Post by The Dropkick King on Mar 31, 2017 3:02:25 GMT
Everything's so blurry
And everyone's so fake
And everybody's empty
And everything is so messed up
Preoccupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
You could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you
From all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
Imagine where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
March 19th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Yeah, it stings! What the hell did you think it was going to do?”
“Yeah, well, next time, try not to get hit with mist like that. Your phone is buzzing. Betsy Granger and Lizzie Jones are both tweeting to you.”
Everything was a blur to Adrien Cochrane. The very organs that he depended on so much for wrestling not functioning at full capacity frustrated him. If he can’t see, he can’t understand his opponent’s movements, see what they are doing, or even figure out where the openings are. Everything Adrien had to go on was his remaining senses: specifically the voice of Eddie Walker to inform him of what’s going on and the smell of Stacy Sterling’s perfume as she is personally attending to Adrien’s eyes.
Eddie: “Betsy says it was cool seeing you wrestle again, tagging you in the tweet. Then stuff about other people. What do you want me to say in response?”
Betsy Granger was a member of a fan club back in EXODUS Pro called Section B, a group that also contained well-known members of Patrick Carson and Adam Sanders. When Adrien was giving his speech in the ring about how he wasn’t afraid to stand up to the owners of #FSociety, he noticed that familiar face in the front row. It’s not often you recognize a face in the crowd. Of course, she was probably more there to see Chuck Matthews, but it was still good to have the support of an old fan.
Adrien: “Thank her for her support and tell her I know she was the source of at least one of those chants.”
Adrien can feel Stacy using the cold rag to treat Adrien’s eyes. She puts her hand on the back of Adrien’s head, which Adrien at this point knew was another eye flushing. He obediently leans back over to let Stacy direct him to the faucet of the eye flushing station. The icy cold water alleviates the stinging for the moment, but it’s replaced by a painful chill that doesn’t exactly feel pleasant itself. After maybe another minute or so, Stacy turns off the water and Adrien is sitting back in the chair.
Eddie: “Done. Lizzie says a shout out to...well, you among other names. She was very excellent on the play-by-play if I do say so myself. Completely professional the whole show, and stood by you the whole time.”
Adrien: “If she did indeed do great, tell her that she did. Tell her it was awesome having a friend behind the announce table.”
While he couldn’t see it, Adrien could hear Eddie’s usual sigh and head shake.
Eddie: “I’ll try to find a way to get that in the character limit. Just asking, why exactly are we still tweeting under your account? People saw what happened.”
Adrien: “Rule number...whatever. Never let them see you bleed. And don’t tell anyone it’s you under my account. I want it in their minds that I’m not breaking. It’s going to take much more than impairing my vision and knocking me out with a sneak attack to prevent me from standing up to these jerks.”
Jerk wasn’t quite the word Adrien wanted to use, but Stacy was in the room. He didn’t like being too crude with his vocabulary around her. The stinging in his eyes was declining very slowly but the pain was still there. Adrien tried opening his eyes for a moment and all he could see was the shape of Stacy Sterling sitting over him. He could tell the light was dimmed in the room, obviously for his convenience.
Eddie: “Chuck Matthews tweeted you now. You know what, I’m not even going to read that one to you. I’ll take care of that one. I’ve booked your flight home and an appointment with my ophthalmologist shortly after landing. Stacy, I understand you have business to take care of in Dallas, I can get you a separate flight or maybe get you transportation from New Orleans to Dallas.”
There was a pause. Adrien could only imagine the look on Stacy’s face right now, probably feeling conflicted about doing what she needed to and taking care of Adrien. She never did tell Adrien what she had to do in Dallas, but she has a tendency to plan little surprises for Adrien. Not to mention she does have problems of her own to worry about. She just bruised her ribs in a match where she lost her KCW Showcase Championship just a little more than forty-eight hours ago.
Adrien: “Babe, if you need to go, don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. Do what you need to do. Eddie, Adam, Kenzie...I’ve got a lot of help around the house.”
Eddie: “I can drive him everywhere, Stacy. It won’t be a problem if you need to go your own way for a little bit.”
Adrien’s intention was to try to relieve Stacy of feeling conflicted about it and try to make the decision easier for her. But even as Eddie was ending his sentence, Adrien felt Stacy feeling even more disharmonious about what she should do. Even if he couldn’t see her, he could hear her breathing accelerate more and more as the discussion went on. The free hand that was holding Adrien’s hand tightened its grip little by little as well.
Stacy: “Eddie, can you get me a seat next to Adrien on the flight home?”
Adrien: “Babe, it’s fine, really. I want-”
Stacy: “Adrien, I want to come with you and I’m not taking no for an answer. Eddie, get me that seat, please?”
Adrien can hear the sternness in his girlfriend’s voice, a tone she rarely takes. He could literally feel the concern as well, even if he couldn’t see it on her face.
Eddie: “Yeah, I booked the seat already, in case of options two and three. Although, I didn’t expect you to open door number three, to be honest. Are you absolutely sure you’re going to do this? This could help me do some stuff for my other client if Stacy has some Adrien shifts until his vision is back.”
Eddie recently started managing a friend of Adrien’s, Rayven Hardy. Since he just got the job, there was definitely things for him to immediately do for Hardy to get that business relationship up and running.
Adrien: “Okay. We’ll go back home together, Stacy. Maybe once we get to Eddie’s doctor, we can make some progress so I’m not just some blind invalid.”
Stacy: “You could never be an invalid, Adrien.”
Adrien feels Stacy’s hand tighten even more around his.
Stacy: “What happened tonight, shouldn’t have happened. You went out there, fought, won twice, and then had an unfortunate run in, but you’re valid. The fans love you, they appreciate you, and I love you, not that my love for you matters at your job.”
Stacy’s infectious laugh filled the otherwise quiet and somber room.
Stacy: “But, don’t ever call yourself invalid. The next time you do, I think I may have to punish you. An entire day of sitting on youtube watching hilarious cat videos with me!”
Eddie: “Could be worse. It could be watching snake bite videos with me.”
Another buzz from Adrien’s phone, which is still in Eddie’s possession, catches Adrien’s attention.
Adrien: “Who is it this time?”
Eddie Walker pauses. Adrien doesn’t know if Eddie flashed his phone to Stacy or he shot her some sort of look, but Stacy was silent for a few seconds as well, grabbing Adrien’s hand with both of her hands.
Eddie: “Its Ally. Don’t worry, I’m going to reply to this one for you.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Adrien: “Gloating, I presume. Does seem to be her favorite past time.”
Eddie: “She is making sure she tells us not to scratch your eyes or it could be worse. Not exactly bad advice, but would have been unnecessary if she wasn’t a total bi…”
Adrien: “Eddie! Lady in the room!”
Stacy: “Bitter person, thingy!”
The room got quiet again. The tone of Stacy’s insult directed at the woman that has blinded her boyfriend was humorous, but the insult was admittedly terrible.
Stacy: “Well I wasn’t going to say the B-word! I honestly liked Ally, she has always exchanged pleasantries with me, so this is just upsetting on so many levels, but Adrien, don’t worry about her. Right now, we need to focus on taking care of your eyes. For the next few days, I will be your personal nurse. How does that sound? I could even get you one of those little bells that you could ring if I’m not in the room. That sounds super fun, doesn’t it?”
