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Post by jdfranchise on Jun 28, 2015 3:12:16 GMT -5
"Oh Amber, you've got some explaining to do."
What has been only a few minutes feel like hours, if not days. Maybe because everything that has happened since End Game has felt like a blurry pile of sh*t slung in my direction. The crash left me feeling like I had been sucker punched, getting my defenses down for when the real ambush occurred. I'm usually thorough about checking a person's background before any chance encounters, and Daniel came up clean. Almost too Boy Scout for my liking, however his actions didn't throw up any flags. What I know without a doubt is that it only takes one person to plant doubt about the things you believe in for every sacrifice to be worthless. Daniel is exhibit A.
Being here in this hospital room, visiting a young woman I don't know from Eve because of Dave's actions, is exhibit B.
I also know how long it takes to crawl out once you're in up to you neck, even if he doesn't. That's why I shouldn't be mad at Daniel, because everyone has those instances of skewed judgement that leads to their spiral. It's almost a prerequisite. But like my brother in arms, I believed Daniel was above it. That he would find a way to avoid those trials with his faith. If anything, I held him to a higher standard than I probably should've and that's made me a bit skeptical about people recently. I know there are cutthroat people in our world, but I've tried to take a different approach these past thirteen months back in the hustle known as professional wrestling. Unless they're unapologetically brazen about their evil ways beyond the point of no return, I've tried to look at their potential for good. I'm not surprised honestly, just dissapointed in how humanity refuses to learn from the past.
"I owe you an apology." I begin. "It's not like me to make accusations without a good reason."
"What are you accusing my daughter of?"
"I'm sorry." I say, turning over my shoulder to see a late forty-ish woman enter the hospital room. "Can you repeat that?"
"I just heard you apologizing for accusing my daughter of something." She says, marching up to me as I stand. "Where do you have the right?"
"Ma'am, that was taken out of context..."
"You can save the ma'am talk, Mr. Dean." Amber's mom cuts me off, motioning me out of the way. "I know who you are, and you have no business being here."
"Oh really?"
"You're just trying to keep up appearances so your buddy won't go to jail."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but you're out of your mind if you think that's why I'm here."
"I'd like for you to leave. Now."
"Yeah, that's not going to happen." I assert, calmly taking a seat in the free chair. "I'm paying for her care, and I want to make sure the doctors are doing their job."
"Is that so you can sleep at night?"
"I sleep just fine." I retort. "I know where I was that night. Where were you?"
Wrestlers don't sleep, though I've gotten less sleep than what I'm used to allowing myself. I'll rest when I'm dead, I suppose. She doesn't need to know that I'm worried about her daughter's condition and the direct effect it has on Dave's future, as well as my own. From a professional standpoint, the blow could be crippling to Championship Connections because any person with a checkered past can just waltz in and expect to be signed with little more than a highlight tape. I'm all for giving people second chances, hell my current tenure in WFWF is because of a second chance. It's about the right fit however, and I'd prefer to maintain my criteria to avoid public relation nightmares.
Amber's mom has also been on a mission, something along the lines of a MADD campaign since her daughter is teetering on the precipice of becoming another statistic. I've seen the advertisements and TV spots, those shameless plugs for an outpour of sympathy. Instead of praying for Dave to discover peace, she'd rather burn him at the stake. I don't need for her to come out and say as much, the look in her eyes and vitriol in her voice are loud enough. It certainly makes for an awkward situation, similar to when a victim meets their attacker. Only she isn't a victim and neither am I, even if Daniel pulled a fast one.
"I was driving all night from Tucson, unsure of what I'd find when I got here." She says, raising her chin to act as an authority. "I would've been here sooner, but I had to make sure my sister could watch her younger siblings."
"How many?"
"I don't know why you're acting so interested." She hisses, keeping me at a comfortable distance. "I do everything I possibly can to provide a great life for them, and I will not be judged just because you got there before I did."
"I understand that more than you know, Mrs. Carter."
"How do you..."
"You're not the only one who did their homework."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah it is, Janice Carter, forty six and originally from New York." I begin as her mouth drops. "Mother of four, and you've been working as Assistant Principal at Amber's old high school for the past seven years starting her freshman year."
"Anybody can look that kind of thing up on the internet." She retorts with a sneer. "I do have social media sites and a few online dating profiles."
"Yes, but those profiles don't mention that your divorce from your husband was brought on by his arrest for federal tax fraud, and that you were linked to a very wealthy socialite just weeks after his conviction."
