[STEELE] Started At The Bottom Now We Here pt.2 (EOD)
Oct 20, 2018 17:31:08 GMT -5
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Post by Steele on Oct 20, 2018 17:31:08 GMT -5
JUNE 13th, 2009
Richard: You fucking lied to me!
Porn producer Marty, sat behind his desk and with his head buried in his laptop, looked up as his door swung open and slammed against the wall. His latest signing, Richard Jackson, stormed into the room, red in the face and waving around a piece of paper.
Marty: I never lied to you, kid.
Richard: You never said I'd be doing gay porn!
Marty squinted at Richard.
Marty: Yeah but I never sad you wouldn't be doing it, did I?
Richard: You- no, but- I-
Marty: Yeah, there ya go. I didn't lie to ya, kid.
Richard: I didn't sign up to do gay porn, Marty!
Richard slammed the top of the desk, and Marty quickly snatched the paper out of his hand. The paper was, of course, Richard's contract, and Marty flipped the cover sheet over and pulled a small pair of reading glasses out of his top pocket and slipped them on. He studied the contract for a moment, and then looked back up at Richard.
Marty: Yeah, no, see - you did. Right here.
Marty flopped the contract down onto the desk and turned it towards Richard before sliding it across the stained faux-pine veneer. Richard leaned in towards a paragraph that Marty was indicating, and went silent as he read the fine print.
Richard: Well, yeah, but...
Richard stammered.
Richard: I didn't actually read it!
Marty: Bad idea, kid. Always go over every contract with a fine-tooth comb. You signed it and that's what matters. Besides, like I said - I never lied to you.
Richard: You misled me.
Marty just shrugged.
Marty: Eh. I didn't think I was gonna get you signed up if I just came out and said "Hey kid, you ever sucked a dick before? No? You wanna?"
And anyway, I didn't completely mislead you... when I said getting to make bank and fuck hot chicks was kind of an "either/or" scenario... well now you know what I meant. Not my fault if you didn't pick up on the subtle nuance. And I paid you on time, didn't I?
Richard looked away from Marty but nodded begrudgingly.
Marty: Now lemme tell ya kid, you wouldn't make anywhere near that amount of money working the straight stuff.
Richard: Oh, now let me think... where've I heard that one before? Oh that's right - Johnny was whispering it into my ear while his dick was up my ass!
Marty leaned back in his chair and laughed softly.
Marty: Ah, that Johnny's a joker, ain't he?
Jackson: That's not the point! When he showed up to take me on-set I didn't think that fifteen minutes later he'd be fucking raw-dogging me!
Marty: So, what? You wanna quit? Fine. Not like I ain't seen it all before.
Marty sighed.
Marty: But I really thought you coulda been something, kid.
Richard: Oh, I'm gonna be something, alright.
Marty: Like what? A janitor? A bus driver? Cos they don't pay as good as I do.
Richard: No. I'm gonna be your golden fucking ticket.
Marty: Eh?
Richard: I'm not quitting.
Marty: You're not? Then why the fuck are you here?
Richard: Because I'm pissed off at you, that's why. I wanted to come in here and tell you face-to-face that you're a slimy fucking cunt... but I also wanted to look you in the eye and promise you that I'm not just gonna bend over and take it... I'm going places and one day I'm gonna be the biggest star you've got on your books. They'll be calling you up daily and begging you to put me in front of the camera. I'm gonna make you rich, Marty. But I'm gonna get what I want first.
Marty's eyes lit up as he saw the fire in Richard.
Marty: Great, kid! Great! I love it! Especially the part where you make me rich! And just as it so happens, my phone has already been ringing off the hook with requests for you specifically! You're a hit!
Richard: Wait... really?
Marty: Yeah! And when I thought you was gonna quit... boy, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Jesus!
Richard: But you said...
Marty: Forget what I said. I don't do the "desperate" thing. Now, you wanna take this job or what?
