Post by Donovan Basch on May 4, 2017 3:22:25 GMT -5
Scene opens on the kitchen of Donovan Basch’s seaside mansion, where the young WCG wrestler is standing in front of his refrigerator, clad in nothing but a pair of black shorts. He opens the door on the stainless steel appliance, reaching inside to pull out a carafe of orange juice. As he turns around to the kitchen’s center island, he reaches upward into the overhead counter for a single glass. He sniffles as he starts to pour the opaque orange liquid into the vessel in his hand.
From another room, a faint, light hearted giggle is heard, as red painted toes pad quietly across the floor. As the footsteps close in upon the kitchen, Donovan looks up to see his new girlfriend, Danni LeBlanc, in the reflection of the carafe, her hair slightly disheveled. What few stitches of fabric do cover her body aren’t covering much, as she is clad in only a pair of black panties and one of his black button-down shirts, hanging open at the last few buttons to frame her long, athletic legs. He looks at her, unable to keep himself from smiling. Danni slips in beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Donovan: You look like you slept well....
Danni: How could I not? That bed of yours is like a king-sized slice of heaven, plus, I got to spend the night using your chest as a pillow... one very firm, fleshy pillow.
Donovan: I know… I’ve still got the divot in my skin from your earring.
Donovan chuckles as Danni lets go. He hands her the glass in his hand before reaching up to grab another one to fill for himself. With a shared smile, they clink glasses, then make quick work out of their respective beverages.
Donovan: Well, I guess after last night, we could use a little refreshment, am I right?
Danni looks up at him and smiles, arching her eyebrow as she sets her glass down on the counter. She leans against the smooth, quartz surface, rocking the ball of her foot back and forth as she playfully traces his abs with her finger.
Danni: So... any plans for today? I mean, apart from that signing at the Barnes & Noble.
Donovan: Wow... to think that there are actually still a few brick and mortar bookstore chains out there... Anyway, I figured before we do all that, we’d get dressed and go out for breakfast, and then head over to Irvine to do a little scouting; you know, find out where all the good restaurants are.
Danni: Donny...
Donovan groans. If anyone else were to call him that, they’d get read the riot act. But with Danni, he doesn’t seem to mind as much.
Donovan: What?
Danni: You’re doing it again. How many times have I told you that you don’t have to spend a fuckton of money on me every chance you get. Just being with you is enough....
Danni slips her arms around his waist, pressing her comparatively petite frame against his granite-like torso. Donovan responds in kind, enveloping his lady within his massive arms.
Donovan: Can I help it if I want to give you everything you’ve ever wanted and then some?
Danni: Hmph... you’d think a guy would be relieved that he doesn’t have to spend top dollar to keep a smile on my face... not that I don’t appreciate the thought behind it.
Donovan: I was gonna say, you can’t tell me you don’t enjoy being spoiled, even just a little.
Danni: Okay... you got me. Anyway, I’m gonna go hit the shower. I’ll be back out in a few.
She winks at him as she turns to leave the room. Donovan can’t help but smile in appreciation as he watches her walk away. While he waits for her, he pours himself another glass of orange juice before putting the carafe back in the refrigerator.
Man’s Voice: Donovan Jacob Everett Basch!
Donovan’s unusually jovial expression quickly fades into a cringe at the sound of his father Nathaniel’s voice. He turns around to find the Basch patriarch standing a few feet away, a disapproving look on his face.
Donovan: Note to self: change the passcode at the entryway. Seriously, Father, I wish you wouldn’t come by unannounced all the time. I… have a guest.
Nathaniel looks at Donovan and his current state of undress, raising an eyebrow as he crosses his arms.
Nathaniel: Oh really? Must be someone pretty damned important if you’ve got her car parked IN the garage instead of outside?
Donovan: Yeah, well… HEY! Don’t change the subject; YOU’RE the one that decided to show up without calling first.
Nathaniel: I’m surprised at you, son. How many times do I have to pound it into your head to stop bringing all of these random girls home? Quality over quantity, boy!
Donovan: But Father, I...
Nathaniel: Tell me, son… did you at least remember to get the girl’s name before you took her to bed?
Donovan: Father…
Danni’s Voice: Is everything okay, Donny? I heard yelling, and I...
Immediately, both men are completely silent as Danni walks back into the room, awkwardly clutching onto her meager coverings as she blushes at the sight of the strange older gentleman. Donovan opens his mouth as if to speak, but words fail him. Instead, it’s his father that breaks the silence.
Nathaniel: “Donny?” I thought you hated being called that name….
Donovan: No, I said I hate it when YOU call me that.
Nathaniel: Well,son? Aren’t you going to introduce me?
Danni walks over to Donovan, who pulls her close in an effort to make her feel less… vulnerable. She smiles awkwardly at the elder Basch as he nods his head.
Donovan: Father, I’d like you to meet Danielle LeBlanc… my girlfriend. Danni, this is my father, Nathaniel.
Nathaniel: A pleasure to meet you, Miss LeBlanc, even if it is under… unusual circumstances.
Danni: Nice to meet you as well, and please… call me Danni. All things considered, I don’t think formalities are all that necessary.
Nathaniel: Duly noted. Though you might want to keep my son on a short leash….
Donovan: FATHER!
Nathaniel: Relax, son… it was a joke!
He leans toward Danni, the tone in his voice just a few levels above a whisper.
