Post by The Ace on Jan 17, 2013 15:17:33 GMT -6
A crowd of weepy faces have gathered, a substantial, yet intimate crowd clad in black all in mourning, some of the elder women have black veils descended from their hats and whilst we do not know most of them, a few faces in attendance at Laura Smith's funeral here in Miami stand out in the sea of sombre grief. There was Laura's parents, all generations of the Conways, and Roberto Verona, with Hannah Reed. Caleb Lockwood, Tiffany Jones, Emma Danielson, Andrew Jacobsen and his little sister Callie Jacobsen.
Jake Conway stood and looked out at the mass of bowed faces, and he swallowed hard, he had been fortunate enough in his life not to have attended too many funerals, but something about this bothered him, forced him to reflect on his own life and something about his life decisions so far sat like an uncomfortable weight in his gut as he cleared his throat and tried to avoid facing it.
Jake: I didn't know Laura terribly well, but what little I came to know of her, I grew to envy. It feels strange to admit that in the seven years she had been apart of my brother Jason's life, I had never taken the time to get to know her perhaps as well as I should have, and indeed could have. I wish I could say that it was all Jason's fault, that he had kept her away from me, and with my history around beautiful young blonde women, really who could blame him?
There is a smattering of laughter and smiles from the crowd, and Emma and Jake's eyes briefly meet as he continues. Jake smiles.
Jake: But he didn't, he wanted me to get to know her better, I didn't and like so many of you here today, it was because I thought I had all the time in the world to get to know her. She stood on the doorstep of being a part of my family, just as she had been standing there for seven years and I never really took the time to invite her in until it was too late. She was so young. So bright. She did more in her twenty five years to seize the gift of life than I have in my thirty-nine. She appreciated something so few of us ever appreciate until times like these. Life is short. Our lives on this Earth are but fleeting kisses, and far too often we approach it as coy lovers when we should reach out and embrace it fully. That's what I loved most about Laura, even more so than the fact that for seven years she kept him from hounding me for my little black book of girl's phone numbers.
"Dude, you're married now, you don't need it anymore!"
More laughter from the crowd as Jake locks eyes with his youngest brother Jason, who grins.
Jake: Laura was the kind of free spirit who wore her heart on her sleeve, she was who she was, and she lived life unashamedly as we all should, there were no veils, no masks, nothing hidden, what you saw was exactly what you got, how many of us can honestly say that we live like that? I know I certainly don't, I just wish I could...
Jake looks at Andrew Jacobsen.
Jake: I think in the end that is the greatest lesson Laura taught me, nothing in life warrants secrets, nothing in life is worth hiding who you really are, not even the cloak and dagger routine so often employed in my line of work. Love who you are, live as you are, and I think if we can all take that lesson from here today, our time on Earth can be just as the Heavens are today, just that little bit brighter...all thanks to a remarkable young woman taken well before her time. Goodbye Laura, we will all miss you, but I will never forget you...
Jake nods as he goes over to rejoin the crowd, and Roberto Verona pats him on the back and whispers something in his ear, Jake nods before he hugs Kathy and his children. Emma comes over and she too hugs Jake before whispering something in his ear. Andrew Jacobsen looks on, startled by Emma and Callie and Kathy all pawing over him, before he too sighs and swallows his pride and shuffles through the crowd to do the right thing. Words we are not an audience to are exchanged between the two men, and Andrew seems genuinely stunned when Jake nods, smiles and embraces him in an unashamedly genuine hug.
What do you want from me Andrew?
Whatever it is, I'm sure we can hug it out if we haven't already.
Do you want me to show remorse for what I did at Mind Games a couple of weeks ago? Do you want me to apologise for making you kiss that title you just won as it lay on the canvas? Do you want me to shed a tear of regret? Because I've already shed enough of those this week my friend, and quite frankly I don't have any left to waste on you. The fact of the matter is Andy, I am an honest man, I always have been, and always will be, and you and all your little fans can hate me for it all you want, but I will not lie to you or them. I will not paint you as some noble all conquering hero, some mighty National Champion who will hold the belt forever and ever and ever, simply because you take exception to the fact that I insinuated that come Metamorphosis you just might lose that belt you earned from me.
