Whiskey, Laptops, and Sea Monsters
Jan 24, 2016 13:59:14 GMT -5
God King Dune, Lilith, and 3 more like this
Post by Teo Blaze on Jan 24, 2016 13:59:14 GMT -5
The scene opens on a moonlit Richmond night. Large, billowing clouds overtake the clear night sky, every few moments passing over the luminescent ball that provides a warm yellow reminder of the sun’s light. The camera pans to a wide shot of the city, zooming over skyscrapers, warehouses, and every imaginable place of business before slowly slowing before a pink neon sign, humming letters advertising “Whoop-Ass beer” in a dirty, grime covered window.
The shot changes to the bar’s interior, where a raucous activity can be heard, arguments and happy cheers intermingled with drunken ramblings and discussion about the upcoming playoff games. Every once in a while, someone will make a catcall at the rather attractive waitress, a young woman in her mid-twenties, who offers a mandatory smile at the unwanted advances of construction workers or businessmen before going on dropping off more liquor into the bottomless pits that frequent the establishment.
Ignoring yet another call of “Hey Sweet Cheeks, can I get somethin’ else with my order?” the auburn-haired beauty approaches a small, secluded table near the corner, where a rather unusual customer has been spending the better part of the evening. Bringing with him a laptop computer and only asking for the Wi-Fi password and a cup of tea, she could have sworn he’d been arguing with someone, yet every time she checked in he remained alone.
Well, on a night like this any mystery was a welcome distraction from the usual grind, so she had taken it upon herself to investigate this mystery; rather than asking him to finish his drink and free up the table, she had taken to approaching it in virtual secret- not really sneaking, but doing everything in her power to appear casual, disinterested, and to catch a glimpse at just what was on that computer screen. Besides, when someone walks into a bar wearing a Teo del Sol mask, there’s always the off-chance he’s arguing with some voices in his head.
After almost two hours of approaching from different angles, from different speeds, even changing into a different apron, she finally had the opportunity she had been waiting for. She could hear the man’s voice speaking in a hushed yet urgent tone, and knew he would be distracted. Quickly, she returned the drink tray to the counter and bent over, just so she would be below the booth’s level, and walked slowly towards the corner table-
: Look, I’m telling you, there’s no way that-
Huh, strange as it sounded this was the first time she’d actually stopped to listen to his voice- it was surprising, but the mask was rather fitting. His voice was almost exactly like-
Drunken Patron: Hey Sweet Cheeks! You don’t gotta bend over for me!
She heard the words, but she barely had time to respond before she felt a sharp pain- the man in the previous booth had just slapped her on the ass while she bent over. She didn’t know what it was, whether she was madder for the gesture or that he had ruined her opportunity to finally see the computer, but she turned towards the customer and, in a complete rejection of proper waitress procedure, slashed her hand across his face with a wicked slap! The noise echoed even over the crowd, and soon all eyes were on the waitress and the customer, whose face went from a look of shock to almost instantaneous fury.
Drunk: You bitch! See what happens when a guy’s polite, fellas?
The drunk begins rising to his feet as the waitress, realizing what she had done, starts to back away- she turns to the crowd, her face calling out for help, but they merely look on, either too scared to interfere or too apathetic to care. A feeling of complete helplessness washed over her as she turned back to her sudden attacker, who reached out with both arms and shoved her, knocking her to the ground!
…Or he would have, except halfway down she landed on someone else’s outstretched arm. She stared a few moments at the blinking lights, not quite aware of what had happened, before turning her head slowly to the left to see the white-masked face of the mysterious customer. He quickly helped her regain her balance before setting her down in the booth. He slowly got to his feet, cracking his knuckles and turning towards the belligerent man with a sly grin.
Teo del Sol: Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to hit girls?
The man stares back at Teo with an incredulous look- apparently his television appearances weren’t helping his fame as much as he had hoped, because the man croaked out a challenge almost immediately:
Drunk: I’m gonna kick your ass!
Teo: ….nah.
Drunk: …Nah?
Teo: I don’t hit girls, either.
The drunk’s furious glare turns into a white-hot look of fury as he charges forward with both arms raised as if to strangle the sarcastic luchador!
But he barely has time to move before the luchador sidestepped his attack and, grabbing him by the collar, runs him headfirst into the brick wall! The man stumbles, obviously dazed, and falls backwards…into the arms of Spencer Adams.
Teo’s tag partner holds him roughly under the arms and shakes his head at the luchador in mock disapproval. His glance goes from Teo to the frightened waitress then back to Teo, but Teo simply shrugs as he walks towards the now slightly toothless drunk.
Drunk: You son of a bitch! I’ll kill your whole family! I’ll kill your dog! I’ll-
Teo: Oh, what the heck, just this once.
