Post by BrainScratch on Jul 11, 2021 2:46:11 GMT -5
Edward Zepp has always looked up to his older brother, Isaiah. Figuratively, at least, as he's head and shoulders the tallest person in his family lineage. Yet he's also the meekest, never one to raise his voice. In fact, since the day his parents were murdered in the early aughts, Ed hasn't spoken above a murmur.
He's followed Isaiah like a towering shadow as his brother waged political protests inside and out of wrestling rings for over a decade. From the southern California indies to Seattle-based Unlimited Combat Wrestling all the way to the global controversy known as Riot Star Wrestling, Ed played a support role in Isaiah's battles, often holding the cameras and producing footage to be sent to federations and opponents. As Isaiah's eye veered more to exposing corrupt politicians and shadow governments such as The Warhammer Corporation and The Bureau of Sports & Entertainment, Ed got his hands dirty physically and technologically. He's remained the stoic and silent pillar to Isaiah's successes.
On a random day in June, however, Edward stares conflicted at a tiny laptop screen, as he huddles over it from a massive chair. His thumb and pinky finger fidget with the keyboard's letter A and number 4, respectively. He's finished coding a website for a shelter that cares for lost and abandoned pets. Ed hovers the cursor of his mouse over a button that would accept a payment, but he grits his teeth with trepidation and tabs over to the site, looking at pictures of the veterinarian staff smiling with a group of rescued dogs. He thinks to himself, how can he take money from these people? Don't they need it more than him?
He looks around the room. Cracks are forming on the ceiling of the funeral home he and his siblings inherited and converted, and water drips into a bucket on the floor. Ed rubs his chin, and then rubs his stomach as it roars like a dragon. Just then a hand pats him on the shoulder. Isaiah Zepp greets him with a hurrying gesture.
"Edward, what are you doing in here? Come, come! It's time for the big announcement!" Isaiah marches with a giddy stride toward his makeshift radio booth, where he's ran the 'Zepp Across America' podcast – mostly with the help of Ed, of course. Usually this cast is more of a soapbox for Isaiah to rant about whatever is on his mind, but he seems to have a specific motive today.
Ed scoops up his laptop and plants himself into a tiny chair in the booth, halfheartedly clicking a few programs, adjusting a few volumes, and slightly moving a boom microphone. He points to Isaiah that they're recording.
"Good, good." Isaiah clears his throat and unleashes his personality to a maximum. "Ladies, gentlemen, fellow Californians! I Zepp is here. We're merely a year from the Senate race, and our old pal Monty Peterson is still out of commission. So with that, I have an announcement to give to you, the bold ventures and adventures! To you, who embark upon the dreadful seas of life! To you, who take pleasures in twilight, and are intoxicated with riddles..."
Edward knows Isaiah is excited when he starts quoting Nietzsche and Nation of Ulysses, and while his brother is a captivating individual, Ed has heard this stuff his entire life. He rests his head on his palm as he browses the pictures of unfortunate pets again. An email alert pops up from the name Rob Riot, and he reads that curiously as Isaiah's blustery speech suddenly halts.
"Edward! Are you sure this is on? The red blinky light isn't blinky." Ed makes a few clicks before punching the desk. Isaiah reads his frustration. "It's okay, big man. We can start over and make it perfect." Ed grumbles in a low voice that many wouldn't distinguish, but Isaiah hears every word as Edward airs his grievances. Instead of worrying about politics, he should read this email.
"Really now? Hmm. The Bastards? Parsons?! Galactic Sex... What, is Riot forming a Depeche Mode tribute band?" Isaiah's sarcastic smile is cut by a glare from Ed. "I suppose whatever mission Rob is on, he needs my gravitas to give it meaning. And it's in Canada! My first claim to fame!" Isaiah stands up and pats the UCW Northern Championship mounted on his wall, and a cloud of dust flies from it. He peers at the other belts in his collection, all similarly caked in filth. "I guess it's been awhile. Let's grab lunch, and I'll think this over."
Ed nods acceptably as Isaiah adds, "Do you mind buying? I'll owe you one!" Ed grumbles under his breath, and regretfully clicks the payment from the animal shelter before they depart.
The Zepps head to a convenience store, and Isaiah enters the lavatory as Edward peruses for the cheapest food. Looks like it's going to be ramen or microwave burritos. Just then a man barges into the store wearing a ski mask, not exactly weather appropriate for a San Diego summer.
"Put the money in the bag, bitch!" He shakes a gun at the cashier as she panics. Annoyed, Edward gets in line behind him and murmurs that he should leave, but the man doesn't hear. He taps the robber on the shoulder and has the gun waved in his face. That's when something snapped in the meek giant. He grabs the burglar by the neck and uncorks a massive punch, dropping him.
"I Said Stop."
Ed's words echo through the building. A moment later Isaiah opens the bathroom door, having adhered a 'Zepp For Senate' sticker to it. Isaiah notices the aftermath as Edward calmly places his dollar bills onto the counter for the shocked cashier as he grabs the ramen and the burritos.
"Keep The Change."
Isaiah smirks at the sudden shift in his brother's tone, and drops a pin next to Ed's money. "And vote for Zepp!"
After a quiet ride home, Isaiah addresses the situation.
"Well, Edward, after what just happened, I've made my decision. The Galaxy Sex Patrol, or however it goes, they say they need Zepp on board. And I see that Zepp right before my own eyes."