Yes, Andrew, I said you earned it. Because I'm not Alex Jones, I will not deny the truth just because I don't like the sound of it, just because it crushes my ego a little bit to admit it, and just because it takes some of the shine off of my bad boy apple that I want to spit in your face because I'm an asshole playing it up for jeering idiots in the pathetic pantomime that is New Championship Wrestling.
You earned the National Championship, that much I can never take away from you, and I will be the first in line to give you all the credit you deserve when you have done everything you possibly can to earn it. You're on your way Jacobsen, you're well on your way infact, the first time your boot kissed my jaw, the world saw the North Star spark to life, and watching it back I saw that spark brighten my little girl's eyes. The second time your boot kissed my jaw, the world saw the North Star glow, and watching it back, I saw that glow grow brighter still in Soli's eyes. Her faith in me, her father, was dimming, and as heartbreaking as it was for me to watch that, I knew it was necessary. I knew it was a price I had to pay.
If Solitaire was going to lose her faith in me, then I knew I only had to make her faith in you that much stronger - you see Andrew I don't care who my daughter believes in as long as she contines to believe in something, because as long as she believes in something, she can never truly lose her innocence. Two superkicks two successive weeks in a row and she's starting to believe that maybe, just maybe daddy cannot beat her hero. Two superkicks two successive weeks in a row and people are starting to believe you as the next legitimate National Champion, the guy who could possibly hold onto it this time and actually make it mean something again.
For your sake Jacobsen, I hope you really are that guy, I hope you can be every bit the hero that my baby girl believes you to be, because the last thing I want is to play hot potato with that belt. I want you to stop whining about taking a FameAcer from me just because you didn't expect it after I shook your hand. The fact is I'm a man of my word, but I'm also the bad guy in all of this as far as everybody else is concerned, so really what else did you expect from a man you're so inherently suspicious of that you see some grand conspiracy around your baby sister and lose it every time your best friend Emma calls me by my real name?
Grow up Andrew.
Untwist those little white frilly panties of yours, dry your tears with a man-size box of Kleenex tissues and kick me in the face again. This is professional wrestling after all, it what it expected. It is what they all want you to do, they want to jump up and chant your name. I am helping the North Star burn brighter than he ever has before, and I'm doing it at my own detriment and at the expense of my own daughter's love, yet even with all that, I can only carry you to greatness so far. Eventually you're going to have to do some of the work yourself. Eventually you're going to have to twinkle all by yourself lil AJ...you're going to have to expend some of your own fuel and not just the fuel I am giving you to burn me with...I'm getting the people to believe in you again Andrew, its just a shame that you cannot believe enough in yourself to not be rattled by taking a finishing move from me post match. It's just a shame that you cannot believe enough in your little sister to make her own decisions without some dastardly coersion on my part, and its a damned shame that you cannot believe enough in Emma Danielson not to throw a hissy fit every time she offers a viewpoint on me just because it contradicts your own. Just because it contradicts everything you believe about me. Andrew, this week you'd do well to actually step up and take a lesson from our opponents...
Believe in something, even when it defies all logic, reason and common sense to do so.
Believe in me when I tell you I'm not out to screw with your family.
Sometime after the service, we see Roberto and Hannah talking to Jason Conway, Tiffany and Kathy reminescing over fresh tears and some of their memories and Emma Danielson and Jake Conway sat together away from the group, engaged in their own conversation and this is the conversation we pick up on.
Emma: I just wanted to say thanks....even with everything that's been going on for you and your family lately, you still made time to find me a match this week...
Jake: Actually that was Kat's idea. I just approved it...
Emma seems slightly surprised by this.
Emma: Oh. How is she by the way?
Jake: Yeah...she's...coping, I guess...
Emma: How about you? How are you Jake?
Jake laughs, almost out of genuine surprise, nobody had really asked him how he felt during all of this.
Jake: I'm alright, I guess...
Jake was lying and Emma through some instinct of her own knew it.
