Post by Tempest on May 17, 2009 10:19:41 GMT -5
Three of them look out over the balcony railing together, a decently blowing breeze whipping their hair around, and causing a nearby U.S. flag to flap with a sharp, crisp sound. Dusk is coming on, and the Detroit skyline is starting to come alive with a handful of lights flickering on across the faces of the nearby buildings.
From their perch atop the Renaissance Center, literally the tallest building not only in Detroit, but in the entire state of Michigan, the trio wait quietly together, each of them waiting for one of the others to speak first.
Tempest, or rather Michael Hart, in a long trenchcoat, stares out across the nearby Detroit River to the Canadian city of Windsor as it mimics the waking ceremonies of its American counterpart. Next to him, sitting quietly in a wheelchair, covered in a thick blanket and sporting an aging fedora, is his brother Martin. Although identical twins by birth, the two could hardly look less alike now.
Michael stands healthy and strong, with shoulderlength, blond hair while Martin sits forlornly in his chair, the telltale signs of chemotherapy evident in his lack of eyebrows and hair. He coughs once, into a greying handkerchief, and the third figure, Martin's wife Lily, steps forward and checks to see that he's ok, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Several more minutes go by before any of them speak.
Martin: Uh...are you sure we should we even be out here? On the roof, I mean? I know that the restaurant people didn't stop us when we went through the door, but...
Tempest: Its ok, Marty. I know the owner. He's cool with this. I once got him front row seats to an XWA event...Legends, I think it was. We go way back.
Another strained silence.
Martin: Are we even going to talk about this, then? That is why we're here, right?
Tempest: ...
Martin: Well?
Tempest: Mom and Lily told me that you were going to stop taking the treatments...go off the therapy. 'that true?
Martin Hart closes his eyes slowly and shakes his head once.
Martin: She wasn't supposed to tell you.
Lily: You didn't give me a choice, Martin...
Tempest: How could she not tell me, Marty? For crying out loud, man, this is your life...
Martin: Well. Yeah, it is MY life, isn't it? I can do what I want with it, and let me tell you, bro, it hasn't felt much like living lately. Besides...all the bills? Its too much money...
Tempest: You know I've got that covered.
Martin: (Angry now) Well, you shouldn't HAVE to, should you?? I'm your older brother, Mikey. I'm the one who should be taking care of you...taking care of Lily...taking...
He's cut off by a wracking cough and then he begins to sob quietly. Lily looks over at Tempest almost pleadingly. Another pause to give Martin time to compose himself follows, during which, at her husband's request, Lily heads back into the rooftop restaurant to get something for Martin to drink.
Tempest: Marty. Seriously, man. Reconsider this.
Martin: (obviously changing the subject) Mom said you were going back to wrestling?
Tempest: ...yeah. Yeah, I just signed a new contract with the WFWF last week.
Martin: I thought you were done with that stuff. That whole life. We both were.
Tempest just sighs and then gives a small chuckle
Tempest: You remember when we pulled that switcheroo storyline back in the XWA? When you went masquerading around as me for like two months and everyone thought I'd gone Heel?
Martin: (chuckling now too) Remember? Hell, I had to go to a chiropractor for three months after you finally came back and put me through that table. Not as bad as what you did to Vestal, though...still. That really hurt.
Tempest: And that shot to the head you gave me with that shovel didn't??
Martin: Hell, I nearly broke that thing. You've always had a hard head...man, I loved that shovel, too.
Both: Good times.
The brothers smile at each other in the sad way that only family can.
Tempest: I want you to reconsider.
Martin: I don't know that I can. I don't know if I can live like this.
Tempest: Look, if you won't do it for yourself, do it for me and for Lily.
Martin: It's Lily I'm thinking of, Mikey. I'm such a burden on her...its not fair to her.
As if on cue, Lily reappears at the door to the balcony, a glass of water in hand and a duffel bag over her shoulder. She moves to Martin's side, handing him the water and glancing over at Michael. He simply shrugs and raises an eyebrow.
Martin: So. You're gonna wrestle again.
Tempest: Yeah. Heh. You're a real bunghole.
Martin: So're you. Tell me about it. Why'd you decide to go back, and why there? Why not TNA?
Tempest: Its time, man. I need to work through some stuff, and just plain do some head bashing. I love this stuff, you know that. Besides, it pays well. Oh, and not only are Calvin, EBR, and DGX wrestling there, but so's Alex...
Martin: Alex Showtime??
Tempest: Heh. Yeah, but he's known as Alex Sean there.
Martin: Damn. When I think about the beating he gave you back when you were a referee, Mikey...hell, that's why you got off your ass and got started wresting in the first place.
Tempest: It all comes full circle, doesn't it?
Martin: ...You got a match set up yet?
Tempest: Yeah. Not with Alex, but with some guy named Ace Bennett.
