Post by kidnotorious on Oct 21, 2011 23:57:47 GMT -5
Note: Edited to fix coding issue
A "fresh start." That was what Brandon had told his best friend Adrian he'd needed when he moved away from the Tucson, Arizona home he'd known almost his whole life a little over a year ago. He'd walked away from everything: friends, family, his comfy job as an announcer for the local Arizona indy fed he'd been working for in between wrestling dates... A risky decision to make, to uproot everything all because of a girl. But it was just... too hard to stay. Everything reminded him of Kaycee. Not the least of which being Adrian himself. The four of them --Brandon, Adrian, Kaycee and their good friend Cecil-- had spent so many days together, they had a bond that went between just good friends, and when you add in that Kaycee was Adrian's older sister, it was just... he couldn't be around anyone with the last name of Tanner right now without falling into that funk he'd found himself in after she left.
So, he packed his bags and he walked away. Of course he knew he wouldn't be gone for long, Adrian and Bryant and Cecil were more than just friends, they were practically family to him, but for now, he needed the space.
That 'space' led him to the place of his birth; San Dimas, California. He spent a few months working the local indies, getting his feet wet as it were, before a chance encounter with Mark Rivera at an airport led to his first real breakthrough and his current job in EUW.
Life as a part of EUW had certainly been... interesting, to say the least. Immediately he was thrown into a position he didn't expect, forced to look into his past just as soon as he'd thought he could move away from it, at something he'd regretted from the second it happened, his mouth and body having gotten the better of him at the time. Something he'd wanted to apologize for for the longest time, but he'd long before that realized an apology probably wouldn't cut it. So when he was finally forced to deal with his shame from long ago he decided that actions would speak louder than words... and drenched himself in water.
And that, as the old saying goes, was the start of a beautiful friendship. The very early start, but a start nonetheless.
Nobody expectedthe spanish inquisition! a geeky, rogue-ish asshole who let his mouth get the better of him like Brandon to land a friend like the Southern Belle, but sure enough that's what happened! Nobody couldv'e predicted they'd end up spending just about all their free time in between shows hanging out together, going sight-seeing, having dinner, the disaster that was that one time she tried to get him to COOK dinner *AHEM*, or all the other things they'd done together since they'd become friends to happen, but they'd happened all the same.
And nobody --least of all the Young Gun himself-- had expected him to fall in love with her, but that's exactly what happened too.
He was still unsure what to do about those feelings, there were still questions needing to be answered. Was he really ready for this? Or was his brain (and... other parts of him) just looking for something that wasn't Kaycee? And perhaps more importantly, did Natalie even feel the same way about him? He thought there might be some feelings there, but he still wasn't certain. He was willing to wait until he knew for certain either way though, and even if things ended up not happening, he knew he wanted Natalie in his life, even if it was just as a friend.
Suddenly his vision went black as he felt a pair of soft hands cover his eyes.
Natalie: Guess who?
Brandon: Ahhhh it's the boogeyman haaaaalp!
He flung his arms around spastically for a few moments until the Southern Belle took her hands off of his eyes and moved to sit on the bench next to him. Smoothing her blue silk skirt beneath herself as she sits, she crosses her legs primly in front of herself.
Brandon: ...Okay so I knew it was you all along.
He grinned, chuckling a bit.
Brandon: So... How're you today?
Natalie: Oh, I'm alright. How about you?
He sighed, looking out at the ducks swimming around in the pond a little ways away.
Brandon: I'm okay. Just kinda... nervous, yknow?
Natalie: Oh..? Why's that?
Brandon raised his eyes as he realized there was more than one answer to that question...
Brandon: Well lot's of reason- Ah, well, didya ever notice, this title I'm fightin' for... it's called the "Hardkore" Title, with a "k"...
Natalie nods.
Natalie: So, of course that puts you in mind of Hardkore World... wasn't that where your career started, too? Or was it just me?
Brandon: Nah, my career started in... another place. Without getting into how awkward it is to be fighting for a title that's the name of a former fed that was around for twenty years, I just... Hardkore World was... most of the people there, everyone saw them as the cream of the crop. The best of the best. I never wrestled there because I never felt like I deserved it. Adrian, Ceece, you... you guys are the good ones. I'm just a glorified "flying monkey." Or I used to think I was at least.
