Post by ASHER. on Nov 9, 2021 6:04:57 GMT -5
I told you long ago, on the road. I got what they waitin' for. I don't run from nothin', dog.
Get your soldiers, tell 'em I ain't layin' low. You was never really rootin' for me anyway.
When I'm back up at the top I wanna hear you say. He don't run from nothin', dog.
Get your soldiers, tell 'em that the break is over.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021
9:00 AM @ SOME AIRBNB IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
OFF-CAMERA
Sleep had been few and far between lately, especially given how he felt mentally. Asher was never one to let his true feelings show so openly, but when he did? It wasn't something to be taken lightly. He'd been planning on sleeping in until later in the afternoon, but his cellphone began to ring incessantly. A low groan spills from his lips as he rolls over, reaching a long arm out to grasp his cellphone. Once he slides the green button over, he presses it lazily to his ear. Voice muffled by his pillow as he lets out an obnoxiously loud yawn, the ringtone telling him exactly who it was. "What the hell do you want, you gremlin from hell." Asher grumbles slightly, pulling the phone away from his ear when the woman on the other side let out a loud shriek full of excitement. It went on for several seconds until she finally calmed down enough to speak. "MIKE'S HAVING A BAAAAAABY!" Her voice is too loud this early in the morning, but he can't help the remark that comes a moment later. "What the fuck? Who let him have a baby? Y'all trust that man with a baby?" Asher and Michael Bishop were known for plucking each others last nerves. But, Asher wasn't afraid to admit that he respected the man at the end of the day. "Oh, shut up! Shut upppp! This is the best news ever. I can't breathe. I'm gonna pass out, oh my god." Asher rolls his eyes at her dramatics, he checks the time on the alarm clock and it's not even past 9 AM yet.
"Bruh, come on. I'm fuckin' tired and I don't have to be up until way past noon. The fuck do you want?" He grumbles, though Savannah's voice turns into a mere muffled sound as he rubs at his face. He's got mere scars from the aftermath of Bloodbath, but he remembers it clear as day. "Yeah, okay. Just be careful, dumb ass. Yeah, love you too." He hangs up the phone, groaning as he tosses his phone haphazardly onto the other side of the bed. "So much for sleeping in. Might as well get my ass up and start the day." Hand scrub against his face, head shaking as he exits the bed and heads into the bathroom. He's got some stubble going on, so he makes good use of shaving his face and showering. He wastes little time going about his routine. Breakfast is nothing more than eggs, egg whites, turkey bacon, some oatmeal, and apple juice to top it all off. He's satisfied, but he knows he's got his work cut out for him today. But, anything to keep his mind focused and off of the hurt he's been through in the past week. Losing the woman who had raised him, the woman he considered a mother through and through, had truly taken a toll on him that no one understood.
He's dressed in black compression shorts and a PRIDE FIGHTERZ hoodie that he's cut into a more cropped version. With his airpods pressed firmly into his ears, he's off on a run. He's never been one to keep track of how far he's going, he'll stop when he starts to feel pain or grows too exhausted. That's just the kind of person he was, always a glutton for punishment, even if it costs him in the end. "Mama's Song" by Boyz II Men begins to play through his headphones, sneaker covered feet slapping against the pavement as he lets his feet guide him. Dodging and weaving around people who are on their commute to or from work and so forth. Mama, mama you know I love you. Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart. Loving you is like tears from the stars. Mama, I just want you to know. Lovin' you is like food to my soul. His eyes fill with hot tears, a sleeve moving up to wipe hurriedly at his eyes. He sniffles, he'll blame it on the chill of the wind if anyone asks. He's not sure how far he's run for, but his legs are sore and he has to stop as he doubles over. Hands resting on his knees as he tries to catch his breath, his chest pained as he listens to the warning in his ears. His heart rate far too high as he takes a seat on a bench nearby.
