Post by Johnny Reb on Aug 30, 2010 10:56:04 GMT -5
Early Monday morning, the Inveterate Confederate is awakened by the pungent aroma of coffee mingled with the alluring scent of bacon. With startling rapidity, he throws back the covers and gets out of bed to find Dixie, clad only in a thin lavender negligee, bent over a linen-draped cart. She glances up and gives him a smile.
Dixie: Mornin’, sugar! I ordered room service… hope you don’t mind.
Still shaking off the last vestiges of slumber, Johnny rubs his eyes and mumbles something incoherent, which nevertheless sounds like agreement. Dixie takes him by the hand and leads him to one of two chairs flanking a small table set against the wall, placing a steaming cup in front of him. He wonders, vaguely, about her sudden solicitousness as he lifts the cup to his lips.
Johnny: You’re in a good mood this mornin’…
Setting a plate on the table, piled high with standard but delightful breakfast fare, Dixie shoots Johnny a grin.
Dixie: After last night, who wouldn’t be?
Reb can’t help but blush slightly, making the young woman giggle. She takes the seat across from him, a cup of coffee in her hands.
Dixie: Tonight’s a big night. Revenge. Talked to your partner yet?
He shrugs and picks up his fork.
Johnny: There was a voice mail on my cell. Gonna call him back later.
Dixie: He was kind of a jerk last week. Do you reckon…you can trust him?
Reb toys idly with some scrambled eggs.
Johnny: I’m sure I can. This is Doc we’re talkin’ about.
She raises both eyebrows and makes a doubtful sound.
Johnny: What? You know somethin’ I don’t?
Dixie simply shrugs. The fact is, she knows a lot of things Johnny doesn’t; but she isn’t inclined to share any of them.
Dixie: I’m just sayin’…watch your own back. Y’can’t count on Doc these days. Ever since that cage match…
Reb frowns deeply, pondering the meaning behind her words. Is it possible that his friend and partner allowed himself to be pinned? Johnny isn’t sure; it doesn’t add up, doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, Henry’s conduct has been erratic of late – in and out of the ring.
Johnny: I dunno, Dix. I don’t reckon he’d do nothin’ stupid. He knows tonight’s important. When we beat the Cash Money Nightmares for the third time, Mr. Lerch ain’t gonna have no choice but to give us a shot at the tag titles again.
Dixie: I guess. But is that really what you want?
Reb lifts a quizzical eyebrow and puts his fork down.
Johnny: What d’ya mean?
She takes a sip of her coffee, peering at him over the rim of the cup as if he should know precisely what she’s saying.
Dixie: Don’t ya reckon it might be time to…maybe move up a little bit? I mean, bein’ a tag champ is all well an’ good, but… For God’s sake, Johnny, you were a world champion at one point! You could be again.
Johnny: Yeah, but…
Dixie: But nothin’! I just want what’s best for ya, sugar. An’ you can’t carry Doc for the rest of your career. Let him make his own way for a while.
Johnny: You hated it when I was the world champ.
Dixie puts her cup down and stares at him intently.
Dixie: Well…I was wrong. I had a lot of things goin’ on at the time, an’… That’s not the point. Point is, Mr. Lerch ain’t never gonna give you a shot at the big prize so long as you’re draggin’ around a buncha dead weight.
Johnny sighs and shakes his head.
Dixie: I’m just thinkin’ about your career, Johnny Reb. It ain’t that I don’t like Doc. I just think you might be better off without him for a while.
Johnny: Dixie, y’ain’t my manager anymore…
She bites her lip, frowning.
Dixie: I know that. Ask Chuy though. I bet he tells ya the same thing. Ain’t no secret the two of y’all been havin’ problems…
He can’t exactly argue with that. Still, something about Dixie’s rationale seems a little off.
Johnny: Can we not talk about this right now?
Dixie: Sure. Whatever you want, sugar. How ‘bout we talk about your match tonight instead?
Johnny: Not really a lot to say. Me an’ Doc already beat these guys twice before.
Dixie: True. An’ they’re the guys who took the tag titles off the Man Made Gods. You gotta take ‘em serious, Johnny. How many times have you been in a match with someone who’d defeated ya in the past, an’ it seemed like a foregone conclusion they was gonna beat ya again? Seems to me, that’s kinda how your first title chase went.
Upon a moment’s reflection, Johnny nods in agreement.