And with that he slams a fist into the stomach of the drunk, who lets out a wheezing cough before falling silent.
Teo: Spencer, help our friend outside, I think he’s had enough.
Back at the table, the waitress has been watching the entire scene play out as the realization hits her that this is not who she had suspected. No average everyday citizen sat in the booth moments ago, this was the genuine article! Her thoughts race to process this new information before suddenly being interrupted by the sound of a new voice.
: Hello? Teo? I hear fighting, are you having a match without me?
The waitress glances at the luchador, currently urging the bartender to increase security, and back to the laptop. Barely a moment passes before she makes up her mind, and with one finger, slowly turns the screen towards her to reveal…yet another WCF Star!
Andre Jenson: Wait, Teo! You’re a woman under there? Well this is…confusing.
She turns quickly turns the laptop back around, that being all the evidence she needed to confirm her suspicions. But before the implications have time to set in, the luchador returns to his table.
Teo: Are you okay, ma’am?
The waitress nods her head meekly in confirmation, before realizing that she’s staring up at the Teo del Sol, the WCF people’s champion, and he was talking with the Andre Jenson, the one who had beaten him for the television title. She places her hand on her forehead as she begins to feel a bit faint.
It was at this moment that Teo noticed she’d been wearing a WCF T-shirt the entire evening.
Teo: Hey, listen-
The luchador pushes the untouched cup of tea across the table towards her.
Teo: I’m sorry that happened, you guys really need to get a bouncer or something, it’s not a safe work environment.
Andre: Hello?? We were talking about the match- Teo, I need your head in this one if we’re going to…
Teo slowly turns the screen towards the wall as he continues.
Andre: Don’t you ignore- Hey, I’ve seen this newspaper! Huh. Minor league baseball player caught in gambling scandal…
Teo: Spencer and I are here to try and get some information. This is the exact kind of hangout that the Beach Krew would frequent.
Waitress: You knocked him low with one punch.
Teo blinks at her response, then looks at the drunk, currently being hurled out the open front door by Spencer Adams.
Teo: It wasn’t hard, I just closed my eyes and imagined it was Kemp.
Waitress: Kyle Kemp?
Teo: The one and the same. You know those guys, I don’t trust them. Ever since they lost control of the company it’s like they’ve been working on something, plotting something. Something big. I want to know what it is.
Waitress: And you think Kemp’s in on it?
Teo lets out a raucous laugh that is joined by an electronic laugh from the computer.
Teo: If Kyle Kemp is in on it, it’s only in the same way a pawn is in on what a queen is doing… no, Kyle Kemp is not who I’m worried about. Kyle Kemp is a yapping little dog, just dying for someone to pay attention to him. He’ll do anything, he’ll walk into your house and poop on your floor just to let you know that he can- and I’m not entirely certain he’s still a dog in that metaphor.
But he’s no threat. He’s in it for the exact same reasons I’m in it, he wants to be world champion. Too bad big daddy Wade already took that crown jewel from him. Now he’s just an expensive poodle stuck on Beach Krew’s leash.
The waitress snickers at Teo’s description as he continues.
Teo: No, the one I want to get ahold of is Kemp’s partner, Johnny Rabid.
Waitress: But he’s not teaming with Rabid.
Teo blinks in confusion, then turns towards the computer, where he can hear the shuffling of papers.
Andre: It says here that he’s teaming with Oblivion. Uh….sorry about that.
Teo turns his head slowly back towards the table, his look a mixture of disbelief and frustration, then slowly places his head in his hands with a deep sigh.
Teo: So let me get this straight, Andre, Spencer and I have been sitting here in this bar for hours waiting for Rabid to come in, so that we could tail him back to the house and find out what they have planned for our match this week…And we’re not even facing him?
Andre: I told you, I needed a partner to face Kemp.
Teo: Yeah, but I thought that Kemp would at least have the courtesy of bringing along his real tag team partner! Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy to take it to that indescribable monster- if there’s ever one thing I need it’s the chance to not have to worry about pulling my punches- but give a guy a bit of warning next time!
Andre: You could have just looked at the card.
Teo: I could have done a lot of things instead of waiting in this bar all day!
Andre: That was your idea.
Teo: …Oh yeah...Uh…my point is, Oblivion doesn’t get us any closer to the head honcho man! If Kemp is a pawn, then Oblivion is a checker that someone left on the chess board, not only is he the most predictable piece in the entire game, but he doesn’t belong there in the first place! If Kemp is a lap dog, then Oblivion is a cat with a cardboard sign that says “dog” in seafoam blue around his neck.
Andre: Seafoam is green, though.
