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#31
Events On Demand / BELANE vs KENNEDY
Last post by Mike - May 05, 2017, 03:17:36 PM[div class="ppv"]
Kennedy throws shadow punches before the bell, posing and trying to taunt but Belane is having none of it. He ducks under the first volley, lands a kick to the side of Kennedy's knee and then catches him square in the face. Kennedy staggers, the knee buckling as he goes down. Belane hammerfists until the officials intervene, pulling him off because Kennedy is out.
BELANE WINS via KNOCKOUT at 00:31. NEW UNLEASHED RECORD for FASTEST FINISHED.
[/div]
Kennedy throws shadow punches before the bell, posing and trying to taunt but Belane is having none of it. He ducks under the first volley, lands a kick to the side of Kennedy's knee and then catches him square in the face. Kennedy staggers, the knee buckling as he goes down. Belane hammerfists until the officials intervene, pulling him off because Kennedy is out.
BELANE WINS via KNOCKOUT at 00:31. NEW UNLEASHED RECORD for FASTEST FINISHED.
[/div]
#32
Events On Demand / DUNN vs RAAB
Last post by Mike - May 05, 2017, 03:17:19 PM[div class="ppv"]
Dunn kicks off the fight – literally – with a kick to the leg but Raab spins clear of any real damage. Raab misses on a spinning high kick. Dunn continues kicking the legs as she stays on Raab, not giving her a chance to regroup. Raab fires off another spinning high kick and connects. Dunn whiffs a strike and Raab counters with a right over another leg kick, dropping bombs now. She lands a couple solid kicks to the body, grabs a clinch and lands a few big knees. Dunn is obviously hurt, trying to cover up. Raab unleashes a flurry of punches that ends the fight.
RAAB WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:21.
[/div]
Dunn kicks off the fight – literally – with a kick to the leg but Raab spins clear of any real damage. Raab misses on a spinning high kick. Dunn continues kicking the legs as she stays on Raab, not giving her a chance to regroup. Raab fires off another spinning high kick and connects. Dunn whiffs a strike and Raab counters with a right over another leg kick, dropping bombs now. She lands a couple solid kicks to the body, grabs a clinch and lands a few big knees. Dunn is obviously hurt, trying to cover up. Raab unleashes a flurry of punches that ends the fight.
RAAB WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:21.
[/div]
#33
Events On Demand / UNLEASHED: Spiral vs Chambers ...
Last post by Mike - May 05, 2017, 03:16:53 PM[div class="ppv"]
FADE TO:
BLACK. Operatic music begins to play.
FADE IN:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
CLOSE ON: Lara Chambers, black and white, looks into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I always trained with people heavier, taller or more experienced. Traveling the world has given me the luxury to adapt many styles. The basic idea is this, no matter the odds, everyone has a weak spot. Oh yes and kneecaps break easy, no matter your size.[/div]
CUT TO:
Spiral lifts his head, his eyes focused and staring from under his brow.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]SPIRAL[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Lara Chambers took advantage of an injury. She deserves all the credit for that. I would have done the same thing. But tonight, there will be no injury. I am coming into this fight at 100%.[/div]
CUT TO:
Lara is shadow boxing in an empty cage in an empty arena. Each punch is thrown in slow-motion.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I always trained with people heavier, taller or more experienced. Traveling the world has given me the luxury to adapt many styles. The basic idea is this, no matter the odds, everyone has a weak spot. Oh yes and kneecaps break easy, no matter your size.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
Lara looks forward with a half-smirk.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Spiral is dangerous. How I know? Because I seen the look in his eyes before he fainted. But I also proven my previous point. He ain't indestructible. Size, muscles and insanity aside.[/div]
CUT TO:
Focus on Spiral, standing in spotlight, with his hands on his hips.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]SPIRAL (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Victory for me is making all those Lara Chambers fans squirm. Every time I put my hands on her, every time my fist meets her face, I want them to get sick to their stomachs. I want them to wretch. I want them to vomit. Getting that belt is just the cherry on top.[/div]
CUT TO:
Highlights from UNLEASHED 1 roll over Beastie Boys' Sabotage.
CUT TO:
EXT: SAINT PETERSBURG SKYLINE. NIGHT.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is UNLEASHED! Spiral vs Chambers 2! Coming to you LIVE from Saint Petersburg, Russia, available around the world and making its debut on the Battleground Network.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT: CAGESIDE
CLOSE ON: John Cardona and Freddie Larsson stand with the cage behind them.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]One month ago, eight fighters competed in a grand prix tournament to crown the first UNLEASHED championship. When the night was done, when the blood, sweat, and tears had been spent, Lara Chambers emerged the victor and now reigns as Queen of the Cage. But before she was handed that belt, she had to get past her challenger tonight, Spiral.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it won't be easy because she is facing a bigger, stronger opponent who is motivated by more than just being called champion. He feels slighted because of the eye injury that clearly had an affect on his performance.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]The injury he suffered earlier in the tournament when Jackson accidently poked him in the eye.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It didn't look accidental from my seat. There is no doubt his impaired vision gave Chambers an advantage. Tonight, both fighters are coming in healthy and ready, and we will find out who is the better fighter.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card is our co-main event. Jackson steps into the cage with Ethan Thompson.
[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Here is a matchup that could prove very interesting. Both men have their eyes on that top spot in the rankings with possible title shots in the future, and both had very strong showings in the grand prix.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Jackson's path to the championship ended in a submission against Spiral. EMT suffered a knockout at the hands of the eventual winner and current champion, Lara Chambers.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I doubt we'll see a lot of ground battles with them. I expect them to slug it out.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card, Jove Belane makes his anticipated debut against Bugs Kennedy, and completely unknown Anton "the Blackbird" Voron will take on Ed Terryn. But first, Fizz Raab will try to bounce back from her first round grand prix loss when she steps into the cage against Jennifer Dunn.[/div]
[/div]
FADE TO:
BLACK. Operatic music begins to play.
FADE IN:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
CLOSE ON: Lara Chambers, black and white, looks into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I always trained with people heavier, taller or more experienced. Traveling the world has given me the luxury to adapt many styles. The basic idea is this, no matter the odds, everyone has a weak spot. Oh yes and kneecaps break easy, no matter your size.[/div]
CUT TO:
Spiral lifts his head, his eyes focused and staring from under his brow.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]SPIRAL[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Lara Chambers took advantage of an injury. She deserves all the credit for that. I would have done the same thing. But tonight, there will be no injury. I am coming into this fight at 100%.[/div]
CUT TO:
Lara is shadow boxing in an empty cage in an empty arena. Each punch is thrown in slow-motion.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I always trained with people heavier, taller or more experienced. Traveling the world has given me the luxury to adapt many styles. The basic idea is this, no matter the odds, everyone has a weak spot. Oh yes and kneecaps break easy, no matter your size.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
Lara looks forward with a half-smirk.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CHAMBERS (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Spiral is dangerous. How I know? Because I seen the look in his eyes before he fainted. But I also proven my previous point. He ain't indestructible. Size, muscles and insanity aside.[/div]
CUT TO:
Focus on Spiral, standing in spotlight, with his hands on his hips.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]SPIRAL (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Victory for me is making all those Lara Chambers fans squirm. Every time I put my hands on her, every time my fist meets her face, I want them to get sick to their stomachs. I want them to wretch. I want them to vomit. Getting that belt is just the cherry on top.[/div]
CUT TO:
Highlights from UNLEASHED 1 roll over Beastie Boys' Sabotage.
CUT TO:
EXT: SAINT PETERSBURG SKYLINE. NIGHT.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is UNLEASHED! Spiral vs Chambers 2! Coming to you LIVE from Saint Petersburg, Russia, available around the world and making its debut on the Battleground Network.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT: CAGESIDE
CLOSE ON: John Cardona and Freddie Larsson stand with the cage behind them.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]One month ago, eight fighters competed in a grand prix tournament to crown the first UNLEASHED championship. When the night was done, when the blood, sweat, and tears had been spent, Lara Chambers emerged the victor and now reigns as Queen of the Cage. But before she was handed that belt, she had to get past her challenger tonight, Spiral.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it won't be easy because she is facing a bigger, stronger opponent who is motivated by more than just being called champion. He feels slighted because of the eye injury that clearly had an affect on his performance.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]The injury he suffered earlier in the tournament when Jackson accidently poked him in the eye.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It didn't look accidental from my seat. There is no doubt his impaired vision gave Chambers an advantage. Tonight, both fighters are coming in healthy and ready, and we will find out who is the better fighter.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card is our co-main event. Jackson steps into the cage with Ethan Thompson.
[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Here is a matchup that could prove very interesting. Both men have their eyes on that top spot in the rankings with possible title shots in the future, and both had very strong showings in the grand prix.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Jackson's path to the championship ended in a submission against Spiral. EMT suffered a knockout at the hands of the eventual winner and current champion, Lara Chambers.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I doubt we'll see a lot of ground battles with them. I expect them to slug it out.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card, Jove Belane makes his anticipated debut against Bugs Kennedy, and completely unknown Anton "the Blackbird" Voron will take on Ed Terryn. But first, Fizz Raab will try to bounce back from her first round grand prix loss when she steps into the cage against Jennifer Dunn.[/div]
[/div]
#34
Application Archive / Erica Alvarez
Last post by Ms Murder - May 03, 2017, 07:06:29 PMSKILL BREAKDOWN
40% Striking
20%Takedowns
40% Submissions
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
Erica Alvarez
NICKNAMES
"Miss Murder"
TWITTER
@missmurderfc
PICTURE BASE
Kat Von D
HEIGHT
5'3"
WEIGHT
115 lbs
REACH
62 inches
DATE OF BIRTH
16/11/1989
PLACE OF BIRTH
Columbus, Ohio, USA
FIGHTING OUT OF
Trabiju, São Paulo, Brazil
FIGHT TEAM
Black River Fight Co.
SPONSORS
Red Arme Clothing
Geneva Muscle
ENTRANCE THEME
Cryin' Like A Bitch by Godsmack
PORTRAYED BY
Dan
STYLE SUMMERY
"This woman is a mixed martial artist"
STRIKING BASE
Muai Thai
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Flying Knee
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Triangle Choke
STRENGTHS
Killer Instinct
Always moves forward
Great Conditioning
WEAKNESSES
Lack of upper body strength
Poor takedowns
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Black Belt in Muai Thai
Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
PRIMARY STYLE
Due to a poor takedown ability, Erica will usually look to keep the fight standing. Although, of the fight reaches the ground, she is more than capable there. If everything goes her way though, she will look to keep her opponent distant from her to set up a flying Knee Strike.
TENDENCIES
Laser focused. Her eyes do not leave those of her opponent until the fight is over. She will use Muai Thai knowledge to keep her opponent at bay. If she is unable to land her patented knee strikes, she will look to set up her Triangle or any number of armbar submissions. Her killer instinct and willingness to finish the fight is what's earned her the nickname of "Miss Murder".
APPEARANCE
A slender but athletic body and long black hair(tied back in the cage), and a plethora of tattoos ranging all over her body.
CAGE GEAR
Black/camo sports bra top with the Red Arme logo, and tight shorts reaching halfway to the knee, which are camo/red in color.
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
As "Cryin' Like A Bitch" blasts through the PA system, Erica Alvarez walks through the tunnel flanked by her trainers and corner members. As she stops ringside she is checked over before belting out a warcry and ascending the steps into the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
In Erica Alvarez's short time on this earth she has seen the absolute worst of the human condition. She fell in love with the wrong boy in high school and ended up with a dangerous addiction to opiates that lasted several years. It was only after an accidental overdose of her best friend that she came to terms with how destructive her life had become. To this day she does not shy away from that time in her life as she fully believes it made her who she is today.
After her epiphany, came a long rehab and after picking up the pieces of her life, she found her true passion: MMA. The rest is history.
40% Striking
20%Takedowns
40% Submissions
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
Erica Alvarez
NICKNAMES
"Miss Murder"
@missmurderfc
PICTURE BASE
Kat Von D
HEIGHT
5'3"
WEIGHT
115 lbs
REACH
62 inches
DATE OF BIRTH
16/11/1989
PLACE OF BIRTH
Columbus, Ohio, USA
FIGHTING OUT OF
Trabiju, São Paulo, Brazil
FIGHT TEAM
Black River Fight Co.