Nathaniel: You’ll have to excuse him; he takes things too seriously most of the time…
Donovan: I’m right here, Father…
Danni looks up at her man, letting out a soft giggle.
Danni: Believe me… I’ve noticed. He’s gotten better, though. Haven’t you, Spidey?
Nathaniel covers his mouth with his hand, stifling a chuckle at his son being called “Spidey.”
Donovan: ….
Danni: Oh, relax! If you can’t joke around family, who CAN you joke around?
Donovan: (groaning) Good point…
Danni: Anyway, now that I know we’re not being robbed, I’m going to go back to getting ready.
She turns to Nathaniel, tipping her head to him as she smiles.
Danni: Again, it was nice meeting you, Nathaniel.
Nathaniel: The pleasure was all mine, my dear…
As Danni once again leaves the room, Nathaniel can’t help but follow her with his eyes, nodding his head as a broad smile stretches across his face. Once she’s out of sight, he turns back to face his son, who has his arms crossed, none too pleased with the way his father was looking at his girlfriend.
Nathaniel: What? Can’t a man appreciate a girl with a beautiful body?
Donovan: You tell me… if you had a girlfriend, would you want your father staring at her ass?
Nathaniel: Kinda hard NOT to stare... Anyway, I’m sure you two kids have a lot to do, so I’ll leave you to your business. And son…
Donovan: Yeah?
Nathaniel: You might want to consider buying the girl a new car… Judging from the make and model of what she’s driving, it’s about nine years old… that thing could break down on her at any moment!
Before Donovan can even respond, Nathaniel pats him on the shoulder and walks off, leaving Donovan shaking his head.
Donovan: And she just told me NOT to spoil her….
From another part of the house, Nathaniel suddenly bursts into a fit of laughter.
Nathaniel: “Spidey!” HA!
*Scene fades*
Scene fades in with an interior shot of a local Starbucks, where Donovan is sitting by himself at a corner table, a large coffee in his hand.
Donovan: Do you ever get that feeling, deep down in the pit of your stomach, that people just don't take you seriously? That people don’t see you for the destructive force in the ring that you claim to be?
In your case, Kristian Bane, I would trust my gut if I were you. And thankfully, I’m not.
You know, Kristian, listening to you speak, it takes all the discipline I have not to burst out laughing. I can picture you sitting in a room full of Batman comics, writing down juicy bits of dialog. Don't get me wrong, I've been known to take in an occasional issue of Spider-Man now and then, but this is real life, and let's be honest, you're about as intimidating as a basket of kittens. Oh sure… you have that classic bully mentality, but when the tables are turned, you run away like the pathetic little punk that you are.
He takes a sip of his beverage.
Donovan: Other people may look at you as some mountainous monster of a man, but all I see when I look at you is just another shaved gorilla in spandex. Hell, with a name like Bane, I halfway expected you to walk around with Darth Vader’s codpiece strapped to your face.
Our match was announced almost a month ago, and as time passed, you were busy talking about everything else. So I prodded you just a little bit, and you took the bait like a starving dog going after a few scraps of meat. Once I got your attention, I decided to engage you in a battle of wits… what a lopsided affair that was. I had to adjust the mental level of my banter just to keep you engaged. After all, why waste sophistication on someone with the intellectual capacity of dirt?
A couple of teenage boys walk in, being loud and obnoxious. Donovan waits a few seconds before clearing his throat. They turn and look at the grappler sitting in the corner, who's staring a hole right through the middle of their heads. They immediately shut their mouths and beat a hasty retreat.
Donovan: So what do you do? You bring out Daddy to help you promote our little face off at Hype. He must have been a big help when you had to say words with more than two syllables. Is he going to hold your hand all the way to the ring as well? You criticize me for Danni inserting herself into our exchange on social media, but I honestly had no control over that. She's strong-willed and full of fire, and that's part of what makes her so special.
But we're getting off-track here, which is never a good thing for the “Bane Train”, right? In a few short days, we finally get to dispense with the bravado and get down to the business at hand. You want to break me… destroy me.. tear me to pieces; my goals are quite different. You see, I don't want to completely obliterate you. I have something much worse in mind…. I'm going to strip away that false veneer of invincibility. I'm going to expose the REAL Kristian Bane to the world… nothing more than an over-muscled oaf, manipulated by his father into believing that he's something more impressive than he truly is. And I don't even need to physically dominate you to do so either. Although you and I both boast incredible physiques, pure bodily strength isn't always the best solution inside the squared circle. And that's the basis of your downfall at Hype. I'm going to out-think you, out-wrestle you, and straight up outclass you in every conceivable way.
And while my lady and I are off celebrating my victory, maybe Daddy can buy you an ice cream cone as a consolation prize….
Before he can continue, his fellow West Coast Genesis competitor and girlfriend Danni LeBlanc enters the establishment. She makes her way over to his table, but the smile on her face fades as she sees that there isn't a beverage for her.
Danni: You didn't order me anything?
Donovan: Of course I did. They're fixing it for you as we speak…
As if on cue, a voice rings out behind them.
Barista: Order for Donovan….
Donovan: Be right back…
Danni sits down while Donovan picks up his order. A free seconds later, he returns with a large green and purple concoction, which he places in front of his paramour.
Danni: Is this one of those new “mermaid frappuccinos” people have been talking about?
Donovan: Of course. What else would I order for my ocean beauty?
Danni: You….
Scene fades as they both enjoy their caffeinated beverages.