Teo: Well, I was going for an ocean-pun thing, ya know? But that’s not the point! The point is that we’re facing off against the dregs of Beach Krew this week, the lowest ranked ones on the totem pole-even Beaver has begun to overtake Kemp in importance, loathe though I am to admit it. Oblivion has spent weeks simply being the guy Beach Krew sends out when none of them want to lose. I have never seen the ruination of a legend in the way that Beach Krew has ruined Oblivion, this was a man who people were scared of, who people didn’t even want to step in the ring with, and with a couple of layers of ocean blue paint, they’ve reduced him to a flunky, a joke who takes orders and eats pinfalls to preserve the ever-expanding image of the Beach Krew.
Teo sighs and drops his head onto the table with an audible thud.
Teo: I can’t believe that I spent 12 hours in a booth waiting for someone who I’m not even facing this week.
Andre: Yeah, that was a pretty stupid idea.
Teo: ….Thank you Andre.
Teo sighs and throws his head back against the booth, staring up at the neon-lit ceiling of the once again raucous bar.
Teo: This whole day was just one big waste of time…
At this point Teo became acutely aware that someone was caressing his hand, he turned his head slowly down to see the waitress, staring at him with obvious admiration.
Waitress: It doesn’t have to be.
Teo blinks a few times, then slowly places his hand on the laptop.
Teo: I’ll talk to you tomorrow Andre, we’ll figure this out.
Andre: Tell Spencer I said aiya!
Teo: I don’t believe I got your name, miss.
The camera slowly zooms away from the scene as the two begin a spirited conversation.
Part 2: Sea Monsters
The scene now changes to a sunny beachfront view, the clear water slowly crashing against the sandy shore. Gulls walk among the seaweed, washed against the shore, and fish jump in the distance, trying desperately to find out what awaits them on the other side, only for gravity to pull them back below the waves.
After taking in the pristine white sands and crystal blue water, the camera pans slowly, to reveal Teo del Sol, the People’s title over his shoulder and a plain white T-shirt over blue jeans. He stands barefoot in the water, eyes closed, feeling the pull of the tide, and opens his eyes with a grin.
Teo: You didn’t think I was done with you, did you Kyle?
Kyle Kemp, the man who spent the better part of two months haunting and hunting me, who spent every waking moment doing everything in his power to break me, to rip me to pieces, to take away everything from Teo del Sol.
I know I should be mad Kyle, I mean I should be furious. I should be kicking sand and throwing seagulls- should be tearing my hair out and falling over myself to get just one more chance to step between those ropes and teach you another lesson. Give me a minute, it’ll come.
See Kyle, the truth is despite your best efforts, I actually found it in my heart to forgive you for your transgressions. I know, forgiveness isn’t really a word you hear all that often, but a fact is a fact. You and I walked into One, and on the grandest stage in all of wrestling we put on a match that shook the walls of that arena! I hit you and you hit me with every single thing in our arsenal, every move, every weapon we could get our hands on, and when the dust settled and I was truly victorious for the first time in a long time…
In that moment I found an admiration for Kyle Kemp, a realization that underneath all of the expensive hair perfumes and dolphin-skin suits, that there truly is the heart of a lion underneath all of that talk. You pushed yourself forward and you delivered a performance that people are going to talk about for years, and I would never take that away from you.
But Kyle, as much as I love to laud that match as one of the finest moments in either of our young careers, the fact is that when it came down to it you learned nothing! When I spoke to you that night, I wanted you to understand that for the first time in your life that people were chanting the name Kyle Kemp! That you have it in you to be a superstar! But look at you, you’re happy playing second fiddle to a bunch of fish-obsessed lunatics who don’t even offer you the courtesy of a thank you.
Better than you, that’s what you like to say, isn’t it Kyle? You’re better than me, better than the pope, better than the Avengers and Han Solo, better than sliced- well you know the rest. Funny isn’t it? Funny how the one person who claims to be better than everyone else is nothing more than a two-bit flunky to someone like Wade Moor. Funny how someone who is better than me can’t even get his own tag team partner to face Andre Jenson and myself this week. Funny how someone who claims to be the best in the world still runs with his tail between his legs the moment he displeases dear old daddy Rabid!
Kyle, it goes without saying that a bit of humility would save you, but let’s face facts man, if you haven’t been humbled by your time in the Beach Krew, then when Andre Jenson and I walk into that ring and put your shoulders down for the 1,2,3! Then next week you’re gonna be back with the same old tired schtick. Kyle Kemp is better than you! Kyle Kemp can crap fireballs at anyone! Kyle Kemp once moved a mountain with only his butt! Talk talk talk talk talk!
