OOC- I realize that the idea I am going to try to pull off in this flash/role-play is going to be something difficult. So I am going to let you in on some of the little things that I plan to do. First it will become apparent that Damien Cross is intoxicated. This will be shown by pauses in between words example "come here" will be "come....here". Also if Cross is to ask a question the person may ask for a repeat as they do not understand him. Another thing time will seemingly stand still, this will be shown by description of little things through out the flash. If I manage to pull this off, it has the potential to be a great role-play.
[ Static ]
[ This is airing from the security camera inside the locker room of Damien Cross. Although the arena as emptied, he still remains.]
[ The disturbing crash can be heard as clear as day. The sound somewhat disturbing but does not sound accidentally. You can tell this because there is nothing after it, no angered comment. Just the crash. The screen fades in from the static. To a door, as simplistic as it is. The door reads "Hard Knock Kid" and underneath in italic writing it says "Damien Cross" The screen itself seems timid to go through the door. For they do not know what lurks on the other side. Although the person on the inside could be in trouble and need help, or he could be in a fit of rage. ]
[ The screen remains still, yet worried. As the screen rotates around. Something is noticeable on the wall outside the door. It is a picture of a former NWA Heavyweight Champion Eric Dane. Could this be a sign of something great to come for Damien Cross? Or will he forever live in the shadow of the former great's and now legends of the NWA? Then the door patiently makes the motion of opening. The door makes a distinct creaking noise as it first opens up. And there we see it. The war-zone. ]
[ Just by barley looking in to the room, furniture scattered everywhere is apparent. It looks as if there was a tornado, who had just entered that one room and disappeared. With all of the wreckage inside of the room. As the screen finally makes its way around the corner of the initial entrance, there we see it. Damien Cross still in his wrestling gear from earlier at "Season in Hell" Cross does not look like he has been through the battle,but a war. He sits over in the corner looking over at all of the destruction with his hands on his head. ]
[ Then out of the corner of the screens view, we see the source of all this destruction. It is a almost empty bottle of "Hennessy". Cross looks up towards the screen his eyes barley open, although barley open they are blood shot. As tired as Damien manages to look, he still has a angry look embedded in his face. And it does not seem that it is going anywhere. Cross then grasp on to the neck of the bottle as if it were going somewhere. Then he takes another drink and sits it back down on the floor.]
[ There was no look of distastfulness on the face of Cross as his guzzled down some of the liquor. The clink of the bottle hitting the ground can be heard for miles away in the undisturbed land of the bayou. Then without saying a word you can tell that Damien Cross's mind is going as fast as can be. What is on his mind? Why has he put himself in this state? What has sent him to do this? ]
" HOW THE F*CK DID I MANAGE THAT?"
[ Cross places his hands over his eyes, trying to wash away the feeling of drunkenness on his face.]
"All the training...The countless hours in the training facility and nothing. All the sweat lost, and now one damn thing! I worked for countless hours paying no mind for my own well being, just to prepare. To prepare for the time when I would actually enter the ring. Getting ready for my time to shine. AND I LOST! I F*CKING LOST! I told myself I was not going to fail. I told myself I would not bow down to the life that has been given to me. And I did just the opposite. I accepted the loss, I lost at something I have never wanted so bad. I wanted nothing more then succeed, victory was seeping through my veins. I could almost taste the victory coming to me...and in that one instant it was gone!"
[ Damien Cross takes another drink of the 'henny'. Then sits it down like it is nothing to him. ]
" Hennessy makes the pain go away. The pain of loss, the sorrows of hate. All go away in one bottle. Almost makes you forget all about the loss to three of the most egotistical f*cks in the BWA. What in hell was management thinking placing me in the ring with every ego in the BWA. All of them claiming they were going to go out legends and nothing...only one succeeded. I guess in my own mind I thought that night I would become the legend I had sought. Or at least took a step in the right direction. I guess I fell short on my end of the deal. I could have fought harder! I COULD HAVE FOUGHT HARDER! WHY DIDN'T I TRY HARDER!"
[ A pause in his thought.]
