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Post by Laura Phoenix - HBIC on Jan 3, 2021 21:26:03 GMT -5
PWS: APEX presents RIOT Tuesday, January 12, 2021 LIVE from PWS Arena in New York, NY
Singles Match Lachlan Kane vs Tayler Parks
CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE
RP Deadline Sunday, January 10, at 11:59pm EST 1 RP 300 word minimum/5000 word maximum
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Post by Tayler Parks on Jan 10, 2021 23:24:44 GMT -5
Undisclosed Apartment New York, New York Dec. 31, 2020 ------------------------------------------------ *thud thud*
The faint strains of Auld Lang Syne can be heard in between pounds on the door. Tayler Parks, noticeably drunk, raises the bottle of vodka back to her mouth. She drunkenly warbles the verse.
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot…”
*thud thud thud*
“And never brought to MIIIIIIIIND?”
She can barely maintain, her head is swaying and her eyes are struggling to focus on the television, as her phone starts buzzing. She answers, slurring her words.
“Uh… helloooo?”
“Tayler, what the fuck? It’s been days. Nobody’s seen or heard from you. Answer your door!”
“Who’s this?”
“You know damn well who this is. Get your ass up and answer this door. I know you’re in there, I can hear you trying to sing.”
She rolls her eyes, ending the call and dropping her phone on the couch. She begrudgingly stands up, knocking several mini liquor bottles onto the floor. Trudging over to the door, she sighs as she unlocks it. Flinging the door open in the most dramatic way possible, she sees Brad, her training partner.
“Not going to answer your phone for a week?!”
Tayler shrugs, turning back towards the couch.
“Hello? Earth to Tayler... “
“What, Brad? What do you want me to say?”
“I just wanted to know you’re okay. Fucks sake Tayler, I know you have to be disappointed with how things went. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t do something stupid. And by the looks of it, you have…”
He gently kicks some of the mini bottles around after following Tayler to the couch. She plops down, grabbing the vodka bottle. Brad swats it out of her hand and it falls to the floor. She starts to reach for it but he pushes her back onto the couch.
“Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you? All because of one loss?”
“It wasn’t just the loss, Brad. I’m celebrating. New year, new me, right?”
“This doesn’t look like a celebration. This looks like a bitch fit. Seriously, what the fuck is going on?”
“I fucking had her. I fucking had her right where I wanted her. One to nothing. What went wrong, Brad?”
He sits down next to her. Her head drops to her hands, the weight of her emotions getting to her. He puts his arm around her.
“I knew it. Look, we could sit here and break down the match for hours, break down what went wrong. But at the end of the day, sitting here drunk, wallowing in your own pity, isn’t helping anything. Come on, let’s get you up and get some food or something.”
Tayler shakes her head.
“I don’t want food. I want to know what went wrong.”
“Tayler, I’m telling you to let it go. Every fighter, every athlete, they go through these things. I’m not gonna give you some bullshit line about how it’s how you rebound from a loss, but it’s true. Stand the fuck up and be the woman you know you are. Jesus Christ, I’ve never seen you like this. We’ve known each other for how long? You’ve never had your confidence shaken like this.”
“Because there’s never been a time where I’ve been set up more perfectly for a win and just didn’t follow through. Never. I’ve lost plenty. Never bothers me like this. I know it happens. But… this one fucking hurts. I need to know what went wrong and I can’t fucking figure it out. You know?”
Brad stands up and walks towards the kitchen. He goes under the sink and grabs a trash bag. Walking back into the living area, he tries reasoning with Tayler.
“Look, I get it. And in time, we’ll go over it. But drunk and on New Year’s Eve, now New Year’s Day, I’m not sure that’s the time. I know you know you’ll recover, but it’s my job to make sure that happens. Now. So get up, make yourself look presentable, and let’s go do something. Get some food. Go to a bar. Celebrate in the streets. Something.”
“I’m just going to rewatch the match. I’m hungry, but I don’t want food. I didn’t sleep on Cleo, but I still wasn’t able to get the job done. I need to know what went wrong. I’m not drinking because I’m depressed. I’m drinking because I’m frustrated. I know I’m better than that. I know I’m better than her. And for some reason, it didn’t click at Crusade. I’ve never had that issue. I need to know so I don’t feel this ever again. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll put the bottle down if that’s what you’re so worried about, but I’m not going anywhere. Not til I know what I did wrong, what I can work on, and I’m ready for what comes next.”
