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Roleplay Boards => Archived Roleplays => Climax Control Archives => Topic started by: Gabe on August 02, 2014, 11:54:14 AM
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• Scene 1 •
How does a person recover after the foundations supporting their life shatter into a million pieces? For Gabriel, those pieces were scattered across the realms of public media, where everybody could witness him meticulously picking up each piece, trying to glue them back together. Nobody came marching into his precarious mind with a wrecking ball and crashing into conscious stability, in fact, it was he who had pressed the red button, initiating a self-demolition process. When the journey became uneventful and bleak, he liked to place potholes along the way to ensure the next morning would not be the same as the last, instead it would be far more bumpy. This detrimental road Gabriel built for himself eventually became too unstable for him to navigate across, however, he continued to do so. With every close friend he lost or every insult he received from one of the many people who hated him, he would insert another pothole. The stoic wheels of the overemotional ‘Dark Saint’ finally caved into the pressure of his problems and burst, sending his life spinning violently in the direction of the house only he was allowed to enter - his mind.
The tips of his fingers ran across jagged rock. The arid heat causing him to take a second to breathe, kneeling on the rubble before him. This was it. This was the perfect spot for him to talk about his upcoming match against Kris Halc. A somewhat silent breeze bathed his bare body, while a lone SCW cameraman kept his distance, recording the newest talent to join the company. Gabriel stood upon the mound of broken white rocks and dusted down his dirty jeans. His eyes searched the area ahead of him. Nothing. In the distance was a forest of dying trees, surrounded by a dried-up lake. It didn’t remotely interest him. He didn’t know it yet but he would find a piece of paper that captured his wandering interest. His outlook on life as he knew it would change.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"You might wonder why I am in the middle of nowhere, standing on broken rock. Well, Kris Halc, what stood before me was a gargantuan castle that was once professed to stand the tests of time. All things eventually die, and this structure was no different. I know everybody has witnessed my overt downfall as of late but I can assure you it was all self-inflicted. I’m guessing you’re questioning why would I be confident going into our match when I admit that I am a broken man, right? For me, the rebuilding process began long before my life had collapsed into the rubble like you see here. I planned my own demise and have happily allowed for the world and its curious eyes to keep a close eye on the life of Gabriel Asar. You’ve all been peering through a keyhole at the masterpiece I am constructing; you see what I want you to see. Soon, the bigger picture shall be revealed."
Gabriel bent back to one knee and dug his fingers into the heap of assorted stones and rock. The sounds of birds chirping around the forest in the horizon were the only noises around, until he stood back up with a handful of rocks clenched between his fists. His boots pressed firmly against the rubble, forcing out a muted crunch sound as the rocks compressed beneath his feet. He looked up at the indigo sky, the scorching heat refusing to leave, despite the sun beginning to set.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"The rocks within my hands are like the memories and failed relationships of my past. Every failure and every success is just a jagged pebble lost within a mountain of stones. The rebuilding of my life--my new career at Sin City Wrestling--began by me picking up the mess I had made, then putting it back together, piece by piece. I am happy to demolish the things I helped build, only to resurrect them into something better. Your career has unfortunately collapsed, much like mine. I’m not saying I’m a new man who has washed away his past and that we are both again starting from the bottom, I’m saying we both have the same tools at our disposal to rebuild the visions of our futures, the only difference is that my tools are far more experienced than yours.
I learn a lot from each person I come into contact with, and we have only spoken on Twitter for a short amount of time. What makes me such a dominant presence on Twitter is that I refuse to leave. Everybody and their crowds of friends watch me in the distance, yet somehow I still manage to make myself appear larger and louder than those crowds. You’re more like a field mouse darting between people’s feet, trying not to get stepped on. Whenever people used to mention Kris Halc, I honestly never knew who you were. I’ve heard of the companies you’ve worked for but your voice is as quiet as the cries of an abused child - you have no real conviction behind what you say. You’re too scared to stick your head out of the ground for too long, in fear of someone stepping on it. You’ve now joined SCW and I see you peeking out from your little, rat-like hiding place. I intend to be the thing you fear by stepping on your dreams and coming down upon you on you like, forgive the cliché, a ton of bricks."
Dropping the rocks, they crashed against the floor’s surface, echoing a hailstorm of muffled thuds. The faintest of breezes swept any wandering sand-like particles up to his face, obscuring his vision. He looked down while rubbing his eyes and noticed piece of maroon paper half-covered in dirt and stone. Gabriel wasn’t one for believing in signs or any supernatural garbage but he paused momentarily and watched the piece of paper. There was something charming about about the way it moved; it danced against the breeze, drawing in his innate curiosity. Using the back of his hand to wipe sweat from his forehead, he tried to ignore the piece of paper for now and continue his speech. His eyes made their way back to the direction of the camera.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"So, Kris, what I’m getting at is it’s pointless you trying to build a future at Sin City Wrestling. There’s a long line to the top, and guess what, you’re not in it. You’ve only been in this business for a short time and you’ve rebuilt and rebranded yourself more times than I care to even think about. You’re a labourer, not a wrestler. You’re not serious about this business, hell, you go by the nickname the Ace of Clubs. You might think this is a game, and yes SCW is situated in Las Vegas where you can play all the games you want, you just can’t play games in the ring. Want to know where your career will inevitably end up?"
