Post by Kathleen Conway on Apr 24, 2013 13:52:21 GMT -6
Collision 04/21/13
Houston, Texas
NCW Mobile App Exclusive
Houston, Texas
NCW Mobile App Exclusive
Kathleen Conway slides into the ring after Knitely Bangs have left, and she checks on her fallen husband as he sits up in her arms as she is knelt beside him and for the first time in four years the grizzled veteran actually gets some cheers from the sold out Texas crowd. Kathy and Jake exchange words, and he nods. She then helps him to his feet, and the couple leave the ring, Kathy supporting him the whole time.
The couple head up the ramp together to a smattering of cheers from the crowd which Jake seems surprised by, he was more used to the boos he often got. Kathy and Jake disappear behind the curtain, where they are immediately greeted my Emma Danielson.
Emma: Are you okay, Jake?
The Ace looks up at one of his Queens with a slight grimace.
The Ace: I'll be...fine...
Kathy: Come on sweetie, let's go back to the locker-room. I'll take care of you...
Emma: I guess this is a bad time to ask for a match next week?
Jake and Kathy look at Emma rather bemused, it was then that they both knew that Emma was only in this for the benefit of her own career.
Kathy: Really? Emma, really? You think this is a good time to ask for a ***damn match?
Emma shrugs.
Emma: What? Jake said it himself, he's fine...and last I checked he was still Head of the Starlets and as such he still has a job to do. The fact that he got his ass handed to him by Adam Knite yet again is irrelevant to me. He isn't my boo, he's my boss and I'm his employee, nothing more....
Kathy glares at her tag team partner and opens her mouth to respond, but Jake stops his wife.
The Ace: No. Kat, darling. She's right, I do still have a job to do. I have every intention of fulfilling the last of my commitments to this company, and that includes granting matches to my Starlets...
Emma smiles at this, as The Ace steps away from his wife's support and stares at Emma, maintaining eye contact with her.
The Ace: You want a match so badly, fine, Emma. Next week you can open Trauma...
The Ace and Kathy start to walk away.
Emma: Wait...at least tell me, who am I facing?
The Ace looks over his shoulder and smirks.
The Ace: The next Starlets World Champion...
Emma looks a bit taken aback by the decision, but Kathy smiles as the couple leave Emma to digest the idea of facing her tag team partner next week on Trauma.
You know Emma, anybody else in my position would be overlooking this match, and instead be all starry eyed as they look forward to the match with Zelda Knite, anybody else would be looking at you as an example to make to Z at best, and a bloated annoyance just in the way at worst. Anybody else would laugh at the very notion of you being any kind of worthwhile prelude to the most dominant Starlet this company has ever and will ever see, but not me.
You see I look at you just that little bit differently to everybody else, I always have, even if I haven't always admitted it. If I didn't see beyond your intimidating build to the kind of person you really are, I wouldn't have agreed to let my husband help you conquer your personal demons of drink, to sober up long enough to face whatever tragedies lace your past, you see Emma, you may not like me, you may not respect who I am as a person, you may see me as just another stuck up bitch around here whose only recourse against you is to berate you as a dirty ogre and call it a day, but I've seen a little deeper, I've scratched beyond the surface of Emma Catherine Danielson, and whilst you may not like what you've found, it does at least intrigue me.
I helped you without expecting thanks, I only tried to teach you the virtues of moderation and lead you away from the dangers of excess. I had no idea that you hated who you really were once the alcoholic haze dissipated, but you cannot blame me for that and I hope you don't. I hope you realise that I cannot be held responsible for who you are when you're not nursing a beer bottle. Only you can. The best I can do is be here for you as a colleague, hell even a friend. I can be whatever you need me to be Emma. All I ask in return is that you be who I need you to be at Trauma. I don't need you to be my friend Emma, I need you to be the former Starlets Champion. I need you to be the woman who earned every damn day of her four weeks as the best in the division. I need you to test me. I need you to prepare me. Are you up for that Emma, or do we need to trade a few more childish insults before you are fired up enough to push me to my limits?
I know you've looked in the mirror every morning of every day for these last few months and you've hated what you've become, you don't want to be seen as some sort of cold-hearted bitch or corporate tool, you just want respect for who you are and what you've achieved in this business, even if by most people's standards you really haven't achieved a whole hell of a lot in your time with this company, but try as hard as you might, you've never quite gotten it, have you Em?
Well, newsflash sister, neither have I.
You and I are the same, people like Zelda, Jasmine and Jenny, they'll never understand people like us Emma, people like you and me, not necessarily because they're incapable, but because they just don't want to. We'll never be accepted by them, because they measure everything by fifteen pounds of gold and leather and dismiss the entire spectrum of human experience unless it affects them, unless it takes centre stage in their lives. That's how self-absorbed they are, all they care about is themselves and you may fight me tooth and nail on Trauma in yet another failed attempt to be accepted and adored by the masses, and that's your prerogative, but I will not.
