Book of The Rising Circus #02: The Puzzle
Feb 4, 2016 5:21:04 GMT -5
Post by #Justice on Feb 4, 2016 5:21:04 GMT -5
| PUZZLE PIECE ONE | LOCATION: SHANGHAI, CHINA | DATE: JANUARY 28th, 2016 |
No answer…
One half of the newly branded Rising Circus, Ai, knocked on a strange looking apartment door. She pulled on the cuffs of her white long sleeved blouse. No, it wasn’t just any door, there were big jumbo Chinese characters for “Rage” and “Intensity” carved into it. The door itself was a sight to behold for Ai. She turned to the man who was quickly becoming one of her better friends in the wrestling business, James Ronie, or as Ai liked to call him - Treatsickles!
“I’mmmmmmmmmma gonna need you to wait out here for a sec, Treatsify. He’s sort of in the old mindset where he thinks if I’m around any foreigner our bloodline will be forever tainted,” Han stated to Treats. “No offense or anything, that’s what I hate about the generations before me.” She added, looking at the Chinese Characters on the door with an annoyed expression on her face. The multi-time champion really didn’t mean to say those things to her partner. It was just the reality of society. Treats chuckled lightheartedly, while twisting the wedding band on his left ring finger. “Oh, the irony.” he stated as he pointed to the North Carolina flag patch on the breast pocket of his lime plaid sportcoat.
“Yes! So wait out here, maybe I’ll talk him into wanting to see you. This is really important to me, though. Part of me feels like I have to do this. Both my professional and personal lives count on it.” Ai patted Treats on the shoulder then reached down to the door knob, twisting it to push the door back slowly. Han closed it behind her quickly. At the sound of the silent click after the door was closed Ai turned around then jumped up shocked! “OH!” She yelled out.
There he was….
Sitting on a mat in the center of the apartment. Han Jiang. His veiny eyes darted in the direction of his Granddaughter. The founder of the Glory For Puroresu promotion, Ai’s Grandpapa, as well as the patriarch of the Chinese side of Ai’s family. Just the sight of the old man sent chills up Ai’s spine, for many reasons. For now, let us say she’s quite afraid to confront him about….
“Yeye. I’m glad we scheduled this talk now otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to come. This Joker’s WIld Tag Team Tournament final for Frontier Grappling Arts I’m supposed to be getting ready for is crucial to my career. CRUCIAL!! That being said... Now I can ask you something serious.” Ai uttered out.
She twirled her thumbs slowly. “Why haven’t you ever……..Cared for me?” Ai asked straight out of the gate in the Mandarin language. It was the first time Ai has seen her Grandfather in over five years and the only thing on her mind was the years of verbal abuse. If it wasn’t verbal abuse it was neglect. “I try my BESTLES to avoid this country, avoid YOUUU, Yeye. But I always find my ass jiggling back to a point where I’m pissed OFF,” Ai said. Slowly building up the courage to tell Jiang what she felt on the inside towards him.
“Sit down. We’ll finally open the door to discuss why things happened the way they did,” Jiang said to his Granddaughter. Still staring right through Ai with those cold eyes.
The Interstellar Princess moved closer towards her Grandfather. “Hold on, need to fix my SSSSSmurfkt.” She said, looking down at her tight fitting black skirt. She adjusted it in a manner where she could sit in front of Jiang. “I thought I could just ignore my Chinese side for the rest of my life and feel NATAthing. Nothing, Yeye. There were times when I evennnnn lied about being a wull trull full blooded Nihonjin so people wouldn’t say things about me,” Han said. Truly opening up about her continuous identity crisis.
“Mama told me, and I’m quoting her. “Ai, it’s better to ignore that culture. Ignore it all for your own good here in Nihon. No Nihonjin will marry a weirdo Hafu! You’ll never have a family or children,” she told me those things Yeye.” Ai said. “I want nothing more than to be a Mama after my career is all said and done so it was melded in my brain to neglect my Chinese heritage.” Ai gritted out through her teeth.
By itself, the thought of never being a mother was a cardinal sin to Ai as a person brought up within her culture. It was compelling enough to deny a whole part of herself. “Keyword there,” Jiang injected his own saying into the conversation. “Neglect.” He said as he placed his palm on Ai’s knee. “As a product of your Okaasan you neglected me. You neglected your cousins. Everyone here who would have taken you in. That’s the reason Ayumi was the favorite to your Papa when she was still with us!” He yelled in the Interstellar Princess’ direction. “Every action has a reaction,” Jiang literally gargled out.
Pointing towards Jiang - Ai shook her head. “I don’t wanna hear that! I was young! An eight-nine year old! Only doing what Okaasan TOLD me was good for my future. Besides, I haven’t really felt this shitty inside about it until this Joker’s Wild Tournament came along. Teaming with Mr. Rottentreats-” Ai was cut off as her Granddaddy raised his hand. “Rotten-Treats?” He asked. Jiang probably was more taken back by it than unimpressed, he was used to proper traditional “Family Name first. Given name second” types of ring names. “Yes!” Ai said. “The concept is to work well enough with someone you don’t really know in order to win a Tournament to go on and win the FGA Tag Titles. And I’m in the finals, donut head!” Ai spat out at her Granddad in a childlike manner.
“You can’t succeed under conditions like that,” Jiang bluntly laid out to Ai.
