Post by The Ascension on Nov 13, 2022 11:28:04 GMT -5
The Slow Burn
“Fat Bottom Girls” by Queen erupts in the silent hotel room as Alister jumps awake. Half in shock he looks around and then down at his phone, realizing what is happening. He throws his legs to the side of the bed and stands up. Opening a suitcase, he looks through his shirts and pull out a Kyle Kemp shirt and puts it on. Looking next to the shirts sits the World Cup, after 4 weeks he no longer sets it out, keeping it packed is easier when leaving to the next city. He closes the suitcase and walks over to his phone, turning off the alarm, ending the music. He walks over to the coffee machine and begins his normal morning routine until it is abruptly stopped by his phone ringing.
Hello?.... outside in 5, alright.
He hangs up the phone, and grabs an open gym bag exposing one of his wrestling boots. Outside of the hotel he waits as a black town car pulls up and the passenger side window rolls down. A man in his early 40s leans over and looks up at Alister.
Hey, uh, you McKissick?
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Conversations with Derek Pt. 1
Conversations with Derek Pt. 1
The car pulls out of the hotel parking lot, and heads in the direction of the I-4 on ramp. The driver looks up in the rear view looking back at Alister.
You work for Action Wrestling or are you part of a car service?
Contracted company, so partially yes to both. The Producer wants to make sure you all are where you’re supposed to be on time. I’m one of the regular drivers that travels with the production. I’m Derek, nice to meet you.
Hey, that’s awesome, nice to meet you, Derek. You have a busy schedule today?
Oh no, you’re early to Orlando, sure maybe a few people are here outside of the crew, but you’re the only job I have today. If its alright to ask, why are you here so early?
I’m not sure what you mean? I have a match this week.
Sure, but why are you here so early? Why aren’t you home relaxing?
Oh, right, I don’t have a place here yet. Hadn’t really thought about it if I’m being honest. No rush and all that. It also would suggest that I want to relax, which I don’t feel that I’ve earned yet. It’s easier to just be in town, everyplace has gyms, I can workout and train. AW pays me enough to live in hotels, maybe if I start getting hurt, I will look at a place to take it easy at.
That sounds like a lonely like, take it from me, I’ve been doing some sort of a traveling work my entire adult life. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I also acknowledge that I gave up a lot in the process. How many people over 40 do you know that’s never been married, never had any kids? Again, I love this, I love getting to know all of you guys, but you sacrifice the typical life that we are told we need.
Key word is typical, besides like you said, I love my life. I’m living my dream and I am young, so hopefully I will be doing this a long time. Also good for the company, I am already here the day after my last match, 2 weeks ago they need a last-minute substitution for a local PR thing. I’ve never claimed to be anything like the rest of the roster, some of them make this look so easy, always prepared, always seamless. If you haven’t seen my matches, that is everything but me, I struggle every week. Well, this past week I got lucky and caught those two-off guard, sometimes you have to hit first and hit hard. That won’t be the case each week, especially this week. I understand that being athletic gets you so far, so yeah, I need those extra days to train and not relax. If I listen to my da, then I can’t relax until I’m the World champ. I got a couple of years before I can hope to relax.
That sounds like a lot of self-defeating language.
Maybe it is.
And where has that gotten you so far?
I’m here, aren’t I? I got to a major company, multiple platforms, more opportunities than any one talent could ever want. Seems like so far, I’VE gotten myself to the promise land.
Didn’t mean to get you upset, just was trying to get to a point.
And what point is that exactly?
Contracted company, so partially yes to both. The Producer wants to make sure you all are where you’re supposed to be on time. I’m one of the regular drivers that travels with the production. I’m Derek, nice to meet you.
Hey, that’s awesome, nice to meet you, Derek. You have a busy schedule today?
Oh no, you’re early to Orlando, sure maybe a few people are here outside of the crew, but you’re the only job I have today. If its alright to ask, why are you here so early?
I’m not sure what you mean? I have a match this week.
Sure, but why are you here so early? Why aren’t you home relaxing?
Oh, right, I don’t have a place here yet. Hadn’t really thought about it if I’m being honest. No rush and all that. It also would suggest that I want to relax, which I don’t feel that I’ve earned yet. It’s easier to just be in town, everyplace has gyms, I can workout and train. AW pays me enough to live in hotels, maybe if I start getting hurt, I will look at a place to take it easy at.
That sounds like a lonely like, take it from me, I’ve been doing some sort of a traveling work my entire adult life. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I also acknowledge that I gave up a lot in the process. How many people over 40 do you know that’s never been married, never had any kids? Again, I love this, I love getting to know all of you guys, but you sacrifice the typical life that we are told we need.
Key word is typical, besides like you said, I love my life. I’m living my dream and I am young, so hopefully I will be doing this a long time. Also good for the company, I am already here the day after my last match, 2 weeks ago they need a last-minute substitution for a local PR thing. I’ve never claimed to be anything like the rest of the roster, some of them make this look so easy, always prepared, always seamless. If you haven’t seen my matches, that is everything but me, I struggle every week. Well, this past week I got lucky and caught those two-off guard, sometimes you have to hit first and hit hard. That won’t be the case each week, especially this week. I understand that being athletic gets you so far, so yeah, I need those extra days to train and not relax. If I listen to my da, then I can’t relax until I’m the World champ. I got a couple of years before I can hope to relax.
That sounds like a lot of self-defeating language.
Maybe it is.
And where has that gotten you so far?
