Post by Adrien | Adam on Jun 24, 2017 1:05:14 GMT -5
(OOC: Wrote this with the handlers of Stacy Sterling and Honey Smith, who both were amazing partners for this piece)
Date: June 18th
Cameras: OFF
“You did WHAT now?!”
Adrien Cochrane lets the words enter one of his ears then immediately fly right out the other. He continues placing all of his belongings back into his duffle bag. The #Believe shirt he wore during his match is sitting at the top of the locker until he grabs it and stuffs it into the back as the man speaking to him shuts his locker to get his attention. Adrien turns to the spiky haired middle aged manager to let him get his lecture over with so he can move on with his life.
Eddie: “Are we going to talk about this or what?”
Adrien: “I’m leaning towards the ‘or what’ option. Eddie, I have my reasons for doing this.”
Eddie: “And it would make my life a lot easier if I knew these reasons so I can do the damn job you pay me to do.”
Eddie Walker’s bottom lip quivers a little bit, annoyed with his top client. He’s still wearing the same clothes he wore when he introduced Adrien to the Redemption fans earlier in the evening, a black t-shirt with an octopus on it and a pair of blue jeans. His dark blue eyes kept looking at Adrien as if he wanted more of an explanation.
Adrien: “Listen, I’m needed. What the hell was I going to do? Let poor Honey go into that tag gauntlet match by herself with people like Coda, Richards, and all the others in that match ready to try to take advantage of the fact that Alechs got suspended?”
Eddie: “What happens to Honey isn’t your problem, Adrien.”
Adrien: “And that attitude right there is what some pompous self-righteous asshole like Matthew Shields would have about situations like this. I’m not like them, and you know that, Eddie.”
Walker rubs his eyes and turns away for a moment. He takes a few steps away from Adrien as he processes everything happening. He turns back in the direction of Adrien.
Eddie: “Look, I know you want to help people. It’s one of the things that makes you one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, talent and ability aside. But you have to think things through. Alright. So let’s get this straight, you told me in Vegas that you had absolutely no interest in the Tag Team Championship at the present moment.”
Adrien: “Any title right now, but go on.”
Eddie: “Why get into this match to determine the number one contender for the tag titles? And also, wouldn’t Alechs be upset about you getting to be the one that finally wins a gold title with his beloved?”
Adrien: “I’m not doing it for me, Eddie. Once we win this match, I give my half of the title shot to Alechs. I’m allowed to vacate a contendership. Honey will still be the number one contender. And her tag team partner of choice will be Alechs.”
Eddie: “Assuming he keeps his nose clean and gets reinstated.”
Adrien: “If he doesn’t, that’s on him.”
Eddie: “Fine…”
As soon as the word leaves Eddie’s mouth, the door unexpectedly opens. Honey gets over her head her Young Cubs hoody, her size one and straightens out the wrinkles so her stitching reads “Honey - Chica” clear as day. After getting her hair quickly into a ponytail and getting her backpack all packed up with her ring gear and a water bottle filled from the sink, she strides along quickly through the backstage area. Alechs texts her about getting a cab as he was made to leave the building for his actions. Honey responds quickly, one-word and jams her phone into her pocket before coming into the locker room, first avoiding Burt, a delightful custodian who gives Honey a friendly smile and a strawberry KitKat. Honey heads onwards, newfound candy cheerfulness distracting her at the moment from the suspension and the change of partner she now had to face.
That was until her fixation on the KitKat was drawn away to Eddie’s “Fine” and she aimed to not eavesdrop but her shoe creates the utmost high pitch of squeak as she twists her ankle to try and be polite and walk by.
Eddie: “Oh look. It’s your brand new tag team partner who you’ve never met in person before.”
Adrien: “Eddie, quit being rude. Hey, Honey. I’m sure you…”
Honey: “-Hi, I’m Honey.”
Honey offers her hand out for a shake. Adrien goes to accept the handshake when Honey pulls back, remembering she ideally shouldn’t interact with strangers, then extends it to be nice and the two have an awkward to and fro before Eddie gets involved in making their hands meet.
Eddie: “Good. First step, handshake and introductions. One step closer to being the best tag team partners ever.”
Adrien shoots Eddie a dirty look for his sarcastic remark before turning back to Honey.
Adrien: “I’m Adrien. I’m sure you are probably a bit shocked at everything that just happened this past hour or so…”
Honey: “Yes. I don’t understand why Alechs needed to attack Tillman and then, like, I get a new tag team partner as if by magic.”
Honey ends by snapping her fingers.
Honey: “And it’s THE MAIN EVENT TOO!”
Honey’s face tells a story of never main eventing ever. Her vocal volume is a little scattered partly from excitement and partly from shock at getting the spot.
Adrien: “Well, welcome to the main event.”
Eddie: “Easy for you to say. This guy main events shows all the time.”
Honey: “I’ve never ever ever main evented, like, ever.”
Honey says shrugging in a casual, passing tone like it wasn’t a big deal to her though it highly was and her cheeks grow rosy from how big of a chance it was.
Adrien: “Try not to think about it like that. It’s a match. Where on the show is irrelevant. Just be ready to do everything you can to win it. You got this. I’ve been watching you two, you and Alechs. I think the Young Cubs have a chance to be a great tag team and I don’t want to see that opportunity squandered by a lapse in judgment on his part.”
Honey: “Okey dokey. But, um, how does Alechs get to get his share if you are doing it?”
Honey says looking to Eddie for the answer, thinking he was the guy with all the answers. Seeing as she is looking to the older gentleman, he decides to answer, almost verbatim what Adrien said to him seconds ago.
