Post by HIJOU on Sept 5, 2021 0:57:07 GMT
'Why am I even entertaining this?' Jason can't help but muse to himself. He finds himself sitting in one of the most depressing settings imaginable: a pub in the morning. Absolutely nobody wants to be here, not the barkeep still cleaning up from the previous night, not the chap drowning his sorrows by getting day-drunk, and certainly not Jason Williams. His blue eyes have a quiet tiredness to them, a tiredness earned through many sleepless nights rather than just the preceding one.
Jason takes another sip of his water, tapping his fingers against the unpleasantly sticky table in front of him.
Jason takes another sip of his water, tapping his fingers against the unpleasantly sticky table in front of him.
'Jason!'
Finally. Jason looks up, getting a good look at the man who asked to meet him here. Rather short with an ancient face, the man's hair (well, what's left of it) has been slicked back with far too much gel. His smile is almost as cheap as his suit as he approaches, offering a hand. Jason stares at him.
'You're late.'
There's a tremendously awkward silence. Jason remains silent as he glares at James E. Big, his regrettable old 'friend'. Big decides to laugh it off, shaking his head.
Big: 'You haven't changed, buddy! Always with the jokes.'
Big takes the seat opposite to Jason, taking note of the water.
Big: 'What's going on here? Time's been that tough?'
Jason: 'It is ten in the morning.'
Big waves a hand.
Big: 'It's never too early, my son. I've told you 'bout the time in Prague, right? Those fuckers drink whene-'
Jason: 'Get to the point.'
Jason lets out a sharp exhale, shaking his head.
Jason: 'I don't want this taking any longer than it has to. So out with it.'
Big frowns slightly. People are just so rude these days. He gestures.
Big: 'Alright. So, Jason, my little protege. How would you feel about getting back in the squared circle?-'
Jason immediately begins to stand up, sighing as he picks up his jacket. Big's eyes widen.
Big: 'Wait, wait, wait! Hear me out!'
Jason: 'I've told you countless times. My decision is final.'
Big: 'Please, Jason, just listen to me. After all we've been through, can't you at least do that?'
Jason stops, staring into Big's pleading eyes. There's more than a hint of desperation to the sweaty man's gaze. Jason sighs, sitting back down.
Jason: 'Fine. Go.'
Big smiles, straightening up.
Big: 'Thank you. I appreciate it. Now, please, just try to keep an open-mind here, okay?'
Jason: 'No promises.'
Big leans forwards, rubbing his hands together.
Big: 'Okay, so, I know last time didn't go so well-'
Jason scoffs.
Jason: 'And why was that?'
Big holds up his palms in surrender.
Big: 'How was I supposed to know the fuckin' booker was dodging taxes? That whole situation blindsided everyone.'
Jason: 'True. Of course, there's also the whole thing where my pay kept mysteriously going missing.'
Big: 'Whatever you're implying is completely incorrect! I would never-'
Big sighs, waving a hand.
Big: 'Anyway, that's besides the point. Jason, you're not going to believe this. I have an offer on the table from the number one wrestling company in the world!'
There's a brief silence.
Jason: 'Wow, you're right. I do not believe that.'
Big: 'I know it sounds unbelievable, since it pretty much fuckin' is. But look; the IWF has a lot of young guns, you know? They want someone with a little name-value who is also an experienced guy in the ring. Bring some stability and veterancy to the table.'
Jason scoffs.
Jason: 'So they want me in there to get run down by the kids? I'm cool.'
Big shakes his head.
Big: 'Jason, buddy, you're not listening. It don't matter how you get in the door, you hear? Just so long as you get in. Once you're on their books we can get to work. Don't you see? This is your big chance!'
Jason: 'James, I'm 45 years old. I've had my chance. Nothing came of it, and that's okay. It's life. I'm not going to be one of those broken down lads who chases light all the way to the coffin.'
Big pauses a moment, searching for the right words.
Big: 'Don't you miss it? We both know that you didn't have the career you deserved. Hell, I admit, a lot of that's my fault. And I'm sorry.'
He bites his lip.
Big: 'But this is a chance to change all of that. Regardless of age, you're Jason Williams! I'd bet you can outwrestle any bastard in that company if you get them down to the mat. And look, if it don't work out, we mercy kill it. Straight away. No dragging it out, okay?'