Richard: Do I... at least get to be the top?
Marty: Haha! No.
LATER THAT EVENING
Richard pushed open the door of the smokey bar and eyed the clientele. The place was busy, but not packed, and he slowly made his way up to the bar. He'd specifically chosen the joint because it looked to be the least gay-friendly place around, with the local gay bars situated right at the other end of town. Still, he kept a wary eye out for anybody who looked like they might recognize him.
As he sat down on a barstool, he kept particularly close watch on a big bearded fellow nearby, who Richard couldn't quite discern whether he was a bear or a Hell's Angel.
The man turned and locked eyes with him, shooting him a glare that seemed to say; "you checking me out or sumthin', queer boy?"
He was probably a biker.
Barman: Whatcha drinking?
Richard spun round, caught unawares by the barman's sudden appearance. He contemplated getting his fake ID out ready, but thought better of it, so as not to appear too eager.
Richard: Uh, gimme a... a beer. Just a beer's fine. I'm working in the morning.
Barman: One beer. How adventurous of you.
"Yeah, I'm more adventurous than you'd think..." thought Richard. The barman turned to get Richard's bottle of unspecific, and our hero found himself distracted by the biggest set of doe-eyes he'd ever seen in his life.
At the other end of the bar sat a petite brunette, and she was staring straight at him.
Barman: Four fifty.
Richard didn't hear the barman, transfixed as he was on those eyes. The barman repeated himself, and Richard barely even registered as he reached into his pocket for a five dollar bill and handed it to him.
Richard: Keep the change.
Barman: How very generous of you.
Richard was certain that she was making eyes at him, and he was even more sure as she stood up from her bar stool and began slowly walking towards him.
"Now THIS is more like it!" he thought to himself as she slid onto the stool beside him.
The woman: Don't I know you from somewhere?
His eyes widened. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Richard: I... uh, probably not. I'm not from round here, actually. Maybe you're thinking of my twin brother who-
The woman: You're Marty's new guy, aren't you?
Richard: Wh- Marty? I don't know anyone called Marty, definitely not! No way, not me!
She chuckled.
The woman: Relax. Everyone has to start somewhere, even if it's the bottom.
She said with a wink.
The woman: I'm with Marty too. My name's Stacey. Well, they call me "eXXXstacy" when I'm working.
Richard: That's corny as shit.
eXXXstacy: Tell me about it.
Richard: Well, I just found out this afternoon that my name is now "Jackson Steele."
eXXXstacy: Ah, the old cliche. Steele with an E, right?
Jackson: Bingo.
eXXXstacy: I don't know where they come up with these names sometimes.
Jackson: Hey, Jackson Steele was the best of the bunch. You wanna know what else they suggested? Wang McThrust. Willy McTease. Ass Dagger.
eXXXstacy: Jesus Christ.
Jackson: I would have taken Jesus Christ.
She laughed at his bad joke. He felt like maybe there was some sort of instant chemistry between them. At the same time, as one of Marty's girls, he couldn't be sure just how much of it was for show.
eXXXstacy: So, are you...
He titled his head as he waited for her to finish her question, before realizing what she was asking.
Jackson: No! Oh, god, no. No. It's strictly a job. Uh, a position. Something I do for money. Jesus, I don't even know how to word it without making it sound dirty.
She laughed again.
eXXXstacy: Well, that's a relief.
She said with a coy smile. He smiled back.
Jackson: Well if-
Suddenly a blond girl grabbed eXXXstacy by the arm and practically pulled her off of the stool.
Blond Girl: Stacey, come on! We gotta go!
eXXXstacy almost collapsed to the floor under the power of Blondie, and found herself practically being dragged towards the door.
Blond Girl: You will not BELIEVE what that RAT BASTARD said to me. I don't ever wanna see his face again...
Blondie's voice trailed off in Jackson's ear as he watched eXXXstacy being helplessly bundled out of the bar. As she was dragged to the door she looked back at him.
eXXXstacy: Hey... hope I get to see you around some day.
