Post by Adrien | Adam on Oct 8, 2017 2:10:13 GMT -5
Open your eyes
Stretch your arms and step into the light
What a sight
Places you’ve seen
Shapes and colors, reds and blues and greens
Like a dream
October 4th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
Glance down at the watch on his left wrist. It lights up with the time, reading ten minutes to noon as soon as he lifted his arm up.
Adrien Cochrane: “Hmm, his plane should be landing close to now…”
Adrien Cochrane was standing near the baggage claim area at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana. It’s not often he comes to the airport without flying off somewhere, which is quite common considering the line of work he is in. But this time, he is simply the transport for someone.
Adrien: “Ah, here we go!”
A bunch of people begins to enter the area. The conveyor belt starts moving as well, with all sorts of duffle bags and suitcases littered across it. Finally, he sees the face in the crowd he was looking for. Alechs Aurelio looks out on the conveyor belt looking for his bag. A couple of them go by, and he finally sees his. He grabs it and turns around to find Adrien. A couple of steps and he sees him.
Alechs: “AC!”
Adrien: “Alechs! There he is!”
Adrien offers to carry Alechs’s bag for him with an extended arm.
Adrien: “How was your flight, bud?”
Alechs: “Not bad. Sucks without Honey. She is flying in tomorrow. She had some stuff with her dad’s plan so I went ahead and got the earlier flight. Figured we could sit down and figure out some stuff about this whole Destroyers situation. Especially now that she is champ, and Yuji is… out.”
Alechs follows Adrien towards the exit of the airport.
Adrien: “Yeah, the whole Yuji thing is quite unfortunate. I liked him and thought he could be a champion that could challenge the Shields record. But regardless, the cards have been dealt. We have to work with the hand we’ve been given, even if the cards aren’t what we had hoped for.”
They approach Adrien’s Mercedes Benz as Adrien pops the trunk open with the button on his car keys.
Adrien: “Just throw it in there next to the guitar. Forgot to get that out last night.”
Alechs: “Benz? Fancy!”
Alechs holds his pinky up, teasing him. He slides his bag in and heads into the front passenger seat.
Adrien: “Hey, for the longest time, I was driving a Chevy Cobalt and a Toyota Corolla. When I no longer had those cars and I started to have a bigger income, I decided to get something nice for myself!”
Adrien shakes his head after trying to defend his car choice, not realizing Alechs was simply pulling his leg. He turns the key to his car and starts the engine.
Alechs: “I just got a brand new Jeep, I thought it was more fitting for me. A nice Grand Cherokee. But I might be able to buy something nicer soon… Avery mentioned about me running the Vegas school.”
Alechs watches as they leave the airport.
Adrien: “Really? Running a school? That’s big, Alechs. I certainly don’t think I’d be able to do that. Shoot, I feel like I barely did my job getting Kenzie and Adam ready for their careers.”
Alechs smiles.
Alechs: “Well, I’ve been running it since Avery has spent time back in Georgia with Serenity. He wanted to move the school back there, which he is. But he is keeping the Vegas one open and I will be running it. I am stoked.”
This was a rare moment that Alechs showed some true happiness. Adrien smiles as he starts following the signs to get onto I-10.
Adrien: “It’s awesome that he’s giving you that much trust. He must think highly of you to give you the keys to something as important as that. And I know you’ll do well.”
Alechs: “Thanks, AC.”
Alechs checks his phone to make sure there were no messages from Honey. Just one. An “I Love You” text.
Adrien: “Yeah, no problem. Just let me know if you ever need me to pop by for anything. I’m here if you need me.”
Adrien finally gets to the onramp to get on the interstate, heading east.
Adrien: “Are we going straight to my place or are you needing to make any stops? I can probably see about getting you a hotel room if you don’t want to use my spare bedroom.”
Alechs: “I am sure Honey and I will get a room. For now, let’s just maybe get something to eat? I am starved. And it’s a good excuse to talk.”
Adrien: “Airplane food not good? Oh, what am I saying, of course, it isn’t! That’s fine, I’ll take you to one of the best restaurants in the little suburb of mine. Well...as soon as we get through the entire city of New Orleans to get to St. Bernard Parish, that is.”
