Post by Dorian Hawkhurst on Mar 27, 2017 3:36:52 GMT
We find ourselves once again at the scenic "Burnout Bar and Grill". The floors are just as dingy as the last time we were here. There's a crowd of people sitting around the bar watching the end of the Auto Club 400. There's a mixture of cheers and jeers as Kyle Larson crosses the finish line and the checkered flag waves. Dorian Hawkhurst walks in the door, and is greeted by a number of the patrons. It's not on a "Norm on Cheers" level, but good by any means. The bartender waves at Dorian as he pulls up a stool.
"Where ya' been, buddy? Haven't seen you in a while."
"I quit drinking."
"Then why the hell you darkening my doorway?"
"Maybe I just missed your tubby ass. Get me a Diet Coke with lemon. Doc says I gotta watch my sugar, too."
"Sounds horrible."
"It's like marriage with an easier escape plan."
"You just haven't found the right woman."
"Maybe I have and you just haven't noticed."
Dorian removes his jacket and he's got his arm in a sling.
"What happened to you?"
"Work."
The bartender hands Dorian his drink, and sticks one of those cute little paper umbrellas in it.
"Cute, Ryan. Really freakin' cute."
Dorian takes his drink and sits down. A few moments later, the cute redheaded temp from the office walks through the door.
"Well, hello, beautiful."
"Well, hello, yourself."
Dorian stands up and gives Ruby a warm hug.
"I didn't think that you'd come."
"Why wouldn't I? I'm a single girl with nowhere else to be. And if I can be in the company of an incredibly handsome man, so be it."
"You are either a liar or have very, VERY low standards."
"You are a man trying to make your life better. You, just like everyone else, deserve to be loved. Don't sell yourself short. Not now. Not ever."
"Can I get you something?"
"Just water with lemon. Lots and lots of lemon."
"Yo, Ryan. Water with lots of lemon for the lady."
Ryan just smirks and nods at Dorian.
"I don't know what I'm going to do against Pooler. The guy is a legend. He's THE Bob Pooler. You don't get called "THE" anything without a track record to back it up."
"Listen, Dorian, I told you not to sell yourself short. You are the deepest man I know. You remember that you beat men like Alex Jones and Jimmy Zane. I've heard you say it yourself. That's no easy task. But what makes you amazing is that you use your setbacks to motivate yourself. And to top it off, you are fighting a battle that most of your opponents couldn't handle. Who in the hell comes to a bar when they are a recovering alcoholic?"
"Honestly, it feels like home here."
Dorian happens to see Ryan walking over with Ruby's water.
"Here, watch this."
Dorian turns to Ryan he puts the glass of water on the table.
"Hey, homeboy. Get me a Bud Light, will ya'?"
"You just told me you quit drinking. Sorry, but I'm not going to be the one that fucks that up."
"Thanks, Ryan. You just proved my point."
"No problem, brother. Next time, try not to be so loud. Pretty sure even those butt hurt Ford fans heard you from across the bar."
Ryan walks off while Dorian chuckles.
"I'm finally figuring things out. I'm doing what I need to do to make a life for myself and my daughter. I can't do that drunk off my ass. I don't know how or why it's all falling into place, but it's making sense to me for the first time in my life."
"Then why are you doubting yourself. You just need to remember that you capable of great things, Dorian. And, honestly, I'm kind of hoping that I'm a piece of that puzzle."
"So, you want to make this a thing?"
"I'd like nothing more."
Dorian looks over at Ruby, but can't do anything to wipe the goofy smile off of his face.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Hey, Ryan, I gotta bust out of here. Money's on the table."
"No worries. Do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"Stay out of here for a while, won't you?"
"I'll try old friend. I'll try."
Dorian takes Ruby by the hand stands up. He nods over at Ryan before leading Ruby out of the bar.
"All my pains and all of my sorrows are gone. For the first time in a long time, I have a singular focus. Life is good and it's going to get better. You've heard me in the past whine and piss and moan about all the shit that's gone wrong with my life. I guess it was a great motivator at the time. But, who wants to listen to that crap? We can't all be Fiona."
Hawkhurst smirks into the camera.
"The thing is, Bob, I can say whatever the hell I want. It doesn't mean a damned thing once we get in the ring. I can talk about all the advantages I have, how I'm bigger, stronger, hungrier and younger than you. Each and every one of those thing is true. But I'd be an idiot if I overlooked your experience. Yeah, I snuck up on Jones and Zane. But this is my third month here, my third pay-pew-view. I'm not sneaking up on anyone anymore. Now, I am going to speak plainly. I am coming at you with all the force and subtlety of a wrecking ball."