“That’s fine, Tayler. But about that whole ‘what comes next’ part…”
Brad stands from cleaning up the miniature bottles and fast food trash that had littered the living space.
“Have you talked to anyone from PWS?”
“No, why?”
“So they called me because they couldn’t get in touch with you. They’re on break for the holiday, but when they come back, on the 12th, you have a match.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, even though you just went through a war, one of the most physical matches you could go through, you’ve gotta come back on the first show. But this is good. You get right back in there and prove that your loss isn’t going to hold you back.”
Tayler sighs.
“I mean, I hope I’m back to 100 percent before then. Kinda bullshit, with what I went through, to have a match so soon. Does Cleo have one?”
“Not that I saw. The card has leaked online, but it looks like she has the night off.”
“If they want me to be the workhorse, so be it. I’m going to run though everyone they put in front of me. I’m going to flat out embarrass the roster. I’m going to figure out what went wrong and make sure I’m never that vulnerable ever again. Whether I’m facing Moskovitz or McKane, Miss Puppies or Jack Russow, I’m going to eliminate each of them, one by one, until there’s no doubt that my loss to Cleo Phillips was a fucking fluke.”
She stands up, staggering a little bit, still drunk, but regains her footing quickly. They shake hands. She walks over to the dining room table and grabs her laptop. Brad sits back down on the couch and takes a swig of vodka. Tayler catches him from in the kitchen and chastises him.
“So you can drink but I can’t? What the fuck?”
Brad shrugs.
“It’s New Year’s. Now come on, let’s take a look at that match.”
Tayler brings her laptop over and sets it on the table.
“And by the way, you are a terrible singer.”
“Good thing I don’t have to worry about that now, right? By the way, who am I even facing on Riot?”
“Some guy called Lachlan Kane. Pretty good from everything I’ve heard about him. He hasn’t really done much since you’ve been there, so it’s unlikely you would have seen anything from him.”
Tayler takes a quick shot of vodka as Brad is glancing at his phone.
“You know what? It isn’t going to matter. I’m more focused now than ever before. I’m not going to take him for granted, but I’m also not going to let this loss bring me down. I know my abilities and what I’m capable of. I’m not going into this saying I’ll be able to just rip his arm off and beat him to death with it. But I know I’m capable of submitting him, pinning him, brawling with him. Whatever it takes, wherever the match takes place, I’ll be ready.”
“Lay off the vodka and I’ll believe you.”
“I’m serious. This isn’t Tayler Popov talking, this is Tayler Parks. You’ve known me for how long? You know that when I say I’m ready, I’m ready. When I say I’m focused, I’m focused. And when I say I’m going to do something, I damn sure do it.” ------------------------------------------------
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Post by Lachlan Kane on Jan 10, 2021 23:48:31 GMT -5
December 22, 2020 Backstage at Crusade
“Here is your winner...Sierra Williams!”
Watching on the backstage monitor set up next to the gorilla curtain, Lachlan Kane pumped his fist in the air with a triumphant smile on his face. A few of the crew members tried to hide their amused snickers, but Lach didn’t mind. He was sure he looked like an overeager puppy waiting for Sierra to come through the curtain, but he had never hid the fact that he was a man that would celebrate the success of those close to him just as eagerly as his own, if not more so.
The curtain parted and Sierra made her way through, wiping the sweat away from her forehead and pulling away the mass of red hair stuck to the back of her soaked neck. When she got to the top of the stairs, she glanced down to see Lach standing there with an eager smile on his face, which made a smile break out on her own face as she descended the steps. When she got to the bottom, she was immediately enveloped in Lach’s arms, where he pulled her in for a tight hug against his chest.
“Lachy, I’m all sweaty and gross,” she said, trying to pull away.
He gave her a raised-eyebrow look. “Sierra, you’re my wife. It’s not like I haven’t had you all sweaty over me before.” He gave her a cheeky wink and a boyish grin. “Though usually it involves a lot less clothing.”
She blinked at him in surprise a few times before a laugh fell from her lips, as he draped an arm around her shoulders and they made their way down the hallway towards the locker room. “Dear Lord, I think I’m becoming a terrible influence on you.”
“Well, we have been together over two years now, it was bound to happen. I can’t always be the moral upstanding one in this relationship.”
“Well, if you think I’m gonna be all respectful and whatever -”
He cut her off with a kiss to her lips. “Don’t even think about it. I love you just the way you are. Don’t ever change, you hear me?”
