Drakz's Partner's RP

Stone Residence
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
7-31-2015

"You nervous about Japan?"

"I always have a little bit of nerves going into matches." I say, cracking open another bottle of Innis and Gunn. "Mostly along the lines of the 'hurt' aspect of our business."

"Like you getting hurt?"

"Nah, I'm over what happened to my neck." I say before taking a drink. "But the concept of maiming others has always left me conflicted."

"We all know the risk involved, though I can see where you're coming from."

"Can you?"

"Remember, I'm the guy who broke both Justin Tyme and Ace Bennett's necks." He says, taking a drink. "Don't you think that bothers me? Those guys, very talented wrestlers, can't work because of what I did to them."

"Accidents happen though."

"Those weren't accidents, Josh." Cam says, taking a large sip from his beer before reaching in the fridge. "It's what we have to do sometimes."

"You and I really do have different views of this business."

"No, I think they're pretty similar, because that was a long time ago." Cam begins. "When I hurt Tyme, I was living my nicknames. The Renegade, The Psycho, I really was that guy. I saw people as stepping stones, no pun intended, to get where I wanted to go. And I eliminated them any way I could."

"So explain Bennett then."

"You're friends with Shawn, right?"

"Yeah, though we haven't spoken in years until I came back."

"Shawn's terminal, Josh." Cam continues. "He knows he's not going to beat cancer, and all he wanted was to say he went out on top. The last thing on his bucket list, and Ace was jealous that he succeeded."

Cam drops his head, sitting his beer down on the counter.

"I go way back with Shawn too, and I wasn't about to let Bennett take his moment of peace away."

"So circumstances dictated your actions?"

"Yeah- but see I don't feel bad about hurting him to defend Shawn's honor. I do, however, feel bad that revenge had to come in that form."

"Wait, there's an art to crippling someone?"

"C'mon man, this is serious. There was no way in hell Shawn could've defended himself and you know it."

I'm not arguing the logic behind Cam's choices. In fact under the majority of circumstances, what he did could be considered honorable. However this part of the profession is something I try to avoid dwelling on because it is an occupational hazard, plus I still have a conscience to maintain. Cam and I weren't so different that long ago ironically, and it took a bit of karma to realize the error of our ways. I guess it's because I spent a little more time away from the ring than he did is plenty reason I have trouble discerning what's necessary. I want to win of course, but sometimes it requires assessing the situation thoroughly to minimize damage. What good is it to be the best if I incapacitate everyone in my path until there's no competition left?

This is why Kyzer's school of thought didn't work out so well. Why it never did, even when their triumvirate ran roughshod over the show. Someone always rises from the ashes stronger. Hungrier, with a pitbull's tenacity.

"I have a feeling if I don't finish Ahriman off, you will."

"Well, Sam brought it on himself when it eventually goes down."

"Is it really that personal?"

"He's making it that way." Cam says, picking up his beer as he slices a few potatoes into a skillet. "But there's something else to consider."

"Oh?"

"Do you realize how close you are to accomplishing something very few people can claim?"

"I never really thought about it." I assert, taking a drink from my beer. "I just worry about a match by match basis."

"Well maybe you should." He says while making gravy on the stove top. "You win this match and you reach the upper echelon..."

"Let me correct you before you go any further- I've always been an elite level wrestler."

"I know but I'm talking about here, where your image still needs repaired."

"I'm not sure where you're going with this."

Now I'm just being coy, because what Cam's alluding to is the very sentiments I constantly hear. Such irony to have my reputation commented on from a friend's perspective, even though he possesses a first hand knowledge that clearly refutes the evidence. Consequently Cam's perspective is unique, having not met me prior to my return. All he had to go on was the legend that quite frankly I failed to live up to initially. I would change a lot of things about my WFWF tenure, the time away being chief among them along with coming back in such a hasty fashion. I can still recall that first encounter with him in the trainer's room. Wayne and I were catching up while I submerge myself in an ice bath. Well I should liken it to being read the riot act about my performance, just for the sake of accuracy. Not my finest hour by any stretch, but I'm positive many were expecting worse. I hadn't seen him in about two years, in fact the last time I talked to Wayne was when I made the decision to retire. It was dumb, but at that point in my life stupid choices were the only consistency I had. Needless to say, he was upset with me.

"Let me ask you something," Wayne huffs, exhaling the drag from his cigarette. "Do you even care about the business anymore?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"You tell me, because at least you put up a fight the last time this type of situation happened."

"It's just ring rust." I assert, leaning my head back on the head rest. "I'll get it together."

"Ok there's more than just rust, Josh." He says, flicking his ashes on the concrete floor. "Who in the hell you trying to fool?"

"Ok, you caught me. I do still care about the business." I retort, running the frigid water through my hair. "Far more than I wanted to admit. But it almost feels like the boys aren't too thrilled to see me back."