Martin: He any good?
Tempest: He's one of their Main Eventers, so yeah, likely. I've got some DVD's of his work I'm going to watch later...gotta do some homework on this guy. He's a Highflyer, so you never know what's coming at you with one of those guys, y'know?
Martin: Gonna kick his ass?
Tempest: (small smirk) Not sure yet. Hopefully. I'd hate to lose on my first night back, y'know?
Martin: Lookit you. Being all humble...
The twins share a genuine smile with each other for the first time in a long time.
Martin: So, what's your therapist think about all this?
Tempest: (Chuckling again) Well, since it was your wife that played my Therapist on TV back in the XWA days, I guess I'm good to go, aren't I?
Lily: Its not like you ever listened to me anyway...
Another pause, during which more of the tension of the trio noticably lessens. Sundown is fast approaching and the sky is starting to burn in shades of brilliant orange and red.
Lily: Tell him, Michael.
Martin: Hmm? Tell me what?
Tempest: So, I've got a present for ya'.
Martin: Yeah?
Tempest: See, I can't do anything to make your condition better, Marty. I can't make you well and I can't be there 24/7 for you like Lily can, bro. But what I can do, is live.
While he speaks, Lily withdraws a dull, grey laptop with a small apple logo from the bag she's carrying and opens it, setting it carefully in Martin's lap. Lily offers the bag over to Tempest and then she taps the power on, kneeling on one knee next to her husband to help support the machine on his legs. Meanwhile, Tempest pulls a small helmet out of the bag and slides it over his head, adjusting a chin strap and some oddly shaped goggles over his face.
Martin: What the hell, bro? What are you doing?
Tempest: Marty, this is what's gonna happen. You've gotta keep living. I understand that you don't feel like you want to right now, but screw that. You're going to Live. Live for Lily and Live for Mom and Live for me. In return, I'm gonna Live for You.
Martin: What the hell does that mean...?
Tempest: You used to be really active, Marty. Hell, you made me seem complacent with all the rockclimbing, hiking, golf, hang gliding, kickboxing, and hell, everything else you were doing before you got sick.
Martin: This is supposed to be cheering me up...?
Tempest: No. Its supposed to be waking you up. You can have all those things again, Marty...You've just gotta fight, bro. You've gotta fight to live. You can't just give up. So, I've got a deal for you. You fight, so I'll fight. You live, so in return, I'll live for you. You can't rock climb? Fine, I will, and you can watch. You can't ski? I will. And you can watch.
Martin: So, I'll watch you doing everything I can't? How does that help?? I'll just be watching You reminding me of what I can't do...
Lily taps a few keys on the keyboard and uses the mouse to open an application while the brothers speak. Finally a small video feed window opens up, and Martin is surprised to see a live feed picture of himself and Lily staring back at him.
Martin: ..what's this?
Tempest: Until you get better, Bro, this is your life. You're not just gonna watch me...it'll be like you're really there. Whatever I see, you'll see...
Martin: ...
Obviously choked up, Martin fall silent and turns to stare at his wife and then back at his twin. Tears slowly trickle down his cheeks.
Martin: ...I...I don't even know what to say...
Tempest: Heh. Just say that I'm awesome, bro. Say that I'm the coolest, most handsome guy you've ever known and that I can have all your jello at our next three Thanksgiving dinners. I'll make sure that Mom knows about that stipulation, too.
Martin: (Tears still on his cheeks, but chuckling now) Screw you. You know how much I love jello.
Tempest: (Grining) Screw you, too, Marty. Ready Lily?
Martin's wife nods and Tempest sheds his coat, dropping it to the floor, revealing a nylon jumpsuit and harness beneath it. Checking the straps and the small backpack-like pouch secured across the back of his shoulders, he gives a small nod and moves over to stand directly next to the balcony rail. Swinging his legs over the side so he's sitting directly on the bar.
Tempest: I love you, bro.
Martin: Mikey...what're you...No, man. Don't!
Michael Hart just grins at his brother and gives a small salute, inching his butt to the very edge of the rail, obviously preparing to leap.
Tempest: You live for me, Marty...and I'll do your Living for you...just until you get better, and then You can do it for yourself. I'm just acting as a placeholder. Got it?
Martin: I love you too, Mikey.
Tempest: ...and yeah, I'm gonna kick Bennett's ass.
With that, Michael Hart, the man known as Tempest, spins and leaps away from the building, thrusting himself out over the nothingness between himself and the ground. 29 stories to the street, Tempest flattens himself out, spreading his arms and legs out to resemble a roughly made "X" as he falls, travelling a half-dozen floors before finally yanking hard on his pull rope. A nylon and fabric parasail practically explodes from his back, quickly extending to its full length and catching the updraft of wind from between the buildings, changing Tempest's rapid decent to a much more controlled glide. All this, from a first-person's point of view is captured on the small camera attached to Tempest's helmet and broadcast back to Martin's laptop display.
