Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 8:33:33 GMT -5
??: Hey, Mak. Mak. MAK!
Mak: *Groggily* Huh, what?
??: Jeeze, you’ve had more damage done to you than I thought.
Mak: What are you talking about, who is this?
??: Eh…that’s not important right now, what is important is that we get you up.
Mak: What?
??: Come on, up and at ‘em.
Mak: *Stands up and looks around, noting the lack of…anything really; nothing but him, and a white space.* The hell is this place?
??: Oh, this place? This is…home.
Mak: Home?
??: For the foreseeable future. Well, for you. For me, this is more of a permanent place of residence.
Mak: That doesn’t really improve my situation…wait a second. *Looks around, and still nothing* Where is that voice coming from?
??: Isn’t that obvious? From you.
Mak: Yes, I know my voice, but I mean yours. Where is your voice coming from?
??: Heh, oh that. Right. From you.
Mak: You lost me.
??: Boy, your education was well-spent, wasn’t it?
Mak: Oh, I’m sorry, it’s not every day you wake up in a void unsure of whatever the f*ck is happening.
??: (Got to explain it to everyone) Well, OK then. You know that little voice people have inside of them that is meant to tell them the difference between what’s right and wrong, and that entire hullabaloo?
Mak: You mean your conscience?
??: Yeah! That’s all bullsh*t, this isn’t that.
Mak: O…K
??: Think of me as more an id-type character.
Mak: So what, are you some sort of manifestation of some sort of additional inner voice in my head that somehow has become unlocked due to an unfortunate, unforeseen and sudden circumstance that has just occurred in my lifetime?
??: Well damn, for someone who doesn’t exist on the plane of the living anymore, you’re a sharp one. You saved me a good couple minutes trying to explain it to you.
Mak: I-I’m sorry, what do you mean “doesn’t exist on the place of the living anymore?”
??: Well, you see, you’re kind of…dead.
Mak: Dead?
??: Dead.
*Mak takes a seat, stunned by this unfortunate news.*
Mak: Dead.
??: Dead.
Mak: Please stop repeating it.
??: Sorry.
Mak: How could I be dead?
??: Oh, so you can say it, but not me?
Mak: Just answer the question.
??: OK, fine, quite the rusher. What’s the last thing you remember doing?
Mak: Uh…I was shopping, with April.
??: Uh-huh.
Mak: We were just getting things for the house, kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, office stuff for her, suitcase for me.
??: Boring, but correct.
Mak: I’m drawing a blank after that.
??: Let me refresh you, then.
*All of a sudden, the empty space begins to fall apart around Mak. Mak looks around in equal parts amazement and fright as the space starts to take the form of the last setting Mak was in, this intersection between East Chicago and Michigan Avenue, otherwise known at the Water Tower area. The streets are bustling, but not in the typical going about your day kind of workings. Instead, police cars and firetrucks block the streets. An ambulance can be heard on its way to the scene. People have formed a large crowd, still in shock at what just occurred before their eyes.
Mak: Jesus. What happened here?
??: Look behind you.
*Mak begins to grow pale at the sight of his own body, lying seemingly lifeless on the street as a few yards away, a car has knocked a hydrant over, blasting water all over the sidewalk, as that pours into the street as well.*
Mak: What the f*ck is this?
??: The result of a guy who had a heart attack at the wheel, accelerating through traffic during your walk across the street. Never did take hospital visits seriously. They probably would’ve caught his heart condition had he actually gotten a full check up.
Mak: Is he?
??: Dead in seconds.
Mak: Wait, April, what about April?
??: She’s fine.
Mak: Where is she?
??: Over there.
*Mak turns to his left and sees April talking to cops, still in tears over what she just witnessed. He runs over to the group, and overhears the conversation.*
April: I just heard screams and next thing I know, I’m pushed to the ground and I see the car hit the hydrant and then I call out for Mak and there he is, just on the ground and I run over to him but he’s not answering me and…oh, God, why now?
Mak: April…Sweetheart I’m right here! I’m fine! Look!
??: Hey, let’s not make this any more painful than it is.
Mak: Who the f*ck do you think you are, huh? What sort of id shows this kind of sh*t? Is this some kind of joke? Oh well, haha, joke’s over, he’s fallen for it. Let’s wake up from the dream now.
??: You saved her life, you know.
Mak: What?
??: That car was barreling for her, she never would have saw it. You’re a hero.
Mak: I don’t want to be a hero. I don’t want to be here. Who or what the hell are you?