Eddie: “Not for you. Though it beats me taking care of him and having to hear ‘YO EDDIE!’ across his large house.”
Adrien starts to try to sit up into a normal seated position for the first time since they got him backstage to start attending him. Stacy attempts to try to prevent him from doing so, but Adrien is able to sit up anyway.
Stacy: “Are you going to try to play Superman every step of the way? You need to take it easy. I’m not being over the top about this, you literally can’t see anything. I can picture it now, I’m asleep, you think you can feel your way around the house to the bathroom and you take a tumble and get hurt. Promise me I won’t have to deal with that? Do I have to sleep with one eye open?”
Her tone has changed to a more nurturing one. He can feel her face in front of his, the body heat was enough to tip him off. Adrien closes his eyes tightly then blinks quickly in succession to a point where for just a second or two, he can see his girlfriend’s expression, albeit just a bit blurry. Her blue eyes were looking directly into his impaired blue eyes. Her bottom lip was quivering nervously. Her concern was real. Adrien could tell just by the audible cues but after a quick glimpse, he could see it too. The image quickly blurs back to just a hazy yet colored silhouette of his girlfriend.
Adrien: “I promise, I won’t do anything that will cause any further harm to myself while I recover from this. I won’t let you go through any more than you already have due to silly mistakes and overestimating where I’m at while I try to get back into fighting fit.”
Eddie: “Aww, so sweet. I wish you would make sweet promises like that to me!”
Eddie always has the ability to ruin heartwarming moments. And no Skye Walker to try to restrain him from doing so.
Stacy: “Have I mentioned how excited I am for you to attend to your new client?”
The former KCW Showcase champion was clearly joking as she giggled.
Stacy: “And don’t worry about me, Adrien. I’ll be fine, I just want to make sure you don’t hurt yourself. Eddie, can we get the little gates that people put up when they get a new puppy or have children? Speaking of puppies...I miss mine back home. I want a puppy.”
The room went quiet again as Stacy sighed.
Stacy: “We can talk about puppies later, but yeah, we need those gates, Eddie!”
Eddie: “Sure, just another trip hazard for our little vision impaired Dropkick King here. That’s an excellent idea!!”
Adrien could imagine the glare Stacy would be shooting Eddie right now. Eddie’s hesitant tone is obvious when he immediately looks for an excuse to exit.
Eddie: “Yeah, I’m going to go see if the vehicle is ready for us to bring Mr. Magoo over here back to the hotel room in one piece.”
Within a few seconds of Eddie’s sentence ending, Adrien hears the door open and close. It was just Adrien and Stacy in the room now.
Adrien: “You get used to him being so snarky and sarcastic after awhile. His heart is in the right place, though. Trust me. I’ve known him for years now.”
Stacy: “I know, he’s a really nice guy when he’s not making me feel like an idiot for my suggestion. Grrrr.”
Adrien couldn’t help but laugh a little at the attempt at his girlfriend attempting to sound mean, a feat that was impossible for her.
Stacy: “We really should get you back to the hotel, though. I want you to know how proud I am of you. You fought your heart out tonight, more than once, and I’m truly your biggest fan.”
Adrien could again feel her face getting closer to his, before feeling a quick kiss on his right cheek.
Stacy: “Is there anything you need before we get ready to get you out of here?”
Adrien: “If Eddie has done his job properly, which I have zero doubt in his ability to do so, he’s already got everything belonging to me in that car he’s trying to prepare for us.”
Another brief moment of silence is interrupted at a sigh from the Dropkick King.
Adrien: “Thank you for everything, Stacy. I know you’re going through a lot in your own wrestling career and all the drama going on over in KCW. It means the world to me that you’re sticking by me through all of this.”
Stacy: “I can totally make up what I’m going to miss in Dallas to take care of you. You’re number one in my life. My tag team partner. My sidekick...I mean, not literally my sidekick, because we’re both SUPER, but, you know what I mean.”
She had a habit of saying too much sometimes. She was blushing, Adrien just knew it.
Stacy: “Dallas will be fine without its hero for a few days, I promise.”
Adrien: “It’s still amazing of you to stay by my side while all of this is going on.”
Adrien remembers for a moment the last time Adrien left an #FSociety show with a less than desirable outcome. He remembers waking up to an empty bed when he was expecting the support of the person who he brought with him. To know he truly has the support of someone who is dedicated and clearly making Adrien her top priority...it was a welcome change from the last time he was in this situation.
Adrien: “I love you, Stacy.”
Stacy: “I love you more.”
Adrien attempts a rebuttal but Stacy places her index finger to his lips while laughing.
Stacy: “Shhh, I know you’re going to say that’s impossible, but trust me, it’s super possible.”
The superheroine of the ring trails her finger along Adrien’s bottom lip and then down his chin gently.
Stacy: “When we get home, I’ll put on some of your favorite music and attempt to sing along to it. Music to your ears I’m sure.”
Adrien: “If Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder has taught us anything, it’s that I don’t need my vision to serenade you on a piano.”
Adrien chuckles a little bit. Adrien isn’t sure there would be any other person on the planet who could get him to chuckle in this scenario much less make a joke in light of his current condition. Stacy was literally the only person to bring out this hopeless optimism while Adrien’s world could be falling apart before his nonfunctioning eyes. A lot like she did when they first met.
Adrien: “I’m still going to dispute the fact that you love me more til my dying breath.”
Stacy: “So you’re going to dispute it for the next eighty-five years? Maybe longer?”
Stacy’s desire to keep him laughing meant poking more fun or being overly optimistic.
Stacy: “Are you going to love me until you’re one hundred and fifteen years old?”
Adrien shakes his head with a goofy grin on his face.
Adrien: “If I’m still alive, yes. You won’t be a spring chicken yourself either, you know! One hundred and eight, if my math is correct.”
Stacy: “Poor Eddie will be almost two hundred. I wonder if he will still try to spike his hair!”
Stacy helped Adrien sit back down as he grimaced. He could then hear her fingernails tapping at the screen of her phone as she texted away fast and furiously.
Stacy: “Just checking with Eddie to see if the car is almost ready.”
Adrien: “He’s not the type to let you know electronically if it’s ready. Expect him to barge in here, like the middle-aged man he is, to alert us. Plus, I think he just likes it when he can make a grand entrance into any room. Sucks for him I won’t be able to see it.”
Stacy: “Well, I hope he doesn’t interrupt us now…”
Stacy’s words lingered by Adrien’s ears as he then felt her soft lips press against his. Not even five seconds into her kiss, Adrien hears the door open, and Stacy nearly leaping away from Adrien.
Eddie: “Car is ready. If you two want to enjoy your ‘pancakes’, you can wait until you get back to your hotel room. I’m sure you two can be patient for like, seven to ten minutes.”
Dammit, Eddie!!
Stacy: “No! No, I was just...I was...I…”
Adrien: “Dude! Didn’t we have an agreement that you don’t interrupt me kissing my girlfriend for anything lower than a seven! The car being ready is no higher than a four!”
