Post by Adrien | Adam on Jun 16, 2017 22:07:56 GMT -5
(OOC: Thank you very much to Mike (Kenzie Rydell/Coda) and Allen (Jew Blazer/Maverick/Martin Karloff) for their contributions in this character development.)
Date: June 7th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Remember to use your hips and not your back. Alright, go!”
After giving some more specific instructions to help Kenzie Rydell perform her throw, Adrien Cochrane finds himself on the mat once again.
Adrien: “Great! Just like that!”
The Dropkick King gets back on his feet and smiles at his young protege. As Kenzie puts her hands on her hips and leans forward, she tries to catch her breath.
Kenzie: “We’ve been throwing hip tosses for almost an hour, Adrien. Can’t we take a break for a second?”
Adrien still has a big smirk on his face as he wipes his forehead with a nearby towel.
Adrien: “I’m the one being thrown around like a rag doll. You’re the one that wants a break?”
Rydell rolls her eyes as Adrien starts to chuckle. He tosses another towel to Kenzie to her to use.
Adrien: “Yeah, we can take a breather.”
With a small smile, Kenzie nods.
Kenzie: “Hah. While I enjoy tossing you around, it starts getting old after the first twenty minutes.”
As Kenzie playfully jabs Adrien lightly on the shoulder, she chuckles at the thought. Adrien places the towel back in the corner of the practice ring as he chuckles a little more. He’s in his usual ring gear from his wrestling days for the first time since his match with Allyson Morrow, now Allyson Gregory. His sleeveless #Believe shirt and pants length tights were a sight that everyone in Adrien’s life has been waiting to see for quite awhile.
Adrien: “Well, what happens if your opponent hasn’t stayed down after twenty minutes have passed? Sometimes the winner is the one who keeps fighting even when they don’t want to fight anymore.”
Kenzie: “I guess you’re right.”
Kicking the mat with her wrestling boot firmly on her foot, Kenzie looks a little frustrated. Straightening out the wrinkles of her black sleeveless tank top, she then reaches up and fixes her ponytail while she continues to speak.
Kenzie: “I guess what I’m trying to say is, can we learn something else, maybe?”
Adrien: “What did you have in mind?”
The twenty-two-year-old grinned.
Kenzie: “I was thinking… Maybe you could teach me the Crescent City Connection?”
Cochrane’s eyebrows raise the moment she utters the word of Adrien’s finishing maneuver. Adrien is admittedly caught off guard by the request, but it’s not unreasonable. It’s the move that won him the #FSociety Heavyweight Title. Only the aforementioned Ally Gregory has kicked out of it.
Adrien: “Shouldn’t we start with a trip to the location in which that named came from first and foremost?”
Adrien chuckles a little bit.
Adrien: “The Triple C, huh? You know, missing that move has cost me a match or two, right?”
Kenzie nods.
Kenzie: “I’m aware. I know that it’s won you a ton of matches in the process too. And see, the thought process is… I have the Meteora as one of my signature moves. I figure if I can learn the Crescent City Connection, it’s the natural progression, y’know? Whenever I’m in a jam, whenever I need a little extra something to get the job done — when my opponent just won’t stay down… Well, it’d be a good move to put in my tool belt, right?”
Adrien: “Well, you know how to do the Meteora. Except, the Crescent City Connection is the springboard version of it. And because you got that extra air with it, you have to be doubly accurate to make sure your knees are getting them right in the shoulders. Honestly, that’s the key.”
Adrien remembers he isn’t at his home practice facility but instead in Las Vegas at a facility Kenzie is a member of run by former #FSociety owner, Chris Night. If he was at home, he would have his projector on near the ring where he could quickly throw up some tape of the move.
Adrien: “I’m sure you know how to springboard into the ring in general. You jump on the ropes and spring into the ring, hence the name. Go ahead and springboard and just land on your feet for me?”
With a simple gesture that she was ready, Kenzie rushes towards the far ropes and uses the momentum to propel her forward. Bouncing off of the ropes and speeding in the other direction, Kenzie jumps as high as she can and lands on the rope. Bouncing back into the ring, she stumbles on the landing. After so long training, her body was exhausted and as she hunches forward, she knew she’d be getting an earful from Adrien.
Adrien: “You were focusing more on the bounce than the spring off the ropes. You gotta stay focused the entire process.”
With that advice in mind, Kenzie doesn’t hesitate to attempt it again. Attempting to clear her mind of anything negative, she focuses on springing off the middle rope and sticks the landing on the white mat below.
Adrien: “There you go. Now I want you to come at me with a more basic move. Try doing my favorite move off a springboard at me. Remember, your back is going to be towards me before so you have to keep my location in mind when you’re bouncing off the rope to aim.”
With a nod, she glances at the ropes and then back at Adrien.
Kenzie: “Okay, but if I screw up again…”
She shook her head, trying to toss those thoughts away like a dog shaking the water off of him. After a deep breath and an intense focus on the task at hand, Kenzie rushed towards the ropes and spun, springboarding off the ropes and landing both feet directly to Adrien’s chest. Bouncing back like a pinball, she rolled herself back up to her feet and grabbed her mentor’s hand to get him back up to his feet.
