[Mark Ward]

 Post all roleplays for this match in here.

Limit: 1 roleplay per team, per week. 5000 word limit

Good luck

[Mickey Carroll]

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Fallout (Part 1)
#NP "I Don’t Even Care About You” by MISSIO
Locale: Beckett Family Home; Anaheim, California
Storyteller: Daxton Oliver Beckett


What a long fuckin’ night Sunday was.  Long Beach, California had a goddamned hay day leading up to Summer XXXTreme V.  They got to see all kinds of matches, lots of Mikah flirting with, well, not her husband who she loves so dearly.  Veronica getting beaten by Cadence Carter.  Celeste getting beaten by Amy.  Jon Dough getting defeated by James Tuscini, while Unholy Alliance admitted that they attacked The Elders.  Odette Stevens took down some nameless giant woman.  Kris and Mikah got their egos fed by Polly Playtime and Ryan Keys.  And J2H beat some no name hack who doesn’t realize he’s a no name hack.  I guess I wasn’t vague enough, because that is obviously Steve Ramone, right?  At least the Boiler Room Match was top shelf.  Tuscini speeched us again about how he’s going to win or something. The highlight was Mercedes Vargas talking with the announce team.  Jessie talked, so I went to the bathroom for that.  Polly talked, and I had a hard time taking a twelve year old girl standing in a cage very seriously. Double title Death Match hype… Look, I could go through and give you all the rundown with a shitty attitude, but then what would be the point of the Kris and Mikah (or Mikah and Kris) Show?

The part that seemed to make everyone the most happy was when Mikah did exactly what I told him he shouldn’t do.  He got himself worked up to go talk to Ben Jordan.  His former best friend.  At least, I’m pretty sure that former applies here.  There was no coming back from that.  Even I could see that.  Mickey went all “LOVE ME LIKE I LOVE YOU, BEN!!!” Fatal Attraction and time is not going to make anyone forget that.  I mean, there was table flipping, beer bottle busting, sweaty red faced Irishman, WTF holy shit British gent, reporter kissing fucked-up-ed-ness.  There will be no recovering from that.  No recovering at all.  Sorry bout it, Michael.

Normally, that would just be handled by some ball busting laughs, lots of finger pointing and shaming him for holding in his secret gay crush for like twenty years.  You know, masculine machismo bullshit.  For his own good, of course.  Because that’s how men handle their problems.  They repress them until they form a brain tumor, and they drink their worries away.  There was one last detail that made sure that we couldn’t fix the situation in true Bad Boys fashion.  And that was USCIS officer, or former USCIS officer, Nicholas Taylor.  See, Mickey couldn’t go psycho off camera.  He had to do it on camera, in front of the guy who has had a hard on for ending our sham of a marriage since the day the three of us walked down that aisle.  On a yacht.  Because, bitch we’re fancy!

For those of you who don’t know, like I didn’t know until I was going through it myself… on July 10th, me, Mickey, and Giani all have to go to a hearing where Mickey is most likely going to get deported, and me and Giani might have to go to jail.  So, when we win the tag titles, we’re probably going to have to give them right back.  It seems like I shouldn’t care, right?  No marriage means no more of Giani’s riches showering me in a nice home, nice clothes, more tattoos… It’s either jail, or back to my van, right?

Call me a drama queen, but I just needed to get away and clear my head.  I wanted to be alone, have a couple drinks out in the desert, drive around, and just get my chi back in order.  My energy has been so off balance, but instead, I choose to go to the place that could very well be just as stressful… Home.  @.@

Mom:  Finish your peas, or you can’t have your lemon meringue, Dax.

I look across the table as my mom glares at me, with that fake stern look that didn’t even intimidate me as I kid.  However, instead of doing what I would do to anybody else and say “Fuck you!” and throw my plate across the table, I pick up my spoon as I pout.  I slowly dip it into the peas, and then I lift it up to my mouth.  I put them in my mouth, and hold them there.  My eyes narrow as the gross taste fills my mouth, and I even whimper slightly.  Dad comes in for the save.

Dad:  Did you know that peas are considered to be a starch, and not meant to take place of the three to five daily servings of vegetables suggested on the food pyramid?

My mom scoffs as she turns to face as she takes a small bite of potatoes.  She chews it quickly and then turns to my father, shaking her head.  I look down to my old buddy Tanner, my red nosed pit bull-boxador mix, and I shovel the peas off of my plate, right to him.  I even spit the few out from my mouth, and he slops it all up, all while mom tears into dad.

Mom:  Mel, why must you always try to undermine me in front of the children?  They are never going to learn to respect us as older, wiser adults.

Dad:  Don’t be ridiculous, sweetheart.  Dax is not a child.  He’s a strong man.  He wrestles for a living, for a non-denominational higher power’s sake.

Me:  I ate my peas.  Can we not FUCKING criticise me at the dinner table like this?!

I pound my fist against the table as I raise my voice to a shrill scream.  My dad purses his lips as my mother turns to look at me, surprised.  She shakes her head as she points toward the stares, all while Piper stares on with intrigue written all over her face.

Mom:  If you’re going to talk like that, then you need to go to your room and reconsider your tone, mister.

Me:  I’m 21 years old, mother!

Mom:  Daxton Oliver Beckett!  Go to your room!

Me:  But I don’t wanna!!!

Piper snickers, and I look over at her as she covers her mouth.  I blow a raspberry at her as my mom slams her palms against the table and scoots her chair out and away from the table.  Immediately, I jump up from the table and shove my chair into the table.  I stomp my foot as I look at them, each of them, with the nastiest look possible as my chest heaves.

Me:  I hate it here, and I hate each and every one of you.  I’m going to ask Santa for a new family, because I literally can’t stand any of you.

Mom:  Upstairs… now, mister!  You would really miss us if you didn’t have us in your life.

I stare at them with the most blank, serious face that I can come up with in that moment, and I slowly shake my head.

Me:  No I woul’nent…

Piper:  Maybe if you wish hard enough, it will happen.

Me:  Shut up…

Piper glares at me, an amused smile still on her face.  I stick my tongue out at her, and she just rolls her eyes as she pulls her phone out of her pocket to Facebook this very moment so all of her three friends and guys she’s fucked can like, share, and make fun of me in the comments.  I storm out of the kitchen to the grand staircase, and I march up them, stomping my feet as I go.  I get to my old bedroom, and I fling open the door.  I look out of it, toward the stares, and I shout loud enough for them to hear me.

Me:  When I grow up, I’m living alone!  Ya hear me?!  I’m living alone!  I’m living alone!  I’m living alone!

I leave the door closed as I stare at it for a second.  I don’t know what I’m waiting for, but eventually I give up and turn around and plop onto the bed.  I bury my face in the pillow and I shout into it.

Me:  FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

I turn my head slightly as I notice my phone sitting there on the charger.  It’s lit up, and a picture of Giani is above the phone symbol, letting me know that he’s calling.  I just stare at it for a minute, letting it go to voicemail.  A few seconds later, a text pops up, and it just says one simple thing.  â€œMickey’s comin’ ya way, bro”.

It was no secret that Mickey wanted to talk to me about everything that happened on Climax Control.  He said it when we got back to the hotel room.  That’s when I jumped in my van and took off.  I did everything that I could to avoid it, because I didn’t want to hear some lame ass excuses about how I am good enough to be his husband, but not good enough to be his lover, all while Ben apparently is, even though Ben doesn’t want him.  That’s his issue, and not mine.  Frankly, I’m done with it all.  I turn on my back with my eyes wide open as I stare up at the ceiling fan spinning…

Sometime later…

My eyes shoot open as I feel a hand resting around mine.  I look over to see Mickey sitting on the edge of my bed, and I immediately pull my hand away.  I scoot away from him as far as I can on the bed, as I sigh loudly.

Me:  Just… go away.  I’m not in the mood for your bi-polar, peek-a-boo with the closet door bullshit game you’re playing.  After everything I’ve done for you, this isn’t how you should be treating me.

Mickey:  I know.  I was wrong for all of that.  I didn’t grow up with supportive parents who let me know I ‘ad the option to be whatever I wanted to be.  I grew up thinking I was supposed to be just like me father.  A misogynistic, alcoholic pig.

Me:  Spare me the daddy issues.  I get enough of that on Grindr.  I’m not here to listen to your little sob story.  I’m here to get away from you.  Do you think I would subject myself to my family if I didn’t need a little fucking space, man?

Mickey nods his head as he looks down to his hands.  He has an unlit cigarette, I guess out of habit, and he just twirls it around between his fingers as he can’t even look at me.  I shake my head as I watch him doing the exact opposite of what I asked of him.  I get up off of the bed, and I march over to the door.  I fling it open and I point out of it.

Me:  In case you didn’t hear me clearly the first time, I said to get the fuck outta my room.  Go eat dinner with the in-laws, and I hope you all choke on those cold peas!

Mickey:  I learned a very important lesson on Sunday, and there is no way I’m going to make the same mistake twice.  I’m not leaving until I tell ye exactly how I feel.

Me:  Unlike Ben, I’m going to tell you flat out.  I don’t wanna fucking hear it, Mick!

Mickey instantly narrows his eyes at me.  He turns his head slightly, making sure that his ear has a direct line to my mouth.  He taps his foot for a second as he looks like he’s got a question just waiting to escape his lips right now.

Mickey:  Did… ye just call me Mick?

Me:  Yeah, I did.  Mick.  Mick, Mick, Mick, Mick, M…

Mickey grabs onto my shoulder with one hand and slams the door shut with the other.  He slams me hard against the door as I thud against it.  He gets in close, anger burning in his blue green eyes.

Mickey:  Don’t call me Mick…

I stare back into his eyes, and I can see the hazel color of my own reflecting back.  I can even see the defiant twinkle in my own eyes as I lean forward a few inches, and I whisper the one thing that he doesn’t want to hear, right back at him.

Me: … Mmmmmmick-hhhhhhhh…

He spins me around and wraps his arms around me, squeezing me very tightly as he tries to wrestle me to the ground.  I fight him with everything I’ve got, as we both grunt angrily.  However, he surprises me by pulling my belt apart, and dropping my pants to the ground.  I gasp as he notices the underwear I’m wearing gives him easy access anyway.  I reach back and undo his belt as he bumps into me, and I can tell he’s feeling what I’ve got, very much.  He leans over and begins licking my face, hard and fast.  I pause for a second as I hear him panting heavily into my ear.  I have a very confused look on my face as he is not only licking my face, but leaving quite a bit of slobber on my face.

Wake Up!

My eyes open as I see Tanner licking my face.  I sigh as I look over at my phone, tapping the screen to see that I’d fallen asleep for an entire hour.  I roll my eye as I turn over in my bed to curl up with my childhood teddy bear… only to see Piper sitting there.  She is blushing a little bit uncomfortably as she tries to avoid looking at my morning wood, which I instantly hide with Teddy.

Piper:  Sweet dreams, little brother?

Me:  Uh, yeah… I guess…

Me:  I didn’t want to interrupt your beauty rest, because God knows you need it, and you were clearly enjoying yourself… but your red-headed lover is downstairs having a talk with dad.