I’m here, aren’t I? I got to a major company, multiple platforms, more opportunities than any one talent could ever want. Seems like so far, I’VE gotten myself to the promise land.
Didn’t mean to get you upset, just was trying to get to a point.
And what point is that exactly?
The town car pulls up to a warehouse style gym with massive garage doors that are wide open. From the car the two can see a handful of people setting up a ring in the middle of what looks like a CrossFit gym. Derek shifts the car into park, and slightly shifts his body to be a little more personable with Alister.
Like I mentioned, I’ve done this a long time, worked for Action Wrestling a little while now, you know what I’ve learned about those who are successful and those who you are here to see today? The champions, those who are headlining events, ones who are on the publicity tours, they don’t middle road things. You, you’re middle roading things. You’re athletic, hardworking, slightly cocky, frustrated, and unsure of what you’re supposed to do. Those trainers in there are some of the best in ring, of course, much needed for young guys like you. The question you have to ask yourself is, do you want to be a 30 trainer who is known to be one of the best workers in the room, or do you want to be known as one of the best in Action Wrestling? If it were me, I would take that same conviction you have about not relaxing and getting a place of your own, and turn that towards finding who you are, the you that you’re comfortable with, and lean into it.
Yeah, thanks, I guess. I’ll keep that in mind.
Yeah, thanks, I guess. I’ll keep that in mind.
Alister nods at Derek as he grabs his back and exits the car. He stands on the side of the street as the car drives off, and waves at one of the trainers inside the gym.
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The Slow Burn Continued
The Slow Burn Continued
Alister is surrounded by 12 Action Wrestling fans, a few even talking him up. The grass of Cherokee Park provides the perfect area for an impromptu continuation.
Ay folks, are you ready for ol Alister to talk some mad shit?
The less than enthusiastic response to his comment can be heard, before a mild interest in the fact these fans are involved in something directly involved with their favorite promotion.
Check this out, my opponent this week is non other than the not ass successful half of the duo with the Queen of iLL Jill, Regan Voorhees. I get, she is in that upper middle situation, and I am at the bottom paying the dues still. She was in that Turmoil tournament, which means that she is one of the best of the best. Even that overgrown farmer Odin lost his match, so it’s not like anyone will be taking away any accomplishments from her. I was watching when she took on Alice Gemini, that match was amazing! She has that awesome entrance with the lights and the gear, its always a show. I think her violent style and mine will work well together. Look at how Odin and I got along, except this time my entire move set is game. Don’t mind me rocking a fuck blown Goku, excited to take on someone of her caliber. I wish I could work every couple of weeks, that looks great, but I know, looking that pretty must take a long time coming from some self intitled bitch like you.
The crowd lets out a low gasp, forcing their attention to Alister.
I will make sure that I bring a rag down to the ring to wipe some of that shit off your face. I’m too young and pretty, I don’t need any make-up. That’s not to suggest I don’t find you attractive, I have this angry mommy thing, and I’m assuming your older than me. I don’t know. I think that one is going to piss her off, so mad, but I’m here for it. I wouldn’t want her to beat me and not be giving it her all, that would be embarrassing for me. In the same light I want the brag that comes with beating someone full send. May not be the wisest way to go about things, but when you get a size 14 boot across the face two weeks in a row you tend to realize holding anything back sets things like that up. I bet you’re the ‘buck stops here’ type. ‘Who is this young nobody coming out talking shit? I’m accomplished, I need an easy win after Sponsor.’ Or whatever mean girls slang you’re using, I graduated high school 7 years ago, I don’t care. Were you embarrassed you didn’t draw first blood with Alice? I figured that would have been something you cared about.
I know you love DDT’s, those are a lot of fun, so I’ve been working on one hand push-ups. If you know, you know. I am expecting another war, I want another war. My Boba used to say ‘ When you go to war, accept that you are already dead, because we will never escape it. Once you’ve accepted you’re dead, you fight, and you never stop fighting. You can’t change the end, but you can fight to delay it. ’ I’ve gone as far as to do that blind wax on wax off thing. In the end, what I’m getting at, is Slaughterella is going to find herself on a one-way flight back to her pig farm in Alabama, knowing she did everything she can to stop some nobody trying to make a name off hers, and having to question if she helped my career, or if I validate hers. I’m willing to share, why can’t it be both? Sorry, I forgot, cutthroat bitch, no sharing for you. I guess I can just be happy with the possibilities of a catch brawler and a technical flyer facing each other. Maybe after this week, there will be 15 people. That’s all I got, never said I was the best shit talker, but I just hope Regan makes me want to buy her shirt, I would hate for all this to be a waste.
I know you love DDT’s, those are a lot of fun, so I’ve been working on one hand push-ups. If you know, you know. I am expecting another war, I want another war. My Boba used to say ‘ When you go to war, accept that you are already dead, because we will never escape it. Once you’ve accepted you’re dead, you fight, and you never stop fighting. You can’t change the end, but you can fight to delay it. ’ I’ve gone as far as to do that blind wax on wax off thing. In the end, what I’m getting at, is Slaughterella is going to find herself on a one-way flight back to her pig farm in Alabama, knowing she did everything she can to stop some nobody trying to make a name off hers, and having to question if she helped my career, or if I validate hers. I’m willing to share, why can’t it be both? Sorry, I forgot, cutthroat bitch, no sharing for you. I guess I can just be happy with the possibilities of a catch brawler and a technical flyer facing each other. Maybe after this week, there will be 15 people. That’s all I got, never said I was the best shit talker, but I just hope Regan makes me want to buy her shirt, I would hate for all this to be a waste.