Johnny: I know, this ain’t a joke. Knox and Angel are top rate competitors, an’ they have proven it time an’ again. Fact of the matter is, though, me an’ Doc are better. For one thing, nobody forced us into bein’ partners. A lotta folks seem to have forgotten that Mr. Knox never wanted anythin’ to do with the Society in the first place. An’ someday soon – maybe tonight – Mr. Knox is gonna remember that.
Ya can’t terrorize an’ abuse people, an’ expect ‘em to put up with it forever.
Dixie: Ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?
A slight frown and another nod from Johnny.
Johnny: What’s that got to do with it?
Dixie: I just wouldn’t lay odds on Fort Knox suddenly comin’ to his senses an’ turnin’ on the Society at some opportune moment. Besides, ya never know. He may enjoy the company of sociopaths and creepy midgets.
Johnny: Well, Knox’s mental health is hardly any of my concern. The important thing is the New Confederacy’s victory tonight.
Dixie gets up to refill Johnny’s coffee.
Dixie: Fair enough. But what about these…invaders we’ve had runnin’ around the last few weeks?
Johnny: They’re a nuisance, nothin’ more. Lotta talk, very little action. I don’t think they’re gonna bother with us anyway. An’ if they do, I can assure ya… the Cash Money Nightmares an’ the New Confederacy will forget their differences. We may be at odds tonight, but in the bigger picture, we’re all one big dysfunctional family; a threat to one of us is a threat to all of us.
I doubt we got anythin’ to worry about tonight, though. These clowns want attention, an’ they ain’t gonna get it by interferin’ with the second match of the evenin’.
Dixie: Can’t argue with that logic. Listen… I’m gonna grab a shower. Why don’t you try an’ get hold of Doc again?
Reb gives Dixie a suggestive leer.
Johnny: Want some help?
She giggles.
Dixie: Not before a match, sugar. You need to save that energy for the ring.
Johnny: Well, how ‘bout afterwards, then?
Dixie sets her coffee down and saunters toward the bathroom, turning to look at Johnny.
Dixie: Maybe…if you win…
She gives him a teasing wink and slips inside, shutting the door behind her. Reb smiles broadly and calls out after her.
Johnny: I’m gonna hold ya to that!
There is no response, save for the sound of running water. Johnny turns his attention back to his rapidly cooling breakfast, thinking about the upcoming competition and the promise of things to come following what is certain to be a victory.
Dixie: Mornin’, sugar! I ordered room service… hope you don’t mind.
Still shaking off the last vestiges of slumber, Johnny rubs his eyes and mumbles something incoherent, which nevertheless sounds like agreement. Dixie takes him by the hand and leads him to one of two chairs flanking a small table set against the wall, placing a steaming cup in front of him. He wonders, vaguely, about her sudden solicitousness as he lifts the cup to his lips.
Johnny: You’re in a good mood this mornin’…
Setting a plate on the table, piled high with standard but delightful breakfast fare, Dixie shoots Johnny a grin.
Dixie: After last night, who wouldn’t be?
Reb can’t help but blush slightly, making the young woman giggle. She takes the seat across from him, a cup of coffee in her hands.
Dixie: Tonight’s a big night. Revenge. Talked to your partner yet?
He shrugs and picks up his fork.
Johnny: There was a voice mail on my cell. Gonna call him back later.
Dixie: He was kind of a jerk last week. Do you reckon…you can trust him?
Reb toys idly with some scrambled eggs.
Johnny: I’m sure I can. This is Doc we’re talkin’ about.
She raises both eyebrows and makes a doubtful sound.
Johnny: What? You know somethin’ I don’t?
Dixie simply shrugs. The fact is, she knows a lot of things Johnny doesn’t; but she isn’t inclined to share any of them.
Dixie: I’m just sayin’…watch your own back. Y’can’t count on Doc these days. Ever since that cage match…
Reb frowns deeply, pondering the meaning behind her words. Is it possible that his friend and partner allowed himself to be pinned? Johnny isn’t sure; it doesn’t add up, doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, Henry’s conduct has been erratic of late – in and out of the ring.
Johnny: I dunno, Dix. I don’t reckon he’d do nothin’ stupid. He knows tonight’s important. When we beat the Cash Money Nightmares for the third time, Mr. Lerch ain’t gonna have no choice but to give us a shot at the tag titles again.
Dixie: I guess. But is that really what you want?