Jake: It's just that....times like these, brings it all back you know. The stories my mother used to tell about growing up with my alcoholic grandfather. A grandfather I never got to know because he died when she was just a teen....the booze finally caught up to him, I guess...it's why I don't drink as much as I used to. God help me, I actually want to see my kids grow up and I actually want to see my grandkids...
Emma: I had no idea. A violent drunk was he?
Jake: No. Not at all. Not from the way my mother tells it, recalls all her memories with such genuine love and affection. Apparently when he used to come home he just used to pass out and sleep off his hangover. There were the odd occassions where she witnessed him having all sorts of health problems, convulsing with seizures and the like but nothing violent...all I know is its made her an incredibly strong woman with a stomach of steel...
Jake laughs, and Emma smiles, as without thinking she reaches out and takes his hand in hers.
Emma: She sounds incredible.
Jake: She is Em, she is. I don't know what I'd do without her...
Emma: I bet she's proud of you.
Jake: I'd like to think she is. The last thing I'd want her to think of me as is some worthless rake-swinging monkey like everybody else...
Emma: Not everybody thinks of you that way, Jake. I don't. At least not anymore...
Emma smiles as she brushes her hair to one side.
Jake: You don't?
Emma: No, not at all.
In spite of all logic and reason and the tiny siren going off in her head warning her that he was still The Ace in a voice that was very distinctly Andrew Jacobsen's, Emma Danielson didn't see it. In fact, she felt relaxed and entirely comfortable around Jake Conway as if she could tell him almost anything right now and he'd listen because that's how attentive he seemed. She leant forward and took a gamble in which her heart trumped her head as she in turn opened herself up to him.
Emma: Well since you've told me about your grandpa, I feel it only fair to tell you about some of my family. Like you said, times like these bring it all back, I remember my mother...
What is it with you and stereotypically foreign tag team partners, Curtis? I mean seriously, the last time we stood on opposite sides of the ring from one another and by coincidence my partner was also Andrew Jacobsen then as he is now, you were teamed with Mexican stereotypes. In fact as I recall, even with all the problems on my team, that still didn't work out too well for you did it?
This time it isn't Mexicans watching your back, but Australians. Dirty backstabbing, lowlife criminals, thugs, absolute scoundrels...just the kind of scum that a man of my stature and status within this company shouldn't have to deal with on any week, never mind this week. In my time, I've been locked up behind bars...granted, never for as long as Stephen Kingsley and Cyrus Daniels because I am not a brutish thug, even if everybody in NCW likes to insist that I am. I suppose an eighteen month incarciration would make anybody place their faith in something, even something as ridiculous as Thor.
I get that you need to believe in something Stephen, everybody does, but Thor, come on man! In any other circumstance I wouldn't fault you for worshipping Chris Hemsworth, he is one of your countrymen after all, but surely now, after a few weeks of teaming with Curtis, you must understand that's just not going to happen. You're not going to get your little fanboy moment with your homegrown hero, there will be no pictures, no autographs, no signing of your nipples or your crocodile skin purse. Everything Curtis has been telling you about servicing Thor and his mighty hammer is a lie.
If it were true, well then, you, Curtis and Cyrus would have to get in line behind me and Kathy, Andrew Jacobsen, Callie, Emma, Tiffany, Caleb and about a million other young women because we'd all be cueing for a chance to wield the might of the Hemsworth Hammer, and as history has shown, I have quite the affinity for such weapons. But I digress, pick apart the innuendos if you want, tell me I'm in the closet because you don't get my sense of humour...you are an Aussie after all, believe that I just might be gay, and I'll tell you that I'm not at all surprised. Believing me to be an overcompensating homosexual with an incredibly hot wife is quite frankly something I expect from Curtis and the rest of his crew.
It is no less a ridiculous notion than anything else you've chosen to believe in lately.
I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt here Stephen, really I would. When I gave you advice for your match against Velez months ago, I thought you were a smart enough man to heed it. Apparently I was wrong. Hell I even gave you a free pass for making googly eyes at my wife because I thought you were just a man with good taste. Apparently I was wrong. So you see Stephen, you shouldn't worry about breaking my faith this Sunday, you should worry about breaking your own in Curtis and Thor...
