Post by BrainScratch on Feb 11, 2022 7:09:00 GMT -5
- On The Rocks -
Edward Zepp had never walked into a fight as the smaller man before in his life, but he managed a titanic victory in the clash of titans. Zepp being the pragmatic type, he wouldn't have overreacted to a loss against Hank Solokov, but the win certainly imbued his confidence and averted any hint of doubt about his place on the stacked Fireside roster. It took a monumental hell of a fight, he's still the big man in this town.
Also, Ed took mental note that said victory came after staying in Philadelphia between shows, but he's not able to test that theory again. After a strained goodbye with Emily, he was on a plane to San Diego to deal with his family's questions, plans, and problems. Chiefly among them is his brother Isaiah's attempt at running an indy promotion.
Soon after touching down, Ed took the wheel of the converted family hearse and drove to investigate what they've been up to thus far.
Ike: "So Ed... you hittin' that?"
Isaiah: "Ichabod shut it! Now Edward, remember to use proper safety precautions, both physically and in your background checks. Make sure she's not a serial killer!"
Cecelia: "Ugh. What they should be saying is congrats, Eddie. Emily's really pretty and seems nice."
Ed: "Thanks."
Ike: "Yeah, grats... Okay but really, you hitting it!?"
Ike lunges from the back seat to extend a fist to be bumped, but receives no bump.
Ike: "C'mon dog don't leave me hangin..."
Ed: "Where are we going?"
Isaiah: "Ahh, it'll be great. It's on Friars."
Ed: "Friars Road? That's right down the highway. Isn't that the old..."
Edward's speech dissipates into the low muttering he'd been known for most his life as he drives a mere fifteen minutes from the airport, slightly confused and mostly concerned. He pulls onto Friars Road, and sighs deeply as those concerns are realized. Before him is the demolished ruins of San Diego Stadium; at times called Jack Murphy Stadium or SDCCU, but most-remembered by residents as Qualcomm Stadium. Once the Chargers deserted SD for LA, that left no express purpose for the building, and it was eventually dismantled. However, laying in the center of the industrial rubble at this very moment is a rather suspicious wrestling ring.
Ed: "You're not serious."
Isaiah: "I know, the view is amazing isn't it!?"
Edward exits the hearse and slams the door, nearly rocking his three siblings to their sides from the force. Ed shakes his head as they scramble out.
Ed: "What legal body would approve outdoor wrestling on these rocks?"
Isaiah: "I didn't specify it'd be outdoors or directly in this spot insomuch..."
Ed: "What about production, seating, parking, music, promotion..."
Isaiah: "I mean, when you lump them all together like that they do sound important..."
Ed: "Did you book any talent?"
Isaiah: "I put a bunch of feelers out! John Xena said he could probably make it, I figured the dominoes would fall into place from there."
Ed: "What do you have so far then?"
Isaiah: "Well, we got a ring. Ceecee painted it!"
Edward bangs on the canvas in question, and while it has a sleek design of black with gold lettering, Ed can feel that underneath are rusty springs and rotting boards. He glances at the letters, WWZ, and bites his tongue for what they represented in the past. He makes sure to nod in acceptance to his sister before glaring back at Isaiah.
Ed: "Do I even want to know where you got this thing?"
Isaiah: "I found a guy for that. Hey... uhm, Clowney?"
Isaiah lifts the filthy ring apron, and suddenly a disheveled clown in worn-away grease paint and a matted red wig emerges. His voice cracks unnervingly, along with other strange noises.
"Hoo hoo, that's Mister F-*honk*-ing Clowney to you, pal!"
The left eye of Edward twitches, as a text message beeps on his phone, alerting him that he's just been set for a shot at the Spark Title against Vodka Fizz. Suddenly everything starts to hit him at once: The damage from the Hank Sokolov mauling mixed with the draining seven hour flight combines with the stress of this very moment, along with the weight of his future challenge. Ed could scream. Instead he goes silent. He begins to walk away.
