Nobody Said Redemption Would be Easy
Sept 22, 2019 10:31:50 GMT -5
Post by bbbaseball96 on Sept 22, 2019 10:31:50 GMT -5
Early September, 2019, Manhattan, NY
Ace Voltage’s Residence
The scene fades into a sky view of New York City during the day. The sky is shining with a few clouds and the camera pans over to an apartment complex in Downtown Manhattan. We see a man buzz on the door of the complex. He is in khakis, a suit jacket, and is holding a briefcase. He is let in and is followed up the stairs. He goes up to the second floor and knocks on door 2A.
After a few knocks the door opens. With a groan, we see Ace Voltage opening the door wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.
Ace: Been a month already, Dr. Keller?
The man, known as Dr. Keller laughs.
Dr. Keller: Nice to see you too Ashton.
Ace: Come on in, Doc.
Dr. Keller walks into Ace’s apartment.
Ace: Just made some lunch, care for any?
The doctor smiles and takes a seat on the couch.
Dr. Keller: No thank you, Ashton. But I appreciate the offer. I know you’ve been quite busy later so let’s get things started.
Ace frowns and goes over to sit in a chair near the couch. Ace takes his phone out of his pocket and places it on his coffee table. Dr. Keller opens up his briefcase and takes out a clipboard and a pen.
Dr. Keller: So, Ashton. How have you been doing?
Ace: I’ve actually been doing pretty well, Doc. I’ve been in great shape and feel the best I have felt since 2014. And since I’m doing so well, you can go now right?
Dr. Keller awkwardly laughs. He jots something down on the clipboard.
Dr. Keller: Don’t you ever get tired of this game, Ashton? We’ve been doing these visits for six months. Shouldn’t you know by now I am not easy to get rid of?
Ace: Unfortunately, I do know that. What else you got for me? Haven’t done any pills since. I’m clean. What else is there to talk about?
Dr. Keller: Well I’m very happy to hear that. I’m sure being in a good place mentally and physically has been great for you. No urges at all right?
Ace: None at all. Work has been treating me well and I’m back in my favorite city in the United States. Things are swell here, Doc.
Dr Keller: That is great Ashton. It really seems like you are getting your life back to where it was before the OD. It’s always nice to hear when my patients are doing better than we expected.
Ace: Better than you expected? What do you mean by that mate?
Dr. Keller starts fumbling the papers on the clipboard.
Dr. Keller: Uh, nothing, don’t worry about that. I shouldn’t have said anything.
Ace: Well as they say, the cat is out of the bag. We’ve been meeting for six months, the least you can do is be honest with me since I’ve been so honest with you.
Dr. Keller sighs and puts down his clipboard. He sighs.
Dr. Keller: Ashton, do you remember the night you overdosed?
Ace: Partly. I remember I was feeling stressed that day and then at night I had a big argument with my ex-girlfriend. She ended up leaving the apartment and I just needed something to calm me down. I went into the bathroom and then it all went black. I remember being in the ambulance, going in and out of consciousness with her and my sister in there with me.
Dr. Keller: Yes, you were not in a good position Ashton. You nearly died. I know it was really tough for you to lose your brother three years ago. With your mom dying when you were at a young age, I’m sure coping with death is tough.
Ace: It is. I, uh, don’t really like talking about it, because both of those deaths came so sudden. Then, I messed up my shoulder which lead me to the pills. But, that was the past. I’ve made it this far and I don’t plan on looking back.
Dr. Keller: That’s a great attitude to have Ashton! Your case was a little extreme, and with the shoulder injury we didn’t think you’d ever make this great recovery so quickly. But, I and the rest of the staff are glad that you have made it this far.
Ace: Thanks, Doc. It’s weird that being in a new place of work, nobody knows who I am. Nobody knows my backstory. When I was in SWA, everyone knew me. Whether people liked me or hated me, I was a big deal, I was known. It’s tough to start from the bottom again. I won multiple titles, headlined pay-per-views. Now, I’m starting from the bottom again. Slowly working my way up.
Dr. Keller: I understand what you mean. I myself am not a wrestling fan, but I do take interest in my patients. Let me tell you a secret Ashton. You’re a really good wrestler.
Ace laughs.
Ace: Oh yeah? You’ve watched my tapes?