"At High Stakes I'm all in. It sounds so cliche, I know. Since I'm on the cliche train, I might as well ride it. I am playing with house money. High Stakes is the one time where I literally have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I come out ahead no matter what I do. Even if you do pull a rabbit out of a hat, Bob, this is going to be the match where people start to discuss Dorian Hawkhurst as a serious wrestler. I've paid my dues, and now, Pooler, I am going to take what I feel is mine."
Hawkhurst uses both hands to pull his long hair out of his face.
"I realize that Bob Pooler is practically a national treasure. THE Bob Pooler is an institution, a one man dynasty. The thing about that, Bob, is that all dynasties eventually fall."
Hawkhurst blows a kiss into the camera.
"See you there, Bobert."
Dorian reaches out and puts his hand over the lens of the camera, forcing it to fade to black.
"Where ya' been, buddy? Haven't seen you in a while."
"I quit drinking."
"Then why the hell you darkening my doorway?"
"Maybe I just missed your tubby ass. Get me a Diet Coke with lemon. Doc says I gotta watch my sugar, too."
"Sounds horrible."
"It's like marriage with an easier escape plan."
"You just haven't found the right woman."
"Maybe I have and you just haven't noticed."
Dorian removes his jacket and he's got his arm in a sling.
"What happened to you?"
"Work."
The bartender hands Dorian his drink, and sticks one of those cute little paper umbrellas in it.
"Cute, Ryan. Really freakin' cute."
Dorian takes his drink and sits down. A few moments later, the cute redheaded temp from the office walks through the door.
"Well, hello, beautiful."
"Well, hello, yourself."
Dorian stands up and gives Ruby a warm hug.
"I didn't think that you'd come."
"Why wouldn't I? I'm a single girl with nowhere else to be. And if I can be in the company of an incredibly handsome man, so be it."
"You are either a liar or have very, VERY low standards."
"You are a man trying to make your life better. You, just like everyone else, deserve to be loved. Don't sell yourself short. Not now. Not ever."
"Can I get you something?"
"Just water with lemon. Lots and lots of lemon."
"Yo, Ryan. Water with lots of lemon for the lady."
Ryan just smirks and nods at Dorian.
"I don't know what I'm going to do against Pooler. The guy is a legend. He's THE Bob Pooler. You don't get called "THE" anything without a track record to back it up."
"Listen, Dorian, I told you not to sell yourself short. You are the deepest man I know. You remember that you beat men like Alex Jones and Jimmy Zane. I've heard you say it yourself. That's no easy task. But what makes you amazing is that you use your setbacks to motivate yourself. And to top it off, you are fighting a battle that most of your opponents couldn't handle. Who in the hell comes to a bar when they are a recovering alcoholic?"
"Honestly, it feels like home here."
Dorian happens to see Ryan walking over with Ruby's water.
"Here, watch this."
Dorian turns to Ryan he puts the glass of water on the table.
"Hey, homeboy. Get me a Bud Light, will ya'?"
"You just told me you quit drinking. Sorry, but I'm not going to be the one that fucks that up."
"Thanks, Ryan. You just proved my point."
"No problem, brother. Next time, try not to be so loud. Pretty sure even those butt hurt Ford fans heard you from across the bar."
Ryan walks off while Dorian chuckles.
"I'm finally figuring things out. I'm doing what I need to do to make a life for myself and my daughter. I can't do that drunk off my ass. I don't know how or why it's all falling into place, but it's making sense to me for the first time in my life."
"Then why are you doubting yourself. You just need to remember that you capable of great things, Dorian. And, honestly, I'm kind of hoping that I'm a piece of that puzzle."
"So, you want to make this a thing?"
"I'd like nothing more."
Dorian looks over at Ruby, but can't do anything to wipe the goofy smile off of his face.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Hey, Ryan, I gotta bust out of here. Money's on the table."
"No worries. Do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"Stay out of here for a while, won't you?"
"I'll try old friend. I'll try."
Dorian takes Ruby by the hand stands up. He nods over at Ryan before leading Ruby out of the bar.
Before the picture fades in, Dorian Hawkhurst's voice is heard singing The Smashing Pumpkin's hit "Today".
"Today is the greatest day I've ever known. Can't live for tomorrow, tomorrow's much too long. I'll burn my eyes out
before I get out."