Isaiah: "Whoa whoa, where you going Ed? What's wrong!?"
Ed: "This is impossible, Eye."
Isaiah: "Well what do you expect, you weren't here the past month and a half!"
Ed: "Because I'm the one supporting you now!"
His words ripple in the open air. All the Zepps go wide-eyed in shock, but then Isaiah grits his teeth.
Isaiah: "Hey! You think it was easy for me!? I was seventeen when Mom and Dad died! But I scraped by. I got us all through it. So maybe now it's your turn, until I get to the next phase. Is that too much to ask?!"
The tension cuts into Ed. He rubs his temples. Being under the bright spotlight while Isaiah's in his current funk, it's easy to lose sight of all the struggles they went through as kids.
Ed: "Okay. With a solid plan, I can make this happen in a few weeks."
Isaiah: "Well, great, but the show's in three days- look I'm sorry! I admit I'm in over my head, okay?! I've seen you use your ridiculous rigidity and techno-wizardry to work miracles... I got overwhelmed because I know you can do it ten times better than me anyway!"
Ed: "Shit... First we need a roof, or something resembling one. Hey clown!"
Mr. Clowney: "That's Mister-"
Ed: "Don't care. Can you get another clown to bring a circus tent?"
Mr. Clowney: "Well that's pretty f-*honk*-ing offensive to my kind to assume... But uhh, yeppers!"
Ike: "Dude where's that honking noise coming from?"
Cecelia throws her hands up, equally befuddled. Clowney stares deranged in their direction.
Mr. Clowney: "Hoo hoo, you kiddos wanna hear the story of the cake universe where I gained magical cupcake powers and fought in a galactic war against cookies?!"
Cecelia: "Ike this guy's on something, let's get back in the damn car!"
- Under The Big Top -
Edward has to work relentlessly the next few days, but in the end he makes the initial event of World Wrestling Zepp a reality, albeit spending a good chunk of his Fireside winnings. With a few cheap speakers he creates a PA and music system connected to his phone. Some Ikea furniture and plywood are fashioned into makeshift locker rooms, and with cardboard and a tarp he builds a little Gorilla position for himself. Cecelia handles the ring introductions, and Ike is made referee just so he can't wander away from the ring. Just enough wrestlers (and volunteers found at a nearby improv comedy troupe) show up to cobble together a small card, and fans are only asked for five dollars, if they're wearing a face mask, to witness the strangest wrestling show in Southern California. Or at least the strangest that weekend. This is SoCal we're talking about.
For the opening contest, a blue-haired wrestler named Joy Fannigan runs through the curtains (which to be specific are shower curtains), exuberant and ready for a fight. As she waits for her opponent, this is when Isaiah gains a delighted glint in his eye. He instructs the first volunteer to become "Karen Rodgers", a condescending blowhard in green and yellow gear who mocks all the people for wearing their masks. She says the only shot she's interested in is a punch in everyone's mouth. Karen promptly turns into a high kick from Joy, and Ike quickly declares the contest over by way of KTFO (knocked the fuggout).
Next up is a veteran of independent wrestling and the pro-feminism and LGBTQA movements, John Xena. His opponent, a well-mannered improv student, is nevertheless given the character of "Joe Hogan". Joe tells the crowd he doesn't approve of Xena's letters, but he does offer the kids in the crowd some DMT. He also asks what they're all gonna do when he drops a hard R on you. John Xena has had enough of this shit, and he hits Joe with five light moves, ending with the Five Chakram Shuffle, a downward neck chop that cuts the flow of blood to the brain. Xena undoes the deadly pressure point after the bell sounds (which is a tiny bell you hear at a restaurant when an order is ready), but kicks the jabronie Joe Hogan from the ring so the fans can humble him with jeers.