" Maybe this isn't the life for me. Maybe I am to be stuck with the cards I was dealt. Maybe all life has for me is homicide and drive-bys. Maybe that's all I have. Closed caskets instead of titles, death instead of life. Broke instead of rich. Honest living or grimy living. Maybe the announcers were right, maybe I am just another thug that is trying to come out of this lifestyle...."
"FUCK THEM"
" They don't know me. All them motherf*ckers swear up and down I owe them. I don't need nobody's help. Its my life and I am going to lead it the way I see fit. Face the facts. I am not expecting to grow old, so if I am going to make something of this life I was given the time for me to do it is now! There is no time to wait. I got to do this. And I have got to do this now!"
[ "Hard Knock Kid" has a sudden flame enter his eyes. As if he had finally realized something, that has been on his mind. Like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders. ]
"I am in a position to change everything, to make sure that my unborn's life is not like mine. To make sure I can give baby girl something to look forward to, so she isn't visiting me in a jail cell. So she an't burying me. I an't leaven till I am damn good and ready. I have to grasp on to this opportunity. This is my last shot. If I don't make it here then the world is going to pass me by, everyone is going to be making that money liven their dreams but me. I won't have that life for me. Its time for me to come up."
[ Pause for another guzzle of the 'henny' ]
"Just another thug my ass. Damn that just burns me up inside, bastards sitting in there chairs making their money, they don't know what life is outside of their bubble. You know what would really piss them bastards off is..."
"IF I MADE IT"
" That would burn them up to see someone like me come out of all this shit I been through, and to become rich successful, famous the whole nine yards. That would destroy everything you stereotypical f*cks have set out to build. The country would fall if someone like me made it. They don't take me serious right now, just you wait. I am going to get mine, nah fuck that I am gonna' take yours!"
[ Damien Cross stands up as quick as he can which mind you is not very quick. It seems that everything he has drank tonight has hit him all in one fell swoop. Cross falls back in to the wall, as to try not to drop the remaining alcohol he grasps it with two hands as if it were his child. Then Cross slowly hobbles over to the right side of the room. Where the only stationary piece of furniture remains. A table. ]
"Damn I'm trashed..."
[ As Damien Cross makes his way over to the desk, it seems as if he is in a rush to get there but he is not moving at a fast pace. Then he lunges towards the table almost falling. Dropping down to his knees, sitting the bottle on the desk with his head laying down on it. Trying to pick himself up. His legs are moving but his body is not going along with it. Then he uses every last bit of his energy to propel himself up towards the desk. And there it is. The item he was looking for. ]
"Here it is, the rewind line-up."
[ Cross slams his hand in one direction moving all the other papers to the floor. He scans the paper almost as if he is blind. Looking very close at the paper. He scans over it one time, notices nothing. Then he scans over it once more and notices nothing. To the screens eye we know what he is looking for, he is looking for his match. We see it plain as day "Citizen Kane V.s. Damien Cross" But he does not see.]
"God Damn it!"
[ Frustration sets in. Then he picks the paper up puts it a inch or two away from his face as he falls back on to the table. Then after a few lost moments of looking for the match he finally spots it. To his amazement he finally finds it. ]
"Knew I was booked, who is it this time?"
"Citizen Kane"
"Who the hell is this? So this is the one they send me in against for a rebound? What kind of shit is this, I guess that is what happens when you lose here in the Bayou, you go right back down to the bottom of the food chain. Back on Rewind, that shit isn't even televised. My first match I fired up my whole town back in D.C, my whole crew. Turn on the television "I'm going to be on it." Everyone gathered round most of em watching it through store windows. And not a damn thing. Wasn't even viewable. Back on there again. Hopefully I can make quick work of this fool and get back to business. Back on TV. That's what its all about for half these fools the fame and fortune, most of them already got money. I just want enough to survive. Got to start making money and Kane is in the way."