I roll my eyes as I stretch out, yawning.  I sigh as I sit up in bed, but I guess the beard doesn’t hide the blushing that comes from mentioning Mickey, because Piper snickers and pats my cheek.

Piper:  Dad’s really digging into Mickey, too.  He’s giving him a talk about what it means to be a good husband, since he thinks he’s the expert and all…  Though, married at 17, and still together in their 40’s, with the non-parental parenting style they have…

Me:  I’m not awake, or flaccid enough to deal with any of this, Pipes…

Piper:  Who knows, you might finally get your wish with the ginger bedroom warrior if he sees what you’re packing.

So awkward coming from my sister, to the point where I would rather walk through the house half-cocked (HA!) than sit here and have this conversation.  I walk to the door, and Tanner instantly comes by my side.  Piper follows quickly behind me as we walk to the staircase.  We start to walk down it until we hear a loud crashing sound.

Mom:  Mel… MEL!  DON’T!  STOP!

I march down the stairs, about half way, until I see my dad haul off and punch Mickey square in the face, leaning over him by the fireplace, all while my mom begs with him to stop.  I’m frozen in place as Piper taps to make sure I’m seeing what she’s seeing.

Piper:  Oh, wow…

Dad:  My son deserves better than anything you could ever give him, you piece of Eurotrash!  Get the fuck out of my house, and if you so much as touch a hair on my son’s head, I will let my fist hate fuck you into oblivion!  Understood?

Mickey:  I can’t leave if yer pinning me to the ground, mate… Christ on a cracker…

I stumble down each step slowly as I make it to the very bottom step.  Tanner rushes over toward my dad and Mickey, and he bites Mickey’s ass, causing him to yelp loudly as Tanner pushes him toward the door.  I guess I start tearing up as I can’t even say a word.  Mickey opens the front door as Tanner growls at him, snapping in an attempt to scare him outside completely.  Mickey looks right at me, and he purses his lips.  He nods his head as he tries to force himself to smile.

Mickey:  Right… I guess I can take a hint.  I’ll leave ye be, mate.  Best of luck in two weeks to ye and Giani.

He nods his head as he quickly closes the door before I can even say anything.  I still open my mouth to call out to him, but I can’t seem to say a word.  I go to chase after him, but my dad puts his hand on my shoulder.  He slowly shakes his head.

Dad:  Sorry you had to see that, son.  But trust me, he’s no good for you.

Me:  It’s… it’s not your decision to make for me.

Dad:  I’ve never punched anyone in my entire life… and it fucking hurts, so I won’t be doing it again, unless he hurts you again.  Do us both a favor, and don’t give him the chance.

Mom:  Honey, let me go get you a bag of peas for your hand.

Me:  You and your FUCKING PEAS, mom!!!

I pull away from my dad’s hand on my shoulder, and I turn around to go back to my room.


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<img src=http://www.craveonline.com/assets/uploads/2014/07/josh-homme.png>

Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked
#NP "Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant
Locale: The Road; Anaheim, California
Storyteller: Mickey Carroll


Fuckin’ ‘ell… For a proper pansy arse, uptight knob like Melvin James Beckett, ‘e surely got a right hook to rival all others.  Me nose is still dripping as I drive fast away from their house.  Driven four miles down the highway with Los Angeles in me sights.  It’s dark outside, but me sunglasses are still planted right on me face as I watch the streetlights come to pass and I can’t help but think I really bollocksed things this time.  They say honesty is the best policy, but perhaps I should’ve just lied to Ben about why I stood by and watched ‘im get ‘is skull cracked by Dax and Giani.  Maybe I should’ve just told Dax I cared about ‘im, and acted like every other married couple in America and pretend ‘e was someone else.  Then I wouldn’t’ve went to Dax’s parent’s house and got me arse kicked by ‘is pops like that.

Embarrassing.  The entire thing is embarrassing.  Why is everything so bloody complicated?  I just can’t any longer.  Maybe it is the Universal Studios in the background, but I can’t sit here in this car any longer.  I look up to the camera that Giani keeps in the car from ‘is reality show days, and I pick it up in me ‘and as I pull over to the side of the road.  I put the car in park and turn off the engine as I get out of the Escalade.  I walk around the front of it and I place the camera on the hood of the vehicle as I turn it on and flip the screen so that I can see.  I put a cigarette between me lips as I pace back and forth.  I need a distraction from all of this, and I need to focus on something else.

Me:  I can’t seem to get past what ‘appened last Sunday.  Even almost a week after the single most humiliating moment in me life, I can’t get past it.  Perhaps I should’ve pulled a Jamie Dean and protested the fuckin’ show, because it would’ve saved so much trouble.  But, no… I decided it would be best to get inside of Ben’s ‘ead.  I played the most cruel of mind games when I professed me love for me old best mate.  Well, well, well… Lookie ‘ere, Ben.  Seems all three Bad Boys got inside yer ‘ead.

I surely hope that the viewers are buying it, because I’m certainly not, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to sell it.  I laugh after taking a drag from me cigarette, letting out a big cloud of smoke in the process as I continue to pace back and forth.

Me:  That’s right, Ben.  I wanted to see exactly how you would react to such a crazy idear.  Ye played right into it, mate.  And ‘ere I thought you was smarter than that.  The entire time, you thought I was serious?  How bleedin’ stupid could ye be?  Ye don’t realize that this makes it so much easier for Bad Boys to take yer titles right off of ye and yer platonic gay bestie.  This is going to be a right walk in the park.  It’s just a shame that ye let it get this far.  I much rather would’ve preferred to ‘ave a proper go backstage.  It’s what I was hoping for, honestly.  But, the embarrassment of pretending to ‘ave a crush on ye was worth it, just to see the look on yer face.  Like…

I raise me ‘ands to me temples and mimic an explosion, waving me ‘ands in the air as I let out another laugh.  This one seems to betray what I’d hoped to say, so I cut it short as I stop pacing back and forth.

Me:  Truth is… I never got over being betrayed a couple years back. I held that grudge, and I waited.  I waited for the opportunity to show you just how I felt when ye ditched me for others who was thought to be better than me.  I felt like a proper git.  Now, it’s yer turn.  Ye get to feel everything being taken away from ye.  First, I want to guarantee that it will be me across the ring from ye come Summer XXXTreme V.  No matter who me partner is, I will be the one to take the tag titles away from ye, just to prove that I wasn’t some weak link in our tag team.  I was the glue that held it together.  I was the one who was so dedicated, who always ‘ad yer back.  Those tag titles won’t do that, though, but damn will it look proper mint around me waist.  Well, once I ‘ave yer name plate removed, and mine put over it.

I pick up me shoe and scrape the burning cherry of me cigarette against the heel, and then drop it to the ground.  I start pacing again as I’m starting to feel hyped… Awww, shite… Dax is starting to rub off on me…

Me:  But, I won’t let it end there.  I will make it me mission to hurt you.  I will make ye regret sayin’ no to me, Ben… I mean, sayin’ no to our friendship, that is.  Not the other thing, because… of course it was all just mind games.  Anyway, I am going to break at least one of yer bones, Ben.  At least one.  That’s right.  I’m gonna take away the one thing that ye cherished more than our friendship.  I’m gonna take away yer wrestling career.  I’m gonna put ye out flat on yer back.  I’m gonna use yer name to finally get the recognition that I ‘ave deserved all along.  But, instead of doing the typical thing and trying to live off yer name… I’m gonna tear it down as I build me own name up.  Eventually, everyone’s gonna be saying “Ben who?”  The fans that ye cherish so much, they aren’t gonna remember ye in a few short months.  That’s right, mate.  I’m gonna take yer popularity away from ye.  Yer wrestling career, yer title, yer fans… I’m gonna ruin ye, Ben.

This time I laugh, and it feels more convincing.  The anger and the anxiety over the last 5 days ‘as come to a head, and I feel it pouring out of me so hard that I’m even starting to convince meself that I was lying to Ben on Sunday.  I stop pacing for a moment and then I look directly at the camera, lifting the sunglasses from me face so that everyone can see my finest act.

Me:  Yer gonna be just another nameless nobody, rotting away somewhere, crippled, and feeling like a right bollock.  Tell me what yer gonna do then?  Who will ye ‘ave to support ye then?  It won’t be me.  It won’t be Emma.  It won’t be Evie.  It won’t be Jamie.  Yer gonna see what it feels like to finally be alone.  Yer gonna get to see what it felt like for me when ye abandoned me and ruined any momentum I ‘ad for me career at the time.  Maybe ye’ll feel what it was like for me to sit back and rot me gut with Guinness, becoming an even bigger alcoholic, soakin’ in me own piss and misery.  This is karma.  Get used to it, because it’s going to be payin’ ye a proper visit, and she won’t be leaving yer side for a long… long time…

This time, when I pull the cigarette out of me jacket pocket, I waste no time in lighting it.  I tap the butt end of it for a second before I take another drag.  I look up at the camera, dressed in me best clothes, and I’m starting to feel much better.

Me:  Ben?  Ben, are ye listening to me?  Well, listen loud and clear.  I gave ye one too many chances to make up for bein’ a tosser, but for the nice guy that everyone thinks ye’are, ye couldn’t show that kindness to yer supposed best mate?  That’s fucked up.  In so many ways, Ben.  Yer a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and I must admit… it’s gotten ye very far in this business.  But, don’t worry.  Just like ye did to me, yer gonna leave the fans behind, and they will finally see that I’m right about ye.  While yer rotting away, ye won’t even give the fans an explanation, because that’s how ye’are.  Yer a miserable person, Ben.  Yer miserable, and ye are so consumed by yer misery that ye don’t ‘ave time to consider the feelings of other people.  And, if ye could do what ye did to me, then Jamie might want to consider cutting ‘is losses right ‘ere, and right now.

I brush the cigarette past me lips as I sneak a quick drag before turning me attention elsewhere.

Me:  And that brings me to ye, Jamie.  I know we ‘ad our differences.  I might even admit that I was jealous.  Seein’ me best mate take to someone so vile and disgusting as yerself?  And let me clarify, it’s not yer sexual orientation as some might think.  Yer just shameless.  I knew that ye was gonna pull that kinda shite with me if I stepped foot into that match, making bloody jokes at me expense.  Nah, mate.  That was a game I refuse to play.

I shake me ‘ead as if Jamie was right there in front of me.

Me:  It just made me see red.  It took me a moment to realize that it isn’t yer fault.  Yer too bloody stupid to realize that yer just Ben’s lackey.  Yer nothing more than a means to an end with Ben, just like I was, and just like Evie is.  Soon as ye outlive yer usefulness, ye might as well consider yerself dead to Ben.  Trust me, it suuuuucks… But, it’s a reality that yer gonna ‘ave to get used to, mate.  Come next Sunday, me and the Bad Boys is gonna take those belts from ye lot, and we’re gonna ‘ave the only thing that made ye useful to Ben.  After ye leave the cruise ship, do yerself a favor and consider Ben to be a part of yer past, because you won’t even hear one word from ‘im after that.  Trust me, I know from experience.  Summer XXXTreme belongs to the Bad Boys, and everyone knows it but the pair of ye’s.