He nods.
Big: 'Doesn't part of you still want that one big run? To finally get what you've been owed all your career?'
Big allows that question to hang in the air. Jason stares thoughtfully, unsure of how to answer. Big stands up.
Big: 'You can have a day or two, if you want. IWF ain't the most patient so best not to make 'em wait too much, but when you come to a decision, you have my number...'
With that, Big walks away.
Jason leans back in his chair, the words of his old manager still ringing in his mind. He finishes his water, the taste of glory on his lips.
Big: 'You haven't changed, buddy! Always with the jokes.'
Big takes the seat opposite to Jason, taking note of the water.
Big: 'What's going on here? Time's been that tough?'
Jason: 'It is ten in the morning.'
Big waves a hand.
Big: 'It's never too early, my son. I've told you 'bout the time in Prague, right? Those fuckers drink whene-'
Jason: 'Get to the point.'
Jason lets out a sharp exhale, shaking his head.
Jason: 'I don't want this taking any longer than it has to. So out with it.'
Big frowns slightly. People are just so rude these days. He gestures.
Big: 'Alright. So, Jason, my little protege. How would you feel about getting back in the squared circle?-'
Jason immediately begins to stand up, sighing as he picks up his jacket. Big's eyes widen.
Big: 'Wait, wait, wait! Hear me out!'
Jason: 'I've told you countless times. My decision is final.'
Big: 'Please, Jason, just listen to me. After all we've been through, can't you at least do that?'
Jason stops, staring into Big's pleading eyes. There's more than a hint of desperation to the sweaty man's gaze. Jason sighs, sitting back down.
Jason: 'Fine. Go.'
Big smiles, straightening up.
Big: 'Thank you. I appreciate it. Now, please, just try to keep an open-mind here, okay?'
Jason: 'No promises.'
Big leans forwards, rubbing his hands together.
Big: 'Okay, so, I know last time didn't go so well-'
Jason scoffs.
Jason: 'And why was that?'
Big holds up his palms in surrender.
Big: 'How was I supposed to know the fuckin' booker was dodging taxes? That whole situation blindsided everyone.'
Jason: 'True. Of course, there's also the whole thing where my pay kept mysteriously going missing.'
Big: 'Whatever you're implying is completely incorrect! I would never-'
Big sighs, waving a hand.
Big: 'Anyway, that's besides the point. Jason, you're not going to believe this. I have an offer on the table from the number one wrestling company in the world!'
There's a brief silence.
Jason: 'Wow, you're right. I do not believe that.'
Big: 'I know it sounds unbelievable, since it pretty much fuckin' is. But look; the IWF has a lot of young guns, you know? They want someone with a little name-value who is also an experienced guy in the ring. Bring some stability and veterancy to the table.'
Jason scoffs.
Jason: 'So they want me in there to get run down by the kids? I'm cool.'
Big shakes his head.
Big: 'Jason, buddy, you're not listening. It don't matter how you get in the door, you hear? Just so long as you get in. Once you're on their books we can get to work. Don't you see? This is your big chance!'
Jason: 'James, I'm 45 years old. I've had my chance. Nothing came of it, and that's okay. It's life. I'm not going to be one of those broken down lads who chases light all the way to the coffin.'
Big pauses a moment, searching for the right words.
Big: 'Don't you miss it? We both know that you didn't have the career you deserved. Hell, I admit, a lot of that's my fault. And I'm sorry.'
He bites his lip.
Big: 'But this is a chance to change all of that. Regardless of age, you're Jason Williams! I'd bet you can outwrestle any bastard in that company if you get them down to the mat. And look, if it don't work out, we mercy kill it. Straight away. No dragging it out, okay?'
He nods.
Big: 'Doesn't part of you still want that one big run? To finally get what you've been owed all your career?'
Big allows that question to hang in the air. Jason stares thoughtfully, unsure of how to answer. Big stands up.
Big: 'You can have a day or two, if you want. IWF ain't the most patient so best not to make 'em wait too much, but when you come to a decision, you have my number...'
With that, Big walks away.
Jason leans back in his chair, the words of his old manager still ringing in his mind. He finishes his water, the taste of glory on his lips.