Adrien keeps glancing to make sure he can get into the lane to his left. As soon as he thinks he has an opening, he notices a car behind him speeding up.
Adrien: “Well look at this joker…”
He shakes his head as the car finally passes him, allowing him to get the lane needed to get onto I-310.
Alechs: “This is not traffic. Visit my hometown; LA. that is real traffic.”
Alechs watched Adrien drive much calmer than he would.
Alechs: “I would be so pissed some dude cuts me off.”
Adrien: “Wonderful thing about New Orleans versus Los Angeles is that New Orleans roads are only bumper to bumper during Saints games or when everyone is getting off work. However, people in Louisiana are a bit less keen to the rules of the road and a bit more aggressive in their driving style.”
They just so happen to drive past the Superdome, prompting a question from Alechs Aurelio.
Alechs: “Speaking of… what is Brees gonna do this year?”
Adrien: “Eight touchdowns and no interceptions so far. It looks like he might not quite hit five thousand yards though so that’s disappointing. Why do you ask? Got him in a fantasy league?”
Adrien chuckles a bit.
Alechs: “Nah. Just a fan of football. Sucks my Silver and Black are leaving Cali but they are coming to Vegas which works out for me. It’s weird having an NFL team there, well… the thought of it.”
Adrien: “A bit weird they are going to keep playing in Oakland for a few more years. It’s like being in a relationship, telling your partner you know exactly when you’re going to break up with them and who you are dating afterward. It’s just outright awkward.”
Alechs laughs as he nods.
Alechs: “Definitely.”
Adrien gets off the exit.
Adrien: “We’re almost to Chalmette, and more importantly, almost to Rocky and Carlos. One of my favorite restaurants in the area, assuming I don’t want to go into the city.”
He turns onto St. Bernard Highway to start heading towards the restaurant.
Adrien: “They got poboys, seafood, even pasta if you just want a simple plate of spaghetti and meatballs.”
Alechs: “Fresh seafood sounds great.”
He smiles.
Alechs: “Thanks for letting me come early.”
Adrien: “Early for what?”
Adrien raises his eyebrow at Alechs’s question.
Alechs: “Earlier than originally planned. I needed to get away. Social media driving me crazy. Just… all of it.”
He shakes his head. Adrien is still quite puzzled with Alechs but continues anyway.
Adrien: “Let me guess, Julianna?”
He nods.
Alechs: “Yeah.”
He goes quiet.
Adrien: “She still hasn’t acknowledged me challenging her to a match. Cowardice doesn’t look well on her.”
He pulls into the very small parking lot of the restaurant. He twists the key before opening his door.
Adrien: “Well, here we are. I remember, when I was a kid, there was a pinball machine and a shooting arcade game. Shame they haven’t had them in there since Katrina.”
Alechs heads out of the car and follows Adrien inside. Adrien takes a seat near the door and pulls up the chair next to him.
Adrien: “Have a seat.”
Alechs sits down and looks around. He enjoyed trying new foods, and this place looked pretty good to him.
Alechs: “What sort of seafood you think I should try?”
Adrien: “Well, shrimp is one of my favorite foods. They’ve got that in the fried variety here. Of course, you can’t get crawfish here and that is the most popular in this city.”
Adrien already has his fried shrimp being brought to him, even though he never told anyone what he wanted to order. The waitress smiles as she places the plate on the table.
Adrien: “You can try one of mine if you’d like.”
Alechs: “Wait… where’d that shrimp come from?”
He did not remember ordering.
Adrien: “Remember, I’ve been coming to this place my entire life. After thirty years...well, thirty-one starting tomorrow...they start to remember my face and my order.”
Alechs laughs and grabs a shrimp with a fork. He takes a bite.
Alechs: “Hmmm. Pretty good…”
Adrien: “Aye. I concur. I’ll get another order of it.”
Adrien looks over at the counter with his index and middle finger up to signal a second order of the shrimp.
Adrien: “So, what will happen with Julianna since she seems too scared to do the inferno match? I mean...other than me and Jazmyn trolling her with fire-related song lyrics…”
Alechs has a good laugh.
Alechs: “I don’t know. Devlin said I could have the match. Then he backed off saying he would talk to Julianna. He is supposed to be at Hype next week so I will be there too. I have no clue. But she shouldn’t get away with running her mouth like that. You know?”
