May 26, 2013
Glacier Gardens - San Diego, California
SCW Climax Control
It was the usual post-event celebrations that normally occurred following every edition of SCW Climax Control. It was following the epic main event that saw the outsider, Atlantic Championship Wrestling's own Simon Jones walk away from the Interfed Gauntlet Battle Royal as the Number One Contender for the Heavyweight Championship. Several of the SCW's finest, both Superstars and Bombshells alike, joined with the visitors from the National Wrestling Alliance to emerge from the back and join the fans at ringside for a massive autograph session and to allow the fans on hand the opportunity to meet their favorites and get pictures taken with them.
As was the norm, some of the more popular stars for the men and women, young and old alike, to get to meet was the members of the controversial stable members of the Seven Deadly Sins; Despayre (and Angel -- always include Angel!), Gabriel and Synn himself. Although they were not scheduled to compete on this particular evening, the Sins had been scheduled to appear beforehand at a publicity meet n' greet event for the fans in order to raise funds for the Make A Wish Foundation.
Afterwards, the Sins attended the actual event as was expected and it had been a good thing they chose to do so. Their intervention, as well as Hot Stuff Mark Ward's, had been needed in order to prevent Misty's male Disciples from participating in any further assistance against Amy Marshall and Roxi Johnson. To say that Damien, Dante, Zane and Sebastian stood little chance against these four male superstars would be a gross understatement and Ward and the Sins sent them scurrying for cover -- quickly.
But that had been earlier in the night. It was now nearing past ten o'clock, and the post 'festivities' had finally drawn to a close inside of the Glacier Gardens, but that did not mean that the fans were finished.
The rear exit door opened and some cameras started to flash in the night, illuminating the rear parking lot of the building further from the street lamps that kept everything well lit for both fans, employees and athlete alike. As usual, Synn stepped through the door first to ensure the safety of Gabriel as well as his son, Despayre, and he was not at all surprised to discover that several fans thought it would be a better idea to accost them outside of the building as they attempted to go home, as opposed to actually doing what was intended and take part in the autograph sessions along with everyone else.
The logic of some wrestling fans was indeed baffling, but understandable. Many of them simply thought they'd have a better chance to meet their favorites in a closer environment as opposed to trying to get their attention when there were hundreds of other wrestling fans gathered around in the same vicinity.
"Look! There they are!"
"Can we get your autographs?"
Various fans converged upon them as they started down the steps of the exit porch and they started to shove scraps of paper and autograph books toward them, eager for their names to be scrawled down for souvenirs to remember the evening by. As much as they'd prefer to simply go somewhere for a late bite to eat and then return to their hotels to get as much sleep as they could before the whole process would begin anew, the members of this 'circle' knew that these fans were important to their careers and they wanted to see each of them go home happy.
In more ways than one; besides the usual fans, there were the eager young ladies (as well as a couple of young men) whom were known by the derogatory term of 'ring rats' who simply wanted to share the remainder of the night with one of these men, getting their rocks off.
One comely young ring rat had set her sights clearly on Gabriel, as she moved in so fast past the other fans that she was clearly acting as though she were defending 'her' territory. She was beautiful, that was a given, with long, red hair that reached down past her shoulders and a figure that would drive a Greek sculptor to madness trying to recreate. Gabriel paid little heed toward her 'hints and flirtations' but she was unused to taking 'no' for an answer. She was getting particularly aggressive toward Gabriel when the magician finally decided that subtlety was not working with this woman so he turned and a frown was evident on his handsome face.
"Look!" Gabriel barked with a bit of heat behind the tone of his voice. "I tried being nice but what part of I'm spoken for are you NOT getting!?"
The ring rat rolled her eyes and scoffed. A smile that had hidden cruelty hidden well beneath it grew on her painted lips and her fingernails glided down Gabriel's toned arm. She shrugged as she responded.
"You mean that Odette Ryder? Please! You could do so much better."
"Really?" Gabriel smiled and he leaned in closer to the young woman's face. "If that were true then why are you here alone?"