[ Damien Cross in anger that his match is not going to be televised. Grabs the line-up sheet for 'Rewind' and tears it up in to about ten different sized pieces. Then he drops himself back down on the floor. Grabs his bottle of 'henny' then as he is about to take a sip he notices something else on the floor. It says 'Attn:Damien Cross' in a white colored folder. Cross reaches for it almost tipping over in the process. He then realizes that he cannot reach it from where he is. So he slams his foot down on it. Then starts to drag it towards him. This seems like a large task for Cross in the state he is in. ]
"What the hell is this"
[ Damien Cross finally gets the folder in to position where he can reach it. Then he slams his hand down on to the ground in a thunderous smack you notice his hand turn instantly red but he does not feel it. Cross attempts to get the folder open, but he cannot manage to open the prongs that are used to shut it. As ambitious as Cross is, he rips open the folder. And takes out the paper that is inside. While squinting his eyes and the paper two inches from his face he begins to read. ]
"BWA"
"Television"
"Title"
[ In shock Cross drops the letter down to the ground. As he reaches for his bottle he almost misses it as the look on his face is that of wasted, excitement, and worry all at the same time. Cross finally manages to get a grasp on the bottle and starts to chug some more of it down. You hear a clunk as it hits the ground again. Worried it might have broke Cross checks the bottom of the bottle. Then what he has just read finally hits Cross. ]
"Motherf*cker"
[ Cross stares off at the wall. As he soaks in the information. ]
"The Bayou Television Title!"
[ Cross in a shot of excitement tries to jump up in to the air from the ground. But does not succeed. He almost falls and breaks his neck back up on to the desk. ]
"Bad Idea"
[ Cross lays back against the wall with the bottle in hand. Then begins to rethink what he has just read. ]
"Damn, I was expecting a pink slip after a "Season in Hell" I didn't do a damn thing. And they give me a title shot? Ronin handled that Helms kid, why they putting him against me? Something don't seem right."
Damien Cross- HAHA Studd.....is going....to be.......PISSED!
[ Head slams back against the wall.]
"As proud as I want to be with this shot, something don't seem right. Why would they give me a shot? I an't beat anyone important. Hell first time on television I got my ass kicked. Why would they place me against Ronin? Wonder if I failed my piss test, they probably punishing me for that...bastards.."
Damien Cross- DAMN....I'M HAMMERED..
[ As care free as Damien Cross seems, he cannot seem to shake the thought that something might be wrong with the match that has been set up for this Rage. ]
"Wouldn't they fire me if I failed my piss test? Ah hell I don't know how they do things down here in the Bayou. Shit might be different down in the swamp. F*ck it, Whatever they want to throw at me, I welcome with open arms. I bow down to no man. Ronin that kid can wrestle no denying that, If I go in to Just Another Rage like I did the "Season in Hell" I am screwed. There is no way I will walk out with the belt, if I fight like I did. I got to have my game face on..."
[ Pause in thought.]
"Weather its a set up or not, I got to go in there and fight like its my last shot. My last chance to become known, my last chance to gain respect. For all I know it could be my last shot. Ronin better be ready cause I am going to come out scrappin, I'm gonna' scrap like I ever whoop some ass. Ronin better realize that I an't quitting until he either quits or I knock him out. Face facts...he is a pro and I am one gold hungry bastard. Ronin better be ready for battle. Cause I am bringing the war to him."
[ Then all of a sudden there is a knock at the door. ]
Damien Cross- Come.....[ Loss of thought.] Come......in!
[ Timidly the door opens. Moving some of the wreckage that was destroyed in the onslaught that Damien Cross brought to his locker room. The sound of crunching items can be heard through out the room. ]
Damien Cross- [ Loud but he doesn't realize how loud he is. ] WHO.....N'......HELL IS.....IT!
[ There is a mixed sound of the drink hitting the side of the bottle, as Damien Cross takes another guzzle. And the next sound that is thrown it to the mix is the crunching to wreckage. Over heard through all of this is the voice of a young women. ]
Voice of Young Women- Don't you yell at me Mr. Cross!
[ Damien's world seems to light up around him. The moment he hears that voice it is as if there is not a care in the world. He feels invincible. Then coming around the corner is a beautiful women she has long blonde hair, a beautiful face, and the most crystal blue eyes you could ever see. They almost look fake. Cross sits his head up as much as he can in the state he is in. The young lady is wearing a red shirt and some tight blue jeans. ]
Voice of Young Women- What did you do here Cross? You having another party?
[ Pause as Cross is trying to make sure he is seeing what it is he is seeing. ]
Damien Cross- Shan.......Shannon?
