Post by Dionysus on Jan 13, 2017 0:55:14 GMT -5
Nick: Well, while we figure out what the hell is going on with traffic, we’ll move on to our guest today; a pro-wrestler from WCF who is competing at First Avenue this Friday. Please welcome to the program, Dion Necurat.
Dion: Hey guys, glad to finally be on the show.
The scene opens at Cumulus Media Station, in the early part of the morning. Dion is seated in an office chair inside one of the many radio studios, with two other gentlemen sitting around the table. Both men were in their fourties, one with a gray buzzcut and dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans, the other bald and wearing a button-up plaid shirt with jeans. In the other room was a woman running the sound board, dressed in a black shirt and jeans. There are usually more people in the booth, but the other two workers were missing this day. Dion was about to be a guest on the Half-Assed Morning Show.
Josh: Always great to have wrestlers on our show, especially ones that have worked in the area.
Nick: Yeah; you probably know that we’re big wrestling fans, right?
Dion: Of course! Hell, that was one of the reasons why I listened to your show in the first place.
Nick: Oh, so you know about the Jesse Ventura bits, right?
Josh: Yeah, let me load one up here…
The booth erupted into laughter. Dion had listened to this show numerous times; Nick had an impeccable talent for replicating Jesse Ventura’s voice, and one of their more popular bits was to have Nick speak like Ventura, bestowing “deep wisdom,’ which ended up being a joke.
Dion: *stiffling back laughter* Oh man...its been too long since I’ve heard one of those bits.
Josh: You don’t get much of a chance to listen to us, huh?
Dion: Not especially, what with the constant travel and the foundation work as well.
Nick: So what is this foundation?
Dion: I had started The Necurat Foundation as a way to combat homelessness, particularly when it comes to children. These days, the foundation is used to help those in need for various reasons, though the focus is still aiding children.
Nick: That’s great!
Josh: Yeah, that’s really cool.
Dion: Anything I can do to give back to a community that gave me so much is what I strive for.
Nick: So tell us a bit about your background in Minnesota wrestling.
Dion: Well, its a funny story. See, most of my time was spent training to be a wrestler, not actually wrestling in the ring. I did spend a lot of time at different shows, especially Wrestlepalooza out of First Avenue. I was there to watch Ariya Daivari win the Wrestlepalooza belt...to watch the North Star Express win the tag titles. I was there to see Queenie Von Curves-
Nick: Oooooooo...Queenie…
Dion: Yup; I remember her kicking the absolute crap out of The Kentucky Gentleman, Chuck Taylor. And I remember standing ringside, crying, as Playboy Pete Huge dropped his lucky drawers in the ring for the last time.
Josh: I bet that stain from where it landed won’t come out.
Dion: *laughs* I mean, he never took those drawers off.
Nick: Let's turn around to XIII. That’s what the show is called, right?
Dion: Yeah; Corey Black, another local guy, runs these shows every Friday the 13th. There is usually a horror element to each of these shows...what with the name and all. Hell, someone might even die in the show. What better way to kick off a new year, right?
Josh: That guy might be you. You’re in an...Age of Ultron match that night.
Nick: Age of Whoseits? What the hell kind of match is that?!
Dion: From what I know, this is a match where a cage hangs over the ring, filled with weapons. After about a minute or so, the cage opens up, with all the weapons raining down.
Nick: That...that sounds awesome…
Dion: It does, but it also makes it hard to prepare for. I mean, what do you do to get ready for that match, aside from learning to cover your head?
Josh: And your balls.
Dion: *laughs* Right, and my balls.
Josh: You’re competing against three other guys in this match, right?
Nick: Yeah, John Gable, CJ Phoenix, and Andre Holmes...Andreeee…Hoooolmes…smoove like budduh.
Dion: ...Yeeeah...Anyway, CJ Phoenix and I are part of the same faction, and it won’t even be the first time this year where we have competed head-on.
Josh: But you kind of called him out two weeks ago. Do you still stand by what you say?
