Post by The Following on Feb 7, 2021 21:15:20 GMT -5
CJ Phoenix was sitting in the middle of the training ring in The Following’s compound when Dandy walked in, elated to still be holding one half of the Action Wrestling Tag Team Championships.
“That’s how we fuckin’ do it, baby! WOOO!”
CJ looked up and forced a smile as he and Dandy made eye contact, but Dandy sensed the moment was weird for CJ. Dandy chilled himself out and looked at CJ with narrowed, concerned eyes.
“You good, brotha?”
CJ nodded unconvincingly.
“Uh, yeah, man. No, no, yeah, I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”
Dandy’s eyebrows furrowed as he dropped his title on the ring apron and slid in to take a seat directly in front of CJ.
“What’s goin’ on, man? Let’s fuckin’ talk.”
CJ waved off Dandy’s attempt to connect gently.
“Nah, man. It’s…it’s nothing. You don’t need to waste your time with my shit.”
Dandy shook his head.
“Nope.”
“What do you mean?”
“It ain’t goin’ down like that, brotha. Just ain’t how this shit works here, man.”
“When any mo’fucka in The Followin’ is strugglin’, we all strugglin’. When any mo’fucka in The Followin’ is excellin’, we all excellin’. Period. If yo’ ass it sweatin’ any fuckin’ thing righ’ now, I’m here to sweat it out wit’ ya, so… you can tell me what’s weighin’ on you an’ we can handle that shit togetha or we can just sit here silent togetha, but either way? We doin’ this shit as one, brotha.”
CJ smiled.
“So which it gon’ be?”
“We can talk, man. I’m here for it.”
“A’ight, cool. So what’s up?”
“Man, I don’t know. I just... I feel like I’m letting you guys down.”
Dandy was taken aback.
“Lettin’ us down?! HOW?!”
“Man, when you and Wesley joined, you guys won trios right away! You and Kemp are the tag team champions, and each one of you is title away from being the first ever Grand Slam champion! Wesley, man, he was on top of the world before… well, you know… Me? I’m just spinning my wheels, going nowhere, doing nothing.”
“I’ma be real wit’ you, CJ…”
“Ok.”
“That’s some bullshit.”
“How you mean?”
“This company is fuckin’ better than it’s ever been. That CruiserClash roster is fuckin’ stacked right now. It ain’t like it was when the fuckin’ clown was holdin’ the title.”
“Vayden?”
“Ha! Fuck, man. I meant the literal clown, but that’s some good shit, son. Damn!”
CJ smirked as the tension started to melt off a bit.
“But for real, man. You’re competin’ in the hardest fuckin’ time there is to compete in this comp’ny, and you doin’ fuckin’ WORK to stand out as somebody ain’t no one wanna see ‘cross they own name on them cards. Fo’ real, CJ. You out there bein’ a fuckin’ boss mo’fucka. Comparin’ yo’ resume to the rest of us ain’t advisable. The Followin’ ain’t about makin’ you Kemp or Dandy or Wesley or Chase. Nah, man. It’s about makin’ you better, CJ. Ya feel me, brotha?”
“Thanks, man. It’s just hard, you know?”
“Trust me, brotha, I get it.”
Dandy reached out and patted CJ on the shoulder.
“Now, I’ma need you to buck the fuck up right quick.”
CJ looked at Dandy confused.
“You didn’t see the announcement, huh?”
“What announcement?”
“The Followin’s got a big fuckin’ tag match this week.”
“Why does you and Kemp having a tag match mean I have to buck up right quick?”
“‘Cause this time The Followin’ that’s booked ain’t me an’ Kemp. It’s me an’ you, an’ I’ma be real, CJ: I ain’t lookin’ for no sad sack partner, partner.”
Dandy smirked and smacked CJ on the arm.
“No shit?”
“No shit.”
“Wow. Main roster?”
“Main roster.”
“And you think I can swing it?”
“Fuck, man. I don’t think you can swing it. I fuckin’ KNOW you can.”