That’s all you are when it comes down to it, Kyle. You are a talking head on an empty body, a voice that wants to let everyone know how great it is because it’s ashamed to admit that there might be someone out there who is better than him.
News flash: There is ALWAYS someone better than you, Kyle. You want to know why I won at One? You want to know what made Teo del Sol step into that ring and sacrifice himself for each and every screaming fan in that packed arena? Because it wasn’t any delusion about being better than you Kyle, oh no. The reason that Teo del Sol beat Kyle Kemp is because Teo del Sol knew he wasn’t better!
An arrogant mind is a complacent mind! You throw around words like “Better” and “Best” without realizing that these are impossible goals, man! You know who gets in the ring and wins each and every week, because it’s not the better competitor- it is the man who wants it more.
And Kyle, there is not a thing in the world that I want more than this belt around my shoulder, and there is not a thing in the world that I want more than to pin your shoulders down this week and hear that 1,2,3 one more time!
The one thing that you and I have in common Kyle is that we are never satisified! We are never satisfied with what gets put on our plate! But where you complain and whine that you deserve better, I eat it with a smile on my face because I know that it’ll make me stronger.
Last week I went one on one with Dune! Yeah, that Dune! And do you think I threw up my arms and said “Look, I’m better than Dune, so I’m going to win!” hell no! I stepped into the gym and I put myself through hell all so that I could have a chance to step between those ropes and show the world that I belonged in there with the best! That! Kyle is the difference between you and me. I push myself to new heights with every opportunity, while you think that you’re already on the top of the mountain. Tell me how great it is after Andre Jenson and I walk through you this week.
Teo turns once again and takes a deep sigh, staring out into the sun, reflecting off the shimmering waves before turning back to the camera.
Teo: But Kyle Kemp is not the only one in the match, is he? Oh no, We also have to contend with Oblivion, the monster, the most feared legend in the history of history! No wait, I’m quoting an old WCF show, let me try again.
This week we have to contend with the most disappointing face on the roster, a bipolar weirdo who seems happy to attack everyone and act how he pleases without ever once actually managing to help out the stable he’s supposed to represent!
Here’s a weird thought, Oblivion has held more belts than I will likely ever come close to, has been a grand slam and a triple crown champion. Yet since joining Beach Krew, he to date has been the only one to never hold a championship. Huh. I wonder what changed? I wonder what happened to neuter the most feared creature on the entire WCF roster, to take one of the fiercest, most vicious competitors to step between those ropes and turn him into little more than a rabid dog, a nuisance that is just causing trouble until someone finally is no longer willing to put up with him and puts him down.
Oblivion, I admire everything you’ve done, but the fact of the matter is that so long as you’re flying that Beach Krew flag you are little more than the first one out on a sinking ship. You are the sacrifice, if this were the Poseidon adventure you’d be the guy getting kicked down the elevator shaft because he’s weighing everyone down. You don’t think that Beach krew will turn on you the moment you’re no longer convenient to them? Don’t even make me laugh.
You are a beast with no fangs, a monster with no claws, and a boogeyman that stopped scaring people a long time ago. You proclaim viciousness and terror, but deliver only loss after loss after loss. It’s embarrassing man. Beach Krew has taken what could be their fiercest and strongest ally, a man who made the Angels of Death feared, and they have made him into a sad little creature who is frightened of Katherine Phoenix. Congratulations, Oblivion, you’re the cookie monster.
This week Andre Jenson and Teo del Sol are going to step between those ropes and we are going to get our hands raised, Andre may have taken my Television title but don’t think for a moment that we harbor any animosity. He beat me fair and square, and any man who steps in the crucible of combat and retains his honor is an ally in my book. This week is going to be a victory and we are going to make it look easy! I would say we’re against the B-squad, but honestly it feels like the Z-squad, and you guys don’t even have 26 members! Well, unless you count groupies, and truth be told they would probably put up a harder fight!
There is nothing you can do to stop us from getting our hands raised this week, because Teo del Sol and Andre Jenson, we are the future of this company! Kemp and Oblivion? You’re a sideshow, a sad little chapter in the WCF history books that will be passed over by anyone who happens to be sad enough to read it…
Good luck this week guys, and hey, don’t feel too bad afterward.
Teo turns back towards the ocean as the camera slowly fades to black.
Epilogue:
The scene opens on a hotel room, furniture knocked over and clothes thrown in disheveled piles on the floor. It looks like looters or robbers have made their way through the room, save of course for the Luchador lying shirtless on the comforter deprived sheets. He places his hand on his forehead and looks around in confusion, slowly bringing himself back to the waking world. He stands up and glances about, picking up his belongings and putting them into his suitcase, getting ready to depart for the stadium. Mouthwash, a biography of El Santo, a WCF T-shir…
At this point Teo is made once more acutely aware of the sound of a shower in the bathroom, and that Spencer had gone to take care of some more business the night before.