Eddie: “Adrien can vacate his half of the contendership. In such a situation, you are still an earned contender to the championship and you would be able to elect a replacement for Adrien. Which would give you the chance to get Alechs in the title match. Young Cubs versus Rebel Ink, you two get your chance for your championship.”
Adrien: “Exactly.”
Honey narrows her eyes and looks between them, making sure she wasn’t in the midst of a scam and gets the impression it is all hunky dory and smiles.
Honey: “Ok! I will pick Alechs then, but first, we do have to, like, win the match and I’ve been in this one before. It’s a hard match and we lost in the first match when we entered. It was super tough and this time around there’s Coda AND Kayla. Rc and Blazer, Alicia and John, and the Karloffs, not fun."
Honey ends with a sing-songy tone rhyming at the end in part. A little sense of doubt given her own history in the matches shaking her resounding positivity.
Eddie: “You do realize who your partner is, right?”
Adrien tries to stop Eddie from getting started.
Adrien: “Eddie…”
Eddie isn’t having it as he quickly silences his client.
Eddie: “Being your hype man is part of my job, Adrien. Shush.”
The manager turns back to Honey.
Eddie: “This man won the EXODUS Pro World Heavyweight Title when he was assaulted with a chair, had his own finisher struck against him, and two people interfering against him. He won a fight against an evil stable when he was outnumbered in an eight team tag match as the last member of his team remaining. He has won the top championships in last three companies where he wrestled at least six matches. The other three was due to closures, not due to him quitting or anything like that.”
Adrien: “Eddie…”
Eddie: “Didn’t I shush you already? This man hasn’t been pinned since October and that was the only time he was pinned in the past two years. Oh, and he just got a victory over said only person just a few hours ago. This man is one of the most gifted wrestlers on the planet, one of the hardest workers in everything he does, and one of the best people you will see in the ring. So as good as all those people are, Miss Honey, be prepared for the Dropkick King to show you just how damn good he is.”
At this point, Adrien is completely embarrassed by his manager. Honey’s eyes go back and forth after her lecture.
Honey: “Um, I haven’t done anything like that. How do you get to be a king of dropkicks?”
Honey speaks with a serious tone.
Honey: “I didn’t know they were, like, royalty and stuff. Young Padawan.”
Honey says to Eddie, perhaps misusing the term entirely wrong.
Eddie: “Watch an Adrien match sometime. You’ll see why he’s the Dropkick King.”
Adrien: “EITHER WAY…”
Adrien cuts off Eddie from trying to be too much of a hype man for Adrien to the point of embarrassing Adrien.
Adrien: “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you get that championship opportunity. And there are very few on this big blue marble that will stop me when I do so.”
Honey: “Do I need a hype man?”
Her attention shifting quickly to wondering if she needed her own to track her history for her at times.
Adrien: “I thought you had like a manager or something like that already.”
Honey shakes her head.
Honey: “Nope! Unless, like, Alechs counts.”
Honey then opens her KitKat and offers them each a chance to take a bar. Adrien declines but Eddie happily accepts.
Adrien: “Your dad, I thought I’ve seen him do stuff on camera for you before.”
Eddie: “Yeah, I think I remember that too.”
Honey: “Daddies don’t count. They’re supposed to hype their kids.”
Honey takes a bite of her bar, getting a full blast of strawberry and relaxes. Shoulders coming down.
Honey: “Where are your parents?”
Adrien: “Well, my father can’t really do much hyping for me. He passed away six months ago.”
Eddie: “Well this got awkward…”
Adrien: “Shush, she didn’t know.”
Honey rushes in to hug Adrien to be supportive.
Honey: “That’s really sad, Adrien. Your first father’s day without him there and, like, being all happy you won and stuff.”
Honey gives him a comforting squeeze as her wrists are locked around his waist before pulling away.
Honey: “I bet he is very proud of you and your title wins too. I wonder what he would have thought of, like, you teaming with me.
Adrien politely pats Honey’s back while she hugs him. He looks at Walker, unsure what else to do.
Adrien: “I publicly dedicated this match to him. I know he was proud of me, looking down from above at what I’ve done. He encouraged me into being the competitor I am today. I must always fight for him because it is what he would want me to do.”
Eddie: “Alright. I think we’ve had enough PDA since both of you have significant others somewhere around here.”
Eddie breaks up the hug.
Eddie: “I’m sure our little circles will have to meet soon to properly prepare for this match-up. We’ve got a big match and we need all the chemistry we can conjure up in two weeks span. I would say your people should contact Adrien’s people, but I pretty much am Adrien’s people so…”
Adrien: “He means we need to do some training together soon. Maybe with Stacy and Alechs pretending to be our opponents in a practice match.”
Honey: “Um, okey dokey but I also have to make sure I have time to go to GOL to do my Redemption match there and have to make sure I pass my medical stuff to wrestle too. They’re very concerned since I got attacked.”
Honey just nods, trying to push out the flash of images of getting ambushed after her match.
Eddie: “Whenever your schedule opens up. It’s no big deal. Pleased to meet you, Miss Smith.”
Eddie offers the handshake he never got when Honey entered the room.
Honey: “Miss...I’m Honey, nice to meet you, Hype Man.”
Honey says shaking his hand and giving him an unusual, Honey’s own attempt to be serious and stern looking, narrowing her eyes as she engages in an unspoken dabble of mental battles before ending it with a fist bump and flutters her hand away.
Honey: “Balalalala.”
Eddie: “I have no idea what just happened here.”
Honey: “It’s from a movie about teamwork. Like, since we’re going to be a team.”
Honey wiggles her head thinking that was plainly obvious. Eddie stares blankly, trying to still figure out what exactly is going on.