CJ Phoenix was sitting at the foot of his bed, facing a wall but looking at nothing in particular. It almost looked like CJ was lost in thought. Reflecting that he was aware of the camera placed on the tripod to his right, he spoke calmly as the sun set.
“I've been spending the last day taking in the feelings that I've been experiencing. The sorrow of having yet another title shot stolen through no fault of my own. The misery of feeling like the pursuit of championship is essentially fruitless. Self-doubt creeps in, attempting to fill my mind with the thoughts that no matter how hard I try, it'll never be good enough. At least not to me anyway. I could feel a barrage of depressing thoughts coming in. The despair felt so...good. You know what else felt good? The reassurance I got from my brothers, most notably Dandy DiVito. Our conversation showed me that his hope and resolve is greater than the pain that despair brings. It was refreshing. Every bit as satisfying as the despair that preceded it. It was like getting a double shot of adrenaline. So now, with Revolution in the past and a new challenge approaching, a thought has come to mind that I want to share with you all: if you could see the future before you did something, but you knew you were going to fail, would you still try? Is it worth the effort and the struggle if it fails to lead to success? Would you just ignore it completely and only pursue things that you know you'd succeed at? I'm sure you would. After all, success is greater than failure, right? It's the prize we find ourselves constantly pursuing. It's the sense of accomplishment that puts a smile on each of our faces. Everybody in Action Wrestling is there because they're trying to achieve something. While each individual's goal may vary, the core objective remains the same. Chase success at something.”
CJ reached into his pocket with his right hand and pulled out what appeared to be a quarter.
“Byron Bathory and John Black are no different. Like Dandy DiVito and myself, they are both in pursuit of victory. Not just in our upcoming match, but also in their own personal journeys. Dandy and I know that we're going to be victorious, and so do Black, Bathory, and Beyond. So now the question becomes, why? If even they know that they stand no chance against us, then why even show up? Why not just save us all the trouble and stay home? Why get up if you know you're gonna fall again? Hell, why live if you know you're gonna die? I'll tell you why.”
He turned to face the camera.
“Hope. In the simplest of terms, hope. There are two truths in life that I don't think people realize. Hope is unpredictable, while despair is inevitable. Everyone fails at something, even when they end up succeeding in the end. Take the famous 1972 Miami Dolphins for example. The only NFL team in the Superbowl era to go undefeated and win the big game at the end. A perfect season, but was it really "perfect"? They didn't score a touchdown on every offensive possession they had, nor did they shutout every team that they played against. That means they failed to achieve true perfection. They made mistakes because humans make mistakes. Mistakes. Despair. Failure. Death. All inevitable, but that's where hope comes in. Hope gives us the motivation we need to learn from our mistakes in order to overcome our failures. Hope is the only reason why our opponents will even show up for our battle. They're hoping that luck will help them survive. They're banking on escaping with a fluke victory. They...are...PRAYING that this is the one timeline out of a hundred where their hands get raised. Unfortunately for them, that timeline doesn't exist, because we prevented it from becoming possible. How? Let me show you. I pulled out a coin earlier. I'm going to flip it 10 times. If it lands on heads, we win. If it lands on tails, they win.”
CJ flipped the coin and then caught it ten times. Each time he opened his hand, the coin had landed on heads. After the last flip, he showed both sides of the coin, revealing that both sides were the same.
“A lot of times, we hear people talk about overcoming despair. This is how you overcome hope. You give it no chance to exist in the first place. It's the same concept when it comes to this match. Dandy and I put in the work outside of the ring so that by the time we're in it, we've already eliminated the possibility of defeat. We play off of each other's strengths. He brought hope when I was swimming in despair, and I'd pick him up when he's down as well. We have each other's backs. They just so happen to have to coexist. They don't have our cohesion. Our understanding. Our chemistry. All we have to do now is remove any shred of hope that they may have. We'll take away their confidence and their beliefs of victory. We'll uncover the psychology behind their motives. And then, we conquer them.”
CJ tossed the coin away.
