Post by Raiden Ishimori on Nov 26, 2023 16:27:59 GMT -5
4 months ago…
Voice: “Alright, a few more and we’ll be done for the day.”
The camera fades into an ongoing photo shoot involving Super Duos Champions, Drake Manson and Marcus Jackson, dressed in street clothes with each of them holding onto their respective half of the championship belts. Various albeit poses are struck by the two, holding the belts up beside their persons as the camera flashes every so often to capture the sights. Drake absent-mindedly brushes the hair out of his face whilst Marcus does the same in similar fashion, although it’s more so to make sure that his own hair is remaining relatively flowing and not tangled in a mess.
Photographer: “Aaaand done. Good stuff guys. I’ll get these printed before you leave.”
Marcus: “‘Preciate it.”
Drake offers a quiet nod in turn, slinging his belt over his shoulder for the time being. The photographer takes his leave, soon replaced by Kingsley Solomon, dressed in his usual navy blue suit like always these days. One hand currently rests in one of the pants’ pockets while the other freely hangs around at his side.
Kingsley: “Gents are lookin’ good with that one.”
Marcus: “Heh, I gotta give credit to my sister for that one. Charlotte knows her stuff really well.”
Reaching into one his own pockets, Marcus produces a pair of shades that he dons atop his head. Drake forces a chuffed sigh, brushing his hair aside once more. Kingsley raises a brow at him, albeit for a brief moment before it settles back in.
Kingsley: “You sound…discontent, Drake.”
Drake: “I’m bored is what I am.”
Kingsley: “Heh, well I suppose I can’t fault you there. Photo ops can be tiresome, even when all you do is just stand for the most part.”
Marcus: “Hey, I didn’t mind it.”
Drake: “That’s because you have a fashionista or two in your heritage. I don’t.”
Marcus shrugs in equal measure, chuckling in response.
Marcus: “Family knows their stuff. Besides, you dress sharp yourself when the occasion arises. Only thing I’d probably change though is the hair since it makes you look like you’re revisiting the emo days of ‘07.”
Drake stares daggers at his tag partner, who only laughs in turn. Kingsley stifles a chuckle himself, briefly turning his head away from the comment.
Kingsley: “In any case though, Drake, take pride in your accomplishment. Bring that fire back that you had when you two won the titles last month. You’re going to need it if you want to keep surviving the hellscape that is J-ROK these days. The boys and I were lucky when we first passed through here, but that’s because all we had to deal with was mainly tag matches and the sort. Not these deathmatches that seem to spring up in almost every event, but such is the Kira Influence that still reigns for the most part.”
Drake shakes his head at the thought, adjusting the belt on his shoulder. His gaze turns to the gold for a brief moment, fingertips lightly moving along the plate before withdrawing.
Drake: “I still feel like I’m walking in his shadow…”
Marcus: “Still hung up on that?”
Kingsley: “You can’t exactly fault him for such feelings, Marcus. Surely you feel Avalon’s tugging at you every now and then?”
Marcus shrugs in response, tossing his half of the belts over his shoulder.
Marcus: “I mean, kinda? Not really though. If anything it’s probably because my link to him isn’t as solid as Drake’s to his old man. His is more direct where I’m just more off to the side than anything, as was my sister when she wrestled.”
He turns to Drake, lightly hitting him in the chest with the back of his hand.
Marcus: “Ay, keep that head held high though man. We’re one of the three pinnacles in this company these days, and it’s going to stay that way until someone beats us into total oblivion. That’s the main focus right now. Forget your dad and whatever other expectations are still running around in your head. You aren’t him, you are you. You’re not Soul, you are Drake. The Ace that everyone forgot about, and god willing, I could see you ascending even higher.”
Drake: “What about you though? I saw the interview before where you were looking to carve your own path.”
Marcus: “My time will come in singles whenever the opportunity arises. Besides, I still got some stuff I need to refine and improve on, but you? Wrestling’s in your blood, my G. Still, all that is for another occasion. More so when we aren’t holding these.”
Marcus lets out another laugh while Drake turns to Kingsley for some kind of statement but the Sin City businessman simply shrugs.
Kingsley: “While Marcus has a point in that regard, just know this Drake: Whatever new horizons come to pass, do not hesitate to seize them. If there’s anyone you’re wondering who you can draw that kind of inspiration from, just watch Storms’ highlights in Sin City. You’ve known him longer than most of us, especially since you first met him when you were still in school after all. There almost isn’t anything that man hasn’t done within the Network at this point. And…if you’re still concerned, or harboring some doubts, you got the entirety of The Harbingers to look to for guidance and support. Once you join the family, you’re in it forever. Well, provided you don’t give us a reason we shouldn’t help you but no one’s done that yet, so don’t try to be the first.”
Drake blankly stares back at Kingsley who simply chuckles, patting the man’s shoulder.
Kingsley: “In any case, I have a few phone calls to make in the meantime. If you guys need anything while you’re still here, can always call upon the others. They’re still within the city right now, so they won’t be too hard to reach. Sayonara.”
Kingsley offers a small bow of the head before taking his leave, leaving The Archfiends by themselves once more. Drake folds his arms over his chest, brows furrowing together as he contemplates the words on his mind whilst Marcus pulls down his shades, bumping his partner’s chest with his fist.
Marcus: “I’m gonna hit up Storms. See if he’s in the mood for lunch with us.. Think you two could do with a bit of catching up since ya’ll haven’t seen each other in what…months?”
Drake: “Possibly close to a year.”
Marcus: “All the more reason to call him up!”
Marcus starts walking out of the frame, phone being pulled out of his pocket. Darke shakes his head momentarily, following after him as the camera fades to black.
