Johnny Maverick- NOT a Role Model

JOHNNY MAVERICK
NOT a Role Model

"Uh-huh." Johnny says, only half paying attention.

"Please pay attention to me." Doctor Hamilton says. Johnny rolls his eyes before looking at him.

"You're a 30 year old man, Johnny. You've been doing this for 12 years. Your body won't bounce back like it used to." The Doctor says, concerned.

"Will I ever play violin again? Or at all? It'd be neat to learn." Johnny says, popping a wheelie in his wheelchair he found.

"John." The Doctor says.

"Johnny." Johnny corrects him.

"Do you have to be filming this?" The Doctor asks.

"I film everything except for sex. Sometimes sex still, if I'm being honest but that's a 'special occasion' sort of thing." Johnny says.

"I'd advise you to..."

"You clearing me or not, Doc? I've got a worried girlfriend to take care of and a whole array of other shit to do after that." Johnny says, holding up the wheelie.

"I suppose there's no point in me asking you to slow down." The Doctor asks.

Johnny smiles. That smile that seems genetically engineered to be both supremely endearing and frustrating.

"Fine. You're cleared. You can go." Doctor Hamilton says. The wheelchair slams down and Johnny springs to his feet. He smacks the Doctor on the shoulder playfully before putting on his hoodie and limps over to snatch up his camera.



Johnny is in a pair of torn jeans, sitting on a bench. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his Misfits Hoodie.

"A lot of people ask me why I, a textbook anarchist conspiracy theorist 'weirdo' splits his time living in our nations capitol. I could make the excuse that I was born and raised here but I don't really go in for nostalgia. Nah, I think the more likely reason is that I'm not comfortable unless I'm in the enemies backyard. It comforts me that I can step out for a jog and look up and see the White House and think 'Man fuck that guy'. That's why when I was in the ring across from two Destroyers determined to cause me grievous injury? I was content. Comfortable, even." Johnny says as he looks around.

"I'm starting to think I'm crazy. Not crazy like you guys have been trying to convince me I am. That craziness is fun and playful and GREAT for ratings. No, like I think there's something legitimately wrong with me." Johnny says introspectively.

"If you are a fan of mine I have some advice. Never operate under the assumption that I know what I'm doing and have things figured out. I am NOT a role model. I am NOT healthy. I quit drugs several years ago and swore I was done with addiction but that wasn't true was it? As long as I show up for my matches I am still an addict. A junkie." Johnny says.

"I mean...there's a certain degree of insanity associated with this job that I've avoided. I think I'm a lot more realistic than some of my associates. To any other wrestler who might happen to be watching this...You aren't special. You aren't a God or Chosen One. You are a compressed ball of self-destructive tendencies. I know you because I know myself. If you are doing this you are doing this because you are not well. You are sick. WE are sick. We are addicted... and never trust anyone in this industry who's telling you they have it all figured out because that person? That's a fucking liar. People are shocked about Coda snapping at the last show... Man, I'm shocked more shit like that doesn't happen every day." Johnny takes a pack of cigarettes from out of his hoodie pocket and looks at the last two in the pack. Last two before he quits for good. He puts one in his mouth and lights it, inhaling deeply before breathing out smoke.

"I certainly don't have everything figured out. I'm not smart. Not even a little. Most people learn after one try that they shouldn't run headfirst into a brick wall. I just keep running at it again and again and again and I'll keep running until I either make a dent or it kills me. I'm not someone to be admired. I'm not a hero or a villain or...whatever. I'm a college dropout. I'm an idiot. I'm here because this is the only thing I've ever been good at and I'm not even particularly amazing at it but so long as the brick wall is standing I will continue to throw myself against it." Johnny says. He takes another long drag off of his cigarette.

"Anyway... yeah. Aurora Graves. Supremely talented. Just like her husband who I beat like a month ago. I've said for a long time Aurora is going places and I still believe that. Unfortunately, I'm looking to earn myself another chance at banging my head against the wall and she's in the way of that. Shame for her. I ate the pin in my last two matches and have something to prove. I have nothing but positive things to say about Aurora but like I said... she's in my way." Johnny says. He shivers slightly in the cool December air.

"And then there's Gaia Galanos whose career I am familiar with and again whom I have nothing but positive things to say about. I will advise her that I was wearing proper fight gloves well before it was cool. Honestly I've been wanting to fight you for some time. We're both submission and technical specialists who throw a hell of a knee strike. Suffice to say this is probably the closest I'll ever get to fighting lady me. I've studied the UKWF tapes and done my homework. I'm honestly looking forward to this. I have my work cut out for me at this show and honestly? It's kind of exciting." Johnny says. He turns and looks at the White House for a moment before exhaling smoke in its general direction.

"I mean, if we're getting wicked obvious jokes out of the way... I am more than capable of handling two women at once. Ask my girlfriend and her friend! Oh fuck I probably shouldn't have said that. I'll have to remember to edit that out later. Yeah. I won't forget for SURE." Johnny says, making a mental note that he eventually completely forgets.

"There was a Johnny once upon a time who held...and this is not a joke...five titles at once. All from different companies. Right now I'm just in the one company and I can't seem to get things together. That first Johnny? It'd be nice to have him around. I think I'm gonna start looking for him. Above all things though is what I've previously called my mantra before that may very well be my curse... I never give up. I never surrender. I never relent." Johnny says before he flicks the cigarette and walks away.