“Take John Black for example. He must be punching the air right now. Having to face another man of color during Black History Month of all times must make his skin boil, or at least it should. A man on a mission to fight against the obvious oppression and other travesties that our people have had to deal with. So how about this. Don't show up, and I won't come after you. We can unify in peace, and you can go back to fighting the good fight on the frontlines...or is that not good enough for you? Of course it's not. It's never been about setting a good example for your peers and for future generations. You once called yourself a teacher, but you're nothing more than a preacher of violence masquerading as an instructor. The best teachers, like myself, are those that are willing and able to be both teachers and students. I'm gonna do you a favor and give you a chance to be a student. So grab a seat, a notebook, and a pen, because today's lesson is one on discipline.”
“You are a brute, John. It doesn't matter if you're in or out of the ring. You're always looking to throw the first punch. I must ask you, do you truly practice what you preach? Every single day, you wake up and choose violence. I get it. All your life you felt like you've had to fight. It gets tiring. It takes a toll on your body and mind. In your case, it took over completely. Johnny boy, you've gotten so used to fighting that you don't know anything else.”
CJ shook his head in disappointment.
“Fighting for the sake of fighting just makes you part of the problem that you're trying to solve? A lack of knowing when violence is NOT the answer makes you come off as part of that same stereotype that you're trying so hard to avoid. There are times when patience is the right answer. Even in a chaotic place like a wrestling ring where violence is a necessity, patience is also vital in order to truly succeed against worthy opponents. Going in guns blazing may work on those with the same mindset as well as those who don't know how to deal with it. Unfortunately for you, Dandy and I don't fit into either category. We know the counter to your aggro approach. Patience. I'm gonna make you hate me in that ring just by outplaying you and turning you against yourself. It all starts with that lack of self-control. I don't have to get into a slugfest of punch trading with you. I just have to make you miss. You'll naturally get frustrated due to your obsession with violence. The blood within you will start boiling. You'll start hitting harder, but slower and more predictably, making it easier to launch a counterattack. Essentially, it's like the part of the fight between Trunks and Cell in Dragon Ball Z where the former powers himself up with so much rage that he becomes much stronger at the cost of pretty much everything else. It looked cool, until you saw him fail to land a single strike on Cell. That sequence is your life in a nutshell. A man who's so driven by rage and hatred that it comes at the very cost of the things that he claims to desire most. Equality. Justice. Peace. They all take a backseat to revenge in your mind. Strategy. Planning. In this case, teamwork. They all take a backseat to your thirst for hurting someone. I hope you understand that your inevitable defeat will be the best thing you'll ever get. You'll get to see firsthand what it's like for a man of color to TRULY unite the people.”
A grin grew across CJ's face.
“And then there's the so-called ‘Sin Eater’ Byron Bathory. Clearly, my journey through the nightmare realm continues. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to dismantling the despair that you desperately try to deal out. I've been watching you. I see the way that you call out the sins of others. The pain and trauma of those you target serve as an all-you-can-eat buffet for that twisted mind of yours. It didn't take long for me to realize the truth about you. You're a store brand version of me. You crave sin like I crave despair. The way you try to draw out the darkness in others is...somewhat similar to what I do. However, this is where our paths begin to split. I'm capable of drawing out both light AND darkness in order to create teachable moments for those that I speak to. I shatter people so that they can be remade into something better. You lack those skills, Byron. We both know this. You try to break others for your own selfish gain because you're unable to fix yourself. Like the coin I had earlier, there is no balance of hope and despair within you. There is only sin on each side. One sin in particular to be exact. Gluttony. You know what to do. Get the pen and paper ready.”
CJ paused and looked away from the camera.