"That doesn't mean anything and you know it."
"It does when you're able to fly from Jamaica in a private jet no more than an hour after hearing about the wreck. I can't even do that, and I'm not hurting for cash." I interrupt, folding my hands together. "Plus the guy is an heir twenty years younger than you. Now should I keep going?"
"No, that's quite alright." She says, dropping her head in concession. "You've proven your point."
I'm not much for calling in favors, but it's about time ole Malloy did something useful. When someone says they're forever in your debt, you tend to take them up on it on occasion. He owed me that much for letting my parent's case run cold. I still harvest a great deal of resentment toward Malloy because I feel he didn't exhaust every resource available to bring the killers to justice. But I will, hell use it if it's there. Maybe I'll never have the satisfaction of seeing them get their just deserts, but that doesn't mean I should stop doing right by others. Isn't that what God wants us to do after all? Last time I checked it was.
She stares me on as I lean back, getting nice and comfortable in this hard back chair. Janice is disgusted by my defiance because she can't bully me the way she does others, and I can see by her furrowed brow that a plot is forming. It's obvious to me who the brains of their operation was.
"Do you have children, Mr. Dean?"
"Two."
"Don't you want to map out their futures?"
"One's still in diapers." I chuckle. "So I think I'm a ways off from reviewing any career choices."
"And your other one?"
"I've always told him to do what he loves." I say, raising my eyebrow. "There's no sense in pushing him down a path if he won't commit to it."
"That's where you and I differ on parental philosophy." She begins, tossing her hair over the chair back. "From the day she was born, Amber has fought me at every turn with the direction I had planned for her. I wanted her to do ballet, she wanted to play tennis."
"So?"
"So, this could've been prevented a long time ago if she didn't defy me." Janice continues. "Silly girl should've learned by now that mother always knows best. But no, she had to go away for culinary school instead of law school close to home."
"What's wrong with that?"
"It's beneath me!" She shouts, before calming back. "I mean, it's embarrassing to see her squander opportunities after having an entire road for success paved."
"That's the beauty of free will." I quip, drawing even more of an ire from Janice. "She can choose to your path or her own."
"How Robert Frost of you."
"Funny, I've never read his work. But thanks for helping me put a name with the cliche." I say, standing up from my chair. "Well this was enlightening Janice, but I'm afraid I do have another commitment. You understand, right?"
"I'm sure we haven't seen the last of each other." She says, turning her head away from me. "Good day, Mr. Dean."
Conspiracy theory aside my initial meeting with Janice has left my bones feeling chilly, for I'm convinced the woman is made of ice. She's too ego driven to show even the most minute bit of compassion for her daughter, who at this point is still touch and go. I can see now why Amber moved three hours away for school, what with Janice waiting in the wings to say I told you so at any mishap.
I don't know if the rules for parenting are different between boys and girls, but there is a stark philosophical contrast. Girls are often protected and nurtured while ruggedness is seen as a desirable trait for boys to possess. Same age with the same needs, but treated and handled with kid gloves based on their anatomical features. I've had a hell of a time promoting Penny and Nikki as threats in such a male dominated environment, but to their credit they've honestly made my job easier by continuing to win in impressive fashion. Sadly most females fall into Amber's category and are handled like tissue paper, the same way Wayne treated Scarlet. Daddy's little girl could never fully enjoy her own spotlight because Wayne cast such a big shadow, consequently leaving Penny on the outs. Janice showed me today that despite her f*cked up notion to live vicariously through Amber, a parent will always side with their child even if they're wrong.
I can't tell you if that's what triggered me into retrieving my cell phone, but I can tell you that I was thinking about Penny and Dave arriving at a similar parallel. I know I shouldn't pry into family matters with the little information I have, but Penny is my concern and like Dave deserves to have a voice against deaf ears. The old man hasn't changed his number, that much I know. The rest I'll figure out as I go, but this grudge has gone on long enough. I may be Penny's agent, but I'm her friend first and that's what I'm calling as. "Hey Mama Bear, is Big Daddy around?" I say as she answers the phone. After a few seconds, a deep, raspy voice comes on the line. "Wayne, it's Josh. Listen, we need to talk."
Josh Dean Presents Rabbit Hole
5/21/2015 Championship Connections Atlanta, Georgia
"Well, there's some good news and bad news." Martin says as he sits down at his desk. "Which one do you want first?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Oh knock it off Dave." I say, facepalming myself. "It isn't nearly as bad as you think."