I take a long drag from me cigarette as I watch the smoke drift off in the wind.  But, I have one last thing to say before I end this.

Me:  I ‘ave one request for this match.  I know we usually ‘ave some sort of pissing contest to determine who will compete in the match, but I want to ask Dax to be me partner.  Partner in the ring, and… otherwise.  What do ye say, Dax?  Care to reach the top of the mountain together?  It would be a real honor, mate.  Yeah, that’s me case, I suppose… See ye lot this Sunday when we board the cruise ship.  Mickey out…

With that, I turn off the camera, and continue the hour long trek to Los Angeles, with a bit of a smile on me face, and a clear… well, almost clear, conscience.

[Ben Jordan]

 The scene starts outside a hotel room, somewhere in Long Beach, California. Sam Marlowe paces nervously outside the door of room 146. She looks down at her feet as she waits. A few seconds pass before another person appears. Her eyes look up to see the person as Jamie Dean.

"Oh good." Sam starts with her southern-esque tone. "You made it?"

Jamie nods firmly as his eyes meet Sam's eyes.

"Are you sure he's here?" Jamie asks "I've tried calling him for days but his phone was switched off constantly."

"He's here." Sam replies softly "I asked around and he is definitely here. It looks like he never left Long Beach."

"I figured he'd have been drinking at some point earlier this week, judging from the tweets." Jamie says thoughtfully "But radio silence the last few days has worried me. Is he in this room?"

Sam nods her head and turns towards the door. She lifts her hand up to the door and knocks on it three times.

"About bloody time." Ben says behind the door "Been waiting forever. How long does it take to bring up a..."

He opens the door to see Sam and Jamie standing outside the room, both looking at him sternly, Ben looks the pair up and down, just wearing an open robe and boxers with love hearts on them, his face covered with a scruffy looking beard.

"Well you two aren't the people who bring me whiskey" Ben says with a shake of his head.

He turns to shut the door but Jamie puts his foot in the way, stopping the door from closing.

"Keep doing that, ya gonna lose a toe." Ben says with a shrug. "Doors are bloody heavy around here."

"Someone's been drinking." Sam comments but Ben smiles at her.

"You too?" Ben replies "I thought it was only me doing the drinking."

Jamie pushes the door open and walks in to the room, quickly followed by Sam as Ben stands at the door, pointing now at the room and looking at the empty air in front of him.

"Why don't ya come on in?" He tells the emptiness.

He turns around, looking at Sam and Jamie looking around the room in disbelief. Clothes littler the room, just randomly tossed about and the table in the middle with three whiskey bottles on it, one bottle only with the dark liquid in, about a third of the bottle left. An empty glass sits in front of it and Ben moves towards it, lifting the bottle and pouring some of the whiskey in the glass. He looks at the two standing before him.

"I would offer ya, but there's only one glass." He tells them.

He wraps his fingers around the glass and lips towards his lips, but his scruffy hair is met with the hand of Sam Marlowe, clipping him around the back of his head. Ben looks towards her.

"Hey!" He yells "I was using that head."

He raises the glass again, but only to be met with a hand from Jamie, catching him on the other side of the head.

"Hey!" He says looking towards Jamie "I was using that head too!"

Sam and Jamie look at each other confused but Ben puts the glass to his lips.

"Why haven't you answered my calls prat?" She asks him firmly

He drinks back the drink in the glass in one go as Sam and Jamie take seats opposite him. He sighs deeply as he looks at them both.

"Haven't felt much like talking." He admitted. "Haven't felt like doing a lot lately, been thrown through a bit of a loop and I ain't liking it at all."

"I wasn't at the show." Jamie states "But I saw what happened."

"And that is why I went through a loop." Ben starts "Life has been a bit shit lately, and it's dragging me down. Everything is changing and I seem to be sitting around on me arse doing nothing."

"I wouldn't say that." Sam tells him.

"I just don't get one thing Ben." Jamie adds "After all the stuff Mickey's done, why the hell would you still be so polite with him?"

Ben sighs, putting his hand on his chin as he looks at Jamie.

"It's loyalty mate." Ben admits "I've known Mickey since I was a kid. I met him when I was about to get me head kicked in cause me old man barred someone elses old man from a boozer and he tried to take it out on me. Horrible family them lot, they wouldn't have thought twice about kicking me nut in and Mickey saved me. He took the three brothers and nearly put 'em through a wall."

"How old was he then?" Sam asks.

"About five." Ben says with a smile "Mickey was always a tough nut, always someone who could handle himself and he did then. We was friends since. I think back to that day a lot, especially lately and wonder what would have happened if those three would have got their hands on me and smashed me up. I wonder what it would have been like if I got ironed out that day but I never had to cause Mickey was like a superman, just appeared and wallop, three lads had broken noses. It was chaos, but something like that, you always gotta appreciate. I have always been an appreciative guy, always had to be. Started with fuck all and lucked in to money, but never forgot where I came from and who was there at the start and Mickey was. He might be a bit of a bastard at the moment, but he was always my bastard."

"He said he went to prison for you." Jamie adds.

"He did, and I regret that day. It should have been me. I wasn't always Saint Ben."

He fills the glass again and holds it to his lips.

"See we ended up out one night and I was more than a little tipsy." Ben starts "And some geezer put it on me, giving it the big un and I lumped him. I hit him so hard, he flew across the bar. His mates got involved and it went mad. Mickey jumped in and it all went wrong. I saw red and was in beast mode, Mickey had to pull me off of someone. He'd never seen me like that, I've never been like that. Instead of letting me fall, Mickey threw me in a cab and send me on my way. He took the fall for it."

"Why?" Sam asks.

"I don't know." Ben says with a sigh "Maybe he was protecting me, maybe he was giving me a future. Maybe he saw it as penance for all he did. He knew he was on a slippery slope and maybe this was his way of stopping himself. I visited every week without fail. I was there constantly. I looked after his family when I hit it big. That's when I turned in to Saint Ben. He inspired me to be that, he took the fall for something he shouldn't have an inspired me to be something better. I thought I knew Mickey so well, but some things I guess you don't see coming."

"So you didn't know he felt this way for you?" Jamie asks.

"Didn't have a scooby." Ben comments "I thought this whole thing with Giani and Dax was a way to get them all noticed. I didn't have a clue Mickey was that way. I didn't know he felt like that to me. I love him like a brother, someone I'd die for, but I never knew he felt that way, I never knew he was anything like that. He's smashed more birds than I can count so I had no idea what so ever that he had feelings like that at all. I get why he's angry with me. While he was injured, I branched out and I should have brought him along. I just don't get why now."

"Maybe to get in your head about the match?" Sam says.

"Nah. I know when Mickey is full of it and he wasn't full of it then." Ben says seriously "He meant it..."

Ben stands up, looking away from them.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" He yells out, clinching his free fist before calming down. "It's just thrown me through a loop here and I'm just confused as all buggery right now."

Sam stands up, putting her hand on Ben's shoulder.

"We understand, just not a fan of you not answering your phone." She says softly.

Jamie gets to his feet, looking at Ben.

"Look, let's forget about all this for now, shall we?" He says "Let's go out and see what this place has to offer? I wasn't here at the weekend, but it's Long Beach after all."

Ben nods but Jamie looks at him.

"Maybe you should have a shower first." He tells Ben.

Ben sniffs his armpits either side and nods.

"Yeah, good idea." He agrees.

Ben wanders off as the camera cuts to.....

Of all places, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese garden, a Japanese garden that encompassed over one acre on the campus of California State University. It was a virtual oasis, a hybrid art form of koi ponds, lotus moats, a rose garden, black pine and mulberry trees, Spanish moss, and much more. With paths to casually walk about and bridges overlooking the ponds, one could spend hours here simply taking in the scenery and enjoying the serenity.

"Really?" Ben asks in disbelief as he walks along one of said paths, sandwiched in between Sam and Jamie, his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark shades, the better to stave off the suns rays on his hung over peepers. "Out of all the places you could have taken me to, you drag me arse to a botanical garden?"

"Quiet." Jamie answers back as he and Sam lead their close friend toward a small bridge with a man made waterfall that flowed into the nearest lotus moat. Ben spots a bench and starts to make a move for it, but both Sam and Jamie hook his arms in their own and reel him in. Jamie continues, "After this stunt of yours, you're damn lucky I didn't drag your ass to the Museum of Latin American Art!"

Ben openly shudders, and Jamie decides to (try) and put him out of his misery, just a little. He adds, "But worry not, Saint Ben. I did get the three of us tickets to go to Knott's Berry Farm this evening."

"Knott's Berry..." Ben murmurs. "Wot's that?"

"Amusement park." Sam smiles. "Old fashioned style."

Ben shakes his head, "That doesn't sound too bad but if you try and get me on a bloody roller coaster the way I'm feeling then I -- HEY!" Ben yelps as Jamie reaches up and slips the sunglasses from Ben's face and places them over his own eyes. "What's the idea!?"

"Serves you right, disappearing on us the way you did." Jamie answers without missing a beat while Ben struggles to shield his blood shot eyes from the glaring rays of the sun overhead. He cups a hand over his brow and turns his head just enough to address his buddy, "Pardon me but aren't YOU the one that vanished a few months ago after yer match with James?"

Jamie nods, "Point made but you and this one here..." Jamie jets a thumb in Sam's direction. "...and Amy and Sandra, well everybody jumped down my throat for it. I believe your exact words were 'Isolating yourself doesn't solve anything."

Ben sighs and turns to Samantha, "Don't you hate it when yer own words come back to haunt ya?"

Sam can only smile as she takes a turn and steers Ben, and thus Jamie, onto the edge of the small bridge with the fence, over looking the setting of a large koi pond with branches of Spanish moss overlooking the water. She answers, "No comment, and for the record? This place was my idea. It's quiet and calm. Given the way you feel, you don't need loud noises or bright lights..."

Jamie jumps in before Ben can say anything, "NO, you can't have your shades back!"

Sam continues, "Just breathe. The scenery, the scents... it'll help your mind. Your stomach on the other hand...?" She looks warily towards her close friend but Jamie finishes for her, "The hotel toilet will have to take care of."

They take some time to simply do as Samantha instructs, and they just stand there, taking everything in. Ben breathes deeply, at first to calm his hangover, but eventually the various smells of the garden's flora does have a bit of the desired effect, and his eyes do stray to the waterfall off to the left of the group.

"Look Ben," Jamie begins. "I know your mind is a bit muddled right now, but you'll forgive me if I withhold my sympathies. At least where Mickey is concerned. All due respect, no matter what his feelings are, there was no excuse. None. To stand there and just watch two people attack someone he supposedly cares about? Or rather, someone he has feelings for? And not lift a finger to help or raise a voice to object?"

"He raised a voice." Ben starts to clarify, but Jamie is on a roll and speaks over him, "Yeah! A week later! And only to say he had intended for me to be the object of that chair shot attack, not you. And two weeks later to pull that stunt to get out of wrestling me like a god damn coward, and attack me from behind all over again!?"

