Post by Xavier Cross on Aug 24, 2012 14:43:31 GMT -6
Shut up old man!
What was that I can’t hear you?
I’ll beat you myself. There is no way in hell you’re coming with me!
Why not? I haven’t been to an arena in decades.
What? The last one was when the romans threw Christians to the lions?
Ha! Old jokes!
Seriously. I have a target on my back; you’re just going to make me worry about something I shouldn’t have to.
You worry too much, carry my bag!
{Cross sighs in annoyance, lifting up a black duffle bag that contained most of his stuff. He then turned and looked at the old, leather bag that contained the old man’s stuff. A smile surfaced on his face, but he wouldn’t show it. Lifting the leather bag in his other hand, Cross begins walking towards the bag check-in at the Airport.}
It’ll be fun, the two of us hamming it up in first class.
No. You will sit as far away from me as humanely possible. I will sleep. How the hell did you get in New York in the first place?!
My sister lives here. Was visiting.
Visiting, or stalking me?
Does it matter, I’m here now.
Did I mention how much I hate you geezer?
{The old man chuckles, as Xavier drops the bags off, the two of them looking forward at the terminal}
Y’know, I get pretty nervous thinkin 'bout flying.
THEN STAY HERE!
Too late.
{Cross slaps his forehead as he steps first, holding his ticket out the woman smiles and steps aside as he walks down the terminal. The old man is heard saying something, and the woman begins giggling hysterically. Cross shakes his head, as he boards the plane. The old man a few steps behind him}
{Xavier Cross is quickly hammering away at his cell phone, trying to get his entire message in before the flight attendant would encourage him to turn his phone off. He quickly hits the ‘send’ button, as a quick text message is sent to his girlfriend, Natalie Tyson. His fingers move lightning fast, turning his phone off and shoving it in his pocket. Leaning back, he puts his arms behind his head letting out a soft yawn. He begins to close his eyes, hoping to drift into a deep sleep before they took off. The seat next to him shook, he paid no mind until the disgusting smell of Aqua-Velva drifted up to his nose. He didn’t bother opening his eyes. He knew who was sitting next to him}
You have got to be kidding me.
Lucky right? Convinced the lady to make sure we sat together, said you were my son and had to make sure I’d live through the trip.
Until I open the door and push you out.
How about those airplane peanuts?
I swear to god if you start trying to do Seinfeld standup I will murder you.
What? The jerk store called-
I SWEAR TO GOD OLD MAN!
Heheh, get some rest Xavier. You got a fight ahead of you.
{Xavier smiles, opening one eye to see the old man snuggling up in his seat. The plane begins to take off, Cross folds his arms, and begins drifting off into sleep. The plane finally ascends far enough for seatbelts to be removed, the stewardess walks around asking for dinner requests. The old man asks for the fish, smiling, cracking jokes making the younger women laugh. The charm of a geezer is something Cross would never understand.}
You know, this is my first flight ever.
Er…what did The Wright Brothers not let you have a turn?
You need to respect your elders!
I’m going to smother you.
{The old man begins to chuckle. Xavier tired of fighting with him, asks the woman for water and a pack of classic airplane peanuts. A few moments later she comes back, with their dinner trays. The old man went and order Cross a chicken meal}
Eat, chicken is good for ya.
You moving to a different seat would be best for me.
{The old man chuckles again, before digging into his dinner. Cross pokes at his, eating a small portion. Noting it was pretty good, and anything would beat the expensive sushi he had eaten hours earlier. Xavier begins to enjoy his meal, and finally comes to terms with the fact the Old Man was coming with him, whether he wanted him to or not}
What was that I can’t hear you?
I’ll beat you myself. There is no way in hell you’re coming with me!
Why not? I haven’t been to an arena in decades.
What? The last one was when the romans threw Christians to the lions?
Ha! Old jokes!
Seriously. I have a target on my back; you’re just going to make me worry about something I shouldn’t have to.
You worry too much, carry my bag!
{Cross sighs in annoyance, lifting up a black duffle bag that contained most of his stuff. He then turned and looked at the old, leather bag that contained the old man’s stuff. A smile surfaced on his face, but he wouldn’t show it. Lifting the leather bag in his other hand, Cross begins walking towards the bag check-in at the Airport.}
It’ll be fun, the two of us hamming it up in first class.
No. You will sit as far away from me as humanely possible. I will sleep. How the hell did you get in New York in the first place?!
My sister lives here. Was visiting.