??: Name’s Nicky.
Mak: Oh great, fine, Nicky, what can I do to revert all of this, huh? Is there a person I have to save, do I have to right a wrong? Tell me what it is, I’ll do it, I have too much going on in my life to just have it all go to sh*t.
Nicky: Oh, you mean like your career?
Mak: Yeah, exactly. I have one of the most important nights in my now-finished life and this just days before?
Nicky: Maybe, that’s your problem.
Mak: What?
Nicky: You’re not getting younger.
Mak: I’m not becoming an old man anytime soon.
Nicky: No…but what exactly do you have to show for it? You’ve openly stated how you’re burned out.
Mak: That doesn’t mean I still don’t love what I do.
Nicky: Seems like you’re just going through the motions. Why take all the pain and agony? Why deal with all the constant travel?
Mak: It’s all I know.
Nicky: And that’s why you’re here.
*The memory of the accident scene begins to fade out as the white space engulfs Mak again.*
Nicky: When’s the last time you thought about a family?
Mak: I have one.
Nicky: I mean one you’ve started.
Mak: Well, I can’t seem to do anything regarding that now!
Nicky: When’s the last time you’ve seriously tried to make a family?
Mak: Three years ago, why?
Nicky: And what happened?
Mak: …
Nicky: What happened?
Mak: We lost the baby.
Nicky: You haven’t tried since.
Mak: I’ve had no time since then.
Nicky: That’s not what I’ve heard. I think your best described bedroom antics are “mad as rabbits.”
Mak: Absence makes a heart grow fonder.
Nicky: And not once did the thought of trying again come up?
Mak: Sure it has.
Nicky: And yet, nothing. Why is that?
Mak: I am…I was still wrestling.
Nicky: But that’s exactly my point. Validation is what you want? How validating is a ten-bell salute and a graphic on a screen? That seems pretty validating on its own.
Mak: That’s nothing even remotely close to why I still fight.
Nicky: And there’s nothing validating about new life? Take a look at this.
*Nicky begins to form a new scene with the space. As everything begins to come together, Mak notices they’re in a convenience store. Your run-of-the-mill one in Chicago, we call them Walgreens.*
Nicky: Goodness, these prices.
Mak: Why are we here?
*Mak notices April looking curiously at a particular aisle in the store. The “Family Planning” asile.*
Mak: What’s the big deal about this? There are all sorts of things to buy in there.
Nicky: Look at what she’s looking at, genius.
*Mak goes over to April and realizes what she’s looking at in particular. Pregnancy tests. She actually picks one up and begins to read it.*
Mak: She reads those all the time.
Nicky: Something tells me it’s not because of its easy reading material.
Mak: OK…fine. So she’s been talking about it more and more. I caught her reading about it on the Internet. I noticed she even bought one. She said it was for a friend, so I didn’t think anything of it.
Nicky: Maybe something else has accelerated her interests.
Mak: I have a feeling where you’re going to take me now.
*A sudden woosh is heard and Mak’s brother, Travis and his fiancé, Katy, are in their home embracing.*
Nicky: Looks like little brother’s maturing quicker.
Mak: Do they have the previous sting of failure?
Nicky: That’s not important to them.
Mak: How do I expect you to understand?
Nicky: Because like you said, I’m a manifestation of something within you. You doubt why you show up for show to show, just for a paycheck? What happens if your big night goes off without a hitch? Say you become champion. What then? You’re stuck having to be away from what you actually want for longer. But life is a fickle beast, and it can quickly be taken from you.
Mak: So you’re saying I just forget the title match.
Nicky: No, I’m saying put your priorities together. Win or lose, the ring will always be there. Will you? Will her? Such is the life of someone in your field. Maybe three years ago, it wasn’t meant to happen.
*Snap*
But it doesn’t mean it’s never meant to happen.
April: Mak? Mak? MAK!
Mak: *Groggily* Huh, what?
April: Thank fu*king Christ.
EMT: Whoa, hey, easy there, you got clipped pretty hard.
Mak: What happened?
EMT: A car burst through a red light and took you out.
Mak: Heart attack.
EMT: What?
Mak: The other guy, he’s dead, isn’t he?
EMT: Yeah, we all thought you were, too.
April: Thank God you aren’t. I don’t know how I could handle you not being around.
Mak: I guess we need to discuss some things.
EMT: But first, let’s make sure you’re OK.
Champion. Mak Cross, champion. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound realistic to me, either. Probably because as of late I’ve done f*ck all to deserve the name, champion.