Eddie: “We still have that one through ten importance system?”
Adrien: “We do now!”
Stacy: “Wait, you guys have an importance system for real? And here I thought I was the lame one. Eddie, you officially take the crown of being the lamest in the room, but hey we’ll be right out!”
Eddie: “Pretty sure the photo that was leaked on Twitter of me dressed like a fairy princess gave me that crown a long time ago. Plus...you know, I’m a dad.”
Stacy doesn’t sound impressed.
Eddie: “I’ll be waiting in the car. Just make sure Matt Murdock over here gets to the car safely, please?”
Stacy: “If one of us has to fall, it will be me, I promise.”
Adrien hears Stacy sigh in pain, but can’t see her grimace as she puts an arm over her ribs.
Stacy: “If there are any fans that want pictures, please let them know that his eyes are delicate right now but once we get him in the car I will take as many as they want, even if it keeps us here all night. Okay?”
Eddie: “You think I’m parked where there are people? Oh no, we’re going out the back where there’s no one to take pictures of Geordi La Forge over here. Like he said, never let them see you bleed.”
Stacy: “Totally not getting your references, but yeah, sounds splendid, superb even.”
Adrien hears the opening and closing of the door again as Stacy runs her hand over his cheek.
Stacy: “Okay, let’s get you to the car so that you can get back to the hotel and get some rest, you need it after tonight.”
Adrien: “Matt Murdock was Daredevil. I think Geordi was a Star Trek character with a big visor over his eyes. And I really hope you know who Mr. Magoo was. But yeah, lead the way, babe.”
Adrien feels Stacy’s hand move from his cheek to his back to get him back on his feet. It looks like he’s going to be spending a few days trusting on Stacy to be his eyes. At least this should be nothing more than a temporary disadvantage.
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well you shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well you shoved it in my face
March 28th, 2017
Cameras: ON
Water. While not the bluest water one has ever seen, the waves crash the shoreline nonetheless. The ambient sound of it is enough for any aquaphile to fall into a deep, peaceful slumber. A flock of pelicans fly over the camera’s view of the bright blue sky. The sun starts to fade behind a cloud as the natural serenity is interrupted by the voice of a man that is indistinguishable in #FSociety Wrestling.
“Salutations, everyone. Before I speak about my match, there’s something a bit bigger than that going on that involves the company as a whole.”
The owner of that voice steps into the majestic lake scene. The Dropkick King himself, Adrien Cochrane, gives a smirk that looks slightly forced. While the sunglasses cover his face, it is obvious he is looking directly into the camera.
“We’ve officially reached the point where I and a certain other person involved in #FSociety are at an impasse. I spoke the last time I went on camera about the state of our company. I spoke about the decisions Chris Night had made leading up to last week’s Anarchy. I addressed it in a manner that was no more than constructive criticism. I told him that I believed there was common ground we could all reach for the good of our company. I said that I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt after he told me to trust him and what his next moves were going to be. I reiterated my stance on Anarchy after my match with the support of some like-minded individuals. I even ended my speech that we could prosper together.
“Now, Chris Night has taken my criticism as about as well as an egotistical ten-year-old. In fact, I’m pretty sure he didn’t listen to a damn thing I said because he later went on camera and said some words towards me. He spoke to me like some sort of petulant child. It became clear to me that Chris Night went into full ego hurt mode and didn’t even listen to a word I said the moment he said that I claimed to be fighting a hostile ‘takeover’ that wasn’t happening. Guess what, Chris! I never once used that word! What a wonderful Freudian slip by our fearless owner! Not in my video leading up to Anarchy nor in the ring at Anarchy, so I hate to break it to you, but your paranoia is showing.
“But what is the opposite of paranoia? Naive. Dupable. Trusting. I admit I was all of these about how Chris Night was going to handle me reaching out to him. I was all of these things when I saw Ally Morrow state she was going to fight this backstage atmosphere and was about to trust her to fight beside me. And also believing she was still injured. I’m not arrogant to the point where I can’t admit that I put myself in a situation that didn’t turn out well for me. But I also knew what I was getting into when I spoke out against Chris Night, and almost like my words were from an oracle and not myself, they started happening together in one night. I said I was expecting to be punished with booking, which happened. I predicted attacks would be thrown at me, which also happened.
“And you know what I said about you doing these things to me?”
Sunglasses come off. Adrien Cochrane was glaring angrily into the camera. His voice raises a little.
“I said I would take it. Throw your attacks at me, Chris. Throw me into whatever matches you want to try to break me. Do your fucking worst to me because I’m not afraid of anything you or anyone who follows you can do to me. I’ll leave every Anarchy hospitalized, but I will not give up nor give in. You. Will. NOT. Break. Me.”
Adrien’s death glare ends. He shakes his head, even chuckling a little bit.
“You know, when the tweet was first put out there that my opponent was going to be against Kenzie Rydell, the two of us had different interpretations of the tweet. I saw it as Chris Night trying to divide and conquer everyone speaking out against him. I immediately thought this was Chris’s way to try to punish me for my dissension by sticking me in the ring with someone who I actually trained. It’s essentially Night making me have to harm the absolute last person I want to hurt. And I have to do so in a manner until she can’t defeat a three count or submit. The girl has like my younger sister for the past two years. So as you can see, this situation is not ideal for me.
“Kenzie saw it in a completely different light. She saw the tweet where the match was called the main event of the show, something she has informed me she has never done. The name wasn’t as much of an issue for her, it was all about the golden opportunity to have top billing on a show, but the name was also a factor to her. She was going to face her mentor, someone she watched win top championships as a fan and later as a protege. Understandably, she was thinking this was a chance for her career to take off to a point higher than it ever has.
“And then there was the sneaky rug pull Night orchestrated. After allowing the match to be announced as the main event, he then announces that the match will be the opener. Kenzie’s spirits dropped astronomically from that point on. Sure, she’s still excited about a chance to face off with a multi-time World Champion who taught her most of what she knows, but the match lost a lot of the luster for her in terms of being the top of the card. I’ve headlined enough shows across many companies where me being in a match that were dropped from the main event to show opening doesn’t bother me any. But to her: this was letting the girl think she was going to hit a career milestone for the first time only to have it taken away almost immediately. Now, I expect Chris Night to deny this, but this was clearly intentional. If you really think about it, it was clever; a very well planned two-pronged attack against two people protesting his managerial style in completely different ways. I can’t help but applaud him for doing exactly what he wants to do to punish those who stand against him in terms of booking.”
The New Orleans native takes a seat on a nearby rock not too far from where the tide crests then recede. His attire is much different than his most recent affinity with the color black, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a green plaid shirt. His key-shaped necklace dangles around his neck, in front of his shirt. While his blonde hair isn’t long enough for the wind to affect, the shirt is gently fluttering in the breeze. He puts the sunglasses back on.