SPONSORS
Red Arme Clothing
Geneva Muscle
ENTRANCE THEME
Cryin' Like A Bitch by Godsmack
PORTRAYED BY
Dan
STYLE SUMMERY
"This woman is a mixed martial artist"
STRIKING BASE
Muai Thai
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Flying Knee
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Triangle Choke
STRENGTHS
Killer Instinct
Always moves forward
Great Conditioning
WEAKNESSES
Lack of upper body strength
Poor takedowns
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Black Belt in Muai Thai
Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
PRIMARY STYLE
Due to a poor takedown ability, Erica will usually look to keep the fight standing. Although, of the fight reaches the ground, she is more than capable there. If everything goes her way though, she will look to keep her opponent distant from her to set up a flying Knee Strike.
TENDENCIES
Laser focused. Her eyes do not leave those of her opponent until the fight is over. She will use Muai Thai knowledge to keep her opponent at bay. If she is unable to land her patented knee strikes, she will look to set up her Triangle or any number of armbar submissions. Her killer instinct and willingness to finish the fight is what's earned her the nickname of "Miss Murder".
APPEARANCE
A slender but athletic body and long black hair(tied back in the cage), and a plethora of tattoos ranging all over her body.
CAGE GEAR
Black/camo sports bra top with the Red Arme logo, and tight shorts reaching halfway to the knee, which are camo/red in color.
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
As "Cryin' Like A Bitch" blasts through the PA system, Erica Alvarez walks through the tunnel flanked by her trainers and corner members. As she stops ringside she is checked over before belting out a warcry and ascending the steps into the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
In Erica Alvarez's short time on this earth she has seen the absolute worst of the human condition. She fell in love with the wrong boy in high school and ended up with a dangerous addiction to opiates that lasted several years. It was only after an accidental overdose of her best friend that she came to terms with how destructive her life had become. To this day she does not shy away from that time in her life as she fully believes it made her who she is today.
After her epiphany, came a long rehab and after picking up the pieces of her life, she found her true passion: MMA. The rest is history.
#35
Application Archive / Zag Winston
Last post by Zag Winston - May 03, 2017, 02:25:19 PMSKILL BREAKDOWN
50% Striking
20% Takedowns
30% Submissions
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
What's his/her name?
Real Name: Louis Zagan Winston
Billed Name: Zag Winston
NICKNAMES
Zig-Zag
TWITTER
@lohman_law
PICTURE BASE
Justin Theroux
HEIGHT
6'3"
WEIGHT
205lbs
REACH
80"
DATE OF BIRTH
April 25th 1985
PLACE OF BIRTH
Philadelphia, PA
FIGHTING OUT OF
Philadelphia, PA
FIGHT TEAM
NB Fight Team
SPONSORS
None
ENTRANCE THEME
"Bad Boy Boogie" by AC/DC
PORTRAYED BY
Andrew
STYLE SUMMERY
"This man is a Mixed Martial Artist"
STRIKING BASE
Western Boxing
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Right Cross
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Triangle Choke
STRENGTHS
Movement
Guard
Patience
WEAKNESSES
Sometimes burns himself out while looking for a tap out
Swings wildly sometimes, looking for a knock out
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion
BJJ Black Belt
PRIMARY STYLE
Zag will try to win the match on his feet, typically using combinations to the body to slow his opponents and then he'll go to the head for a knock out. If the opponent proves to be a better boxer, then Zag will use his knowledge of BJJ to bring the opponent to the mat and attempt to either gain a knock out from elbows and hammerfists, or a submission.
TENDENCIES
Zag is a very focused fighter and does not tend towards taunting or flash. If his opponent his open, he will typically follow his right cross with a left hook, looking for a knockout.
APPEARANCE
Zag doesn't always shave, often has stubble. Sometimes dark circles under his eyes due to lack of sleep. He typically wears black, like he's Johnny Cash. He has a favorite black leather jacket, typically you'll find him in jeans, t-shrits, and hoodies.
CAGE GEAR
Under Armour Compression Shorts, MMA gloves, and taped ankles.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Zag's focus is scary at times. He doesn't respond to the noise of the fans. It's as if the only other person he's aware of is his opponent.
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
"Bad Boy Boogie" by AC/DC hits as Zag Winston steps out from behind the curtains. Behind him is his trainer, Sebastian, and flanking Sebastian is Harvey Lohman. Zag's eyes are already on the ring as he makes his way through the mass of fans screaming and hollering. When the group of men make it to the ring, Zag dispenses of his hoodie and allows the referees and medical staff check him as he prepares to enter the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
Louis was born, the third of four children. His parents were loving and his household was stable. Louis showed interest in combat sports at a young age and spent his youth preparing for a life in Professional Boxing. He was a very solid amateur boxer.
He married his highschool sweetheart his first year into University. They had a child very shortly after their first year anniversary.
Things changed for Louis, which will be explained. Ultimately it lead him to a meeting with Harvey Lohman. He took his childhood nickname "Zag" for his first name and he now has plans and they involve Harvey, Jove, and Unleashed.
50% Striking
20% Takedowns
30% Submissions
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
What's his/her name?
Real Name: Louis Zagan Winston
Billed Name: Zag Winston
NICKNAMES
Zig-Zag
@lohman_law
PICTURE BASE
Justin Theroux
HEIGHT
6'3"
WEIGHT
205lbs
REACH
80"
DATE OF BIRTH
April 25th 1985
PLACE OF BIRTH
Philadelphia, PA
FIGHTING OUT OF
Philadelphia, PA
FIGHT TEAM
NB Fight Team
SPONSORS
None
ENTRANCE THEME
"Bad Boy Boogie" by AC/DC
PORTRAYED BY
Andrew
STYLE SUMMERY
"This man is a Mixed Martial Artist"
STRIKING BASE
Western Boxing
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Right Cross
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Triangle Choke
STRENGTHS
Movement
Guard
Patience
WEAKNESSES
Sometimes burns himself out while looking for a tap out
Swings wildly sometimes, looking for a knock out
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion
BJJ Black Belt
PRIMARY STYLE
Zag will try to win the match on his feet, typically using combinations to the body to slow his opponents and then he'll go to the head for a knock out. If the opponent proves to be a better boxer, then Zag will use his knowledge of BJJ to bring the opponent to the mat and attempt to either gain a knock out from elbows and hammerfists, or a submission.
TENDENCIES
Zag is a very focused fighter and does not tend towards taunting or flash. If his opponent his open, he will typically follow his right cross with a left hook, looking for a knockout.
APPEARANCE
Zag doesn't always shave, often has stubble. Sometimes dark circles under his eyes due to lack of sleep. He typically wears black, like he's Johnny Cash. He has a favorite black leather jacket, typically you'll find him in jeans, t-shrits, and hoodies.
CAGE GEAR
Under Armour Compression Shorts, MMA gloves, and taped ankles.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Zag's focus is scary at times. He doesn't respond to the noise of the fans. It's as if the only other person he's aware of is his opponent.
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
"Bad Boy Boogie" by AC/DC hits as Zag Winston steps out from behind the curtains. Behind him is his trainer, Sebastian, and flanking Sebastian is Harvey Lohman. Zag's eyes are already on the ring as he makes his way through the mass of fans screaming and hollering. When the group of men make it to the ring, Zag dispenses of his hoodie and allows the referees and medical staff check him as he prepares to enter the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
Louis was born, the third of four children. His parents were loving and his household was stable. Louis showed interest in combat sports at a young age and spent his youth preparing for a life in Professional Boxing. He was a very solid amateur boxer.
He married his highschool sweetheart his first year into University. They had a child very shortly after their first year anniversary.
Things changed for Louis, which will be explained. Ultimately it lead him to a meeting with Harvey Lohman. He took his childhood nickname "Zag" for his first name and he now has plans and they involve Harvey, Jove, and Unleashed.
#36
Application Archive / 13
Last post by 13 - May 03, 2017, 01:39:04 PMSKILL BREAKDOWN
70 % Striking, 10 % Takedowns 20 % Submissions.
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
Thirteen
NICKNAMES
Unlucky
TWITTER
@LifeUnsatisfied
PICTURE BASE
Fernanda D'Avila
HEIGHT
5'5"
WEIGHT
125 lbs
REACH
66"
DATE OF BIRTH
29/02/1988
PLACE OF BIRTH
Fortaleza, Brazil
FIGHTING OUT OF
London, Ontario, Canada
FIGHT TEAM
She trains with Francis Ford Cuppola's team consisting of the retired wrestling tag team the French Mime Assassins, Rodney P, and a rotating cast of actually useful fight trainers.
SPONSORS
Soylent Green Industries; Muscle Meds; ShredZ; E-Fed Flakes.
ENTRANCE THEME
"Under the Influence" by the Chemical Brothers
PORTRAYED BY
Hannah aka "Hans".
STYLE SUMMERY
"This woman is a Mixed Martial Artist and wrestler."
STRIKING BASE
Capoeira; Freestyle Wrestling
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Meia Lua de Compasso
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Rear naked choke.
STRENGTHS
Speed - She's difficult to get a hold of; strikes come fast and often, and from anywhere.
Tenacious/Hard-Worker/Doesn't give up.
Flexibility/Agility - Escape artist for submissions, very acrobatic (impressive/fun to watch).
WEAKNESSES
Uncanny Bad Luck - How else can you explain it? This manifests itself in interesting ways. Might inadvertently slip, miss a strike opportunity, or have her hair randomly fall loose at an inopportune time. It's like that stat in an RPG that has randomized impacts and results; sometimes it works out in her favor, as well.
A possibility to lose sight of a fight if things are going her way/Gets frustrated if things aren't going her way.
Low Durability - Used to kickboxing (good at not getting struck or caught), but if strikes/moves start landing she could get in trouble fast. Power Moves are problematic.
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Survived a fairly successful season running the Alpha Wrestling Empire!
She won that Ante Up Ladies Night Battle Royal at Boardwalk Wrestling once!
PRIMARY STYLE
Thirteen utilizes strong, pretty well lethal strikes coupled with speed and agility to create an aggressive constant onslaught that can keep an opponent off-balance and on their guard.
TENDENCIES
She's a mixed bag in that she'll play to the crowd if she's doing well, or get determined, her back up and head down if the fight isn't easy, or going her way. She's very acrobatic, nimble and fluid in her movements. She's fun to watch having spent many years within the sport entertainment side of the industry.
You'll see a lot of flash, or unpredictability as she utilizes capoeira quite deftly. Some helpful moves:
- S-Dobrado
- Armada
- Meia Lua de Compasso
- Chapeu de Couro
- Macaco
- Vôo-do-Morcego
- Godeme (Backfist)
- Kata Guruma
- Queda de Rins
APPEARANCE
Raven hair. Very fit. She exudes an outward appearance of optimism and kindness, almost like an infectious buoyancy. She tends to be well made-up out of the ring, no stranger to the flash of a camera and the need to be eternally vigilant against the impromptu mugging for the lens.
CAGE GEAR
Her hair tied back into a braided ponytail, or bun. Black trunks and halter top with gold/or white/or red/or pink trim; it varies. She wears standard open-palm MMA standard gloves.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
The little opening plays with Thirteen, donning a hooded satin-y robe with the words "Unlucky" embossed in italics across the back, and her crew of Rodney P, the Mimes, and Francis in behind her revving up. The slow crescendo bass that threatens to blow a hole through the speakers gets them moving out of the tunnel and into the crowd. Thirteen isn't shy, she's done this enough times to smack a few welcome hands on her way to the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
Cream rises to the top, unless it's marred by setbacks, immense obstacles, and just plain bad luck. You know that rising star/up-and-comer/soon-to-be talent that never was? The disappearing act? The woman who COULD have been this/that/or the other thing? That's Thirteen.
Since the initial writing of a biography, she's actually managed to carve out a decent career for herself, winding her way through the indie and higher level wrestling circuits with stints in Monarchy Wrestling, Boardwalk, and 4CW.
She managed to accumulate enough wealth through prudent investment that she found herself with a stake in a wrestling company, the AWE. That company folded after one season for undisclosed reasons.
True to form, armed with the perennial optimism and stick-to-itiveness trademarked to Thirteen, she finds her way, once more, readying to step into a ring, or a cage.
70 % Striking, 10 % Takedowns 20 % Submissions.
YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME
Thirteen
NICKNAMES
Unlucky
@LifeUnsatisfied
PICTURE BASE
Fernanda D'Avila
HEIGHT
5'5"
WEIGHT
125 lbs
REACH
66"
DATE OF BIRTH
29/02/1988
PLACE OF BIRTH
Fortaleza, Brazil
FIGHTING OUT OF
London, Ontario, Canada
FIGHT TEAM
She trains with Francis Ford Cuppola's team consisting of the retired wrestling tag team the French Mime Assassins, Rodney P, and a rotating cast of actually useful fight trainers.
SPONSORS
Soylent Green Industries; Muscle Meds; ShredZ; E-Fed Flakes.
ENTRANCE THEME
"Under the Influence" by the Chemical Brothers
PORTRAYED BY
Hannah aka "Hans".
STYLE SUMMERY
"This woman is a Mixed Martial Artist and wrestler."
STRIKING BASE
Capoeira; Freestyle Wrestling
GRAPPLING BASE
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
FAVORITE STRIKE
Meia Lua de Compasso
FAVORITE SUBMISSION
Rear naked choke.
STRENGTHS
Speed - She's difficult to get a hold of; strikes come fast and often, and from anywhere.
Tenacious/Hard-Worker/Doesn't give up.
Flexibility/Agility - Escape artist for submissions, very acrobatic (impressive/fun to watch).
WEAKNESSES
Uncanny Bad Luck - How else can you explain it? This manifests itself in interesting ways. Might inadvertently slip, miss a strike opportunity, or have her hair randomly fall loose at an inopportune time. It's like that stat in an RPG that has randomized impacts and results; sometimes it works out in her favor, as well.
A possibility to lose sight of a fight if things are going her way/Gets frustrated if things aren't going her way.
Low Durability - Used to kickboxing (good at not getting struck or caught), but if strikes/moves start landing she could get in trouble fast. Power Moves are problematic.
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Survived a fairly successful season running the Alpha Wrestling Empire!
She won that Ante Up Ladies Night Battle Royal at Boardwalk Wrestling once!
PRIMARY STYLE
Thirteen utilizes strong, pretty well lethal strikes coupled with speed and agility to create an aggressive constant onslaught that can keep an opponent off-balance and on their guard.
TENDENCIES
She's a mixed bag in that she'll play to the crowd if she's doing well, or get determined, her back up and head down if the fight isn't easy, or going her way. She's very acrobatic, nimble and fluid in her movements. She's fun to watch having spent many years within the sport entertainment side of the industry.
You'll see a lot of flash, or unpredictability as she utilizes capoeira quite deftly. Some helpful moves:
- S-Dobrado
- Armada
- Meia Lua de Compasso
- Chapeu de Couro
- Macaco
- Vôo-do-Morcego
- Godeme (Backfist)
- Kata Guruma
- Queda de Rins
APPEARANCE
Raven hair. Very fit. She exudes an outward appearance of optimism and kindness, almost like an infectious buoyancy. She tends to be well made-up out of the ring, no stranger to the flash of a camera and the need to be eternally vigilant against the impromptu mugging for the lens.
CAGE GEAR
Her hair tied back into a braided ponytail, or bun. Black trunks and halter top with gold/or white/or red/or pink trim; it varies. She wears standard open-palm MMA standard gloves.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
ENTRANCE DESCRIPTION
The little opening plays with Thirteen, donning a hooded satin-y robe with the words "Unlucky" embossed in italics across the back, and her crew of Rodney P, the Mimes, and Francis in behind her revving up. The slow crescendo bass that threatens to blow a hole through the speakers gets them moving out of the tunnel and into the crowd. Thirteen isn't shy, she's done this enough times to smack a few welcome hands on her way to the cage.
BIOGRAPHY
Cream rises to the top, unless it's marred by setbacks, immense obstacles, and just plain bad luck. You know that rising star/up-and-comer/soon-to-be talent that never was? The disappearing act? The woman who COULD have been this/that/or the other thing? That's Thirteen.
Since the initial writing of a biography, she's actually managed to carve out a decent career for herself, winding her way through the indie and higher level wrestling circuits with stints in Monarchy Wrestling, Boardwalk, and 4CW.
She managed to accumulate enough wealth through prudent investment that she found herself with a stake in a wrestling company, the AWE. That company folded after one season for undisclosed reasons.
True to form, armed with the perennial optimism and stick-to-itiveness trademarked to Thirteen, she finds her way, once more, readying to step into a ring, or a cage.
#37
Archive / How Konrad and Fizz got togeth...
Last post by Fizz Raab - April 30, 2017, 11:57:02 PMFirst meeting between Konrad and Fizz. Cologne, Germany. August 2010.
Since Fizz split up with her ex husband James, she was left in the streets as James took everything away from her with her house, her kids and even her belongings. Nobody had any idea how Fizz got to Germany as she was sleeping right outside of some sort of TV studios as she's always been beaten and thrown around by many strangers, leaving her in a very dangerous place.
She had nowhere to go and she wasn't one of those homeless people who begged for money, food, paying men to have sex, selling and doing drugs, she was just very poorly ill a lot and she was scared, vulnerable and even weak because she only picked up scraps for food, even going in the bins just for something to eat. She barely even spoke because she was so frightened of being hurt again.
Of course it left everything to be desired of Fizz's future as she was at a point of dying because she hasn't eaten or even drinking much apart from dirty water she drank from the toilets. She was always getting beaten up everyday to a point her life wasn't worth living anymore. Suddenly, two men came around and immediately attacked her as there's a man around the corner who was speaking to a lady who was apart of managing the show.
German man: "Dieses Mädchen, ich kann sie nicht so verlassen."
This girl, I can't leave her like this.
Lady management: "Aber du kennst sie nicht einmal."
But you don't even know her.
German man: "Sie tut mir Leid. Ich kann das nicht ignorieren. Sie scheint, wie sie braucht viel Hilfe."
I feel sorry for her. I can't ignore this. She seems like she needs a lot of help.
The lady who had blond hair who nobody knows what her name was looks to see what's going on and she speaks.
Lady management: "Ich glaube, sie braucht diese Hilfe jetzt, schau."
I think she needs that help right now, look.
All of a sudden, when there was laughing and shouting going on, the German man sees what the lady management means as he suddenly goes to rush in and punches the people who were trying to kill her, even had knifes for them as he forces the attackers to run away from the TV studios as he went back to the lady and speaks.
German man: "Sie ist so schwach, dass ich ihr wirklich helfen will, in einem sicheren Bereich zu sein, ich möchte, dass sie in meinen Studios schlafen kann und für jemanden, der sich um sie kümmert. Sie wurde fast getötet und ich habe sie schon ein paar Mal hier gesehen."
She's so weak that I really want to help her to be in a safe area, I want her to sleep in my studios and for someone to look after her. She nearly got killed and I've seen her a few times around here.
Lady management: "Ich habe gesehen, wie sie viel weint und ich glaube, sie braucht irgendwo zu sagen. Immerhin sieht sie in unseren Mülltonnen nach Nahrung und isst es ganz schnell, weil sie so hungrig ist."
I have seen her crying a lot and I think she does need somewhere to say. After all, she keeps looking in our bins for food and eats it down quite fast because she's so hungry.
German man: "Ich habe in Köln eine Menge Bettler gesehen, aber diese Dame hat sie überhaupt nicht angefangen und ich habe sie jeden weinen gesehen. Ich will sie nur sicher halten. Bitte Mary, lass sie in meinen Studios, ich fühle mich schlecht, weil ich sie die ganze Zeit ignoriert habe."
I've seen a lot of beggars in Cologne, but this lady, she doesn't beg at all and I have seen her cry every single minute. I just want to keep her safe. Please Mary, let her in my studios cos I feel bad for ignoring her all the time.
Mary she was known as thinks a lot about the idea of protecting the homeless woman like what happens if she attacks anybody from a film crew or even to a point of stealing stuff was what she had in her mind right now as she addresses it.
Mary: "Aber Konrad, wir wissen nicht, ob sie die Filmcrew oder sogar mich stehlen oder angreifen wird."
But Konrad, we don't know if she's gonna steal or attack the film crew or even me.
Konrad: "Wenn sie plante, etwas zu stehlen, glaubst du, dass sie das schon jetzt getan hat und Geld gehabt hat? Sie hat das nicht getan und deshalb bringe ich sie herein. Sie braucht uns gerade jetzt und ich möchte nicht, dass irgendjemand stirbt, vor allem in der Nähe meiner Atelierräume, die volle Verantwortung für den Tod einer Obdachlosen zu übernehmen. Ich beschäftige mich nicht mit dem Zeug, das mir eine Menge Geld kosten könnte, nur um unser Geschäft zu verlieren. Nein, nicht passiert."
If she was planning to steal something, do you think she'd already done that by now and have money? She hasn't done that and that's why I'm gonna bring her in. She needs us right now and I don't want anybody to die, especially near my studio premises, having to take full responsibility for a homeless woman's death. I'm not dealing with that stuff that could cost me a heck a lot of money just to lose our business. No, not happening.
Mary shakes her head at Konrad, she didn't want to take some stranger into the TV studios, even if Konrad owned the whole place, it was just because they didn't want to take on the responsibility and it was so bad that Konrad had to do the right thing as he ignored everything Mary said and went up to her where he picked her up or he tries to, but Fizz refused as he speaks in German.
Konrad Raab: "Es ist alles in Ordnung, ich werde dich nicht verletzen. Kommen Sie, lassen Sie sich innen, wo Sie sicher sein werden und stoppen Sie von immer geschlagen jeden Tag."
It's alright girl, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on, lets get you inside where you'll be safe and stop you from getting beaten up everyday.
It was hard for Fizz to even know someone could care so much as she has seen Konrad a few times, but this was their first ever meeting as Konrad held his hand out and Fizz shook her head, being very scared to trust anybody again as Konrad speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "Ich verstehe, du darfst mir nicht vertrauen, aber ich werde dir ein Haus geben. Was wird es sein, du wirst verletzt und getötet oder an einem sicheren Ort, der von mir und anderen Leuten in diesem Gebäude genau dort betreut wird?"
I understand you may not trust me, but I'm gonna give you a home. What's it gonna be, you getting hurt and killed or being in a safe place being looked after by me and other people in this building right there?
Konrad placed his hand out again but the problem with Fizz was she clearly didn't understand Konrad at all as he tries to talk in English on what he's said in German. There was no reaction to what he said to her at all, mainly because she had no understanding of German and he speaks in English.
Konrad Raab: "Don't speak or understand German?"
Fizz shook her head as it explains why she didn't give a reaction or understanding what Konrad said in the first place as he was so concerned about her that she saw her vomiting quite a lot on the pavement, knowing she needed serious help and once she stopped, Konrad had his hand out again and makes sure to not speak German to repeat everything he said.
Konrad Raab: "I said that I won't hurt you and to get you inside so you'll be safe from thugs trying to kill you. Do you want that to continue or you want to be safe and protected by me and the crew I have in my office? I understand you may not trust me and think I'm an ass hole, but I'm so worried and scared for you that your life is more important to be saved than mine."
Now it was clear Fizz understood Konrad as once he held his hand, she forcefully grabbed his hand and he sees Fizz couldn't even walk so he picks her up and places on his shoulder to lead her into the building and place her in the cafe to put her down from his shoulder and place her in the chair to sit as he gets the young women something to eat like a sandwich that's made fresh as he gets some money out and pays for the food as he brings it over to her.
Konrad Raab: "There you go."
Fizz just wasn't able to speak, even if Konrad didn't know her name, but he was willing to take her in as she quickly ate the sandwich the German man brought her and they didn't even know each other's names or anything as he watches her eat as the catering lady and man saw Fizz was in need of fluids as they immediately brought a glass of water to her and they went back to doing their business as Konrad was hoping to hear Fizz speak, but knew she could have trust issues and he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "My name is Konrad Raab and I own these TV studios with a lot of people I work with. Are you going to tell me your name?"
Fizz sips down her water and she was quiet. She didn't want to say anything just from the fear of being hurt and there's more to the story than people would've thought of as he had to understand this about this girl.
Konrad Raab: "OK I understand you don't want to talk to me. That's perfectly fine, but what I'm gonna do is tomorrow morning, we'll go out shopping and I'll buy you new clothes, but I need to get you in the shower. Do you understand me?"
