is immediately broken by this strange thought, and without thinking his head snaps back towards the image, the ghastly visage staring back at him with a devilish grin, missing tooth and all.
The face in the mirror suddenly switches to one of confusion, shaking itself clear of the strange thoughts, but before long it has returned, a cocked eyebrow over a knowing smile.
Teo reaches desperately for the mask, yanking it violently over his head as he turns back towards the mirror.
Silence.
Teo stares into the face in the mirror, the shining white and gold wrestling mask that had been with him since day one. That. That was his true face. He was Teo del Sol.
And he was back.
El Gimnasio del Sol
Somewhere in Mexico
Spencer Adams: Alright, now you hold this here, and I’ll
Vic Venable: No no, it’ll never hold that much weight
Teo del Sol: You guys! You’re gonna mark up the mat! You think that these things are cheap?
The scene is rather familiar, Spencer and Vic had been practicing for weeks, setting up ladders all around the gym. Spencer even ate his dinner while sitting on top of one once. They currently had placed two ladders up against each other, like an upside down V, and fastened them with bungee cords.
Spencer: We’ve gotta practice, Teo, how else are we gonna win back the tag belts?
Vic: I call this maneuver the double yolk! Now put your head through-
Spencer: Double Yolk? Like an egg? What does that have to do with a ladder match?
Vic: It’s the shell man! In ladder matches you break bones, and they’re fragile as egg shells. Now you put your-
Spencer: That doesn’t even make any sense! Eggs aren’t made of calcium.
Vic: The Shells are.
Teo: Guys! The mat!
Hector was going to kill him- it was bad enough that Teo had let his mask fall into the hands of that son of a….of Kyle Kemp, and now there were going to be deep black scuffs across the practice ring! This was bad, this was very bad. Teo ran his fingers through his hair in panic.
Teo: Is this really necessary? Ladder matches don’t take that much practice, do they?
Vic: Now just- no not like that!
Spencer: Oh god, my leg!
Vic: Quit jumping ahead, we haven’t gotten to the the banana split yet!
Spencer: Stop naming the moves!
Vic: Quit messing them up!
Teo: Quit breaking my goddamned gym!
Without thinking, almost involuntarily, Teo grabs a folding chair from the viewing area, hurling it as far as he can in the opposite direction- it flies far and smashes right through one of the large windows surrounding the entrance. Teo freezes in place, staring at the shards that now litter the floor, before slowly turning back towards his teammates who look at him in confusion. Teo pauses, staring at his teammates before slowly turning and walking to fix the damage.
Providence Rhode Island
12/31/2015
New Year’s Eve
The air is filled with the pop of fireworks and the resounding cheers of drunken revelry; all throughout the streets both boisterous laughter and congratulatory spirited slurred speeches echo throughout the corridors as a lone masked man walks down an empty alley. Though passerby cast furtive glances or outright confused stares in his direction, he walks with a renewed energy and vigor, once more happy to be wearing his true visage.
He turns down an alleyway and throws his arms out, soaking in the last moments of a fleeting 365 days, reflecting on all the good luck that his life had brought him. He had claimed the title that he had sought after since the moment he saw Scarecrow, the last real champion, retain it on Teo’s first night in the company. Ironically Scarecrow’s victory had come at the behest of Spencer Adams, now Teo’s tag team partner. It is bizarre how life turns out when you let it play out, a series of intertwined events that all happen for a reason…or so he would like to think.
He tucks his hands in his jacket and strolls merrily, listening to the constant echoes of ‘happy new year’, ‘thank you’ , and the occasional ‘you wanna sock in the eye, mate?’. Teo can’t help but laugh as he rounds the last corner, the final alley before his hotel, when his walk is interrupted by an unearthly shriek!
Teo freezes and glances around, searching for the source of the noise. With a quick step he makes a mad dash towards the source of the noise, coming upon a startling scene. A group of drunken men are crowded around a bedraggled looking mutt, who cowers before their viciously laughing countenances. Without a moment’s hesitation, Teo calls out at the top of his lungs.
“Hey! What’s going on here?”
The drunks turn in unison towards the masked man, their faces something between confusion and bemusement at the stranger.
“Wouldja look at this boys? We got some kinda superhero here.”