“In a way, I feel guilty. The only reason Kenzie is in Night’s crossfire is because of me standing up to him. And Kenzie is loyal as can be. Kenzie will make like the Death Cab song and follow me into the dark. Perhaps she wouldn’t be in this position had it not been for me. She, of course, will deny this. Probably will when she gets her turn on the camera. She’ll assure me that she is proud to stand beside me. She’ll tell me that she wouldn’t rather fight beside anyone else for a cause like this one and in the end, it was her decision. She won’t want me blaming myself for her decisions. But my actions had to have an effect on her decision-making process. Nothing she can say will make me believe otherwise.”
Adrien’s voice trembles a little bit as he directly addresses his opponent this coming Sunday for the first time. His lower lip curls into his teeth a little bit and even the sunglasses can’t conceal the earnest expression across the face of the Dropkick King.
“Makenzie Judith Rydell, I know you don’t want me believing I’m in any way responsible for this. Whether you want to hear this or not, I’m sorry. I couldn’t care less what these people do to me. But I do care what they do to the people I care about. It’s part of the reason I’m glad Adam made the decision to withdraw from here, and Stacy doesn’t wrestle under this banner. I almost don’t want to let Eddie come along to any shows for a bit, to be honest.
“But there is one person that I won’t be able to stop from being in harm’s way, and that’s you, Kenzie. You’ve stood by me through a lot of ups and downs. I was there when you started dating Adam almost two years ago. I sat at your bedside when Ashleigh Jericho put you in the hospital. I watched you cry when Adam was missing. We’ve even gotten into a shouting match over my training excursions. I’ve tried to do everything I could to put you in a position to do great things, regardless of where you were wrestling. I celebrated when you captured your NGW Five Lakes Championship, and you celebrated when I won the #FSociety Championship. Even though you’re not an official resident of my house, I still pretty much have to think about you when buying groceries since you spend more nights at my house than you do any other singular location. I’ve always wanted to be that person you could look up to, and I do my best to deserve to be your role model since I know you view me as one.
“But most of all, I wanted you to learn something from everything that happened to you: good or bad. Remember when you came to my house after Jericho hospitalized you and we sat down in my living room about how you ended up in that predicament to begin with? I also gave you a huge speech about your decisions when it came to Adam during his disappearance and the months after. Even last month when you had doubts about if you could trust your partner, I spoke to you about how important trust is and how your focus must always be on winning the match when that bell sounds. I know you think I was always being too hard on you and always being a bit of a critic when it came to stuff like this, but the fact remains, Kenzie, that you are my most successful protege and student so far. To date, you’re the only one to ever hold any belt. Unless Adam becomes a World Champion or some other pupil at some point in the future, you will remain that way. I don’t see you as a Paragon or Paradigm of Mediocrity or whatever Sarah Lacklan calls you. I think you’re capable of being great, and I take pride in every match you win.”
The former champion removes his sunglasses again and closes his eyes for a brief moment.
“I know you’re excited still for this match. I’m not. I feel like I have to defeat family because you are family to me, Kenzie. You’re part of my family and I know you feel the same way. Injuring you is the very last thing I want to do. But at the same time, I won’t hold back. I trained you to go out and give it your all every time you step into that ring. It would be complete hypocrisy if I didn’t do the same. When that bell sounds after we enter the ring, I will do whatever it takes to legally win the match. Because as I told you in the aforementioned speech last month, once that bell sounds there is only one thing that matters and that is the match. I may not like it, but you are going to be my opponent and it’s my job to get the victory, especially when I’m trying to send a message to Tyson Gregory and the others that I am on a mission to win back that championship. I am not in a position where I can afford to lose any matches, even to someone I’m as close to as you, Kenzie.”
Cochrane takes a deep breath before concluding.
“I’m sorry you’re being punished for my actions. I’m sorry for whatever happens between the bells in our match. I love you, Kenzie, and you will always be my pride and joy for everything you have done and will do. But I have to do what I have to do.”
Everyone is changing
There's no one left that's real
So make up your own ending
And let me know just how you feel
Cause I am lost without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
And you could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I will save you
From all of the unclean
I wonder what you're doing
I wonder where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
March 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Come on, Adrien!! Answer your damn phone or door or something!! When the hell did you start locking this door anyway?!”
Eddie Walker continues banging on the door of the Cochrane residence with his right hand as he holds his phone in his left hand. The speakerphone feature of his iPhone allows him to attempt to reach the thirty-year-old. Eventually, the door swings open. The manager doesn’t even wait for Adrien to fully open the door all the way before barging into the foyer of the home.
Adrien: “Eddie, what the hell, man?!”
Adrien Cochrane looks a bit off guard not only by the presence of Eddie Walker but also his overall mood. Walker turns back towards Adrien, gripping the wrestler by both of his shoulders.
Eddie: “Where the hell is your phone?!”
The voice of Eddie Walker reflects a man under a lot of stress and even dealing with a bit of frustration. But even the smallest of inconveniences can ruffle the feathers of Eddie Walker, so Adrien isn’t alarmed by it. He responds calmly.
Adrien: “I think I left it in my car this morning. Sorry about that. Did you need me for something, man?”
The forty-one-year-old runs both of his hands through the spiked hair above his head.
Eddie: “You have GOT to be kidding me. Have you seen your mentions on Twitter?! Or Kenzie’s video for your match or Ally’s for that matter?! Well, Ally's was to be expected. But Kenzie's...that one caught me off guard.”
Adrien’s eyes went from relaxed to deadlocked with Eddie Walker’s. Walker pulls out his phone once more from his cargo shorts. He starts logging into Twitter. Adrien had stayed away from Twitter the entire day so that he can focus on training for his match and as he told Eddie, he didn’t even have his phone on him the entire day. The match could have been canceled and Adrien fired by Night for all he knew. He then asks a question he was almost afraid to ask.
Adrien: “What’s going on, Eddie?”
Eddie continues swiping and pressing buttons as he holds up one finger to Adrien.
Eddie: “Something I can’t tell you. It’s something I have to show you.”
After a few more moments, Eddie Walker flips his phone around and lets Adrien read all the tweets that Adrien had been tagged in throughout the day. Adrien’s fists clenched the moment he saw what was said. His blood started to boil. His cool blue eyes felt like they were burning into a fiery red. Adrien slowly swipes down on Eddie’s phone to continue reading the conversation, but Adrien continued to feel as if he was about to throw the nearest item.
Adrien: “She said WHAT?!”
Eddie: “It gets worse when you watch the videos. I’m a little afraid to be in the room with you when you view these.”
Cochrane takes a deep breath. Stacy was just in the other room and he did not want to startle her. His composure slowly returns, and blood pressure returns to a more normal level. He shuts his eyes for a few seconds and slowly inhales followed by an equally slow exhale.
Adrien: “Okay, let’s keep our head in the game. Let’s remember the mission.”
Eddie: “Yeah, keep telling yourself that when you see exactly what your supposed pride and joy has to say about the person she just literally told me days ago was a hero to her. And to think, you were actually feeling guilty about Night gunning for her right now. I hope you have like a stress ball or a punching bag nearby because you’re gonna need it when you watch this video.”
There was only one thing Adrien could do as the shock of what was going on started to wear off and sink in and that’s to hang his head in disappointment. He was still processing everything but that was the keyword to how Adrien felt about someone he trusted and shared so much with: Disappointment.