The last volunteer is sent out as The Preacherman, who nervously runs down a boilerplate of religious propaganda. Everyone is a sinner except those that are pious. Finally, At The Drive-In's "Pattern Against User" hits and Isaiah Zepp commands the small but fervent crowd. Isaiah tries to send the Preacher into the ropes, but the untrained man gets tangled in the cheap cables. Isaiah tries a turnbuckle move but that too goes awry. Finally he settles for a right hand and a simple bodyslam before covering for an academic one two three.
Much to Isaiah's shock, and Edward's behind his curtain, the crowd erupts in cheers at this weird spectacle. Isaiah grabs a screechy microphone and thanks everyone for coming and speaking against the antagonist characters of the matches.
Isaiah: "Together, we can fight against these zealots and idiots! You can start at your local polling place, and Vote For Zepp!"
The younger siblings throw Isiah's Senate campaign merch into the crowd, and again the audience of younger hipsters eats this up with a spoon. Edward peeks his head out to see Isaiah basking in all the glory that a man could inside a random tent with less than two hundred onlookers. Even though he's heard all of Isaiah's spiels before, it's inspiring just how passionate he can be.
- Fizzled -
In the ramshackle backstage, Isaiah hugs his 'little' brother, Edward.
Isaiah: "We did it! But mostly, you did it! This was an incredible first show my brother."
Ed: "First? There's going to be more?"
Isaiah: "You bet, this is only the start of something beautiful!"
Edward scratches his head not knowing how serious Isaiah really is.
Isaiah: "But before any of that, I know you've been extending yourself for me, so now it's my turn to help you. I know you got this match in the back of your mind..."
Ed: "In between headaches here, yes."
Isaiah: "Right! So what can I do? Let me drop the promo on him. First you kill the big Russian guy, now you get the Vodka guy, soon you'll be kicking Putin out of the castle!"
Ed: "Eye... This guy isn't Ru-"
Isaiah: "Kidding, kidding. I've actually been paying attention. He got one belt, he's going for the top prize next, he's a real threat. But we're Zepps, alcohol is beneath us. I'll turn that into a couple lines, and he's toast!"
Ed: "Don't want to do it like that."
Isaiah pulls out his phone and hits record, facing it at Edward.
Isaiah: "Well then how would you do it?"
Ed: "Haven't thought about it, not sure yet."
Isaiah: "Too late, now's the time. I was the star today, but you're the big star on Thursdays. TV cameras zooming. Music blaring. You've got Vodka Fizz holding a belt in front of you, what are you saying to him?"
Ed Zepp shakes his head a bit for being put on the spot, but eventually mouths the word fine.
Ed: "I like to wait, and react. Strike when ready, with purpose. Maybe the background is comfortable. Maybe I enjoy solitude, but I don't enjoy being the afterthought. I'm not a notch on someone's belt. Vodka has his sights on another title. Good for him. But in his aspirations for the top, he's looking at another plate while not watching his own. I fought Sokolov, and honestly, it felt like a freakshow. I silenced a monster, and maybe I became more of one..."
Edward looks to his hand that ended the match with Silent Scream.
Ed: "But that's not my lot in life. I see Vodka, and I hear him. The loudness. The annoyance. The momentum. What happens when you stop all that?"
He engulfs Isaiah's phone with the hand.
Ed: "Is he really the best in Fireside, or will Fizz go flat? At Inferno, I'll take the Spark, if for no other reason, than to burn you for dangling it."
Isaiah: "Since when do you have all of that fire in you?! Wow."
Just at that moment, reporter Dig Deeper saunters into the dressing room.
Dig: "Excellent show, Mr. Zepp!... Dare I say, a very kitsch performance art.
Isaiah: "Jesus, Eddie, you told Dig about this?!"
Isaiah throws a tarp over Deeper and continues to randomly scold his brother.
Isaiah: "You're quiet for 20 years and now you just blab about everything!"
Dig: "Can you please get this off of me, Ed?"