He glanced away, rubbing a hand through his hair. Natalie rests a hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing it.
Natalie: But now you know better, right? Because between you, me, and those ducks out there... in the eyes of this former Hardkore World champion? You would've fit in just fine.
He turned to look her in the eyes, seeing the honesty of her words staring him right in the face, and a smile crossed his face.
Brandon: Thanks Nat. Hearin' that from you... it means, well, a lot.
More than she knows, he thinks.
Natalie: Of course, sugah.
Brandon: So, you think I can pull this off?
Natalie: Of course you can... and more than that? I think you WILL pull it off.
His smile turned into a full blown grin.
Brandon: Then that settles it. That title is MINE and Raptor Jesus save anyone who gets in my way!
The blond giggles as she pats his shoulder.
Brandon: Oh yeah!
A sheepish smile tugs at his lips as he reaches under the bench and pulls out the basket and the blanket, reaching inside the basket to pull out a couple plastic containers, handing one to Natalie.
Brandon: ...It's Peanut Butter and Jelly. You remember what happened the last time I cooked something, eheh. But I thought we could have a picnic anyways, and well ya need for that! And gah I'm rambling again.
Natalie: Aw, why thank you...
The Southern Belle leans up and kisses his cheek. Brandon almost dies of happiness, but he reigns himself in. They head off to go find a place to enjoy their picnic, laughing and talking all the way as the scene cuts out.
============================ß============================
The scene reopens and we find Brandon Young sitting backwards on a steel chair in the middle of a wrestling ring. No frills, no fancy setting, just a man and a ring.
Brandon: Okay, I'm gonna come clean right now with something that most people in this business wouldn't have the cajones to say. Raptor Jesus forbid you EVER show any sort of weakness in front of anyone in this sport.
The Young Gun rolls his eyes.
Brandon: I am a bit... nervous. About well, a lot of things really, but the most important one at this point in time is what happens this sunday. This upcoming Sunday Night Vengeance features a Hardkore Title match, an opportunity that belongs to yours truly... in the [main event![/i]
To say the pressure is high would be an understatement.[/color][/b]
He glances off screen for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking back at the camera.
Brandon: This will be my first time not only going for a Championship but doing so in the main event of the show. All eyes will be on me as I attempt to wrest the title from a guy who seemingly has more important things to do than worry about this whole WRESTLING thing,
And while I try to wrap my head around the latest episode of "Cop Drama: The Musical" I can't help but think of all the questions the rest of the universe will either ask me or ask about me in the moments leading up to the match. Am I ready for this? Can I do what many would say is the impossible? Do I, as Bane so eloquently pointed out, a veritable newcomer to EUW even deserve to be in the main event for a Title shot?
All are good questions to ask, really, but I'ma start with the first one: Am I ready for this? Well, as ready as I'll goddamn ever be! EUW was supposed to be my new beginning, my rebirth, and what better way to truly make that point than to defeat Bane for the Hardkore Title in my first attempt, with the entire WORLD watching me in the main event of the show?!
Really, what WOULD be better than that? Not much. Well, Brandon could probably think of one thing off the top of his head, but that's not really wrestling-related, even if it involves a certain blonde-haired wrestler...
Brandon: As for the other questions... Do I deserve to be here, fighting in the main event for a Championship? Well, I think all ya gotta do is look at what I've done since coming here. I haven't won every match, I lost out on the rumble, I lost to that terrible excuse for a Superhero Roman, I've had my downs... But I've had my ups as well. I may not have won the Rumble, but I went out there to leave an impression and I did just that! I lost to Roman one show and he blew me off, acted like I was nothing, and what did I do in response? What did I DOOOOO in response?
He grins, saying that last part in a sing-songy voice, as he remembered putting that sanctimonious ass Roman Cripate in his place, just like he said he would.
Brandon: I kicked his damn ASS is what I did! Not only his, but I stood toe to toe with a former World Champion, one of the so-called 'legends' of this place, The Scorpion himself... and I took him to the limit before I pinned Roman for the one, two, three!
A hint of a smirk crosses his face at that, but it's quickly replaced by a look of annoyance.