She gave him a little smirk as they stepped into the locker room. “Wasn’t planning on it anyways.”
“Good.” He gave a swat to her ass as she walked past him. “Now, hurry up and get changed. We’ve got some celebrating to do!”
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December 25 Brooklyn, New York
Their apartment looked like a hurricane had swept through. Wrapping paper spread wall to wall, tinsel and glitter peppered the carpet and toys were strewn across every available surface. Right in the middle of it sat two extremely happy little girls, playing with their newest acquisitions from Santa and chattering excitedly while Lachlan and Sierra sat on the couch with cups of coffee. Sierra had her head laid on Lach’s shoulder as they smiled at Jade and Olivia. After a moment, she looked up at him with a thoughtful look on her face.
“So, have you thought about what you want to accomplish in the new year?” she asked.
He gazed at her with a curious quirk of his brow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, last year you didn’t exactly set the wrestling world on fire…”
“Gee, thanks for the reminder,” he deadpanned, though he gave her side a light poke in a teasing way. “I was just too busy getting married and being a good and supportive husband and brother.”
“And we love and appreciate you for that.” She leaned up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “But now it’s your turn to step up and be counted. You deserve to be in the spotlight just as much as any of us. Don’t put yourself second any more. Make 2021 your year.”
He was quiet for a moment as he mulled over her words, before a smile came across his face and he kissed her forehead. “You know, I think you’re right. Time to get off the bench and put myself back in the game.”
A self-satisfied smirk crossed Sierra’s lips. “Of course I’m right. When have I ever been wrong?”
He opened his mouth to reply, but she shot him a deadly look and he snapped his mouth closed. “Rhetorical question.”
“Yes, dear.”
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Present Day
The sparkling lights of New York City flickered and danced through the darkness, looking hazy and out-of-focus through the snowflakes drifting softly from the clouds and through the air. Gazing across the waters of the bay as he stood on the rooftop of his apartment building, Lachlan Kane let out a long breath that manifested in the frigid air as vapor, sliding his hands into the pockets of his black wool coat. His eyes slid closed for a moment, before the icy blue irises locked on to the camera set up to capture his promotional piece for the upcoming Riot show on Tuesday night. He wet his bottom lip with his tongue, preparing to speak his piece.
“2020 was not the year any of us could have anticipated. But a lot of people persevered and overcame a lot of obstacles to thrive in the ring this past year. Me? Not so much. I was comfortable being more of a behind-the-scenes player, helping others get into the spotlight that they deserved.” He took one hand out of his pocket, putting up his index finger and waving it slightly. “This year however...this is going to be my year. I’m coming back strong, and I’m coming to remind everyone just who I am. I’m ready to take on anyone and everyone to climb my way to the pinnacle of this company, and it starts on Tuesday night with Tayler Parks.”
He paced around a few steps, the gravel crunching under his sneakers and echoing in the night air. “Now, Tayler, I don’t want you to think I’m walking into this match with any delusions of grandeur. I saw the fight you brought to Cleo Phillips back at Crusade. I saw the fire, the intensity, the absolute raw talent that you possess. There is not a doubt in my mind that you will be one of the hottest players on this roster in the coming year. But right now, you are stepping into the ring with a man who is hungry. Not just hungry - starving. I have yet to taste singles gold in the two years I’ve been wrestling in the States, and I think PWS is where it’s going to happen. Now, I’m not going to be picky about which belt I go for, but to get there I need to prove that I actually am a contender. So I need to step into that ring with the mindset that every match I have is going to bring me closer and closer to a title opportunity. And I gotta say, this match is going to be one hell of a test.”
He smirked towards the camera. “But it’s one that I’m looking forward to. I’m always looking to test myself against the best in this business, and like I said before Tayler, I truly believe that you’ve got everything it takes to be one of the faces of this company. I know that I’m going to get absolutely rocked in this match, I have no doubts in my mind of that fact. I’m going to walk out battered, bruised and possibly even a little bloody. But most importantly, I’m going to walk out victorious. I’m going to start this year off with a win, and I’m going to keep on winning until I’ve got ten pounds of gold and leather secured around this waist. No matter how long it takes. So Tayler, here’s to Tuesday night. I’m looking forward to it.”
With a jaunty little salute, Lachlan turned on his heel and headed off to the rooftop entrance door, letting it slam behind him with a loud CLANG as the scene abruptly cut to black at that exact moment.
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