Et Tu, Kenzie? Et Tu?
And everyone's so fake
And everybody's empty
And everything is so messed up
Preoccupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
You could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you
From all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
Imagine where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
March 19th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Yeah, it stings! What the hell did you think it was going to do?”
“Yeah, well, next time, try not to get hit with mist like that. Your phone is buzzing. Betsy Granger and Lizzie Jones are both tweeting to you.”
Everything was a blur to Adrien Cochrane. The very organs that he depended on so much for wrestling not functioning at full capacity frustrated him. If he can’t see, he can’t understand his opponent’s movements, see what they are doing, or even figure out where the openings are. Everything Adrien had to go on was his remaining senses: specifically the voice of Eddie Walker to inform him of what’s going on and the smell of Stacy Sterling’s perfume as she is personally attending to Adrien’s eyes.
Eddie: “Betsy says it was cool seeing you wrestle again, tagging you in the tweet. Then stuff about other people. What do you want me to say in response?”
Betsy Granger was a member of a fan club back in EXODUS Pro called Section B, a group that also contained well-known members of Patrick Carson and Adam Sanders. When Adrien was giving his speech in the ring about how he wasn’t afraid to stand up to the owners of #FSociety, he noticed that familiar face in the front row. It’s not often you recognize a face in the crowd. Of course, she was probably more there to see Chuck Matthews, but it was still good to have the support of an old fan.
Adrien: “Thank her for her support and tell her I know she was the source of at least one of those chants.”
Adrien can feel Stacy using the cold rag to treat Adrien’s eyes. She puts her hand on the back of Adrien’s head, which Adrien at this point knew was another eye flushing. He obediently leans back over to let Stacy direct him to the faucet of the eye flushing station. The icy cold water alleviates the stinging for the moment, but it’s replaced by a painful chill that doesn’t exactly feel pleasant itself. After maybe another minute or so, Stacy turns off the water and Adrien is sitting back in the chair.
Eddie: “Done. Lizzie says a shout out to...well, you among other names. She was very excellent on the play-by-play if I do say so myself. Completely professional the whole show, and stood by you the whole time.”
Adrien: “If she did indeed do great, tell her that she did. Tell her it was awesome having a friend behind the announce table.”
While he couldn’t see it, Adrien could hear Eddie’s usual sigh and head shake.
Eddie: “I’ll try to find a way to get that in the character limit. Just asking, why exactly are we still tweeting under your account? People saw what happened.”
Adrien: “Rule number...whatever. Never let them see you bleed. And don’t tell anyone it’s you under my account. I want it in their minds that I’m not breaking. It’s going to take much more than impairing my vision and knocking me out with a sneak attack to prevent me from standing up to these jerks.”
Jerk wasn’t quite the word Adrien wanted to use, but Stacy was in the room. He didn’t like being too crude with his vocabulary around her. The stinging in his eyes was declining very slowly but the pain was still there. Adrien tried opening his eyes for a moment and all he could see was the shape of Stacy Sterling sitting over him. He could tell the light was dimmed in the room, obviously for his convenience.
Eddie: “Chuck Matthews tweeted you now. You know what, I’m not even going to read that one to you. I’ll take care of that one. I’ve booked your flight home and an appointment with my ophthalmologist shortly after landing. Stacy, I understand you have business to take care of in Dallas, I can get you a separate flight or maybe get you transportation from New Orleans to Dallas.”
There was a pause. Adrien could only imagine the look on Stacy’s face right now, probably feeling conflicted about doing what she needed to and taking care of Adrien. She never did tell Adrien what she had to do in Dallas, but she has a tendency to plan little surprises for Adrien. Not to mention she does have problems of her own to worry about. She just bruised her ribs in a match where she lost her KCW Showcase Championship just a little more than forty-eight hours ago.
Adrien: “Babe, if you need to go, don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. Do what you need to do. Eddie, Adam, Kenzie...I’ve got a lot of help around the house.”
Eddie: “I can drive him everywhere, Stacy. It won’t be a problem if you need to go your own way for a little bit.”
Adrien’s intention was to try to relieve Stacy of feeling conflicted about it and try to make the decision easier for her. But even as Eddie was ending his sentence, Adrien felt Stacy feeling even more disharmonious about what she should do. Even if he couldn’t see her, he could hear her breathing accelerate more and more as the discussion went on. The free hand that was holding Adrien’s hand tightened its grip little by little as well.
Stacy: “Eddie, can you get me a seat next to Adrien on the flight home?”
Adrien: “Babe, it’s fine, really. I want-”
Stacy: “Adrien, I want to come with you and I’m not taking no for an answer. Eddie, get me that seat, please?”
Adrien can hear the sternness in his girlfriend’s voice, a tone she rarely takes. He could literally feel the concern as well, even if he couldn’t see it on her face.
Eddie: “Yeah, I booked the seat already, in case of options two and three. Although, I didn’t expect you to open door number three, to be honest. Are you absolutely sure you’re going to do this? This could help me do some stuff for my other client if Stacy has some Adrien shifts until his vision is back.”
Eddie recently started managing a friend of Adrien’s, Rayven Hardy. Since he just got the job, there was definitely things for him to immediately do for Hardy to get that business relationship up and running.
Adrien: “Okay. We’ll go back home together, Stacy. Maybe once we get to Eddie’s doctor, we can make some progress so I’m not just some blind invalid.”
Stacy: “You could never be an invalid, Adrien.”
Adrien feels Stacy’s hand tighten even more around his.
Stacy: “What happened tonight, shouldn’t have happened. You went out there, fought, won twice, and then had an unfortunate run in, but you’re valid. The fans love you, they appreciate you, and I love you, not that my love for you matters at your job.”
Stacy’s infectious laugh filled the otherwise quiet and somber room.
Stacy: “But, don’t ever call yourself invalid. The next time you do, I think I may have to punish you. An entire day of sitting on youtube watching hilarious cat videos with me!”
Eddie: “Could be worse. It could be watching snake bite videos with me.”
Another buzz from Adrien’s phone, which is still in Eddie’s possession, catches Adrien’s attention.
Adrien: “Who is it this time?”
Eddie Walker pauses. Adrien doesn’t know if Eddie flashed his phone to Stacy or he shot her some sort of look, but Stacy was silent for a few seconds as well, grabbing Adrien’s hand with both of her hands.
Eddie: “Its Ally. Don’t worry, I’m going to reply to this one for you.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Adrien: “Gloating, I presume. Does seem to be her favorite past time.”
Eddie: “She is making sure she tells us not to scratch your eyes or it could be worse. Not exactly bad advice, but would have been unnecessary if she wasn’t a total bi…”
Adrien: “Eddie! Lady in the room!”
Stacy: “Bitter person, thingy!”
The room got quiet again. The tone of Stacy’s insult directed at the woman that has blinded her boyfriend was humorous, but the insult was admittedly terrible.
Stacy: “Well I wasn’t going to say the B-word! I honestly liked Ally, she has always exchanged pleasantries with me, so this is just upsetting on so many levels, but Adrien, don’t worry about her. Right now, we need to focus on taking care of your eyes. For the next few days, I will be your personal nurse. How does that sound? I could even get you one of those little bells that you could ring if I’m not in the room. That sounds super fun, doesn’t it?”