Do I deserve to be considered champion? I speak for myself because even though this is for a tag championship, something in me feels like I’ll be going this alone.
On one hand, I want revenge more than anything. Enchanted and Slanted threatened my livelihood. They’ve threatened my life just as anything else has ever.
For them to win would be more of a spit to my face as just normally losing a match would be. Landon/Garrett, Matthews and Dixon, you’re also in this match and I feel like you deserve my attention as much as the other two. But instead, I’ll make an offer.
What if I show up, but not to win? Of course, if the opportunity presents itself, whether Cam Nitta is by my side or dead in a ditch somewhere, I’ll take it and grab those titles on my own if I have to.
But here’s the thing. I’m tired. I’m burned out. I’m especially sick of having to deal with more people than I want to in order to get what I want, and that’s Enchanted and Slanted’s blood on my hands.
It was much the same with Psycho Circus. I just wanted Schneider. I wanted nothing to do with his group, with Quinn or Shannon. Or even Cam. I just wanted the man one-on-one to take the title off of him myself.
That didn’t happen. And what does he get? He gets to come back, and he gets a National Championship shot.
I stay around, for better or worse, I neglect important sh*t to do at home, I get a ton of staples in my head for my trouble and I get rewarded with having four other people to deal with.
It honestly makes me wonder maybe I should just walk out, because it seems to be the only way to properly get respect in this damn company. Maybe I should start a proper family. Save my health for more important matters. Because a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match will do the exact opposite of what I just compared it to.
So here comes the offer.
Landon/Garrett, Matthews and Dixon. I’ll let the future be the future; you’ll benefit more from the rub. Kill yourselves and get that crowd worked up, because it’s your one chance to make yourselves famous, it’s SuperBrawl after all. Go for those belts; bring prestige back to a dying division.
Let me have Slanted and Enchanted. Whether Cam’s there or not. I just want them. I personally see to it I take them out myself.
Once that happens, who knows what I do next. Maybe I’ll take a break that’s been in the wings for a really long time. Maybe I’ll won’t learn and I’ll be back, bitter, hurt, and title less.
But I’m going to take SuperBrawl to get my priorities straight.
I’m sorry. I would explain to who I’m apologizing for, but I don’t know myself. I guess we’ll find out at SuperBrawl.[/b]
Mak: *Groggily* Huh, what?
??: Jeeze, you’ve had more damage done to you than I thought.
Mak: What are you talking about, who is this?
??: Eh…that’s not important right now, what is important is that we get you up.
Mak: What?
??: Come on, up and at ‘em.
Mak: *Stands up and looks around, noting the lack of…anything really; nothing but him, and a white space.* The hell is this place?
??: Oh, this place? This is…home.
Mak: Home?
??: For the foreseeable future. Well, for you. For me, this is more of a permanent place of residence.
Mak: That doesn’t really improve my situation…wait a second. *Looks around, and still nothing* Where is that voice coming from?
??: Isn’t that obvious? From you.
Mak: Yes, I know my voice, but I mean yours. Where is your voice coming from?
??: Heh, oh that. Right. From you.
Mak: You lost me.
??: Boy, your education was well-spent, wasn’t it?
Mak: Oh, I’m sorry, it’s not every day you wake up in a void unsure of whatever the f*ck is happening.
??: (Got to explain it to everyone) Well, OK then. You know that little voice people have inside of them that is meant to tell them the difference between what’s right and wrong, and that entire hullabaloo?
Mak: You mean your conscience?
??: Yeah! That’s all bullsh*t, this isn’t that.
Mak: O…K
??: Think of me as more an id-type character.
Mak: So what, are you some sort of manifestation of some sort of additional inner voice in my head that somehow has become unlocked due to an unfortunate, unforeseen and sudden circumstance that has just occurred in my lifetime?
??: Well damn, for someone who doesn’t exist on the plane of the living anymore, you’re a sharp one. You saved me a good couple minutes trying to explain it to you.
Mak: I-I’m sorry, what do you mean “doesn’t exist on the place of the living anymore?”
??: Well, you see, you’re kind of…dead.
Mak: Dead?
??: Dead.
*Mak takes a seat, stunned by this unfortunate news.*
Mak: Dead.
??: Dead.
Mak: Please stop repeating it.
??: Sorry.
Mak: How could I be dead?
??: Oh, so you can say it, but not me?
Mak: Just answer the question.
??: OK, fine, quite the rusher. What’s the last thing you remember doing?
Mak: Uh…I was shopping, with April.