“Gluttony is a sin that requires two different approaches to conquer it depending on whether or not you're on offense or defense. In most cases, we're on the defensive. While it's generally eating food that is the problem, gluttony could be the obsessive consumption of anything. It could be the insatiable thirst for violence that your partner has. It could be the endless appetite for sin that you seemingly possess. The first approach to overcoming that gluttony is moderation. Helping someone understand and adjust to the fact that too much of anything could be a bad thing. Slowing down their consumption of what they're having too much of for their own well-being is what's important. However, your case looks to require the other method. The one that defeats the sin of gluttony itself. Ironically, that method is feeding it. While he doesn't want to admit to it, his self-control is also nonexistent. He's controlled by his appetite for the sins of others. You want my sins, right? My pain and despair? My wrongdoings and hostile thoughts? Good. I have more sins than Satan can stomach. You'll try to devour them, only to lose focus on everything else and mentally pop like an overly inflated balloon. The concept of working with your tag partner will no longer register in your mind. So feast, you mindless beast. I'll serve you my sins in the shape of an 'L', and you can take it with you back to the depths of hell.
CJ opened his other hand, revealing another painted eye on it. He holds his hand up in front of the camera.
“Divide and conquer. That is how we shall win. This eye represents a bond of teamwork between brothers. A selfless one as we continue to rebuild and reshape the future. We are already greater than them as individuals, but as a team, it's not even a fair fight. John and Byron are one in the same. Selfish individuals ruled by their cravings. Two people like that can't coexist simply because they'll stay getting in each other's way. That's why we have to force them to face the truth. Only then will the light finally begin to shine on them, awarding them the chance to change for the better. Right now, they're a house with no foundation, and when Clash rolls around, we'll be the wrecking ball that smashes them to pieces."
Dandy approached Kemp’s office door and knocked.
“Come in!”
Dandy stepped inside and made his way to a seat opposite Kemp at the leader’s desk.
“How you holdin’ up, Kemp?”
“How do you mean?”
“If I was in yo’ shoes, I wouldn’t be fuckin’ happy ‘bout it. Teamin’ wit’ one a’ them Philidor snakes? Nah, man. Fuck that. So how you doin’ wit’ all that shit?”
“Everything will be fine, but I appreciate your concern, Dandy. How are your preparations going?”
“Me an’ CJ?”
“Yes. Have you had the talk with him yet?”
“Yeah. The kid’s got a good head on his shoulders. Listens like a fuckin’ champ.”
“Good! This could be a breakout moment for him, Dandy. I know you’ll do everything you can to help him achieve something truly great.”
“Truth is, he got it all in ‘im already. I’m jus’ helpin’ him see in he self what we already know he capable of.”
Kemp replied with a smile.
“Oh, I know.”
“All in all, I just want to see the three of us as the last ones standing when this whole Battlebowl thing wraps up. Really show the fuckin’ world how The Followin’ is head an’ shoulders ahead of e’rybody else in Action Wrestlin’. The world needs to know we ain’t here to jus’ be better no more. E’rybody needs to see we here to be the fuckin’ best!”
Kemp grimaced just a little at Dandy’s bravado.
“While I respect your desire to be the best, let’s not forget the importance of humility, Dandy. The Following is still what it’s always been.”
Dandy smirked and nodded.
“Always, my man. Always.”
Dandy stood in the middle of the compound’s training ring, staring into the camera.
“My boy CJ an’ me gonna show the world that The Followin’s tag team effectiveness ain’t limited to jus’ me an’ Kemp. No, no, y’all. CJ an’ me? We gonna wreck fuckin’ shop in this tournament shit, an’ when it’s all done wit’ you gon’ see one a’ us Followin’ fellas enterin’ the Havoc Rumble wit’ that dead last spot, becomin’ the first mo’fucka to enter last an’ win the bitch, and then main eventin’ Evolution 4 against Ashy Blake or whatever po’ mo’fucka who is unlucky enough to be holdin’ that strap when the time comes to lose that shit on the biggest fuckin’ stage to me or one a’ my boys.”
Dandy smirked.
“But let’s not put the cart befo’ the fuckin’ horse, yeah? This week’s gon’ be special. Been a long time since I been in this situation. Been a long fuckin’ while since I had to line up ‘cross a ring from a scrub ass mo’fucka like Bathory and a do-nothin’ like JB.”