It took a moment for her to process the venomous insult that Gabriel had just laid down at her feet, but it was as they say; the truth hurts. She frowned, stunned as if she had been slapped, and took a step back as another fan that was standing nearby and had clearly overheard the exchange, barked out in laughter.
"Burn!"
The girl turned to look briefly in the direction the caustic remark had been flung from before she turned and hurried away, her pride hurt at having been shot down.
Gabriel simply shook his head and went back to the fans that were actually not out for something other than a photograph and his signature. Nothing burned him more than someone who was so disrespectful toward the one you loved than to give the insulting response of "Well they don't have to know!" The logic was completely lost on him and for that tart to think he would risk his life and love with Odette Ryder for a cheap thrill -- it galled him. Gabriel then turned to cast a sidelong glance toward the big man himself, and he noted Synn was having no qualms at all at being focused upon by those lustful masses. As a matter of fact, he was pretty much enjoying the attention. Synn had a fair number of fans surrounding him, each clamoring for his attentions but the ones that seemed to be making the most progress was whom appeared to be a set of identical twins, a brother and sister, both very attractive. Gabriel chuckled to himself. It would figure that would be what attracted Synn's attention the most.
"Leave me alone!"
The desperate whine tore Gabriel from his thoughts and the fans near him. He saw it also gave Synn cause to forget the two siblings that were making very good progress for a night with their target. They, and others around them, turned to spot two fans, a man and woman, who were clearly trying to get Despayre's attention but he was wanting none of it. As a matter of fact, he was getting quite scared, hiding Angel behind his back, and that was never a favorable sign. Despayre whimpered and maneuvered himself behind Synn's wide back and used his father as a human shield, but that was not deterring the two fans, clearly a couple. Their intentions were unclear but that logic was lost on Synn himself. All he saw was two people harassing his boy. The man, egged on by his woman, smiled and didn't let this stop him as he moved in to try to continue his 'aspirations' but Synn reached out and put an arm in his path, blocking him from going any further.
"Did you not hear him?" Synn said in a warning tone that Gabriel recognized as one that would do well to be paid heed. "I believe he told you to leave him alone."
"Dude! What's the big deal?" The man said, frowning with his arms held out at his sides. "We were just looking for a bit of fun!"
"Fun?" Gabriel piped in, always at the ready to defend his 'little brother'. "Does that look like he's having fun to you?" Pointing out the diminutive form of Despayre hiding behind his dad while clutching desperately to the back of his jacket.
The man sneered as he looked at the scene and shook his head. He said, "God! He needs to just chill out, the little ret-"
"Do not finish that sentence!" Synn warned ominously, raising a hand in a clenched fist. He then extended his arm and pointed out toward the cars in the vast parking lot. "Now, if you would be so kind, we would like to take our leave so get the Hell out of our way!"
"Yeah?" The man said, emboldened by the fact his woman was standing right there and she deserved a show. "And if I decide not to?"
A large, beefy hand suddenly snatched the man roughly by the collar, prompting his woman to elicit a squeal of surprise! The 'fan' was roughly turned around and he found himself staring into the bruised and lacerated face of a very upset Big B!
Big B, normally a light hearted and easy going young man, snarled in the guy's face, "Then you deal with me!"
Many of the fans who saw the expression of B's face immediately took a hasty step back or to the side to get out of dodge and avoid anything that might happen, should this 'ballsy' fan prove to act the fool. But discretion being the better part of valor, the fan did nothing that would endanger himself. His face, paled at the confrontation of the 'pissed off' man in his face, shrugged himself free from B's grip and turned away, taking his girlfriend by the arm and beating a hasty retreat.
"Bernie!" Despayre chirped with great cheer and he hurried out from behind Synn's back and toward his friend, one of the very few of whom he actually could call as such. "That was so..." But his words were suddenly lost to him as B turned around and smiled shyly -- and Despayre got a clear look of his friend's marred face.
Despayre swallowed and looked at him with pained eyes before he asked in a hushed whisper, "What happened?"