“You head inside, friend, wouldn’t want this to get violent”
Teo looks down at the animal, which he now notices is bleeding slightly, and feels a kind of primal anger welling up inside of him. He walks forward towards the men, who cock their eyebrows as he approaches.
“Hey, didn’t you-“
Without a word Teo lunges forward and plants a fist right on the teeth of the first man, he falls like a sack of bones as his friends reach in their pockets. Without even thinking, Teo drives a knee into the ribs of the second before driving the toe of his shoe across the temple of the third. The men fall and Teo goes to kick them in the ribs.
Teo freezes, the men, now panicked, turn and run as the Luchador stands like a statue in the evening snow. He looks down at the fist, and sees streaks of blood running across his knuckles. In the snow, barely visible, lies a tooth.
Teo stares at his hands for a long moment, not sure what to do next, before he feels something against his leg. He looks down at the animal, who now nuzzles his head against Teo’s leg. Slowly, but surely, a grin appears on Teo’s face as he kneels and pats the animal on the head.
“You look hungry. You wanna come back to the hotel with me?”
The animal doesn’t respond, but instead simply wags its tail hopefully. He smiles at the animal as the two turn and walk back towards the hotel.
Those were the words. That was the victory. That was the moment that he had been waiting for days, weeks, months to hear. The decisive end, the stopping point, that ONE moment where it would all be worth it, where all the trials, the tribulations, the loss and sacrifice would be worth it…right?
Mirrors. If there was one thing that Hector had told him over and over again…never to look into the mirrors, never find yourself staring back at you, because you won’t ever like what you see. Standing in a cold, grey locker room, staring wistfully into his own reflection, Teo del Sol could say without a doubt he now understood what his mentor had meant.
Teo’s treasured mask lay neatly folded next to the People’s championship on a bench behind him. Through bloody combat with Kyle Kemp, he had found himself the sole possessor of the precious piece of cloth once again, and yet he had grown accustomed to seeing his own face in the mirror after every match.
Mirrors were important, they granted one total clarity- a man canfool his friends, can fool his family, can even fool himself. But you can’t fool a mirror.
The face staring back at him, the bloodied, bruised, and scarred lump of flesh that showed every single sting that Kyle Kemp had lashed across it, that was what greeted Teo after the hellacious encounter. Despite himself, Teo had flinched when he saw what the match had done to him- his eye swollen shut, a rather large gash across his forehead, and…a chipped tooth.
Teo gingerly feels the sharp edge of the break, a momentary shock of pain surging as he runs the tip of his finger along it…a pain which subsides almost immediately as his finger slides from it, and the tooth unceremoniously falls into the bathroom sink below with a sad “plink”. Teo freezes in place, his eyes locked at the ivory stump that once rooted firmly in his mouth, unable to bring himself to look away and yet unable to process what had just happened. Though he was aware, it was as though his brain refused to acknowledge the damage, refused to look back up at the mirror.
Imagine how the other guy feels.
Teo’s stupor is immediately broken by this strange thought, and without thinking his head snaps back towards the image, the ghastly visage staring back at him with a devilish grin, missing tooth and all.
Thank god that prick finally got what was coming to him, eh?
Son of a bitch tried to hit us with a baseball bat.
Real shame you didn’t finish the job though, you coulda taken him out at the end there,
and your friends would be tag champs by now.
Oh well, there will be other chances…
The face’s eyes shut, and he grabs his hair, shaking his head angrily and turning away. Oh come on, man! Don’t try to act like it didn’t feel good-
the smack of steel on flesh,
the smell of the
blood
on the mat…
on the mat…
Teo reaches desperately for the mask, yanking it violently over his head as he turns back towards the mirror.
Silence.
Teo stares into the face in the mirror, the shining white and gold wrestling mask that had been with him since day one. That. That was his true face. He was Teo del Sol.
And he was back.
El Gimnasio del Sol
Somewhere in Mexico
Spencer Adams: Alright, now you hold this here, and I’ll
Vic Venable: No no, it’ll never hold that much weight
Teo del Sol: You guys! You’re gonna mark up the mat! You think that these things are cheap?
The scene is rather familiar, Spencer and Vic had been practicing for weeks, setting up ladders all around the gym. Spencer even ate his dinner while sitting on top of one once. They currently had placed two ladders up against each other, like an upside down V, and fastened them with bungee cords.