Fizz nods as she was just too scared to talk as in a way, Konrad did feel somewhat attached to Fizz like he really wanted to be apart of his life, especially with the issues going on with his wife right now, especially after a year on, they still argued of Konrad being accused of cheating because of the rape that took place where his family were in danger. Also the time he and his twin brother got raped as well after they were drugged up, but he smiles on seeing Fizz eating and drinking something fresh instead of using the bins and toilet sink water to eat and drink for survival.
Konrad Raab: "Good because I want to see what you look like when your dressed nice and being very clean like me. I want to know what your name is, but I'm thinking your too afraid cos I can tell with how much your shaking. Please, just relax cos I won't hurt you. I'm gonna help you. Lets get you in that shower."
It's been the first time in a very long time that Fizz was willing to accept the help Konrad the man she didn't even know anything about and that anybody cared about her enough for her to speak as he gets her away from the cafe and go downstairs to a place where the showers were and the toilet as Konrad makes sure he has spare shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, along with a funnel for Fizz to wash herself and she looks worried at Konrad and he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "Don't worry, I won't be in the showers with you. I'll sit out here, waiting for you."
While Konrad does just that on getting himself a chair and sits down with the catering staff giving Konrad some food and drink, he stays there to eat as Fizz goes in the shower and takes her clothes off and gets in as she washes every single piece of dirt off her body as she uses everything Konrad gave her to use as she took two hours to wash off as Konrad wasn't gonna go anywhere, even if he had to go home as she comes out and he leaves for a little while to go down to the local shop to get her some underwear as he knew she clearly needed that and he quickly pays and gets back to the office with fresh underwear.
He goes in the showers and places the pack of underwear near her clothes as he goes back to sit down again as three hours later, he sees the whole new Fizz, being clean and tidy, although he notices her hair was very knotty, but that's something else he had to go and buy as he speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "For tonight, we'll get you upstairs to my office and you'll sleep in the bed there. Don't worry if you need the loo at night, it's right next to my bed, lets get you up there."
Konrad looked at Fizz as he sees her feeling a lot better psychically as there's no signs of her vomiting as he felt he's done something great with his life on saving a woman's life as he takes her upstairs and places her in a secure office where the room was rarely ever being used and he placed her in the office, doing up the bed just for now since it was more important for Fizz to get proper sleep than washing sheets on his bed as he sees a man coming in, wondering who Konrad was talking to and he sees a woman being in his office and Konrad could trust this guy who sees how worried Konrad is and he speaks in German.
Konrad Raab: "Du musst heute Abend hier bleiben. Ich möchte, dass du neben dieser Dame schläfst, weil sie in Gefahr ist, verletzt zu werden, und ich kann sie hier nicht alleine verlassen, besonders die erste Nacht. Bitte helfen Sie ihr und kümmern sich um sie.
You need to stay here tonight. I want you to sleep next to this lady as she's in danger of being hurt and I can't leave her here on her own, especially the first night. Please, help her and take care of her.
Man: "Das ist kein Problem, was ist mit ihr passiert?"
That's not a problem, what happened to her?
Konrad Raab: "Sie wurde von einigen Schlägern geschlagen und ich hielt es an. Ich habe sie schon oft außerhalb unserer Studios gesehen und ich fühle mich schlecht dafür, dass ich sie all diese Zeiten ignoriert habe, sogar durch unsere Mülleimer Sie ist obdachlos und braucht meine Hilfe.
She got beaten up by some thugs and I stopped it. I've seen her outside of our studios a lot of times and I feel bad for ignoring her all those times, even going through our bins for scraps of food. She seems homeless and needs my help.
Man: "Oh mein Gott, das sind schreckliche Leute, die diese unschuldige Dame töten würden. Ich wusste nie, wie schön du Konrad warst, einer der anständigen Dinge, die du jemals in deinem Leben gemacht hast. Jedenfalls lass mich auf sie aufpassen und sie wird nicht verletzt werden. "
Oh my god, that's terrible people were out to kill this innocent lady. I never knew how nice you were Konrad, one of the decent things you've ever done in your life. Anyway, let me take care of her and she won't be hurt."
Konrad nods as he grabs his things, but he didn't want to leave the lady until he says goodbye as he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "I'm going home now, you'll going to stay here with Justin who will take good care of you. I trust him with my life so he'll protect you and keep you safe. As I said, we'll go shopping together to get you some new clothes and some essentials for you as well. I'll see you tomorrow."
Fizz nods at Konrad to understand him as Konrad leaves the room as he goes downstairs, realising Fizz left the new packet of underwear in the bathroom as he picks it up and takes it back upstairs to place in Fizz's room before he goes into his other office to grab other items he left as he leaves the building entirely as everyone, but Fizz and Justin went back home as Fizz went straight off to sleep with Justin keeping an watchful eye on Fizz, but at the same time sleeps near her on the floor.
Since Fizz split up with her ex husband James, she was left in the streets as James took everything away from her with her house, her kids and even her belongings. Nobody had any idea how Fizz got to Germany as she was sleeping right outside of some sort of TV studios as she's always been beaten and thrown around by many strangers, leaving her in a very dangerous place.
She had nowhere to go and she wasn't one of those homeless people who begged for money, food, paying men to have sex, selling and doing drugs, she was just very poorly ill a lot and she was scared, vulnerable and even weak because she only picked up scraps for food, even going in the bins just for something to eat. She barely even spoke because she was so frightened of being hurt again.
Of course it left everything to be desired of Fizz's future as she was at a point of dying because she hasn't eaten or even drinking much apart from dirty water she drank from the toilets. She was always getting beaten up everyday to a point her life wasn't worth living anymore. Suddenly, two men came around and immediately attacked her as there's a man around the corner who was speaking to a lady who was apart of managing the show.
German man: "Dieses Mädchen, ich kann sie nicht so verlassen."
This girl, I can't leave her like this.
Lady management: "Aber du kennst sie nicht einmal."
But you don't even know her.
German man: "Sie tut mir Leid. Ich kann das nicht ignorieren. Sie scheint, wie sie braucht viel Hilfe."
I feel sorry for her. I can't ignore this. She seems like she needs a lot of help.
The lady who had blond hair who nobody knows what her name was looks to see what's going on and she speaks.
Lady management: "Ich glaube, sie braucht diese Hilfe jetzt, schau."
I think she needs that help right now, look.
All of a sudden, when there was laughing and shouting going on, the German man sees what the lady management means as he suddenly goes to rush in and punches the people who were trying to kill her, even had knifes for them as he forces the attackers to run away from the TV studios as he went back to the lady and speaks.
German man: "Sie ist so schwach, dass ich ihr wirklich helfen will, in einem sicheren Bereich zu sein, ich möchte, dass sie in meinen Studios schlafen kann und für jemanden, der sich um sie kümmert. Sie wurde fast getötet und ich habe sie schon ein paar Mal hier gesehen."
She's so weak that I really want to help her to be in a safe area, I want her to sleep in my studios and for someone to look after her. She nearly got killed and I've seen her a few times around here.
Lady management: "Ich habe gesehen, wie sie viel weint und ich glaube, sie braucht irgendwo zu sagen. Immerhin sieht sie in unseren Mülltonnen nach Nahrung und isst es ganz schnell, weil sie so hungrig ist."
I have seen her crying a lot and I think she does need somewhere to say. After all, she keeps looking in our bins for food and eats it down quite fast because she's so hungry.
German man: "Ich habe in Köln eine Menge Bettler gesehen, aber diese Dame hat sie überhaupt nicht angefangen und ich habe sie jeden weinen gesehen. Ich will sie nur sicher halten. Bitte Mary, lass sie in meinen Studios, ich fühle mich schlecht, weil ich sie die ganze Zeit ignoriert habe."
I've seen a lot of beggars in Cologne, but this lady, she doesn't beg at all and I have seen her cry every single minute. I just want to keep her safe. Please Mary, let her in my studios cos I feel bad for ignoring her all the time.
Mary she was known as thinks a lot about the idea of protecting the homeless woman like what happens if she attacks anybody from a film crew or even to a point of stealing stuff was what she had in her mind right now as she addresses it.
Mary: "Aber Konrad, wir wissen nicht, ob sie die Filmcrew oder sogar mich stehlen oder angreifen wird."
But Konrad, we don't know if she's gonna steal or attack the film crew or even me.
Konrad: "Wenn sie plante, etwas zu stehlen, glaubst du, dass sie das schon jetzt getan hat und Geld gehabt hat? Sie hat das nicht getan und deshalb bringe ich sie herein. Sie braucht uns gerade jetzt und ich möchte nicht, dass irgendjemand stirbt, vor allem in der Nähe meiner Atelierräume, die volle Verantwortung für den Tod einer Obdachlosen zu übernehmen. Ich beschäftige mich nicht mit dem Zeug, das mir eine Menge Geld kosten könnte, nur um unser Geschäft zu verlieren. Nein, nicht passiert."
If she was planning to steal something, do you think she'd already done that by now and have money? She hasn't done that and that's why I'm gonna bring her in. She needs us right now and I don't want anybody to die, especially near my studio premises, having to take full responsibility for a homeless woman's death. I'm not dealing with that stuff that could cost me a heck a lot of money just to lose our business. No, not happening.
Mary shakes her head at Konrad, she didn't want to take some stranger into the TV studios, even if Konrad owned the whole place, it was just because they didn't want to take on the responsibility and it was so bad that Konrad had to do the right thing as he ignored everything Mary said and went up to her where he picked her up or he tries to, but Fizz refused as he speaks in German.
Konrad Raab: "Es ist alles in Ordnung, ich werde dich nicht verletzen. Kommen Sie, lassen Sie sich innen, wo Sie sicher sein werden und stoppen Sie von immer geschlagen jeden Tag."
It's alright girl, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on, lets get you inside where you'll be safe and stop you from getting beaten up everyday.
It was hard for Fizz to even know someone could care so much as she has seen Konrad a few times, but this was their first ever meeting as Konrad held his hand out and Fizz shook her head, being very scared to trust anybody again as Konrad speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "Ich verstehe, du darfst mir nicht vertrauen, aber ich werde dir ein Haus geben. Was wird es sein, du wirst verletzt und getötet oder an einem sicheren Ort, der von mir und anderen Leuten in diesem Gebäude genau dort betreut wird?"
I understand you may not trust me, but I'm gonna give you a home. What's it gonna be, you getting hurt and killed or being in a safe place being looked after by me and other people in this building right there?
Konrad placed his hand out again but the problem with Fizz was she clearly didn't understand Konrad at all as he tries to talk in English on what he's said in German. There was no reaction to what he said to her at all, mainly because she had no understanding of German and he speaks in English.
Konrad Raab: "Don't speak or understand German?"
Fizz shook her head as it explains why she didn't give a reaction or understanding what Konrad said in the first place as he was so concerned about her that she saw her vomiting quite a lot on the pavement, knowing she needed serious help and once she stopped, Konrad had his hand out again and makes sure to not speak German to repeat everything he said.
Konrad Raab: "I said that I won't hurt you and to get you inside so you'll be safe from thugs trying to kill you. Do you want that to continue or you want to be safe and protected by me and the crew I have in my office? I understand you may not trust me and think I'm an ass hole, but I'm so worried and scared for you that your life is more important to be saved than mine."
Now it was clear Fizz understood Konrad as once he held his hand, she forcefully grabbed his hand and he sees Fizz couldn't even walk so he picks her up and places on his shoulder to lead her into the building and place her in the cafe to put her down from his shoulder and place her in the chair to sit as he gets the young women something to eat like a sandwich that's made fresh as he gets some money out and pays for the food as he brings it over to her.
Konrad Raab: "There you go."
Fizz just wasn't able to speak, even if Konrad didn't know her name, but he was willing to take her in as she quickly ate the sandwich the German man brought her and they didn't even know each other's names or anything as he watches her eat as the catering lady and man saw Fizz was in need of fluids as they immediately brought a glass of water to her and they went back to doing their business as Konrad was hoping to hear Fizz speak, but knew she could have trust issues and he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "My name is Konrad Raab and I own these TV studios with a lot of people I work with. Are you going to tell me your name?"
Fizz sips down her water and she was quiet. She didn't want to say anything just from the fear of being hurt and there's more to the story than people would've thought of as he had to understand this about this girl.
Konrad Raab: "OK I understand you don't want to talk to me. That's perfectly fine, but what I'm gonna do is tomorrow morning, we'll go out shopping and I'll buy you new clothes, but I need to get you in the shower. Do you understand me?"