Adrien: “Anyway, we’ll be in touch. Great to meet you and I look forward to working with you.”
Honey’s phone buzzes with Alechs calling her.
Honey: “Um, Yes! I’ll touch base with you! Bye!”
Honey says scattering off to the phone call and almost leaves her backpack behind, quickly remembering it and grabs it as she heads off from the pair. The two men exchange glances.
Eddie: “This was your idea. I want you to remember this.”
Adrien: “Once again, this person you suspect will cause much regret isn’t giving me that impression. She’s going to want this win more than I will.”
Eddie: “I mean, yeah. She’s gonna be motivated.”
Adrien: “And Alechs is going to gracious for this. You know friends aren’t a bad thing to have in locker rooms.”
Eddie: “And you’re sure you’ve chosen wisely?”
The Dropkick King smiles as he lifts his bag, finally ready to depart for the evening.
Adrien: “Only one way to find out.”
Date: June 21, 2017
Cameras: OFF
Swipe. Swipe. Swipe.
Adrien Cochrane smirks a little bit as he stares at the screen of his iPhone 7 Plus and looking at the conversations going on over on Twitter. His head rested comfortably on his pillow as he was lying on the blanket in his bed, with the lamp still on. The time stamp on the top of his phone read fifteen minutes to three in the morning, but Adrien was becoming more and more of a night owl as time went on.
Suddenly, the bed bounces a little bit as another body leaped on the bed. The body, of course, belonged to the girlfriend of the Dropkick King, wrestling’s resident hero, Stacy Sterling. She had just initiated the Twitter exchange from the kitchen after getting herself a drink of water.
Stacy: “Are you really going to get out of bed, JUST to make me something to eat? I mean, it would totally make you the best boyfriend on the planet, or any planet, but you already are the best boyfriend, so you really have nothing left to prove, but…”
Her mouth moved faster than the words that were escaping her lips, causing her to pause and laugh. She playfully kicked at Adrien’s ankle, something she commonly did when the couple was in bed and she would trip over her own words.
Stacy: “You always get me tongue-tied. Do you have some superhuman power over me, Mr. Cochrane?”
Adrien sits back up, chuckling a little bit his girlfriend just being bubbly as ever.
Adrien: “If you consider love to be a superpower, then I guess it does.”
Cochrane winks at Stacy before she playfully swings a pillow gently at him.
Adrien: “I’m not tired yet so why not? If my girlfriend is hungry, I will provide something for her to feast upon until she is satisfied. Anything I can do for your happiness is not a problem.”
Stacy: “Well I do hear that every super chef needs a super sidekick in the kitchen, especially at three in the morning, so...do you mind if I join you?”
She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but it was rare that Adrien ever told Stacy no anyways so she expected the answer that he was about to give her.
Adrien: “I would love to have you join me downstairs. Life is always better when I’m in the same room as my beautiful girlfriend.”
Adrien smiles before planting a kiss on Stacy’s forehead. He grabs her by the hand and leads her downstairs to Adrien’s kitchen. After traveling across the living room to the kitchen, Adrien opens up his built-in refrigerator and grabs a couple of eggs out of the shelf in the door.
Adrien: “Can you grab a skillet for me, sweetie?”
Stacy: “One skillet coming right up!”
The couple had a lot of energy for it being so late, but with only recently getting back to work, their sleep schedules were still in need of some adjustment. Surely with Adrien’s big move to Redemption and the inevitable travel ahead, things would change. For now, however, the two enjoyed every moment at home they could get with each other.
Stacy: “I’m getting the big one because I want you to eat some too. We can share.”
Stacy retrieves the skillet and walks it over to Adrien, sitting it on the marble countertop before taking a few steps back and sitting on a chair at the kitchen island.
Stacy: “I kind of wanted to talk about something with you too, but if it’s too late to have a serious talk, we can wait until the morning.”
Adrien’s eyebrows raise a little bit as he grabs a few seasonings out of his pantry, namely salt, pepper, and bacon bits. He turns to his gas cooktop on the very island that Stacy was sitting at.
Adrien: “As long as you’re not dumping me as I cook you food, we can have a talk.”
Adrien was joking of course but Stacy gave him an eye roll for even suggesting such a thing.
Stacy: “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Stacy paused, which wasn’t normal for her. Finally, she stood from the chair and walked over, resting her elbows on the counter, turning her head just enough to where she could see Adrien as he continued prepping the eggs.
Stacy: “I’ve been thinking, and doing some research and...I want to make a difference. Not just in a wrestling ring, but a real difference. There are a lot of people in this world that deal with some really bad things on a daily basis, and here I am over here in your home living like a princess. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I could be doing more.”
Adrien continued prepping but did manage to look down at Stacy as she continued.
Stacy: “I was thinking, maybe, I could volunteer sometime soon. It doesn’t have to be now, or even next month, but maybe when these contract negotiations are settled, I could work out some time to take off and head overseas to help improve the lives of others. Not for long, maybe like two weeks to a month? I’m not really sure how you would feel about that, but a real hero doesn’t just put smiles on faces while doing her job. You know?”
The three-time World Champion turns the knob to ignite the brass burner underneath the skillet. He looks back at Stacy as soon as he does.
Adrien: “Sweetheart, what you do in your spare time is completely up to you. You don’t need my permission to do anything along those lines. I think you doing something for a good cause is a great idea. I don’t even understand why you are asking.”
The New Orleans native cracks open an egg, emptying it out into the skillet. He does the same to a second then a third egg. He starts mixing them up in the skillet with a spatula.
Adrien: “Never EVER think you have to seek my permission to do good in the world. It’s part of the reason I love you. If you need my help in any form, maybe seeing if I can find somewhere for you, maybe even me, to help out, I’m on it.”