"How would you know with your squeaky clean image?"
"You think this came naturally?" I ask, looking Dave in the eyes. "My image is the product of years of bad decisions that I've been trying to fix, not to be called a good guy but just because I f*cked a lot of people over in the past."
I pause for a moment, realizing that if I go any further into this rant, I may lose his attention. Dave's become so distant that I fear I may have already lost him.
"This isn't about me." I assert, trying to steer Dave back on topic. "This is about your problems."
"Spending the night in a drunk tank was enough punishment."
"Guys, can we get on with this?" Martin chimes in. "You might be surprised what kind of deal the prosecutor put on the table."
"Ok." Dave concedes. "Give me the good news."
"Well, you won't serve the max..."
"Hell yeah!" Dave shot out, his eyes lighting up. "Now we can work on getting my job back."
"If you plead guilty to the DUI charge." Martin finishes his thought. "You would still have to serve a little time. That can't be avoided."
"That's bullsh*t!" Dave huffs, slamming his fist on Martin's desk. "What kind of bargain is that?"
"It's a good as I could get you based on the evidence they already have." Martin says, letting out a deep sigh. "There isn't much to go on without her statement."
"Where did you find this guy, Josh?
"What's with insulting Martin's credentials?" I ask, leaning back in the chair. "He's not a miracle worker. You should be glad he's taking the case, because most lawyers would laugh at our defense."
"Oh yeah, I'm thrilled." Dave bellows sarcastically before turning his attention back to Martin. "So let's say I plead guilty, how much time am I looking at?"
"Sixteen months, with the option for early release after six months depending on your behaviour."
"And what if I feel I'm innocent?"
"Then we'll fight it." Martin says, closing up the file. "Do you care if I speak candidly?"
"Sure."
"Taking the plea is the best option, Dave."
I watch intently as Dave squirms around in his chair, a piece of information as sobering as it is devestating to his already fragile emotional state. This whole process has been stressful enough on me, so I can't imagine what he's feeling. I want to say he's handling it better than I anticipated, but that's wishful thinking. No, Dave is doing what I've become used to seeing from him, swallowing the bitter pill and keeping it buried under a hardened exterior. I know he hopes I don't see his expessionless reaction, but he's spent enough time with me to know I'm too observant to miss it.
"Josh paying her medical bills has went a long way in showing your remorse, but we need a public display to really get the kind of leniency you need."
"Like what, one of those 'Don't Drink and Drive' commercials?"
"You still have a little visibility with the people because of your work in WFWF." I say, pointing toward Dave's heart. "Because of our fight against tyranny, we have the opportunity to flip this into more than just a fall from grace."
"Hell with that!" Dave shot out, slamming his hands into the desk. "That's admitting guilt!"
"You have to take at least some responsibility, Dave." Martin says, reaching for his water bottle. "You were driving, and the breathalyzer read what it did."
"That can f*cked with."
"Highly unlikely."
"Oh come on guys!" Dave says in an exasperated tone. "Haven't you seen those shows with the dirty cops?"
"I'm not even touching that question."
"Arizona is one of the strictest states in the country when cracking down on DUI's." Martin says, pulling out the police report. "They followed textbook protocol."
"I smell a setup."
While I believe Dave is talking without much forethought, the idea has crossed my mind after my cumbersome conversation with Janice Carter. She's already proven to be a woman that favors money over virtue, so a scandal of this magnitude isn't beyond her devious gamut. Trace and Lila both have to be accessible for a thriving business, and I can't fathom either turning down a sizable donation in exchange for pertinent information. Janice has access to the kind of money it'd take to milk them for anything ranging from rental agreements to hotel bills, which would make targeting Dave cake. Now we may never know whether Dave and Amber's night started as a product of attraction, or a rouse carefully designed to lure the big catch.
"Ok, so let's say your point has validity, there would have to be an end game, pardon the pun." I say, folding my arms across my chest. "And I don't see one that fits."
"Maybe there was supposed to be more, and I wrecked before she had a chance to do it."
"Well you were the one with her." Martin says. "Did you gain any impression from her to make you think that?"
"Like what?"
"Anything in your conversations."
Dave rests in 'The Thinker' pose, trying to recollect the events from that hazy night. Martin doesn't want to push him into saying something that wouldn't be the truth under oath, but if he's serious about wanting to prove his innocence little details are the answer. I can tell by the look on his face that he's looking for another way, but here's hoping Martin and I have displayed the gross lack of options he has.