Fizz nods as she was just too scared to talk as in a way, Konrad did feel somewhat attached to Fizz like he really wanted to be apart of his life, especially with the issues going on with his wife right now, especially after a year on, they still argued of Konrad being accused of cheating because of the rape that took place where his family were in danger. Also the time he and his twin brother got raped as well after they were drugged up, but he smiles on seeing Fizz eating and drinking something fresh instead of using the bins and toilet sink water to eat and drink for survival.
Konrad Raab: "Good because I want to see what you look like when your dressed nice and being very clean like me. I want to know what your name is, but I'm thinking your too afraid cos I can tell with how much your shaking. Please, just relax cos I won't hurt you. I'm gonna help you. Lets get you in that shower."
It's been the first time in a very long time that Fizz was willing to accept the help Konrad the man she didn't even know anything about and that anybody cared about her enough for her to speak as he gets her away from the cafe and go downstairs to a place where the showers were and the toilet as Konrad makes sure he has spare shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, along with a funnel for Fizz to wash herself and she looks worried at Konrad and he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "Don't worry, I won't be in the showers with you. I'll sit out here, waiting for you."
While Konrad does just that on getting himself a chair and sits down with the catering staff giving Konrad some food and drink, he stays there to eat as Fizz goes in the shower and takes her clothes off and gets in as she washes every single piece of dirt off her body as she uses everything Konrad gave her to use as she took two hours to wash off as Konrad wasn't gonna go anywhere, even if he had to go home as she comes out and he leaves for a little while to go down to the local shop to get her some underwear as he knew she clearly needed that and he quickly pays and gets back to the office with fresh underwear.
He goes in the showers and places the pack of underwear near her clothes as he goes back to sit down again as three hours later, he sees the whole new Fizz, being clean and tidy, although he notices her hair was very knotty, but that's something else he had to go and buy as he speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "For tonight, we'll get you upstairs to my office and you'll sleep in the bed there. Don't worry if you need the loo at night, it's right next to my bed, lets get you up there."
Konrad looked at Fizz as he sees her feeling a lot better psychically as there's no signs of her vomiting as he felt he's done something great with his life on saving a woman's life as he takes her upstairs and places her in a secure office where the room was rarely ever being used and he placed her in the office, doing up the bed just for now since it was more important for Fizz to get proper sleep than washing sheets on his bed as he sees a man coming in, wondering who Konrad was talking to and he sees a woman being in his office and Konrad could trust this guy who sees how worried Konrad is and he speaks in German.
Konrad Raab: "Du musst heute Abend hier bleiben. Ich möchte, dass du neben dieser Dame schläfst, weil sie in Gefahr ist, verletzt zu werden, und ich kann sie hier nicht alleine verlassen, besonders die erste Nacht. Bitte helfen Sie ihr und kümmern sich um sie.
You need to stay here tonight. I want you to sleep next to this lady as she's in danger of being hurt and I can't leave her here on her own, especially the first night. Please, help her and take care of her.
Man: "Das ist kein Problem, was ist mit ihr passiert?"
That's not a problem, what happened to her?
Konrad Raab: "Sie wurde von einigen Schlägern geschlagen und ich hielt es an. Ich habe sie schon oft außerhalb unserer Studios gesehen und ich fühle mich schlecht dafür, dass ich sie all diese Zeiten ignoriert habe, sogar durch unsere Mülleimer Sie ist obdachlos und braucht meine Hilfe.
She got beaten up by some thugs and I stopped it. I've seen her outside of our studios a lot of times and I feel bad for ignoring her all those times, even going through our bins for scraps of food. She seems homeless and needs my help.
Man: "Oh mein Gott, das sind schreckliche Leute, die diese unschuldige Dame töten würden. Ich wusste nie, wie schön du Konrad warst, einer der anständigen Dinge, die du jemals in deinem Leben gemacht hast. Jedenfalls lass mich auf sie aufpassen und sie wird nicht verletzt werden. "
Oh my god, that's terrible people were out to kill this innocent lady. I never knew how nice you were Konrad, one of the decent things you've ever done in your life. Anyway, let me take care of her and she won't be hurt."
Konrad nods as he grabs his things, but he didn't want to leave the lady until he says goodbye as he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "I'm going home now, you'll going to stay here with Justin who will take good care of you. I trust him with my life so he'll protect you and keep you safe. As I said, we'll go shopping together to get you some new clothes and some essentials for you as well. I'll see you tomorrow."
Fizz nods at Konrad to understand him as Konrad leaves the room as he goes downstairs, realising Fizz left the new packet of underwear in the bathroom as he picks it up and takes it back upstairs to place in Fizz's room before he goes into his other office to grab other items he left as he leaves the building entirely as everyone, but Fizz and Justin went back home as Fizz went straight off to sleep with Justin keeping an watchful eye on Fizz, but at the same time sleeps near her on the floor.
#38
Archive / Wave goodbye
Last post by EMT - April 30, 2017, 06:34:41 PMHelena, Montana
April 2016
April 2016
Why it's so fucking cold in April? Helena, Montana is not really some warm place by the ocean. And the drizzle falling persistently over the cemetery didn't really help. But all things aside, the reason why Ethan Thompson was feeling so cold was another one. His mother was lying in a casket, a few steps away from him, a few minutes away from being buried under six feet of dirty ground. So close, and yet so out of reach.
And neither Heidi's body pressed tightly against his was able to warm him up. The cold Montana wind was seeping through his clothes, slithery sliding under his skin, permeating his bones. It was as if ice was running through his veins. He felt like his own soul was freezing, and perhaps that was as close to the truth as it could get.
Part of Ethan Milo Thompson was dying that day. And he was well aware of it.
His eyes wandered around the small crowd gathered around the coffin, their faces partially hidden by hoods and umbrellas, an unclear mass of humanity consisting of relatives,friends, teenagers who would love to be anywhere but here. And Ethan's friends. Acquaintances. Former classmates. For all the day he heard their condolences, their encouragements, their recommendations to stay strong. For his sister.
Hypocrites.
In most cases, those were just empty words, fancy coy talks, a pathetic attempt to show some empathy for their losses.
His dad was still swimming for his life in the sea of whiskey he drowned his pain in the night before, too caught up in sorrow to realize it.
Heidi? Too young and innocent to even consider all those nice people were just feeding her some standard cant.
Ethan on the other hand, he couldn't really miss it. Even if he wished he could. It's times like this he hated his condition. A gift, according to many, most times a curse for him. Always know what someone is really feeling, seeing through the facade, reading the real meaning hidden behind their words can be really frustrating. For every hand he shook, for every My deepest and most heartfelt condolences he received without a shade of sincerity, or even care in it, a deep disgust for mankind grew inside his soul.
His sister's face was buried deep in his chest. He squeezed her tiny body between his arms, kissing her head, trying to make her feel safe, in a moment when all the world seemed to crumble on her. Her endless sobs against his pec seemed to dictate the rhythmic cadence of his heartbeat, every single whimpering feeling like a dagger stabbing him through his heart.
For a brief moment, he felt like telling her that everything was going to be fine. But he never lied to the little girl.
And the day of their mother's funeral didn't seem a good time to start.
Her death was an hard blow for him. Watching her fade away, the leukemia consuming her in the span of a couple of months was disconcertingly.
But nothing compared to that moment when Heidi raised her head, looking at him in dismay, her eyes full of tears and red from that crying that she didn't seem able to stop. That, maybe, she was hoping he could stop.
That was too much for him. Being the brother of a sixteen years old girl, especially a pretty one like Heidi wasn't an easy task. A lot of boys hitting on her, sometimes way older than her, often with not the best intentions.
But being her brother and the central figure in her life? That was asking too much. No way he could have been a viable substitute for their mother.
For the first time in his life, he was scared. Scared he would fail her, scared he would fuck things up and hurt the only person he cared about.
He felt a hand reaching for your shoulder, squeezing lightly.
Rodney, his dad's hunting and drinking buddy. He had the decency not to say a word, limiting himself to show his closeness in this moment of grief.
The priest was pacing around the casket, sprinkling it with blessed water before it was lowered in the graveyard. Ethan's dad stood up and walked away, Heidi burst into tears once again.
He realized it was best for him to leave.
Too many expectations dropped on him at once. Being strong, being the one his sister would look up, becoming head of household instead of the broken and empty shell his father turned into. Too much pressure on a twenty-three years old guy who, right now, only wanted to lay down and cry.
He looked at the smiling picture of her mother placed next to the grave.
He didn't say a word.
Not to his sister.
Not to his father.
Neither to all those supposed friends.
And not even to his defunct mother.
But in that very moment, the pain overwhelmed him, leading him to take the only selfish decision he ever made in his entire life. Something that, years later, he would have come to regret so badly.
He had to go. Anywhere but fucking Helena, Montana.
He simply closed his eyes, fighting the lonely tear that just formed.
Leaving in silence. Sneaking out of their lives without saying a word, avoiding any chance for them to make him change his mind.
This was his way to wave goodbye.
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
May 2016
May 2016
Two weeks after his mother's funeral, Ethan Thompson was stationing in an abandoned building in a small village in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. For some reason, joining the army and leave for another tour in the Middle East seemed a better decision than just wandering the country on his bike. He needed that rush of adrenaline that comes from having his life always in danger. Walking on a razor's edge. The only way he knew to feel alive.
Today's mission felt like a blessing for him. Well actually any day away from his comrades in arms was a good day. Living among all those men, hearing the same old jokes, the same old racial slurs, seeing all that red, all that anger every time they opened their mouths was upsetting, painful. He asked to be moved from the bunkhouse.
"Did you hear the little princess? He asked for a single room. Does this look like a fucking hotel to you?" Resisting the urge to punch the Sergeant Major White right in the face required a dose of self control Ethan didn't think he had in him. Such an arrogant prick... There was no arguing in that. But that arrogant prick had so many medals and honorable mentions to make him a God amongst men in the army, someone who didn't need to demand respect.
He commanded it.
His second in charge instead, Corporal Miller, earned the respect among the troops, by treating them as human beings, trying to meet their needs, making their stay as comfortable as a six months holiday in a war zone could possibly be. Needless to say, it was thanks to his intercession that Ethan eventually got what he asked. "Unfortunately, our Royal Suite is unavailable at the moment. But I'm sure you will be comfortable enough in one of the isolation cell we arrange for you." It was the best he could ask for. And he gladly took it.
Life through a scope is fascinating. You can see for miles, with such a clarity of details that you would never get with naked eye. Sure, you miss something when it comes to the overview, but that's not an issue when you know exactly who to hit and when to.
Days of stakeouts, shadowings and surveillance wrote a very accurate report of the target's daily routine. For some reasons, something was different in today's pattern. It was taking him too long to reach the marked spot, that side alley where he would exhale his last breath. "Why did he stop now?" Ethan mumbled to himself, caressing his Barrett M98B. Shooting with that weapon was so easy and somewhat satisfying. Far better than his dad's old hunting rifle. Precise, light, reliable. Not that he ever missed a shot, but it wasn't bad, for a change, not having to struggle with calibration. One eye narrowed, the other one pressed on the gunsight, he had been following his target's movements for the past hour, observed him talking with people he wasn't supposed to, in places he wasn't meant to be.
It didn't took him long to realize that this sudden change could mean one thing only: whatever they were planning, whatever his target's role was, it was going to happen very soon.
Following him through the crowded market was tricky to say the least, and he lost him among the mob a couple of time, only to find him moments later. Sneaky bastard.
Keeping his figure always at gunpoint, he waited and waited, minutes seeming like hours. Until he finally took the expected street, the one leading to his house. There was something poetic in dying in the same place you were born. Or at least that was Ethan's only thought when he pulled the trigger. A perfect shot, the bullet plunged through his skull, a solitary spurt of blood squirting from the point of impact. Like a crimson fountain.
The last thing Ethan saw before methodically starting to clean and dismantle his rifle were his two fellow soldiers rushing to retrieve and hide the body. He eventually walked to the rendez-vous point, a mile south from his current location. He was greeted with an unexpected and probably out of place enthusiasm by the rest of his comrades in arms. Cheers, pats on the shoulder and all that jazz. "Finally Thompson lost his virginity! How was it? What did you feel when you blew that fucker's head?"