Dion: Sure. I mean, Phoenix is a great guy and a great athlete. He wouldn’t have won the Alpha championship without that. Lately, though, Phoenix has been...slipping. Since losing that title, he hasn’t had his mind in the right frame to keep competing. Hell, I’ve lost more than my fair share of matches since being in WCF, but I don’t let those matches get the better of me. I dust myself off, learn what I need to do better, and keep going. Right now, that’s what Phoenix needs to do. Much as I want to think Phoenix has what it takes to run away with this match...I don’t think he’ll be ready for it. Not in the way the rest of us will be.
Nick: Wow...no love lost here.
Dion: It sounds that way, but I have a lot of respect for Phoenix. I can tell him how I feel without worrying about him getting angry.
Josh: So what do you make of John Gable?
Dion: Not really sure. I haven’t had the pleasure of working with John. From what I’ve seen, he’s a great competitor, fighting through what looks to be a great tragedy. Being a father on top of that definitely doesn’t help him either. It means he has to wrestle carefully. An injury would hurt his source of income, especially since he dropped being an actor. I don’t expect him to take any risks, playing more conservative and much more defensive in the ring.
Nick: What are you, some kind of general?
Dion: Nah, just methodical. I watch what people do in the ring on replays. I see what moves they use, how they hold themselves, and whether they favor any part of their body or not.
Nick: My man in this one is Andreee Hoooolmes. What do you think of him?
Dion: Andre…”Relentless,” that’s what he calls himself. A man with no limits and no end. He will not stop until he has what he wants. Andre Holmes made a fool of me and Phoenix last we met. I won’t let that happen this time.
Josh: Ooooo, Dion is getting serious!
Dion: You better believe it. Andre Holmes burns energy quickly, letting the initial shock of blasting out of the corner help him win his matches. However, he has no method to his attacks; he simply allows himself to keep constant movement. He will tire himself out, especially in a match like this. No holds barred, no disqualification, weapons raining from above...this is my environment. My match...my style...and now, its in my home. I have always considered First Avenue my home for wrestling. Andre wants to take that from me? He’ll have to beat the living pulp out of me first. Unlike this show, my performance in the Age of Ultron match will not be half-assed. Andre Holmes, you better prepare yourself, for I will kick your full ass back over the Minnesota border.
Nick: ...You know I was only kidding, right?
Dion: *laughs* You’re fine, Nick.
Nick: Do you want to hear another Jesse bit?
Josh: Hold on, I have one lined up.
Dion: Oh, this never gets old...I missed it so much.
Josh: *laughs* Always appreciate a fan.
Nick: Definitely. This was a lot of fun, Dion. Anything else you want to tell us about?
Dion: Only that this XIII show is going to have a donation drive to the local food shelf. I’m calling it Cans for Bottles. Bring in a can of food, or any other non-perishable food item, and you’ll get a beer on me. I am also going to have a nice surprise for the fans who helped bring me back to my home, as a way to...express...my gratitude.
Nick: Free beer?! Can’t say no to that! I’ll be there; I have some soup to get rid of.
Josh: Isn’t beer a soup?
Nick: ...Anyway, we need to wrap this up. A pleasure to have you here with us, Dion, and good luck this Friday.
Dion: Thanks guys; hope to see you again soon.
Nick: That was Dion Necurat from WCF, competing at the XIII event out of First Avenue. Next up we have Randy Shaver and the sports on 93x.
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The scene transitions to a facility in the south metro, specially designed for memory care. The grounds were covered in a blanket of pure white snow, with plentiful movement within its walls. A nurse was walking briskly to her next room. She was a smaller woman, slender of build, with walnut-colored hair and eyes the color of emeralds. Oh great, she thought, late again. Oh, this woman will be quite upset with me.
...His are the worshipers of wild, free Nature
Whose roots have been blasted asunder
The powerfully loving ones
The ones of keen perception
They follow the dance of Dionysus
They follow the call of their own hearts…
The woman stopped short at the door, listening to the strange words coming through an open crack. She opened the door slightly, in order to listen better.