Adrien: “Excellent! Excellent! Well executed. Feel free to throw that move into your repertoire. Also, how many people do you think will know that you got that move from the Dropkick King?”
A toothy grin comes across Adrien’s face as did Kenzie.
Adrien: “Ready to try to the big move?”
She nods once more.
Kenzie: “I was born ready!”
Adrien: “Well, let’s see what you got.”
Adrien watches as Kenzie starts running back at the ropes, jumping onto the middle rope once more and leaping back at Adrien. He braces himself as her knees land directly on his shoulders. Adrien has been hit by finishing moves of his, almost always the Adrien Cutter. This might be the first time he was smiling at one being used on him. His laughter filled the facility as he feels Kenzie grabbing both of his arms to pick him back up.
Kenzie: “I did it! I did the Crescent City Connection! Wow, that was amazing! Is that how you feel every time you hit that move.”
Adrien: “Seeing as all but one time, it’s led to a three count, and has led to some championships being awarded to me, yeah, it feels pretty damn good to hit that move.”
Kenzie: “Does this mean I’ve gotten all your secrets down? Does this mean I have nothing more to learn from you?”
Adrien makes his next move without warning. Adrien quickly latches on to Kenzie’s neck for the Adrien Cutter but doesn’t do the drop. Kenzie’s eyes widen a little bit at the suddenness of Adrien’s move. The three-time World Champion releases Kenzie who’s heart rate is probably trying to get back to a lower count after spiking for a moment.
Adrien: “Not until you remember that this one little move right here is always lurking. Such a simple move, honestly. Just a variation of the Ace Crusher. But executing it in a manner where it could come from any point of a match and take down the best competitors...that’s what has been one of the building blocks of my career.”
Adrien opens up the ropes a little bit for Kenzie to exit the ring shortly after releasing Kenzie.
Adrien: “Come on, let’s get changed. I’ll take you and Adam out for some lunch.”
Date: June 15th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Wow, so this is the new place?”
Adrien Cochrane puts his Mercedes-Benz into park in the driveway of the house he just pulled up into. He checks the GPS on his iPhone to double check he is at the right place. The house was just as large as Adrien’s own home, which took Adrien a decade of being a top rated wrestler and a decently successful music career for him to be able to afford to purchase.
Adrien: “Yup, apparently this is the place.”
Adrien exits his vehicle and locking his car door. He’s dressed in standard Adrien clothing: a blue plaid button-up shirt over some slim fitting blue jeans. His blue eyes were covered by a pair of light blue sunglasses. He admires the home a little bit as he slowly walks over to the door, which swings open before he even can press the doorbell. A familiar female voice to Adrien immediately welcomes him.
Skye: “Adrien! You’ve found the place!”
The wife of Adrien’s manager, Skye Walker, smiles and gives the Dropkick King a friendly side hug. As a modest elementary teacher who is off for the summer, she’s dressed in a yellow sundress and big sunglasses.
Adrien: “Wow, this is a really nice place, Skye. Of course, it’s your salary from the school holding up the fort, right?”
The elementary teacher smiles and shakes her head at Adrien’s lame attempt at humor. She quickly gives Adrien the direction she knows he’s looking for.
Skye: “Eddie is in the back. Be warned, he has other company over as well.”
Other company?
Adrien raises his eyebrows before navigating the hallway. He gets a quick glimpse of the living room that has yet to be fully unpacked. The sofa and the coffee table are the only things that are really prepared for use. Skye departs for the kitchen in the opposite direction, which looks like it is at least put together, probably before she moved in. Adrien can easily pick out the bedrooms down the hallway with the sign that has their child’s name in his own handwriting. Adrien then is sure has the right room for Eddie’s new office as he finds the door that has the most noise coming from behind it. He opens the door as sees three people. The first of which is Eddie Walker himself. His seven-year-old son is unsurprisingly in the room as well. What catches Adrien by surprise as well is the presence of Josh Goldstein, known to all the fans of Redemption Wrestling as The Jew Blazer.
Eddie: “Adrien! Greetings. I’d like you to meet someone, Mr. Goldstein!”
Josh: “Just Josh actually. Nice to meet you!”
The respectful tone in Josh’s voice would imply a handshake, but his hand goes up for a high five. Adrien responds by smacking Josh’s hand with a big smile. The two once joked about doing an 80’s high five on Twitter once before but this was the first of perhaps many to happen in real life.
Adrien: “Don’t feel bad. He still will occasionally call me Mr. Cochrane and I’m one of his best friends. Just correct him enough times and he’ll get it. I think Blair has made some sort of threat towards him if he calls her Miss Kivisto one more time.”
Adrien glances around the room and notices something that everyone in the room has in common: they are all wearing superhero capes. Eddie included, wearing the one Josh said he was going to personally make for the manager with his octopus logo on it. Josh was wearing his regular Jew Blazer cape over his Rush ‘2112’ t-shirt with Jack Walker just wearing a small Superman one, not that dissimilar to the cape Adrien’s girlfriend, Stacy Sterling, wears.