B found that he could no longer look at his friend in the face, such was the shame he felt at having been betrayed by his own flesh and blood. He just cast his eyes away and his hands found themselves deep in the pockets of his blue jeans.
"B?" Gabriel said as he and Synn approached, Synn having hurriedly shoved a scrap of paper in the hand of the male of the twins before joining Gabriel at Despayre's side. Gabriel continued, "What the Hell happened to you?"
B kept his eyes down and shook his head from side to side, mumbling, "Don't want to talk about it."
Despayre took a step closer to Big B and leaned down and contorted his waist and neck so he could look 'up' into B's downcast eyes and he spoke with wonder, "Angel says Nick do'd it."
B blinked and glanced up just enough so that he might look at the teddy bear being held protectively in Despayre's arms, cuddled closely against his chest. The teddy bear seemed to have that uncanny knack for simply 'knowing' things. B tried to keep his composure held but the sudden slump of his shoulders and the exhaling of his breath through his nose was evidence enough that 'Angel' had hit the proverbial nail on the head.
"Grab your stuff." Synn stated simply. "We can talk over dinner."
With that, Synn placed a gentle hand on Despayre's slim back and guided him forward, both with their own luggage being pulled behind them. Gabriel hefted his own bag over his shoulder and clapped B on the back good naturedly and started walking toward the car. B turned to look at the fans who were now dispersing. He looked again toward the retreating forms of Despayre and his 'family' and he grabbed his bag and hurried to catch up...
Under most circumstances, after a successful wrestling show, the men and women behind the program, both staff and competitor alike, would converge on one of the local night clubs to 'celebrate', but sometimes circumstances would demand otherwise.
"Nick did that to you? Why?"
Synn asked the question aloud as the four men sat at a table in a local 24 hour Denny's restaurant. It was not the sort of 'fine dining' that Synn was accustomed to, but at such a late hour the pickings for a late dinner were indeed slim, and Despayre had a hankering to try the newest Denny's concoction; a bacon milkshake.
Synn asked the previous querie as he took a drink from his glass, filled with raspberry iced tea. Not the strong drink that he had a craving for at this point of the evening, but it would seem that was not in the cards so he had to instead settle for easing his sweet tooth.
B kept his eyes down on his own plate and shrugged. He had found himself seated beside Gabriel as Despayre had insisted this evening he get to sit next to his dad. B was playing with his meal, reducing his chicken fried steak to tatters with his fork as opposed to actually eating it.
"I was trying to get him to join Team SCW." B reasonably and quietly explained. "He got tired of it. Said I was bugging him and... this happened."
"Well that wasn't very nice." Despayre observed. He looked over to the booster seat where Angel was seated with a child's meal of chicken nuggets on a plate in front of him. (What? You expected the rest of them to eat and Angel not having anything? You obviously haven't been paying very close attention to Despayre promos!) Despayre nodded at Angel and said "Yeah!"
B looked at the teddy bear, then at Despayre and asked, "What did he say?"
"I'm not sure." Despayre frowned. He then leaned over to Gabriel and asked, "What's a douche nozzle?"
Gabriel, having been taking a drink from his own water glass, almost choked on the contents. He hurriedly grabbed a napkin and wiped at his mouth while trying not to laugh at the same time. Eyes watering, Gabriel looked at his buddy and shook his head.
"Ask your father."
Despayre shrugged, now getting accustomed to that response and he instead went to work on the milkshake that was just set down in front of him. He smiled brightly and giggled, shoving a straw into it and proceeding to drink deeply. No sooner did he do so, however, then his eyes opened wide and he pulled his mouth from the straw and made a face.
"Blargh!"
"Problems, Joshua?" Synn asked as he took a forkful of his steak from the plate toward his mouth.
Despayre squinted his eyes and smacked his lips, frowning. "It tastes like bacon!" He whined.
"That's probably because it's a bacon milkshake." Gabriel mused, resting his chin on his fist in stark amusement. "It has bacon blended in with the ice cream."
Despayre looked at the treat, then at Gabriel and asked innocently, "What's your point?"