Brandon: Bane, I know you're fairly new to the business and all, but if you want to call yourself a champion, if you want to continue BEING a champion? You're gonna have to step out of the newest episode of "One Former Cop Life to Live" and realize that you are a WRESTLER NOW and you should be focusing on WRESTLING! It would serve you real well if ya did some of that... what's it called again? It's on the tiiip of my tongue...
Oh yeah. RESEARCH!
He glares at the camera before shaking his head. How one can expect to get by without actually doing anything to show you even WANT to get by baffles him.
Brandon: While watching... whatever that was you called a promotional video one thing became real clear to me. You don't have a goddamn clue who I am. And yknow what, that'd be fine in most cases. Most of the time I'd tell whatever arrogant jackass facing me this week that he doesn't need to know all about me, he's just gotta know what I'm gonna do to him in that RING! And I suppose that holds true here as well, but I mean COME ON MAN! You are a former POLICE OFFICER! You of ALL PEOPLE, I expected to maybe do put a little effort in and find something out about me.
It's not like it's hard. Even if you don't take into account everything I've done in the month or two I've been here, I'm not a hard man to figure out Bane. I'm the class clown who never learned when to shut the hell up in school because he was too dumb to realize it. I'm the kid who never learned when to stay down and stop getting up even when I'm getting my ass beat because I'm too damn stubborn for my own good! I'm LOUD and PROUD and I don't CARE who I piss off in the process of making a point so long as that point gets MADE!
He glares at the camera, a fire in his eyes that hasn't been seen before as he gets ready for the biggest fight of his life. But his glare softens for a moment as he remembers something of importance.
Brandon: Well, that's not entirely true. I care in ONE case. You... you are not that one case though.
He starts to daydream for a moment, before shaking his head, getting back to business.
Brandon: You are not going to get anywhere in this business when your mindset is "I don't know this guy but I'm going to win because I am," which is what yours amounts to. Like any sport you have to be GOOD at what you do in order to win and in order to be good at it you have to actually CARE about what you're doing in that ring! I'm not the best in the world, I wouldn't even say I'm close to it, but I'll DAMNED if I let some guy who can't even be bothered to do a little digging on an opponent when digging for information used to be HIS JOB beat me!
I'm not just fighting for me here, I'm fighting for the spirit of Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling doesn't care about your evil ex-wife stalking you and keeping you from your son, pro wrestling only cares about two guys going into that ring, beating the crap out of each other --with or without weapons-- and watching one person win while the other loses.
I've got my own personal life to worry about, my own story, we all do. But when it comes time to do my thing, to step into that ring, all that personal stuff goes to the side where it belongs, and my drive, my determination to WIN takes it place. I'm going in that ring with the motivation to kick your head in and I'm going to do my damnedest to do just that! I'm going to study every tape of you I can find, work my way around whatever weakness I can find if I can find any and then I'm going to reach out and take that brass ring, that golden title belt, for my own! I'm not gonna do this because I'm better than you, I dunno that I'm better than you till I step into that ring and see for myself. I'm gonna WIN because I WANT IT MORE!
Sometimes it really is that simple.
I have busted my ass since day one here with the goal of stepping out of the shadows of those people would claim are my 'betters.' I am so, SO close to being able to look all my doubters in the face and say "FUCK you! You don't know a damn THING about me or what I'm capable of and you never did!" The final piece of that puzzle is just inches from my grasp, it's that ten pounds of gold and leather you carry around your waist.
One final test for me to pass, one last trial for me to face. That's what you are, Bane.
You are the Final Boss and all I have to do to get that final piece of the triforce and win my Princess's heart is to put you into the mat, climbs those ropes and drive the air out of your lungs with my boots!
A small smile crosses his face as he thinks about the imagery of those words, specifically who exactly his 'princess' would be...
Brandon: So that's EXACTLY what I'm going to do!
I'm all leveled up, with full health, and the best weapons in the game, and as Raptor Jesus as my witness, I'm gonna make this a fight that EVERYONE remembers!
And as the dust settles and the smoke clears, the man standing tall, newly crowned champion of Hardkore you and the rest of the world will understand what I knew all along. That this business runs through my VEINS, and nobody will EVER stand in my way from achieving total victory ever again.