Ben closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. Sam holds up a hand to Jamie, "Not helping hon..." But Jamie ignores her, feeling this is something Ben simply needs to face. He goes on, "I know you feel like you owe Mickey for the past, but loyalty aside? Isn't it possible Mickey has changed? And not for the better? Both of our careers could have been ended, or worse, when he and his bitches jumped us, and for what?"

"Jealousy." Sam speaks, drawing the eyes of her two guy pals to her.

"Okay, I'll bite." Ben says. "Jealousy of what?"

"Him." Sam tilts her ginger head toward Jamie. When Ben frowns as if he doesn't understand Sam's meaning, she explains, "Think about it.When the tag titles were vacated, you didn't call Mickey, you called Jamie here. And since then, you developed a pretty close friendship with an openly gay man who'd do anything for you." Sam looks closely to Ben to explain, "And Mickey is on the outside at the time, looking in and seeing a situation he could have been a part of had he..."

Jamie interjects, "Had the courage to be who he really was."

Ben sighs, "Not as simple as it seems, mate. Mickey had a tough upbringing in a rough part of London..."

Jamie jumps in, "And half of my family was military and the other half was uber Catholics." He shrugs. "I still was willing and able to be myself."

Before Ben can reply, Sam continues, "As I was saying, Mickey sees Jamie as an openly gay man who was able to befriend you as himself, something Mickey, at the time, couldn't or wouldn't, do. This allowed you and Jamie here to form a friendship on a level that even a lifelong friend like Mickey doesn't have, and seems to desperately want. And, like Jamie, Mickey had suppressed feelings for you..."

Jamie's head whips around and Sam holds her hand up, "I'm not dumb, Jamie. I can read people easily enough. wait..." Sam gasps as her eyes grow wide and she turns to Ben. "You knew, right?" Ben just nods silently in good humor and his ginger gal pal breathes a sigh of relief.

Samantha continues, "You two are now close friends. Tag team partners and champions. You've stayed at each others' places. Partied together. Taken part in charity events. And even went into business with one another with Oasis. Mickey sees all this, and is now asking himself the one question that will eat any soul alive."

Jamie and Ben look to her with mutual frowns of questioning, to which she answers, "What if?"

"You wouldn't be the first person to be burned by a close friend." Jamie finally says after a long period of silence. "I had a dear friend that I met by chance when I first moved to California ten years ago. God I would have done anything for that woman. It didn't matter if I was low on funds or groceries. If she needed a loan, I found a way. If she had a craving for a buffet, I always treated. She was the type of person who, when I could be in the foulest mood, after talking to her for a few minutes she'd have me laughing like a lunatic. I helped her and what's more, she was always there for me. At least at the time." Jamie sighs.

Ben asks, "What happened?"

"She became a Born Again Christian." Jamie answers. "The day after the Supreme Court made their ruling, she pretty much severed all ties with me. Unfriended me on Facebook and blocked me. Blocked my number, everything. Never even had the courage to tell me why, but I knew."

Samantha shakes her head at the callous action and Ben just mutters something that sounds like 'bitch' but Jamie isn't quite sure. Jamie then looks around and notices everything frozen, including Sam between Ben and himself.

"But..." Jamie starts to say. "I didn't hear you snap your fingers."

"Head hurts too much." Ben says. "So I did it 'gently.'"

"And we have to do this now?" Jamie almost whines, to which Ben answers, "Yeah, cause you were seriously bringing me down with that story." Jamie snorts back a laugh and Ben manages a smile himself.

Jamie says, "Not sure what I'm supposed to say after all this Ben. I know Mickey is a friend of yours, even after all of this, and all I want to do is cram my fist through his teeth, down his throat, and pull his anus inside out."

Ben winces.

Jamie continues, "And even then there's no guarantee that Mickey will even be one of the two who we'll be defending the championships against. Hell, I thought he'd be the man I would be fighting in that Tuxedo match and look at what happened. I got conned by a pro, and the same thing might happen on that ship. Mickey may have Giani and Dax wrestle us while he just waits on the outside, looking for the perfect time and place to stick his nose in and cost us the gold."

Ben turns his head and looks at Jamie, but Jamie nods to emphasize his words, "Yeah Ben, he just might do that. Not to hurt you, perhaps, but sure as hell to screw me out of my share of the titles. You? You'd be collateral damage. You could recover. maybe he could convince you to ditch me and reform your team with him for a run at the gold, who knows what the hell he's thinking? Except for one hard, cold fact; he wants me out of the picture, but I'm not going. At least, not quietly. Even if he avoids being in the match as a participant, he has to know that I'll lay his ass out the first chance I get."

Jamie looks at Ben and shrugs, "Sorry, but like it or not, he has it coming. He thinks he grew up tough and born to fight? Well bully for him. He's not the only one. You don't grow up in a conservative town like Lima as an openly gay man without being able to defend yourself. I can fight because I wasn't given much choice in the way of tolerance." He shakes his head, contemplating. "Same could be said for his partners, or wives -- whatever the hell they are. Giani's the proven commodity out of all three of the Stooges. World Heavyweight Champion. World Tag Team Champion. Pecs to knock on..."

Jamie notices Ben's eyes on him and he clears his throat.

Jamie says, "Sorry. Mind wandered." Ben just nods and mouths 'Oh really?' Jamie continues, "The only one in this match who's done more than Giani, is you. You may not have held the SCW World title, but your track record in ACW as a Triple crown winner is practically spotless, and the tag titles here just adds to the fact that as good as Giani is, or as good as he thinks he is, your record is even better. Hell, you could be the World Champion. Everybody thinks so. I tried but..." He shakes his head. "Not my thing, I proved that already. But just because I lost that one opportunity, doesn't mean Giani is any better. I had him." He adds with grim satisfaction. "And I would have beaten him if a certain someone didn't decide to get involved and attack me from behind. So if I had my choice in the matter, I'd want Mickey and Giani to be the two we were facing at Summer XXXTreme V, just for the simple fact I feel it's those two we have something to settle."

"Not Dax?" Ben asks, and Jamie scoffs.

"I'm not even entirely certain who Dax Beckett is or why he's even involved in this whole triple marriage scheme of theirs. I'm guessing since his initial attempt at a career crashed and burned -- BADLY -- this was the next step in trying desperately to keep his name around. He hasn't really shown anyone anything since he first showed his face. And now? Well his best work has been on Twitter. I think his first claim to fame was hooking up with Alexis Edwards, if I recall right. Then she left, his career fizzled, so along comes the Bad Boys and Dax latched onto them. As soon as one prospect loses interest or momentum, he gets shifted onto the next lap. He's like ... Summer Rae in drag."

Ben asks, "Who?" To which Jamie just looks into the camera and shakes his head.

Jamie says, "My point is, Dax offers the Bad Boys nothing. Not even a pretty face, despite the drunken ramblings of his wives or himself. And as far as his record goes, the only two matches I can recall him winning was against Calvin Harris and Chris Shipman. Everyone else he went up against? Nine times out of ten he ended up flat on his back with at least one leg in the air!" That crack just gets a single eyebrow raise from Ben as Jamie continues, motioning towards Ben with a hand, "The two of you even met once, in this year's Blast From the Past. I still can't believe that he actually thought his team with Amy had a chance. Well, Amy had the chance. Once again, all he was really was dead weight. Now that I think about it...?"

Jamie nods in contemplation.

He says, "Giani and Mickey should just leave him in the back because Dax has proven time and again, he's just dead weight and bad luck to anyone he's around."

Ben looks towards Jamie with a nod.

"This bloke has a way with words, and he calls me Shakespeare" Ben says with a half hearted smile "This is pretty awkward for me to sit here and talk about to be fair. I mean the last few weeks have been a bit manic. It's been a rollercoaster of emotion, and  I won't lie, it's been pretty tough to focus on anything at all, but that changes at this point."

Ben breathes deeply as he looks down the camera.

"We got a job to do at the end of the day." He starts "And that job is to defend the SCW Tag Team championships. We've had them a decent amount of time and we're not daft enough to know that we're gonna get a supercard off from defending them, so defend we shall. The truth is it doesn't matter if we're defending against The Bad Boys, or The Elders, Unholy Alliance, it really doesn't, because no matter what fresh hell is going on around us, no matter what distractions, no matter how many people whack me in the dome with chairs, we will always give it our all to defend what is ours. It's been the story of my life, I have defended and will do that with everyone and everything close to me, and this ain't no different."

He pauses.

"At first, Mickey and I spoke about it being just a good clean rivalry, nothing underhanded and then yet, that changed dramatically." He bites his lip before continuing "That changed when two apes took a chair each and swung for the fences, only for me head to get in the way. With that comes consequences. I've never been a man to play unfair, or try and gain an advantage or anything like that, but Dax, Giani, you two did. You slowed me down, you put me out of the game for a while, in hopes I get a little bit rusty?"

Ben firmly shakes his head.

"Well that was a monumental cock up." Ben says thoughtfully "It left me well rested, it left me raring to get off me arse and kick yours, it gave me time to think, time to watch everything you've done here since the universe collided and The Bad Boys were born. It gave me time to get ready for what no doubt will be one of the biggest matches of my career. I had the chance to sit there and be prepared for it all. I know Mickey is one hell a talent, Giani has a list of achievements as long as his arm, Dax is well..."

Ben shrugs his shoulders.

"Well.... Dax I guess." He says calmly "But together, it just don't work, it just don't click, it just don't make sense to me. You don't take three guys that good and just mash them together, and then go an antagonise the roster in hope that people will know who your team are. You didn't need to do that, but you did anyway, you wrapped steel around my head so that people would take notice of you all. It's science mates, that every action will have an equal reaction and when we're on that ship, feet up, sipping cocktails and enjoy a few days off, this thought will be running through your mind, the thought of my reaction, my equal reaction when I get in that ring. I won't be a bitch enough to use a chair, but I will be bringing something unexpected. Certain things in life change people and this has been a life changing experience, because a fire has been well and truly lit underneath me, something that has showing me a little more determination to let loose in that ring, and at Summer XXXTreme V, I will listen to that voice inside me and I will not hold back. The decision to hit me with a chair, will turn out to be one of the worst choices you've ever made. We won't do the titles the discredit of finding themselves in your possession. Meet the new Ben Jordan, the Bad Boy created Ben Jordan. You've created a monster and now you have to live with it."

Ben nods firmly.

"But well, that's all we have time for today. Enjoy looking at the titles up close and personal on that ship." He says while waving his finger. "Cause that's as close as you're gonna get to 'em."

Ben winks.

"Laters people." He says with a smile.

Ben clicks his fingers gently and the scene starts to move again before the camera fades out.

[Ben Jordan]

 SCW truly lucked out with the timing of this Summer XXXTreme V cruise aboard the Grand Princess as the ship coasted along the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The weather could not be more perfect, with the average temperature being in the low to mid nineties, warm and perfect for sunbathing or lounging by the pool. There were only a few clouds in the sky, but otherwise the bright blue overhead gave all below a calm and serene sense of being, allowing them the full luxury of enjoying themselves, whether they be the fans of Sin City Wrestling, staff or the wrestlers themselves.