"And that worries you?"

"A little bit, only because I'm not a big fan of petty grudges and hostile work environments."

"Then you're in the wrong sport my friend. The worst part is that you don't realize just how much weight your name actually carries." He says, taking a drag from his cigarette as Cam enters the room nursing a massive head wound from Bennett's attack. "You just made Brennan's whole career out there tonight and you're worried about ruffling a few feathers. Take a look at this guy right here. Do you think he gives a damn about this insanity? Sh*t, he relishes in it."

Wayne pauses, taking a second to look Cam over. A smile creeps across his face.

"Hell of a job out there tonight, kid." He says in typical Wayne fashion. "Really put Penny in her place."

"Thanks, I guess."

"She needed to know repercussions are expected when you pull a stunt like that."

"I don't understand Wayne?" I ask while turning toward both men. "Were you happy to see her get battered?"

"Considering what she did to my daughter, I'd say I'm entitled to a little pleasure at her expense."

"I hope you know I choose to stay neutral on the subject because I had a hand in both girls' training." I announce, watching Wayne's face grey. "Or did you forget because your lips were attached to Trace's ass for so long?"

"You better watch it, Josh..."

"Or what, you gonna beat me up?" I ask. "I'm sitting in a f*cking ice bath and I can't feel a damn thing, so another fight won't make much difference."

"Ok obviously I can't talk to you right now, so I'm going to find Scarlet and get another scotch."

He gets up from the chair before nodding at Cam. The doctor is stitching him up from Bennett's heinous assault, and I find myself impressed with his pain tolerance. It should be noted that any medical procedure hurts, even under optimal conditions. But Cam is sitting there with a calmness that would frighten most people as his visage currently resembles one of Jason Voorhees's victims. I glance over and Cam tosses the blood soaked towel on the ground and sits up. He's exhausted, the side effect of a grueling battle he might've anticipated but didn't fully envision its effect on his deteriorating frame.

"That was a ballsy thing you did for Shawn out there."

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely, but the world needs people like that." I say, pushing myself out of the hypothermic basin before looking at him. "You good?"

"I'll be ok, I'm just a little light headed."

"Nothing a couple beers and a big steak dinner can't fix."

He nods before pushing himself to a standing position and says. "True- wanna join me? I don't have anything to do and I don't leave until in the morning."

I ponder over his invitation as I step out of the tub. "Sure, I've got time. So, any idea what you're going to do about Bennett?"

"Not yet- it's complicated."

Josh Dean Presents
Complicated

You know, I find this whole situation convoluted, and oddly enough I'm directly responsible for at least three quarters of it. All the parties potentially involved have encountered with me recently and while I'm at the heart of all this controversy, I'm the one heading to Mexico City without a surefire objective. And I hate not knowing, because here I am sitting on my back foot reacting according to another man's decision. But looking at it from his perspective, it's a tougher decision than it looks despite the fact he can't go wrong either way. But he wants to make me wait, and that's fine because I always come ready to go. I threw down the gauntlet, so it's the least I can do.

But don't make this a personal issue, Drakz. I know it's well within your personality traits to push buttons, but I implore you from one professional to another to resist the temptation. You consider yourself a man who's a cut above the rest, who moves mountains and makes the impossible happen, so a simple act of decorum oughta be cake. I'm offering you a chance to lighten your workload so that we're on equal footing regarding our health, and I don't see why that's so damn hard to understand. Anything less than you in pristine stat come Vegas is unacceptable Drakz because when I beat you for the World Heavyweight Title, it should not be tainted.

There's those fighting word again. But I digress because you're doing a disservice to the title, to me, and to yourself even entertaining this notion of going it alone. Yet what I find most intriguing is involving Nikki in something she has no interest in.

"How can you possibly know that?"

I'm sure that's the question you're dying to ask. Go ahead and ask away pal, but the answer you're looking for is as simple as the conversation that took place in Albuquerque. Now Nikki's a polite woman, so she's not going to tell you to f*ck off because that goes against everything she believes in. But I know you can't be so dense where you weren't able to pick up on her lack of interest. If you are, well I know a psychiatrist who works wonders for pseudo sociopaths.

But I digress because Nikki's reluctance has raised my own concerns. It's no secret that SOS's been through the wringer since our inception, especially in recent months. This strange bedfellows partnership puts a lot of extra strain on the relationships between myself and my fellow compatriots, and I find myself wondering if they'll ever be the same. It's like we've lost our solidarity with Dave wasting away behind bars, Cam and Penny engaging in a brutal street fight, then a well documented shove that everyone saw close the last show. I can only hope we haven't, but I'm too much of a realist to see this situation panning out any differently. Some things can't be avoided I suppose, and if this is the implosion Alecia was talking about then it's been an honor to fight alongside you, Cam. It really has been a hell of a ride. I shouldn't talk this way, because a leader always looks to keep morale at a high level. Consequently I have one last sliver of hope for SOS's future, and that sliver rests on your shoulders, Cam. If it is me that's chosen to oppose you and the lizard, I need you to hit me full bore when we're in there. Go for the gusto old friend and do everything in your power to take those Tag Team Titles. Every friendship has those moments where they need to fight in order to show how deeply they care for each other.