"She kept talking about the past haunting her."
"Interesting- go on."
"Ok, but before I do I want to know what tricks you have up your sleeve."
"The truth, Dave." I say, leaning forward. "You give us that and we'll find the angle."
****
It's quite hysterical how decisions we make come back to confront us, don't you think Joe Joe?
No?
Well I guess I just have a more ironic sense of humor. But let me explain for a moment why I think this way. See every year around this time, I sit at home and look at my trophy case. When I reflect on everything I've accomplished over my career, there are two objects I purposely place front and center to remind me of a massive decision I made. That decision changed pro wrestling's landscape for the next ten years, as much as people attempt to say it didn't. Those two pieces of leather and gold are especially prominent when America commemorates its independence, because they signify what I and so many others celebrate. Freedom.
What, were you expecting a long winded lecture about America fighting the good fight and emerging victorious?
Silly Joe Joe, most people can read a history book if they feel compelled to learn names, dates, and places. As you've come to expect from me, this is the facts they don't tell you.
Those two titles I held simultaneously brought two choices and two chapters to a legacy that you won't fully appreciate. One was suppression under a hypocritical dictatorship founded on old beliefs that only benefited the privileged. One was the freedom to be myself in a world where I could rise above my designated assignment, but if and only if I were talented enough to seize its opportunity. That day when signing my declaration of loyalty, I made the wrong choice because I didn't have a crystal ball telling me the future. Talent was and will never be a question when they talk about Josh Dean.
And that my friend, is where the similarities between us end.
The reason I find it so funny is that just like me a decade prior, you have no idea how good you had it in The Final Revolution. You were aligned with the boss of all people. Now here's the kicker, that security came courtesy of a man you vowed to destroy. Hey I get it, if you can't beat 'em join 'em and why not. Trace had all the power to make you a star just by association. That means you had to do next to no work and the path to a main event spot was already paved. Only Trace wasn't going to give that up, was he? And why should he when despite the methods he often employs, he did it largely on his own. So why in the hell should he get out of the fast lane when you've proven you can't handle it? I'm not a big fan of Trace's and I worry about my wife's safety every time she goes to the ring with him, but some due respect must be given to the guy for that sound piece of judgement. But I digress because in turn if you paid any attention during the time spent with him, you'd realize the blueprint was passed down and made so idiot proof that all you had to do was execute.
But no, you had to deviate from the plan and stand on your own. I've been there and it's a risky move for a glorified lackey. Yes once upon a time the Architect took his marching orders from someone other than himself, and it was the lowest point of my career. But I took that chance and fell on my face, gaining valuable life experience along the way. That's something neither you or Daniel would understand because you've never been forced to look at yourself in the mirror. Well Joe Joe when I beat you again in Cincinnati and I take your belt in Tokyo, maybe then you will. Maybe you'll see that all the people that kept calling you "A Future World Champion" wanted it for you more than you want it for yourself.
Maybe then you'll do something about it and finally stand on your own two feet without someone holding your hand.
But until that happens Joe Joe, I'll always have your number.
If any of this goes over your head I'm not surprised. Not everyone can relate with having to make an actual decision.
**** Atlanta, Georgia 6/13/15
"We need to make a pit stop before we head north."
"What do we need? Gas. food?"
"Smoke."
"Where the hell are we gonna get smoke at six in the morning?"
"Luckily, I go through someone that pretty well does business any time."
"Must be nice."
"I get a lot of exemptions because of my schedule." I say, turning my head slightly to glance out my side mirror. "So there's a certain loyalty."
"I guess." Penny says, sparking up the Philly. "But then again you're better in the people department than I am."
"I don't know about that, probably more luck than anything." I say, turning down the rural road. "Ok, so I don't need to tell you the ground rules for meeting a dealer."
"I'd hope not. Penny says, dropping a Philly's worth of tobacco contents out the window. "Overall I've probably dealt with more of them than you."
"True, but I've had the same dealer for about nine years." I retort, sliding the sunroof back. "I'll take consistency any day."
"Sometimes it's good to change things up."
"Don't get me wrong I've went elsewhere, but I can't find better quality for the price."
"Always the businessman, Josh." Penny sharply responds. "So your dealer's name is Raven, right?"
"Yup."