The activities for the entertainment and amusement are plentiful, albeit in a more traditional sense of the word as opposed to other cruise lines offerings. And it is through some of these forms of extra curricular activities that 'the Cockney King' Ben Jordan found himself on something akin to a hunt, as he searches for the elusive form of his friend and World Tag Team title partner, one Jamie Dean. Hunting isn't generally something that the Grand Princess offers, but that is indeed what this had started to feel like once Ben set his sights on finding Jamie. Ben is casually dressed in beige khaki shorts, a white buttoned up short sleeved shirt and flip flops.

"Oy!" Ben called aloud, drawing the attention of SCW star that was currently on the inactive list, Samuel Devereux and his wife, Melanie Gabrielle. Samuel, also known in Ben and Jamie's social circle as Jamie's 'boy toy,' or was it the other way around? Ben shook his head to get the mental image that seared its way into his mind OUT of there! Samuel was on the pool deck, clad in what could barely be described as a decent swimsuit, while his wife and mother of his children wore a black bikini, displaying an impressive body for a woman who just had a child not too long ago.

Samuel brought his shades up from over his eyes and rested them on his forehead, his eyebrows raised in questioning towards Ben's addressing him. Ben asked, "You lot seen Jamie?"

"Not since last night." Samuel smiled in a way that almost made poor 'Saint Ben' shudder. "And this morning, and after lunch, and..."

"Alright! Alright! Alright!" Ben held a hand up, and despite the implications, Ben couldn't help but chuckle at the spot Jamie had gotten himself into with this one, apparently insatiable. "So he hasn't been around?"

"Sorry." Melanie shook her head with a soft smile. How did that lovely bird handle her husband going out and banging another -- fella, was beyond Ben's comprehension, but it wasn't his business and she seemed to support it so he moved on. Ben did a quick once around the entire pool, searching because he knew Jamie had a love for the sun and a perfect tan -- and gazing at the young men in swimsuits -- but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Blast." Ben frowned as he set his hands on his hips, trying to think where the lad might be. He deduced he wouldn't be in a cabin playing a game of 'slap and tickle' with another, not while Devereux was aboard. So off good ol' Ben went in search, checking everywhere he could think.

Indeed yes, he even picked up the tarps that lined the lifeboats and had a peek inside, and as a group of passengers on a tour looked at him funny, Ben just gave them a bashful smile and moved on. "Wonder Woman" was currently playing on the huge movie screen under the sun, and the deck was packed with onlookers. Ben knew Jamie had seen the film three times already, and figured a fourth wasn't out of the question given that near-nude scene of actor Chris Pine. Was probably what made him go back for seconds and thirds anyway. But as far as he could tell, Jamie wasn't one of the audience members. He kind of stood out.

Knowing Dean had a fondness for those weird, fruity drinks with an umbrella during the afternoon hours aboard the cruise, before he hit the really strong stuff after the sun had descended into the ocean. Yet even after Ben had ventured through Crooners, the Wheelhouse Bar, Explorer Lounge and Vista Lounge, but nope! Not a sign!

"Bloody..." Ben murmured as he moved on to the next of what he understood was ten total bars aboard this ship, when he casually walked past the Internet and Library Lounge, and almost skidded to a halt and did a double take through the door. There was Jamie, believe it or not, with his legs pulled up onto the comfortable sofa. Clad in a snug pair of neon pink shorts and white muscle shirt that showcased his upper body, Jamie had an open book on his lap and his elbow propped on the arm rest and head on the palm of his hand.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Ben marched in, his face one of bewildered fascination. Jamie looked up wide eyed, as if he didn't understand why Ben sounded so annoyed or why he was so obviously intrigued by Jamie being here.

"Reading?" Jamie answered cautiously, his eyes flicking back and forth as the handful of others in the lounge looked over to the pair before going back to what they were doing.

"And since when do you read?" Ben asked, leaning forward just enough to see what his friend was attempting to focus on. 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' Hunh. A classic, Victorian novel. Ben folded his arms over his chest and shook his head. "That's the thing about you, mate. Can know everything there is about you but you still find ways to surprise me."

"I try." Jamie smiled. "But I don't even know why I'm bothering." Jamie cast a glance over his shoulder as not too far away from the lounge where there wer4e actually no walls to insulate the patrons from the noise levels around them. He slapped the book closed and set it aside on the end table to his right and huffed. "I was just trying to distract myself for a couple of hours before I head back outside to the usual adventures we find ourselves in."

Ben smiled, albeit briefly, before he asked, "Something on your mind?"

"Maybe a little." Jamie admitted to which Ben asked, "Care for a chin wag?"

"Why Mister Jordan." Jamie gasped playfully, putting a hand over his heart. "I thought you'd never ask."

"`Ey Jamie?" Ben beckoned with a forefinger, and as Jamie leaned in, Ben gave him a smack upside the head, returning the favor from early last week in Long Beach. "That'll learn ya to say things I can't get outta me head. Now c'mon."

"Where to?" Jamie asked as he allowed himself to be dragged to his feet.

"One of the bars on this crate." Ben answered as he led 'the Sausage King' out. "Get you one of those fruity drinks. Hell! I'm a sport. I'll even try one."

Jamie's head turned with wide eyes... "You're KIDDING!"



No, indeed! Ben Jordan was not kidding, especially when it came to showing support to a friend. We find the Tag Champions in the Calypso Bar, amidst many other fun loving fans and more, but huddled around the corner of the bar where some semblance of privacy. While Jamie was drinking a cocktail with his chilled glass filled with not just rum, but also lime, fruit juice, mint and cucumber -- where as Ben was just staring at the drink in his own hand with an arched brow.

Ben said, "You ordered this for me. Remind me again what it is?"

"A Spicy Pina Punch." Jamie laughed. "A drink with a bit of kick to it. Rum, Benedictine, Chipotle syrup and a few other odds and ends -- like jalapeno juice."

Ben tilted his head and raised his glass, "Cheers!" Before he risked a taste. He then looked to Jamie and shrugged. "It's not without its charm." He then took another sip and nodded. "Seriously mate, not half bad." He then extended a forefinger from the hand he was holding his drink with and pointed at him. "But Sam is never to know I drank something like this."

"My lips are sealed." Jamie crossed his heart.

"Not just yet they ain't." Ben sat down finally. "You're going to tell me what has you so distracted. Usually you're the original party animal."

"Nothing's wrong." Jamie answered, having a seat himself. "I've just had a few things on my mind. I've been thinking."

"About?"

"About ... after." Jamie took a drink. "After the show here, after we eventually lose the tag titles. What I'll be doing next since you made it clear you wanted to go into managing."

"I'll tell you what yer gonna do." Ben answered back. "You're gonna make a proper run for a singles title. Maybe even the World."

"Been there, done that." Jamie said with a look of slight embarrassment. "Last I checked I got left flat on my back."

"That was one shot." Ben reasoned. "No saying you can't go and have another chance."

Jamie chuckled, "Funny. I said the exact same thing to you after you had that one title shot at James. Several people had, as I recall." Jamie looks upwards in thought,"How many people are still saying you need a proper singles run?"

"That's different."

Jamie shook his head, "It really isn't. Outside of tag teams, you've tried about as hard as I have when it comes to a singles run. Difference is, when you had a chance it took James cheating to beat you. Me? I pretty much got my ass handed to me because I didn't take it seriously. Hell, I didn't even really want the shot. It just fell into my lap after that battle royal win."

"No saying you couldn't make another go of it." Ben pointed out. "One loss doesn't mean you don't deserve another."

"I could say the same thing in your case." Jamie smiled, then held a hand up as he could see that Ben wasn't going to give up this debate so easily. "Benjamin, trust me on this one. I thought about it long and hard and there isn't a thing you could say to push me towards a singles run that I couldn't turn right around back on you."

"It's gutting mate." Ben starts as he looks at Jamie with sincerity. "I know you still feel a little down about what happened before when it came to facing the champ before but let's be honest, I was like his second title defence in his long run with the belt and I didn't do much better. It got me doubting too but at the end of the day, I had a fair bit to offer in the tag division and you could do the same if ya wanted, but there's a future for you as a single star. Look at it like this mate, you might not be thinking about it with ya eyes open. After this show, the Internet title is about to become free as a bird, so they will need a match to fill it. They will have a fresh Jamie Dean with something to prove, and who could go on and win it, start a revolution there."

Ben looks seriously towards Jamie.

"You're more popular than you know." Ben states  "You could easily go out there and take control of that division, settle in a little bit, get ya feet wet with a title, and then move on to the top division and give the big boys a proper match."

Ben looks at Jamie, his face still the same as it was when Ben started talking about things.

"I'm not getting through to you at all, am I?" He says defeated.  

Ben sighed before he turned back to Jamie, seeing he wasn't getting much of anywhere. He asked, "So these 'plans' of yours. What were you thinking of doing?" He frowned. "Christ! Yer not thinking about going back into that porn wrestling you used to be into, are ya?"

"God no!" Jamie shook his head. "But as the thought appeals to me, I have other responsibilities that would frown on that sort of employment." Jamie paused, thinking hard before he told Ben, "I was actually thinking about going back to school."

"School." Ben reiterated. "You mean college?"

"Well I don't mean kindergarten." Jamie retorted before he ducked another cuff upside the head. He then went on. "Sam's doing it now, so why not?"

"Sam's also competing part time." Ben pointed out. "So why can't you?"

Jamie set his glass down before he took a deep breath and answered, "The kids. Oasis. Even with you helping regularly like you do, I still couldn't pull off doing all three, so one of the three has to go. If I have to make a choice, it'd have to be wrestling. No way will I break away from Oasis, and the kids are the real reason why I want to go back to school."

"How do you mean?" Ben asked.

Jamie answered after picking his glass up and taking a drink, "Because I'm there so much now when I'm not booked, the kids have taken to coming to me with questions and for advice, or just generally when they want an adult to talk to. And you know something? It's made me realize just how out of touch I am when it comes to the problems that those kids today are facing. And how unqualified I am to act the part of a counsellor?"

Ben put two and two together and a smile crept on his face. "So you want to go to school so you can fix that."

"Yeah." Jamie nodded. "I never did make an attempt to go to college after I got out of school. I went to California and got straight into Can-Am and certain other films. This is my chance and a chance to do it right." Jamie raised his glass to Ben in a light hearted toast. "And hopefully a chance not to fuck those kids' minds up the way mine was." He proceeded to drain the remainder of his glass.

"Well to be honest mate." Ben starts while tapping his chin "You should do blinding at this thing. I thought about doing something like this when I was growing up, but it's tough to do right out of school. You can't tell somehow how to live their lives when ya haven't had a chance to live you own."

Ben pauses as he looks at Jamie.

"You've had great life experience." Ben starts "You've earned seriously decent respect just by doing what you do. You see those kids faces when you walk in to the room, it's hero worship. Wrestling might be a job at the end of the day, but these kids see Jamie Dean on television, fighting, kicking screaming, getting his arse kicked at time and they look at you with respect. Most of them probably want to be you so there's no reason why they won't listen to you. You've got the life experience now to guide them well. Without what you've done, they would still be homeless. Jamie Dean is their role model."