I don't want to be one of them, and I know that deep down Emma, you're not one of them either, even if right now you want to be. My husband pitched me the idea of the Queens and the Blood Diamonds specifically months before it ever came to pass because that's just the kind of relationship we have, we have no secrets, and believe me if I didn't think I could work with you, I would never have agreed to it. I always knew I'd have problems with Jenny's self-serving ego, but you never struck me as that kind of egomaniac.
Maybe I'm wrong, Lord knows it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong about a person I've wanted to call a friend, but I'd like to believe we can avoid all the typical tag team cliches this weekend, I'd like to believe you'd be able to find it in your heart to be happy for me and what I've managed to pull off at the eleventh hour. I stand at the foot of the mountain you've already conquered and stood atop of for four weeks, I have my ticket to A Night To Remember punched and I won't lie, it feels good, it feels damn good, because I know I've earned this opportunity.
Would you really begrudge me for seeking the same time of validation you sought three years ago? I hope you don't, all I want is the same chance you once seized, a chance to beat Zelda. See Emma, I'm all too aware that people don't give you enough credit, all they see is that you have the shortest reign, but the fact remains that you once ended the reign of the woman who will now be remembered forever as the most dominant Starlets Champion in the history of the company, and I will not take that away from you, even if others will.
So what if it was on a technicality? So many people in this business win by technicalities all the time, it doesn't mean that it doesn't count, and it sure as hell doesn't stop them crowing about it, so why shouldn't you Emma? Go ahead, I'll wait. I'll afford you the same luxury I afforded Vargas when she gloated about beating Zelda, because everybody deserves to relive their glory days, especially when they are so obviously behind them.
That's not a criticism on you Emma, so please don't take it as one, we both know this company is on borrowed time, for you and I there will be no more chances within an NCW ring, so you know I've got to make every one of these last few count, even if they are against you, my tag team partner. I really hope jealousy doesn't color your perspective this week Emma, just because I've booked my spot on the biggest night of the year. I promise you Emma that even if my husband and I can't find you a place on what is certain to be a stacked card, we'll at least find you a seat in the sky box where you can sit next to Andrew Jacobsen and cheer me on during my bid to become the last ever NCW Starlets World Champion.
Never let it be said that I don't know how to take care of my friends.
Kathy smiles.
Collision 04/21/13
Houston, Texas
NCW Mobile App Exclusive
Houston, Texas
NCW Mobile App Exclusive
Backstage in The Ace's locker-room, Jake and his wife are sat together. Jake turns to face his wife.
Jake: I'm sorry, believe me that was not how I planned your victory celebration to go tonight, babe...
Kathy: Don't worry about it. Truth be told, I half expected it, the Knites have never let us have our moments even when we've earned them.
Jake: You know sometimes I forget you were a Jones, but then moments like this remind me...
Kathy punches her husband in the arm.
Kathy: Oi! Wrong bloodline. Not my fault it's such a common name.
Jake chuckles as he cradles his arm where Kathy had struck him.
Jake: I'm only teasing, you're right...
Kathy: I always am...
Jake: Believe me there isn't anyone more glad than me that you're not related to Alex in any way...
Kathy: With the possible exception of myself...
Jake nods and Kathy changes the subject.
Kathy: So it appears Curtis really wants your attention.
Jake: No, what he really wants is safely tucked away in this duffel bag right here...
Jake pats the bag beside him containing his NCW National Championship.
Jake: I've ignored him for long enough, maybe I should just give him what he wants.
Kathy: If it was still just Curtis nipping at your heels, I'd agree with you, but it isn't, now he's got Adam involved and as far as I can tell you're outnumbered...unless...
Jake: Unless?
Kathy: You want to call Steve?
Jake: Awww hell no! I'm not calling that movie star to help bail me out just to hear him gloat again and just to hear Adam tell me once again how he's carrying me. Besides that big shot only really came back to have one final fling with Trent Helms and I refuse to be the stand in just because that poor dumb bastard had a heart attack...
Kathy: Honey, I know its a matter of pride for you, but lets be realistic here for a second, what choice do you have really?
Jake: I'll take on Knitely Bangs by myself if I have to...so long as you continue to believe in me, that's all I've ever really needed...
Kathy: I do believe in you. You know I do, but...
Jake: But?
Before Kathy can answer, there's a knock on the door. Jake turns away from his wife.
Jake: Come in...
The door slowly opens and in walks Emma Danielson, looking much more sombre than earlier. She closes the door behind her before she steps forward, her hands clasped in front of her.
Emma: Jake, Kathy. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I just wanted to apologise. To both of you. I should have been more considerate after what happened out there. Congratulations, Kathy, you deserve it, if anyone should face Zelda to close out NCW, it should be you...
Jake: Don't worry about it.
Kathy: Thank you. Actually, I'm glad you stopped by. I was thinking...since you've technically beaten Zelda for her title before...if you wouldn't mind training me for the biggest match of my career?
Emma smiles. Both women knew the other had swallowed a tremendous amount of professional pride to even be having this exchange right now and each respected that.
Emma: I'd be happy to, and you know there's no better start to your training than this match we have next week...
Kathy: Great! I look forward to it...
Kathy grins as we fade out.