Shannon- Who else were you expecting? I hope I didn't disappoint you. [ She knows damn well she didn't disappoint him.]
Damien Cross- No...Never...I....thought....I thought you...
Shannon- What was that your drunk aren't you?
Damien Cross- No......never....[Concentrating] I thought you were going to be there....
Shannon- I tried to get there. The flight was cancelled because they thought there was going to be a tornado or something, Ever since that LaPlata incident they call for one every time a cloud comes out.
[ Pause. ]
Shannon- Are you lying to me? Don't lie to me.
Damien Cross- I'm not lying to you, I am just a little tired is all...
Shannon- Damien, don't lie to me! I see the bottle right there in your hands!
"Oh shit"
Damien Cross- I was.....I was....
[ Gets cut off by Shannon. ]
Shannon- You were drinking weren't you!
Damien Cross- I was...[ Still trying to get the previous thought out.]
"Why can't I get the thought out, I am not that drunk am I? Or will my mind just not let me lie to her?.....I am definitely that drunk"
Damien Cross- Aright so I had a little bit...
Shannon- [ Looking at the bottle.] Damien I have known you for a long time, and you are not the type of person to share his liquor, and that bottle is almost empty!
Damien Cross- [ While Laughing.] Yeah so I had a little more then a little bit.
Shannon- Why are you drinking? Shouldn't you be staying in shape?
Damien Cross- Helps ease the loss...
[ Takes another drink. ]
Shannon- Oh baby, who died?
"Apparently she did not see the "Season in Hell"
Damien Cross- Not that kind of loss.[ Burping.] I lost that fatal four way...
Shannon- Sorry to hear that.
Damien Cross- But...I...got a shot.
Shannon- At what?
Damien Cross- R...o...n...i...n
Shannon- The T.V Title?
Damien Cross- How'd.....you....know?
Shannon- Ever since you got signed I have been trying to keep up with all of it. So I can help you out when you need it.
Damien Cross- My...first big....break. I got to make it count...
Shannon- Don't you worry baby. You will do just fine. You were born to do this, You were born to be a champion. You were born to make it out of that neighborhood you live in.
"If anyone knows what I was born to be is her. She has known me for almost my whole life. I want her here, but in a way I don't I don't want to see her get hurt. If anything happens to her, I don't know what I will do."
Damien Cross- Yeah. But....I will never forget where I came from.
Shannon- You just keep focused on Ronin...
Damien Cross- I'll handle Ronin don't you worry...
"I hope I can take out Ronin. I will be the beginning of a whole new life for her and me. She deserves the whole world. And I am going to give it to her. In the words of 50 " Get rich or die Trying Ronin you are just a victim of circumstance. Wrong place wrong time."
Shannon- How is Malik doing?
Damien Cross- Good [ burp ]
Shannon- He watching out for you?
Damien Cross- I got....I got his back and....he's got mine. Soon Malik and I are going to run...the...tag division.
Shannon- Win the T.V Title first....Then go after the tag titles.
"Ronin you are the first step towards me writing my name in the books. As the kid who came up in to the high life of wrestling and took it by storm."
Shannon- Let's get you home...so you can sleep this off.
[ Cross takes one more guzzle of the liquor. The last sip is the worst. Then he throws the bottle over in the corner were the trash-can used to be. The bottle crashes down to the ground breaking in to a hundred pieces. For Cross it breaks somewhat in matrix mode. Then Shannon comes over to help him up. ]
" Thought there was a trash can there....must have broke that to."
[ Shannon helps him up. As Damien leans on her shoulder. He tries to hold as much of his weight up as he possibly can as not to overwhelm her. Then as Cross almost breaks his neck going to the exit they stop at the light-switch and share a kiss. Then Shannon says something to him. ]
Shannon- Damien...
[ Damien looks up eyes glazed over. ]
Shannon- You remember that promise you made?
"How could I forget...Ronin is one of the last pieces of the puzzle for me to keep."
Damien Cross- Yeah...I remember....
[ Shannon has a priceless smile on her face. As she hits the light switch. And the two walk out. ]
[ Click ]
[ Fade to...]
[That's right Bayou Blue! ]