Spencer: We’ve gotta practice, Teo, how else are we gonna win back the tag belts?
Vic: I call this maneuver the double yolk! Now put your head through-
Spencer: Double Yolk? Like an egg? What does that have to do with a ladder match?
Vic: It’s the shell man! In ladder matches you break bones, and they’re fragile as egg shells. Now you put your-
Spencer: That doesn’t even make any sense! Eggs aren’t made of calcium.
Vic: The Shells are.
Teo: Guys! The mat!
Hector was going to kill him- it was bad enough that Teo had let his mask fall into the hands of that son of a….of Kyle Kemp, and now there were going to be deep black scuffs across the practice ring! This was bad, this was very bad. Teo ran his fingers through his hair in panic.
Teo: Is this really necessary? Ladder matches don’t take that much practice, do they?
Vic: Now just- no not like that!
Spencer: Oh god, my leg!
Vic: Quit jumping ahead, we haven’t gotten to the the banana split yet!
Spencer: Stop naming the moves!
Vic: Quit messing them up!
Teo: Quit breaking my goddamned gym!
Without thinking, almost involuntarily, Teo grabs a folding chair from the viewing area, hurling it as far as he can in the opposite direction- it flies far and smashes right through one of the large windows surrounding the entrance. Teo freezes in place, staring at the shards that now litter the floor, before slowly turning back towards his teammates who look at him in confusion. Teo pauses, staring at his teammates before slowly turning and walking to fix the damage.
Providence Rhode Island
12/31/2015
New Year’s Eve
The air is filled with the pop of fireworks and the resounding cheers of drunken revelry; all throughout the streets both boisterous laughter and congratulatory spirited slurred speeches echo throughout the corridors as a lone masked man walks down an empty alley. Though passerby cast furtive glances or outright confused stares in his direction, he walks with a renewed energy and vigor, once more happy to be wearing his true visage.
He turns down an alleyway and throws his arms out, soaking in the last moments of a fleeting 365 days, reflecting on all the good luck that his life had brought him. He had claimed the title that he had sought after since the moment he saw Scarecrow, the last real champion, retain it on Teo’s first night in the company. Ironically Scarecrow’s victory had come at the behest of Spencer Adams, now Teo’s tag team partner. It is bizarre how life turns out when you let it play out, a series of intertwined events that all happen for a reason…or so he would like to think.
He tucks his hands in his jacket and strolls merrily, listening to the constant echoes of ‘happy new year’, ‘thank you’ , and the occasional ‘you wanna sock in the eye, mate?’. Teo can’t help but laugh as he rounds the last corner, the final alley before his hotel, when his walk is interrupted by an unearthly shriek!
Teo freezes and glances around, searching for the source of the noise. With a quick step he makes a mad dash towards the source of the noise, coming upon a startling scene. A group of drunken men are crowded around a bedraggled looking mutt, who cowers before their viciously laughing countenances. Without a moment’s hesitation, Teo calls out at the top of his lungs.
“Hey! What’s going on here?”
The drunks turn in unison towards the masked man, their faces something between confusion and bemusement at the stranger.
“Wouldja look at this boys? We got some kinda superhero here.”
“You head inside, friend, wouldn’t want this to get violent”
Teo looks down at the animal, which he now notices is bleeding slightly, and feels a kind of primal anger welling up inside of him. He walks forward towards the men, who cock their eyebrows as he approaches.
“Hey, didn’t you-“
Without a word Teo lunges forward and plants a fist right on the teeth of the first man, he falls like a sack of bones as his friends reach in their pockets. Without even thinking, Teo drives a knee into the ribs of the second before driving the toe of his shoe across the temple of the third. The men fall and Teo goes to kick them in the ribs.
That’s right, teach them their goddamned place.
Teo stares at his hands for a long moment, not sure what to do next, before he feels something against his leg. He looks down at the animal, who now nuzzles his head against Teo’s leg. Slowly, but surely, a grin appears on Teo’s face as he kneels and pats the animal on the head.
“You look hungry. You wanna come back to the hotel with me?”
The animal doesn’t respond, but instead simply wags its tail hopefully. He smiles at the animal as the two turn and walk back towards the hotel.
Well done hero.
And hey.
Happy New Year.