The picture has completely faded in by the time Dorian finishes the verse.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have had a vision. It was a vision of sheer an utter beauty that could only be described as an angel sent down from the heavens. The angel, she came before me with a message. She said unto me, "Dorian, you are worthy of love." You are worthy of love. Yes, I said it a second time because those words, they resonated with me. This angel reached down into the darkest reaches of my soul and she warmed the cockles of my heart. And her timing could not have been any better."
"Bob Pooler, even though I beat Nighthawk, and holy hell was I lucky to do so, I spent all week doubting myself. I couldn't fathom how I could beat you. Then this angel, she spoke unto me once again and she told me that I was capable of a great many things. This could be taken a number of ways, but in my head, in my heart, those words meant that I am capable of beating you, THE Bob Pooler. If I am not able to beat you, Bob, that's okay, too. Because win or lose, I will come out better, smarter, tougher."
Dorian shakes his arms, trying to loosen up, he grimaces for a second before he continues.
"That doesn't mean I am going to lose, Robert. In fact, I plan on coming in here and busting my ass, and more importantly, busting yours. And I am going to do this because I am a flawed man. I am a proud man. I know that's one of those Seven Deadly Sins they teach you about, but I ain't perfect. Honestly, I'm not sure what would be a bigger feather in my cap, winning the Invictus Championship or knocking off Bob Pooler."
"Today is the greatest day I've ever known. Can't live for tomorrow, tomorrow's much too long. I'll burn my eyes out
before I get out."
The picture has completely faded in by the time Dorian finishes the verse.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have had a vision. It was a vision of sheer an utter beauty that could only be described as an angel sent down from the heavens. The angel, she came before me with a message. She said unto me, "Dorian, you are worthy of love." You are worthy of love. Yes, I said it a second time because those words, they resonated with me. This angel reached down into the darkest reaches of my soul and she warmed the cockles of my heart. And her timing could not have been any better."
"Bob Pooler, even though I beat Nighthawk, and holy hell was I lucky to do so, I spent all week doubting myself. I couldn't fathom how I could beat you. Then this angel, she spoke unto me once again and she told me that I was capable of a great many things. This could be taken a number of ways, but in my head, in my heart, those words meant that I am capable of beating you, THE Bob Pooler. If I am not able to beat you, Bob, that's okay, too. Because win or lose, I will come out better, smarter, tougher."
Dorian shakes his arms, trying to loosen up, he grimaces for a second before he continues.
"That doesn't mean I am going to lose, Robert. In fact, I plan on coming in here and busting my ass, and more importantly, busting yours. And I am going to do this because I am a flawed man. I am a proud man. I know that's one of those Seven Deadly Sins they teach you about, but I ain't perfect. Honestly, I'm not sure what would be a bigger feather in my cap, winning the Invictus Championship or knocking off Bob Pooler."
"All my pains and all of my sorrows are gone. For the first time in a long time, I have a singular focus. Life is good and it's going to get better. You've heard me in the past whine and piss and moan about all the shit that's gone wrong with my life. I guess it was a great motivator at the time. But, who wants to listen to that crap? We can't all be Fiona."
Hawkhurst smirks into the camera.
"The thing is, Bob, I can say whatever the hell I want. It doesn't mean a damned thing once we get in the ring. I can talk about all the advantages I have, how I'm bigger, stronger, hungrier and younger than you. Each and every one of those thing is true. But I'd be an idiot if I overlooked your experience. Yeah, I snuck up on Jones and Zane. But this is my third month here, my third pay-pew-view. I'm not sneaking up on anyone anymore. Now, I am going to speak plainly. I am coming at you with all the force and subtlety of a wrecking ball."
"At High Stakes I'm all in. It sounds so cliche, I know. Since I'm on the cliche train, I might as well ride it. I am playing with house money. High Stakes is the one time where I literally have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I come out ahead no matter what I do. Even if you do pull a rabbit out of a hat, Bob, this is going to be the match where people start to discuss Dorian Hawkhurst as a serious wrestler. I've paid my dues, and now, Pooler, I am going to take what I feel is mine."
Hawkhurst uses both hands to pull his long hair out of his face.
"I realize that Bob Pooler is practically a national treasure. THE Bob Pooler is an institution, a one man dynasty. The thing about that, Bob, is that all dynasties eventually fall."
Hawkhurst blows a kiss into the camera.
"See you there, Bobert."
Dorian reaches out and puts his hand over the lens of the camera, forcing it to fade to black.