Dandy laughed
“Balthory, what fuckin’ Hot Topic inspired yo’ ass ta get in the fuckin’ sin business, son? Did you an’ the Missus go to tha Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker School of Hustlin’ Dipshits Who Don’t Know No Better? Shit, even if y’all did, by the looks of what appears to be a less than meager followin’, y’all didn’t even graduate from that clown college shit. The fuckin’ SIN EATER, man? How you think I’ma take yo’ ass serious if you willfully walkin’ ‘round the world tellin’ mo’fuckas yo’ name is SIN EATER?! I guess that kinda shit was inevitable the minute yo’ fuckin’ mommy an’ daddy done named yo’ ass Byron Balthory. They just gotta be happy as hell you didn’t go straight up Lyle Menedez and shoot them mo’fuckas in their sleep in revenge, man. You just rollin’ up into this fuckin’ comp’ny, thinkin’ you gon’ do whateva you fuckin’ feelin’ and they ain’t gon’ be no fuckin’ consequences though, huh? Man, them’s some big ol’ fuckin’ balls on you fo’ a man who a clean loss to Dionysis like a fuckin’ triumph.”
Dandy’s hands mimed the size of Byron’s balls.
“You thought gettin’ yo’ shit kicked by Dion was a victory, jus’ wait to how you feelin’ after me an’ my boy CJ knock yo’ big ol’ nuts right the fuck out. We mo’ than happy to help you get what you want since it’s clear what you want is an opportunity to desperately reframe your fuckin’ losses as victories. We gon’ be so fuckin’ helpful, my man. We gon’ be like them boy scouts that offerin’ ta help them ol’ ladies cross the street. At the end of it all, you can eat sin or shit or whatever gets yo’ rocks off. We won’t give a good goddamn to be honest, ‘cause we gon’ be lookin’ forward to the next fuckin’ round. You though? You might wanna keep yo’ eye on JB.”
Dandy nodded his head emphatically.
“‘Cause that fella ain’t been ‘round too much lately, an’ I have some serious doubts that he’s gonna see eye-to-eye with yo’ whole losin’-is-winnin’ philosophy. Nah, JB has more fuckin’ sense than that shit. Now, granted, he ain’t done nothin’ to warrant standin’ cross a ring from me, but he still got more brains than yo’ ass seem to, Sin Eater. But look, JB, talkin’ atchu now: I’m happy to see you back, but I’m really hopin’ that when The Followin’ smacks you like you was Dee Barnes, you don’t go disappearin’ again. I like what you bring to the table, man, so I don’t wanna have to be the man responsible for putin’ the hurt on yo’ ass that drives you back into the shadows and back to the obscurity of ‘I don’t know why, but don’t that mo’fucka look familiar?’ bein’ yo’ day-to-day existence. JB, maybe I can save you from that though, huh? Maybe bein’ on the business end of a good ol’ Dandy DiVito asswhoopin’ can FINALLY make you actually famous. It worked for Roy Speede’s ass! When I beat his ass raw, they put him in the hall of fuckin’ fame for Christ’s sake! I know Byron’s bullshit’s gon’ piss you off, JB, but I want you to just take a deep fuckin’ breath and realize that they’s worse things than losin’ to The Followin’ like y’all ‘bout to. *cough* Just ask the HR Department *cough* They’s worse things than gettin’ knocked outta the tournament by superior competition like you gonna. They’s worse things than gettin’ stuck with a fuckin’ innanimate object as a partner like you did. It’s cool, brotha. Just show up, do yo’ bes’, realize that shit ain’t enough against The Followin’, an’ move on wit’ yo’ damn life. Welcome back though. Glad you punked that fuckin’ cop, but now I gotta give you the same treatment, man.”
Dandy leaned over the ropes closest to the camera.
“I really hope we don’t make you tuck yo’ tail between yo’ legs an’ disappear again, JB. What a shame that’d be…”
Dandy winked into the camera and the scene faded.