He hears a feminine voice singing the chorus of “Kickstart My Heart” through the bathroom door and cocks his eyebrow as the previous night’s events come back to him.
Teo: …This is gonna be an interesting day.
The shot changes to the bar’s interior, where a raucous activity can be heard, arguments and happy cheers intermingled with drunken ramblings and discussion about the upcoming playoff games. Every once in a while, someone will make a catcall at the rather attractive waitress, a young woman in her mid-twenties, who offers a mandatory smile at the unwanted advances of construction workers or businessmen before going on dropping off more liquor into the bottomless pits that frequent the establishment.
Ignoring yet another call of “Hey Sweet Cheeks, can I get somethin’ else with my order?” the auburn-haired beauty approaches a small, secluded table near the corner, where a rather unusual customer has been spending the better part of the evening. Bringing with him a laptop computer and only asking for the Wi-Fi password and a cup of tea, she could have sworn he’d been arguing with someone, yet every time she checked in he remained alone.
Well, on a night like this any mystery was a welcome distraction from the usual grind, so she had taken it upon herself to investigate this mystery; rather than asking him to finish his drink and free up the table, she had taken to approaching it in virtual secret- not really sneaking, but doing everything in her power to appear casual, disinterested, and to catch a glimpse at just what was on that computer screen. Besides, when someone walks into a bar wearing a Teo del Sol mask, there’s always the off-chance he’s arguing with some voices in his head.
After almost two hours of approaching from different angles, from different speeds, even changing into a different apron, she finally had the opportunity she had been waiting for. She could hear the man’s voice speaking in a hushed yet urgent tone, and knew he would be distracted. Quickly, she returned the drink tray to the counter and bent over, just so she would be below the booth’s level, and walked slowly towards the corner table-
: Look, I’m telling you, there’s no way that-Huh, strange as it sounded this was the first time she’d actually stopped to listen to his voice- it was surprising, but the mask was rather fitting. His voice was almost exactly like-
Drunken Patron: Hey Sweet Cheeks! You don’t gotta bend over for me!
She heard the words, but she barely had time to respond before she felt a sharp pain- the man in the previous booth had just slapped her on the ass while she bent over. She didn’t know what it was, whether she was madder for the gesture or that he had ruined her opportunity to finally see the computer, but she turned towards the customer and, in a complete rejection of proper waitress procedure, slashed her hand across his face with a wicked slap! The noise echoed even over the crowd, and soon all eyes were on the waitress and the customer, whose face went from a look of shock to almost instantaneous fury.
Drunk: You bitch! See what happens when a guy’s polite, fellas?
The drunk begins rising to his feet as the waitress, realizing what she had done, starts to back away- she turns to the crowd, her face calling out for help, but they merely look on, either too scared to interfere or too apathetic to care. A feeling of complete helplessness washed over her as she turned back to her sudden attacker, who reached out with both arms and shoved her, knocking her to the ground!
…Or he would have, except halfway down she landed on someone else’s outstretched arm. She stared a few moments at the blinking lights, not quite aware of what had happened, before turning her head slowly to the left to see the white-masked face of the mysterious customer. He quickly helped her regain her balance before setting her down in the booth. He slowly got to his feet, cracking his knuckles and turning towards the belligerent man with a sly grin.
Teo del Sol: Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to hit girls?
The man stares back at Teo with an incredulous look- apparently his television appearances weren’t helping his fame as much as he had hoped, because the man croaked out a challenge almost immediately:
Drunk: I’m gonna kick your ass!
Teo: ….nah.
Drunk: …Nah?
Teo: I don’t hit girls, either.
The drunk’s furious glare turns into a white-hot look of fury as he charges forward with both arms raised as if to strangle the sarcastic luchador!
But he barely has time to move before the luchador sidestepped his attack and, grabbing him by the collar, runs him headfirst into the brick wall! The man stumbles, obviously dazed, and falls backwards…into the arms of Spencer Adams.
Teo’s tag partner holds him roughly under the arms and shakes his head at the luchador in mock disapproval. His glance goes from Teo to the frightened waitress then back to Teo, but Teo simply shrugs as he walks towards the now slightly toothless drunk.
Drunk: You son of a bitch! I’ll kill your whole family! I’ll kill your dog! I’ll-
Teo: Oh, what the heck, just this once.
And with that he slams a fist into the stomach of the drunk, who lets out a wheezing cough before falling silent.
Teo: Spencer, help our friend outside, I think he’s had enough.