Adrien: “I agree. Why do you think I started trying to get her in the ring with me? Apparently, my name holds some sort of weight for some odd reason and she doesn’t want any business with me the moment I step in.”
Alechs shakes his head.
Alechs: “She threatens… or whatever…. Honey to die in a fire. I use one word and people vilify me. But they allow her to run his mouth unchecked? It’s bull-”
He looks around. There's children within earshot so he holds his tongue a bit.
Alechs: “It’s bull, AC.”
Adrien: “The wonderful thing about our industry: people will vilify you no matter what you do. Take me for an example. Look at all the propaganda Matthew Shields has coming out of his mouth, trying to make me look like I’m some sort of evil mastermind that’s just using the three of you to further my own agenda. The lines between light and dark are obvious, fortunately. Everyone knows what side of the morality line Shields is on, which side I am on, and which side you are on. Just because some Julianna sympathizers will try to cast a shadow on your name doesn’t mean you are the villain.”
Alechs: “But how do you not let it get to you. People throwing shade and stuff. I just…”
He raises his hands showing obvious frustration.
Adrien: “It’s not easy. Some might say I have the patience of a saint, which I always find humorous due to my local sports team and such. But honestly, it’s because I’ve gone through it so much in my career. And I’ve always come out clean on the other side. All the babbling Shields is doing? It’s just noise. The people who really know me know the truth. And I think my actions speak volumes louder than any words of his.”
The hot-headed tag team champion nods his head as his plate of shrimp comes.
Alechs: “Yeah. I guess so. I just don’t know how it doesn’t get to you.”
Alechs grabs the first shrimp from his plate.
Adrien: “I’m not completely immune. But you’ve probably heard me say this before: never let them see you bleed. Even if what your opponent does to you hits you hard, you can’t show them any weakness. If they get to me, I do my best to make sure I don’t let THEM know that. That said, I’m not perfect. I’ve...not succeeded in that task a few times.”
Alechs nods.
Alechs: “Yeah I guess so. Thanks, Adrien. I guess it just comes with time.”
He takes another shrimp.
Adrien: “I am here to help…”
Adrien takes a piece of shrimp himself and happily consumes it.
Adrien: “Helping you three is all I want to do. You guys have made it clear that you want to help me. I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can for you all.”
He nods.
Alechs: “We all have each other’s back for sure. So let’s discuss The Destroyers…”
Now we’re falling back to the sun, to the sun
I know it could have been any one of us
Now we’re flying back to the light, to the light
I know it could have been
October 5th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
Laughter. Music. Smiles. It filled the home of Adrien Cochrane just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. So many of his friends from all over the country came to surprise him for his thirty-first birthday while Walker decided to send him away to fetch microphone and instrument cables.
In a way, Adrien had suspected something was up. He could smell the cake being baked by Stacy Sterling as he was leaving the house. In a way, he had to have seen it coming. But seeing Adam Sanders, Kenzie Rydell, and even the rest of the Guardians show up...that he did not. He was expecting just Stacy and the Walkers to try to surprise him. He was wrong.
“Hey, can we talk outside for a second?”
Adrien hears a voice ask him to step outside and with all the noise going on, it takes him a second to realize who the owner of the voice was. He looks around and the only person who looked like they could have been speaking in his direction was Jazmyn Rain. She greets him with a small smile as she begins to walk toward the back door.
Jazmyn Rain: “It’s nothing bad, especially on a day like today. I promise.”
Adrien nods. He leads the way to the back door of the home. He takes a seat on the outdoor couch on the patio still attached to his home and gestures Rain to sit across from him at the table in one of the chairs.
Adrien: “My heart is still recovering from all of you shouting surprise so if you’re going to drop any bombs on me, make sure there is enough of a warning so my blood pressure doesn’t spike up too high.”
Jazmyn chuckles for a moment, keeping up her positive demeanor.
Jazmyn: “No, I’m not going to drop any bombs. Well, that’s not what I’m planning anyway. No, I just wanted to talk to you about Sunday night…”
She pauses briefly, letting the events of Dissension come to her mind for a few brief moments.