Ed: "Ehh."
End recording.
Edward Zepp had never walked into a fight as the smaller man before in his life, but he managed a titanic victory in the clash of titans. Zepp being the pragmatic type, he wouldn't have overreacted to a loss against Hank Solokov, but the win certainly imbued his confidence and averted any hint of doubt about his place on the stacked Fireside roster. It took a monumental hell of a fight, he's still the big man in this town.
Also, Ed took mental note that said victory came after staying in Philadelphia between shows, but he's not able to test that theory again. After a strained goodbye with Emily, he was on a plane to San Diego to deal with his family's questions, plans, and problems. Chiefly among them is his brother Isaiah's attempt at running an indy promotion.
Soon after touching down, Ed took the wheel of the converted family hearse and drove to investigate what they've been up to thus far.
Ike: "So Ed... you hittin' that?"
Isaiah: "Ichabod shut it! Now Edward, remember to use proper safety precautions, both physically and in your background checks. Make sure she's not a serial killer!"
Cecelia: "Ugh. What they should be saying is congrats, Eddie. Emily's really pretty and seems nice."
Ed: "Thanks."
Ike: "Yeah, grats... Okay but really, you hitting it!?"
Ike lunges from the back seat to extend a fist to be bumped, but receives no bump.
Ike: "C'mon dog don't leave me hangin..."
Ed: "Where are we going?"
Isaiah: "Ahh, it'll be great. It's on Friars."
Ed: "Friars Road? That's right down the highway. Isn't that the old..."
Edward's speech dissipates into the low muttering he'd been known for most his life as he drives a mere fifteen minutes from the airport, slightly confused and mostly concerned. He pulls onto Friars Road, and sighs deeply as those concerns are realized. Before him is the demolished ruins of San Diego Stadium; at times called Jack Murphy Stadium or SDCCU, but most-remembered by residents as Qualcomm Stadium. Once the Chargers deserted SD for LA, that left no express purpose for the building, and it was eventually dismantled. However, laying in the center of the industrial rubble at this very moment is a rather suspicious wrestling ring.
Ed: "You're not serious."
Isaiah: "I know, the view is amazing isn't it!?"
Edward exits the hearse and slams the door, nearly rocking his three siblings to their sides from the force. Ed shakes his head as they scramble out.
Ed: "What legal body would approve outdoor wrestling on these rocks?"
Isaiah: "I didn't specify it'd be outdoors or directly in this spot insomuch..."
Ed: "What about production, seating, parking, music, promotion..."
Isaiah: "I mean, when you lump them all together like that they do sound important..."
Ed: "Did you book any talent?"
Isaiah: "I put a bunch of feelers out! John Xena said he could probably make it, I figured the dominoes would fall into place from there."
Ed: "What do you have so far then?"
Isaiah: "Well, we got a ring. Ceecee painted it!"
Edward bangs on the canvas in question, and while it has a sleek design of black with gold lettering, Ed can feel that underneath are rusty springs and rotting boards. He glances at the letters, WWZ, and bites his tongue for what they represented in the past. He makes sure to nod in acceptance to his sister before glaring back at Isaiah.
Ed: "Do I even want to know where you got this thing?"
Isaiah: "I found a guy for that. Hey... uhm, Clowney?"
Isaiah lifts the filthy ring apron, and suddenly a disheveled clown in worn-away grease paint and a matted red wig emerges. His voice cracks unnervingly, along with other strange noises.
"Hoo hoo, that's Mister F-*honk*-ing Clowney to you, pal!"
The left eye of Edward twitches, as a text message beeps on his phone, alerting him that he's just been set for a shot at the Spark Title against Vodka Fizz. Suddenly everything starts to hit him at once: The damage from the Hank Sokolov mauling mixed with the draining seven hour flight combines with the stress of this very moment, along with the weight of his future challenge. Ed could scream. Instead he goes silent. He begins to walk away.