Dr. Keller: Before we first met, I did some research on you. I watched you in the SWA. I’ve been watching you in FGA. You are good at what you do. But, I do see some similarities in both promotions. There are some things you have not changed and sometimes it seems like you are the Ashton Vail from 2015 still. I want you to be the Ashton Vail of 2019 and let the past be the past.
Ace: What do you mean by that?
Dr. Keller takes a piece of paper from his clipboard and starts reading some bullets on it.
Dr. Keller: I’ve taken some notes about how you act, who you talk to, and how it all relates back to your life. Since I’m a psychologist and everything obviously.
Ace groans.
Ace: Yes I know. You evaluate every move I make. What’s your point?
Dr. Keller: Your mother died when you were at a young age. You barely knew her and did not have a step mom growing up. You never really had that nurturing caretaker with your dad working long hours. In SWA, you were so committed to finding relationships with other women wrestlers like Sydney Todd…
Ace: It’s Cindy, but go on.
Dr. Keller: My mistake, not a big wrestling guy. But yes, Cindy Todd, Vanilla Skyy, Vera Kozlov, Kennedy Street, Destiny Devious, Ashley Chase, and the list can go on. You were so attracted and attached to these women that you would do anything for them. You wanted to cling onto them.
Ace: Well, I’m not like a clinger or anything…
Dr. Keller: In FGA, I see similarities. You could’ve gone after anyone in FGA, but your first victim was Zola Star. Without a mother in life, you seek companionship with other women. You are so easily attracted to them.
Ace: Hey Zola had it coming man. She is just the first rung on my ladder to success. I don’t think that has anything to do with your “theory.”
Dr. Keller: Think what you want, but I have studied behavior like this before. You were in a toxic relationship with Emma, as you told me. But yet, you didn’t drive her away. You wanted her companionship even though she was toxic. Now, you’re gone from her, fully clean, healthy and back on the ring. This is probably the best Ashton Vail you’ve been in seven or eight years. Right?
Ace: I guess you’re right. I don’t know. I haven’t felt this good in a while. But I don’t know still. All those women were friends and they helped me in my career. I even tagged with Ashley in Australia for a little bit. I didn’t “go after” them for no reason.
Dr. Keller: I see what you mean. But just hear me out. Work on yourself for now. Don’t worry about your love life or what others will think of you. You’re been killing it in FGA so far. Undefeated! You have a clear mind and a 100% healthy figure. Don’t worry about others. Worry about yourself first. That is how you will become a champion.
Ace: That makes sense. I mean, FGA and the whole wrestling world is a lot different than it was five years ago. Most of my friends and people I know aren’t around anymore. It sucks to be the new guy looking for people to hang out with now. Old allies and old enemies have vanished or retired. The only two from my SWA days that I know of in FGA are Ashley Chase and Ricky Valero. Me and Valero never got along, but it’s good to see a familiar face as much as I hate him. Myself and Ashley got along great, but she’s in her own posse now. Me and that Chase family sure do have a lot of history.
Ace laughs and gets up from his chair. He goes over into the kitchen and grabs an FGA water bottle.
Dr. Keller: It’s good to start anew, Ashton. A lot of those people from your SWA days were toxic. Remember one of the first exercises you did back in 2018. Writing down those toxic names and burning them? Now you have a clean slate and nobody to mess with your head.
Ace walks back over and places the bottle on the coffee table.
Ace: Since you’re such a big wrestling fan, I thought you’d want this. But, Doc, how do you always make such good points?
Dr. Keller: It’s my job to do so.
Ace: It’s weird starting with a clean slate. I really thought FGA would’ve made my signing a bigger deal. They should’ve! But, what is done is done. FGA is just lucky I signed with them, ratings have been through the roof lately. And, the Pay-Per-View buyrates were fantastic, probably because of me.
Dr. Keller laughs and jots a few notes down.
Dr. Keller: Well, let’s not carried away there Ashton. But, I do think we made some good progress today. Just remember to focus on yourself before focusing on anyone else. You are 32 years young and have plenty of time to settle down. Why worry about that now, when you can worry about becoming champion? You’re out of ring life is important, but don’t let it get in the way of your in-ring life. Now before I head out, I just need you to fill out some surveys since last month’s meeting and we’ll do a couple of closing exercises.
Ace: Whatever can get you out of here quicker.