Because my faith in your piddly ass is already broken, mate.
If anything, you all should believe in me. By his own admission, Curtis has stated that I am the architect of your entire belief system, the founder of your entire Church...so I guess it is only natural that I should be the breaker of your little world, your faith and your will...
As your leader has observed, we have come full circle indeed.
Jake Conway stood and looked out at the mass of bowed faces, and he swallowed hard, he had been fortunate enough in his life not to have attended too many funerals, but something about this bothered him, forced him to reflect on his own life and something about his life decisions so far sat like an uncomfortable weight in his gut as he cleared his throat and tried to avoid facing it.
Jake: I didn't know Laura terribly well, but what little I came to know of her, I grew to envy. It feels strange to admit that in the seven years she had been apart of my brother Jason's life, I had never taken the time to get to know her perhaps as well as I should have, and indeed could have. I wish I could say that it was all Jason's fault, that he had kept her away from me, and with my history around beautiful young blonde women, really who could blame him?
There is a smattering of laughter and smiles from the crowd, and Emma and Jake's eyes briefly meet as he continues. Jake smiles.
Jake: But he didn't, he wanted me to get to know her better, I didn't and like so many of you here today, it was because I thought I had all the time in the world to get to know her. She stood on the doorstep of being a part of my family, just as she had been standing there for seven years and I never really took the time to invite her in until it was too late. She was so young. So bright. She did more in her twenty five years to seize the gift of life than I have in my thirty-nine. She appreciated something so few of us ever appreciate until times like these. Life is short. Our lives on this Earth are but fleeting kisses, and far too often we approach it as coy lovers when we should reach out and embrace it fully. That's what I loved most about Laura, even more so than the fact that for seven years she kept him from hounding me for my little black book of girl's phone numbers.
"Dude, you're married now, you don't need it anymore!"
More laughter from the crowd as Jake locks eyes with his youngest brother Jason, who grins.
Jake: Laura was the kind of free spirit who wore her heart on her sleeve, she was who she was, and she lived life unashamedly as we all should, there were no veils, no masks, nothing hidden, what you saw was exactly what you got, how many of us can honestly say that we live like that? I know I certainly don't, I just wish I could...
Jake looks at Andrew Jacobsen.
Jake: I think in the end that is the greatest lesson Laura taught me, nothing in life warrants secrets, nothing in life is worth hiding who you really are, not even the cloak and dagger routine so often employed in my line of work. Love who you are, live as you are, and I think if we can all take that lesson from here today, our time on Earth can be just as the Heavens are today, just that little bit brighter...all thanks to a remarkable young woman taken well before her time. Goodbye Laura, we will all miss you, but I will never forget you...
Jake nods as he goes over to rejoin the crowd, and Roberto Verona pats him on the back and whispers something in his ear, Jake nods before he hugs Kathy and his children. Emma comes over and she too hugs Jake before whispering something in his ear. Andrew Jacobsen looks on, startled by Emma and Callie and Kathy all pawing over him, before he too sighs and swallows his pride and shuffles through the crowd to do the right thing. Words we are not an audience to are exchanged between the two men, and Andrew seems genuinely stunned when Jake nods, smiles and embraces him in an unashamedly genuine hug.
What do you want from me Andrew?
Whatever it is, I'm sure we can hug it out if we haven't already.
Do you want me to show remorse for what I did at Mind Games a couple of weeks ago? Do you want me to apologise for making you kiss that title you just won as it lay on the canvas? Do you want me to shed a tear of regret? Because I've already shed enough of those this week my friend, and quite frankly I don't have any left to waste on you. The fact of the matter is Andy, I am an honest man, I always have been, and always will be, and you and all your little fans can hate me for it all you want, but I will not lie to you or them. I will not paint you as some noble all conquering hero, some mighty National Champion who will hold the belt forever and ever and ever, simply because you take exception to the fact that I insinuated that come Metamorphosis you just might lose that belt you earned from me.
Yes, Andrew, I said you earned it. Because I'm not Alex Jones, I will not deny the truth just because I don't like the sound of it, just because it crushes my ego a little bit to admit it, and just because it takes some of the shine off of my bad boy apple that I want to spit in your face because I'm an asshole playing it up for jeering idiots in the pathetic pantomime that is New Championship Wrestling.