Growing up, he had been through a lot. His father was an alcoholic, his birth mother died after giving birth to him due to complications. After his mother had died, Savannah's mother picked up where others had failed him. He had grown up knowing what it was like to have a caring family, even if his relationship with his father was damn near nonexistent. His father had died merely over one year ago, while Venus, the only mother he had ever known, had died less than a week ago. He had been through so much lately that he wasn't sure where to put all of the pain... and so he ignored it. He pushed it aside and put it into a little box and pretended that it didn't exist. That was the reason why he came off so cold hearted to most people. He hated to show any signs of weakness, hated to show any signs of being vulnerable. If he showed any signs of weakness, he felt that people could use it against him if he got on their bad side and that was something he wasn't willing to let happen.
He stops the music, allows himself to calm down as he watches his heart rate slowly go back to a safe space. A small shadow looms over him, but he ignores it, all until someone pulls one of his headphones free from his ear. The same hand moves to his wrist, looking at the steady declining heart rate that tried to catch up. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing dumb things, you knucklehead?" The voice of his younger sister, Avery, speaks up as he shakes his head. "You shouldn't have come here. Do you know how bad things have been lately? Arik Holt's still out here trying to make our lives a living hell and you don't need to get caught up in this shit. Go home, Ave'."
Eyes roll as Avery adjusts her crutches comfortably, she pats one with vigor as she grins. "Well, if anyone tries to mess with me, I'll use one of these babies and swing for the fences. I played Softball for a reason, they don't wanna' feel my wrath." Avery pats one of Asher's shoulders, her head resting on his shoulder as she sighs softly. "Besides, I'm not here for the stupid bald man and his new fun time group. I'm here for you and Savannah. Someone needs to be in your corner, someone needs to make sure you two know you have support."
Asher shakes his head, though he remains quiet. He knows she means well, so he won't force her to go home. But, he does have something else to worry about now. Her safety, regardless of whether or not she was just there as a fan. Who knew what levels Arik Holt and his group of morons would stoop to? "You can talk to me, you know. You're never alone, Ash'. I've been worried about you since Wednesday. You haven't been talking to me, you haven't been answering my calls or my texts." He remains stoic, stone faced as he sits there beside his best friend. The one person who knew him better than anyone else. He swallows the lump that suddenly forms at the back of his throat, but he knows he doesn't have to be brave with her.
"I miss her. Mom." He pauses, clearing his throat as it breaks in spots. "She was our mom from day one, Avery. She was the one who fed us and clothed us and bathed us when we were just itty bitty babies. She raised us, put roofs over our heads. She took care of us when we had nobody and now she's gone. She's never coming back!" His voice gets louder, breaking in spots as Avery simply reaches out to wrap her arms around him.
She pulls him in close, merely holds him as he sobs into her shoulder. He squeezes her back tightly, practically clinging to her as he sobs into her shoulder. It feels relieving not to have to keep those walls built up so tightly. But, this is a moment he's sure will come back to bite him at some point. Even if a bigger part of him knows that would never happen. Avery sat there in silence, simply pulling away when Asher had calmed down enough. Her hands carefully cupped his face, to which he made a face, due to how cold they were.
"Shut it, you leave my cold hands alone and you listen to me. Mom loved you, she loved all of us. Whether we were her blood or not. She loved us and cared about us so much and she's watching over us wherever she is in the afterlife. So, you keep fighting and you don't give up no matter how hard it gets. Life will never be an easy task, but you've always been so strong. Even when you think you're not. So, you keep that same attitude and you go out there this week and you kick some major booty! Do you hear me?!" Avery's voice grows louder, garnering looks from others around them.
Asher grumbles low, cheeks heating with a blush as Avery drops her hands from his face. "I CAN'T HEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRR YYYYYYOOOOOUUUUUU!" She yells out loudly, as Asher quickly covers her mouth in embarrassment. "I said, I hear you. Now, shut up you big mouth." He shakes his head as the pair simply spend the next several hours together. Allowing the two of them to really have time together and simply enjoy being in the moment. No matter what, he knew what he had to do when it came down to it all in the end... whatever it takes.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021
SOMETIME LATE NIGHT @ SOME AIRBNB IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
ON-CAMERA
"What doesn't kill you better wish they were fuckin' dead." The sound of knuckles cracking can be heard before Asher finally comes into view. He's sitting at a large bay window, the view of the stars in the dimly lit room are cascading in the background. It's been his favorite spot since he got there on Sunday afternoon, a place where he could find solace in the stars in the middle of the night. "Bloodbath didn't go my way, neither did the show before that. But, that doesn't mean I'm about to slow down anytime soon." He pauses, one hand moving to touch the window absentmindedly.