"What Do You Mean?"
Isaiah flashes a toothy grin and wraps his arms as much he can around his 'little' brother.
"It's time. You're ready!"
He's followed Isaiah like a towering shadow as his brother waged political protests inside and out of wrestling rings for over a decade. From the southern California indies to Seattle-based Unlimited Combat Wrestling all the way to the global controversy known as Riot Star Wrestling, Ed played a support role in Isaiah's battles, often holding the cameras and producing footage to be sent to federations and opponents. As Isaiah's eye veered more to exposing corrupt politicians and shadow governments such as The Warhammer Corporation and The Bureau of Sports & Entertainment, Ed got his hands dirty physically and technologically. He's remained the stoic and silent pillar to Isaiah's successes.
On a random day in June, however, Edward stares conflicted at a tiny laptop screen, as he huddles over it from a massive chair. His thumb and pinky finger fidget with the keyboard's letter A and number 4, respectively. He's finished coding a website for a shelter that cares for lost and abandoned pets. Ed hovers the cursor of his mouse over a button that would accept a payment, but he grits his teeth with trepidation and tabs over to the site, looking at pictures of the veterinarian staff smiling with a group of rescued dogs. He thinks to himself, how can he take money from these people? Don't they need it more than him?
He looks around the room. Cracks are forming on the ceiling of the funeral home he and his siblings inherited and converted, and water drips into a bucket on the floor. Ed rubs his chin, and then rubs his stomach as it roars like a dragon. Just then a hand pats him on the shoulder. Isaiah Zepp greets him with a hurrying gesture.
"Edward, what are you doing in here? Come, come! It's time for the big announcement!" Isaiah marches with a giddy stride toward his makeshift radio booth, where he's ran the 'Zepp Across America' podcast – mostly with the help of Ed, of course. Usually this cast is more of a soapbox for Isaiah to rant about whatever is on his mind, but he seems to have a specific motive today.
Ed scoops up his laptop and plants himself into a tiny chair in the booth, halfheartedly clicking a few programs, adjusting a few volumes, and slightly moving a boom microphone. He points to Isaiah that they're recording.
"Good, good." Isaiah clears his throat and unleashes his personality to a maximum. "Ladies, gentlemen, fellow Californians! I Zepp is here. We're merely a year from the Senate race, and our old pal Monty Peterson is still out of commission. So with that, I have an announcement to give to you, the bold ventures and adventures! To you, who embark upon the dreadful seas of life! To you, who take pleasures in twilight, and are intoxicated with riddles..."
Edward knows Isaiah is excited when he starts quoting Nietzsche and Nation of Ulysses, and while his brother is a captivating individual, Ed has heard this stuff his entire life. He rests his head on his palm as he browses the pictures of unfortunate pets again. An email alert pops up from the name Rob Riot, and he reads that curiously as Isaiah's blustery speech suddenly halts.
"Edward! Are you sure this is on? The red blinky light isn't blinky." Ed makes a few clicks before punching the desk. Isaiah reads his frustration. "It's okay, big man. We can start over and make it perfect." Ed grumbles in a low voice that many wouldn't distinguish, but Isaiah hears every word as Edward airs his grievances. Instead of worrying about politics, he should read this email.
"Really now? Hmm. The Bastards? Parsons?! Galactic Sex... What, is Riot forming a Depeche Mode tribute band?" Isaiah's sarcastic smile is cut by a glare from Ed. "I suppose whatever mission Rob is on, he needs my gravitas to give it meaning. And it's in Canada! My first claim to fame!" Isaiah stands up and pats the UCW Northern Championship mounted on his wall, and a cloud of dust flies from it. He peers at the other belts in his collection, all similarly caked in filth. "I guess it's been awhile. Let's grab lunch, and I'll think this over."
Ed nods acceptably as Isaiah adds, "Do you mind buying? I'll owe you one!" Ed grumbles under his breath, and regretfully clicks the payment from the animal shelter before they depart.
The Zepps head to a convenience store, and Isaiah enters the lavatory as Edward peruses for the cheapest food. Looks like it's going to be ramen or microwave burritos. Just then a man barges into the store wearing a ski mask, not exactly weather appropriate for a San Diego summer.
"Put the money in the bag, bitch!" He shakes a gun at the cashier as she panics. Annoyed, Edward gets in line behind him and murmurs that he should leave, but the man doesn't hear. He taps the robber on the shoulder and has the gun waved in his face. That's when something snapped in the meek giant. He grabs the burglar by the neck and uncorks a massive punch, dropping him.
"I Said Stop."
Ed's words echo through the building. A moment later Isaiah opens the bathroom door, having adhered a 'Zepp For Senate' sticker to it. Isaiah notices the aftermath as Edward calmly places his dollar bills onto the counter for the shocked cashier as he grabs the ramen and the burritos.
"Keep The Change."
Isaiah smirks at the sudden shift in his brother's tone, and drops a pin next to Ed's money. "And vote for Zepp!"
After a quiet ride home, Isaiah addresses the situation.
"Well, Edward, after what just happened, I've made my decision. The Galaxy Sex Patrol, or however it goes, they say they need Zepp on board. And I see that Zepp right before my own eyes."
"What Do You Mean?"
Isaiah flashes a toothy grin and wraps his arms as much he can around his 'little' brother.
"It's time. You're ready!"