??: Uh-huh.
Mak: We were just getting things for the house, kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, office stuff for her, suitcase for me.
??: Boring, but correct.
Mak: I’m drawing a blank after that.
??: Let me refresh you, then.
*All of a sudden, the empty space begins to fall apart around Mak. Mak looks around in equal parts amazement and fright as the space starts to take the form of the last setting Mak was in, this intersection between East Chicago and Michigan Avenue, otherwise known at the Water Tower area. The streets are bustling, but not in the typical going about your day kind of workings. Instead, police cars and firetrucks block the streets. An ambulance can be heard on its way to the scene. People have formed a large crowd, still in shock at what just occurred before their eyes.
Mak: Jesus. What happened here?
??: Look behind you.
*Mak begins to grow pale at the sight of his own body, lying seemingly lifeless on the street as a few yards away, a car has knocked a hydrant over, blasting water all over the sidewalk, as that pours into the street as well.*
Mak: What the f*ck is this?
??: The result of a guy who had a heart attack at the wheel, accelerating through traffic during your walk across the street. Never did take hospital visits seriously. They probably would’ve caught his heart condition had he actually gotten a full check up.
Mak: Is he?
??: Dead in seconds.
Mak: Wait, April, what about April?
??: She’s fine.
Mak: Where is she?
??: Over there.
*Mak turns to his left and sees April talking to cops, still in tears over what she just witnessed. He runs over to the group, and overhears the conversation.*
April: I just heard screams and next thing I know, I’m pushed to the ground and I see the car hit the hydrant and then I call out for Mak and there he is, just on the ground and I run over to him but he’s not answering me and…oh, God, why now?
Mak: April…Sweetheart I’m right here! I’m fine! Look!
??: Hey, let’s not make this any more painful than it is.
Mak: Who the f*ck do you think you are, huh? What sort of id shows this kind of sh*t? Is this some kind of joke? Oh well, haha, joke’s over, he’s fallen for it. Let’s wake up from the dream now.
??: You saved her life, you know.
Mak: What?
??: That car was barreling for her, she never would have saw it. You’re a hero.
Mak: I don’t want to be a hero. I don’t want to be here. Who or what the hell are you?
??: Name’s Nicky.
Mak: Oh great, fine, Nicky, what can I do to revert all of this, huh? Is there a person I have to save, do I have to right a wrong? Tell me what it is, I’ll do it, I have too much going on in my life to just have it all go to sh*t.
Nicky: Oh, you mean like your career?
Mak: Yeah, exactly. I have one of the most important nights in my now-finished life and this just days before?
Nicky: Maybe, that’s your problem.
Mak: What?
Nicky: You’re not getting younger.
Mak: I’m not becoming an old man anytime soon.
Nicky: No…but what exactly do you have to show for it? You’ve openly stated how you’re burned out.
Mak: That doesn’t mean I still don’t love what I do.
Nicky: Seems like you’re just going through the motions. Why take all the pain and agony? Why deal with all the constant travel?
Mak: It’s all I know.
Nicky: And that’s why you’re here.
*The memory of the accident scene begins to fade out as the white space engulfs Mak again.*
Nicky: When’s the last time you thought about a family?
Mak: I have one.
Nicky: I mean one you’ve started.
Mak: Well, I can’t seem to do anything regarding that now!
Nicky: When’s the last time you’ve seriously tried to make a family?
Mak: Three years ago, why?
Nicky: And what happened?
Mak: …
Nicky: What happened?
Mak: We lost the baby.
Nicky: You haven’t tried since.
Mak: I’ve had no time since then.
Nicky: That’s not what I’ve heard. I think your best described bedroom antics are “mad as rabbits.”
Mak: Absence makes a heart grow fonder.
Nicky: And not once did the thought of trying again come up?
Mak: Sure it has.
Nicky: And yet, nothing. Why is that?
Mak: I am…I was still wrestling.
Nicky: But that’s exactly my point. Validation is what you want? How validating is a ten-bell salute and a graphic on a screen? That seems pretty validating on its own.
Mak: That’s nothing even remotely close to why I still fight.
Nicky: And there’s nothing validating about new life? Take a look at this.
*Nicky begins to form a new scene with the space. As everything begins to come together, Mak notices they’re in a convenience store. Your run-of-the-mill one in Chicago, we call them Walgreens.*
Nicky: Goodness, these prices.
Mak: Why are we here?