He takes one last, determined look into the camera.
Brandon: As my best friend once coined before he took his own walk through the fire...
Sunday.. Sunday is the first day of the rest of my life.
Believe it.
Fade to Gold.
A "fresh start." That was what Brandon had told his best friend Adrian he'd needed when he moved away from the Tucson, Arizona home he'd known almost his whole life a little over a year ago. He'd walked away from everything: friends, family, his comfy job as an announcer for the local Arizona indy fed he'd been working for in between wrestling dates... A risky decision to make, to uproot everything all because of a girl. But it was just... too hard to stay. Everything reminded him of Kaycee. Not the least of which being Adrian himself. The four of them --Brandon, Adrian, Kaycee and their good friend Cecil-- had spent so many days together, they had a bond that went between just good friends, and when you add in that Kaycee was Adrian's older sister, it was just... he couldn't be around anyone with the last name of Tanner right now without falling into that funk he'd found himself in after she left.
So, he packed his bags and he walked away. Of course he knew he wouldn't be gone for long, Adrian and Bryant and Cecil were more than just friends, they were practically family to him, but for now, he needed the space.
That 'space' led him to the place of his birth; San Dimas, California. He spent a few months working the local indies, getting his feet wet as it were, before a chance encounter with Mark Rivera at an airport led to his first real breakthrough and his current job in EUW.
Life as a part of EUW had certainly been... interesting, to say the least. Immediately he was thrown into a position he didn't expect, forced to look into his past just as soon as he'd thought he could move away from it, at something he'd regretted from the second it happened, his mouth and body having gotten the better of him at the time. Something he'd wanted to apologize for for the longest time, but he'd long before that realized an apology probably wouldn't cut it. So when he was finally forced to deal with his shame from long ago he decided that actions would speak louder than words... and drenched himself in water.
And that, as the old saying goes, was the start of a beautiful friendship. The very early start, but a start nonetheless.
Nobody expected
And nobody --least of all the Young Gun himself-- had expected him to fall in love with her, but that's exactly what happened too.
He was still unsure what to do about those feelings, there were still questions needing to be answered. Was he really ready for this? Or was his brain (and... other parts of him) just looking for something that wasn't Kaycee? And perhaps more importantly, did Natalie even feel the same way about him? He thought there might be some feelings there, but he still wasn't certain. He was willing to wait until he knew for certain either way though, and even if things ended up not happening, he knew he wanted Natalie in his life, even if it was just as a friend.
Suddenly his vision went black as he felt a pair of soft hands cover his eyes.
Natalie: Guess who?
Brandon: Ahhhh it's the boogeyman haaaaalp!
He flung his arms around spastically for a few moments until the Southern Belle took her hands off of his eyes and moved to sit on the bench next to him. Smoothing her blue silk skirt beneath herself as she sits, she crosses her legs primly in front of herself.
Brandon: ...Okay so I knew it was you all along.
He grinned, chuckling a bit.
Brandon: So... How're you today?
Natalie: Oh, I'm alright. How about you?
He sighed, looking out at the ducks swimming around in the pond a little ways away.
Brandon: I'm okay. Just kinda... nervous, yknow?
Natalie: Oh..? Why's that?
Brandon raised his eyes as he realized there was more than one answer to that question...
Brandon: Well lot's of reason- Ah, well, didya ever notice, this title I'm fightin' for... it's called the "Hardkore" Title, with a "k"...
Natalie nods.
Natalie: So, of course that puts you in mind of Hardkore World... wasn't that where your career started, too? Or was it just me?
Brandon: Nah, my career started in... another place. Without getting into how awkward it is to be fighting for a title that's the name of a former fed that was around for twenty years, I just... Hardkore World was... most of the people there, everyone saw them as the cream of the crop. The best of the best. I never wrestled there because I never felt like I deserved it. Adrian, Ceece, you... you guys are the good ones. I'm just a glorified "flying monkey." Or I used to think I was at least.
He glanced away, rubbing a hand through his hair. Natalie rests a hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing it.
Natalie: But now you know better, right? Because between you, me, and those ducks out there... in the eyes of this former Hardkore World champion? You would've fit in just fine.