He extended his arm and pointed toward the derelict forrest. The brittle branches hung down, almost like the trees were weeping to the melancholic melody the birds sang for them. No matter how hard or loud the birds sang, the trees were dying and would soon end up like the dry remnants of the lake that circled the forest. The SCW cameraman followed Gabriel’s finger and gazed the camera at the decrepit site. Gabriel’s eyes again looked down at the piece of maroon paper. Golden letters were imprinted into its surface. His eyes narrowed and he could see the words ‘Use your mind.’ It’s a sign, he thought to himself, but what was it?
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"It’s a sign.â€
With his hand and the camera still pointed toward the forest, he tried to steady himself and remain focused. He shook his head, swallowed a dry lump that had formed within his throat, then looked back to the weeping trees.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Uh, it’s a sign that you, uhm--It’s a sign that your dreams will undoubtedly end up like that forest. At one time it was filled with color and promise, only to be subjected to the harsh reality of life. Everything dies. The colors of the rainbow painted themselves across the landscape as the trees stood proud and the river swayed to the mellifluous praises of the animals that lived there. Life isn’t a fairytale and, just like beauty that once lived in that forest, your fantasies about becoming one of the best superstars that has ever graced this company is going to come to an abrupt end.â€
He snapped his fingers, forcing the attention of the cameraman to swivel back around and refocus on him. The orbish sun loomed in the horizon, the air becoming cooler.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"I’ve seen many sunrises and sunsets in the world of wrestling. New faces make themselves known, they stir up a little trouble, and then they disappear. You either stand out or you get lost within the crowd of uncreative losers. I plan on seeing many more sunrises, I think it’s about time you let your sun set."
Nodding to the cameraman, the camera was switched off. The corners of Gabriel’s lips twisted into a slanted smirk as he rubbed the tip of his tongue against the back of his teeth. After explaining to the SCW cameraman that he was going to stay behind a little while, Gabriel scurried back over the rubble he just gave his speech upon and dropped to his knees. He snatched the maroon paper from the grasps of the stones, then pulled it close to his face. His eyes searched the paper as the remaining dirt slid from its surface and on to Gabriel’s jeans. ‘Use your mind, not your body’ etched itself in gold ink along the paper’s surface. An address was printed at the bottom of the paper.
• Scene 2 •
The raven-haired PA tucked her chin inwards and glanced over the top of her glasses, fixing her eyes on to a man in torn, blue jeans and a white t-shirt. His fingertips ran through his scruffy, short hair and he caught her peeking from the corner of his eye. Her head dropped back to the paperwork on her desk. The man sighed in his seat, looking at a small table filled with newspapers and magazines at arms length from him.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Excuse me. When will I be seen?"
«: Jenny Bloom;
the PA :»
"Shěn Sensei will see you shortly, Mr. Asar."
He let out another undisguised sigh as he folded his arms. Last night he had spent hours looking at the paper he found while shooting a promo. Toying with it in his hand, debating whether or not to contact the company. Eventually he did, leading him to booking an appointment and ending up in a waiting room that had the uncanny resemblance to that of a dentist’s. Gabriel didn’t believe in signs, but he believed in this one.
Fidgeting in the chair--crossing his legs, unfolding them, then repeating the process over the course of twenty minutes--the nerves were starting to nibble at his patience. Never one for enjoying long waiting times, his knees bounced up and down while he chewed at his thumbnail. A sharp buzzing noise reverberated through the empty, beige room.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Bring him in, dear. Please, make sure he is ready."
«: Jenny Bloom;
the PA :»
"Shěn Sensei will see you now. Follow me."
The PA stood from her seat and walked around her desk to a door labeled ‘Office.’ The plastic sign was held in place by sellotape. Gabriel got to his feet and breathed a relieving sigh. As he approached the woman, her hands planted themselves onto his shoulders, spinning him around and forcing his back to press against the door. Her vanilla scent lingered under his nose as she pointed chin next to his neck. Her crimson lips whispered into his ear, her warm breath tickling it.
«: Jenny Bloom;
the PA :»
"Kiss me."