Ben mocks a fake shudder towards Jamie.

"Jamie Dean, role model." He says with a slow shake of the head. "Who would have thought it?"

"Ben Jordan, manager in SCW and not World Champion." Jamie quickly fires back "Who would have thought it?"

Ben smiles towards Jamie.

"The guy with two thumbs and pointing at himself." Ben replies, pointing two thumbs at himself. "I'm not ruling out a ring return at some point, but life has flipped itself on it's dome for me at the moment. I get used to Evie being around and she's buggered off, I'm considering a move back home, where I can get involved in making London better. Hell, you could be sitting here talking to the next major of London or something."

Ben grins widely at Jamie.

"Vote Jordan." He says with a smile "If I get involved in that stuff, it will be a lot tougher to get ready for matches and put the effort in, plus the six thousand mile flight might be a killer. Being a manager means I have something to offer to SCW still."

"Any clients yet?" Jamie asks Ben.

Ben shakes his head as he looks at Jamie.

"Nothing solid." Ben starts with "I honestly don't mind who I manage, face, heels, one of the million Inbetweeners on the roster. I don't care if it's one or twenty as long as I got something decent to offer them."

Jamie spoke, "But this match should be dealt with before either of us has anything to worry about as far as those things go. I mean, I'm not concerned. Seems as of late all those three yahoos are capable of is running their mouths or trying to out-do one another on Twitter. I swear, those three are about as bad as Trump when it comes to trying to draw attention to themselves with whatever they can think of to post on social media."

"That's cold." Ben smirked.

"But true." Jamie continued, signalling the bartender for another drink. "I'm just glad they finally decided who we'd be competing against. Dax and Mickey if I'm not mistaken."

Ben nodded.

Jamie went on, "Unless of course Mickey pusses out at the last minute like he did with me and Giani takes his place. Seems to be the only time you and I are ever truly in trouble is when our challengers work overtime as cheap shot artists. Remember when the Elders ended our first reign? How did they do it?"

"Using chairs against us, against me." Ben answered.

Jamie took his fresh drink in hand and said, "My point exactly, and then when the Bad Boys were declared our number one challengers, they did the exact same thing. And why? Because they knew the only chance they have at beating us at all for the gold is by trying to take us out, and the only way they can do that is by pulling this Freebirds Rule bullshit, or cheating during the match. Why Christian and Mark let them get away with this is beyond me."

Ben could only shake his head.

Jamie said, "So I figure all we need to do is keep our heads on straight, keep all eyes on them and make sure they simply don't have the chance to pull any of that out of their over stretched assholes."

Ben grimaced and shook his head. "Once again, you say something I can't get out of my head."

Jamie just chuckled as he took a sip of his drink, then looked around. "Did I just do my focus part of this promo?"

"That you did." Ben answered. "Why?"

"Because we forgot to do that... you know." Jamie mimicked snapping his fingers. "You know. 'The thing.'"

"We also forgot to look in the camera, talk to the people, all that malarkey." Ben adds

Ben turns his head to look towards the camera and shrugs sympathetically.

"Sorry people." He says regretfully. "But it would look proper stupid if he did his focus part looking at me, and then I turn to the camera and do the finger clicky thing. It would make us look as disjointed as an Unholy Alliance promo, so forgive me people if we do this a little differently."

Ben turns back to face Jamie, looking at him with a smile.

"Gotta agree with ya mate. This freebird rule is a bit dodgy, it gives them a bit of an advantage, but also makes them smart." Ben says with a shrugs.

"The Bad Boys?" Jamie says surprised "Smart?"

"Yeah." Ben says with a nod. "One of them go off form, they can switch them out, but it doesn't matter in this sense. We've done our homework. By the way, you should get used to homework if ya going back to school. I hear there's more homework now than when we was at school."

Jamie rolls his eyes at Ben's joke, but a smile soon follows.

"It doesn't matter to us which one of the three stooges get in the ring, because the freebird rule also puts them at a disadvantage." Ben states "Week after week, me and you team together, we know each others game, we know when the other is tired and it's time to switch out and go for a change. We know when the time is right, it's like a telepathic connection. These three, they ain't no well oiled machine when they keep chopping and changing. If you bring a new player in to a football team every week, things don't run as smoothly as they could if you kept the same starting team five games on the spin, and this is the way I see The Bad Boys."

Jamie looks at Ben with curiosity written all over his face.

"Think of it like this." Ben starts "One week, you team with me, we got the connection, we work like one of the best tag teams known to man, and the following week, you team with say, Kris Halc. Halc's got skills, but it's different. Then you go and team with Ryan Keys the following week, and regardless of a bit of talent, the gelling ain't there."

"I get what you're saying." Jamie says with a nod.

"This is what well shoot those guys in the foot." Ben claims "They won't exactly be as smooth as most. I'm even over the fact that I might be facing Mickey in that ring cause when it comes down to it, this is about defending the gold. I won't see Mickey as Mickey, I'll see Mickey as the bloke coming to take what's ours and I'll fight to defend that."

Ben nods towards Jamie firmly, reilliterating his determination.

"It's obvious by what we've spoke about that the next chapters in our lives are gonna start in the near future." Ben says "But until then, I will be working my bollocks off to keep the gold and push further on. We might have one match left in us, we might have twenty, but every match will see me give it my all to keep the belts. Nothing lasts forever but I won't lie mate, I'd be pretty gutted to lose to these three after my promise of a clean rivalry got stopped the second metal connected against my skull. Last week, Mickey already gave my team talk for me mentioning Emma, asking me who I'll be having to support me."

"Low blow." Jamie adds.

"Nah, Sod that." Ben says calmly "What happened with Emma, happened. Not everyone who comes in to ya life are there to stick around forever. Some turn up, teach ya a lesson than go. See, I never thought I'd say this, but Mickey is starting to look like one of these people now."

Jamie seems taken back by these comments, especially after Ben opened up last week, giving an insight in to what the story really was with Mickey.

"He can sit there and preach all he wants about me having to make up for things of the past." Ben starts "But Mickey held that secret from me for a long time, his biggest secret he's kept from me ever. He could have told me he liked men, but he never, so to me, the man has nothing to preach about anymore. You can't sit there and ask for something from someone and then hide your biggest secrets from him. That is not what mates do. Mates don't make ya feel these shocking bombshells, because mates tell you these things before they become bombshells."

Jamie nods his head in agreement with Ben.

"So part of me is really hoping Mickey is on the other side of the ring on Sunday." Ben says firmly "Cause I'll look at him the way he wants to look at me, as a let down, as a nobody, as a man who don't deserve to be in the ring against him. I don't care if he has the man who keeps baby oil companies in business with him, or the man who puts razor blade companies out of business with him. It's irrelevant, because the only thing that really matters is the results, and I can tell you the result now and that's we'll walk out with the SCW Tag Team Championships still with us."

Jamie nods his head, buying in to every word that Ben has said.

"Family ain't about blood, that's just being about a relative." Ben starts "Family is about being there, being non judgemental, accepting for who people are, so Mickey never see me as family, like I did with him, or he'd had told me everything years ago, so as far as I'm concerned, Mickey just went from the twin, to the drunk uncle that no one wants at the family reunion, but ya just gotta invite him, knowing he'll just embarrass himself."

"Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn!" Jamie says while pointing his fingers towards Ben.

"I kinda liked that one myself." Ben admits. "Either way, his words have pushed me to make sure that he and the other two don't get their grubby little mitts on our title belts at all. On Sunday, we'll put them in the rear view mirror once and for all."

Ben looks down at his watch.

"Are we done here?" Ben asks Jamie.

"Why?" Jamie asks "Got somewhere to be?"

"Actually, I do for a couple of hours." Ben says "But stick around down here for a bit, speak to people, keep ya nose out of a book, interact with everyone and I'll be back in a while, I just gotta go change, do something and I'll be back."

Jamie raises an eyebrow at Ben.

"But before I do." Ben says as he turns towards the camera "People, you've probably figured out that me and JD here are winding down our SCW careers, but we're gonna make you a promise. We will continue to fight on with our belts for as long as we can. We'll continue to put on a show for you every chance we get. Jamie here is gonna go do a lot of good in the world when all things are said and done, and this face will still be on your screen. Now me gramps always told me something that stuck with me through the years, even to this day. He used to say worry about today and let tomorrow take care of itself, tomorrows not promised to anyone. It's true, tomorrow isn't, so just in case this is the last time you see us two cut a promo together, me and JD would like to thank you all for the support, you've given us over the years. We want to thank you for making us who we are. Without you driving us on, we wouldn't be two time Tag Team Champions, we probably wouldn't even be wrestlers. The fans of any sport, make the sport, and you've made us, so thank you for everything."

Jamie smiles and nods, raising a nearby glass.

"Everything we've done in SCW have been for you" Ben continues "Everything. We hope that if our journey ends on Sunday, and we know The Bad Boys don't have what it takes to finish us off, but if it does, you guys know that you've played your part in making Team BJ as successful has we have been. After we get past The Bad Boys, it will be Jamie's turn to thank you in the next promo."

Ben winks down the camera and turns back to Jamie.

"Right son." Ben starts "I'll be back in a little while. Relax, put ya feet up."

Ben stands up and turns his head towards the camera and winks.

"Laters people." He says with a wink.

Ben moves away from the camera as the camera fades to black.

Where oh where could Ben be off to? I get the feeling he may be off for a cameo in someone else's promo. I think it could be some redheads promo, maybe someone in another title match? Maybe a Roulette title match. Now if you can't work out who I'm talking about, you need to sort yourself out!

Thanks for watching people, myself and Jamie Dean thank you!

[Dax Beckett]

 <img src=http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ronnie+Ortiz+Magro+i8t53_bSSM1m.jpg>

Fallout (Part 2)
#NP “The Boys” by Nicki Minaj
Locale: Grand Princess Cruise
Storyteller: Giani Di Luca

Bro….

That’s all I can say about all of this drama.  If I wanted this kinda drama, I woulda joined the Mean Girls.  I thought teamin’ wit’ dudes, it would all be parties, sluts, and just general good times.  Fawwwwwwk, was I wrong…

Look, I ain’t takin’ nothin’ away from Dax or Mickey.  Everyone says enough ‘bout them, sayin’ that they are only weighin’ me down.  They act like I’m the only one who deserves to be cocky in the Bad Boys.  I deserve to be cocky.  Got title reigns comin’ out my ass, and even though they wasn’t a bunch of them, ya better believe that each fawkin’ one counted.  Quality over quantity, and everyone knows better than to tawk shit on my accomplishments, cause I’ll back each and every one of them up.  Mickey got two title reigns under his belt, so people don’t say much about him, but Dax?  Gotta be honest here.  If Dax ever left the tag title scene, he would decimate any champion SCW got, minus J2H, cause that kid unstoppable.  But Dax could give him a run for his money.  Anyone who says that he ain’t memorable inside of the ring is a fawkin’ idiot who don’t pay a lick of attention to the screen when he’s on.  I ain’t seen someone that size fly around so flawlessly like that since Spike Staggs.  Yeah, I mentioned Dax and Spike Staggs in the same sentence.