He turned to look her in the eyes, seeing the honesty of her words staring him right in the face, and a smile crossed his face.
Brandon: Thanks Nat. Hearin' that from you... it means, well, a lot.
More than she knows, he thinks.
Natalie: Of course, sugah.
Brandon: So, you think I can pull this off?
Natalie: Of course you can... and more than that? I think you WILL pull it off.
His smile turned into a full blown grin.
Brandon: Then that settles it. That title is MINE and Raptor Jesus save anyone who gets in my way!
The blond giggles as she pats his shoulder.
Brandon: Oh yeah!
A sheepish smile tugs at his lips as he reaches under the bench and pulls out the basket and the blanket, reaching inside the basket to pull out a couple plastic containers, handing one to Natalie.
Brandon: ...It's Peanut Butter and Jelly. You remember what happened the last time I cooked something, eheh. But I thought we could have a picnic anyways, and well ya need for that! And gah I'm rambling again.
Natalie: Aw, why thank you...
The Southern Belle leans up and kisses his cheek. Brandon almost dies of happiness, but he reigns himself in. They head off to go find a place to enjoy their picnic, laughing and talking all the way as the scene cuts out.
============================ß============================
The scene reopens and we find Brandon Young sitting backwards on a steel chair in the middle of a wrestling ring. No frills, no fancy setting, just a man and a ring.
Brandon: Okay, I'm gonna come clean right now with something that most people in this business wouldn't have the cajones to say. Raptor Jesus forbid you EVER show any sort of weakness in front of anyone in this sport.
The Young Gun rolls his eyes.
Brandon: I am a bit... nervous. About well, a lot of things really, but the most important one at this point in time is what happens this sunday. This upcoming Sunday Night Vengeance features a Hardkore Title match, an opportunity that belongs to yours truly... in the [main event![/i]
To say the pressure is high would be an understatement.[/color][/b]
He glances off screen for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking back at the camera.
Brandon: This will be my first time not only going for a Championship but doing so in the main event of the show. All eyes will be on me as I attempt to wrest the title from a guy who seemingly has more important things to do than worry about this whole WRESTLING thing,
And while I try to wrap my head around the latest episode of "Cop Drama: The Musical" I can't help but think of all the questions the rest of the universe will either ask me or ask about me in the moments leading up to the match. Am I ready for this? Can I do what many would say is the impossible? Do I, as Bane so eloquently pointed out, a veritable newcomer to EUW even deserve to be in the main event for a Title shot?
All are good questions to ask, really, but I'ma start with the first one: Am I ready for this? Well, as ready as I'll goddamn ever be! EUW was supposed to be my new beginning, my rebirth, and what better way to truly make that point than to defeat Bane for the Hardkore Title in my first attempt, with the entire WORLD watching me in the main event of the show?!
Really, what WOULD be better than that? Not much. Well, Brandon could probably think of one thing off the top of his head, but that's not really wrestling-related, even if it involves a certain blonde-haired wrestler...
Brandon: As for the other questions... Do I deserve to be here, fighting in the main event for a Championship? Well, I think all ya gotta do is look at what I've done since coming here. I haven't won every match, I lost out on the rumble, I lost to that terrible excuse for a Superhero Roman, I've had my downs... But I've had my ups as well. I may not have won the Rumble, but I went out there to leave an impression and I did just that! I lost to Roman one show and he blew me off, acted like I was nothing, and what did I do in response? What did I DOOOOO in response?
He grins, saying that last part in a sing-songy voice, as he remembered putting that sanctimonious ass Roman Cripate in his place, just like he said he would.
Brandon: I kicked his damn ASS is what I did! Not only his, but I stood toe to toe with a former World Champion, one of the so-called 'legends' of this place, The Scorpion himself... and I took him to the limit before I pinned Roman for the one, two, three!
A hint of a smirk crosses his face at that, but it's quickly replaced by a look of annoyance.
Brandon: Bane, I know you're fairly new to the business and all, but if you want to call yourself a champion, if you want to continue BEING a champion? You're gonna have to step out of the newest episode of "One Former Cop Life to Live" and realize that you are a WRESTLER NOW and you should be focusing on WRESTLING! It would serve you real well if ya did some of that... what's it called again? It's on the tiiip of my tongue...