Visiting, or stalking me?
Does it matter, I’m here now.
Did I mention how much I hate you geezer?
{The old man chuckles, as Xavier drops the bags off, the two of them looking forward at the terminal}
Y’know, I get pretty nervous thinkin 'bout flying.
THEN STAY HERE!
Too late.
{Cross slaps his forehead as he steps first, holding his ticket out the woman smiles and steps aside as he walks down the terminal. The old man is heard saying something, and the woman begins giggling hysterically. Cross shakes his head, as he boards the plane. The old man a few steps behind him}
*****
Maybe they don’t care. Maybe this is a fight I’ll face alone. Maybe I will be a lamb to the slaughter. I have my reasons I fight, as you have yours. You have abandoned your fight, I will not. For the longest time I was in the back, mocking people who took a stand, suckling from the teat of the corrupt machine. I never stood up for anything other than myself, I was egomaniacal, I was self-centered, I had only my interest in mind. To further my career, to collect allocates and titles. I achieve X-Treme Title reigns, National Title reigns, and a few world title shots. I backed the wrong people for too long, and I saw how corruption can hurt people, outside that ring. I saw how this hierarchy manipulates, how they change people into pawns.
I may stand at the other side of the chess board alone. But I will not back away. I will not falter from beat downs, from insults, from Adam. If this is a fight for what I believe in my heart-of-hearts is the righteous path. I will walk it, every painful step. Every cheap shot, ever dirty trick, ever man that sides with this Tyrant, I will fight them without blinking, without hesitation, without fear.
But the one thing I’ll hold in my heart, that I’ll never let slip.
Morality. Mercy. Knowing what is right. If simple words would have changed the mind of the corrupt man, if Adam Knite would have just seen the error in his ways. I would have smiled, embraced him like an old friend. Alas, the hunger for power, the need to dominate, it supersedes even the survival instinct.
But this fight will not be in vain. It’s true, no one stepped out to help me at New Dawn. Though not many people have the testicular fortitude we possess to stand up and tell someone when they’re wrong. It’s terrifying to someone who isn’t set in their ways. Knowing that with a simple statement, their careers could be ended by a fiend hiding behind a desk. That they have their lives made harder by just looking the wrong way.
I will look down that fiend, I will look down this tyrant. I fight for the freedom of nCw. You say they’re jackals, I prefer sharks in the waiting. Our co-workers know when to strike, as soon as they smell blood in the water. If I somehow manage to dethrone….No when I dethrone these corrupt royalties, another person will just take their place. But it’s my job to show them that this rebellion is not just a temporary thing. That the fear of men and women fighting for what they believe in, for fairness and equality among the roster isn’t just cliché, but a dangerous thing. Something dangerous that should not be played with.
So fight for yourself, Verona, keep going after Kelly’s world title bearing monster. Strike at him with all your might, strike against the machine that drives this company.
I will not back away by fear of having my career ripped apart. I will not fear the idea that when the dust settles, that I will be destroyed by the same people I fight for. Because I believe that every man has some good in him, that every man knows a just cause when he sees it. I know that when you believe something so damn much you’re willing to bleed for it. Eyes begin to open. I believe that this fight will not be in vain. I will succeed and our roster, these sharks. They will understand, they will respect this ideal and embrace it.
Because everyone deserves a shot. I’m fighting to make sure they get that shot. I’ve spent 8 years in this business trying to step on anyone I could to get over, to get my shot. I didn’t care about anyone but myself. It’s a lonely life. I still stand alone, but I finally have something worth fighting for. I’m fighting for them, whether they want me to or not, I’m fighting for a better day. When it would be easier to roll over to a king, I will show the world that he can bleed. That he is mortal. That he has flaws, and can be beaten.
It’ll be okay. Whether I stand alone or leading an army of rebels it matters not. I will fight until my final breath for this ideal. I will show the world that you cannot roll over and be beaten into submission. I will show my children that when you believe in something, never let anyone take it away from you. Fight for it, will all your might.
Never surrender. I will not fail.
I may stand at the other side of the chess board alone. But I will not back away. I will not falter from beat downs, from insults, from Adam. If this is a fight for what I believe in my heart-of-hearts is the righteous path. I will walk it, every painful step. Every cheap shot, ever dirty trick, ever man that sides with this Tyrant, I will fight them without blinking, without hesitation, without fear.
But the one thing I’ll hold in my heart, that I’ll never let slip.