Yeah, that was aimed right at you, Jamie Dean.  Fawk you, dawg.  Dax could run circles around ya any given day of the week.  So go ahead and make tweets about boring moves and small penises.  Project ya own insecurities somewhere else, cause the Bad Boys are above that shit.

But, like I was sayin’, the Bad Boys gone through some serious drama lately.  It ain’t all be parties and bitches.  When I entered this marriage, I thought it was about keepin’ Mickey in the country, and that we would each keep doin’ our thing.  Me and Veronica, Dax and Celeste, Mickey and Mercedes.  Then bombshell fell, and Dax came out to us after the wedding, when we was out on the yacht.  No runnin’ from that one.  Somehow, I guess he knew I was outta his league, so he started carryin’ a flame for Mickey.  Mickey was like “Bro, I’m straight.”  I’m like “Alright, it’s cool.  Dax got him a side piece, so problem solved.”  Wrong.  Mickey started gettin’ jealous of Dax’s side hustle and decided he was gonna cock block our boy until the guy left him alone.  I’m thinkin’ “It’s cool.  Mickey’s just possessive of his friends.  Weird, but alright.”  How did that turn out?  Oh, for only the second time in my entire life… I was wrong.  Mickey was crushin’ on his old boy, Ben Jordan.  For years, apparently.  He got turned down, and some people suspect it’s only cause me and Dax smashed his fawkin’ head in wit’a set uh steel chairs and Mickey just watched.  If Mickey woulda been a stand up guy, he and Ben probably woulda rode off back to London in the sunset, and I’d have Dax all to myself…

That’s called a joke.  Don’t look at me like that.  Of course, Dax took it all personally, and started bitchin’ on Twitter, and any time Mickey tried to return the favor to Dax, Dax acted like a girl and brushed it awf.  Goddamn, Dax… just break the ginger bastard awf a piece, yaknowhatimsayin’?

Don’t get me wrong.  Mickey and Dax could smoosh each other, they could smoosh other people.  They could smoosh the entire cruise ship, minus myself, and I wouldn’t give a shit.  The problem is that they just won’t do what everyone knows they should do, and that’s… smoosh!  Just get it ovuh wit’, guys.  We got tag titles to win.

In the meantime, I’m sittin’ poolside as Dax calls yet anotha’ truce.  Maybe they can get their heads outta their asses long enough for us to actually stand a chance.  I got this cougar eyeballin’ me from across the pool, and I gotta admit.  I’m interested.  Never done it with a mom before.  I flex my arms out as I make my pecs dance.  She’s enjoyin’ the show, but she ain’t tryin’ to be that obvious.  I lift my sunglasses up to my forehead as I wink at her.  The sun is shinin’ off of my Adonis lookin’ body, and for a second, I think to myself… “What about Veronica?”  Then I remember… What about Veronica?  Is she here?  Have ya seen her the entire time ya been on the ship?  She’s probably more worried about puttin’ on ten layers of sunscreen before comin’ out in the sun, so that she looks fit as fuck for when she gets pinned by Devona in a few days.

I see somethin’ I want… just like I wanted to run the best Freebird style tag team SCW ever saw.  Just like I wanted the SCW Tag Team Championships twice.  Just like the SCW Roulette Championship.  Just like Veronica Taylor, once upon a time.  And even more valuable than her, just like I saw the SCW World Heavyweight Championship.  I saw these things, and I took ‘em cause I wanted ‘em.  This time is no different.  I stand up from my beach chair as she bites her bottom lip.  I go to walk towards her when Dax comes runnin’ up to me.  He practically smashes into me as he taps my shoulder like he was a five year old tryin’ to get his mom’s attention.

Dax:  Gi, Gi, Gi, Gi, Gi…

I try to ignore him as I look back over at the cougar, 9 o’clock.  She opens her legs like she’s invitin’ me in.  Poor fawkin’ timin’, Dax.  He keeps tappin’ my shoulder like I don’t see him standin’ there.

Dax:  Bruh!  Hey, Gi!

Me:  WHAT?!

Dax:  Are you seeing this shit on Twitter?

I look at him to ask him if he’s serious.  I raise my eyebrows as I motion with my eyes toward the cougar.  He doesn’t follow my eyes, so I pinch the bridge of my nose and look him dead in the eye.

Me:  Naw, bro.  In case ya haven’t noticed, I don’t get on Twitter a lot.  That’s more ya bag, dawg.  You and Mickey.

Dax:  Exactly!  Mickey is on there being fucking weird, and I don’t even get what game he’s trying to play.  He’s talking like the Ben Jordan shit never happened.

I stare at him like he’s got two freakin’ heads, cause this kid is tawkin’ nonsense.  It’s pure craziness.  I shake my head as I look back over at the cougar, who has turned over on her back, kicking her legs up and down slowly as she looks back to make sure I’m still watching.

Me:  You do realize that he got knocked out by ya pops, and he’s been tryin’ to make nice with ya cause he obviously feels bad.  Plus, this match we got comin’ up is big, and this shit is a distraction we don’t be needin’ right now.

Dax:  So I’m supposed to just pretend that he didn’t make me think he was straight as an arrow, only to then drop the bombshell that he was in love with his best friend who you and me just smacked over the head with a mad chair shot?  Oh, and then when he realizes he upset me, he just tries to pretend that none of it happened, and then tries to score the hook up?  Fuck that…

He continues rambling on, and I understand his side of the story.  I really do.  He’s got a point, but… momma over there is basically rubbing it all up in my face, and I’m probably a shitty friend, but I can’t ignore that.  I mean, I wanna be nursin’ on her like a newborn.  I bite at my bottom lip as she rubs a little more tanning oil on her lower back, sliding gently down past her bikini line.

Dax:  Are you even listening?  Do you even care?  Look, like I told him, I can be his friend, and I can win the tag titles, but I can’t deal with this shit.  My heart is not a fucking yo-yo that he can just play with when he’s got nothing going on.  That’s fucked up.

Me:  Look, kid… I see ya point.  I get where ya comin’ from.  I do.  But, this is a really bad time, and ya not gonna listen to anythin’ I got to say anyway, s…

Dax:  Well, then let’s hope for all of our sakes, that I lose the contest to decide who winds up going for the tag titles, because I’m not gonna be the one who gets blamed for causing dysfunction in our match, and I sure as shit won’t be blamed for losing.

I groan as I look back toward the cougar, who is now sitting up in her chair, shrugging her shoulders at me with her arms held out at her side.  I start to walk toward her slowly as Dax follows me.

Dax:  Oh, I gotcha.  You know what, go do you and I’ll find someone else to go talk to.

Me:  Oh… Hahahaha… Ya a funny guy, Dax.  In case ya didn’t notice, ya got me and Mickey.  Not to be a douchebag, but ya do realize that less people like ya than they do Mickey, and Mickey’s pretty short on friends right about now.

Dax:  Fuck you!

Me:  Yeah?  Well fawk you too, bro.  Take ya drama and shove it up ya ass.  I gotta say, I’m about sick and tired of this shit, and I ain’t even in it.  Well, until ya drag me into it.

Dax looks over and sees the cougar staring at me, and he turns white as a ghost.  He tucks his head, as if he was intimidated by her, and then he shouts in my face, very awkwardly at that…

Dax:  I love you, husband!  Very, very much!  I must go prepare myself for our love making…

Dax then rushes off like he’s scared of somethin’.  I didn’t get it right away, because I think he’s just tryin’ to cock block me, and I cuss him out as he takes off down the deck, and I turn around to see the cougar hasn’t run off yet, and she’s lookin’ at me even harder than she was before.  I crack my charmin’ smile as I start to walk over toward her, when another hand taps on my shoulder.  I turn around to see Mickey standin’ there.

Me:  Motherfucker…

Mickey:  Gi, we gotta talk about Dax.

Me:  NO!  I’m tryin’ to get laid, bro.  L-A-I-D!  Cougar at nine o’clock.

Mickey looks over his shoulder, right at her as if he ain’t got no shame.  I sigh as he nods his head.

Mickey:  Top notch bird there.  I think yer muscles ‘ave got ‘er hooked, bruv.  This is kind of important, and we need to talk about it.

Me:  No… we don’t.  You and Dax need to tawk about it, cause it’s ya problem.  Even if I wasn’t tryin’ to bag this DTF motha’, I still wouldn’t wanna hear about this shit.  I support ya.  I’ll buy a GSA t-shirt and march in parades with ya.  But I’m so sick of him bitchin’ that ya so far in the closet that ya findin’ Christmas presents.

Mickey:  I’m not in the closet.  I think I made it loud and clear when I…

Me:  Oh, I thought it was that ya was playin’ *air quotes* mind games wit’ Ben.  No… ya right.  No one bought that sack of shit you was sellin’.  But again, I don’t care.  Go catch up wit’ Dax and do all kinds’a butt stuff.  Bang out the beef ya got.  Kiss and make up.  Just get on the same fawkin’ page, dawg.  Let ya balls drop and be… you…

Mickey almost seems offended by it for a second.  I shake my head as I turn to walk away from him, and this entire situation.  That’s when I notice that the cougar left the seat she was in, and she’s nowhere to be found.  I clinch my fists together and growl as Mickey’s attitude seems to change.  He nods his head as he starts to walk away.

Mickey:  For a stupid fuckin’ Itie, ye actually bring up a good point.  Me ‘ard ‘eaded pride needs to be set aside so that I can chase what I think could make me ‘appy.  Thanks mate…

Mickey takes off as I begin scanning the crowd for a good replacement, since I got all worked up.  I don’t see anyone who catches my interest, but I do see a piece of paper sittin’ on her beach chair.  I walk over to it and pick it up, and instantly, it smells like top shelf champagne and roses.  I unfold it and it reads “508 - 10 minutes, or I start without you XXX Mom”

Me:  Now that’s what I’m tawkin’ ‘bout!

I take off for the 500 lodges, tough part of me wants to see her start without me, so I try not to geek too hard.  What happens next ain’t for ya eyes, so fawk off, kid…



**********************************************************************************



<img src=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zn8R2Ls7mLI/maxresdefault.jpg>

Linner?  Dunch? Promo!
#NP “Praying” by Kesha
Locale: Grand Princess Cruise Ship
Storyteller: Dax Beckett


Persistence is key.  I bugged Alexis Staggs to the point that she had to give me the time of day.  Of course, she’s being a grumpy bitch as she walks up to the table without so much as a single word, before she pulls her chair out and plops down into it as she drops her purse on the table.  She just stares at me as I smile and stare back at her with some kind of hope on my face.  I have a cigarette between my lips, and then I think about it for a second.  I blow the smoke over my shoulder, and then flick the cigarette out into the water.  She laughs, but it’s not the kind of laugh that says “You are charmingly funny, Dax.”  Nope, not at all.  She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

Me:  Sorry, wasn’t thinking about the little Staggy on board.

Alexis:  Fuck you.

Me:  Whoa-ho-hoooo there.  Honest mistake.