You earned the National Championship, that much I can never take away from you, and I will be the first in line to give you all the credit you deserve when you have done everything you possibly can to earn it. You're on your way Jacobsen, you're well on your way infact, the first time your boot kissed my jaw, the world saw the North Star spark to life, and watching it back I saw that spark brighten my little girl's eyes. The second time your boot kissed my jaw, the world saw the North Star glow, and watching it back, I saw that glow grow brighter still in Soli's eyes. Her faith in me, her father, was dimming, and as heartbreaking as it was for me to watch that, I knew it was necessary. I knew it was a price I had to pay.
If Solitaire was going to lose her faith in me, then I knew I only had to make her faith in you that much stronger - you see Andrew I don't care who my daughter believes in as long as she contines to believe in something, because as long as she believes in something, she can never truly lose her innocence. Two superkicks two successive weeks in a row and she's starting to believe that maybe, just maybe daddy cannot beat her hero. Two superkicks two successive weeks in a row and people are starting to believe you as the next legitimate National Champion, the guy who could possibly hold onto it this time and actually make it mean something again.
For your sake Jacobsen, I hope you really are that guy, I hope you can be every bit the hero that my baby girl believes you to be, because the last thing I want is to play hot potato with that belt. I want you to stop whining about taking a FameAcer from me just because you didn't expect it after I shook your hand. The fact is I'm a man of my word, but I'm also the bad guy in all of this as far as everybody else is concerned, so really what else did you expect from a man you're so inherently suspicious of that you see some grand conspiracy around your baby sister and lose it every time your best friend Emma calls me by my real name?
Grow up Andrew.
Untwist those little white frilly panties of yours, dry your tears with a man-size box of Kleenex tissues and kick me in the face again. This is professional wrestling after all, it what it expected. It is what they all want you to do, they want to jump up and chant your name. I am helping the North Star burn brighter than he ever has before, and I'm doing it at my own detriment and at the expense of my own daughter's love, yet even with all that, I can only carry you to greatness so far. Eventually you're going to have to do some of the work yourself. Eventually you're going to have to twinkle all by yourself lil AJ...you're going to have to expend some of your own fuel and not just the fuel I am giving you to burn me with...I'm getting the people to believe in you again Andrew, its just a shame that you cannot believe enough in yourself to not be rattled by taking a finishing move from me post match. It's just a shame that you cannot believe enough in your little sister to make her own decisions without some dastardly coersion on my part, and its a damned shame that you cannot believe enough in Emma Danielson not to throw a hissy fit every time she offers a viewpoint on me just because it contradicts your own. Just because it contradicts everything you believe about me. Andrew, this week you'd do well to actually step up and take a lesson from our opponents...
Believe in something, even when it defies all logic, reason and common sense to do so.
Believe in me when I tell you I'm not out to screw with your family.
Sometime after the service, we see Roberto and Hannah talking to Jason Conway, Tiffany and Kathy reminescing over fresh tears and some of their memories and Emma Danielson and Jake Conway sat together away from the group, engaged in their own conversation and this is the conversation we pick up on.
Emma: I just wanted to say thanks....even with everything that's been going on for you and your family lately, you still made time to find me a match this week...
Jake: Actually that was Kat's idea. I just approved it...
Emma seems slightly surprised by this.
Emma: Oh. How is she by the way?
Jake: Yeah...she's...coping, I guess...
Emma: How about you? How are you Jake?
Jake laughs, almost out of genuine surprise, nobody had really asked him how he felt during all of this.
Jake: I'm alright, I guess...
Jake was lying and Emma through some instinct of her own knew it.
Jake: It's just that....times like these, brings it all back you know. The stories my mother used to tell about growing up with my alcoholic grandfather. A grandfather I never got to know because he died when she was just a teen....the booze finally caught up to him, I guess...it's why I don't drink as much as I used to. God help me, I actually want to see my kids grow up and I actually want to see my grandkids...
Emma: I had no idea. A violent drunk was he?