Eyes close gently, a brief prayer leaving his lips barely above a whisper. It's not unlike him to pray for things, to pray over people, to pray in general. He turns to face the camera, seated on the little daybed there. "Arik Holt seems to think he can incite fear in anybody that crosses him the wrong way even once. He's fucked with my family for far too long now and quite frankly? I'm getting real fuckin' sick of the bullshit." His head rolls from one side to the next, eyes closing for a moment as his neck cracks in a few places. The tension in his muscles slowly loosening as he lets out a gentle and satisfied sigh.
"This little group of his ain't gonna last too long around here. He put them together to instill fear into the roster, to try to scare anyone who gets in his way, to try to rewrite the laws around this shithole. I'll tell you one thing right now, I might have got my ass handed to me at Bloodbath. But, make no goddamn mistake about it... I came out fuckin' swinging and nothing's gonna stop me from making sure this match goes down exactly how I choose it to. I've never been much of a team player, aside from teaming with my baby sister because she's the only one I trust to have my back, not including Savannah. But, I'll put up with it this time in order to make sure we do whatever it takes to take down the three stooges we've been placed up against." He pauses, taking a moment to properly collect his thoughts.
"There's a reason why I'm your favorite wrestler's favorite rookie. I've been at this hardly over a year and this is the first big company I've signed with. So, you better believe I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the world knows exactly what I'm capable of. Arik Holt decided to test my patience, put me up against my own flesh and blood in one of the first matches I ever decided to show up for. But, that did nothing but light a fire under me at the end of the night. After he made it known what a true bitch he was? I knew exactly what I had to do after they all showed up... I had to make sure they know exactly the repercussions for their actions."
"This is more than an Arik Holt problem. This is a True Society problem and I'm about to make myself their problem. If they think they can just walk around here and do whatever the hell they want? Then, they've got another thing comin' 'cause we ain't about to let them run this place right to the ground. I don't trust nobody, I know I gotta have my own back at the end of the day. But, I know when a group of people have a common goal and that's all I can say about me and the rest of the team I've been placed with. At the end of the day, we're going into this match with one common goal: Making sure True Society's time here is a living fuckin' hell." Tongue reaches out to wet his lips as he stands to his feet, he's getting a bit too antsy right about now and that's not good for anybody.
"Let me make one thing crystal clear. I am about my bullshit, I back up all of the shit I talk regardless of the outcome of a match. It's not about wins and losses for me, it's about making sure whoever is placed on the other side knows that I'm not to be messed with. I'm already full of anger and frustration on a daily basis, so wrestling is an outlet for me. But, I also don't care who I have to put my hands on when it comes to my profession. I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I'll be damned if anybody makes me out to be a bitch when I'm not." He pops a piece of gum into his mouth, something to distract himself for a moment. He's fidgety, barely able to stand still as he paces around a bit.
"Look, all I know is that me, Angelo, and Sav' all have the same idea in mind. We want to do whatever it takes to make sure True Society knows that they aren't as scary as they make themselves out to be. Ain't nobody scared of a bunch of bitches that have to do this "strength in numbers" bullshit. I for sure ain't scare of nobody. No matter how much shit they talk or how much they think they beat the shit outta me. Y'all think you're the shit 'cause you got some gold with your names on it? That don't mean shit to nobody so don't get it twisted. Plenty of people held those titles before you and plenty of people will hold them after you. It don't make you special, trust and believe."
"Nothing scares me, I ain't got nothing left to lose. I lost my birth mother mere months after I was born. I lost my birth father over one year ago to Alcoholism... and I lost the one woman who raised me when everyone turned their back on me to Cancer less than a week ago. When I say I have nothing left to lose, I mean that shit. I'm not doing this for anybody but myself anymore. So, I'll be a team player this time around. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we stay on the same page. But, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend to be friends with anybody. There ain't no room for friends in this business and it's that simple. We get in, we get the dub and we get the fuck out. I'm the big bad wolf blowin' down straw houses around here, so you better use bricks instead." He knocks the camera over purposely, static filling the screen shortly after as he walks away.