Alexis:  No, that wasn’t even because of the cigarette, Dax.  That’s because you’re a disgusting bastard, and I loathe you with every ounce of my being.  I’ve never, ever liked you, since the day we met.

I stare at her, kind of hurt to hear it, even though I pretty much knew it all along.  However, she doesn’t expect me to do what I do next.  I reach under the table, and I pull out a black jacket.  I spread it out on the table, revealing the faded red #Nobodies lettering as I slowly slide it across the table.  She groans in disgust as she narrows her eyes at me.

Me:  Look, you know I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t important to me.  I need to cash in that favor I was promised when The Nobodies broke up and I wound up flat on my ass.

Alexis:  What the hell do I look like  The fucking Godfather of the Nobodies?  Get lost with this shit.  That’s Tim’s deal with you, not mine.

Me:  Now, now… hear me out.  I’m not asking for money like a lot of the other losers did.  I’m not asking for anything selfish, I promise.  I know I earned my reputation of being an asshole, and I own that shit.  But, I got one little soft spot left, and it would mean a lot to her if you would just talk to her.

Alexis stares at me, a mixture of surprise and frustration.  The waiter brings us each a glass of ice water, and she takes hers right from his hand and takes a sip.  She shakes her head and sucks at her teeth as she tries to put words to it all.

Alexis:  I… gotta say.  I wasn’t expecting that.  At all.  Kudos, asshole.

Me:  So, will you do it?  I understand that she won’t talk to me anymore, but she’s had one foot out the fucking door here, and she is way more alone than ever.

Alexis:  Yeah?  Well, that’s her fault for joining up those bimbo airheads.

Me:  No she fucking doesn’t!  That’s like saying since you flirt with Kris Halich every goddamn day, that you deserve to get lynched by the Nobodies that got fucked when he decided to run away because he was sad?  Look, I know how you are, because we’re a lot alike.

Alexis slaps the top of the table as she looks like she wants to strangle me to death as she leans a little over the table.

Alexis:  We are nothing alike.

Me:  Fuck yeah we are.  Even if we won’t ever admit it in front of people.  We’re two peas in a fucking pod, and you know it.  It’s why we never got along.  But, listen.  Celeste doesn’t deserve alienation, and deep down, you know it.  If you have any sense of honor or respect, you’ll talk to her.

Alexis:  Whatever.  Look, is that all you wanted to ask?  I’d like to go ahead and take off, because… this fucking sucks.  I mean, being around you.

I wink at her and click my teeth as I shake my head.

Me:  If that was it, then I wouldn’t have bothered having to spend time with you.  I would have just DM’ed you or something.  No, see…

I look over to the left as I hear someone fumbling with a camera.  I close my eyes as I watch the SCW cameraman approach the table.  I look down at my phone to see that they are a good twenty minutes early, and I groan.  The waiter brings Lexi and me the Vegan special, which is apparently just hummus and an arugula salad with vinaigrette dressing.  Not even a tofu patty.  Lexi looks at it and lifts up the leaves as she studies it with a disgusted look on her face.

Cameraman:  Hey, Mr. Beckett.  I’m here for your quick thoughts on your match this Sunday at…

Me:  You’re fucking early, Ted!  I was just having a conversation with Lexi here, and you rudely interrupted our lunch!

Ted:  Well, I could wait over here until you guys are done.

I look right at the camera in his hand and I pinch the bridge of my nose as I make sure to let him hear me scoff at him.  I look over to Lexi, and neither one of us wants to be stuck with one another for any longer than we have to.

Me:  No… let’s get this shit over with.  I don’t need you eavesdropping on our conversation.  It’s “sensitive”.  Look, you and me got a conversation of our own to have, right?  Big title match coming up in just a few short days.  Lots of shit to talk.

Alexis:  Do I really need to be here for this?  I think I’m going to be sick.

Me:  Oh, is it the baby?  The food?

Alexis shakes her head as she looks directly at me for some reason.  I can’t figure out why, though.  Oh well, I turn to Ted, and give him the thumbs up as he sets up the tripod

Me:  This shouldn’t take long, and we have plenty more to discuss.  Just sit tight…

Alexis folds her arms across her chest, but she surprises me by not getting up and leaving.  Once I realize she’s staying put, I turn back toward the camera to see Ted finishing the set up.  He turns the camera on, and then gives me a silent countdown with his fingers.  5, 4, 3, 2…

Me:  Good evening, Sin City Wrestling fans.  One of your favorite Bad Boys of all time here…  Dax Beckett?  Don’t act so surprised.  My social media views have doubled in the last two weeks.  I’m up to eight!  Hashtag new heights, bruh!  No seriously, I’m excited.  Ever since me and Giani smacked Ben Jordan over the head with a double chair shot, people have been running their mouths about us.  Subtweet much?  The hate is real, but I can’t help being so extra.  That’s like asking a wolf to not howl at the moon  That’s like asking a fish to breathe under water.

Alexis:  Fish do breathe under water, dumbass…

Dax:  I wasn’t talking to you, Bill Nye the Science Guy!  I mean, thanks for the tip.  But yeah, people are responding.  Maybe not in the best of ways, but they are responding.  Most people are trying to tear me down, saying that I lose a lot.  And when I bring up the fact that I only ever lost once, against someone who went on to become the World Heavyweight Champion.  Fluke or not, he still won it.  It’s not like I lose regularly, like some of these ass hats who run around here talking big.  I’m the superior breed in Sin City Wrestling.  I’m the new standard, even if people like Jamie Dean want to call me “not memorable”.  They say my style is boring, but bitch I hit them highspots like a pro, and there is no denying that!  Just because you will never, ever be as good as me, don’t mean that you can take it upon yourselves to tear me down, like I’m just supposed to sit there and take it.  Like I told Jamie on Twitter, if being memorable means cutting your move set in half, and dry humping your opponents for a cheap pop, then I don’t want to be memorable.  I’ll just settle for being great.

Alexis:  That’s a laugh.

Me:  I WAS TALKING TO THE OTHER ALEXIS!!!

Alexis stops and stares at me, almost as if she wants to laugh of my sudden outburst.  I wink at her and she tries her best to hide her amusement.  I look back to the camera, straightening out my oversized dress jacket I’m wearing.

Me:  Look… this all comes down to a matter of who wants it most.  Jamie Dean and Ben Jordan like being champions.  Clearly they are fond of the belts, or else they wouldn’t have won a Battle Royal to get them around their waists.  But, that’s only because Bad Boys weren’t allowed in the match.  If we had been allowed, then you better believe that these thirsty fucking dogs would have cleaned house in a hurry.  We would have been the last men standing in that ring, and those belts would have made it to our waists sooner.  But, we settled for this road, because it’s better than getting shoved to the back of the line like some talents around here.

Alexis:  Burn?

Me:  Fucking… burn!  But seriously, we were being pushed back further and further, until we did what we had to do, and we ran out to take the trash out before Blaze of Glory.  We then went out and stomped out the former champions, and there was no denying that we had heart.  We won the right to face the champs, but we had to give something extra so that people would want to see more.  We had to make them want this match, right here on this ship on Sunday.  We had to make people pay attention.  So, we went out and slopped up the BJ…

Alexis pinches the bridge of her nose as she looks away from me and the camera, and I’m not sure, but she might have been embarrassed to be seen with me right now.

Alexis:  Yeah, I am…

How did she read my mind?  Jedi mind trick shit there.

Me:  We gave the messiest BJ displayed inside of the ring, and we paid extra attention to Ben’s head, while Mickey took the beating up and down Jamie.

Alexis:  Okay, that seems done on purpose.

Me:  We Team BJ’ed Team BJ, and it was so glorious that Ben Jordan couldn’t show up at a show for three fuckin’ weeks, and Jamie was too embarrassed by it all that he only showed up because he was booked.  Meanwhile, we showed up each and every week, ready to do work, son.  We won a match somewhere in there, over Jamie Dean no less.  Look, the truth is that we’ve destroyed Ben and Jamie at every turn.  We can’t seem to run into them without knocking one of them the fuck out.  So why does anyone think that it’s going to go any differently this match?  Do you think that if you cheer on your heroes long enough, they’ll suddenly find a fucking clue, and wrestle coherently against us?  Yeah, good luck.  Between the two of them, they would be lucky to win a handicap match against one of us.  The truth fucking hurts, but guess what?  It’s still the fucking truth.  That doesn’t change because you want to believe that the Bad Boys are a one hit wonder, because guess what?  We just keep on hitting, and giving it balls deep to the competition.

I give a few good gyrating pumps to emphasize my point, giving my best “Fuck yeah” face as I do so.  I lean forward in my chair, taking a sip from the glass of water before I stop pumping my crotch at the camera.

Me:  So, go ahead and read your insults from bomb pop sticks, bruh.  Go ahead and try to patronize me, Mickey, and Gi on social media, because we handle ours inside of the ring.  Talk a little trash on Twitter, then show up to kick some fuckin’ ass at the shows, just to prove that our bite is as bad, if not worse, than our bite.  Now that I’ve addressed the first problem with Jamie… being that he sucks and is a one note wrestler… let’s move along to Ben.  Oh, Ben.  We all know that you’re Saint Benjamin.  I’ve already talked about how untrue that actually is, when we faced in the Blast From the Past tournament, when Amy Marshall got us knocked out of the tournament when I clearly had your number.  Let me just go over the highlights.

I begin tapping a finger against the palm of my hand as I fire each one off.

Me:  You’re selfish, letting your own best friend down, each and every time he took a bullet for you.  You embarrassed him on televised SCW programming on a few occasions.  You blew off your redheaded friend, and barely skated by to the finals of the tournament because your head was up in the clouds, thanks to all of your adoring friends inflating your fucking ego.  The only reason you made it past me then is because of Amy.  You are self absorbed.  You are a shitty person who has to play the victim, and then hide away to see how long it takes for people to chase you down to kiss your ass.  Then, in the case of Mickey, once he caught up, and had his lips puckered, you went and kicked him in the face… or the heart… or the face heart!  All good, because he’s over you.  He’s actually hoping that he gets to enter the match so that he can kick your fucking face in.  And I’m half tempted to throw the qualifying contest just to make sure that he has the opportunity to do that.

I laugh as I lean back in my chair.  I give it a second before I continue.

Me:  You’re an awful person, Ben.  If I’m smart enough to see that, just wait until people who are actually smart begin to see it.  Maybe, once you don’t have a use for Jamie Dean any longer, then you will show your true colors.  It will be much easier to see your yellow belly without the tag title around your waist.  Bad Boys will be more than happy to go ahead and take it off of your hands, so that you can finally live as the person that you truly are.  A cunting coward who leeches off of other people.  You heard it here first, peeps!  Live on the Armed Forces Network and scwrestling.net, you get to see Ben Jordan fall.  The almighty Ben Jordan.  To his knees… well, that was already seen a few weeks back.  But, it’ll be great to see it again.

The tape is running out, so I have to cut it short.  In true Bad Boys fashion, I flip the camera off as Ted begins checking on the glitch.  I lean over and start talking to Alexis, away from earshot.