Post by Drunky McGee on Apr 26, 2012 17:06:26 GMT -5
PART 1: THE CALL
Rick awoke from sleep, startled. He sat up quickly, his eyes darting around, his mind in a haze, trying to figure out what exactly had woken him up. His heart was pounding and he didn't know why. Belatedly, he realized the cell phone on the nightstand beside him was ringing. He picked it up, looked at the number, didn't recognize it. Had a brief .25 second debate as to whether or not he wanted to bother answering it or not, and some instinct inside him told him to see who exactly was calling him at this time of night. He hit the button to answer the call and lifted the phone to his ear.
Voice: Rick?
It was Danita.
Rick's heart froze. He hadn't heard his ex wife's voice in years. His mind raced; what to say? Why was it so difficult to answer her first word, which was barely even a question?
Rick Mad: ...yeah. Danita?
He spoke as if it was a question. He knew the answer.
Danita: Yeah... yeah. It's me.
She had a slight edge to her voice that unnerved Rick.
Rick Mad: Oh. Sorry, I'm just waking up, I'd been sleeping.
Danita: No, I'm sorry. It's only 10, with the whole "wrestling lifestyle" thing and all I was a little worried I was calling too early, to be honest with you.
Rick glanced at the clock; it WAS only 10 PM! He sighed to himself. When had he fallen asleep? Somewhere around 8. He hadn't been tired, just.. bored. He'd gone to sleep because he was bored.
Rick Mad: Yeah, I had a really long day today.
..he lied..
Rick Mad: Um... but yeah.. how've you been, Danita?
A slight humorless chuckle from the other line.
Danita: Oh, you know. I've been better.
Rick Mad: ..oh?
Danita: Yeah, Rick. See, I really don't enjoy my name being brought up and drug through the mud once again. I don't know where you got the balls to drag me back into your little wrestling world with that fake Danita that was with Logan-
Rick wanted to interrupt her, to tell her the truth, that he had nothing to do with it. But he couldn't. He let her continue.
Danita: I don't know if it was just some kind of cry for attention, since I didn't come running back to you when you replied to my letters. Either way, to say that I don't appreciate it would be an understatement.
Rick had had enough.
Rick Mad: No, Danita, I-
She quickly interrupted him.
Danita: Let me finish. I've contacted attorneys, Rick. I need this to stop. I'm a teacher now, and do you know how hard it was for me to deal with students that had seen my in wrestling? There were rumors and jokes about me being a whore for years!, and not even just from students, but from my coworkers as well. But finally those had started to die down. I've been out of the limelight for a long time now, and the wrestling world had forgotten about me. But you had to drag me back in, without consenting me, without my permission whatsoever. Now the same old jokes are coming back up, and I'm back at square one. Rick, I have a reputation to keep up! I can't do this! I want it to stop!
Rick waited a few seconds before replying, making absolutely sure Danita had finished.
Rick Mad: Danita...
He sighed, trying to compose himself.
Rick Mad: I just... I'm sorry. I.. I had nothing to do with any of that. Logan just knows me, he knows how to get to me.
Danita: That's your excuse!? Logan and the UWA portrayed me as some weak, mindless woman who would allow herself to be treated.. like.... ugh, I don't even know. It was disgusting.
Rick Mad: I agree!, Logan's a disgusting human being. That is how he sees ALL women, I'm fairly certain. I'm sorry, seriously, if I knew me coming back to wrestling would do this to you I would've never done it. Seriously. I guess... I guess you didn't really watch the shows, but... I've been doing what I can to put an end to it. I'm trying to take Logan out, for good, run him out of this company. I beat him, Danita..
He paused, wondering if he should say this next sentence. But when he wonders if he should say something or not, the result is always the same. He just says it.
Rick Mad: I beat him.. for you.
A pause from the other end of the line.
Danita: Rick.. I'm not some impressionable sixteen year old or something, beating someone up for me isn't noble and it isn't going to impress me. Look, I tried to be nice to you when I replied to your letter to me, but I see that that was a mistake-
Rick Mad: NO! No. No, it wasn't, I was so happy to hear from you. I... I promise you, Danita, seriously. I'm putting an end to this.
Danita: Yeah. Sure. I see you putting an end to it. Last week they showed "me" like some slut in the back with Logan.
Rick Mad: Never again... I mean it. I don't know what else to say.
Danita: Sigh.. we'll see Rick. Well.. that was all I called to say.
Rick Mad: Oh.
Danita: So, goodbye. I hope we don't have to have this conversation again. Because next time you'll be talking to my lawyer.