Isaiah: "Whoa whoa, where you going Ed? What's wrong!?"
Ed: "This is impossible, Eye."
Isaiah: "Well what do you expect, you weren't here the past month and a half!"
Ed: "Because I'm the one supporting you now!"
His words ripple in the open air. All the Zepps go wide-eyed in shock, but then Isaiah grits his teeth.
Isaiah: "Hey! You think it was easy for me!? I was seventeen when Mom and Dad died! But I scraped by. I got us all through it. So maybe now it's your turn, until I get to the next phase. Is that too much to ask?!"
The tension cuts into Ed. He rubs his temples. Being under the bright spotlight while Isaiah's in his current funk, it's easy to lose sight of all the struggles they went through as kids.
Ed: "Okay. With a solid plan, I can make this happen in a few weeks."
Isaiah: "Well, great, but the show's in three days- look I'm sorry! I admit I'm in over my head, okay?! I've seen you use your ridiculous rigidity and techno-wizardry to work miracles... I got overwhelmed because I know you can do it ten times better than me anyway!"
Ed: "Shit... First we need a roof, or something resembling one. Hey clown!"
Mr. Clowney: "That's Mister-"
Ed: "Don't care. Can you get another clown to bring a circus tent?"
Mr. Clowney: "Well that's pretty f-*honk*-ing offensive to my kind to assume... But uhh, yeppers!"
Ike: "Dude where's that honking noise coming from?"
Cecelia throws her hands up, equally befuddled. Clowney stares deranged in their direction.
Mr. Clowney: "Hoo hoo, you kiddos wanna hear the story of the cake universe where I gained magical cupcake powers and fought in a galactic war against cookies?!"
Cecelia: "Ike this guy's on something, let's get back in the damn car!"
- Under The Big Top -
Edward has to work relentlessly the next few days, but in the end he makes the initial event of World Wrestling Zepp a reality, albeit spending a good chunk of his Fireside winnings. With a few cheap speakers he creates a PA and music system connected to his phone. Some Ikea furniture and plywood are fashioned into makeshift locker rooms, and with cardboard and a tarp he builds a little Gorilla position for himself. Cecelia handles the ring introductions, and Ike is made referee just so he can't wander away from the ring. Just enough wrestlers (and volunteers found at a nearby improv comedy troupe) show up to cobble together a small card, and fans are only asked for five dollars, if they're wearing a face mask, to witness the strangest wrestling show in Southern California. Or at least the strangest that weekend. This is SoCal we're talking about.
For the opening contest, a blue-haired wrestler named Joy Fannigan runs through the curtains (which to be specific are shower curtains), exuberant and ready for a fight. As she waits for her opponent, this is when Isaiah gains a delighted glint in his eye. He instructs the first volunteer to become "Karen Rodgers", a condescending blowhard in green and yellow gear who mocks all the people for wearing their masks. She says the only shot she's interested in is a punch in everyone's mouth. Karen promptly turns into a high kick from Joy, and Ike quickly declares the contest over by way of KTFO (knocked the fuggout).
Next up is a veteran of independent wrestling and the pro-feminism and LGBTQA movements, John Xena. His opponent, a well-mannered improv student, is nevertheless given the character of "Joe Hogan". Joe tells the crowd he doesn't approve of Xena's letters, but he does offer the kids in the crowd some DMT. He also asks what they're all gonna do when he drops a hard R on you. John Xena has had enough of this shit, and he hits Joe with five light moves, ending with the Five Chakram Shuffle, a downward neck chop that cuts the flow of blood to the brain. Xena undoes the deadly pressure point after the bell sounds (which is a tiny bell you hear at a restaurant when an order is ready), but kicks the jabronie Joe Hogan from the ring so the fans can humble him with jeers.