Jazmyn: “As a competitor, obviously I was hoping we would win that tag team match. But, considering the circumstances that took place, when the Destroyers got the jump on me and all, I’m not upset about not coming away with the win. I can’t be. You sacrificed a potential win for my own well-being and…”
Taking another pause, Jazmyn lets that moment come back to her, her eyes revealing that she’s quite touched by this.
Jazmyn: “...nobody has ever done anything like that for me before.”
Cochrane nods his head a little bit. He had a choice during that match. Pin Karston Daire after he connected on the Lightning Strike or rescue Rain from being attacked on a two-on-one assault. And he doesn’t regret the choice he made.
Adrien: “Something you’re going to notice about me is that my friends come first. Would that win have been nice? Yeah, it would have. But my goal for that match was two main things: show that we could operate as an effective team and teach the Destroyer sympathizers a lesson. We did both of those things. Screw the result of that match. It isn’t going to affect where we are in our careers. This was about the bigger picture than just that one match. Big picture: we’re doing just fine. What would not have been fine is if I had let those two scums of the earth do anything to any of my allies. And you’re a pretty important ally and friend, Jazmyn.”
Jazmyn takes a small breath, indicating a moment of relief before she responds.
Jazmyn: “You’re right. It’s a unique perspective when you put it that way. We did accomplish what we set out to do like you said. But all in all, I’m touched. It tells me that I did the right thing by choosing to stand by you, as well as Honey and Alechs. The three of you are starting to mean a heck of a lot to me too. I know I haven’t been around NGW too long, but it doesn’t take much to know who my friends are and who I can trust around here and you three are definitely on top of that list. So thank you for that, it means a lot to me!”
Adrien smiles as he glances through the window at Alechs and Honey, both of them still stuffing their faces with the Stacy baked cake and getting their ears talked off by Eddie Walker.
Adrien: “You make a big deal about how long you’ve been on this roster. Do you remember when I debuted?”
Jazmyn: “It was WrestleForce, which was the same day I first appeared on NGW television. Yeah, I see your point. I’m sorry, sometimes I make big deals out of small things. In this case, it’s just me getting the sense that I haven’t proven myself in NGW enough yet.”
Adrien: “And what makes you think that? Quantity is unimportant, Jazmyn. It’s not about the number of matches you’ve been in. We’re about even in that aspect. It’s about the quality. And look what you did: you beat Caroline O’Hara Burchill, the longest reigning New Gen Champion before the merger.”
Jazmyn: “Excellent point, and right after she had lost that title in the fashion that she did to the Jew Blazer also. Plus, I know you and I are going to be facing quality opponents, particularly in the near future in San Francisco, but we can worry about that at another time. Right now, I just want to keep things in a positive perspective. I’m happy that I’m surrounded by people I can trust, admire, and help, and I know the feeling is mutual for you also.”
Adrien: “What I said about you, I meant. You’re a bigger star than you would like to admit, Jazmyn. I sprinkle a title reign in this company and that company, but I never had my footprint to a company’s history the way you did Global. Only one company have I ever won more than one title or even two runs with the same title, and I didn’t even get into that company’s Hall of Fame. Hell, I’ve even been fired a time or two. You held different belts there. You worked your way from one division to another, taking names and adding them to your resume. And believe me, I did some research on you before agreeing to work with you. I know the demons you had to dispel in your personal life as well. You’ve fought through so much. It’s how I know you can fight through this. That’s why I agreed to let you be in this partnership of ours.”
Jazmyn soaks in Adrien’s words, finally smiling a little bit as she shows how much the compliments mean to her.
Jazmyn: “Again, great points. There will never be more difficult demons that I’ve ever had to face than the ones I had to overcome in my personal life. You’ve been through plenty yourself. I can only imagine how tough it would be to never have that sort of footprint in any company and on top of that, worse than anything wrestling-related, you went through one of the most devastating hurricanes in history in Katrina twelve years ago. At the end of the day, and I’m sure Honey and Alechs can agree with this, I honestly believe that what we’ve overcome not only brings us all together but is also our biggest strength too!”
Adrien: “I mean, I’ve done okay in my career, don’t get me wrong. I keep seeing people like Kenzie in there…”
Adrien glances through the window again, seeing Kenzie Rydell talking to Stacy Sterling.