Jake: No. Not at all. Not from the way my mother tells it, recalls all her memories with such genuine love and affection. Apparently when he used to come home he just used to pass out and sleep off his hangover. There were the odd occassions where she witnessed him having all sorts of health problems, convulsing with seizures and the like but nothing violent...all I know is its made her an incredibly strong woman with a stomach of steel...
Jake laughs, and Emma smiles, as without thinking she reaches out and takes his hand in hers.
Emma: She sounds incredible.
Jake: She is Em, she is. I don't know what I'd do without her...
Emma: I bet she's proud of you.
Jake: I'd like to think she is. The last thing I'd want her to think of me as is some worthless rake-swinging monkey like everybody else...
Emma: Not everybody thinks of you that way, Jake. I don't. At least not anymore...
Emma smiles as she brushes her hair to one side.
Jake: You don't?
Emma: No, not at all.
In spite of all logic and reason and the tiny siren going off in her head warning her that he was still The Ace in a voice that was very distinctly Andrew Jacobsen's, Emma Danielson didn't see it. In fact, she felt relaxed and entirely comfortable around Jake Conway as if she could tell him almost anything right now and he'd listen because that's how attentive he seemed. She leant forward and took a gamble in which her heart trumped her head as she in turn opened herself up to him.
Emma: Well since you've told me about your grandpa, I feel it only fair to tell you about some of my family. Like you said, times like these bring it all back, I remember my mother...
What is it with you and stereotypically foreign tag team partners, Curtis? I mean seriously, the last time we stood on opposite sides of the ring from one another and by coincidence my partner was also Andrew Jacobsen then as he is now, you were teamed with Mexican stereotypes. In fact as I recall, even with all the problems on my team, that still didn't work out too well for you did it?
This time it isn't Mexicans watching your back, but Australians. Dirty backstabbing, lowlife criminals, thugs, absolute scoundrels...just the kind of scum that a man of my stature and status within this company shouldn't have to deal with on any week, never mind this week. In my time, I've been locked up behind bars...granted, never for as long as Stephen Kingsley and Cyrus Daniels because I am not a brutish thug, even if everybody in NCW likes to insist that I am. I suppose an eighteen month incarciration would make anybody place their faith in something, even something as ridiculous as Thor.
I get that you need to believe in something Stephen, everybody does, but Thor, come on man! In any other circumstance I wouldn't fault you for worshipping Chris Hemsworth, he is one of your countrymen after all, but surely now, after a few weeks of teaming with Curtis, you must understand that's just not going to happen. You're not going to get your little fanboy moment with your homegrown hero, there will be no pictures, no autographs, no signing of your nipples or your crocodile skin purse. Everything Curtis has been telling you about servicing Thor and his mighty hammer is a lie.
If it were true, well then, you, Curtis and Cyrus would have to get in line behind me and Kathy, Andrew Jacobsen, Callie, Emma, Tiffany, Caleb and about a million other young women because we'd all be cueing for a chance to wield the might of the Hemsworth Hammer, and as history has shown, I have quite the affinity for such weapons. But I digress, pick apart the innuendos if you want, tell me I'm in the closet because you don't get my sense of humour...you are an Aussie after all, believe that I just might be gay, and I'll tell you that I'm not at all surprised. Believing me to be an overcompensating homosexual with an incredibly hot wife is quite frankly something I expect from Curtis and the rest of his crew.
It is no less a ridiculous notion than anything else you've chosen to believe in lately.
I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt here Stephen, really I would. When I gave you advice for your match against Velez months ago, I thought you were a smart enough man to heed it. Apparently I was wrong. Hell I even gave you a free pass for making googly eyes at my wife because I thought you were just a man with good taste. Apparently I was wrong. So you see Stephen, you shouldn't worry about breaking my faith this Sunday, you should worry about breaking your own in Curtis and Thor...
Because my faith in your piddly ass is already broken, mate.
If anything, you all should believe in me. By his own admission, Curtis has stated that I am the architect of your entire belief system, the founder of your entire Church...so I guess it is only natural that I should be the breaker of your little world, your faith and your will...
As your leader has observed, we have come full circle indeed.