Post by logansky on May 26, 2024 21:08:59 GMT
Kurt collapsed into the lawn chair and wiped his hair back from his brow before he took a long drink from his glass of punch. The coolness of the drink felt amazing after the exertion from the badminton match, and the sugar from the juice tasted great. The young boy let out a sweet sigh of relief as he set the cup into the holder in the arm of the chair.
“Hey sport, when did you get so good at Badminton? I’m gonna have to have you on my team all the time now.”
Tim glanced up to his uncle, who had a bottle of beer pressed against his forehead.
“Thanks Uncle Tim. We had a unit in gym glass recently so I was able to pick up some tips.”
“Your mom and Aunt sure are tough opponents though. We almost had em.”
The two of them laughed as Tim opened his bottle of beer and took a seat next to Kurt. Kurt chewed on his lower lip in thought for a moment and looked around to make sure the two of them were alone. It was easy enough to do. Their backyard was large and while most of the family was here for Memorial day, the two of them had been left alone.
“Uncle Tim, can I ask a question?”
“Sure thing kiddo. But I’m not gonna let you have some beer. Bit too young for that still.”
“What can you tell me about Grandpa Logan?”
He watched his uncle’s grin fall off his face, and Kurt found himself shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
“Well, uh. You should probably talk to you mom about that Kurt.”
“Mom doesn’t like talking about Grandpa Logan, you know that. I want to know about my grandpa though.”
Tim took a deep breath and sighed.
“Well, I’m sure you remember your grandma’s funeral. It’s really best not to have him around. He’s sick, you know.”
“Ya, I know. But you are supposed to take care of sick people. Especially if they are your family.”
Tim frowned slightly and took a long drink from his bottle of beer.
“It’s… It’s complicated Kurt. Grownup stuff you know?”
“‘Grownup stuff’ is something adults say when they don’t want to talk about something.”
Tim scowled slightly and took another long drink of his beer. Kurt took a sip from his punch and patiently waited while making it clear he wasn’t going to be going anywhere.
“It’s also used because it’s a topic that contains stuff that’s not appropriate for kids, Kurt.”
“I know Grandpa Logan has a problem with drugs. But a lot of people do. I looked it up. They are calling it an epidemic. Normal people get addicted to them.”
“Ya, that’s true. But it’s not quite the same with your Grandpa. Like I said, it’s complicated. I’m sure you want your grandpa here and all. But you gotta understand he burned a lot of bridges.”
“Bridges can be fixed, if both sides want too. Besides, he can’t be here anyways. He’s in Italy.”
“Well ya but… wait, how do you know where he is?”
“Err, well I…”
~_~
Our scene opens with Logan fumbling slightly with a tripod. Eventually the image manages to stabilize with a view of the Colosseum in the background before The Machine takes a seat on a bench, dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and an IWF hooding with the sleeves cut off. His labored breathing tells that he had just finished up a jog, as does the way he takes a deep drink from a reusable water bottle.
“I got to thinking today about what I wanted to do to train. I knew I wanted to get some cardio in. Cardio is probably the most important thing we pro wrestlers need. Now I’m an old man. There’s no denying that. And when you get to my age you think a lot about the past. About what you could have done better. About what you did right. But my mind went farther back than that. I started thinking about history. The history of our sport. The history of sport in general. And well, as they say. ‘When in Rome’.”
The old man chuckles and gestures to the ancient structure behind him.
“So I wanted to see the birthplace of my sport. Now I know my education ain’t up to par with what you youngins get nowadays. Hell, it wasn’t up to par back then if I’m being honest. But I know what you’re thinking. Wrestling was invented in Greece. You’d be right. It was. But it was here, in this place and others like it, where sport became a spectacle. Where it was no longer about being the best at what you do. It was here where we started to play to the crowd.”
He twists in his seat to look back at the crumbling structure behind it.
“In this place, men and women put their bodies on the line. Where they fought their opponents not just to prove themselves superior, but to endear themselves to the crowd. I am a kindred spirit to those ancient warriors. While my life may not be officially on the line, my body is. I can feel the aches and pains that this sport has given me. The beatings my body has taken. And while it’s not officially on the line, I know of brothers and sisters who have given their lives in the ring. I can almost hear the roar of the crowd through the ages of history, and it sounds the same as what I hear everytime I step through those ropes.