Adrien: “I’m guessing we’re having a bit of a party here.”
Cochrane laughs as Eddie can’t help but joining the laughter. Josh unnaturally laughs along with them even though he didn’t know what was so funny.
Josh: “Don’t most people wear capes to parties? Man, adulthood is really disappointing sometimes.”
Eddie: “Well, Adrien’s girlfriend will be on your side for this debate. Adrien here doesn’t own a cape.”
As trivial as not owning a cape is, Adrien still felt slightly left out from being the only cape-less person in the room. Eddie thankfully changes the subject.
Eddie: “So Josh, while we were preparing for Adrien’s big debut for over a month and watching as much Redemption Wrestling as we could, you’d be pleased to hear that you were a favorite of both mine as well as Adrien’s.”
Josh: “Well shucks. That’s super rad to hear. I just hope you can help me out in the whole….I dunno. I guess it doesn’t matter if I’m taken more seriously or not by my opponents but I mean… that attitude has a way of shifting to RW management and I really need to show them that just because I’m not a morose swear-monster like half the roster that doesn’t mean I’m a clown either.”
Adrien: “Hey, don’t let it get to you. I’ve been fired by companies because they thought I would never go anywhere in this industry by someone who ended up giving me the chip on my shoulder to prove him wrong. Half my opponents don’t take me seriously even to this day. I’m willing to bet Matthew Shields isn’t going to take me seriously up until the day he is across the ring from me and gets taken down.”
Eddie: “Not to mention you’re in the perfect situation to go ahead and have that, ironically named, redemption for anyone who thinks you’re a clown or just a tag team wrestler. You got that briefcase, Josh. You can be the one to finally take down Caroline O’Hara Burchill after she had to cheat to get past you the first time.”
Adrien: “Brass knuckles are so uncool.”
Adrien tried to make sure he used lingo that Josh would be more comfortable with in his reply. Josh thinks their words over for a moment.
Josh: “She dislocated my jaw. I know I may seem like I’m all smiles and superhero jokes but when I’m in the ring with Caroline again… I owe her. I can’t think of a better way to get her back than pinning her clean. I need someone to make sure things stay clean out there. That’s… a big reason I came to you. It’s been pretty lame that seemingly anyone can cheat to beat me without any sort of repercussions but I’m through complaining about it. It’s time to do something.”
Adrien: “The best repercussions they can receive would be at your hands, Josh. And that’s to leave that ring with her championship. Your championship. I was in a World Title match in EXODUS Pro. That guy who fired me in another company was trying to take over this company too. My opponent was his favorite, Heather Halliwell. He threw literally everything at me to try to stop me, chairs, two people interfering...one of which was supposed to be a friend of mine. She even tried to steal my finisher. But in the end, I didn’t let her or anyone else stop me from making sure they didn’t let them keep me down. And you gotta do the same thing, Josh.”
Josh: “Superheroes have to set a good example for people… but that doesn’t mean I’m just gonna take things on the chin.”
Eddie: “Well, you shouldn’t have to. And trust me, Josh, you’ve got a lot of people in your corner. You just became part of a big family when you decided to let me become your manager. You got yourself a new group of allies that want to see you succeed. Everyone here has your back. Even young Jack here.”
Jack: “GO JEW BLAZER!!”
Eddie: “We may have let him watch a few Redemption shows. You’re his second favorite wrestler now.”
Josh leans down to Jack.
Josh: “Just don’t watch any of my tag partner’s promos. Ronnie is a little less… family friendly than I am.”
Eddie: “Yeah, we know better than that. Trust me, I did my research on you and all you associate with before agreeing to manage you. I’m sorry to hear about his injury, but in a way, this gives you a chance to be a big champion in singles action.”
Adrien picks up Jack Walker.
Adrien: “Jack, you think the Jew Blazer can win that title from the big bad Caroline O’Hara Burchill?”
Jack: “YES!!”
Adrien: “What about Uncle Adrien beating the mean Matthew Shields?”
Jack: “YES!!”
Eddie: “What about Daddy…”
Jack: “Daddy, you can’t wrestle…”
Josh: “Ah, but he’s a superhero now! He’s got a cape and everything. Well, I suppose he’d need a full costume to really make it official. What are we thinking Jack? Green spandex? Maybe a cowl that gives him a big octopus head? I’m certain he could rock the Superman ‘Underpants-over-pants’ look.”
Josh takes a step back and looks Eddie up and down as if sizing him.
Adrien: “You would have to do something to make sure you don’t cover his hair.”
Jack: “Plus, Daddy is old! He’s forty-five.”
Eddie: “Forty-one!!”
Eddie glances at a mirror, trying to picture the costume that Josh was describing on his body. He shakes his head.