Oh yeah. RESEARCH!
He glares at the camera before shaking his head. How one can expect to get by without actually doing anything to show you even WANT to get by baffles him.
Brandon: While watching... whatever that was you called a promotional video one thing became real clear to me. You don't have a goddamn clue who I am. And yknow what, that'd be fine in most cases. Most of the time I'd tell whatever arrogant jackass facing me this week that he doesn't need to know all about me, he's just gotta know what I'm gonna do to him in that RING! And I suppose that holds true here as well, but I mean COME ON MAN! You are a former POLICE OFFICER! You of ALL PEOPLE, I expected to maybe do put a little effort in and find something out about me.
It's not like it's hard. Even if you don't take into account everything I've done in the month or two I've been here, I'm not a hard man to figure out Bane. I'm the class clown who never learned when to shut the hell up in school because he was too dumb to realize it. I'm the kid who never learned when to stay down and stop getting up even when I'm getting my ass beat because I'm too damn stubborn for my own good! I'm LOUD and PROUD and I don't CARE who I piss off in the process of making a point so long as that point gets MADE!
He glares at the camera, a fire in his eyes that hasn't been seen before as he gets ready for the biggest fight of his life. But his glare softens for a moment as he remembers something of importance.
Brandon: Well, that's not entirely true. I care in ONE case. You... you are not that one case though.
He starts to daydream for a moment, before shaking his head, getting back to business.
Brandon: You are not going to get anywhere in this business when your mindset is "I don't know this guy but I'm going to win because I am," which is what yours amounts to. Like any sport you have to be GOOD at what you do in order to win and in order to be good at it you have to actually CARE about what you're doing in that ring! I'm not the best in the world, I wouldn't even say I'm close to it, but I'll DAMNED if I let some guy who can't even be bothered to do a little digging on an opponent when digging for information used to be HIS JOB beat me!
I'm not just fighting for me here, I'm fighting for the spirit of Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling doesn't care about your evil ex-wife stalking you and keeping you from your son, pro wrestling only cares about two guys going into that ring, beating the crap out of each other --with or without weapons-- and watching one person win while the other loses.
I've got my own personal life to worry about, my own story, we all do. But when it comes time to do my thing, to step into that ring, all that personal stuff goes to the side where it belongs, and my drive, my determination to WIN takes it place. I'm going in that ring with the motivation to kick your head in and I'm going to do my damnedest to do just that! I'm going to study every tape of you I can find, work my way around whatever weakness I can find if I can find any and then I'm going to reach out and take that brass ring, that golden title belt, for my own! I'm not gonna do this because I'm better than you, I dunno that I'm better than you till I step into that ring and see for myself. I'm gonna WIN because I WANT IT MORE!
Sometimes it really is that simple.
I have busted my ass since day one here with the goal of stepping out of the shadows of those people would claim are my 'betters.' I am so, SO close to being able to look all my doubters in the face and say "FUCK you! You don't know a damn THING about me or what I'm capable of and you never did!" The final piece of that puzzle is just inches from my grasp, it's that ten pounds of gold and leather you carry around your waist.
One final test for me to pass, one last trial for me to face. That's what you are, Bane.
You are the Final Boss and all I have to do to get that final piece of the triforce and win my Princess's heart is to put you into the mat, climbs those ropes and drive the air out of your lungs with my boots!
A small smile crosses his face as he thinks about the imagery of those words, specifically who exactly his 'princess' would be...
Brandon: So that's EXACTLY what I'm going to do!
I'm all leveled up, with full health, and the best weapons in the game, and as Raptor Jesus as my witness, I'm gonna make this a fight that EVERYONE remembers!
And as the dust settles and the smoke clears, the man standing tall, newly crowned champion of Hardkore you and the rest of the world will understand what I knew all along. That this business runs through my VEINS, and nobody will EVER stand in my way from achieving total victory ever again.
He takes one last, determined look into the camera.
Brandon: As my best friend once coined before he took his own walk through the fire...
Sunday.. Sunday is the first day of the rest of my life.
Believe it.
Fade to Gold.