I’m wool gathering now. But I think I’m allowed. I’m about to step into the biggest match of my career. The stakes are high. A chance to compete for another shot at the World Television Title. But I am wrestling at Night of the Immortals. The biggest show in my sport. This is a dream I have had. To be in the ring on one of the biggest nights of the industry. And boy do I got my work cut out for me.
But work is what I do. I’ve been putting in work ever since I first stepped into the ring. My opponents have similarities and differences. They are both accomplished high flying wrestlers. They can do things through the air that I could never dream of. The level of athleticism that they can do is mind blowing. They both also hit hard. They can go toe to toe and swing for swing with me. I might be bigger and stronger, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know that only goes so far. If I want to rely on the size and strength I need to end it early. But with two other opponents in the ring that is no easy feet. I have to beat two other men. Two other men that know I’m bigger and stronger. Two other men whose skills and abilities mesh well together. Truth is that I am probably going to have to deal with both of them coming to take me out first. It’s a daunting task, but one I am prepared for.
See I also know my opponents. Oryon, you’re pretty new to this business but I can already tell you look impressive. But do ya know what a slippery snake Malo is? He’s the type that Trust doesn’t come easy too and if he spots an opportunity to get an advantage, he will. And I understand that. Malo and I are in similar places. We are both frequently overlooked. We are both on a tear right now and trying to show that we are men to be taken seriously. To prove we deserve the spotlight just as much as anyone else. So no, any alliance they might have is in the short term. A triple threat match by its nature is chaotic. It’s as much luck as anything else, and every man stepping into that ring is going to be hungry to prove themselves.”
Logan clasps his hands in front of himself, shaking his fists for a moment before looking up into the camera.
“But neither of them are as hungry as me. I’ve been told all kinds of things. That I don’t have what it takes to cut it. That I am too old to make a name for myself in this business. That I’m just here to live out my days until I have to hang up my boots. This is my chance to prove all of them wrong. Over 40 years of being told that I am not good enough. That I am washed up. That I have ruined any chance I have to make something of myself. That the pills ruined me. That I’ll never come back. Well screw all of that. The Machine keeps on trucking. And this Tuesday, I will prove everyone wrong. I silence those voices in my head and outside of it. I deserve to be here. I earned my spot. I cement my legacy.”
“Hey sport, when did you get so good at Badminton? I’m gonna have to have you on my team all the time now.”
Tim glanced up to his uncle, who had a bottle of beer pressed against his forehead.
“Thanks Uncle Tim. We had a unit in gym glass recently so I was able to pick up some tips.”
“Your mom and Aunt sure are tough opponents though. We almost had em.”
The two of them laughed as Tim opened his bottle of beer and took a seat next to Kurt. Kurt chewed on his lower lip in thought for a moment and looked around to make sure the two of them were alone. It was easy enough to do. Their backyard was large and while most of the family was here for Memorial day, the two of them had been left alone.
“Uncle Tim, can I ask a question?”
“Sure thing kiddo. But I’m not gonna let you have some beer. Bit too young for that still.”
“What can you tell me about Grandpa Logan?”
He watched his uncle’s grin fall off his face, and Kurt found himself shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
“Well, uh. You should probably talk to you mom about that Kurt.”
“Mom doesn’t like talking about Grandpa Logan, you know that. I want to know about my grandpa though.”
Tim took a deep breath and sighed.
“Well, I’m sure you remember your grandma’s funeral. It’s really best not to have him around. He’s sick, you know.”
“Ya, I know. But you are supposed to take care of sick people. Especially if they are your family.”
Tim frowned slightly and took a long drink from his bottle of beer.
“It’s… It’s complicated Kurt. Grownup stuff you know?”
“‘Grownup stuff’ is something adults say when they don’t want to talk about something.”
Tim scowled slightly and took another long drink of his beer. Kurt took a sip from his punch and patiently waited while making it clear he wasn’t going to be going anywhere.
“It’s also used because it’s a topic that contains stuff that’s not appropriate for kids, Kurt.”
“I know Grandpa Logan has a problem with drugs. But a lot of people do. I looked it up. They are calling it an epidemic. Normal people get addicted to them.”