"Nothing, really." No anger, no joy, no regret. Nothing like the sense of having done something right, to have made the world a better place. Ethan just killed a man and the only thing he could feel was indifference. "I did what I had to do, how should I feel?" In all his years in the job of war, it was the first time Corporal Miller heard someone who just took a man's life saying he wasn't feeling nothing at all. And meaning it.
It was fascinating and disturbing at the same time. His green eyes were staring at the horizon, possibly beyond it. Almost as if he was trying to catch sight with what was going on at home. At the other side of the world.
Jones, a young veteran on his third tour said something that disgusted Ethan Thompson, giving him a first hint of how he didn't belong there.
"You should start enjoying killing these camel drivers, son. You're in the army now."
#39
Archive / Debridement
Last post by EdTerryn - April 29, 2017, 02:54:56 PMDECEMBER 31, 2003
Her fingers gracefully cupped his chin and brought his eyes up to meet hers. Greg Shears was nervous looking up at her from down on one knee. The question that hung between them felt kinetic and couched with potential. Her impending answer made Greg nervous.
Madeline Westlake, the woman standing in front of Greg wore a form-fitting black semi-diaphanous dress, her blonde hair crested and amplified with a "Happy New Year" Crown and glitter sparkled and glowed on her skin as she shifted Greg's face to the side to get a better look at the nasty shiner tagging his left eye.
"Same guy?" She snarked finding it difficult to contain her laughter and pity. Embarrassed, Greg nodded, lowering his face but still holding that little ring box up. The offer hadn't been refused, not yet.
"He's got a big left hook." It wasn't as funny the moment he received the blow, but now, here, in Dempsey's Pub amidst a sea of well-wishers and celebrators and this couple in that lone solitary spot where the sound seemed to drain to a dull roar allowing this moment to belong solely to them. She grinned wide, almost giddy at keeping him in suspense.
"And the tooth?"
He'd forgotten until she reminded him with a smirk. Greg ran his tongue along the bottom row of his teeth till his tongue felt the gap and he winced.
"Big right hand, too." He gulped. Ed Terryn left the bruises, but the knockout blow was hers to deliver. She eyed him on a slant as he redirected the attention away from his "battle wounds" back to the ring waiting in the box elevated up to her.
"W-will you?" Greg Shears hadn't stuttered since he was 8. Not since the parentally enforced tongue twisters and corrective instruction meant to wean him from "bad habits". Madeline had that look on her face. The one Greg couldn't read, not yet. She stood tight-lipped and full of consideration, like the answer was there waiting to tumble out but she wasn't sure in which direction it might fall.
On the television screen mounted to the wall above the bar came the beginning of the countdown.
10
9
The crowd in the pub chanted along in unison.
Greg's lip trembled, eyeing sidelong the countdown toward 2004. Please make up your mind before 12:00, he thought.
8
7
6
She burst into laughter.
"I can't believe I'm marrying a cop." Her eyes went skyward, the knockout was his. Her tears sparkled in the tungsten light of the mood-lit pub.
"You w-will?" He stuttered as her eyes fell back to him with a straight smile surmising him as the man she'd just agreed to marry. .
"You better learn to box." She blurted through the happy tears. Greg stood confidently. They kissed as the countdown made it to 1, and the raucous pub shouted "Happy New Year!" in unison.
He was Bob Dylan, and she Suze Rotolo as they walked home, freewheelin' that night in a fresh snowfall.
Once home they made love, real love, like she'd figured it would be when the right man came along and put the right ring on her finger. They fell asleep entwined as one.
In the morning he made her breakfast while he dressed for work. He received the call halfway through buttoning up his uniform over a sizzling cast-iron frying pan containing eggs.
"Is this going to be our life then?" She asked uncertainly, her knees pooled up beneath her chin under the covers. The breakfast was getting cold on the nightstand beside her. They'd been dating for a year, she knew, or had to know the relative fleeting free time of a low-level constable. He kissed her on the cheek and promised, "no. It'll be better."
On his way out she reminded him to bring a heavy jacket.
Dalby Forest is beautiful in the summer, similar in the winter. Snow cascades off trees of every ilk.
The body had been discovered by a forest ranger. Constable Greg Shears stood and blinked over the body that lay propped against a tree with its eyes closed, frozen shut in fact, formerly sleeping soundly in a mangled and mottled tank top and a pair of loose-fitting pants and no shoes that seemed to tell a pretty decent tale of what fate befell Ed Terryn on New Years Eve.
Greg sniveled to himself and ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth, dwelling on the lone missing incisor as he waited for the ambulance.
Funny how it works, he thought. Couldn't help him. I tried. Ed spent more time fighting me then understanding I wasn't locking him up like I could've. I would've. I should've. Maybe that was all he needed.
Agonizing moments. One new life began for he and Madeline, and one ended and the circle seemed dreadfully incomplete.
Greg received the coroner's report, thankful for the warm cup of coffee at the coroner's office. The coroner noticed Greg's eye. Greg shrugged and looked apologetic.
"He had a big left hand." He smiled.
"Mmmm." Was the disinterested response.
They had to wait to bury him till the ground thawed. Nobody missed the funeral, there weren't many who wished to attend.
In the spring as Ed was buried Greg would be married, and everything would be better.
That's what Greg promised.
APRIL 28, 2017
Madeline was on the phone in the kitchen when Greg stomped in and wondered whether to let her know he was home formally, or if she'd notice.
"I'm on the phone!" She shouted callously down the hallway at him, just an inhuman stretched shadow silhouette cast on the wall from the evening sun shining through the kitchen window.
He could hear her furiously mixing something in a metal bowl. He hated her cooking experiments. What would this be, home-made pigs in a blanket? He ran his tongue distastefully along the tips of his teeth, impelled to be silent, hopeful for a moment's peace before he encountered her, trying to overhear who she was talking to as he hung his jacket up in the front closet. Probably someone from work, he snorted to himself. A guy.
Greg walked silently across the hardwood floor and stopped at a closed door, craned his ear a moment longer but was unable to make out her words over the furious whipping. He inhaled sharply and slipped inside of his office and closed the door silently behind him.
A glass of bourbon, brandy, something to remove the permanent edge. For a ritual it always felt new and fresh and mostly welcome. A loud sigh accompanied the pouring, and an even louder sigh as he sat at his desk and took a nice sip. He leaned back and felt it burn down his throat. The headache thumped harder in his head and he thumbed the bridge of his nose before instinctively leaning forward to rest his elbows on his desk and lift his cell phone.
The video was cued to play already.
He'd been watching it since he'd taken it. He could recite its contents without playing it, but still he lingered over it, and he knew he would continue to.
The shaky-camera of a person running quickly over cement; blurred images before the camera focuses on the man walking towards the bus.
"EDWARD!"
Shouts Greg standing with the camera. Edward turns his hips to regard the camera person but keeps walking to board the bus. The doors close, and the camera lowers to shut off.
Greg's frown only made the headache feel a little worse. His office was otherwise neatly organized save his desk where a laptop computer sat in sleep, around it on a bulletin board were some newspaper clippings noteworthy only to him, one even with his picture in the frame smiling proudly in front of some burned out wreck on the side of the road. The entire left side of the board belonged to his new search for Ed Terryn. It didn't amount to much, and anything he'd left behind Greg now owned and took up a tiny corner of his desk.
How little a man could become when he wanted for nothing especially when he needed the most. Ed Terryn was at best a drunk, at worst a bum. Never graduated, or held any title or place of distinction other than at the pub, or underground where his fists were well regarded.
Greg slid his hand along his chin, his tongue slid along the inside of his teeth, to the missing incisor, the last will and testament of Ed Terryn.
"How many teeth you got left," Ed had snickered.
"I think I swallowed it," Greg choked.
"Want to swallow 'em one by one? Make a quaint l'il meal of it?" He downed the bottle of bourbon lazily spilling some down his shirt.
Greg found himself snickering too, sliding open the autopsy report once more.
"Gregory." Came her cross voice from the doorway. He blinked, stunned at first, then in annoyance. He hated being called Gregory, especially in that tone of voice. It shook him out of his momentary stupor of remembrance and looked at his wife standing in the doorway with a dish towel slung over her shoulder.
She used to wear makeup.
Thirteen years since she'd worn more than some concealer.
"Did you get it?" He looked confused. Her hands lifted to rest on her hips with a loud sigh as Greg's head shook confusedly. Her shoulders slumped.
"It's your son's birthday." She didn't need to say more. The tone was enough. A lament. Familiar let-downs and failure, shirked responsibilities and forgetfulness rolled into one statement. Greg winced.
"How do you forget?" It was defeat now, not just lament. The knockout punch she'd never swung thirteen years ago was what came drilling from her lips every time they spoke now.
Her eyes scanned his office, spotted the half glass of whiskey, or bourbon, or whatever, then saw the autopsy report opened on the desk and she could fit the familiar, recurring pieces together. Greg could see her mind working too, thirteen years worth of practice learning to read one another and suddenly the ongoing argument they'd been having for the past several years flared up out of nowhere.
"You spend more time in this room with dead people than you do with your own kids."
"I'm not the one who wanted--" And there it was, as always. The bone of contention amid a myriad disagreements. His voice started out in force, he half rose up off the desk in righteous indignation at her but trailed off and he slumped further into his chair thankfully before he could finish his thought.
She stood silently scolding him, knowing where he was going even before he did. It wasn't anywhere good. Thirteen years of practice. It was the sentence that had seemingly been in line to be finished for a while now. He thought better of finishing it today, like he had in days past.
"I'll get it." He sighed, full of guilt. She stared in reply before turning and heading back for the kitchen.
Staved off for another day.
He finished the glass and stood up from the desk and headed back for his shoes and jacket.
Back in the kitchen Madeline had resumed stirring the metal whisk in the bowl. Birthday cake.
Fuck, Greg thought to himself. How did he forget?
He was outside inadvertently slamming the door and climbing back in the car before he got a second to process.
"What the hell am I getting him?"
His cell phone rang.
"What?"
"Gregory?" Her voice soothed out from the receiver.
"Doctor White?" He knew the voice.
"Hi." He could hear her smiling, and he smiled back over the phone before his eyes moved to the front door of his house. He could see her preparing the birthday cake in the kitchen and scolding him silently all the while.
"Hi." came his deflationary response. He could remember Doctor White's bare, shapely calves. He could imagine what they must feel like... "How did you get this number?" He put up imaginary walls, the damn ring on his finger emblazoned across them.
"You gave me your card. Said if I remembered anything else about Ed Terryn to give you a call."
"Oh. Right."
She giggled girlishly, her initial standoffishness had been softened by Greg's sincerity and concern for a man, she surmised, was important to him.
"I remember where he said he was going." Greg's ears perked and he sat up in the car seat and waited anxiously. "I can't believe I'd forget but he said Saint Petersburg."
"Russia?" Greg frowned at the uncharacteristic adventurism of a man who'd never left the borough in all the years he'd known him "Why would he go to Russia?" Greg thought aloud. Not like Ed Terryn had any reason to, he could think of. Does he even know Russian?
"I don't know, do you want to meet?" His eyes looked at his front door. All my time with dead people, he thought sardonically at her. What if he's not dead?
"Gregory?" She asked over the silent airwaves, beckoning him towards an unpredictability he was longing for, a mystery he could solve as opposed to the open-and-shout case waiting for him at home.
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – NIGHT
They ate their dinner in relative silence. Piotr Orlov looked towards the ceiling suspiciously then eyed his girlfriend, Klara as she blew on the steaming spoonful of soup before noticing him. She questioned him silently.
"You rented the apartment." She rolled her eyes and nodded.
"He paid in cash. Upfront." Piotr could be swayed by few things, cash was key.
"And he's been here how long?"
"I don't know. A week?" She said in between aggrieved blows onto her steaming noodle soup. Piotr eyed her, then the ceiling where their new tenant lived in the apartment above them.
"He's very quiet."
"Yes," she rolled her eyes, "the ideal tenant."
"What does he do?"
"He said he's in the fights, or something. Televised. Legit. Maybe he can get you tickets."
Piotr's eyes narrowed on the ceiling like a focused point of his insecurity.
"He might be a spy. Something bad."
"Then that's his problem. I thought cash was a good thing so I took it." She slurped the soup off the spoon and ignored him.
"Stinks up there. He's doing something I don't like." He said, already rising out of his seat. She didn't bother watching him as he left the apartment, listened instead as he stomped up the stairwell and banged loudly on his door.