Stacy: “I didn’t think you would mind, but I still think it’s healthy to discuss important things like this. It would take me away from you for a few weeks if you decided not to come with me. Not to mention you just signed with Redemption and besides being partners in life, we’re partners in training too. I didn’t want to leave a void in your day to day training because I know how big of a deal Redemption is to you and how hard you worked to make it here. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”
Hearing Adrien showing no reservations, but rather motivation for Stacy to pursue her goals out of the ring was music to her ears, without the strumming of his guitar of course, which he routinely played for her.
Stacy: “It isn’t something I’m one hundred percent doing like I said in the next week or weeks, but I wanted to see how you felt about it.”
Her nose perked up as she sniffed the aroma of the eggs cooking out of the air.
Stacy: “They smell delicious already.”
Adrien: “I haven’t even seasoned them yet.”
Another wink from the Dropkick King makes Stacy smile even wider. Adrien puts a dash of salt, a bit of pepper, and lastly some bacon bits to try to enhance the flavor of the scrambled eggs.
Adrien: “I will always support you, one hundred percent. You do the same for me all the time. It’s what makes our relationship so amazing. I’ve been blessed with the best girlfriend in the world. And these eggs at three before the sun is even up is my way of making sure she feels appreciated.”
Adrien opens the fridge behind him real fast and even grabs a few strips of bacon.
Adrien: “I mean, go big or go home, right?”
Stacy’s blue eyes light up at the sight of the bacon strips as she playfully lets her tongue hang out of her mouth for a few seconds before laughing.
Stacy: “If I could have hearts in my eyes like that cute little emoji, I would totally be rocking the hearts right now.”
Stacy holds a hand up and without missing a beat, Adrien slaps it with a high five.
Stacy: “Did we just high five over some bacon? I think we really did!”
Adrien: “I think I’ve been spending too much time with Jew Blazer. Who, ironically, would not be able to eat the thing we just high-fived over.”
Adrien makes another lame joke with a bigger grin than the joke deserved. He grabs two plates before starting to put the eggs into two portions on each plate. He then places the bacon on the same skillet.
Adrien: “Are you gonna be able to wait til the bacon is done to eat?”
Stacy: “I think so? Although there’s a high possibility of sneaking into the cabinet and grabbing another snack to hold me over. This is the part where you pull out the epic boyfriend card and tell me not to do that because eating bacon and eggs at this time of night is bad enough as it is and that I just need to be patient, so come on epic boyfriend! Save me!”
Adrien: “Bacon and eggs are bad enough this time of night. You should just be patient.”
There wasn’t a whole lot of conviction in Adrien’s tone, he was more or less just repeating what Stacy said via instruction rather than actually trying to stop her. Stacy decided to stand and look at the bacon frying in the skillet. The smell was mesmerizing as was the sizzling sound that filled the kitchen.
Stacy: “Fine, I’ll be patient, but ONLY because you asked nicely.”
Adrien: “I mean, what else could you possibly want more than bacon and eggs tonight?”
He places the bacon on the plates as soon as they are finished cooking. He presents Stacy’s plate as if it was on a silver platter for her to feast upon it.
Adrien: “All yours, my dear.”
Stacy: “Thank you so much babybabe, I knew there was a reason I loved you so much.”
She places a finger on her chin.
Stacy: “Besides the fact that you’re a burning hunk of a man, and besides the fact that you sing Elvis songs to me. Did I mention because you are the best hugger I’ve ever hugged? Okay, I should probably stop complimenting you and start eating.”
She smiles genuinely, picking up her utensil and taking a bite of the eggs. Her eyes closed as she chewed the bite and swallowed it.
Stacy: “Best...eggs...ever!”
Adrien: “Well, they were made with love.”
Adrien starts shoveling a bit of the egg into his own mouth. He starts nibbling on a bit of bacon before just looking in Stacy’s direction.
Adrien: “I love you, Stace. You are just...so you. I love it. Every little bit of it.”
Stacy: “I love you mo-”
Adrien cuts her off, knowing what she’s going to say. Instead, they both pause, and then simultaneously finish each other's’ sentence.
Both: “I love you more!”
Adrien: “I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree at this point.”
Adrien is already almost done with his plate. Honestly, he was pretty hungry himself. He picks up a piece of Stacy’s bacon and starts feeding it to her.
Stacy: “You do know the act of feeding your girlfriend at three in the morning usually leads to these sudden cravings for pancakes too, right?”
Her cheeks flush slightly, but her full-toothed smile shows that she’s completely serious.
Stacy: “Unless you’re full from your eggs and bacon?”
Adrien: “Oh, I always have room for dessert.”
Pancakes was a euphemism between the two. It all started when Adrien was trying to change the subject from when Adrien and Stacy was going to become intimate for the first time to the food he was eating at the time. It ended up turning into code word despite Adrien’s best intentions. He’s come to accept it at this point.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a few seconds as Stacy took her last bite. Adrien’s plate has been empty for a few minutes now.
Adrien: “I can clean this up in the morning, right?”
Stacy: “Cleaning can definitely wait. Give me a piggyback up the stairs, please? You are my very own Superman after all!”
Adrien pats his shoulders for Stacy to hop on his back. She happily obliges as they take off upstairs to enjoy the night a bit longer before going to sleep.
FOR THE ON CAMERA PORTION OF THIS PIECE, CLICK HERE
In fields where nothing grew but weeds,
I found a flower at my feet,
Bending there in my direction,
I wrapped a hand around its stem,
I pulled until the roots gave in,
Finding there what I'd been missing
But I know...