This is ours, Cam, so let's make the statue of limitations as simple as possible. I will not hold back on you because I have not one, but two undefeated streaks to keep going until Vegas. Call it selfish if you wish, but I will be the one that ends Drakz's improbable run and unfortunately it means I have to go through you to get there. As a close friend of mine, I hope you still possess that kind of mentality. I know what you're capable of Cam and in lieu of your own title showdown, I want you to bring the International belt home and going this route gives you the best odds. Your partner is holding that title hostage, doing very little to raise its prestige like the previous owner. Its prospects are looking bleaker it, but you have the opportunity to remedy that.

I hate that it has to be this way, probably more so than you. But since this indeed the Renegade's last ride, I want you to show the people what should've been. That night we first met, we spoke at length about the word retirement and I know it's been difficult for you to proclaim yourself completely retired because the fire still burns inside. It was for me too and every time we've spoken about it since, you've always stopped yourself short of saying the word. This is the perfect opportunity for you to go out in a way few can say, as a champion and not just any kind of champion but two titles at once. That's provided you go out and earn it, and I expect nothing less from you.

I promise there will be no hard feelings on my end and we'll grab a beer afterwards. But what kind of friend would I be if I stifled you?

****

"Well color me surprised." I quip as she sits down in the booth. "I thought for sure you'd stand me up."

"I don't believe in doing that to someone." She says before opening the menu. "That's my mother's maneuver."

"Really, because I was convinced Janice would just hex anyone she hated."

"I'm pretty sure witches don't actually exist."

"It is Halloween season and strange sh*t tends to ensue."

"Are you serious right now?"

"I don't know," I say with a wink that causes her to smile back at me. "Am I?"

Amber's moved into an air cast, and it's nice to see that she's finally worked up the courage to travel. By all intents and purposes, that wreck should've killed her and I think she knows it. She is the only hope Dave has to an appeal on his sentence, though I'm already in debt to Amber for testifying against her mother. Janice would've had Dave's head like so many others without my attempt at persuasion. It's good to see her recovering though, even if she isn't psychologically one hundred percent.

"So, you getting along alright?"

"Doctor says I'm making great strides, but it'll be another six months before I'm able to work a full day again."

"What's that mean for culinary school?"

"I had to withdrawal from school." She says as the waitress brings us a fresh pot of coffee. "So now I'm back at home."

"That must be fun." I say with a chuckle. "She probably keeps you under lock and key now."

"Well I can see where you and my mother don't get along in the parenting department."

"Your mother and I differ on the most basic of human philosophies." I assert, my smile slowly disappearing. "Namely first day stuff like kindness."

"Yeah, she has a rather nasty disposition, but many people don't see every side of her."

"Every side- what is she, schitzo?"

"No, you just saw the side of her that's strictly business."

"Ok I'm not seeing too many layers to Janice Carter?" I interrupt, filling my cup with coffee. "Sorry to burst your bubble darlin'."

She pauses for a second, setting her menu down on the table before saying. "Maybe I should go to law school like she wants."

"Is that what you want?"

"No, but..."

"Then I don't see where the problem is."

"I don't think you understand how in control of my life she is right now."

"Amber, do you know who paid your medical bills?"

"I know..."

"The cost to move you out to Atlanta and pay for whatever you want to do is chump change compared to how much it was to put your broken body back together after the wreck."

"You don't have to do this."

"I know, but you mean something to Dave, and he means the world to me."

There it is, laid out in plain English for her. It's got to be difficult breaking the chains that bind you, especially when loyalty is built on blind faith that others would do right by you. It may seem like a band aid type solution, but relocating would give her a new lease on life. Amber knows her mother doesn't exactly offer the most promising trajectory, and I think deep down she sorely wants better. It's a damn shame really that it took her so long to stand up to Janice, but here's hoping she understands that the only way to find true happiness comes from removing herself from her oppressive environment. Maybe I should take a bit of my own advice and relax in relation to SOS. My own quest is coming at a very steep price, one that if I fail could bleed me dry.

I pull out a folded envelope from my jacket pocket. I must've read his words nearly a thousand times and I need perspective, because I keep coming back to the same conclusion.

"Read this and give me your thoughts."

She picks up the letter and starts to scan over it before inquiring. "I didn't know you were married."

"Yeah, have been for a couple years now."

"Seems like Drakz isn't too happy with you."

"I know." I say as I take another drink from my coffee. "The feeling's mutual."

****

Let's do the right thing, Cam. Let's do the right thing for all of us, whatever it is.