Eddie: “Baby steps. We’ll have to see how it works on me…”
Josh: “Hey man, Batman is 78. He’s still going strong. Now is it too much if your gloves have Octopus-like suction cups? Don’t answer, the idea is stuck in my head now and I have to make it happen. It’s literally all I can think of now. I think I just forgot my own phone number.”
Adrien is burying his face to keep from laughing too loudly. Eddie’s face is drenched in horror. Jack, on the other hand, is jumping up and down.
Jack: “You have to give him more arms too!! Like that Spider-Man villain but goofier and friendlier!!”
Josh: “YES! All of Redemption will come to fear the Managerial prowess of Goofy Justice Octopus! I need paper! And markers! I have to design this costume immediately!”
Jack: “I have paper and markers in my room!! I can go get them!! My mommy can even give us some cookies!!”
Josh: “THIS IS THE BEST DAY!”
Jack zooms past Adrien to head to his bedroom. Eddie Walker looks unsure how to react to the news that he was going to have a costume designed for him. Adrien can’t help but keep grinning. This is the family he was walking into when he signed with Redemption Wrestling. He has the purity and goofiness of the Jew Blazer, the toughness of Blair Kivisto, and so many more members of the roster he hasn’t even met yet. He nods his head knowing he made the right decision to sign here.
Eddie: “What the heck are you nodding your head for?”
Adrien: “Oh me?”
Adrien snaps back to reality from his thoughts.
Adrien: “I’m just thinking about the decisions that led to me standing in this office and happy that this was the path that I’ve chosen.”
Josh: “It’s good to have you here. Genuinely friendly faces are hard to come by in this business.”
Eddie: “Yeah, it’s friendly until you get in his warpath. But you have to really do something screwed up to get that going.”
Adrien: “Oh please, quit making me out to be some sort of terrifying presence.”
Eddie: “I’m your manager. Being your hype man is part of my job. And I’m gonna have to do it for young Josh here too.”
Josh: “Yeah! I can go on my own warpath! And then apologize for the mess I made! Maybe help clean up afterwards!”
Jack Walker runs back into the room, paper and markers being carried by his little arms.
Jack: “Mr. Jew Blazer, I got the paper and markers! Let’s go in the living room and design Daddy’s costume! Oh, and Daddy, Mommy said dinner will be ready in about half an hour. She said Adrien and Jew Blazer can stay for dinner.”
Adrien: “Considering how often your family eats at my house, I’m glad I got an invitation for this.”
Eddie: “Thanks, my boy. Don’t make a mess, okay?”
Jack: “Yes, Daddy! Come on, Mr. Jew Blazer!!”
Josh: “I’d love to stay for dinner!”
Jack: “We’re having pork chops!”
Josh: “Or just… y’know. Hang out.”
Eddie: “She’s aware of your Kosher diet. We have an alternate meat for you. Beef is kosher, right?”
Josh: “It sure is. Thanks for that. Anyway, off to design your costume!”
Josh gestures grandly before leaving for the living room to get to designing. After Josh leaves for the living room, Eddie Walker looks back at Adrien after glancing at the mirror a few more times.
Eddie: “Oh my, what have I gotten myself into?”
Adrien: “Oh come on, I think this is awesome. I like the guy already!”
Eddie: “Of course, you would. Look at your girlfriend! He’s basically a male version of her!”
Adrien: “It was only a matter of time before Stacy designed you a costume to wear like this.”
Eddie: “You’re not wrong.”
Adrien: “Relax, it will be fun!”
Eddie: “You’re only saying that because you’re not wearing one.”
Adrien: “It’s only a matter of time before Stacy or Josh make me wear one. And you know what, if either one do, I will proudly wear it.”
Eddie: “Yeah, you’re right. Anyway, staying for dinner?”
This is the first time Adrien has had a chance to taken in the scenery around him. This was Eddie’s new office, hopefully for a very long time. He had the same desk, same iMac, and same pictures, including one of him holding the #FSociety Heavyweight Championship during Adrien’s reign. But the room itself was a lot bigger. And the picture frames not holding any pictures yet littered the room.
Walker smiles as he grabs a photograph from the printer and slides it into one of the empty frames next to a picture of Adrien and Stacy from their vacation in Puerto Rico. It’s a picture that had to have been taken moments ago. It was of Eddie Walker standing next to the Jew Blazer, who was holding up Jack Walker, all three wearing their capes. Was Eddie a bit sarcastic and snarky? Absolutely, but the man’s heart is always bigger than most people realize.
The warmth of the moment just makes Adrien give the biggest smile as he pats his best friend on the back.
Adrien: “Totally, man. I love the new house, by the way.”
FOR THE ON CAMERA PORTION OF THIS RP, CLICK HERE!
Love and hate, get it wrong
She cut me right back down to size
Sleep the day, let it fade
Who was there to take your place
No one knows, never will
Mostly me, but mostly you
What do you say, do you do
When it all comes down
She cut me right back down to size
Sleep the day, let it fade
Who was there to take your place
No one knows, never will
Mostly me, but mostly you
What do you say, do you do
When it all comes down
Date: June 7th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Remember to use your hips and not your back. Alright, go!”