She brought her head back, gazing at him with emerald eyes. Her white blouse, black skirt, and coquettish presence mimicked that of a personal assistant, but this she was like no other he had come across before. He visited this place to find answers as to what the sign was and if it had anything to do with his upcoming match, not be seduced. Still, the twenty-something woman did attract him. His lip quivered with anxiety and he closed his eyes, leaning toward her. While his lips were pursed, she placed a hand onto his chest and the other on the door handle. Gabriel heard the handle snap down. The door gave way as she pushed him into the room and slammed the door shut, leaving him in a room void of light.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"What’s going on!?"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Settle down. Settle down."
The man’s voice creeked like an archaic door with every word he spoke. Light flooded the room as the unidentified man clapped his hands, turning the lighting on. Gabriel’s eyes squinted while his forearm covered his face.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"I am Shěn Sensei. We have an appointment, do we not? I cannot talk to a man cowering on the floor. Stand up and take a seat."
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Your assistant tried to--"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"To kiss you? And how did you do?"
The old man, dressed in a purple robe, pressed the intercom button on his otherwise empty desk. Assessing his surroundings, Gabriel got to his feet, taking note of the claustrophobic room he was in. The man wore a white ponytail with what little hair remained on his head and a matching goatee. Filing cabinets and shelves of open boxes with paper hanging from them filled the room. In the center of the small cupboard he found himself in sat a brown desk, with a chair either side. The intercom buzzed and the assistant’s voice came through.
«: Jenny Bloom;
the PA :»
"He failed."
The cackled laughter of the old man irritated Gabriel. He leaned back into his chair, motioning his hand to the one opposite him on the other side of the table.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Younglings these days. How do you expect to defeat Kris Halc when you give in so easily to temptation? Now sit. We should have started already.â€
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"How do you know about Kris Halc?"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"My daughter, the woman you just met, informed me of your upcoming match. You are here to train your mind, therefore I feel obliged to ascertain knowledge of your opponents."
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Your daughter!? Also, I’m not here for help on defeating Kris, I can do that on my own. This is a sign, tell me why I’ve been led here."
Gabriel dug a hand into the back of his jean’s pocket and pulled out the maroon paper, slamming it onto the man’s desk, Gabriel then folded his arms.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"My dear boy, this isn’t a sign. This is a flier advertising this business. We help people overcome mental obstacles. As for my daughter, she does that with every person I see. How else am I doing to see if they have what it takes to resist temptation? Where did you receive this flier?"
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"I found it up at the castle ruins, five minutes down the road. I’ve been up all night thinking it’s some sort of omen regarding my match."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Ha, how naive. My daughter probably dropped it on one of her expeditions. She takes photos of relics and ruins, all that mumbo-jumbo."
Biting down on his bottom lip, Gabriel shook his head in disappointment.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"You mean to tell me I wasn’t drawn here by some mystical sign? I’m leaving. This is bullshi--"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"You’ve made the effort to come here, you might as well stay. It is clear to me you are impetuous, hot-tempered, and have no self-control. Your ego has knitted you a blanket of delusion that you’re content in wrapping yourself in. Please, for the last time, I implore you to sit."
Taking in a deep breath, his head continued to shake. What’s the worst that could happen? He thought to himself. Gabriel’s arms untangled themselves and he reached for the empty chair. He didn’t know if it was either the closet or the man that smelled like one-hundred-year-old potatoes. Gabriel seated himself, resting his elbows on the wooden arms of the chair, then floated his eyesight around the room.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Stop forming opinions. Relax. I teach people to control their thoughts and emotions, to become one with themselves. Your body appears to be in good shape. Your mind is not in good shape."
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Is this some kind of scam? Has Kris somehow put you up to this?"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"You’re asking me if Kris Halc, your opponent, asked me to devise a plan where I place a flier in some ramshackle ruins on the off chance you might happen to wander across it? You can’t form judgements when your judgement is clouded. Calm yourself and speak with me. There is no proverbial judge here, it is just you and I. Now, tell me, what were you doing at the ruins?"
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"I was filming something for Sin City Wrestling. I addressed Kris and explained why he has no future within the company. Standard stuff."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Oh dear. Every wrestler I have ever spoken with tells me how they are the undiscovered fountains of youth that will dominate their way to the top. I am very well aware of your credentials, though, I assumed you wouldn’t follow the path every other person takes. You cannot enter a company and command respect--you can if you want people to respect you for a short time, only to revolt when your back is turned--you need give people a reason to respect you. Kris Halc and yourself, no matter how respected you were in other companies, are fresh faces at SCW.