“Ya, that’s true. But it’s not quite the same with your Grandpa. Like I said, it’s complicated. I’m sure you want your grandpa here and all. But you gotta understand he burned a lot of bridges.”
“Bridges can be fixed, if both sides want too. Besides, he can’t be here anyways. He’s in Italy.”
“Well ya but… wait, how do you know where he is?”
“Err, well I…”
~_~
Our scene opens with Logan fumbling slightly with a tripod. Eventually the image manages to stabilize with a view of the Colosseum in the background before The Machine takes a seat on a bench, dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and an IWF hooding with the sleeves cut off. His labored breathing tells that he had just finished up a jog, as does the way he takes a deep drink from a reusable water bottle.
“I got to thinking today about what I wanted to do to train. I knew I wanted to get some cardio in. Cardio is probably the most important thing we pro wrestlers need. Now I’m an old man. There’s no denying that. And when you get to my age you think a lot about the past. About what you could have done better. About what you did right. But my mind went farther back than that. I started thinking about history. The history of our sport. The history of sport in general. And well, as they say. ‘When in Rome’.”
The old man chuckles and gestures to the ancient structure behind him.
“So I wanted to see the birthplace of my sport. Now I know my education ain’t up to par with what you youngins get nowadays. Hell, it wasn’t up to par back then if I’m being honest. But I know what you’re thinking. Wrestling was invented in Greece. You’d be right. It was. But it was here, in this place and others like it, where sport became a spectacle. Where it was no longer about being the best at what you do. It was here where we started to play to the crowd.”
He twists in his seat to look back at the crumbling structure behind it.
“In this place, men and women put their bodies on the line. Where they fought their opponents not just to prove themselves superior, but to endear themselves to the crowd. I am a kindred spirit to those ancient warriors. While my life may not be officially on the line, my body is. I can feel the aches and pains that this sport has given me. The beatings my body has taken. And while it’s not officially on the line, I know of brothers and sisters who have given their lives in the ring. I can almost hear the roar of the crowd through the ages of history, and it sounds the same as what I hear everytime I step through those ropes.
I’m wool gathering now. But I think I’m allowed. I’m about to step into the biggest match of my career. The stakes are high. A chance to compete for another shot at the World Television Title. But I am wrestling at Night of the Immortals. The biggest show in my sport. This is a dream I have had. To be in the ring on one of the biggest nights of the industry. And boy do I got my work cut out for me.
But work is what I do. I’ve been putting in work ever since I first stepped into the ring. My opponents have similarities and differences. They are both accomplished high flying wrestlers. They can do things through the air that I could never dream of. The level of athleticism that they can do is mind blowing. They both also hit hard. They can go toe to toe and swing for swing with me. I might be bigger and stronger, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know that only goes so far. If I want to rely on the size and strength I need to end it early. But with two other opponents in the ring that is no easy feet. I have to beat two other men. Two other men that know I’m bigger and stronger. Two other men whose skills and abilities mesh well together. Truth is that I am probably going to have to deal with both of them coming to take me out first. It’s a daunting task, but one I am prepared for.
See I also know my opponents. Oryon, you’re pretty new to this business but I can already tell you look impressive. But do ya know what a slippery snake Malo is? He’s the type that Trust doesn’t come easy too and if he spots an opportunity to get an advantage, he will. And I understand that. Malo and I are in similar places. We are both frequently overlooked. We are both on a tear right now and trying to show that we are men to be taken seriously. To prove we deserve the spotlight just as much as anyone else. So no, any alliance they might have is in the short term. A triple threat match by its nature is chaotic. It’s as much luck as anything else, and every man stepping into that ring is going to be hungry to prove themselves.”
Logan clasps his hands in front of himself, shaking his fists for a moment before looking up into the camera.
“But neither of them are as hungry as me. I’ve been told all kinds of things. That I don’t have what it takes to cut it. That I am too old to make a name for myself in this business. That I’m just here to live out my days until I have to hang up my boots. This is my chance to prove all of them wrong. Over 40 years of being told that I am not good enough. That I am washed up. That I have ruined any chance I have to make something of myself. That the pills ruined me. That I’ll never come back. Well screw all of that. The Machine keeps on trucking. And this Tuesday, I will prove everyone wrong. I silence those voices in my head and outside of it. I deserve to be here. I earned my spot. I cement my legacy.”
Well howdy there pardner.