Back at the table, the waitress has been watching the entire scene play out as the realization hits her that this is not who she had suspected. No average everyday citizen sat in the booth moments ago, this was the genuine article! Her thoughts race to process this new information before suddenly being interrupted by the sound of a new voice.
: Hello? Teo? I hear fighting, are you having a match without me?The waitress glances at the luchador, currently urging the bartender to increase security, and back to the laptop. Barely a moment passes before she makes up her mind, and with one finger, slowly turns the screen towards her to reveal…yet another WCF Star!
Andre Jenson: Wait, Teo! You’re a woman under there? Well this is…confusing.
She turns quickly turns the laptop back around, that being all the evidence she needed to confirm her suspicions. But before the implications have time to set in, the luchador returns to his table.
Teo: Are you okay, ma’am?
The waitress nods her head meekly in confirmation, before realizing that she’s staring up at the Teo del Sol, the WCF people’s champion, and he was talking with the Andre Jenson, the one who had beaten him for the television title. She places her hand on her forehead as she begins to feel a bit faint.
It was at this moment that Teo noticed she’d been wearing a WCF T-shirt the entire evening.
Teo: Hey, listen-
The luchador pushes the untouched cup of tea across the table towards her.
Teo: I’m sorry that happened, you guys really need to get a bouncer or something, it’s not a safe work environment.
Andre: Hello?? We were talking about the match- Teo, I need your head in this one if we’re going to…
Teo slowly turns the screen towards the wall as he continues.
Andre: Don’t you ignore- Hey, I’ve seen this newspaper! Huh. Minor league baseball player caught in gambling scandal…
Teo: Spencer and I are here to try and get some information. This is the exact kind of hangout that the Beach Krew would frequent.
Waitress: You knocked him low with one punch.
Teo blinks at her response, then looks at the drunk, currently being hurled out the open front door by Spencer Adams.
Teo: It wasn’t hard, I just closed my eyes and imagined it was Kemp.
Waitress: Kyle Kemp?
Teo: The one and the same. You know those guys, I don’t trust them. Ever since they lost control of the company it’s like they’ve been working on something, plotting something. Something big. I want to know what it is.
Waitress: And you think Kemp’s in on it?
Teo lets out a raucous laugh that is joined by an electronic laugh from the computer.
Teo: If Kyle Kemp is in on it, it’s only in the same way a pawn is in on what a queen is doing… no, Kyle Kemp is not who I’m worried about. Kyle Kemp is a yapping little dog, just dying for someone to pay attention to him. He’ll do anything, he’ll walk into your house and poop on your floor just to let you know that he can- and I’m not entirely certain he’s still a dog in that metaphor.
But he’s no threat. He’s in it for the exact same reasons I’m in it, he wants to be world champion. Too bad big daddy Wade already took that crown jewel from him. Now he’s just an expensive poodle stuck on Beach Krew’s leash.
The waitress snickers at Teo’s description as he continues.
Teo: No, the one I want to get ahold of is Kemp’s partner, Johnny Rabid.
Waitress: But he’s not teaming with Rabid.
Teo blinks in confusion, then turns towards the computer, where he can hear the shuffling of papers.
Andre: It says here that he’s teaming with Oblivion. Uh….sorry about that.
Teo turns his head slowly back towards the table, his look a mixture of disbelief and frustration, then slowly places his head in his hands with a deep sigh.
Teo: So let me get this straight, Andre, Spencer and I have been sitting here in this bar for hours waiting for Rabid to come in, so that we could tail him back to the house and find out what they have planned for our match this week…And we’re not even facing him?
Andre: I told you, I needed a partner to face Kemp.
Teo: Yeah, but I thought that Kemp would at least have the courtesy of bringing along his real tag team partner! Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy to take it to that indescribable monster- if there’s ever one thing I need it’s the chance to not have to worry about pulling my punches- but give a guy a bit of warning next time!
Andre: You could have just looked at the card.
Teo: I could have done a lot of things instead of waiting in this bar all day!
Andre: That was your idea.
Teo: …Oh yeah...Uh…my point is, Oblivion doesn’t get us any closer to the head honcho man! If Kemp is a pawn, then Oblivion is a checker that someone left on the chess board, not only is he the most predictable piece in the entire game, but he doesn’t belong there in the first place! If Kemp is a lap dog, then Oblivion is a cat with a cardboard sign that says “dog” in seafoam blue around his neck.
Andre: Seafoam is green, though.
Teo: Well, I was going for an ocean-pun thing, ya know? But that’s not the point! The point is that we’re facing off against the dregs of Beach Krew this week, the lowest ranked ones on the totem pole-even Beaver has begun to overtake Kemp in importance, loathe though I am to admit it. Oblivion has spent weeks simply being the guy Beach Krew sends out when none of them want to lose. I have never seen the ruination of a legend in the way that Beach Krew has ruined Oblivion, this was a man who people were scared of, who people didn’t even want to step in the ring with, and with a couple of layers of ocean blue paint, they’ve reduced him to a flunky, a joke who takes orders and eats pinfalls to preserve the ever-expanding image of the Beach Krew.