Adrien: “...keeps trying to make me out as some sort of legend because of three World Titles, even though Alex Jones has more than that. I even hear it in our own locker room, people trying to make me out to be someone who is supposedly one of the biggest stars. But I haven’t earned that. I got one huge win over Matthew Shields, and honestly, I got you to thank for even that big moment. I’m trying to take everything one match at a time, but Honey keeps trying to put the NGW Heavyweight Championship on me.”
Adrien chuckles a bit as Rain replies.
Jazmyn: “The weight of expectation, huh?”
Jazmyn chuckles before she continues.
Jazmyn: “I get it. Back in GCW, I keep getting asked when I’m going to win the Global title again. Maybe I am a bigger star than I give myself credit for, but like you with the locker room talk, I don’t feel like I’ve earned that. But, there will come a time, I’m positive of that. We just need to stick to what we’re doing and everything’s going to ultimately turn out for the best.”
Adrien takes moment and remembers what his next match is.
Adrien: “Oh crap.”
Jazmyn: “What?”
Adrien: “Honey trying to put that belt on me is probably happening. My match is a number one contendership match.”
Adrien laughs a little bit.
Jazmyn: “Oh gosh… talk about pressure!”
Adrien: “Pressure, I can handle. I’ve been in this position before. I know I’m capable of winning against anyone if I’m at the top of my game. I’ve won championships in a similar fashion. I just wasn’t expecting this to happen quite yet. I feel like our grand goal of ridding the place of the Destroyers had me not even worried about the title and now it just sorta happened. Then again, getting that title off of Kayla Richards will help our cause.”
Jazmyn: “Oh definitely! Not to mention that winning that match would keep Matthew Shields away from that title also!”
Adrien: “Seeing them two facing one another for the title might plant the seeds that cause their demise. We can’t assume that would be the worst scenario in the world. Could they stay loyal or will greed consume them? Because, honestly, if Johnny Maverick won this match and the title, I’d be completely content with that. Do they have that same level of humbleness and selflessness to do that?”
Jazmyn: “Seeing quite a few factions disintegrate due to said greed, I know what you mean. But overall, the cause is what’s most important and if you winning the match and the title helps that, great! I know you enough to know that you’re doing it for the sake of NGW, not for any selfish reasons.”
Adrien: “I’ve said this many times in my career. A true champion isn't determined by who holds a shiny gold belt. It’s about who is the real leader of men. Who is always fighting to be better than they were the day before. Who is prepared to set an example for others to follow so they can become great themselves. It’s not about the individual. You’re the face of a company if you hold that belt. And I don’t think it does our great roster a service for either one of them to hold that belt. But as much of a disservice as it may be, if it causes this fight to be against just Matthew Shields instead of all four of them because his greed gets so big, it causes them to abandon him, then we can take some solace in that.”
Jazmyn: “No question about any of that.”
Jazmyn says this with a smile, confident that things will ultimately turn out for the better when it’s all said and done.
Adrien: “Well, I’m still hungry. Are you hungry? That big pot of gumbo should be just about done by now. You’re not allergic to seafood or anything, are you?”
Jazmyn: “No… not allergic…”
Jazmyn pauses and laughs.
Jazmyn: “I’m with you though! I can sure use a bite to eat myself!”
Adrien: “Yeah, definitely. Let’s return to this celebration and fill our stomachs with one of the finest cuisines my great city has given to the world!”
Jazmyn: “I forgot to mention…”
Jazmyn pauses, giving herself a moment to stand.
Jazmyn: “Happy birthday!”
She flashes another smile as she extends those well wishes.
Adrien: “I mean, you all shouted it at me as soon as I opened the door. But thank you for your individualized birthday wish.”
Adrien smiles a little bit as well as he opens the door to his home.
Adrien: “We better get back in here though. I’m not sure I can trust that Nashville native of a girlfriend of mine with that big pot of New Orleans goodness for too long.”
Jazmyn laughs once more.
Jazmyn: “Yeah, let’s get back in there and have some fun while we’re at it!”
The two re-enter the Cochrane home as the celebration continued into the evening.
People you’ve known
With lives and friends and families of their own
Choices you’ve made
Moments that stopped by and never stayed