...Flowing like a river through the winding pathways
Singing again the ancient songs
Of dying trees and withered stems
Of new beginnings and lightning crashing…
Inside, Dion Necurat was sitting next to a bed, reading what sounded like a poem off of a piece of paper. In the bed was his mother, Genevieve Necurat. A woman in her 50s, Genevieve appeared to be aging well. There was a slight greying to her amber hair, and thin lines along her cheek bones indicated she smiled more often than not. Anyone would be hard pressed to find out that she had been in an accident. Dion turned toward the door, looking at the nurse. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, standing up. “I didn’t know anyone else was coming.”
“Now son,” Genevieve chuckled. “Don’t be so bashful. Amy is my nurse.” Genevieve waved to Amy. “Now, get on in here and meet my son, Amy!”
Amy giggled, letting herself in. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt. It sounded like you were talking about something…” Amy turned to look at Dion, stared for a moment, then said, “Oh! I’m sorry; how rude of me. I should introduce myself.” She extended her hand. “Amy Esteed. I help take care of your mother while she recovers.”
Dion accepted Amy’s hand. It was delicate, yet firm in her handshake. “Dion Necurat,” he replied. He smiled at Amy. “I am glad to see that she is in good hands.”
Amy nodded, letting a slight smile creep along her face. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting outside, I have to administer her medicine.”
“Of course,” he replied. He stood up, taking hold of his mother’s hand. “I’ll come back to visit soon. I love you,” he said warmly. Squeezing her hand, Dion stepped outside, shutting the door behind him. Rather than leave straight away, Dion lingered, hoping to have a few words with Amy. He took stock of everything that had happened since his return; he had made arrangements for his other Brotherhood members to stay within close proximity to the venue, he had organized a signing for the foundation, had dinner with Benjamin Jones, and made an appearance on the radio to promote the XIII show. Dion also managed, between these appointments, to do more work on his home, a place that he was letting Benjamin stay in without rent. Dion had always worried about the man, and knowing that Benjamin would be able to come home to a safe place always set Dion at ease.
His thoughts were interrupted as Amy opened the door to his mother’s room. She closed the door quietly behind her, and turned back to Dion, putting a finger to her lips. “She needs her rest. I can show you out, if you would like,” she whispered.
Dion nodded. “Lead the way,” he replied quietly. They walked down the hallway, Dion ready to ask the questions he needed to ask. “I know…” he began. “I know I should have visited sooner...but every other time I have come, she hardly remembers who I am after five minutes…” He turned to face Amy, his expression pained, nearing himself to tears. “You...and this facility, have done great work in her recovery. How is she doing?”
Amy stopped, turning to Dion. She saw his expression, softening her stance. “I can tell you really care about her,” she said, smiling. “It makes me happy to see she has a son as devoted as you.” She pulled out a chart. “Since being admitted, her memory has only grown stronger. She has been able to retain memories as far back as a week.” She blushed slightly, running a hand through her hair. “I have been changing my hair to see if she remembers what color it was the day before. Its...kind of funny, when you think about it,” she giggled.
Dion chuckled in response. “Well, I’m sure she will remember that hair color,” he replied, flashing a grin. He saw Amy turn a deeper shade of red. “Oh don’t worry,” he said, “I know you have the best of intentions. I am glad to see that you care about her too.”
They continued toward the door. Amy was scribbling on a piece of paper, while Dion shuffled through his pockets, as though looking for something. When they reached the door, they both turned toward each other. Amy held out a slip of paper, as did Dion. They were both about to say something to each other, then saw they were each handing each other something. They collapsed into laughter, each of them taking the other’s slip. “Here,” Dion said. “I’m sure this is not your style, but there is a show on Friday at First Avenue. I would love to see you there.”
Amy looked at the ticket, seeing the large printed numerals XIII. She looked confused, then shrugged. “Well, it can’t be that strange.” She looked back up at Dion, giving a stern look. “Now, I was told I shouldn’t accept anything from strangers…” She then gave a quick smile. “...Buuuuut, I do know your family. I’d be happy to see your show.”
Dion smiled. “Then I will see you Friday,” he said, turning toward the door. As Dion went to his car, he looked at the slip of paper he was given. Written on the paper was Amy’s name...and a phone number to reach her at.
Dion blushed.