After giving some more specific instructions to help Kenzie Rydell perform her throw, Adrien Cochrane finds himself on the mat once again.
Adrien: “Great! Just like that!”
The Dropkick King gets back on his feet and smiles at his young protege. As Kenzie puts her hands on her hips and leans forward, she tries to catch her breath.
Kenzie: “We’ve been throwing hip tosses for almost an hour, Adrien. Can’t we take a break for a second?”
Adrien still has a big smirk on his face as he wipes his forehead with a nearby towel.
Adrien: “I’m the one being thrown around like a rag doll. You’re the one that wants a break?”
Rydell rolls her eyes as Adrien starts to chuckle. He tosses another towel to Kenzie to her to use.
Adrien: “Yeah, we can take a breather.”
With a small smile, Kenzie nods.
Kenzie: “Hah. While I enjoy tossing you around, it starts getting old after the first twenty minutes.”
As Kenzie playfully jabs Adrien lightly on the shoulder, she chuckles at the thought. Adrien places the towel back in the corner of the practice ring as he chuckles a little more. He’s in his usual ring gear from his wrestling days for the first time since his match with Allyson Morrow, now Allyson Gregory. His sleeveless #Believe shirt and pants length tights were a sight that everyone in Adrien’s life has been waiting to see for quite awhile.
Adrien: “Well, what happens if your opponent hasn’t stayed down after twenty minutes have passed? Sometimes the winner is the one who keeps fighting even when they don’t want to fight anymore.”
Kenzie: “I guess you’re right.”
Kicking the mat with her wrestling boot firmly on her foot, Kenzie looks a little frustrated. Straightening out the wrinkles of her black sleeveless tank top, she then reaches up and fixes her ponytail while she continues to speak.
Kenzie: “I guess what I’m trying to say is, can we learn something else, maybe?”
Adrien: “What did you have in mind?”
The twenty-two-year-old grinned.
Kenzie: “I was thinking… Maybe you could teach me the Crescent City Connection?”
Cochrane’s eyebrows raise the moment she utters the word of Adrien’s finishing maneuver. Adrien is admittedly caught off guard by the request, but it’s not unreasonable. It’s the move that won him the #FSociety Heavyweight Title. Only the aforementioned Ally Gregory has kicked out of it.
Adrien: “Shouldn’t we start with a trip to the location in which that named came from first and foremost?”
Adrien chuckles a little bit.
Adrien: “The Triple C, huh? You know, missing that move has cost me a match or two, right?”
Kenzie nods.
Kenzie: “I’m aware. I know that it’s won you a ton of matches in the process too. And see, the thought process is… I have the Meteora as one of my signature moves. I figure if I can learn the Crescent City Connection, it’s the natural progression, y’know? Whenever I’m in a jam, whenever I need a little extra something to get the job done — when my opponent just won’t stay down… Well, it’d be a good move to put in my tool belt, right?”
Adrien: “Well, you know how to do the Meteora. Except, the Crescent City Connection is the springboard version of it. And because you got that extra air with it, you have to be doubly accurate to make sure your knees are getting them right in the shoulders. Honestly, that’s the key.”
Adrien remembers he isn’t at his home practice facility but instead in Las Vegas at a facility Kenzie is a member of run by former #FSociety owner, Chris Night. If he was at home, he would have his projector on near the ring where he could quickly throw up some tape of the move.
Adrien: “I’m sure you know how to springboard into the ring in general. You jump on the ropes and spring into the ring, hence the name. Go ahead and springboard and just land on your feet for me?”
With a simple gesture that she was ready, Kenzie rushes towards the far ropes and uses the momentum to propel her forward. Bouncing off of the ropes and speeding in the other direction, Kenzie jumps as high as she can and lands on the rope. Bouncing back into the ring, she stumbles on the landing. After so long training, her body was exhausted and as she hunches forward, she knew she’d be getting an earful from Adrien.
Adrien: “You were focusing more on the bounce than the spring off the ropes. You gotta stay focused the entire process.”
With that advice in mind, Kenzie doesn’t hesitate to attempt it again. Attempting to clear her mind of anything negative, she focuses on springing off the middle rope and sticks the landing on the white mat below.
Adrien: “There you go. Now I want you to come at me with a more basic move. Try doing my favorite move off a springboard at me. Remember, your back is going to be towards me before so you have to keep my location in mind when you’re bouncing off the rope to aim.”
With a nod, she glances at the ropes and then back at Adrien.
Kenzie: “Okay, but if I screw up again…”
She shook her head, trying to toss those thoughts away like a dog shaking the water off of him. After a deep breath and an intense focus on the task at hand, Kenzie rushed towards the ropes and spun, springboarding off the ropes and landing both feet directly to Adrien’s chest. Bouncing back like a pinball, she rolled herself back up to her feet and grabbed her mentor’s hand to get him back up to his feet.
Adrien: “Excellent! Excellent! Well executed. Feel free to throw that move into your repertoire. Also, how many people do you think will know that you got that move from the Dropkick King?”