Together your journeys shall start on the plains many before you have set foot on and, in due time, your paths will separate. There is only enough room for one of you at the top, both of you proclaiming the other isn’t worthy. Like a hare, you both shall only see what is in front of you, dashing forward with your tongues flailing everywhere, your eyes on the prize. What neither of you see is the tortoise that takes its time. It moves slow but it never makes a mistake, unlike the hare. The hare, you see, is impetuous, much like yourself. It falls into traps, misses the checkpoints explaining which path to take, and it exhausts itself of energy. While the hare regains its energy and sleep, you can bet the tortoise is arduously catching up. Eventually the tortoise begins to take a lead in the race. Which of these two animals would you like to be in life?"
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"The tortoise, obviously."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"But what happens when the hare awakens, feeling refreshed? It regains the lead once again."
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"I meant the hare. I’m definitely the hare."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"How fickle. You, Kris, and any other newcomers to SCW will all begin lives as the hare. All will fall short of the finish line, drained because of wasted energy. The trick is to possess the speed of the hare and the patience of the tortoise. Be aware of your surroundings."
Gabriel’s tongue pressed against his inner cheek while he nodded to what the old man was saying. He didn’t want to admit it but he had been doing a lot of talking and not enough listening. Overconfidence can be a dangerous trait, especially when it is wielded by the hands of the inexperienced. Gabriel had experience, just not in SCW. His attention was again summoned by the words of Shěn Sensei.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Let me ask you one final question: is there anybody you admire within the new company you have found yourself in?"
Pausing in breath, Gabriel thought about it as the man’s creaking voice settled. He had been too wrapped up in his ego to even begin thinking about other people. Silence ensued as Gabriel thought about it for a minute.
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"Misty is one of the most inspiring women I have ever laid eyes upon. A single mother who doesn’t have custody of her child but still manages to put on a show for the fans. I’ve always felt like life doesn’t care about me, but I still fight on - and then I saw Misty. She’s the female equivalent of my emotions, especially the depressive ones. She courageously continues to be at the top of her game, despite fighting her own inner conflicts.
Amy Marshall has this big “fuck you†printed on her forehead. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, nor does she care for their rules. She plays her own game, anyone trying to get in her way gets trod on. I could learn from her - not caring so much about what my opponents think of me. Unlike the quiet Kris, I tend to lash out at people who direct the most harmless of insults at me.
Then there’s Roxi who is kind to everyone. I’ve never met someone who goes out of their way to make people’s lives more bearable. The Mean Girls are nothing like her but I could even learn things from them. People like Liz and Delia have nestled themselves in a group that protects each member like it is their own child."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Precisely. Be the tortoise and stick around those people for a while, learn from them. Then become the hare and take the breadth of knowledge you will have acquired with you to heights never reached before. There is one person you never mentioned about respecting. You can be inspired by the people you have mentioned but it is only you who has to face Kris Halc."
«: GABRIEL ASAR;
the Dark Saint :»
"I don’t know. His optimism about wanting to be something in the wrestling world is kind of admirable. Also, he doesn’t exactly cheat to win but he isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get that victory. For a guy without much physical presence in the ring, he sure does go out there and give it his all, regardless of the size of his opponent."
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"There you go. Talking to someone more enlightened than yourself can only benefit you on your journey. Don’t be the egotistical and cocky Gabriel who whines when he doesn’t get his own way. Respecting your opponent is not a weakness; it means you have learned to respect yourself.
That about wraps it up, I’m afraid. You have been an excellent listener and I am certain you will accomplish whatever it is you wish to achieve. Close the door on the way out and don’t forget to pay Jenny, my daughter.â€
Gabriel planted his feet on the floor and slid the chair backwards before standing up. He thanked Shěn Sensei, profusely. From their short time together, he had learned a lot. After the shaking of hands, Gabriel left the closet and paid the PA who winked at him. He was too lost within his own thoughts to notice. The intercom buzzed.
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"Is he gone?"
«: Jenny Bloom;
the PA :»
"He paid and left. Which story did you give him?"
«: Shěn Sensei;
the Wise One :»
"The tortoise and the hare, it gets them every time. You were correct in saying about his gullibility. Good work - and remember to keep sprinkling those fliers around, darling."
• Epilogue •
Gabriel’s deep breathing grasped the air, forcing it down into his tight throat. Sweat trickled down his forehead, neck, and back. The overconfident newcomer had learned to trade some of his confidence for pensiveness, something he hadn’t done much before a huge match. His debut was imminent. His friends would look on in hope, others praying for his untimely demise. He bounced on the balls of his feet, staring at the ink-black curtain ahead of him. The crowd’s thunderous roars rumbled through him, shaking the foundations of the building. It was time to step out on to the stage, prove himself to his peers, and begin building a new life for himself - brick by brick, match after match. “I Will Not Bow†by Breaking Benjamin flooded through the sound system, sending a sharp pain of pre-match nerves through his stomach. A long exhaled breath escaped his mouth as his fingertips wrapped themselves around the opening of the curtains. He tore them apart and stepped into the light.