So I tell myself, I tell myself it's wrong
There's a point we pass from which we can't return
I felt the cold rain of the coming storm
Date: June 18th
Cameras: OFF
“You did WHAT now?!”
Adrien Cochrane lets the words enter one of his ears then immediately fly right out the other. He continues placing all of his belongings back into his duffle bag. The #Believe shirt he wore during his match is sitting at the top of the locker until he grabs it and stuffs it into the back as the man speaking to him shuts his locker to get his attention. Adrien turns to the spiky haired middle aged manager to let him get his lecture over with so he can move on with his life.
Eddie: “Are we going to talk about this or what?”
Adrien: “I’m leaning towards the ‘or what’ option. Eddie, I have my reasons for doing this.”
Eddie: “And it would make my life a lot easier if I knew these reasons so I can do the damn job you pay me to do.”
Eddie Walker’s bottom lip quivers a little bit, annoyed with his top client. He’s still wearing the same clothes he wore when he introduced Adrien to the Redemption fans earlier in the evening, a black t-shirt with an octopus on it and a pair of blue jeans. His dark blue eyes kept looking at Adrien as if he wanted more of an explanation.
Adrien: “Listen, I’m needed. What the hell was I going to do? Let poor Honey go into that tag gauntlet match by herself with people like Coda, Richards, and all the others in that match ready to try to take advantage of the fact that Alechs got suspended?”
Eddie: “What happens to Honey isn’t your problem, Adrien.”
Adrien: “And that attitude right there is what some pompous self-righteous asshole like Matthew Shields would have about situations like this. I’m not like them, and you know that, Eddie.”
Walker rubs his eyes and turns away for a moment. He takes a few steps away from Adrien as he processes everything happening. He turns back in the direction of Adrien.
Eddie: “Look, I know you want to help people. It’s one of the things that makes you one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, talent and ability aside. But you have to think things through. Alright. So let’s get this straight, you told me in Vegas that you had absolutely no interest in the Tag Team Championship at the present moment.”
Adrien: “Any title right now, but go on.”
Eddie: “Why get into this match to determine the number one contender for the tag titles? And also, wouldn’t Alechs be upset about you getting to be the one that finally wins a gold title with his beloved?”
Adrien: “I’m not doing it for me, Eddie. Once we win this match, I give my half of the title shot to Alechs. I’m allowed to vacate a contendership. Honey will still be the number one contender. And her tag team partner of choice will be Alechs.”
Eddie: “Assuming he keeps his nose clean and gets reinstated.”
Adrien: “If he doesn’t, that’s on him.”
Eddie: “Fine…”
As soon as the word leaves Eddie’s mouth, the door unexpectedly opens. Honey gets over her head her Young Cubs hoody, her size one and straightens out the wrinkles so her stitching reads “Honey - Chica” clear as day. After getting her hair quickly into a ponytail and getting her backpack all packed up with her ring gear and a water bottle filled from the sink, she strides along quickly through the backstage area. Alechs texts her about getting a cab as he was made to leave the building for his actions. Honey responds quickly, one-word and jams her phone into her pocket before coming into the locker room, first avoiding Burt, a delightful custodian who gives Honey a friendly smile and a strawberry KitKat. Honey heads onwards, newfound candy cheerfulness distracting her at the moment from the suspension and the change of partner she now had to face.
That was until her fixation on the KitKat was drawn away to Eddie’s “Fine” and she aimed to not eavesdrop but her shoe creates the utmost high pitch of squeak as she twists her ankle to try and be polite and walk by.
Eddie: “Oh look. It’s your brand new tag team partner who you’ve never met in person before.”
Adrien: “Eddie, quit being rude. Hey, Honey. I’m sure you…”
Honey: “-Hi, I’m Honey.”
Honey offers her hand out for a shake. Adrien goes to accept the handshake when Honey pulls back, remembering she ideally shouldn’t interact with strangers, then extends it to be nice and the two have an awkward to and fro before Eddie gets involved in making their hands meet.
Eddie: “Good. First step, handshake and introductions. One step closer to being the best tag team partners ever.”
Adrien shoots Eddie a dirty look for his sarcastic remark before turning back to Honey.
Adrien: “I’m Adrien. I’m sure you are probably a bit shocked at everything that just happened this past hour or so…”
Honey: “Yes. I don’t understand why Alechs needed to attack Tillman and then, like, I get a new tag team partner as if by magic.”
Honey ends by snapping her fingers.
Honey: “And it’s THE MAIN EVENT TOO!”
Honey’s face tells a story of never main eventing ever. Her vocal volume is a little scattered partly from excitement and partly from shock at getting the spot.
Adrien: “Well, welcome to the main event.”
Eddie: “Easy for you to say. This guy main events shows all the time.”
Honey: “I’ve never ever ever main evented, like, ever.”
Honey says shrugging in a casual, passing tone like it wasn’t a big deal to her though it highly was and her cheeks grow rosy from how big of a chance it was.
Adrien: “Try not to think about it like that. It’s a match. Where on the show is irrelevant. Just be ready to do everything you can to win it. You got this. I’ve been watching you two, you and Alechs. I think the Young Cubs have a chance to be a great tag team and I don’t want to see that opportunity squandered by a lapse in judgment on his part.”
Honey: “Okey dokey. But, um, how does Alechs get to get his share if you are doing it?”
Honey says looking to Eddie for the answer, thinking he was the guy with all the answers. Seeing as she is looking to the older gentleman, he decides to answer, almost verbatim what Adrien said to him seconds ago.
Eddie: “Adrien can vacate his half of the contendership. In such a situation, you are still an earned contender to the championship and you would be able to elect a replacement for Adrien. Which would give you the chance to get Alechs in the title match. Young Cubs versus Rebel Ink, you two get your chance for your championship.”