It opened a crack and Piotr peeked in like a nosy landlord. From within two eyes peered out at him before coming to stand straight in the crack of the doorframe held fast by the chain lock.
"What are you doing in there?"
Disheveled hair with a no-nonsense expression is how Piotr would describe the man on the other side of the door. Ed, Klara had said his name was. That it was a man's name sparked Piotr's suspicion, and a second glance at his tenuous girlfriend.
"Renting," came the soft-spoken reply. Piotr shifted where he stood finding it difficult to conceal his agitation.
"I mean right now." Barely a blink, the eyes through the doorframe locked on him with dispassionate interest.
"Reading." Piotr's eyes narrowed further. Games. He didn't like games. This guy was a game player. He didn't like him.
"My wife, she's my wife, we're married—"
"Congratulations."
"Yes, she says you're in the fights."
"She's right."
Piotr shifted again. A heavyset man, he didn't like standing still, even less in the stare he was getting from this man he was now calling a tenant who didn't seem to blink, and didn't offer much in the way of answers to his nagging suspicions.
"Let me see your hands," he said like a toddler losing an argument. The eyes stared blankly through the door a moment before holding up the back of his right hand for Piotr to see.
Piotr wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he was looking at weathered knuckles, and the words "The Spirit is Willing, but the Flesh is Weak" scrawled in immaculate English script running upside down along the back of Ed's hand, like it were more for him to read than anyone else. Piotr couldn't read English.
"What's it say?"
He managed a blink from the man standing on the other side of the door.
"The bible."
Slowly the hand was lowered back out of view. Piotr and Ed stared at one another through the crack in the door, Piotr's internal gears and mechanisms struggling to understand what he could do to solve the mystery of his new tenant, if there was one. He spoke fluent Russian, what words he actually spoke. Piotr frowned, you could see him thinking before he narrowed his eyes once more on his tenant.
"I'm watching you." Like it was a threat. The eyes didn't blink, instead remained dispassionately fixed on him and it made Piotr more agitated as the door closed softly in his face, and the sound of the deadbolt put a period on the conversation.
Piotr'd likely have to have sex with Klara tonight. Loud sex. Wall-thumping sex. Territory-marking sex. This tenant wasn't to be trusted.
Inside the apartment, Ed softly padded the soles of his feet along the floor and sat back down on his bed. Beside it a stack of books, otherwise the room was sparse and bare save for something with flies buzzing around it. Near that, by the window were several small tubs reeking of bleach and formaldehyde.
He rested his forearm across his knee, and upturned his hand where the widening blackened hole of necrotic tissue on his palm made him blink.
"The flesh is weak," he sighed and reached for a small bowl next to his bed and lifted out two maggots and set them onto the wound. He coiled the gauze thickly around his hand before noticing a similar, much smaller, patch on the top of his left hand.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"One step at a time," he whispered to himself and finished sealing the maggots to their work on his right hand.
Then he lifted the paper beside him listing the Unleashed Fighter payments. His eyes fixing on the assured payday, and the added performance incentives that awaited him should he perform well in the cage.
"One step at a time."
#40
Archive / Chapter One
Last post by Jove Belane - April 27, 2017, 12:32:41 PM
1.1 - "I hate my job."
POV: Unknown
I won't lie, I hate my job. Have since the first day I came in. My boss is a grouchy old creeper fuck. He's extra gross about it too. He's always looking at my ass. I can feel his eyes on it. I used to wear leggings, but found out that every time I bent over, he was trying to fuck me with his eyes. Now, I wear baggy cargo pants. I don't want any of it.
Speaking of things I have to wear, I wear this stupid vest and it doesn't go with any of my outfits. It's this ugly kind of faded green and it's pilly because they never buy new ones. I'm sure the one I'm wearing has been worn by a dozen other people who hated this job too, just like me.
Because of my boss, who has no problem cussing people out on the reg, there's a lot of turn around. I can't make any work friends and a lot of the people who have come and gone wouldn't make good friends anyway. My boss is a grouchy old creeper fuck, but he's always hiring these bible thumper kids. They drive me crazy with their fake divinity. I've been asked not to say "jesus christ" and it's annoying. For me, living in a Catholic household, "jesus christ" is a common exclamation. It's Mary you don't want to talk about.
I hate this job.
Right now I'm trying to count my drawer because I only have ten minutes left in my shift. I do this so I can get out of the place right away. My boss goes home at eight so I always have two hours to myself--I'd die without it. I lie to him too--he thinks that it takes me an additional half hour to close up the place, but I do all of the closing stuff ahead of time so I can take off.
Sweeping, mopping, tidying up the disgusting bathroom, and counting my till are all on the list.
The half hour worth of pay every night, I take happily. My mom says I'm just stealing time.
Ugh.
Anyway, If there isn't exactly two hundred dollars in the till and if the numbers don't match up, I get bitched out by my boss and he takes what's missing out of my paycheck--no matter what. Fucking lame, right? I've never stolen from this shit hole and I only make minimum wage.
I don't even know why I waste my time--he should pay me for all the times he's pulled my panties down with his eyes.
I usually get lucky, but of course, someone just walked in. I might have to count it all again. Shit snacks. This guy, though, he'd be handsome if his face wasn't hamburger. His shirt is covered in blood spatter and I clinch my little o-ring wondering if he's going to rob the place..
This place has been hit four times this year and yes, I'm talking about twenty-seventeen. I've been lucky enough to avoid being one of those fools scared shitless behind the counter, but I'm not sure about this guy. I watch him as he makes his way over to the water cooler. He opens the door and pulls a bottle out, opens it, and takes a drink. He looks a little wobbly and it makes me wonder how recently he was beaten up. Stupid guy--should be in a hospital.
I can't judge though, this job doesn't offer health care, even though it's supposed to. Obama care couldn't help me and neither can Trump, right?
I'm not into politics. It's pretty gay, if you ask me.
I watch the guy walk to the little medicine aisle we have by across from the fuel additives and he pulls a little bottle of Advil off the shelf, opens it, and proceeds to take some of the pills with his water. I really wonder if he plans on paying for any of this stuff.
He does have a nice butt, though. Seriously.
I can see it now--he's going to look all pathetic and hurt and he's going to tell me he can't pay for the stuff and I'm going to let him walk out the door with the stuff because I don't want to recount my till. If only he wasn't so bloodied, maybe we'd kiss, maybe he'd tell me that he was rich and he could steal me away from this shitty job and take me to some sunny place with umbrella drinks and enough sun to turn my alabaster skin bronze.
I hate my job.
I've lost track of the other guy because a new guy has just burst through the door and he's the kind I never wanted to see. His face is hidden by a ski mask and he's got a sawed off shotgun in his trembling hands.
Two minutes to close. Shitty nutsack.
I don't know what to do, do you know what to do? I don't know what to do.
He's a crackhead, maybe? I always assume criminals suck that crack dick.
He hoists his shotgun up and lets me see just how jagged the saw job he did on the barrel is. I won't lie, I just pissed my pants a little.
"The money! Gimme the fucking money! A carton of Marlboros! Do it fucking now or I swear to god I'mma blow your pretty little head off!"
This guy just called me pretty, but my soggy drawers tell me I'm going to die. He cocks the shotgun and I feel like I'm going to vomit.
I hate this job.
I have done nothing with my life.
1.2 - "Introductions."
POV: Harvey Lohman
Hi there, my name is Harvey Lohman. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. You may know me twitter or maybe even from my old Lawfirm adds, with the catchphrase, "Are you a wanted man? Then you need Harvey Lohman!"
I know the rhyming scheme is a bit of a stretch, but the jingle was nice.
Pardon my digression.
I've been talking about Jove Belane for nearly a month now and soon he will be stepping into the fighting ring in Mother Russia for Unleashed. Are you excited? I'm excited. He's a good man with a hell of a fighting style. I've seen him train and if you didn't know any better, you'd think he was Bruce Lee come back to life and white-washed, Hollywood style. Oh the shame of it, right?
Hehe.
Now, this Jove Belane cannot go without a test. Yes, he's quite capable inside the gym and we're all excited about him, but we haven't seen him tested yet, now have we? If you know Harvey Lohman, you know that he's the kind of guy who pushes the boundaries of every test and if you don't know; you're about to find out.
There's still no sun to be found in the sky, but the oranges are showing as it is finally beginning to rise up from the horizon and cast sunrays for the skin to absorb. Lovely. There is no sunrise quite like a California sunrise and you can blame that on my own personal bias, but you and I both know that it's true.
I'm joined right now, in my limo, by three men who are all quite unique in their own ways. They all have, how should I put it, particular talents that I'm excited to put to use.
First is a man named Jelly. I couldn't quite tell you why his name is Jelly, but it could be because he likes it in a sandwich or maybe he's Dutch in origin. Either way, it's somewhat irrelevant. What is, is that he's a practitioner of boxing as well as a myriad of other styles that I can't quite remember. He was a consideration for Unleashed, but proved to be a little too, how should I say, criminal in nature.
The second man is named Sebastian. What a fine name for a brute, don't you think? His favorite thing to do with his time is a combination of torture, savagery, and potentially even rape, but I don't care to know! None of my business. Sebastian, don't call him Sebbie, is the perfect compliment for Jelly in that, well, they're both quite violent and neither hold back.
The third, final, and my personal favorite, is a man named Nathan. He's the brains of the group. He's as cold as a cadaver and has very little use for mercy. He was once a golden gloves recipient, but now he's one of those lovely men who beats up other men and women for money. He used to work for a loan shark, but then one day, he killed that loan shark.
Isn't that fun and incredible?
No?
Ok, I'll admit it, I've told you an awful lot about three men who will soon become absolutely irrelevant. I just felt like they had earned the right to at least be defined enough so you got the idea that, perhaps, if you need muscle in the future, you know who to ask for. I promise this hasn't been a waste of your time. There's a perfectly relevant reason why I've brought these three men together. You see, individually they may not have met the mark in the personality, sellability, and not-blatant-criminals departments and were not able to be my 'next big star', but together, they can prove whether or not Jove Belane will be that 'next big' thing.
I tell them, "Here's how it's going to work. The three of you will find this man," I pull a picture of Jove from my pocket and give them all a good look, "And I want you to jump him."
Nathan asks, "Break some fingers? Does he owe you?"
"That's a very good question, Nathan, but no. He doesn't owe me. I just want to see..."
How rude, Jelly interrupts, "Want me to punch his nose up into his brain?"
I start, "Your enthusiasm is in the right place, but I don't actually..."
Again, interrupted, this time, by Sebby (don't call him that out loud), "He looks pretty. Want me to rape him?"
Am I alone when I feel like it's quite rude when people interrupt others? A particular peeve of mine is when you're sitting at a dinner table, waiting to make your kind contribution to the meal conversation and someone else speaks over the top of you. That's so rude. Sometimes they even just turn the volume up on their voices to drown you out. Infuriating.
My patience is my pride, but when tested...Eesh.
"No. He doesn't owe me money. No. He doesn't need his nose pushed into his brain. And no! He doesn't need to be raped!"
Apologies, I really don't like raising my voice, but at times, I don't have the benefit of choice.
"I simply want to see how he responds to being attacked. Consider it a test."
Jelly nods, "Beat the guy up, seems simple enough."
"Doesn't it?"
Sebby added, "I'll walk right over the top of him!"
"You are so colorful," I grinned.
Through the window of the limo I can see Jove exiting the doors of his apartment. He walks down the sidewalk and I know that it's time to strike. I can't guarantee that these potential flat-foots can catch up with him if he gets too much of a lead.
"Now go! Hurry up. He's going to get away."
Nathan asks, "What about the payment? I'm broke as a joke."
"Once the goods are received, you will get your money. Nothing before. That's the deal."
The three men have a glance at each other before a shared glance at me and they finally start to exit the limo.
I know, I know. This seems cruel. So cruel. Don't worry though, I have a feeling that Jove will fair well against these three. If he doesn't? Well, then it wasn't meant to be, am I right? I didn't get out of my law career to twiddle my thumbs, I didn't leave that life behind because I wanted to pay for a plane ticket just to send some nobody to Russia to die.
Eh, St. Petersburg, Russa. . I hear the weather is terrible right now, but I I also hear that the St. Isaac's Cathedral is a must see. We'll hit that spot.
Till next time!
1.3 - "He went for cigarettes."
POV: Jove Belane
I probably wouldn't have started smoking if not for Mariska. There's only so many times you can kiss a woman and taste that nicotine before you want one for yourself. It's easier that way. She stinks and you stink too. Maybe that's what love is, stinking together.