9:00 AM @ SOME AIRBNB IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
OFF-CAMERA
Sleep had been few and far between lately, especially given how he felt mentally. Asher was never one to let his true feelings show so openly, but when he did? It wasn't something to be taken lightly. He'd been planning on sleeping in until later in the afternoon, but his cellphone began to ring incessantly. A low groan spills from his lips as he rolls over, reaching a long arm out to grasp his cellphone. Once he slides the green button over, he presses it lazily to his ear. Voice muffled by his pillow as he lets out an obnoxiously loud yawn, the ringtone telling him exactly who it was. "What the hell do you want, you gremlin from hell." Asher grumbles slightly, pulling the phone away from his ear when the woman on the other side let out a loud shriek full of excitement. It went on for several seconds until she finally calmed down enough to speak. "MIKE'S HAVING A BAAAAAABY!" Her voice is too loud this early in the morning, but he can't help the remark that comes a moment later. "What the fuck? Who let him have a baby? Y'all trust that man with a baby?" Asher and Michael Bishop were known for plucking each others last nerves. But, Asher wasn't afraid to admit that he respected the man at the end of the day. "Oh, shut up! Shut upppp! This is the best news ever. I can't breathe. I'm gonna pass out, oh my god." Asher rolls his eyes at her dramatics, he checks the time on the alarm clock and it's not even past 9 AM yet.
"Bruh, come on. I'm fuckin' tired and I don't have to be up until way past noon. The fuck do you want?" He grumbles, though Savannah's voice turns into a mere muffled sound as he rubs at his face. He's got mere scars from the aftermath of Bloodbath, but he remembers it clear as day. "Yeah, okay. Just be careful, dumb ass. Yeah, love you too." He hangs up the phone, groaning as he tosses his phone haphazardly onto the other side of the bed. "So much for sleeping in. Might as well get my ass up and start the day." Hand scrub against his face, head shaking as he exits the bed and heads into the bathroom. He's got some stubble going on, so he makes good use of shaving his face and showering. He wastes little time going about his routine. Breakfast is nothing more than eggs, egg whites, turkey bacon, some oatmeal, and apple juice to top it all off. He's satisfied, but he knows he's got his work cut out for him today. But, anything to keep his mind focused and off of the hurt he's been through in the past week. Losing the woman who had raised him, the woman he considered a mother through and through, had truly taken a toll on him that no one understood.
He's dressed in black compression shorts and a PRIDE FIGHTERZ hoodie that he's cut into a more cropped version. With his airpods pressed firmly into his ears, he's off on a run. He's never been one to keep track of how far he's going, he'll stop when he starts to feel pain or grows too exhausted. That's just the kind of person he was, always a glutton for punishment, even if it costs him in the end. "Mama's Song" by Boyz II Men begins to play through his headphones, sneaker covered feet slapping against the pavement as he lets his feet guide him. Dodging and weaving around people who are on their commute to or from work and so forth. Mama, mama you know I love you. Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart. Loving you is like tears from the stars. Mama, I just want you to know. Lovin' you is like food to my soul. His eyes fill with hot tears, a sleeve moving up to wipe hurriedly at his eyes. He sniffles, he'll blame it on the chill of the wind if anyone asks. He's not sure how far he's run for, but his legs are sore and he has to stop as he doubles over. Hands resting on his knees as he tries to catch his breath, his chest pained as he listens to the warning in his ears. His heart rate far too high as he takes a seat on a bench nearby.
Growing up, he had been through a lot. His father was an alcoholic, his birth mother died after giving birth to him due to complications. After his mother had died, Savannah's mother picked up where others had failed him. He had grown up knowing what it was like to have a caring family, even if his relationship with his father was damn near nonexistent. His father had died merely over one year ago, while Venus, the only mother he had ever known, had died less than a week ago. He had been through so much lately that he wasn't sure where to put all of the pain... and so he ignored it. He pushed it aside and put it into a little box and pretended that it didn't exist. That was the reason why he came off so cold hearted to most people. He hated to show any signs of weakness, hated to show any signs of being vulnerable. If he showed any signs of weakness, he felt that people could use it against him if he got on their bad side and that was something he wasn't willing to let happen.