Adrien: “Exactly.”
Honey narrows her eyes and looks between them, making sure she wasn’t in the midst of a scam and gets the impression it is all hunky dory and smiles.
Honey: “Ok! I will pick Alechs then, but first, we do have to, like, win the match and I’ve been in this one before. It’s a hard match and we lost in the first match when we entered. It was super tough and this time around there’s Coda AND Kayla. Rc and Blazer, Alicia and John, and the Karloffs, not fun."
Honey ends with a sing-songy tone rhyming at the end in part. A little sense of doubt given her own history in the matches shaking her resounding positivity.
Eddie: “You do realize who your partner is, right?”
Adrien tries to stop Eddie from getting started.
Adrien: “Eddie…”
Eddie isn’t having it as he quickly silences his client.
Eddie: “Being your hype man is part of my job, Adrien. Shush.”
The manager turns back to Honey.
Eddie: “This man won the EXODUS Pro World Heavyweight Title when he was assaulted with a chair, had his own finisher struck against him, and two people interfering against him. He won a fight against an evil stable when he was outnumbered in an eight team tag match as the last member of his team remaining. He has won the top championships in last three companies where he wrestled at least six matches. The other three was due to closures, not due to him quitting or anything like that.”
Adrien: “Eddie…”
Eddie: “Didn’t I shush you already? This man hasn’t been pinned since October and that was the only time he was pinned in the past two years. Oh, and he just got a victory over said only person just a few hours ago. This man is one of the most gifted wrestlers on the planet, one of the hardest workers in everything he does, and one of the best people you will see in the ring. So as good as all those people are, Miss Honey, be prepared for the Dropkick King to show you just how damn good he is.”
At this point, Adrien is completely embarrassed by his manager. Honey’s eyes go back and forth after her lecture.
Honey: “Um, I haven’t done anything like that. How do you get to be a king of dropkicks?”
Honey speaks with a serious tone.
Honey: “I didn’t know they were, like, royalty and stuff. Young Padawan.”
Honey says to Eddie, perhaps misusing the term entirely wrong.
Eddie: “Watch an Adrien match sometime. You’ll see why he’s the Dropkick King.”
Adrien: “EITHER WAY…”
Adrien cuts off Eddie from trying to be too much of a hype man for Adrien to the point of embarrassing Adrien.
Adrien: “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you get that championship opportunity. And there are very few on this big blue marble that will stop me when I do so.”
Honey: “Do I need a hype man?”
Her attention shifting quickly to wondering if she needed her own to track her history for her at times.
Adrien: “I thought you had like a manager or something like that already.”
Honey shakes her head.
Honey: “Nope! Unless, like, Alechs counts.”
Honey then opens her KitKat and offers them each a chance to take a bar. Adrien declines but Eddie happily accepts.
Adrien: “Your dad, I thought I’ve seen him do stuff on camera for you before.”
Eddie: “Yeah, I think I remember that too.”
Honey: “Daddies don’t count. They’re supposed to hype their kids.”
Honey takes a bite of her bar, getting a full blast of strawberry and relaxes. Shoulders coming down.
Honey: “Where are your parents?”
Adrien: “Well, my father can’t really do much hyping for me. He passed away six months ago.”
Eddie: “Well this got awkward…”
Adrien: “Shush, she didn’t know.”
Honey rushes in to hug Adrien to be supportive.
Honey: “That’s really sad, Adrien. Your first father’s day without him there and, like, being all happy you won and stuff.”
Honey gives him a comforting squeeze as her wrists are locked around his waist before pulling away.
Honey: “I bet he is very proud of you and your title wins too. I wonder what he would have thought of, like, you teaming with me.
Adrien politely pats Honey’s back while she hugs him. He looks at Walker, unsure what else to do.
Adrien: “I publicly dedicated this match to him. I know he was proud of me, looking down from above at what I’ve done. He encouraged me into being the competitor I am today. I must always fight for him because it is what he would want me to do.”
Eddie: “Alright. I think we’ve had enough PDA since both of you have significant others somewhere around here.”
Eddie breaks up the hug.
Eddie: “I’m sure our little circles will have to meet soon to properly prepare for this match-up. We’ve got a big match and we need all the chemistry we can conjure up in two weeks span. I would say your people should contact Adrien’s people, but I pretty much am Adrien’s people so…”
Adrien: “He means we need to do some training together soon. Maybe with Stacy and Alechs pretending to be our opponents in a practice match.”
Honey: “Um, okey dokey but I also have to make sure I have time to go to GOL to do my Redemption match there and have to make sure I pass my medical stuff to wrestle too. They’re very concerned since I got attacked.”
Honey just nods, trying to push out the flash of images of getting ambushed after her match.
Eddie: “Whenever your schedule opens up. It’s no big deal. Pleased to meet you, Miss Smith.”
Eddie offers the handshake he never got when Honey entered the room.
Honey: “Miss...I’m Honey, nice to meet you, Hype Man.”
Honey says shaking his hand and giving him an unusual, Honey’s own attempt to be serious and stern looking, narrowing her eyes as she engages in an unspoken dabble of mental battles before ending it with a fist bump and flutters her hand away.
Honey: “Balalalala.”
Eddie: “I have no idea what just happened here.”
Honey: “It’s from a movie about teamwork. Like, since we’re going to be a team.”
Honey wiggles her head thinking that was plainly obvious. Eddie stares blankly, trying to still figure out what exactly is going on.
Adrien: “Anyway, we’ll be in touch. Great to meet you and I look forward to working with you.”
Honey’s phone buzzes with Alechs calling her.