Gabriel turned to Synn and asked, "Do you want to take this one dad?"
Synn answered simply by shaking his head and popping the steak into his mouth. Gabriel shook his head and opted for a change of topic instead, one of the reasons why he and Synn had insisted B come along with them. He turned to B again and said, "I'm just finding it hard to believe Nick did this. I mean, he always was a jackass of epic proportions..."
"Swear jar!"
"I didn't cuss, Despy." Gabriel countered. "Jackass is a perfectly legit word. Look it up."
Despayre cringed after another sip of his bacon shake and turned to a passing waitress and shouted, "I NEED A DICTIONARY PLEASE!" -- prompting the surprised woman to send her tray of dishes crashing to the floor. All eyes turned to their table and Despayre's face flushed a deep hue of red and he looked down, averting the attention.
"Sorry." He mumbled and with an indignant huff, the waitress and a bus boy that hurried over started to clean the mess, not hearing Despayre's addition of "Butterfingers."
Gabriel turned back to B and went on with his thoughts. "I just can't believe that he'd stoop so low as to attack his own cousin. I mean, you've bent over backwards for the man and that's how he repays you?"
"Angel said it best." Synn stated simply as he reached for his tea again. "The man's a douche nozzle."
"What does that mean!?" Despayre exclaimed but received no answer from the men seated at the table. He huffed and instead turned to B and asked, "What are you going to do, Bernie? You were his bodyguard or something, weren't you?"
Big B shrugged noncommittally and said, "Guess so."
"Does that mean you're not anymore?"
"Yeah, I think it's a safe guess." B answered and he looked absolutely miserable. Not so much for the fact he had just lost his 'job' that he had worked for loyally for so long, but more so for the fact he had basically been betrayed by his own flesh and blood.
"Don't you live with him?" Gabriel asked, picking up his burger in one hand. He turned to Despayre and asked, "Didn't you tell me that?"
Despayre silently nodded, his face one bearing great concern for a friend.
Gabriel turned back to B and asked, "So... you told Mark that you were Team SCW?"
"Seemed like the thing to do." Big B mumbled.
"How is that going to work?" Gabriel asked Synn who said nothing. He simply watched Big B closely. Gabriel turned back to B and asked him, "Sticking around is all well and good, but where are you going to stay in the meantime? If you lived with Nick...?"
Again, B could only shrug noncommittally. Truth be told, he hadn't thought that far head. He wasn't even sure where he'd be staying tonight. The others in Nick's Entourage generally took care of those things. Travel issues, where they'd be staying... those sort of things. He didn't think this far ahead because he never thought this kind of thing would ever even happen in the first place.
Synn frowned and turned his head to find his son looking up toward him with pleading eyes. Despayre knew in his heart that his dad would make everything better. He always did from the time they first met.
May 27, 2013
Las Vegas, Nevada
"This is the guest room."
Synn stated as he flipped the light switch on in he empty bedroom located in the grandiose estate that he called home here in Las Vegas, Nevada. He started to set foot inside of the room but Despayre burst past him and charged in first. Synn stepped aside at the door and paused as Big B stood in the door frame, looking apprehensive.
"Are you going to come in?" Synn asked.
"You didn't have to do this." Big B said quietly, not moving to enter the bedroom. "I don't want charity."
"Good." Synn countered. "Because that's not what this is. Now get in here."
"Yeah!" Piped Despayre. "C'mon in Bernie!"
Big B frowned temporarily at the use of this most unwanted nickname his friend had bestowed upon him and sighed short and audibly. B then set foot into the room, carrying his luggage rack in his massive arms -- the subconscious desire not to run the wheels on Synn's floor evident. As he passed into the room, Synn stole an eyeful of B's rather well endowed backside and shook his head in stark admiration.
Synn said, "Besides, I'm sure we can find a way for you to work it off."
"Nooo!" Despayre shook his head. True he might not have quite gotten the meaning of what his father meant, but in this case he didn't need to. He practically bounced to B's side and said, "Bernie's a guest!"