A toothy grin comes across Adrien’s face as did Kenzie.
Adrien: “Ready to try to the big move?”
She nods once more.
Kenzie: “I was born ready!”
Adrien: “Well, let’s see what you got.”
Adrien watches as Kenzie starts running back at the ropes, jumping onto the middle rope once more and leaping back at Adrien. He braces himself as her knees land directly on his shoulders. Adrien has been hit by finishing moves of his, almost always the Adrien Cutter. This might be the first time he was smiling at one being used on him. His laughter filled the facility as he feels Kenzie grabbing both of his arms to pick him back up.
Kenzie: “I did it! I did the Crescent City Connection! Wow, that was amazing! Is that how you feel every time you hit that move.”
Adrien: “Seeing as all but one time, it’s led to a three count, and has led to some championships being awarded to me, yeah, it feels pretty damn good to hit that move.”
Kenzie: “Does this mean I’ve gotten all your secrets down? Does this mean I have nothing more to learn from you?”
Adrien makes his next move without warning. Adrien quickly latches on to Kenzie’s neck for the Adrien Cutter but doesn’t do the drop. Kenzie’s eyes widen a little bit at the suddenness of Adrien’s move. The three-time World Champion releases Kenzie who’s heart rate is probably trying to get back to a lower count after spiking for a moment.
Adrien: “Not until you remember that this one little move right here is always lurking. Such a simple move, honestly. Just a variation of the Ace Crusher. But executing it in a manner where it could come from any point of a match and take down the best competitors...that’s what has been one of the building blocks of my career.”
Adrien opens up the ropes a little bit for Kenzie to exit the ring shortly after releasing Kenzie.
Adrien: “Come on, let’s get changed. I’ll take you and Adam out for some lunch.”
'Cause I don't wanna come back
Down from this cloud
It's taken me all this time to find out what I need, yeah
I don't wanna come back
Down from this cloud
It's taken me all this, all this time
Down from this cloud
It's taken me all this time to find out what I need, yeah
I don't wanna come back
Down from this cloud
It's taken me all this, all this time
Date: June 15th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
“Wow, so this is the new place?”
Adrien Cochrane puts his Mercedes-Benz into park in the driveway of the house he just pulled up into. He checks the GPS on his iPhone to double check he is at the right place. The house was just as large as Adrien’s own home, which took Adrien a decade of being a top rated wrestler and a decently successful music career for him to be able to afford to purchase.
Adrien: “Yup, apparently this is the place.”
Adrien exits his vehicle and locking his car door. He’s dressed in standard Adrien clothing: a blue plaid button-up shirt over some slim fitting blue jeans. His blue eyes were covered by a pair of light blue sunglasses. He admires the home a little bit as he slowly walks over to the door, which swings open before he even can press the doorbell. A familiar female voice to Adrien immediately welcomes him.
Skye: “Adrien! You’ve found the place!”
The wife of Adrien’s manager, Skye Walker, smiles and gives the Dropkick King a friendly side hug. As a modest elementary teacher who is off for the summer, she’s dressed in a yellow sundress and big sunglasses.
Adrien: “Wow, this is a really nice place, Skye. Of course, it’s your salary from the school holding up the fort, right?”
The elementary teacher smiles and shakes her head at Adrien’s lame attempt at humor. She quickly gives Adrien the direction she knows he’s looking for.
Skye: “Eddie is in the back. Be warned, he has other company over as well.”
Other company?
Adrien raises his eyebrows before navigating the hallway. He gets a quick glimpse of the living room that has yet to be fully unpacked. The sofa and the coffee table are the only things that are really prepared for use. Skye departs for the kitchen in the opposite direction, which looks like it is at least put together, probably before she moved in. Adrien can easily pick out the bedrooms down the hallway with the sign that has their child’s name in his own handwriting. Adrien then is sure has the right room for Eddie’s new office as he finds the door that has the most noise coming from behind it. He opens the door as sees three people. The first of which is Eddie Walker himself. His seven-year-old son is unsurprisingly in the room as well. What catches Adrien by surprise as well is the presence of Josh Goldstein, known to all the fans of Redemption Wrestling as The Jew Blazer.
Eddie: “Adrien! Greetings. I’d like you to meet someone, Mr. Goldstein!”
Josh: “Just Josh actually. Nice to meet you!”
The respectful tone in Josh’s voice would imply a handshake, but his hand goes up for a high five. Adrien responds by smacking Josh’s hand with a big smile. The two once joked about doing an 80’s high five on Twitter once before but this was the first of perhaps many to happen in real life.
Adrien: “Don’t feel bad. He still will occasionally call me Mr. Cochrane and I’m one of his best friends. Just correct him enough times and he’ll get it. I think Blair has made some sort of threat towards him if he calls her Miss Kivisto one more time.”