She left him with another wink. Jackson sighed and cursed his bad luck.
TODAY
eXXXstacy: I don't ever want to see you again! Do you hear me?
Jackson: Just let me...
eXXXstacy: You fucking lied to me!
Jackson: I never lied to you, babe!
eXXXstacy: Don't you- Babe!? We haven't been a thing in months! Remember!? When you left me standing at the fucking altar! And NOW I find out that you slept with EMBER FUCKING FERRARI!?!?
Jackson: Who? Oh... the tranny? No! Jesus, no! What the fuck!?
eXXXstacy: We were supposed to be exclusive, Jackson! And you cheat on me with that... thing!?
Jackson held the phone away from his ear as eXXXstacy's voice screeched at him down the line.
Jackson: Listen... listen... Stacey.... calm down. Just.... hold on, let me... yes, I hear you but...
eXXXstacy: I can't believe your nerve, not only did you abandon me but you slept with that freak and STILL you think I'm calling you up to offer to be your manager again? Are you insane?
Jackson: Look- why the hell do you think I slept with Ember?
eXXXstacy: Because she came out and said it, Jackson! It's all over the Network!
Jackson: She... she said that we slept together?
eXXXstacy: After Supremacy. Back in fucking January when we were still a thing!
Jackson: She's talking out of her ass. Or, whatever she's got going on down there.
eXXXstacy: Well you should know.
Jackson: I didn't sleep with her!
eXXXstacy: Then why is she saying you did!?
Jackson: I don't know!
eXXXstacy: You're lying.
Jackson: I'm not.
eXXXstacy: I can't trust you.
Jackson: You have to.
eXXXstacy: Why? Why do I have to trust you, Jackson? I trusted you before and look where it got me. Back in Indiana living with my mom. I gave up my career for you. I gave up everything. And you threw it back in my face, and blamed it all on me.
Jackson was silent, as he knew she was right.
eXXXstacy: I told you that if you wanted me to come back you had to show me you've changed.
Jackson: I have changed.
eXXXstacy: Bullshit. You're not the X-Crown champion-
Jackson: You specifically said that you coming back didn't depend on me winning the title.
eXXXstacy: Let me finish. You're not the X-Crown champion right now because you're still the same selfish, arrogant prick you were before you kicked me to the curb. No, you winning the title wasn't some magic pill that was going to have me running back to you. It was a test, because I knew that if you didn't get your head out of your ass you were going to fail.
And you failed.
Jackson: So basically what you're saying is that you coming back did hinge on me winning the title?
eXXXstacy: If you want to look at it that way, then yes.
Jackson: So you misled me. Very clever. Marty would be proud.
There was a pregnant pause. Despite being separated by thousands of miles, there was a very real tension in the air between the two.
eXXXstacy: You never explained yourself.
Jackson: This whole "Ember" thing again? Listen, she's lying. She wanted it, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little curious but cheat on you? No way. She's trying to get under my skin before End Of Days. She's jealous that she never got me, and you did.
eXXXstacy: I still don't know if I can trust you.
Jackson: What did she say?
eXXXstacy: She compared you to Jack Diamond.
Jackson: OK, that's low.
eXXXstacy: She said you'd never be the man that he is.
Jackson: OK, that's really low.
eXXXstacy: And she said you're the worst lay she ever had.
Jackson: OK, now that's just complete horse-shit. Seriously, how can you trust a woman who says that about me?
eXXXstacy: There you go again, full of yourself.
Jackson: No, it's just-
eXXXstacy: Save it, Jackson. This really is your last chance. Whether you fucked Ember or not, I don't really care any more. But if you want to see me again then you're gonna have to grow the fuck up and stop expecting things to just be handed to you because of who you are. Everything up until this point you worked for. Don't forget that. You started right at the bottom of the pile and you made your name - twice. You're not owed anything. Least of all from me.