Ace smirks and grabs the papers. The scene fades out as we see Ace writing stuff down on the papers handed to him.
Ace Voltage’s Residence
The scene fades into a sky view of New York City during the day. The sky is shining with a few clouds and the camera pans over to an apartment complex in Downtown Manhattan. We see a man buzz on the door of the complex. He is in khakis, a suit jacket, and is holding a briefcase. He is let in and is followed up the stairs. He goes up to the second floor and knocks on door 2A.
After a few knocks the door opens. With a groan, we see Ace Voltage opening the door wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.
Ace: Been a month already, Dr. Keller?
The man, known as Dr. Keller laughs.
Dr. Keller: Nice to see you too Ashton.
Ace: Come on in, Doc.
Dr. Keller walks into Ace’s apartment.
Ace: Just made some lunch, care for any?
The doctor smiles and takes a seat on the couch.
Dr. Keller: No thank you, Ashton. But I appreciate the offer. I know you’ve been quite busy later so let’s get things started.
Ace frowns and goes over to sit in a chair near the couch. Ace takes his phone out of his pocket and places it on his coffee table. Dr. Keller opens up his briefcase and takes out a clipboard and a pen.
Dr. Keller: So, Ashton. How have you been doing?
Ace: I’ve actually been doing pretty well, Doc. I’ve been in great shape and feel the best I have felt since 2014. And since I’m doing so well, you can go now right?
Dr. Keller awkwardly laughs. He jots something down on the clipboard.
Dr. Keller: Don’t you ever get tired of this game, Ashton? We’ve been doing these visits for six months. Shouldn’t you know by now I am not easy to get rid of?
Ace: Unfortunately, I do know that. What else you got for me? Haven’t done any pills since. I’m clean. What else is there to talk about?
Dr. Keller: Well I’m very happy to hear that. I’m sure being in a good place mentally and physically has been great for you. No urges at all right?
Ace: None at all. Work has been treating me well and I’m back in my favorite city in the United States. Things are swell here, Doc.
Dr Keller: That is great Ashton. It really seems like you are getting your life back to where it was before the OD. It’s always nice to hear when my patients are doing better than we expected.
Ace: Better than you expected? What do you mean by that mate?
Dr. Keller starts fumbling the papers on the clipboard.
Dr. Keller: Uh, nothing, don’t worry about that. I shouldn’t have said anything.
Ace: Well as they say, the cat is out of the bag. We’ve been meeting for six months, the least you can do is be honest with me since I’ve been so honest with you.
Dr. Keller sighs and puts down his clipboard. He sighs.
Dr. Keller: Ashton, do you remember the night you overdosed?
Ace: Partly. I remember I was feeling stressed that day and then at night I had a big argument with my ex-girlfriend. She ended up leaving the apartment and I just needed something to calm me down. I went into the bathroom and then it all went black. I remember being in the ambulance, going in and out of consciousness with her and my sister in there with me.
Dr. Keller: Yes, you were not in a good position Ashton. You nearly died. I know it was really tough for you to lose your brother three years ago. With your mom dying when you were at a young age, I’m sure coping with death is tough.
Ace: It is. I, uh, don’t really like talking about it, because both of those deaths came so sudden. Then, I messed up my shoulder which lead me to the pills. But, that was the past. I’ve made it this far and I don’t plan on looking back.
Dr. Keller: That’s a great attitude to have Ashton! Your case was a little extreme, and with the shoulder injury we didn’t think you’d ever make this great recovery so quickly. But, I and the rest of the staff are glad that you have made it this far.
Ace: Thanks, Doc. It’s weird that being in a new place of work, nobody knows who I am. Nobody knows my backstory. When I was in SWA, everyone knew me. Whether people liked me or hated me, I was a big deal, I was known. It’s tough to start from the bottom again. I won multiple titles, headlined pay-per-views. Now, I’m starting from the bottom again. Slowly working my way up.
Dr. Keller: I understand what you mean. I myself am not a wrestling fan, but I do take interest in my patients. Let me tell you a secret Ashton. You’re a really good wrestler.
Ace laughs.
Ace: Oh yeah? You’ve watched my tapes?