"Most of mine are named Chico or Lil L. You know, gangster names."
"Sounds promising."
"Until they sell you some smoke with a bunch of f*cking seeds and funny colors."
"That's why we're going to Raven."
"That good, huh?"
"Beats the alternatives." I quip. "Like getting sh*t that's laced with Angeldust."
"Really?"
"Once, in Mexico." I say, turning left at the stop light. "Jason bought it off a guy on the corner from our hotel. Never again."
"He sounds like a fun guy."
"I think you'd get along with him." I say with a smirk. "You'd probably have to kick his ass first."
"Why?"
"Because he'd want to f*ck you."
"No thank you."
"I thought that's what you'd say."
"You know, I still don't get it." Penny shot out, passing me the blunt before breaking up a second nugget of my kush on a notebook. "Seems like guys wanna sleep with me more than girls."
"I thought you were looking for a relationship."
"I am." Penny retorts, loading the contents into a Philly blunt. "But I have to play the field in order to find her."
"That's fair, I suppose." I say, hoping to lift her spirits. "But attraction is still attraction."
"Awww, you think I'm pretty."
"Well, that definitely helps sell your merchandise."
Penny chuckles, so my tounge and cheek compliment worked.
"So, you never did tell me how you met Raven." Penny says, carefully rolling the Philly. "There's always a story."
"It was so long ago, I can't even remember."
Penny looks over at me and I can tell she's not buying it, but I'd like to keep the past in the past. I just recently told Nikki that I still smoke a little bit and she was not happy about it, but seemed to understand when I explained how I use it as a means to decompress. Even then, my habit isn't nearly as expensive as it once was. I think it's made her look at me a little different recently, like she's not sure of how it'll affect her upcoming custody hearing. Since Dustin has a restraining order against me, I shouldn't even be a factor in those proceedings. Nevertheless I still don't do it in front of the boys, just in case they want to call me in as a character witness.
Penny and I seem to be the only ones not in a legal dispute out of our team, and because of that we're able to relax. Well she is, I can't say the same for myself. That's not to say she's completely immune from the fallout, but she's seated at a safer distance than me. It's good that she and I can travel together, because I need to talk to her about visiting Wayne. She's liable to flip her lid, but I think that I can smooth things over in the process. That and hooking her up with my provider after putting it off for almost a year should do wonders. Afterall, Penny's spent as much time in Atlanta as Toronto recently while the legal messes get sorted. Maybe she and Raven will hit it off, plutonically of course. To my knowledge Raven's only interested in men, me specifically. I'm a little anxious because of it, and hopefully Penny will once again be able to act as a shield of some sort.
"You tell Dave about your title shot yet?"
"No, I haven't found the right time."
"You need to soon, before he sees you parading around with the belt."
"I'm not sure how to even approach it honestly." I say, passing Penny the blunt. "You know Dave still feels like the belt was stolen from him, and all I'd be doing is pouring salt in an open wound."
"You could just be honest with him."
"I just don't think he's in the state of mind to hear this kind of news."
"Because of the trial?"
"Right." I say as Penny passes me the blunt. "He's already bitter about losing his job, think about how he'd feel if I told him that I'm going after 'his' belt."
"You never know, he might be supportive."
"Do you really believe that Penny?"
"I want to."
"I wish there was a way around it."
"You're really worried."
"Hell yeah I am." I blurt out, pass her the blunt with a slight cough. "Listen, Dave's barely responding to anyone as it is. I tell him that and he might just isolate himself completely."
"A lot of guys do that in our business, you know that." Penny says and judging by her tone, I know who she's talking about. "But what seperates Dave is that he'll eventually come around. He'll just pout for a little while first."
"The big difference between him and the others is they called their own plays, whereas Dave was exiled against his will."
"Your point?"
"My point is that Dave needs built up right now, and as his friends that's our job. This kinda goes against that notion."
Helping someone who doesn't want to help themselves comes with its fair share of trepidation. As far as Dave is concerned, Penny would have to agree that his current self loathing demeanor doesn't bode well when others are trying to keep him afloat. I'm not going to say Dave is weighing SOS down, but it's certainly strenuous on all involved. I've tried to get him to spill his guts ab out the events leading up to his wreck in a tactful manner, but Dave has remained suspiciously tight lipped about that night. I can relate because there are nights in my life I'd like to forget, but my damn memory keeps playing them back like a broken record. Turning the car onto Raven's street is one of those reminders.