Synn could only fold his arms over his chest and he leaned back against the wall, allowing Despayre reach up for Big B's luggage. Before B could stop him, Despayre pulled it from his grasp to give his 'big buddy' a hand and the weight of the luggage was immediately evident as it crashed to the floor and took Despayre along with it. Synn took a step forward to give his son a hand but he stopped and watched as B himself used just one hand to cup the underside of Despayre's arm and he lifted him up off of his feet (literally) and set him back down.
"Joshua." Synn started to say. "I'd like a moment of B's time, alone."
"Okay." Despayre nodded. "Can I stay?"
Synn shook his head and then said, "Gabriel and Odette will be joining us tonight. Theresa is making those little meat loaves you enjoy so much, for dinner. Perhaps she could use a hand in the kitchen?"
"Alright!" Despayre shouted with a whoop of glee and he darted out of the bedroom, leaving Synn and Big B alone in his wake.
Synn turned around and sighed, before he said innocently, "I'm sure Theresa will forgive me for that -- eventually."
B frowned, not understanding what Synn was inferring but Synn waved it off. Synn instead stepped further into the room and had a seat on the plush chair that was stationed in the far corner, opposite a small plasma TV. Clasping his hands together, Synn leaned forward with his elbows propped on his knees while B watched him warily.
Synn said, "I want you to know that I am not accustomed to opening my home to just anyone. The usual guests are the other members of the Sins, and Joshua's mother." Synn's eyes flicked upward toward B and he continued, "I admit I know very little about you, save you are my son's friend. So I hope you understand what it means, my doing this."
B nodded, then asked, "What?"
Synn broke into a wide smile and pushed himself to his feet. He knew all too well by backstage reputation that 'Bernie' had a bit of an arterial flow problem above the neck, and right there was a hint of it, live and in color.
Synn could not help but state, "I am beginning to see why Joshua enjoys spending time with you."
Synn then turned away and headed for the door stating, "I'm sure you want to relax and get used to your new surroundings. Come downstairs when you're ready."
There was a sudden crash emanating from downstairs, followed by a shriek,
"Joshua!"
"Sorry!"
Synn, his eyes closed and now opened, said to B, "You might want to hurry." And he closed the bedroom door behind him.
The sun had finally descended in the evening sky and the moon and stars emerged up in the skies above, their brightness dancing off of the few clouds, causing an array of blue and purple hues to cast color where the eyes might roam should they look to the heavens.
Dinner had been a pleasant experience, and everyone who called this place home had went the extra mile to make Big B feel welcome given what the poor man had recently been put through. Theresa even made certain to slip him an extra dessert -- which just made Gabriel tease her over the assumption she had a crush on the muscular guy.
However the night was starting to draw to a close for the guests, Gabriel and Odette, and after being given some leftovers by Theresa to take home with them, they had slipped on their jackets and they walked through the halls to say good-bye to Despayre, and by proxy, Big B as well.
Gabriel and Odette found the pair seated again at the table in the dining room, both hunched together and whispering while Despayre scrawled 'notes' in a blank book with a red crayon. Angel sat right at the front of the book, watching over everything.
"Despy?" Gabriel said aloud, drawing his little brother's attention. "Odette and I have to get running."
"Awww!" Despayre almost cried in disappointment. He never liked seeing Gabriel leave his presence. He hopped up from his chair, scooping Angel up along the way. He ran around the table while B remained seated, watching, and Despayre flung himself into Gabriel's arms for the usual fierce embrace. Despayre then practically shoved Angel into Gabriel's hands so that his 'big brother' could give a hug to his bestest plush buddy in the whole, wide world.
"Do you really hafta go?" Despayre asked as Gabriel passed the teddy bear back to his waiting arms.
"`Fraid so buddy." Gabriel answered, then nodded toward the table, indicating the book and he asked, "What are you two up to?"
"Hm?" Despayre frowned and looked over to where Gabriel indicated and his face brightened. "Oh! We were just making plans to get even with Nick for being mean to Bernie. In fact, we already started!"