Reb lifts a quizzical eyebrow and puts his fork down.
Johnny: What d’ya mean?
She takes a sip of her coffee, peering at him over the rim of the cup as if he should know precisely what she’s saying.
Dixie: Don’t ya reckon it might be time to…maybe move up a little bit? I mean, bein’ a tag champ is all well an’ good, but… For God’s sake, Johnny, you were a world champion at one point! You could be again.
Johnny: Yeah, but…
Dixie: But nothin’! I just want what’s best for ya, sugar. An’ you can’t carry Doc for the rest of your career. Let him make his own way for a while.
Johnny: You hated it when I was the world champ.
Dixie puts her cup down and stares at him intently.
Dixie: Well…I was wrong. I had a lot of things goin’ on at the time, an’… That’s not the point. Point is, Mr. Lerch ain’t never gonna give you a shot at the big prize so long as you’re draggin’ around a buncha dead weight.
Johnny sighs and shakes his head.
Dixie: I’m just thinkin’ about your career, Johnny Reb. It ain’t that I don’t like Doc. I just think you might be better off without him for a while.
Johnny: Dixie, y’ain’t my manager anymore…
She bites her lip, frowning.
Dixie: I know that. Ask Chuy though. I bet he tells ya the same thing. Ain’t no secret the two of y’all been havin’ problems…
He can’t exactly argue with that. Still, something about Dixie’s rationale seems a little off.
Johnny: Can we not talk about this right now?
Dixie: Sure. Whatever you want, sugar. How ‘bout we talk about your match tonight instead?
Johnny: Not really a lot to say. Me an’ Doc already beat these guys twice before.
Dixie: True. An’ they’re the guys who took the tag titles off the Man Made Gods. You gotta take ‘em serious, Johnny. How many times have you been in a match with someone who’d defeated ya in the past, an’ it seemed like a foregone conclusion they was gonna beat ya again? Seems to me, that’s kinda how your first title chase went.
Upon a moment’s reflection, Johnny nods in agreement.
Johnny: I know, this ain’t a joke. Knox and Angel are top rate competitors, an’ they have proven it time an’ again. Fact of the matter is, though, me an’ Doc are better. For one thing, nobody forced us into bein’ partners. A lotta folks seem to have forgotten that Mr. Knox never wanted anythin’ to do with the Society in the first place. An’ someday soon – maybe tonight – Mr. Knox is gonna remember that.
Ya can’t terrorize an’ abuse people, an’ expect ‘em to put up with it forever.
Dixie: Ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?
A slight frown and another nod from Johnny.
Johnny: What’s that got to do with it?
Dixie: I just wouldn’t lay odds on Fort Knox suddenly comin’ to his senses an’ turnin’ on the Society at some opportune moment. Besides, ya never know. He may enjoy the company of sociopaths and creepy midgets.
Johnny: Well, Knox’s mental health is hardly any of my concern. The important thing is the New Confederacy’s victory tonight.
Dixie gets up to refill Johnny’s coffee.
Dixie: Fair enough. But what about these…invaders we’ve had runnin’ around the last few weeks?
Johnny: They’re a nuisance, nothin’ more. Lotta talk, very little action. I don’t think they’re gonna bother with us anyway. An’ if they do, I can assure ya… the Cash Money Nightmares an’ the New Confederacy will forget their differences. We may be at odds tonight, but in the bigger picture, we’re all one big dysfunctional family; a threat to one of us is a threat to all of us.
I doubt we got anythin’ to worry about tonight, though. These clowns want attention, an’ they ain’t gonna get it by interferin’ with the second match of the evenin’.
Dixie: Can’t argue with that logic. Listen… I’m gonna grab a shower. Why don’t you try an’ get hold of Doc again?
Reb gives Dixie a suggestive leer.
Johnny: Want some help?
She giggles.
Dixie: Not before a match, sugar. You need to save that energy for the ring.
Johnny: Well, how ‘bout afterwards, then?
Dixie sets her coffee down and saunters toward the bathroom, turning to look at Johnny.
Dixie: Maybe…if you win…
She gives him a teasing wink and slips inside, shutting the door behind her. Reb smiles broadly and calls out after her.
Johnny: I’m gonna hold ya to that!
There is no response, save for the sound of running water. Johnny turns his attention back to his rapidly cooling breakfast, thinking about the upcoming competition and the promise of things to come following what is certain to be a victory.