Rick Mad: ...goodbye.
Rick hung up and set his phone back on the dresser. Last time he'd fallen asleep it was out of boredom; this time, he felt empty. This time he felt asleep from pure depression.
PART 2: SHOW MUST GO ON
Queen is playing in the background as sweat drips down Rick's face. He's bench pressing, with Bob spotting him. After his last lift, he puts the weights back in place and sits up, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
Bob: Whoo. You're looking good, Rick.
Rick Mad: Shhh, man. We're in public, don't say that. People are gonna think the wrong thing.
Bob: ...come on. Okay, you're looking like you're in good shape. Better?
Rick Mad: Yep.
Bob: Good shape to roll around in your underwear with other men! BAM, pro wrestling joke. Take that.
Rick glares at Bob, ignoring the zing.
Rick Mad: Yeah.. well. Anyway, yeah man, I'm in great shape. I'm ready for this.
Bob: World Title match, man. Your first World Title match in.. how long?
Rick Mad: I don't even want to think about it. Needless to say, I'm excited. To be honest, I can barely believe its happening. I haven't been in UWA that long, to be put in a World Title match at their PPV.. man. I've never been happier.
Something in Rick's eye tells Bob that that statement isn't quite true, but of course he pretends to have not noticed.
Bob: Well don't get ahead of yourself. The only thing better than getting a World Title match at a PPV is, of course, winning a World Title at a PPV. Who're you up against?
Rick Mad: Manabu Fujiwara, the Japanese Playboy.
Bob: Oh man. That is PERFECT. You want to do some kind of parody promo about him? We can both dress up like ninjas with pimp hats and make lots of terrible Japanese stereotype jokes. Like about eating pussy! Its perfect. Like, do we mean vaginas since we're pimps, or cats since we're Asian?
Rick Mad: I've already been threatened with a lawsuit once this week, Bob, I don't really want a second lawsuit about a racist promo too, please.
Bob: Oh come on.. wait, seriously? Lawsuit because of what?
Rick Mad: I don't want to talk about it.
Bob raises his eyebrow, but decides not to push the subject.
Bob: Alright, so... you've gotta do SOME kind of promo about him, right? What else is there about him?
Rick Mad: Well luckily for me he seems to have some kind of feud going on with Samuel Silas, the guy in charge of Sin City. Silas wants to make sure Manabu loses the belt. So, hey! I've got some luck in my corner!
Bob: What kind of wrestler is he?
Rick Mad: Unfortunately for me, he seems very proficient. He's experienced enough and he's a smart wrestler. He's not one that is just going to try to hit me with as many big moves as he can, he's going to wrestle smart, wear me down. Him and I are going to be playing the same game, because that is my strategy as well. Wear him down, take out his legs if possible, and hope that I can hit the Mad DDT and knock his brains around enough once he's exhausted to get the pin. Sam Silas is smart; not only am I going to take the Title from this Manabu Fujiwara guy, but UWA is going to deliver a classic wrestling match that the fans are going to be talking about. We're gonna put UWA on the match and steal the show, I can guarentee that.
Bob: Well that sounds good. But I have one question.
Rick Mad: Yeah?
Bob: If Sam Silas wants Fujiwara to lose the belt so much... why is Logan the referee?
Rick looks down for a second.
Rick Mad: I don't know. Winning a wrestling match nowadays is part luck. Logan is an x factor. Is he going to decide to help me win the belt so that he has a shot at taking it from me? I could see him doing that. Is he going to screw me out of it just to say he did? I could definitely see that too. Am I going to end up kicking the shit out of him and getting DQed? Maybe. Or maybe I'll be too distracted by him and it will allow Fujiwara to get the best of me. A million things could happen, Bob. This is pro wrestling. All I can do is go out there, do my best and hope that if and when fate decides to flip a coin, it goes in my favor.
Bob: Well.. besides being in good ring shape and having your mind focused, I guess that is pretty much all you can do.
Rick Mad: And if Logan decides to bring that actress in to play my ex wife one more time, I'm going to murder him. Plain and simple. I said last week that he has brought out the best in me, but if he keeps pushing me he's going to bring out the worst in me.
Bob: ...Huh. Okay then ...
Rick Mad: Let's get out of here. No amount of training in the gym is going to help me right now. I'm ready.
Bob smiles.
Bob: That's my boy!
The two get up to go, grabbing their towels and gear.
Bob: Hey, Rick. You SURE you don't want to do that stereotypical asian pimp promo?
Rick rolls his eyes as the two exit the gym.