Eddie: “Not for you. Though it beats me taking care of him and having to hear ‘YO EDDIE!’ across his large house.”
Adrien starts to try to sit up into a normal seated position for the first time since they got him backstage to start attending him. Stacy attempts to try to prevent him from doing so, but Adrien is able to sit up anyway.
Stacy: “Are you going to try to play Superman every step of the way? You need to take it easy. I’m not being over the top about this, you literally can’t see anything. I can picture it now, I’m asleep, you think you can feel your way around the house to the bathroom and you take a tumble and get hurt. Promise me I won’t have to deal with that? Do I have to sleep with one eye open?”
Her tone has changed to a more nurturing one. He can feel her face in front of his, the body heat was enough to tip him off. Adrien closes his eyes tightly then blinks quickly in succession to a point where for just a second or two, he can see his girlfriend’s expression, albeit just a bit blurry. Her blue eyes were looking directly into his impaired blue eyes. Her bottom lip was quivering nervously. Her concern was real. Adrien could tell just by the audible cues but after a quick glimpse, he could see it too. The image quickly blurs back to just a hazy yet colored silhouette of his girlfriend.
Adrien: “I promise, I won’t do anything that will cause any further harm to myself while I recover from this. I won’t let you go through any more than you already have due to silly mistakes and overestimating where I’m at while I try to get back into fighting fit.”
Eddie: “Aww, so sweet. I wish you would make sweet promises like that to me!”
Eddie always has the ability to ruin heartwarming moments. And no Skye Walker to try to restrain him from doing so.
Stacy: “Have I mentioned how excited I am for you to attend to your new client?”
The former KCW Showcase champion was clearly joking as she giggled.
Stacy: “And don’t worry about me, Adrien. I’ll be fine, I just want to make sure you don’t hurt yourself. Eddie, can we get the little gates that people put up when they get a new puppy or have children? Speaking of puppies...I miss mine back home. I want a puppy.”
The room went quiet again as Stacy sighed.
Stacy: “We can talk about puppies later, but yeah, we need those gates, Eddie!”
Eddie: “Sure, just another trip hazard for our little vision impaired Dropkick King here. That’s an excellent idea!!”
Adrien could imagine the glare Stacy would be shooting Eddie right now. Eddie’s hesitant tone is obvious when he immediately looks for an excuse to exit.
Eddie: “Yeah, I’m going to go see if the vehicle is ready for us to bring Mr. Magoo over here back to the hotel room in one piece.”
Within a few seconds of Eddie’s sentence ending, Adrien hears the door open and close. It was just Adrien and Stacy in the room now.
Adrien: “You get used to him being so snarky and sarcastic after awhile. His heart is in the right place, though. Trust me. I’ve known him for years now.”
Stacy: “I know, he’s a really nice guy when he’s not making me feel like an idiot for my suggestion. Grrrr.”
Adrien couldn’t help but laugh a little at the attempt at his girlfriend attempting to sound mean, a feat that was impossible for her.
Stacy: “We really should get you back to the hotel, though. I want you to know how proud I am of you. You fought your heart out tonight, more than once, and I’m truly your biggest fan.”
Adrien could again feel her face getting closer to his, before feeling a quick kiss on his right cheek.
Stacy: “Is there anything you need before we get ready to get you out of here?”
Adrien: “If Eddie has done his job properly, which I have zero doubt in his ability to do so, he’s already got everything belonging to me in that car he’s trying to prepare for us.”
Another brief moment of silence is interrupted at a sigh from the Dropkick King.
Adrien: “Thank you for everything, Stacy. I know you’re going through a lot in your own wrestling career and all the drama going on over in KCW. It means the world to me that you’re sticking by me through all of this.”
Stacy: “I can totally make up what I’m going to miss in Dallas to take care of you. You’re number one in my life. My tag team partner. My sidekick...I mean, not literally my sidekick, because we’re both SUPER, but, you know what I mean.”
She had a habit of saying too much sometimes. She was blushing, Adrien just knew it.
Stacy: “Dallas will be fine without its hero for a few days, I promise.”
Adrien: “It’s still amazing of you to stay by my side while all of this is going on.”
Adrien remembers for a moment the last time Adrien left an #FSociety show with a less than desirable outcome. He remembers waking up to an empty bed when he was expecting the support of the person who he brought with him. To know he truly has the support of someone who is dedicated and clearly making Adrien her top priority...it was a welcome change from the last time he was in this situation.
Adrien: “I love you, Stacy.”
Stacy: “I love you more.”
Adrien attempts a rebuttal but Stacy places her index finger to his lips while laughing.
Stacy: “Shhh, I know you’re going to say that’s impossible, but trust me, it’s super possible.”
The superheroine of the ring trails her finger along Adrien’s bottom lip and then down his chin gently.
Stacy: “When we get home, I’ll put on some of your favorite music and attempt to sing along to it. Music to your ears I’m sure.”
Adrien: “If Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder has taught us anything, it’s that I don’t need my vision to serenade you on a piano.”
Adrien chuckles a little bit. Adrien isn’t sure there would be any other person on the planet who could get him to chuckle in this scenario much less make a joke in light of his current condition. Stacy was literally the only person to bring out this hopeless optimism while Adrien’s world could be falling apart before his nonfunctioning eyes. A lot like she did when they first met.
Adrien: “I’m still going to dispute the fact that you love me more til my dying breath.”
Stacy: “So you’re going to dispute it for the next eighty-five years? Maybe longer?”
Stacy’s desire to keep him laughing meant poking more fun or being overly optimistic.
Stacy: “Are you going to love me until you’re one hundred and fifteen years old?”
Adrien shakes his head with a goofy grin on his face.
Adrien: “If I’m still alive, yes. You won’t be a spring chicken yourself either, you know! One hundred and eight, if my math is correct.”
Stacy: “Poor Eddie will be almost two hundred. I wonder if he will still try to spike his hair!”
Stacy helped Adrien sit back down as he grimaced. He could then hear her fingernails tapping at the screen of her phone as she texted away fast and furiously.
Stacy: “Just checking with Eddie to see if the car is almost ready.”
Adrien: “He’s not the type to let you know electronically if it’s ready. Expect him to barge in here, like the middle-aged man he is, to alert us. Plus, I think he just likes it when he can make a grand entrance into any room. Sucks for him I won’t be able to see it.”
Stacy: “Well, I hope he doesn’t interrupt us now…”
Stacy’s words lingered by Adrien’s ears as he then felt her soft lips press against his. Not even five seconds into her kiss, Adrien hears the door open, and Stacy nearly leaping away from Adrien.
Eddie: “Car is ready. If you two want to enjoy your ‘pancakes’, you can wait until you get back to your hotel room. I’m sure you two can be patient for like, seven to ten minutes.”
Dammit, Eddie!!
Stacy: “No! No, I was just...I was...I…”
Adrien: “Dude! Didn’t we have an agreement that you don’t interrupt me kissing my girlfriend for anything lower than a seven! The car being ready is no higher than a four!”