Martin: That crazy sonofabitch...
From their perch atop the Renaissance Center, literally the tallest building not only in Detroit, but in the entire state of Michigan, the trio wait quietly together, each of them waiting for one of the others to speak first.
Tempest, or rather Michael Hart, in a long trenchcoat, stares out across the nearby Detroit River to the Canadian city of Windsor as it mimics the waking ceremonies of its American counterpart. Next to him, sitting quietly in a wheelchair, covered in a thick blanket and sporting an aging fedora, is his brother Martin. Although identical twins by birth, the two could hardly look less alike now.
Michael stands healthy and strong, with shoulderlength, blond hair while Martin sits forlornly in his chair, the telltale signs of chemotherapy evident in his lack of eyebrows and hair. He coughs once, into a greying handkerchief, and the third figure, Martin's wife Lily, steps forward and checks to see that he's ok, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Several more minutes go by before any of them speak.
Martin: Uh...are you sure we should we even be out here? On the roof, I mean? I know that the restaurant people didn't stop us when we went through the door, but...
Tempest: Its ok, Marty. I know the owner. He's cool with this. I once got him front row seats to an XWA event...Legends, I think it was. We go way back.
Another strained silence.
Martin: Are we even going to talk about this, then? That is why we're here, right?
Tempest: ...
Martin: Well?
Tempest: Mom and Lily told me that you were going to stop taking the treatments...go off the therapy. 'that true?
Martin Hart closes his eyes slowly and shakes his head once.
Martin: She wasn't supposed to tell you.
Lily: You didn't give me a choice, Martin...
Tempest: How could she not tell me, Marty? For crying out loud, man, this is your life...
Martin: Well. Yeah, it is MY life, isn't it? I can do what I want with it, and let me tell you, bro, it hasn't felt much like living lately. Besides...all the bills? Its too much money...
Tempest: You know I've got that covered.
Martin: (Angry now) Well, you shouldn't HAVE to, should you?? I'm your older brother, Mikey. I'm the one who should be taking care of you...taking care of Lily...taking...
He's cut off by a wracking cough and then he begins to sob quietly. Lily looks over at Tempest almost pleadingly. Another pause to give Martin time to compose himself follows, during which, at her husband's request, Lily heads back into the rooftop restaurant to get something for Martin to drink.
Tempest: Marty. Seriously, man. Reconsider this.
Martin: (obviously changing the subject) Mom said you were going back to wrestling?
Tempest: ...yeah. Yeah, I just signed a new contract with the WFWF last week.
Martin: I thought you were done with that stuff. That whole life. We both were.
Tempest just sighs and then gives a small chuckle
Tempest: You remember when we pulled that switcheroo storyline back in the XWA? When you went masquerading around as me for like two months and everyone thought I'd gone Heel?
Martin: (chuckling now too) Remember? Hell, I had to go to a chiropractor for three months after you finally came back and put me through that table. Not as bad as what you did to Vestal, though...still. That really hurt.
Tempest: And that shot to the head you gave me with that shovel didn't??
Martin: Hell, I nearly broke that thing. You've always had a hard head...man, I loved that shovel, too.
Both: Good times.
The brothers smile at each other in the sad way that only family can.
Tempest: I want you to reconsider.
Martin: I don't know that I can. I don't know if I can live like this.
Tempest: Look, if you won't do it for yourself, do it for me and for Lily.
Martin: It's Lily I'm thinking of, Mikey. I'm such a burden on her...its not fair to her.
As if on cue, Lily reappears at the door to the balcony, a glass of water in hand and a duffel bag over her shoulder. She moves to Martin's side, handing him the water and glancing over at Michael. He simply shrugs and raises an eyebrow.
Martin: So. You're gonna wrestle again.
Tempest: Yeah. Heh. You're a real bunghole.
Martin: So're you. Tell me about it. Why'd you decide to go back, and why there? Why not TNA?
Tempest: Its time, man. I need to work through some stuff, and just plain do some head bashing. I love this stuff, you know that. Besides, it pays well. Oh, and not only are Calvin, EBR, and DGX wrestling there, but so's Alex...
Martin: Alex Showtime??
Tempest: Heh. Yeah, but he's known as Alex Sean there.
Martin: Damn. When I think about the beating he gave you back when you were a referee, Mikey...hell, that's why you got off your ass and got started wresting in the first place.
Tempest: It all comes full circle, doesn't it?
Martin: ...You got a match set up yet?
Tempest: Yeah. Not with Alex, but with some guy named Ace Bennett.
Martin: He any good?
Tempest: He's one of their Main Eventers, so yeah, likely. I've got some DVD's of his work I'm going to watch later...gotta do some homework on this guy. He's a Highflyer, so you never know what's coming at you with one of those guys, y'know?