Adrien glances around the room and notices something that everyone in the room has in common: they are all wearing superhero capes. Eddie included, wearing the one Josh said he was going to personally make for the manager with his octopus logo on it. Josh was wearing his regular Jew Blazer cape over his Rush ‘2112’ t-shirt with Jack Walker just wearing a small Superman one, not that dissimilar to the cape Adrien’s girlfriend, Stacy Sterling, wears.
Adrien: “I’m guessing we’re having a bit of a party here.”
Cochrane laughs as Eddie can’t help but joining the laughter. Josh unnaturally laughs along with them even though he didn’t know what was so funny.
Josh: “Don’t most people wear capes to parties? Man, adulthood is really disappointing sometimes.”
Eddie: “Well, Adrien’s girlfriend will be on your side for this debate. Adrien here doesn’t own a cape.”
As trivial as not owning a cape is, Adrien still felt slightly left out from being the only cape-less person in the room. Eddie thankfully changes the subject.
Eddie: “So Josh, while we were preparing for Adrien’s big debut for over a month and watching as much Redemption Wrestling as we could, you’d be pleased to hear that you were a favorite of both mine as well as Adrien’s.”
Josh: “Well shucks. That’s super rad to hear. I just hope you can help me out in the whole….I dunno. I guess it doesn’t matter if I’m taken more seriously or not by my opponents but I mean… that attitude has a way of shifting to RW management and I really need to show them that just because I’m not a morose swear-monster like half the roster that doesn’t mean I’m a clown either.”
Adrien: “Hey, don’t let it get to you. I’ve been fired by companies because they thought I would never go anywhere in this industry by someone who ended up giving me the chip on my shoulder to prove him wrong. Half my opponents don’t take me seriously even to this day. I’m willing to bet Matthew Shields isn’t going to take me seriously up until the day he is across the ring from me and gets taken down.”
Eddie: “Not to mention you’re in the perfect situation to go ahead and have that, ironically named, redemption for anyone who thinks you’re a clown or just a tag team wrestler. You got that briefcase, Josh. You can be the one to finally take down Caroline O’Hara Burchill after she had to cheat to get past you the first time.”
Adrien: “Brass knuckles are so uncool.”
Adrien tried to make sure he used lingo that Josh would be more comfortable with in his reply. Josh thinks their words over for a moment.
Josh: “She dislocated my jaw. I know I may seem like I’m all smiles and superhero jokes but when I’m in the ring with Caroline again… I owe her. I can’t think of a better way to get her back than pinning her clean. I need someone to make sure things stay clean out there. That’s… a big reason I came to you. It’s been pretty lame that seemingly anyone can cheat to beat me without any sort of repercussions but I’m through complaining about it. It’s time to do something.”
Adrien: “The best repercussions they can receive would be at your hands, Josh. And that’s to leave that ring with her championship. Your championship. I was in a World Title match in EXODUS Pro. That guy who fired me in another company was trying to take over this company too. My opponent was his favorite, Heather Halliwell. He threw literally everything at me to try to stop me, chairs, two people interfering...one of which was supposed to be a friend of mine. She even tried to steal my finisher. But in the end, I didn’t let her or anyone else stop me from making sure they didn’t let them keep me down. And you gotta do the same thing, Josh.”
Josh: “Superheroes have to set a good example for people… but that doesn’t mean I’m just gonna take things on the chin.”
Eddie: “Well, you shouldn’t have to. And trust me, Josh, you’ve got a lot of people in your corner. You just became part of a big family when you decided to let me become your manager. You got yourself a new group of allies that want to see you succeed. Everyone here has your back. Even young Jack here.”
Jack: “GO JEW BLAZER!!”
Eddie: “We may have let him watch a few Redemption shows. You’re his second favorite wrestler now.”
Josh leans down to Jack.
Josh: “Just don’t watch any of my tag partner’s promos. Ronnie is a little less… family friendly than I am.”
Eddie: “Yeah, we know better than that. Trust me, I did my research on you and all you associate with before agreeing to manage you. I’m sorry to hear about his injury, but in a way, this gives you a chance to be a big champion in singles action.”
Adrien picks up Jack Walker.
Adrien: “Jack, you think the Jew Blazer can win that title from the big bad Caroline O’Hara Burchill?”
Jack: “YES!!”
Adrien: “What about Uncle Adrien beating the mean Matthew Shields?”
Jack: “YES!!”
Eddie: “What about Daddy…”
Jack: “Daddy, you can’t wrestle…”
Josh: “Ah, but he’s a superhero now! He’s got a cape and everything. Well, I suppose he’d need a full costume to really make it official. What are we thinking Jack? Green spandex? Maybe a cowl that gives him a big octopus head? I’m certain he could rock the Superman ‘Underpants-over-pants’ look.”
Josh takes a step back and looks Eddie up and down as if sizing him.
Adrien: “You would have to do something to make sure you don’t cover his hair.”
Jack: “Plus, Daddy is old! He’s forty-five.”
Eddie: “Forty-one!!”
Eddie glances at a mirror, trying to picture the costume that Josh was describing on his body. He shakes his head.