Jackson: I don't know if I can do it without you.
eXXXstacy: Then you need to make a decision. Are you going to prove to me that you're not the shell of a man that you became? Or are you just gonna be the bitch Ember says you are and quit? Because it's not like I haven't seen that side of you before.
Jackson: ...
eXXXstacy: You've got just over a week to figure out what the fuck you want to do with your life, Jackson.
Jackson: Stacey, I-
Steele heard no response, and he looked at his phone screen to see that she'd hung up on him. He hit redial, but was greeted by the 'engaged' tone.
He quickly brought up the browser on his phone and navigated to the XHF Network's website, where he watched Ember Ferrari's entire sordid promo. He clenched his jaw as he seethed with rage, almost shaking.
Fucking Ember.
Unlocking his phone once more, he put it into camera mode. Leaning back wearily in his office chair, he hit the red circle button that set the phone to record.
Jackson: You know, I've come a long way over the past nine years. A long fucking way. I've done a lot of stuff that other men could only dream of achieving in two lifetimes in the span of less than a decade.
I've done a lot of stuff that I really didn't want to do, but I did it anyway because I made a promise to myself that if I could just grin and bear it, everything would work out alright in the end.
For the most part, I was right.
But there's one thing I did that I absolutely regret, and that's taking the woman I love for granted. I can't look at myself in the mirror every day without thinking to myself "you fucked up" and while I put on a brave face and I try to tell myself that I made the right decision, no matter how hard and how loud the devil on my shoulder screams the angel on the other side whispers loud and clear.
"You fucked up."
Jackson exhaled and bit his lip as he tried to keep his composure.
Jackson: And now, when I'm so close to making amends and getting back what I was foolish enough to let go... Ember Ferrari suddenly squirms out of the woodwork like the worm she is and says that I slept with her.
Nuh-uh. Not on my watch. Ember, I don't know why you decided that now was the perfect time to spew your shit but believe me sister, or brother, or whatever the fuck you are, you couldn't have been more wrong.
Because when it was just my doing that turned Stacey against me, that was my cross to bear, my fuck-up to put right. But you? You're just another one of those rats trying to scramble up my leg to escape the rising tide of obsolescence and use me as a stepping-stone.
You picked the wrong porn star to fuck with.
Jackson looked right into the center of the camera with a burning hatred in his eyes.
Jackson: I don't think you realize just how apt the name "Annihilation Complex" is, Ember. Because that's exactly what you're going to suffer when you're locked in there with me. An annihilation so exquisite in its complexity that it would make Hannibal Lecter look like a rank amateur in comparison.
You're playing mind games, Ember, that's all they are. But can you back it up with your fists in a fight? Not a wrestling match, a fight, between just me and you and a thousand yards of razor-sharp wire? Unfortunately for you, there'll be nothing kinky about the injuries that I'm going to inflict on you next Sunday, mark my words.
And just in case the rest of you think that I'm going to be so preoccupied by Ember that I'll forget all about you, then I'm afraid you're gravely mistaken. See, Ember has stoked a fire in me but it's not the sort of fire she was hoping for. She's stoked a fire inside a man who really has his back up against the wall in a do-or-die scenario and I'm not going to repeat my past mistakes by taking anything for granted.
The last time I fought for the X-Crown Title, it came down to just me and Jack. And if Ember plans to protect her "Jacky-Poo" in this match then once I know her the fuck out it's gonna come down to me and Jack again. Only this time, I'll be walking out with the gold.
And not because I think I'm entitled to it. But because this time round my eyes are open, and I know what it's going to take. My whole career, my whole life I've earned everything I've ever had.
I'm going to earn my shot at greatness as X-Crown Champion, and I'm going to earn my redemption.
Jackson's video abruptly cut to black.
Halfway across the world in Gary, Indiana, eXXXstacy put down her phone, amazed at the transformation that had occurred in just a few short minutes, and felt relief.