Honey: “Um, Yes! I’ll touch base with you! Bye!”
Honey says scattering off to the phone call and almost leaves her backpack behind, quickly remembering it and grabs it as she heads off from the pair. The two men exchange glances.
Eddie: “This was your idea. I want you to remember this.”
Adrien: “Once again, this person you suspect will cause much regret isn’t giving me that impression. She’s going to want this win more than I will.”
Eddie: “I mean, yeah. She’s gonna be motivated.”
Adrien: “And Alechs is going to gracious for this. You know friends aren’t a bad thing to have in locker rooms.”
Eddie: “And you’re sure you’ve chosen wisely?”
The Dropkick King smiles as he lifts his bag, finally ready to depart for the evening.
Adrien: “Only one way to find out.”
All because of you, I haven't slept in so long
When I do I dream of drowning in the ocean,
Longing for the shore where I can lay my head down,
I'll follow your voice, all you have to do is shout it out
Date: June 21, 2017
Cameras: OFF
Swipe. Swipe. Swipe.
Adrien Cochrane smirks a little bit as he stares at the screen of his iPhone 7 Plus and looking at the conversations going on over on Twitter. His head rested comfortably on his pillow as he was lying on the blanket in his bed, with the lamp still on. The time stamp on the top of his phone read fifteen minutes to three in the morning, but Adrien was becoming more and more of a night owl as time went on.
Suddenly, the bed bounces a little bit as another body leaped on the bed. The body, of course, belonged to the girlfriend of the Dropkick King, wrestling’s resident hero, Stacy Sterling. She had just initiated the Twitter exchange from the kitchen after getting herself a drink of water.
Stacy: “Are you really going to get out of bed, JUST to make me something to eat? I mean, it would totally make you the best boyfriend on the planet, or any planet, but you already are the best boyfriend, so you really have nothing left to prove, but…”
Her mouth moved faster than the words that were escaping her lips, causing her to pause and laugh. She playfully kicked at Adrien’s ankle, something she commonly did when the couple was in bed and she would trip over her own words.
Stacy: “You always get me tongue-tied. Do you have some superhuman power over me, Mr. Cochrane?”
Adrien sits back up, chuckling a little bit his girlfriend just being bubbly as ever.
Adrien: “If you consider love to be a superpower, then I guess it does.”
Cochrane winks at Stacy before she playfully swings a pillow gently at him.
Adrien: “I’m not tired yet so why not? If my girlfriend is hungry, I will provide something for her to feast upon until she is satisfied. Anything I can do for your happiness is not a problem.”
Stacy: “Well I do hear that every super chef needs a super sidekick in the kitchen, especially at three in the morning, so...do you mind if I join you?”
She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but it was rare that Adrien ever told Stacy no anyways so she expected the answer that he was about to give her.
Adrien: “I would love to have you join me downstairs. Life is always better when I’m in the same room as my beautiful girlfriend.”
Adrien smiles before planting a kiss on Stacy’s forehead. He grabs her by the hand and leads her downstairs to Adrien’s kitchen. After traveling across the living room to the kitchen, Adrien opens up his built-in refrigerator and grabs a couple of eggs out of the shelf in the door.
Adrien: “Can you grab a skillet for me, sweetie?”
Stacy: “One skillet coming right up!”
The couple had a lot of energy for it being so late, but with only recently getting back to work, their sleep schedules were still in need of some adjustment. Surely with Adrien’s big move to Redemption and the inevitable travel ahead, things would change. For now, however, the two enjoyed every moment at home they could get with each other.
Stacy: “I’m getting the big one because I want you to eat some too. We can share.”
Stacy retrieves the skillet and walks it over to Adrien, sitting it on the marble countertop before taking a few steps back and sitting on a chair at the kitchen island.
Stacy: “I kind of wanted to talk about something with you too, but if it’s too late to have a serious talk, we can wait until the morning.”
Adrien’s eyebrows raise a little bit as he grabs a few seasonings out of his pantry, namely salt, pepper, and bacon bits. He turns to his gas cooktop on the very island that Stacy was sitting at.
Adrien: “As long as you’re not dumping me as I cook you food, we can have a talk.”
Adrien was joking of course but Stacy gave him an eye roll for even suggesting such a thing.
Stacy: “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Stacy paused, which wasn’t normal for her. Finally, she stood from the chair and walked over, resting her elbows on the counter, turning her head just enough to where she could see Adrien as he continued prepping the eggs.
Stacy: “I’ve been thinking, and doing some research and...I want to make a difference. Not just in a wrestling ring, but a real difference. There are a lot of people in this world that deal with some really bad things on a daily basis, and here I am over here in your home living like a princess. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I could be doing more.”
Adrien continued prepping but did manage to look down at Stacy as she continued.
Stacy: “I was thinking, maybe, I could volunteer sometime soon. It doesn’t have to be now, or even next month, but maybe when these contract negotiations are settled, I could work out some time to take off and head overseas to help improve the lives of others. Not for long, maybe like two weeks to a month? I’m not really sure how you would feel about that, but a real hero doesn’t just put smiles on faces while doing her job. You know?”
The three-time World Champion turns the knob to ignite the brass burner underneath the skillet. He looks back at Stacy as soon as he does.
Adrien: “Sweetheart, what you do in your spare time is completely up to you. You don’t need my permission to do anything along those lines. I think you doing something for a good cause is a great idea. I don’t even understand why you are asking.”
The New Orleans native cracks open an egg, emptying it out into the skillet. He does the same to a second then a third egg. He starts mixing them up in the skillet with a spatula.
Adrien: “Never EVER think you have to seek my permission to do good in the world. It’s part of the reason I love you. If you need my help in any form, maybe seeing if I can find somewhere for you, maybe even me, to help out, I’m on it.”