"Ok, we're here."
"And you're sure Raven will be up?"
While exiting the car, I reply. "Should be."
"Ok, but I'm kicking your ass if I get shot."
"Wrong neighborhood." I say, knocking on the front door. "That's the other side of town. Chill out Penny, you're safe."
"I've been expecting you." Raven greets us upon answering the door. "Well, come on in and kick it a while."
"We can't stay long, Raven." I say as we step inside. "We got a long trip to Cincinnati."
"She's offering, Josh." Penny shot out, noticing Raven's white silk negligee. "Although I think she has another visitor."
"Oh this old thing?" Raven says with a questioning tone, slightly adjusting herself. "It's comfortable, and I like for my body to breathe while I sleep."
"That's fair." Penny says walking toward Raven's den after being beckoned. "Are you sure we're not interrupting?"
"No it's just me here, so I can go to bed whenever." Raven replies, sitting down on her sofa while Penny and I take seats beside her. "So I just rolled a blunt of a new shipment, and I can't smoke it alone. 'Dro's too strong."
"I've never had any decent hydro." Penny shot out, pulling out the sniped blunt from earlier. "Dudes always called it hydro, but it smelled like mids."
"Sounds like amateur hour."
"Yeah, we've been getting a lot of that lately."
Ok so they're actually having a decent dialouge, I'm sure it's mostly because of a common interest. I can't get over Raven wearing the lingerie I bought her several years ago. I always liked the way it complimented her voluptuous figure, but I'm happily married and now it just seems excessive. I have an inkling it's intentional, and that Raven probably thought I'd be flying solo like when I visited her this past Christmas. But she doesn't mind and my indifference isn't showing at this moment, though I'd be lying if I said I was comfortable with the continuous brushes against my leg as they continue to yack about past transactions.
Raven turns toward me and her soft brown eyes shoot through me like a laser beam. She still has that effect on me and I think Penny can see it from the slight change in my expression.
"Josh, would you do the honors and light this b*tch up?"
"I think you're going to need some road flares." Penny says, waving a hand in front of my face. "He looks pretty spaced out."
"I think I got something to at least get a response." Raven says, kneeling on the sofa and leaning in. "Wake up, sleepy head."
"I'm awake." I say, leaning forward to avoid her attempt at a face to boob collision. "Sorry, but I tend to zone out from time to time."
"I know, but would you mind starting this blunt?" Raven requests before slapping me playfully on the shoulder. "You know, it wouldn't kill ya to be sociable and introduce me to your wife." "Wife?" Penny asks with a sense of shock, nearly spilling the broken up Kush from our Philly that she's loading into a glass pipe. "No, it's nothing like that."
"Girlfriend on the side?"
"Negative, just a close friend that likes good weed."
"I'm sorry for assuming." Raven says as Penny passes the pipe. "You're the second person he's ever brought over, and that was a long time ago."
"Penny's my tag team partner."
"I thought you were teaming with that big guy who wears a flack jacket, but I'll admit I haven't watched in a couple months."
"Oh, you mean Dave?"
"Yeah, him!"
"Dave's actually my roommate." Penny says as Raven passes her the blunt. "We're all on the same team."
"It's nice to have friends you can rely on." Raven says, giving me a glare before fumbling with the lighter as it falls down her front. "Sh*t!"
I roll my eyes while Raven fishes through her cleavage. "Butterfingers much?"
"You know me, always a klutz." Raven says as she retrieves the lighter, giving me a wink. "So, how do you guys like it?"
"This is awesome!" Penny shot out, taking a large hit from the blunt before resting her head on the sofa. "It's a clean hit."
"It's good, but then again you've never dealt in dirt."
"I like having repeat business." She says proudly. "You have to for the small clientele I keep."
"How many?"
"Counting Josh, I have about six regular customers."
"How do you make any money?"
"Bulk." I say quietly. "She's able to sell good product because her customers buy in bulk."
"A couple of them sell as well, but they don't mess with big weight like I do." Raven says, staring me down as she takes a hit from the blunt. "Josh can tell you all about it, he helped me set everything up."
"Well, it's really not hard to make money." I begin, taking a long hit off the pipe before handing it back to Penny over Raven. "Weigh things accurately."
"I'd be tempted to smoke all my product."
"That part's hard at first." Raven begins, taking a big hit of the blunt be for handing it to me. "You've got to be really honest about how much you use and set that off to the side. That's why I deal in high grades mostly, because you only need a small amount to really get the desired buzz."