Eddie: “Baby steps. We’ll have to see how it works on me…”
Josh: “Hey man, Batman is 78. He’s still going strong. Now is it too much if your gloves have Octopus-like suction cups? Don’t answer, the idea is stuck in my head now and I have to make it happen. It’s literally all I can think of now. I think I just forgot my own phone number.”
Adrien is burying his face to keep from laughing too loudly. Eddie’s face is drenched in horror. Jack, on the other hand, is jumping up and down.
Jack: “You have to give him more arms too!! Like that Spider-Man villain but goofier and friendlier!!”
Josh: “YES! All of Redemption will come to fear the Managerial prowess of Goofy Justice Octopus! I need paper! And markers! I have to design this costume immediately!”
Jack: “I have paper and markers in my room!! I can go get them!! My mommy can even give us some cookies!!”
Josh: “THIS IS THE BEST DAY!”
Jack zooms past Adrien to head to his bedroom. Eddie Walker looks unsure how to react to the news that he was going to have a costume designed for him. Adrien can’t help but keep grinning. This is the family he was walking into when he signed with Redemption Wrestling. He has the purity and goofiness of the Jew Blazer, the toughness of Blair Kivisto, and so many more members of the roster he hasn’t even met yet. He nods his head knowing he made the right decision to sign here.
Eddie: “What the heck are you nodding your head for?”
Adrien: “Oh me?”
Adrien snaps back to reality from his thoughts.
Adrien: “I’m just thinking about the decisions that led to me standing in this office and happy that this was the path that I’ve chosen.”
Josh: “It’s good to have you here. Genuinely friendly faces are hard to come by in this business.”
Eddie: “Yeah, it’s friendly until you get in his warpath. But you have to really do something screwed up to get that going.”
Adrien: “Oh please, quit making me out to be some sort of terrifying presence.”
Eddie: “I’m your manager. Being your hype man is part of my job. And I’m gonna have to do it for young Josh here too.”
Josh: “Yeah! I can go on my own warpath! And then apologize for the mess I made! Maybe help clean up afterwards!”
Jack Walker runs back into the room, paper and markers being carried by his little arms.
Jack: “Mr. Jew Blazer, I got the paper and markers! Let’s go in the living room and design Daddy’s costume! Oh, and Daddy, Mommy said dinner will be ready in about half an hour. She said Adrien and Jew Blazer can stay for dinner.”
Adrien: “Considering how often your family eats at my house, I’m glad I got an invitation for this.”
Eddie: “Thanks, my boy. Don’t make a mess, okay?”
Jack: “Yes, Daddy! Come on, Mr. Jew Blazer!!”
Josh: “I’d love to stay for dinner!”
Jack: “We’re having pork chops!”
Josh: “Or just… y’know. Hang out.”
Eddie: “She’s aware of your Kosher diet. We have an alternate meat for you. Beef is kosher, right?”
Josh: “It sure is. Thanks for that. Anyway, off to design your costume!”
Josh gestures grandly before leaving for the living room to get to designing. After Josh leaves for the living room, Eddie Walker looks back at Adrien after glancing at the mirror a few more times.
Eddie: “Oh my, what have I gotten myself into?”
Adrien: “Oh come on, I think this is awesome. I like the guy already!”
Eddie: “Of course, you would. Look at your girlfriend! He’s basically a male version of her!”
Adrien: “It was only a matter of time before Stacy designed you a costume to wear like this.”
Eddie: “You’re not wrong.”
Adrien: “Relax, it will be fun!”
Eddie: “You’re only saying that because you’re not wearing one.”
Adrien: “It’s only a matter of time before Stacy or Josh make me wear one. And you know what, if either one do, I will proudly wear it.”
Eddie: “Yeah, you’re right. Anyway, staying for dinner?”
This is the first time Adrien has had a chance to taken in the scenery around him. This was Eddie’s new office, hopefully for a very long time. He had the same desk, same iMac, and same pictures, including one of him holding the #FSociety Heavyweight Championship during Adrien’s reign. But the room itself was a lot bigger. And the picture frames not holding any pictures yet littered the room.
Walker smiles as he grabs a photograph from the printer and slides it into one of the empty frames next to a picture of Adrien and Stacy from their vacation in Puerto Rico. It’s a picture that had to have been taken moments ago. It was of Eddie Walker standing next to the Jew Blazer, who was holding up Jack Walker, all three wearing their capes. Was Eddie a bit sarcastic and snarky? Absolutely, but the man’s heart is always bigger than most people realize.
The warmth of the moment just makes Adrien give the biggest smile as he pats his best friend on the back.
Adrien: “Totally, man. I love the new house, by the way.”
There is no blame only shame
When you beg you just complain
The more I come, more I try
All police are paranoid
So am I, so's the future
So are you, be a creature
What do you say do you do when it all comes down
When you beg you just complain
The more I come, more I try
All police are paranoid
So am I, so's the future
So are you, be a creature
What do you say do you do when it all comes down
FOR THE ON CAMERA PORTION OF THIS RP, CLICK HERE!