The last volunteer is sent out as The Preacherman, who nervously runs down a boilerplate of religious propaganda. Everyone is a sinner except those that are pious. Finally, At The Drive-In's "Pattern Against User" hits and Isaiah Zepp commands the small but fervent crowd. Isaiah tries to send the Preacher into the ropes, but the untrained man gets tangled in the cheap cables. Isaiah tries a turnbuckle move but that too goes awry. Finally he settles for a right hand and a simple bodyslam before covering for an academic one two three.
Much to Isaiah's shock, and Edward's behind his curtain, the crowd erupts in cheers at this weird spectacle. Isaiah grabs a screechy microphone and thanks everyone for coming and speaking against the antagonist characters of the matches.
Isaiah: "Together, we can fight against these zealots and idiots! You can start at your local polling place, and Vote For Zepp!"
The younger siblings throw Isiah's Senate campaign merch into the crowd, and again the audience of younger hipsters eats this up with a spoon. Edward peeks his head out to see Isaiah basking in all the glory that a man could inside a random tent with less than two hundred onlookers. Even though he's heard all of Isaiah's spiels before, it's inspiring just how passionate he can be.
- Fizzled -
In the ramshackle backstage, Isaiah hugs his 'little' brother, Edward.
Isaiah: "We did it! But mostly, you did it! This was an incredible first show my brother."
Ed: "First? There's going to be more?"
Isaiah: "You bet, this is only the start of something beautiful!"
Edward scratches his head not knowing how serious Isaiah really is.
Isaiah: "But before any of that, I know you've been extending yourself for me, so now it's my turn to help you. I know you got this match in the back of your mind..."
Ed: "In between headaches here, yes."
Isaiah: "Right! So what can I do? Let me drop the promo on him. First you kill the big Russian guy, now you get the Vodka guy, soon you'll be kicking Putin out of the castle!"
Ed: "Eye... This guy isn't Ru-"
Isaiah: "Kidding, kidding. I've actually been paying attention. He got one belt, he's going for the top prize next, he's a real threat. But we're Zepps, alcohol is beneath us. I'll turn that into a couple lines, and he's toast!"
Ed: "Don't want to do it like that."
Isaiah pulls out his phone and hits record, facing it at Edward.
Isaiah: "Well then how would you do it?"
Ed: "Haven't thought about it, not sure yet."
Isaiah: "Too late, now's the time. I was the star today, but you're the big star on Thursdays. TV cameras zooming. Music blaring. You've got Vodka Fizz holding a belt in front of you, what are you saying to him?"
Ed Zepp shakes his head a bit for being put on the spot, but eventually mouths the word fine.
Ed: "I like to wait, and react. Strike when ready, with purpose. Maybe the background is comfortable. Maybe I enjoy solitude, but I don't enjoy being the afterthought. I'm not a notch on someone's belt. Vodka has his sights on another title. Good for him. But in his aspirations for the top, he's looking at another plate while not watching his own. I fought Sokolov, and honestly, it felt like a freakshow. I silenced a monster, and maybe I became more of one..."
Edward looks to his hand that ended the match with Silent Scream.
Ed: "But that's not my lot in life. I see Vodka, and I hear him. The loudness. The annoyance. The momentum. What happens when you stop all that?"
He engulfs Isaiah's phone with the hand.
Ed: "Is he really the best in Fireside, or will Fizz go flat? At Inferno, I'll take the Spark, if for no other reason, than to burn you for dangling it."
Isaiah: "Since when do you have all of that fire in you?! Wow."
Just at that moment, reporter Dig Deeper saunters into the dressing room.
Dig: "Excellent show, Mr. Zepp!... Dare I say, a very kitsch performance art.
Isaiah: "Jesus, Eddie, you told Dig about this?!"
Isaiah throws a tarp over Deeper and continues to randomly scold his brother.
Isaiah: "You're quiet for 20 years and now you just blab about everything!"
Dig: "Can you please get this off of me, Ed?"
Ed: "Ehh."
End recording.