He stops the music, allows himself to calm down as he watches his heart rate slowly go back to a safe space. A small shadow looms over him, but he ignores it, all until someone pulls one of his headphones free from his ear. The same hand moves to his wrist, looking at the steady declining heart rate that tried to catch up. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing dumb things, you knucklehead?" The voice of his younger sister, Avery, speaks up as he shakes his head. "You shouldn't have come here. Do you know how bad things have been lately? Arik Holt's still out here trying to make our lives a living hell and you don't need to get caught up in this shit. Go home, Ave'."
Eyes roll as Avery adjusts her crutches comfortably, she pats one with vigor as she grins. "Well, if anyone tries to mess with me, I'll use one of these babies and swing for the fences. I played Softball for a reason, they don't wanna' feel my wrath." Avery pats one of Asher's shoulders, her head resting on his shoulder as she sighs softly. "Besides, I'm not here for the stupid bald man and his new fun time group. I'm here for you and Savannah. Someone needs to be in your corner, someone needs to make sure you two know you have support."
Asher shakes his head, though he remains quiet. He knows she means well, so he won't force her to go home. But, he does have something else to worry about now. Her safety, regardless of whether or not she was just there as a fan. Who knew what levels Arik Holt and his group of morons would stoop to? "You can talk to me, you know. You're never alone, Ash'. I've been worried about you since Wednesday. You haven't been talking to me, you haven't been answering my calls or my texts." He remains stoic, stone faced as he sits there beside his best friend. The one person who knew him better than anyone else. He swallows the lump that suddenly forms at the back of his throat, but he knows he doesn't have to be brave with her.
"I miss her. Mom." He pauses, clearing his throat as it breaks in spots. "She was our mom from day one, Avery. She was the one who fed us and clothed us and bathed us when we were just itty bitty babies. She raised us, put roofs over our heads. She took care of us when we had nobody and now she's gone. She's never coming back!" His voice gets louder, breaking in spots as Avery simply reaches out to wrap her arms around him.
She pulls him in close, merely holds him as he sobs into her shoulder. He squeezes her back tightly, practically clinging to her as he sobs into her shoulder. It feels relieving not to have to keep those walls built up so tightly. But, this is a moment he's sure will come back to bite him at some point. Even if a bigger part of him knows that would never happen. Avery sat there in silence, simply pulling away when Asher had calmed down enough. Her hands carefully cupped his face, to which he made a face, due to how cold they were.
"Shut it, you leave my cold hands alone and you listen to me. Mom loved you, she loved all of us. Whether we were her blood or not. She loved us and cared about us so much and she's watching over us wherever she is in the afterlife. So, you keep fighting and you don't give up no matter how hard it gets. Life will never be an easy task, but you've always been so strong. Even when you think you're not. So, you keep that same attitude and you go out there this week and you kick some major booty! Do you hear me?!" Avery's voice grows louder, garnering looks from others around them.
Asher grumbles low, cheeks heating with a blush as Avery drops her hands from his face. "I CAN'T HEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRR YYYYYYOOOOOUUUUUU!" She yells out loudly, as Asher quickly covers her mouth in embarrassment. "I said, I hear you. Now, shut up you big mouth." He shakes his head as the pair simply spend the next several hours together. Allowing the two of them to really have time together and simply enjoy being in the moment. No matter what, he knew what he had to do when it came down to it all in the end... whatever it takes.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021
SOMETIME LATE NIGHT @ SOME AIRBNB IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
ON-CAMERA
"What doesn't kill you better wish they were fuckin' dead." The sound of knuckles cracking can be heard before Asher finally comes into view. He's sitting at a large bay window, the view of the stars in the dimly lit room are cascading in the background. It's been his favorite spot since he got there on Sunday afternoon, a place where he could find solace in the stars in the middle of the night. "Bloodbath didn't go my way, neither did the show before that. But, that doesn't mean I'm about to slow down anytime soon." He pauses, one hand moving to touch the window absentmindedly.