Martin: Gonna kick his ass?
Tempest: (small smirk) Not sure yet. Hopefully. I'd hate to lose on my first night back, y'know?
Martin: Lookit you. Being all humble...
The twins share a genuine smile with each other for the first time in a long time.
Martin: So, what's your therapist think about all this?
Tempest: (Chuckling again) Well, since it was your wife that played my Therapist on TV back in the XWA days, I guess I'm good to go, aren't I?
Lily: Its not like you ever listened to me anyway...
Another pause, during which more of the tension of the trio noticably lessens. Sundown is fast approaching and the sky is starting to burn in shades of brilliant orange and red.
Lily: Tell him, Michael.
Martin: Hmm? Tell me what?
Tempest: So, I've got a present for ya'.
Martin: Yeah?
Tempest: See, I can't do anything to make your condition better, Marty. I can't make you well and I can't be there 24/7 for you like Lily can, bro. But what I can do, is live.
While he speaks, Lily withdraws a dull, grey laptop with a small apple logo from the bag she's carrying and opens it, setting it carefully in Martin's lap. Lily offers the bag over to Tempest and then she taps the power on, kneeling on one knee next to her husband to help support the machine on his legs. Meanwhile, Tempest pulls a small helmet out of the bag and slides it over his head, adjusting a chin strap and some oddly shaped goggles over his face.
Martin: What the hell, bro? What are you doing?
Tempest: Marty, this is what's gonna happen. You've gotta keep living. I understand that you don't feel like you want to right now, but screw that. You're going to Live. Live for Lily and Live for Mom and Live for me. In return, I'm gonna Live for You.
Martin: What the hell does that mean...?
Tempest: You used to be really active, Marty. Hell, you made me seem complacent with all the rockclimbing, hiking, golf, hang gliding, kickboxing, and hell, everything else you were doing before you got sick.
Martin: This is supposed to be cheering me up...?
Tempest: No. Its supposed to be waking you up. You can have all those things again, Marty...You've just gotta fight, bro. You've gotta fight to live. You can't just give up. So, I've got a deal for you. You fight, so I'll fight. You live, so in return, I'll live for you. You can't rock climb? Fine, I will, and you can watch. You can't ski? I will. And you can watch.
Martin: So, I'll watch you doing everything I can't? How does that help?? I'll just be watching You reminding me of what I can't do...
Lily taps a few keys on the keyboard and uses the mouse to open an application while the brothers speak. Finally a small video feed window opens up, and Martin is surprised to see a live feed picture of himself and Lily staring back at him.
Martin: ..what's this?
Tempest: Until you get better, Bro, this is your life. You're not just gonna watch me...it'll be like you're really there. Whatever I see, you'll see...
Martin: ...
Obviously choked up, Martin fall silent and turns to stare at his wife and then back at his twin. Tears slowly trickle down his cheeks.
Martin: ...I...I don't even know what to say...
Tempest: Heh. Just say that I'm awesome, bro. Say that I'm the coolest, most handsome guy you've ever known and that I can have all your jello at our next three Thanksgiving dinners. I'll make sure that Mom knows about that stipulation, too.
Martin: (Tears still on his cheeks, but chuckling now) Screw you. You know how much I love jello.
Tempest: (Grining) Screw you, too, Marty. Ready Lily?
Martin's wife nods and Tempest sheds his coat, dropping it to the floor, revealing a nylon jumpsuit and harness beneath it. Checking the straps and the small backpack-like pouch secured across the back of his shoulders, he gives a small nod and moves over to stand directly next to the balcony rail. Swinging his legs over the side so he's sitting directly on the bar.
Tempest: I love you, bro.
Martin: Mikey...what're you...No, man. Don't!
Michael Hart just grins at his brother and gives a small salute, inching his butt to the very edge of the rail, obviously preparing to leap.
Tempest: You live for me, Marty...and I'll do your Living for you...just until you get better, and then You can do it for yourself. I'm just acting as a placeholder. Got it?
Martin: I love you too, Mikey.
Tempest: ...and yeah, I'm gonna kick Bennett's ass.
With that, Michael Hart, the man known as Tempest, spins and leaps away from the building, thrusting himself out over the nothingness between himself and the ground. 29 stories to the street, Tempest flattens himself out, spreading his arms and legs out to resemble a roughly made "X" as he falls, travelling a half-dozen floors before finally yanking hard on his pull rope. A nylon and fabric parasail practically explodes from his back, quickly extending to its full length and catching the updraft of wind from between the buildings, changing Tempest's rapid decent to a much more controlled glide. All this, from a first-person's point of view is captured on the small camera attached to Tempest's helmet and broadcast back to Martin's laptop display.
Martin: That crazy sonofabitch...