Stacy: “I didn’t think you would mind, but I still think it’s healthy to discuss important things like this. It would take me away from you for a few weeks if you decided not to come with me. Not to mention you just signed with Redemption and besides being partners in life, we’re partners in training too. I didn’t want to leave a void in your day to day training because I know how big of a deal Redemption is to you and how hard you worked to make it here. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”
Hearing Adrien showing no reservations, but rather motivation for Stacy to pursue her goals out of the ring was music to her ears, without the strumming of his guitar of course, which he routinely played for her.
Stacy: “It isn’t something I’m one hundred percent doing like I said in the next week or weeks, but I wanted to see how you felt about it.”
Her nose perked up as she sniffed the aroma of the eggs cooking out of the air.
Stacy: “They smell delicious already.”
Adrien: “I haven’t even seasoned them yet.”
Another wink from the Dropkick King makes Stacy smile even wider. Adrien puts a dash of salt, a bit of pepper, and lastly some bacon bits to try to enhance the flavor of the scrambled eggs.
Adrien: “I will always support you, one hundred percent. You do the same for me all the time. It’s what makes our relationship so amazing. I’ve been blessed with the best girlfriend in the world. And these eggs at three before the sun is even up is my way of making sure she feels appreciated.”
Adrien opens the fridge behind him real fast and even grabs a few strips of bacon.
Adrien: “I mean, go big or go home, right?”
Stacy’s blue eyes light up at the sight of the bacon strips as she playfully lets her tongue hang out of her mouth for a few seconds before laughing.
Stacy: “If I could have hearts in my eyes like that cute little emoji, I would totally be rocking the hearts right now.”
Stacy holds a hand up and without missing a beat, Adrien slaps it with a high five.
Stacy: “Did we just high five over some bacon? I think we really did!”
Adrien: “I think I’ve been spending too much time with Jew Blazer. Who, ironically, would not be able to eat the thing we just high-fived over.”
Adrien makes another lame joke with a bigger grin than the joke deserved. He grabs two plates before starting to put the eggs into two portions on each plate. He then places the bacon on the same skillet.
Adrien: “Are you gonna be able to wait til the bacon is done to eat?”
Stacy: “I think so? Although there’s a high possibility of sneaking into the cabinet and grabbing another snack to hold me over. This is the part where you pull out the epic boyfriend card and tell me not to do that because eating bacon and eggs at this time of night is bad enough as it is and that I just need to be patient, so come on epic boyfriend! Save me!”
Adrien: “Bacon and eggs are bad enough this time of night. You should just be patient.”
There wasn’t a whole lot of conviction in Adrien’s tone, he was more or less just repeating what Stacy said via instruction rather than actually trying to stop her. Stacy decided to stand and look at the bacon frying in the skillet. The smell was mesmerizing as was the sizzling sound that filled the kitchen.
Stacy: “Fine, I’ll be patient, but ONLY because you asked nicely.”
Adrien: “I mean, what else could you possibly want more than bacon and eggs tonight?”
He places the bacon on the plates as soon as they are finished cooking. He presents Stacy’s plate as if it was on a silver platter for her to feast upon it.
Adrien: “All yours, my dear.”
Stacy: “Thank you so much babybabe, I knew there was a reason I loved you so much.”
She places a finger on her chin.
Stacy: “Besides the fact that you’re a burning hunk of a man, and besides the fact that you sing Elvis songs to me. Did I mention because you are the best hugger I’ve ever hugged? Okay, I should probably stop complimenting you and start eating.”
She smiles genuinely, picking up her utensil and taking a bite of the eggs. Her eyes closed as she chewed the bite and swallowed it.
Stacy: “Best...eggs...ever!”
Adrien: “Well, they were made with love.”
Adrien starts shoveling a bit of the egg into his own mouth. He starts nibbling on a bit of bacon before just looking in Stacy’s direction.
Adrien: “I love you, Stace. You are just...so you. I love it. Every little bit of it.”
Stacy: “I love you mo-”
Adrien cuts her off, knowing what she’s going to say. Instead, they both pause, and then simultaneously finish each other's’ sentence.
Both: “I love you more!”
Adrien: “I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree at this point.”
Adrien is already almost done with his plate. Honestly, he was pretty hungry himself. He picks up a piece of Stacy’s bacon and starts feeding it to her.
Stacy: “You do know the act of feeding your girlfriend at three in the morning usually leads to these sudden cravings for pancakes too, right?”
Her cheeks flush slightly, but her full-toothed smile shows that she’s completely serious.
Stacy: “Unless you’re full from your eggs and bacon?”
Adrien: “Oh, I always have room for dessert.”
Pancakes was a euphemism between the two. It all started when Adrien was trying to change the subject from when Adrien and Stacy was going to become intimate for the first time to the food he was eating at the time. It ended up turning into code word despite Adrien’s best intentions. He’s come to accept it at this point.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a few seconds as Stacy took her last bite. Adrien’s plate has been empty for a few minutes now.
Adrien: “I can clean this up in the morning, right?”
Stacy: “Cleaning can definitely wait. Give me a piggyback up the stairs, please? You are my very own Superman after all!”
Adrien pats his shoulders for Stacy to hop on his back. She happily obliges as they take off upstairs to enjoy the night a bit longer before going to sleep.
Inside my hands these petals browned,
Dried up, fallen to the ground
But it was already too late now
I pushed my fingers through the earth,
Returned this flower to the dirt,
So it could live; I walked away now
But I know...
Not a day goes by that I don't feel this burn
There's a point we pass from which we can't return
I felt the cold rain of the coming storm
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