Eddie: “We still have that one through ten importance system?”
Adrien: “We do now!”
Stacy: “Wait, you guys have an importance system for real? And here I thought I was the lame one. Eddie, you officially take the crown of being the lamest in the room, but hey we’ll be right out!”
Eddie: “Pretty sure the photo that was leaked on Twitter of me dressed like a fairy princess gave me that crown a long time ago. Plus...you know, I’m a dad.”
Stacy doesn’t sound impressed.
Eddie: “I’ll be waiting in the car. Just make sure Matt Murdock over here gets to the car safely, please?”
Stacy: “If one of us has to fall, it will be me, I promise.”
Adrien hears Stacy sigh in pain, but can’t see her grimace as she puts an arm over her ribs.
Stacy: “If there are any fans that want pictures, please let them know that his eyes are delicate right now but once we get him in the car I will take as many as they want, even if it keeps us here all night. Okay?”
Eddie: “You think I’m parked where there are people? Oh no, we’re going out the back where there’s no one to take pictures of Geordi La Forge over here. Like he said, never let them see you bleed.”
Stacy: “Totally not getting your references, but yeah, sounds splendid, superb even.”
Adrien hears the opening and closing of the door again as Stacy runs her hand over his cheek.
Stacy: “Okay, let’s get you to the car so that you can get back to the hotel and get some rest, you need it after tonight.”
Adrien: “Matt Murdock was Daredevil. I think Geordi was a Star Trek character with a big visor over his eyes. And I really hope you know who Mr. Magoo was. But yeah, lead the way, babe.”
Adrien feels Stacy’s hand move from his cheek to his back to get him back on his feet. It looks like he’s going to be spending a few days trusting on Stacy to be his eyes. At least this should be nothing more than a temporary disadvantage.
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well you shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well you shoved it in my face
March 28th, 2017
Cameras: ON
Water. While not the bluest water one has ever seen, the waves crash the shoreline nonetheless. The ambient sound of it is enough for any aquaphile to fall into a deep, peaceful slumber. A flock of pelicans fly over the camera’s view of the bright blue sky. The sun starts to fade behind a cloud as the natural serenity is interrupted by the voice of a man that is indistinguishable in #FSociety Wrestling.
“Salutations, everyone. Before I speak about my match, there’s something a bit bigger than that going on that involves the company as a whole.”
The owner of that voice steps into the majestic lake scene. The Dropkick King himself, Adrien Cochrane, gives a smirk that looks slightly forced. While the sunglasses cover his face, it is obvious he is looking directly into the camera.
“We’ve officially reached the point where I and a certain other person involved in #FSociety are at an impasse. I spoke the last time I went on camera about the state of our company. I spoke about the decisions Chris Night had made leading up to last week’s Anarchy. I addressed it in a manner that was no more than constructive criticism. I told him that I believed there was common ground we could all reach for the good of our company. I said that I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt after he told me to trust him and what his next moves were going to be. I reiterated my stance on Anarchy after my match with the support of some like-minded individuals. I even ended my speech that we could prosper together.
“Now, Chris Night has taken my criticism as about as well as an egotistical ten-year-old. In fact, I’m pretty sure he didn’t listen to a damn thing I said because he later went on camera and said some words towards me. He spoke to me like some sort of petulant child. It became clear to me that Chris Night went into full ego hurt mode and didn’t even listen to a word I said the moment he said that I claimed to be fighting a hostile ‘takeover’ that wasn’t happening. Guess what, Chris! I never once used that word! What a wonderful Freudian slip by our fearless owner! Not in my video leading up to Anarchy nor in the ring at Anarchy, so I hate to break it to you, but your paranoia is showing.
“But what is the opposite of paranoia? Naive. Dupable. Trusting. I admit I was all of these about how Chris Night was going to handle me reaching out to him. I was all of these things when I saw Ally Morrow state she was going to fight this backstage atmosphere and was about to trust her to fight beside me. And also believing she was still injured. I’m not arrogant to the point where I can’t admit that I put myself in a situation that didn’t turn out well for me. But I also knew what I was getting into when I spoke out against Chris Night, and almost like my words were from an oracle and not myself, they started happening together in one night. I said I was expecting to be punished with booking, which happened. I predicted attacks would be thrown at me, which also happened.
“And you know what I said about you doing these things to me?”
Sunglasses come off. Adrien Cochrane was glaring angrily into the camera. His voice raises a little.
“I said I would take it. Throw your attacks at me, Chris. Throw me into whatever matches you want to try to break me. Do your fucking worst to me because I’m not afraid of anything you or anyone who follows you can do to me. I’ll leave every Anarchy hospitalized, but I will not give up nor give in. You. Will. NOT. Break. Me.”
Adrien’s death glare ends. He shakes his head, even chuckling a little bit.
“You know, when the tweet was first put out there that my opponent was going to be against Kenzie Rydell, the two of us had different interpretations of the tweet. I saw it as Chris Night trying to divide and conquer everyone speaking out against him. I immediately thought this was Chris’s way to try to punish me for my dissension by sticking me in the ring with someone who I actually trained. It’s essentially Night making me have to harm the absolute last person I want to hurt. And I have to do so in a manner until she can’t defeat a three count or submit. The girl has like my younger sister for the past two years. So as you can see, this situation is not ideal for me.
“Kenzie saw it in a completely different light. She saw the tweet where the match was called the main event of the show, something she has informed me she has never done. The name wasn’t as much of an issue for her, it was all about the golden opportunity to have top billing on a show, but the name was also a factor to her. She was going to face her mentor, someone she watched win top championships as a fan and later as a protege. Understandably, she was thinking this was a chance for her career to take off to a point higher than it ever has.
“And then there was the sneaky rug pull Night orchestrated. After allowing the match to be announced as the main event, he then announces that the match will be the opener. Kenzie’s spirits dropped astronomically from that point on. Sure, she’s still excited about a chance to face off with a multi-time World Champion who taught her most of what she knows, but the match lost a lot of the luster for her in terms of being the top of the card. I’ve headlined enough shows across many companies where me being in a match that were dropped from the main event to show opening doesn’t bother me any. But to her: this was letting the girl think she was going to hit a career milestone for the first time only to have it taken away almost immediately. Now, I expect Chris Night to deny this, but this was clearly intentional. If you really think about it, it was clever; a very well planned two-pronged attack against two people protesting his managerial style in completely different ways. I can’t help but applaud him for doing exactly what he wants to do to punish those who stand against him in terms of booking.”
The New Orleans native takes a seat on a nearby rock not too far from where the tide crests then recede. His attire is much different than his most recent affinity with the color black, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a green plaid shirt. His key-shaped necklace dangles around his neck, in front of his shirt. While his blonde hair isn’t long enough for the wind to affect, the shirt is gently fluttering in the breeze. He puts the sunglasses back on.