She's a bad habit who shares bad habits. I am now one of them.
I woke up and Mariska was sleeping beside me. We had been making a habit out of that, too. She had stolen from me twice and tried to have me broken up, but somehow, some way, she ends up in my bed almost every night.
Loneliness is a dangerous thing, at least, that's the current excuse.
I sat up in bed and stole one of Mariska's cigarettes and lit it up. It was a Newport and I knew I'd have to switch over to a non-menthol before I found myself hooked on those damned things.
You hear a dozen times that it crystallizes your lungs and you decide that a menthols are somehow worse than regular ones. They all kill, but I guess, someone has to have a standard of what kind of cancer they end up with.
Nobody's looking; I'll take regular cancer over the mint flavored variety.
Mariska and I didn't share much more than the fact that we were good in bed and it hadn't changed. One, we weren't very good together and two, we were still good in bed together. I think it was getting better. The sex part, that is.
That's not all there is to life, but it's a good chunk of it.
I pulled the plane ticket this hipster jerk called Harvey gave me and I saw the name of the destination and I still didn't know what to think about it.
St. Petersburg, Russia.
What the fuck had I gotten myself into? When it was all just talk, it seemed impossible, he seemed like a vacuum cleaner salesman. I didn't believe Harvey's claims anymore than I believed 'Mariska' was really the sleeping woman's name, then a week later, I had this ticket.
Harvey told me a lot of things that I didn't believe. He smiled a lot and the majority of his smiles were fake. I thought about it more and considered how, sometimes, his teeth looked more like fangs than human teeth. He had all the tidings of Nosferatu with well managed hair and a fancy sport coat.
Maybe he was the devil.
Maybe if I had put just a pinch more thought into it, I would have conjured up a fuck to give, but I didn't. To date, I had given all my fucks to Mariska and there was no way I was going to get them back.
I stood up and stretched and stepped over the mess of clothing we left on the floor the night before, on my way to the bathroom. I put the ticket down on the bathroom sink counter and took another drag off that foul Newport. I exhaled through my nostrils as I took a good close look into my own eyes in the mirror.
I looked into the dark pits which used to be my pupils and heard myself welcome darkness aloud and ask what it had in store for me.
I didn't think it was going to be very good.
Wondered if anyone would be able to afford granite for my tombstone. Something subtle, but striking.
I laughed.
I walked back into the bedroom and pulled my jeans and t-shirt out of the mess of bra, panties, blouse, and skirt. I got dressed and the whole time I just looked at Mariska, sleeping soundly. There was something about having her there that made me feel good, but simultaneously sick. She was one half crazy and the other space was full of lies.
It was her eyes.
Her eyes got me every time. No matter what I tried to do, she would reel me back in with those eyes. She'd get my cock wet and then she'd proceed to squeeze me in ways I didn't know were possible.
She had incredible control.
I pushed off the urge to wake her up for another round.
I made it to the door, but not before she woke. She asked me where I was going and I told her I needed normal cigarettes. She asked me for another pack of Newports. I laughed and told her sure. I said I'd bring back a bottle of something to drink. She liked that. I thought we could spend the day in. See what happened.
I wondered if I knocked her up.
What would our kid look like? The thought made me shiver.
Once I got outside the apartment, I turned north and headed up the street. Just a few blocks up was a convenience store with normal cigarettes and maybe even a cheap bottle of something that'd get Mariska and I fucked up enough to forget that we privately hated each other, all over again.
I liked that idea.
I finished the cigarette and flicked it into the street and that's about the time I heard the clicking of leather soled shoes behind me. Three sets of them. It was kind of hard to deny they were following me as I had seen them exit a limo just moments after I had left my apartment.
It wasn't Mariska's gang though. They couldn't afford a horse and cart, let alone a limo. Maybe they were Mormons... Big heavy Mormons with potatoes for faces.
I ignored it.
I kept walking until I met an alleyway. I turned into the alley and took six steps off the sidewalk and turned around. Sure enough, the trio of potential Mormons came around the corner and confronted me.
I immediately asked them if I had Mariska to thank, half jokingly, because of the limo thing. They confirmed it had nothing to do with her when the fattest one asked 'what the fuck' a 'Mariska' was.
I laughed.
I really wanted to know which one of them was going to make a move. I kept my hands down, inviting the first blow. I smiled. I wanted it. I told the fattest one to make a move and see what would happen. I figured he'd step on a fat roll on the way towards me and fall flat on his face.
He stepped towards me and put his dukes up like he was Rocky Marciano. I kept my hands down and stuck my chin out. I told him he could have the first punch, but I warned him that he wouldn't get anymore after that.
The punch put me back a step, but his second attempt connected with air and I caught the back of his head with both hands and drove a knee right into his mush. I say mush, because that is what his face had turned into as he stumbled backwards. Damn near put his nose into his brain. I looked at the blood on my jeans and couldn't hide the frown. I explained that they were my favorite pair of jeans.
The next guy, the least fat of the two, decided it was his turn and came at me, and I sidestepped his rush and helped him, face first, right into the wall behind me. I caught him before he fell and laughed right into his face as I pulled his wallet free from his back pocket and stuck it in my pocket.
I hoped the wallet contained some money-I was broke.
The next guy though, he didn't fuck around with me. He caught me from behind with what I figure was a taser. I immediately felt my muscles leap out of my control and then I was looking upwards as the three guys put the boots to me.
I closed my eyes for a moment between stomps, hoping to pass out. I wished for it. I didn't want to know how dirty the asphalt beneath me was.
Goddamnit.
The guys started to plod away, two of them nursing injuries. I felt stupid for doing it, but I forced myself to roll over and push myself up. I looked down to see my t-shirt was now dyed red with my blood, but I used the potential laundry bill as incentive to rise all the way back up.
I told them that I wanted some more. The taser guy. The really ugly one. He smiled, looking to oblige me. I couldn't see much, but I took advantage of the fact that I could see their silhouettes against the daylight at the other end of the alley.
He walked right into my front kick and ate all of it. If I hadn't been wearing shoes, I'm sure my big fucking toe would have gone right up his nose. He fell like a bag of hammers and I didn't even stop moving, didn't break stride and walked right over the top of him. The next, skinniest one, came at me with a wild swat and I tagged him with an elbow right into his temple. He fell to the wayside as I stepped up to the fattest one who didn't want any of it.
He took what was left of his nose and he ran for it. I was lucky too, with a good view of his back, I fell to my knees and breathed out, right before everything went black.
I'm not really sure if any of that really happened.
1.4 - "The End."
POV: Jove Belane
I woke up feeling like Martin Sheen stuck in a hotel room in Apocalypse Now. I was sore and didn't know where I was. Fuck, I wasn't even drunk and I felt hung over like another long night with Mariska, only it didn't end with that all too familiar bang. My headache pounded out a beat and I could have sworn it was a song.
I heard the lyrics.
"Can you picture what will be, so limitless and free
Desperately in need, of some, stranger's hand
In a, desperate land."
The pounding beat was my heart. I forced my eyes open and found that I was sitting across from some little weasel hipster shit. I had a feeling I knew him, but I couldn't remember his name.
He told me that 'some guys' had jumped me, but I had managed to fight them all off. Said he saw the whole thing and I didn't put it together at the time, but he had some kind of ring side seat for it. Like he had...
I accused him of setting it up and he showed me those fangs he called teeth.
He told me he wouldn't lie--said he had and honestly, if I had the strength, I would have punched him. I didn't. I knew if I had, he would have burst into shards like a beer bottle struck by a bullet.
He told me that he needed to test me. Said he wanted to see what I could take and what I could dish out. I looked at him and I don't know if it was because I had blood in my eyes or I was wearing rose colored glasses, but he looked red like the devil wearing black horn rimmed glasses he probably didn't need. He slipped over and sat beside me. He patted my knee and apologized for what he had done.
His name was Harvey, I finally remembered.
He told me that everything was going to be great from then on. He promised me that my name would go up in lights and eventually everyone would know my name. He laughed and when I looked into his eyes, I saw a soulless being--a monster. I didn't see a hipster. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I coughed, found I had coughed up blood into the palm of my hand, and demanded we stop. I needed something to drink. I needed out of the limo.
The limo smelled like death. I looked around and found the leather interior feeling like human flesh. It was muggy and sweaty. It made my skin crawl.
I must have been hallucinating.
I heard those lyrics...
"Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane, all the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah."
I laughed with Harvey. I didn't know why. His laughter was infectious. I looked at him and found he had pits where his eyes had been. He smiled and flashed yellow teeth and infected gums. I felt like I was going to vomit.
I demanded he pull over. I demanded a break.
He called the driver 'Charon'. He told him to pull over.
I fell out of the open car door.
I heard it again. It was 'The End' by The Doors.
"Ride the snake, ride the snake
To the lake, the ancient lake, baby
The snake is long, seven miles."
Was I dead?
I heard Jim Morrison whisper, "It could be almost anything you want it to be."
I pulled myself to my feet and Harvey rolled down the window. I looked at him and saw the same little pale hipster I had seen before. He smiled and asked for Twinkies.
I staggered towards what appeared to be a Sinclair. I stopped and turned and looked at the Limo caught in the green glow of the Sinclair sign. Harvey rolled the window down again and signaled that he wanted two packages of Twinkies.
I felt my chest, intent on proving I was alive. I pinched myself. It hurt.
I turned and walked through the doors and staggered past the ATM and straight towards the row of coolers. I stopped and opened the door to one of the coolers and grabbed a bottle of water. I stumbled backwards and propped myself against a stack of twelve pack soda containers and screwed the top off the bottle. I took a drink.
Dead men couldn't drink.
Dead men couldn't feel.
Where was I?
My peripherals were blurred as I staggered towards a small display of medicine. I zeroed in on Advil. I wanted something stronger, but the place was dry. I wanted morphine. I wanted codeine. I wanted anything than a little bottle with a cap that seemed impossible to get off.
I downed six tabs and knocked them down with the rest of the water.
I hoped the wallet I stole had some money in it.
The check stand seemed like it was miles away and the girl behind the counter was busy with another customer. I went back to the water cooler and grabbed another bottle. I emptied it. I felt like my heart was about to give. I felt like it was all about to end. I kept hearing that song. I kept feeling the slow steady beat.
"It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die."
Was I dead or was I dying? Both? Is that possible? Fuck it; enjoy the ride.
For some reason I thought about Mariska. I thought about her eyes. I thought about the cigarette smell mixed with mangoes. I thought about how good she felt, wrapped around me. I thought I loved her for a split second.
I had become insane.
I forced myself to breathe. I forced myself to collect myself. I heard someone whispering about money and Marlboro cigarettes.
I remembered.
Marlboros.
That's what I wanted.
I opened my eyes. It was a robbery.
"Desperately in need of a stranger's hand, in a desperate land."
I came up behind the customer. He was wearing a hood. The girl looked scared. I heard the pounding of my heart, but everything else was muffled. It seemed like the pounding of my heart was getting louder and louder.
Louder.
Louder.
I slapped and pulled the shotgun down by the barrel and he discharged it--blowing a good portion of his feet off.
"...in a desperate land."
Some stray buckshot found my flesh. I tried to ignore it. The girl screamed. She screamed loud and she cried. I picked up the shotgun and handed it over to her and told her to aim it at her new friend. Everything was muffled. I was confused. I wasn't sure if I was alive or dead. I didn't know where I was.
I pulled the wallet out of my pocket and found it was empty. Fuck.
I looked pathetic as I told her I couldn't pay for the stuff I had taken. She wiped her eyes and told me not to worry about it. We both ignored the man screaming. The man was screaming and getting ready to pass out from shock.
Shock.
I reached to the Hostess display at my left and grabbed two packages of Twinkies. I set them on the counter. I asked for a pack of Marlboros and a pack of Newports and she gave them to me. I told her I would pay her next time. She told me not to worry about it.
She told me to leave before the police came.
I told her I owed her.
I told her she'd see me again.
I told her I'd make up for it.
I heard the song.
"Driver, where you takin' us."
I jammed the cigarettes into my pockets and, with Twinkies in hand, I staggered out of the store and as soon as I stepped into the open air, everything came to a screeching halt. Perfect silence.
I heard nothing.
I saw nothing.
The limo was gone.
I was all alone.
END.