Teo sighs and drops his head onto the table with an audible thud.
Teo: I can’t believe that I spent 12 hours in a booth waiting for someone who I’m not even facing this week.
Andre: Yeah, that was a pretty stupid idea.
Teo: ….Thank you Andre.
Teo sighs and throws his head back against the booth, staring up at the neon-lit ceiling of the once again raucous bar.
Teo: This whole day was just one big waste of time…
At this point Teo became acutely aware that someone was caressing his hand, he turned his head slowly down to see the waitress, staring at him with obvious admiration.
Waitress: It doesn’t have to be.
Teo blinks a few times, then slowly places his hand on the laptop.
Teo: I’ll talk to you tomorrow Andre, we’ll figure this out.
Andre: Tell Spencer I said aiya!
Teo: I don’t believe I got your name, miss.
The camera slowly zooms away from the scene as the two begin a spirited conversation.
Part 2: Sea Monsters
The scene now changes to a sunny beachfront view, the clear water slowly crashing against the sandy shore. Gulls walk among the seaweed, washed against the shore, and fish jump in the distance, trying desperately to find out what awaits them on the other side, only for gravity to pull them back below the waves.
After taking in the pristine white sands and crystal blue water, the camera pans slowly, to reveal Teo del Sol, the People’s title over his shoulder and a plain white T-shirt over blue jeans. He stands barefoot in the water, eyes closed, feeling the pull of the tide, and opens his eyes with a grin.
Teo: You didn’t think I was done with you, did you Kyle?
Kyle Kemp, the man who spent the better part of two months haunting and hunting me, who spent every waking moment doing everything in his power to break me, to rip me to pieces, to take away everything from Teo del Sol.
I know I should be mad Kyle, I mean I should be furious. I should be kicking sand and throwing seagulls- should be tearing my hair out and falling over myself to get just one more chance to step between those ropes and teach you another lesson. Give me a minute, it’ll come.
See Kyle, the truth is despite your best efforts, I actually found it in my heart to forgive you for your transgressions. I know, forgiveness isn’t really a word you hear all that often, but a fact is a fact. You and I walked into One, and on the grandest stage in all of wrestling we put on a match that shook the walls of that arena! I hit you and you hit me with every single thing in our arsenal, every move, every weapon we could get our hands on, and when the dust settled and I was truly victorious for the first time in a long time…
In that moment I found an admiration for Kyle Kemp, a realization that underneath all of the expensive hair perfumes and dolphin-skin suits, that there truly is the heart of a lion underneath all of that talk. You pushed yourself forward and you delivered a performance that people are going to talk about for years, and I would never take that away from you.
But Kyle, as much as I love to laud that match as one of the finest moments in either of our young careers, the fact is that when it came down to it you learned nothing! When I spoke to you that night, I wanted you to understand that for the first time in your life that people were chanting the name Kyle Kemp! That you have it in you to be a superstar! But look at you, you’re happy playing second fiddle to a bunch of fish-obsessed lunatics who don’t even offer you the courtesy of a thank you.
Better than you, that’s what you like to say, isn’t it Kyle? You’re better than me, better than the pope, better than the Avengers and Han Solo, better than sliced- well you know the rest. Funny isn’t it? Funny how the one person who claims to be better than everyone else is nothing more than a two-bit flunky to someone like Wade Moor. Funny how someone who is better than me can’t even get his own tag team partner to face Andre Jenson and myself this week. Funny how someone who claims to be the best in the world still runs with his tail between his legs the moment he displeases dear old daddy Rabid!
Kyle, it goes without saying that a bit of humility would save you, but let’s face facts man, if you haven’t been humbled by your time in the Beach Krew, then when Andre Jenson and I walk into that ring and put your shoulders down for the 1,2,3! Then next week you’re gonna be back with the same old tired schtick. Kyle Kemp is better than you! Kyle Kemp can crap fireballs at anyone! Kyle Kemp once moved a mountain with only his butt! Talk talk talk talk talk!
That’s all you are when it comes down to it, Kyle. You are a talking head on an empty body, a voice that wants to let everyone know how great it is because it’s ashamed to admit that there might be someone out there who is better than him.
News flash: There is ALWAYS someone better than you, Kyle. You want to know why I won at One? You want to know what made Teo del Sol step into that ring and sacrifice himself for each and every screaming fan in that packed arena? Because it wasn’t any delusion about being better than you Kyle, oh no. The reason that Teo del Sol beat Kyle Kemp is because Teo del Sol knew he wasn’t better!