Morality. Mercy. Knowing what is right. If simple words would have changed the mind of the corrupt man, if Adam Knite would have just seen the error in his ways. I would have smiled, embraced him like an old friend. Alas, the hunger for power, the need to dominate, it supersedes even the survival instinct.
But this fight will not be in vain. It’s true, no one stepped out to help me at New Dawn. Though not many people have the testicular fortitude we possess to stand up and tell someone when they’re wrong. It’s terrifying to someone who isn’t set in their ways. Knowing that with a simple statement, their careers could be ended by a fiend hiding behind a desk. That they have their lives made harder by just looking the wrong way.
I will look down that fiend, I will look down this tyrant. I fight for the freedom of nCw. You say they’re jackals, I prefer sharks in the waiting. Our co-workers know when to strike, as soon as they smell blood in the water. If I somehow manage to dethrone….No when I dethrone these corrupt royalties, another person will just take their place. But it’s my job to show them that this rebellion is not just a temporary thing. That the fear of men and women fighting for what they believe in, for fairness and equality among the roster isn’t just cliché, but a dangerous thing. Something dangerous that should not be played with.
So fight for yourself, Verona, keep going after Kelly’s world title bearing monster. Strike at him with all your might, strike against the machine that drives this company.
I will not back away by fear of having my career ripped apart. I will not fear the idea that when the dust settles, that I will be destroyed by the same people I fight for. Because I believe that every man has some good in him, that every man knows a just cause when he sees it. I know that when you believe something so damn much you’re willing to bleed for it. Eyes begin to open. I believe that this fight will not be in vain. I will succeed and our roster, these sharks. They will understand, they will respect this ideal and embrace it.
Because everyone deserves a shot. I’m fighting to make sure they get that shot. I’ve spent 8 years in this business trying to step on anyone I could to get over, to get my shot. I didn’t care about anyone but myself. It’s a lonely life. I still stand alone, but I finally have something worth fighting for. I’m fighting for them, whether they want me to or not, I’m fighting for a better day. When it would be easier to roll over to a king, I will show the world that he can bleed. That he is mortal. That he has flaws, and can be beaten.
It’ll be okay. Whether I stand alone or leading an army of rebels it matters not. I will fight until my final breath for this ideal. I will show the world that you cannot roll over and be beaten into submission. I will show my children that when you believe in something, never let anyone take it away from you. Fight for it, will all your might.
Never surrender. I will not fail.
*****
{Xavier Cross is quickly hammering away at his cell phone, trying to get his entire message in before the flight attendant would encourage him to turn his phone off. He quickly hits the ‘send’ button, as a quick text message is sent to his girlfriend, Natalie Tyson. His fingers move lightning fast, turning his phone off and shoving it in his pocket. Leaning back, he puts his arms behind his head letting out a soft yawn. He begins to close his eyes, hoping to drift into a deep sleep before they took off. The seat next to him shook, he paid no mind until the disgusting smell of Aqua-Velva drifted up to his nose. He didn’t bother opening his eyes. He knew who was sitting next to him}
You have got to be kidding me.
Lucky right? Convinced the lady to make sure we sat together, said you were my son and had to make sure I’d live through the trip.
Until I open the door and push you out.
How about those airplane peanuts?
I swear to god if you start trying to do Seinfeld standup I will murder you.
What? The jerk store called-
I SWEAR TO GOD OLD MAN!
Heheh, get some rest Xavier. You got a fight ahead of you.
{Xavier smiles, opening one eye to see the old man snuggling up in his seat. The plane begins to take off, Cross folds his arms, and begins drifting off into sleep. The plane finally ascends far enough for seatbelts to be removed, the stewardess walks around asking for dinner requests. The old man asks for the fish, smiling, cracking jokes making the younger women laugh. The charm of a geezer is something Cross would never understand.}
You know, this is my first flight ever.
Er…what did The Wright Brothers not let you have a turn?
You need to respect your elders!
I’m going to smother you.
{The old man begins to chuckle. Xavier tired of fighting with him, asks the woman for water and a pack of classic airplane peanuts. A few moments later she comes back, with their dinner trays. The old man went and order Cross a chicken meal}
Eat, chicken is good for ya.
You moving to a different seat would be best for me.
{The old man chuckles again, before digging into his dinner. Cross pokes at his, eating a small portion. Noting it was pretty good, and anything would beat the expensive sushi he had eaten hours earlier. Xavier begins to enjoy his meal, and finally comes to terms with the fact the Old Man was coming with him, whether he wanted him to or not}