Eyes close gently, a brief prayer leaving his lips barely above a whisper. It's not unlike him to pray for things, to pray over people, to pray in general. He turns to face the camera, seated on the little daybed there. "Arik Holt seems to think he can incite fear in anybody that crosses him the wrong way even once. He's fucked with my family for far too long now and quite frankly? I'm getting real fuckin' sick of the bullshit." His head rolls from one side to the next, eyes closing for a moment as his neck cracks in a few places. The tension in his muscles slowly loosening as he lets out a gentle and satisfied sigh.
"This little group of his ain't gonna last too long around here. He put them together to instill fear into the roster, to try to scare anyone who gets in his way, to try to rewrite the laws around this shithole. I'll tell you one thing right now, I might have got my ass handed to me at Bloodbath. But, make no goddamn mistake about it... I came out fuckin' swinging and nothing's gonna stop me from making sure this match goes down exactly how I choose it to. I've never been much of a team player, aside from teaming with my baby sister because she's the only one I trust to have my back, not including Savannah. But, I'll put up with it this time in order to make sure we do whatever it takes to take down the three stooges we've been placed up against." He pauses, taking a moment to properly collect his thoughts.
"There's a reason why I'm your favorite wrestler's favorite rookie. I've been at this hardly over a year and this is the first big company I've signed with. So, you better believe I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the world knows exactly what I'm capable of. Arik Holt decided to test my patience, put me up against my own flesh and blood in one of the first matches I ever decided to show up for. But, that did nothing but light a fire under me at the end of the night. After he made it known what a true bitch he was? I knew exactly what I had to do after they all showed up... I had to make sure they know exactly the repercussions for their actions."
"This is more than an Arik Holt problem. This is a True Society problem and I'm about to make myself their problem. If they think they can just walk around here and do whatever the hell they want? Then, they've got another thing comin' 'cause we ain't about to let them run this place right to the ground. I don't trust nobody, I know I gotta have my own back at the end of the day. But, I know when a group of people have a common goal and that's all I can say about me and the rest of the team I've been placed with. At the end of the day, we're going into this match with one common goal: Making sure True Society's time here is a living fuckin' hell." Tongue reaches out to wet his lips as he stands to his feet, he's getting a bit too antsy right about now and that's not good for anybody.
"Let me make one thing crystal clear. I am about my bullshit, I back up all of the shit I talk regardless of the outcome of a match. It's not about wins and losses for me, it's about making sure whoever is placed on the other side knows that I'm not to be messed with. I'm already full of anger and frustration on a daily basis, so wrestling is an outlet for me. But, I also don't care who I have to put my hands on when it comes to my profession. I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I'll be damned if anybody makes me out to be a bitch when I'm not." He pops a piece of gum into his mouth, something to distract himself for a moment. He's fidgety, barely able to stand still as he paces around a bit.
"Look, all I know is that me, Angelo, and Sav' all have the same idea in mind. We want to do whatever it takes to make sure True Society knows that they aren't as scary as they make themselves out to be. Ain't nobody scared of a bunch of bitches that have to do this "strength in numbers" bullshit. I for sure ain't scare of nobody. No matter how much shit they talk or how much they think they beat the shit outta me. Y'all think you're the shit 'cause you got some gold with your names on it? That don't mean shit to nobody so don't get it twisted. Plenty of people held those titles before you and plenty of people will hold them after you. It don't make you special, trust and believe."
"Nothing scares me, I ain't got nothing left to lose. I lost my birth mother mere months after I was born. I lost my birth father over one year ago to Alcoholism... and I lost the one woman who raised me when everyone turned their back on me to Cancer less than a week ago. When I say I have nothing left to lose, I mean that shit. I'm not doing this for anybody but myself anymore. So, I'll be a team player this time around. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure we stay on the same page. But, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend to be friends with anybody. There ain't no room for friends in this business and it's that simple. We get in, we get the dub and we get the fuck out. I'm the big bad wolf blowin' down straw houses around here, so you better use bricks instead." He knocks the camera over purposely, static filling the screen shortly after as he walks away.