B nodded in affirmation.
"Oh? What'd you do?" Gabriel asked. "Send a dozen pizzas to his hotel room?"
Despayre shook his head.
"Uh uh."
Gabriel thought for a moment, enjoying this. He then snapped his fingers and pointed at Despayre. "Knock on his hotel room door then run?"
Despayre shook his head vigorously. "Nope."
Odette then decided to get in on the fun of trying to decipher Despayre's innocent game. She asked, "Put a flaming bag of dog poop on his doorstep and run away?"
Despayre blinked, thinking that sounded like a great idea! He then shook his head, clearing his thoughts, then answered. "No. Actually I paid a retired green beret to tamper with the brakes on his car."
"Oh." Gabriel nodded, then took Odette by the arm to head for the door, then stopped fast and he turned to Despayre.
"What?"
"I have to admit that I am yet still a relative novice when it comes to such things as the family dynamic, but I pride myself on being something of a fast learner. I also like to think of myself as one of those select few that simply knows things by base instinct, and what I know is that family is not meant to do the things that you, Nick Jones, did to one of your own."
"You can make all the excuses you want about loyalty and trust, but when all is said and done, you wouldn't know the meaning of either. You are a man that runs at the mouth and is driven by the need to simply protect himself, be damned any other who could possibly be seen as a hindrance. Now I have to admit that I expected something akin to this situation to one day occur, but personally I always assumed that it would have been the other way around, and that Big B would have taken you down and left you there -- and you would have deserved it. For all the good he had one you over the course of the past ten plus years, you appreciated nothing and simply assumed he would continue to put up with your abuse because, ready for it, you are Nick Jones. Nick, you could not have been more wrong. You may have drawn first blood, both literally and figuratively, but I dare say that you have awoken a sleeping giant. While it is true that Big B is not a part of this little gathering we will soon find ourselves in, do not think for a moment that his presence will go unnoticed. And do not think that your time in the ring with Despayre, should you eventually grow the balls you need to meet him inside of the ring, will go by in your favor. You've spent very little time around him, but I saw the way you avoided him at all costs the one and only time you two were in a match against each other. If you thought that was tense then, wait until he tries to get into the ring with you this time. He thought he liked you that first time, but this time he sees himself in there with a man that hurt a buddy of his. And I pride myself on having a son that stands by his friends, despite the costs."
"Alas poor Nick Jones, we knew ye well."
"Casey, not to sound too cliche' but yes, we meet again. How many times has it been now? How many encounters have the Sins experienced with the waking giant known as Casey Williams? Since your time together in the Asylum Wrestling Alliance, and right here to Sin City Wrestling. Singles matches, tag team matches, to us it was all the same; victories for Sinful Obsession, and another loss for the mighty giant. I should think that by now you would have been tired playing Goliath to Despayre's David. I would think you had been humbled enough by the talents of Gabriel and Despayre once you were standing on opposite sides of the ring, but clearly I was wrong. So be it. It's your funeral, Casey, but heed these words of advice... there are only so many times the giant can plummet from the top of the beanstalk, before he simply will ever be able to rise again."
"And last, but most certainly not least, the man who would stab his own mother in the back if it meant catapulting himself just a little closer towards success and championship gold; one Tom Dudely. Out of all of the men in this match, I dare say that you, Tom, have the most experience, and perhaps even the longer in the list of successful accomplishments inside of the ring. The fact that you turned on not only your protege', but also the men who were the sole reason you remained anything close to a household name in SCW tells me you have a pathological need to prove yourself, and keep all successes you achieve for your own moment of glory and nobody else. It raises an interesting question, not toward me or you, but your partners in this match. You already proved that you were unable to be trusted. You have stabbed multiple people in the back on your return toward the top. I just wonder if it's in the backs of their heads if they could be next. Watch yourself Tom. Inside of the ring with the Sins and Jordan Williams, you will have much to answer for. But you might want to keep an eye at all times on your own partners. You never know when someone might betray you in your time of need. You taught that lesson to everyone, yourself."