“In a way, I feel guilty. The only reason Kenzie is in Night’s crossfire is because of me standing up to him. And Kenzie is loyal as can be. Kenzie will make like the Death Cab song and follow me into the dark. Perhaps she wouldn’t be in this position had it not been for me. She, of course, will deny this. Probably will when she gets her turn on the camera. She’ll assure me that she is proud to stand beside me. She’ll tell me that she wouldn’t rather fight beside anyone else for a cause like this one and in the end, it was her decision. She won’t want me blaming myself for her decisions. But my actions had to have an effect on her decision-making process. Nothing she can say will make me believe otherwise.”
Adrien’s voice trembles a little bit as he directly addresses his opponent this coming Sunday for the first time. His lower lip curls into his teeth a little bit and even the sunglasses can’t conceal the earnest expression across the face of the Dropkick King.
“Makenzie Judith Rydell, I know you don’t want me believing I’m in any way responsible for this. Whether you want to hear this or not, I’m sorry. I couldn’t care less what these people do to me. But I do care what they do to the people I care about. It’s part of the reason I’m glad Adam made the decision to withdraw from here, and Stacy doesn’t wrestle under this banner. I almost don’t want to let Eddie come along to any shows for a bit, to be honest.
“But there is one person that I won’t be able to stop from being in harm’s way, and that’s you, Kenzie. You’ve stood by me through a lot of ups and downs. I was there when you started dating Adam almost two years ago. I sat at your bedside when Ashleigh Jericho put you in the hospital. I watched you cry when Adam was missing. We’ve even gotten into a shouting match over my training excursions. I’ve tried to do everything I could to put you in a position to do great things, regardless of where you were wrestling. I celebrated when you captured your NGW Five Lakes Championship, and you celebrated when I won the #FSociety Championship. Even though you’re not an official resident of my house, I still pretty much have to think about you when buying groceries since you spend more nights at my house than you do any other singular location. I’ve always wanted to be that person you could look up to, and I do my best to deserve to be your role model since I know you view me as one.
“But most of all, I wanted you to learn something from everything that happened to you: good or bad. Remember when you came to my house after Jericho hospitalized you and we sat down in my living room about how you ended up in that predicament to begin with? I also gave you a huge speech about your decisions when it came to Adam during his disappearance and the months after. Even last month when you had doubts about if you could trust your partner, I spoke to you about how important trust is and how your focus must always be on winning the match when that bell sounds. I know you think I was always being too hard on you and always being a bit of a critic when it came to stuff like this, but the fact remains, Kenzie, that you are my most successful protege and student so far. To date, you’re the only one to ever hold any belt. Unless Adam becomes a World Champion or some other pupil at some point in the future, you will remain that way. I don’t see you as a Paragon or Paradigm of Mediocrity or whatever Sarah Lacklan calls you. I think you’re capable of being great, and I take pride in every match you win.”
The former champion removes his sunglasses again and closes his eyes for a brief moment.
“I know you’re excited still for this match. I’m not. I feel like I have to defeat family because you are family to me, Kenzie. You’re part of my family and I know you feel the same way. Injuring you is the very last thing I want to do. But at the same time, I won’t hold back. I trained you to go out and give it your all every time you step into that ring. It would be complete hypocrisy if I didn’t do the same. When that bell sounds after we enter the ring, I will do whatever it takes to legally win the match. Because as I told you in the aforementioned speech last month, once that bell sounds there is only one thing that matters and that is the match. I may not like it, but you are going to be my opponent and it’s my job to get the victory, especially when I’m trying to send a message to Tyson Gregory and the others that I am on a mission to win back that championship. I am not in a position where I can afford to lose any matches, even to someone I’m as close to as you, Kenzie.”
Cochrane takes a deep breath before concluding.
“I’m sorry you’re being punished for my actions. I’m sorry for whatever happens between the bells in our match. I love you, Kenzie, and you will always be my pride and joy for everything you have done and will do. But I have to do what I have to do.”
Everyone is changing
There's no one left that's real
So make up your own ending
And let me know just how you feel
Cause I am lost without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
And you could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I will save you
From all of the unclean
I wonder what you're doing
I wonder where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
March 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Come on, Adrien!! Answer your damn phone or door or something!! When the hell did you start locking this door anyway?!”
Eddie Walker continues banging on the door of the Cochrane residence with his right hand as he holds his phone in his left hand. The speakerphone feature of his iPhone allows him to attempt to reach the thirty-year-old. Eventually, the door swings open. The manager doesn’t even wait for Adrien to fully open the door all the way before barging into the foyer of the home.
Adrien: “Eddie, what the hell, man?!”
Adrien Cochrane looks a bit off guard not only by the presence of Eddie Walker but also his overall mood. Walker turns back towards Adrien, gripping the wrestler by both of his shoulders.
Eddie: “Where the hell is your phone?!”
The voice of Eddie Walker reflects a man under a lot of stress and even dealing with a bit of frustration. But even the smallest of inconveniences can ruffle the feathers of Eddie Walker, so Adrien isn’t alarmed by it. He responds calmly.
Adrien: “I think I left it in my car this morning. Sorry about that. Did you need me for something, man?”
The forty-one-year-old runs both of his hands through the spiked hair above his head.
Eddie: “You have GOT to be kidding me. Have you seen your mentions on Twitter?! Or Kenzie’s video for your match or Ally’s for that matter?! Well, Ally's was to be expected. But Kenzie's...that one caught me off guard.”
Adrien’s eyes went from relaxed to deadlocked with Eddie Walker’s. Walker pulls out his phone once more from his cargo shorts. He starts logging into Twitter. Adrien had stayed away from Twitter the entire day so that he can focus on training for his match and as he told Eddie, he didn’t even have his phone on him the entire day. The match could have been canceled and Adrien fired by Night for all he knew. He then asks a question he was almost afraid to ask.
Adrien: “What’s going on, Eddie?”
Eddie continues swiping and pressing buttons as he holds up one finger to Adrien.
Eddie: “Something I can’t tell you. It’s something I have to show you.”
After a few more moments, Eddie Walker flips his phone around and lets Adrien read all the tweets that Adrien had been tagged in throughout the day. Adrien’s fists clenched the moment he saw what was said. His blood started to boil. His cool blue eyes felt like they were burning into a fiery red. Adrien slowly swipes down on Eddie’s phone to continue reading the conversation, but Adrien continued to feel as if he was about to throw the nearest item.
Adrien: “She said WHAT?!”
Eddie: “It gets worse when you watch the videos. I’m a little afraid to be in the room with you when you view these.”
Cochrane takes a deep breath. Stacy was just in the other room and he did not want to startle her. His composure slowly returns, and blood pressure returns to a more normal level. He shuts his eyes for a few seconds and slowly inhales followed by an equally slow exhale.
Adrien: “Okay, let’s keep our head in the game. Let’s remember the mission.”
Eddie: “Yeah, keep telling yourself that when you see exactly what your supposed pride and joy has to say about the person she just literally told me days ago was a hero to her. And to think, you were actually feeling guilty about Night gunning for her right now. I hope you have like a stress ball or a punching bag nearby because you’re gonna need it when you watch this video.”
There was only one thing Adrien could do as the shock of what was going on started to wear off and sink in and that’s to hang his head in disappointment. He was still processing everything but that was the keyword to how Adrien felt about someone he trusted and shared so much with: Disappointment.
Et Tu, Kenzie? Et Tu?