"Can't argue with that." Penny says, closing her eyes. "I like to save money."
"And at two hundred an ounce, I sell cheaper than street value."
"You had me solid at the first drag, Raven."
"Do you want me to bag you up an ounce?"
"Yeah, it'll last until we get back from Japan."
"Ok." Raven says, standing up from the couch and looking at me. "Josh, my scales are going haywire, can you come take a look at it?"
I ponder for a second. "Yeah, might help speed things up."
"Just hang tight, Penny." Raven says, grabbing my hand. "I'd let you come back, but I'm a little paranoid with all the cash I have lying around. That ok?"
"Hey your house, your rules."
"Feel free to smoke the rest of that blunt, we'll be a few minutes." Raven still hasn't learned a thing about stashing her money, even after doing this for the past six years. It's kind of odd because I used to tell her that her scales was a money maker, and she used to keep them in immaculate shape. But you can only give people advice, whether they listen to it is another story. Back in the day, I used to handle all of Raven's transactions and gradually taught her how to do them. I guess in that regard growing up in the hood was a positive, because I saw the right way and wrong way to handle potentially shady people.
She leads me into her room and I can immediately see the problem with her scales.
"Raven, why do you have a bunch of magazines lying on your scale?" I ask, placing the stacks to the side. "Now I've got to recalibrate it."
"I was in a hurry."
"You've got to be more careful with these." I assert, before hearing the door close. I turn around and Raven is standing in front of me, naked glory and all. "Oh- I see what's going on here."
"Now that we're alone..."
****
I get it Daniel, I really do.
I get that you feel this 'pilgrimage' is God's way of leading you to a higher plane of existence. I get that you feel thankful to Kyzer for this newfound epiphany. A young man such as yourself has to carve his own niche in a world where a lot of people say the same thing, and because of that you need to be something more than the generic drones that wash out in no time flat.
But here's the thing Daniel, you were already doing that before Kyzer dropped you on your head. But instead of elevating yourself, unfortunately you've regressed and I don't know if there's any way you can turn it around. Do you think you're the first person to claim they're on a vengeance fueled mission from God? I believe Dex did something like that before he was gifted the World Title and we saw what happened there. I spoke to your partner about history repeating itself, and sadly your case is more tragic than his. The world has already seen what Joe Joe is all about, but you were just starting to scratch the surface of your true abilities. The kicker is this newfound mean streak doesn't make you any more dangerous than before, if anything you're as predictable as your bullsh*t diatribe at New Dawn. See all I wanted to do was talk to you, man to man, and get to the root of why you decided to use me as your great 'rebirth'. But then it hit me, quite literally, that you needed a big stage to put this new crusade of yours into action. Well played, because it doesn't get any bigger than the hottest superstar in WFWF in front of his hometown.
Consequently Daniel you pissed away that respect I gained for you courtesy of those two instant classics we had in the process. There was nothing on the line but sportsmanship and a mutual passion for our craft. But now that an opportunity to gain something symbolic arises, you target me because you think I strong armed my way into leapfrogging you. The truth is Daniel, I passed you over because I'm better than you in between those ropes. If I wasn't I wouldn't have carried a less than fifty percent Dave Demento past two juggernaut teams to win those tag titles, thus putting myself in a position to negotiate. You have a hard enough time managing your own success, so who the hell do you think you are putting a value on me you hyprocritical sh*t.
But I digress, because the Bible has shown us that God can take away as easily as he provides. And I feel that God has put me in your path to show you accountability. You got one win over me a year ago, but when I beat you at Choke Hold, that one victory is going to look more like the fluke it really is.
And to think I used to hold you in such high regard, even accepted that Dave offered you a spot to where you could have backup when you needed it. Now I'm almost glad you didn't join SOS, because this rabbit hole you're going down would've taken me with you. I don't have a lot of time left in my career and I still have plenty of axes to grind, so I'm not going to waste any more time worrying about you than I already have. So if you want to throw your name in the running for a title shot, I welcome it with open arms. But you need to understand that I have no problem going through you to get where I want to go. That's the major difference between us Daniel. I have that ability to tell you what I'm going to do, then implement it seamlessly. Timing is not on your side, because I will not be stopped until our peers realize that I am the most complete performer in this industry, period!
And along the way, I'll teach you not to sh*t on an act of charity. [/b][/div][/b][/div]
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