An arrogant mind is a complacent mind! You throw around words like “Better” and “Best” without realizing that these are impossible goals, man! You know who gets in the ring and wins each and every week, because it’s not the better competitor- it is the man who wants it more.
And Kyle, there is not a thing in the world that I want more than this belt around my shoulder, and there is not a thing in the world that I want more than to pin your shoulders down this week and hear that 1,2,3 one more time!
The one thing that you and I have in common Kyle is that we are never satisified! We are never satisfied with what gets put on our plate! But where you complain and whine that you deserve better, I eat it with a smile on my face because I know that it’ll make me stronger.
Last week I went one on one with Dune! Yeah, that Dune! And do you think I threw up my arms and said “Look, I’m better than Dune, so I’m going to win!” hell no! I stepped into the gym and I put myself through hell all so that I could have a chance to step between those ropes and show the world that I belonged in there with the best! That! Kyle is the difference between you and me. I push myself to new heights with every opportunity, while you think that you’re already on the top of the mountain. Tell me how great it is after Andre Jenson and I walk through you this week.
Teo turns once again and takes a deep sigh, staring out into the sun, reflecting off the shimmering waves before turning back to the camera.
Teo: But Kyle Kemp is not the only one in the match, is he? Oh no, We also have to contend with Oblivion, the monster, the most feared legend in the history of history! No wait, I’m quoting an old WCF show, let me try again.
This week we have to contend with the most disappointing face on the roster, a bipolar weirdo who seems happy to attack everyone and act how he pleases without ever once actually managing to help out the stable he’s supposed to represent!
Here’s a weird thought, Oblivion has held more belts than I will likely ever come close to, has been a grand slam and a triple crown champion. Yet since joining Beach Krew, he to date has been the only one to never hold a championship. Huh. I wonder what changed? I wonder what happened to neuter the most feared creature on the entire WCF roster, to take one of the fiercest, most vicious competitors to step between those ropes and turn him into little more than a rabid dog, a nuisance that is just causing trouble until someone finally is no longer willing to put up with him and puts him down.
Oblivion, I admire everything you’ve done, but the fact of the matter is that so long as you’re flying that Beach Krew flag you are little more than the first one out on a sinking ship. You are the sacrifice, if this were the Poseidon adventure you’d be the guy getting kicked down the elevator shaft because he’s weighing everyone down. You don’t think that Beach krew will turn on you the moment you’re no longer convenient to them? Don’t even make me laugh.
You are a beast with no fangs, a monster with no claws, and a boogeyman that stopped scaring people a long time ago. You proclaim viciousness and terror, but deliver only loss after loss after loss. It’s embarrassing man. Beach Krew has taken what could be their fiercest and strongest ally, a man who made the Angels of Death feared, and they have made him into a sad little creature who is frightened of Katherine Phoenix. Congratulations, Oblivion, you’re the cookie monster.
This week Andre Jenson and Teo del Sol are going to step between those ropes and we are going to get our hands raised, Andre may have taken my Television title but don’t think for a moment that we harbor any animosity. He beat me fair and square, and any man who steps in the crucible of combat and retains his honor is an ally in my book. This week is going to be a victory and we are going to make it look easy! I would say we’re against the B-squad, but honestly it feels like the Z-squad, and you guys don’t even have 26 members! Well, unless you count groupies, and truth be told they would probably put up a harder fight!
There is nothing you can do to stop us from getting our hands raised this week, because Teo del Sol and Andre Jenson, we are the future of this company! Kemp and Oblivion? You’re a sideshow, a sad little chapter in the WCF history books that will be passed over by anyone who happens to be sad enough to read it…
Good luck this week guys, and hey, don’t feel too bad afterward.
Teo turns back towards the ocean as the camera slowly fades to black.
Epilogue:
The scene opens on a hotel room, furniture knocked over and clothes thrown in disheveled piles on the floor. It looks like looters or robbers have made their way through the room, save of course for the Luchador lying shirtless on the comforter deprived sheets. He places his hand on his forehead and looks around in confusion, slowly bringing himself back to the waking world. He stands up and glances about, picking up his belongings and putting them into his suitcase, getting ready to depart for the stadium. Mouthwash, a biography of El Santo, a WCF T-shir…
At this point Teo is made once more acutely aware of the sound of a shower in the bathroom, and that Spencer had gone to take care of some more business the night before.
He hears a feminine voice singing the chorus of “Kickstart My Heart” through the bathroom door and cocks his eyebrow as the previous night’s events come back to him.
Teo: …This is gonna be an interesting day.