Voice: “Alright, a few more and we’ll be done for the day.”
The camera fades into an ongoing photo shoot involving Super Duos Champions, Drake Manson and Marcus Jackson, dressed in street clothes with each of them holding onto their respective half of the championship belts. Various albeit poses are struck by the two, holding the belts up beside their persons as the camera flashes every so often to capture the sights. Drake absent-mindedly brushes the hair out of his face whilst Marcus does the same in similar fashion, although it’s more so to make sure that his own hair is remaining relatively flowing and not tangled in a mess.
Photographer: “Aaaand done. Good stuff guys. I’ll get these printed before you leave.”
Marcus: “‘Preciate it.”
Drake offers a quiet nod in turn, slinging his belt over his shoulder for the time being. The photographer takes his leave, soon replaced by Kingsley Solomon, dressed in his usual navy blue suit like always these days. One hand currently rests in one of the pants’ pockets while the other freely hangs around at his side.
Kingsley: “Gents are lookin’ good with that one.”
Marcus: “Heh, I gotta give credit to my sister for that one. Charlotte knows her stuff really well.”
Reaching into one his own pockets, Marcus produces a pair of shades that he dons atop his head. Drake forces a chuffed sigh, brushing his hair aside once more. Kingsley raises a brow at him, albeit for a brief moment before it settles back in.
Kingsley: “You sound…discontent, Drake.”
Drake: “I’m bored is what I am.”
Kingsley: “Heh, well I suppose I can’t fault you there. Photo ops can be tiresome, even when all you do is just stand for the most part.”
Marcus: “Hey, I didn’t mind it.”
Drake: “That’s because you have a fashionista or two in your heritage. I don’t.”
Marcus shrugs in equal measure, chuckling in response.
Marcus: “Family knows their stuff. Besides, you dress sharp yourself when the occasion arises. Only thing I’d probably change though is the hair since it makes you look like you’re revisiting the emo days of ‘07.”
Drake stares daggers at his tag partner, who only laughs in turn. Kingsley stifles a chuckle himself, briefly turning his head away from the comment.
Kingsley: “In any case though, Drake, take pride in your accomplishment. Bring that fire back that you had when you two won the titles last month. You’re going to need it if you want to keep surviving the hellscape that is J-ROK these days. The boys and I were lucky when we first passed through here, but that’s because all we had to deal with was mainly tag matches and the sort. Not these deathmatches that seem to spring up in almost every event, but such is the Kira Influence that still reigns for the most part.”
Drake shakes his head at the thought, adjusting the belt on his shoulder. His gaze turns to the gold for a brief moment, fingertips lightly moving along the plate before withdrawing.
Drake: “I still feel like I’m walking in his shadow…”
Marcus: “Still hung up on that?”
Kingsley: “You can’t exactly fault him for such feelings, Marcus. Surely you feel Avalon’s tugging at you every now and then?”
Marcus shrugs in response, tossing his half of the belts over his shoulder.
Marcus: “I mean, kinda? Not really though. If anything it’s probably because my link to him isn’t as solid as Drake’s to his old man. His is more direct where I’m just more off to the side than anything, as was my sister when she wrestled.”
He turns to Drake, lightly hitting him in the chest with the back of his hand.
Marcus: “Ay, keep that head held high though man. We’re one of the three pinnacles in this company these days, and it’s going to stay that way until someone beats us into total oblivion. That’s the main focus right now. Forget your dad and whatever other expectations are still running around in your head. You aren’t him, you are you. You’re not Soul, you are Drake. The Ace that everyone forgot about, and god willing, I could see you ascending even higher.”
Drake: “What about you though? I saw the interview before where you were looking to carve your own path.”
Marcus: “My time will come in singles whenever the opportunity arises. Besides, I still got some stuff I need to refine and improve on, but you? Wrestling’s in your blood, my G. Still, all that is for another occasion. More so when we aren’t holding these.”
Marcus lets out another laugh while Drake turns to Kingsley for some kind of statement but the Sin City businessman simply shrugs.
Kingsley: “While Marcus has a point in that regard, just know this Drake: Whatever new horizons come to pass, do not hesitate to seize them. If there’s anyone you’re wondering who you can draw that kind of inspiration from, just watch Storms’ highlights in Sin City. You’ve known him longer than most of us, especially since you first met him when you were still in school after all. There almost isn’t anything that man hasn’t done within the Network at this point. And…if you’re still concerned, or harboring some doubts, you got the entirety of The Harbingers to look to for guidance and support. Once you join the family, you’re in it forever. Well, provided you don’t give us a reason we shouldn’t help you but no one’s done that yet, so don’t try to be the first.”
Drake blankly stares back at Kingsley who simply chuckles, patting the man’s shoulder.
Kingsley: “In any case, I have a few phone calls to make in the meantime. If you guys need anything while you’re still here, can always call upon the others. They’re still within the city right now, so they won’t be too hard to reach. Sayonara.”
Kingsley offers a small bow of the head before taking his leave, leaving The Archfiends by themselves once more. Drake folds his arms over his chest, brows furrowing together as he contemplates the words on his mind whilst Marcus pulls down his shades, bumping his partner’s chest with his fist.
Marcus: “I’m gonna hit up Storms. See if he’s in the mood for lunch with us.. Think you two could do with a bit of catching up since ya’ll haven’t seen each other in what…months?”
Drake: “Possibly close to a year.”
Marcus: “All the more reason to call him up!”
Marcus starts walking out of the frame, phone being pulled out of his pocket. Darke shakes his head momentarily, following after him as the camera fades to black.