Dr. Keller: Before we first met, I did some research on you. I watched you in the SWA. I’ve been watching you in FGA. You are good at what you do. But, I do see some similarities in both promotions. There are some things you have not changed and sometimes it seems like you are the Ashton Vail from 2015 still. I want you to be the Ashton Vail of 2019 and let the past be the past.
Ace: What do you mean by that?
Dr. Keller takes a piece of paper from his clipboard and starts reading some bullets on it.
Dr. Keller: I’ve taken some notes about how you act, who you talk to, and how it all relates back to your life. Since I’m a psychologist and everything obviously.
Ace groans.
Ace: Yes I know. You evaluate every move I make. What’s your point?
Dr. Keller: Your mother died when you were at a young age. You barely knew her and did not have a step mom growing up. You never really had that nurturing caretaker with your dad working long hours. In SWA, you were so committed to finding relationships with other women wrestlers like Sydney Todd…
Ace: It’s Cindy, but go on.
Dr. Keller: My mistake, not a big wrestling guy. But yes, Cindy Todd, Vanilla Skyy, Vera Kozlov, Kennedy Street, Destiny Devious, Ashley Chase, and the list can go on. You were so attracted and attached to these women that you would do anything for them. You wanted to cling onto them.
Ace: Well, I’m not like a clinger or anything…
Dr. Keller: In FGA, I see similarities. You could’ve gone after anyone in FGA, but your first victim was Zola Star. Without a mother in life, you seek companionship with other women. You are so easily attracted to them.
Ace: Hey Zola had it coming man. She is just the first rung on my ladder to success. I don’t think that has anything to do with your “theory.”
Dr. Keller: Think what you want, but I have studied behavior like this before. You were in a toxic relationship with Emma, as you told me. But yet, you didn’t drive her away. You wanted her companionship even though she was toxic. Now, you’re gone from her, fully clean, healthy and back on the ring. This is probably the best Ashton Vail you’ve been in seven or eight years. Right?
Ace: I guess you’re right. I don’t know. I haven’t felt this good in a while. But I don’t know still. All those women were friends and they helped me in my career. I even tagged with Ashley in Australia for a little bit. I didn’t “go after” them for no reason.
Dr. Keller: I see what you mean. But just hear me out. Work on yourself for now. Don’t worry about your love life or what others will think of you. You’re been killing it in FGA so far. Undefeated! You have a clear mind and a 100% healthy figure. Don’t worry about others. Worry about yourself first. That is how you will become a champion.
Ace: That makes sense. I mean, FGA and the whole wrestling world is a lot different than it was five years ago. Most of my friends and people I know aren’t around anymore. It sucks to be the new guy looking for people to hang out with now. Old allies and old enemies have vanished or retired. The only two from my SWA days that I know of in FGA are Ashley Chase and Ricky Valero. Me and Valero never got along, but it’s good to see a familiar face as much as I hate him. Myself and Ashley got along great, but she’s in her own posse now. Me and that Chase family sure do have a lot of history.
Ace laughs and gets up from his chair. He goes over into the kitchen and grabs an FGA water bottle.
Dr. Keller: It’s good to start anew, Ashton. A lot of those people from your SWA days were toxic. Remember one of the first exercises you did back in 2018. Writing down those toxic names and burning them? Now you have a clean slate and nobody to mess with your head.
Ace walks back over and places the bottle on the coffee table.
Ace: Since you’re such a big wrestling fan, I thought you’d want this. But, Doc, how do you always make such good points?
Dr. Keller: It’s my job to do so.
Ace: It’s weird starting with a clean slate. I really thought FGA would’ve made my signing a bigger deal. They should’ve! But, what is done is done. FGA is just lucky I signed with them, ratings have been through the roof lately. And, the Pay-Per-View buyrates were fantastic, probably because of me.
Dr. Keller laughs and jots a few notes down.
Dr. Keller: Well, let’s not carried away there Ashton. But, I do think we made some good progress today. Just remember to focus on yourself before focusing on anyone else. You are 32 years young and have plenty of time to settle down. Why worry about that now, when you can worry about becoming champion? You’re out of ring life is important, but don’t let it get in the way of your in-ring life. Now before I head out, I just need you to fill out some surveys since last month’s meeting and we’ll do a couple of closing exercises.
Ace: Whatever can get you out of here quicker.
Ace smirks and grabs the papers. The scene fades out as we see Ace writing stuff down on the papers handed to him.