*Mak notices April looking curiously at a particular aisle in the store. The “Family Planning” asile.*
Mak: What’s the big deal about this? There are all sorts of things to buy in there.
Nicky: Look at what she’s looking at, genius.
*Mak goes over to April and realizes what she’s looking at in particular. Pregnancy tests. She actually picks one up and begins to read it.*
Mak: She reads those all the time.
Nicky: Something tells me it’s not because of its easy reading material.
Mak: OK…fine. So she’s been talking about it more and more. I caught her reading about it on the Internet. I noticed she even bought one. She said it was for a friend, so I didn’t think anything of it.
Nicky: Maybe something else has accelerated her interests.
Mak: I have a feeling where you’re going to take me now.
*A sudden woosh is heard and Mak’s brother, Travis and his fiancé, Katy, are in their home embracing.*
Nicky: Looks like little brother’s maturing quicker.
Mak: Do they have the previous sting of failure?
Nicky: That’s not important to them.
Mak: How do I expect you to understand?
Nicky: Because like you said, I’m a manifestation of something within you. You doubt why you show up for show to show, just for a paycheck? What happens if your big night goes off without a hitch? Say you become champion. What then? You’re stuck having to be away from what you actually want for longer. But life is a fickle beast, and it can quickly be taken from you.
Mak: So you’re saying I just forget the title match.
Nicky: No, I’m saying put your priorities together. Win or lose, the ring will always be there. Will you? Will her? Such is the life of someone in your field. Maybe three years ago, it wasn’t meant to happen.
*Snap*
But it doesn’t mean it’s never meant to happen.
April: Mak? Mak? MAK!
Mak: *Groggily* Huh, what?
April: Thank fu*king Christ.
EMT: Whoa, hey, easy there, you got clipped pretty hard.
Mak: What happened?
EMT: A car burst through a red light and took you out.
Mak: Heart attack.
EMT: What?
Mak: The other guy, he’s dead, isn’t he?
EMT: Yeah, we all thought you were, too.
April: Thank God you aren’t. I don’t know how I could handle you not being around.
Mak: I guess we need to discuss some things.
EMT: But first, let’s make sure you’re OK.
Champion. Mak Cross, champion. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound realistic to me, either. Probably because as of late I’ve done f*ck all to deserve the name, champion.
Do I deserve to be considered champion? I speak for myself because even though this is for a tag championship, something in me feels like I’ll be going this alone.
On one hand, I want revenge more than anything. Enchanted and Slanted threatened my livelihood. They’ve threatened my life just as anything else has ever.
For them to win would be more of a spit to my face as just normally losing a match would be. Landon/Garrett, Matthews and Dixon, you’re also in this match and I feel like you deserve my attention as much as the other two. But instead, I’ll make an offer.
What if I show up, but not to win? Of course, if the opportunity presents itself, whether Cam Nitta is by my side or dead in a ditch somewhere, I’ll take it and grab those titles on my own if I have to.
But here’s the thing. I’m tired. I’m burned out. I’m especially sick of having to deal with more people than I want to in order to get what I want, and that’s Enchanted and Slanted’s blood on my hands.
It was much the same with Psycho Circus. I just wanted Schneider. I wanted nothing to do with his group, with Quinn or Shannon. Or even Cam. I just wanted the man one-on-one to take the title off of him myself.
That didn’t happen. And what does he get? He gets to come back, and he gets a National Championship shot.
I stay around, for better or worse, I neglect important sh*t to do at home, I get a ton of staples in my head for my trouble and I get rewarded with having four other people to deal with.
It honestly makes me wonder maybe I should just walk out, because it seems to be the only way to properly get respect in this damn company. Maybe I should start a proper family. Save my health for more important matters. Because a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match will do the exact opposite of what I just compared it to.
So here comes the offer.
Landon/Garrett, Matthews and Dixon. I’ll let the future be the future; you’ll benefit more from the rub. Kill yourselves and get that crowd worked up, because it’s your one chance to make yourselves famous, it’s SuperBrawl after all. Go for those belts; bring prestige back to a dying division.
Let me have Slanted and Enchanted. Whether Cam’s there or not. I just want them. I personally see to it I take them out myself.
Once that happens, who knows what I do next. Maybe I’ll take a break that’s been in the wings for a really long time. Maybe I’ll won’t learn and I’ll be back, bitter, hurt, and title less.
But I’m going to take SuperBrawl to get my priorities straight.
I’m sorry. I would explain to who I’m apologizing for, but I don’t know myself. I guess we’ll find out at SuperBrawl.[/b]