A statement like that only served to frustrate Ai, whom took the Joker’s Wild VERY seriously. “Coming here was a fucking mistake,” Ai said, starting to stand up. Before she could Jiang snatched her forearm! Ai was startled, she knew he was aggressive, but hot damn! “Owwe! Let me go!” Ai said. Trapped in Jiang’s clutches. “No, listen to me, little woman.” He said, poking his index finger onto the forehead of Ai.
“How do you expect to PAIR UP with someone you don’t know? How do you think you can be a TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT WINNER let alone a future TAG TEAM CHAMPION for this FGA with someone random when you’re inner essence, your bi-cultural heritage, are all a TERRIBLE team together? Explain that to me.” He asked Ai. Low and behold, Ai couldn’t respond. “Today was the first step in getting right with yourself. Accepting WHAT you are. You’re not Nihonjin. You’re a HAFU!!” He yelled in my face while placing his free hand on top of my head, which is probably something he had wanted to do for years. “Woman, you are a HAFU of Chinese and Japanese origin whether you like it or not. ACCEPT that. Learn to be a TEAM internally. CO-EXIST with yourself. Learn to do those things on your way home then MAYBE the stars will align well enough for you to do well on this Joker’s Wild Team affair.” After the scolding, he let Ai’s forearm go. She stood up to her feet. Hair in a scruff.
Maybe Jiang was right. Just maybe Ai had a gripe for so long, and never got close enough to hearing both sides of the story clearly. MAYBE Ai did have to get right with herself before the February 6th edition of Vertigo. To turn the two conflicting inner Ai’s….The Joker’s Wild of cultures she lives with inside her body and mind…. into one.
One external clear headed technical machine.
Ai walked outside of the apartment. The scruffed up Interstellar Princess looked over to Treats. “So much for talking him into seeing you. I barely crawled outta there alive, Treasticles.” Ai said. Finally able to revert back to the much simpler English language. “No worries here, I’m just glad you made it out!” Treats let out a hearty chortle, placing his pork pie hat atop his head; then offering his left arm to his tag team partner. Ai giggled a bit then took the arm. The two headed down the hallway. One whom possibly may have finally took a step towards ending the twenty-three year long war inside herself so that she and Rottentreats can be a better unit.
Together.
| PUZZLE PIECE TWO | LOCATION: GREENSBORO, NC | DATE: FEBRUARY 1st, 2016 |
After an enlightening trip to the economically superb Chinese city of Shanghai, Treats had a strife of his own to deal with. The man underneath all of the vibrant plaid and behind the clown paint has never been serious about much. James Ronie could count on one hand the things he’s take a bullet for serious about. Family would have to be at the top of that short list, whether immediate, or extended; he loved them all equally, except for Bernadette Ronie. She was his favorite cousin.
It was barely twenty-four hours ago that he received news that dropped him to his knees in front of his wife and son. The cousin he was closest to was dead. The one that he’d end up in the principal’s office for on multiple occasions, the one that could cheer him up at the drop of a dime, the one that had he not had a date for prom would have been his back up; don’t kid yourself, we’ve all got one.
If you’re a wrestler, and true honest to goodness friend of James Ronie, you’ve at one point or another been introduced to her. Bernadette Ronie was usually the first non-wrestler at any given venue in the Carolinas when James was booked. She always showed up with a tray of special brownies and a smile that could light up the Greensboro Coliseum.
The inside joke between James and Bernadette was their attire. Whether he was clowning, wrestling, or just about town running errands. James was always as Bernadette would put it plaid clad, and buh-buh-buh-bad. Bernadette on the other hand always showed up to James’ wrestling events dressed like she was just yanked out of a 1950s sitcom; giving Lucille Ball a run for her money. Her attire would always get the same reaction from the other wrestlers booked for the evening, Is she serious? As serious as that couch lock they’re about to feel after the show.
James Ronie, otherwise known as Mr. Rottentreats in the wrestling world sat quietly weeping; his elbows propped on his knees. Tears streamed down his face and splashed upon the glass of the picture frame he was holding in his hands. He couldn’t help but smile as he thumbed the teardrops away from the two photos in the frame; a happy reminder of his early days as a clown and as a professional wrestler.
The photographs under the glass were his big debuts; Ringling Bros. and professional wrestling. The Ringling Bros. photo showed their playfulness off the best, with Bernadette holding a pie up in a threatening manner; the frightened clown hiding behind his father Vaughn Ronie Sr. James couldn’t help but chuckle to himself; wiping tears from his face with his fuschia tie. The post wrestling debut photo wasn’t so light-hearted. James’ face paint was smeared, his clown get-up soaked with sweat and stained with his own face paint; indicating that he’d been tied in a knot by his opponent. His eyes were filled with pain, and a sense of why am I even doing this? Bernadette on the other hand was baring her teeth with a proud smile.
James winced remembering the very reason why he looked to be in such agony. A smile crept across his face as soon as he noticed Bernadette’s; remembering her exact words as the photo was snapped. Don’t do that flippy-thing, ever again! The flippy thing being a Shooting Star Leg Drop. Remembering all the times he went to the top rope when she was in the crowd and he threw up the international hand sign for flips n shit; a smirk appeared upon his bare face. Mostly doing it to mess with his cousin; it usually ended up with him being crotched on the top turnbuckle.
James was seriously pondering the attempt in his next match for Frontier Grappling Arts; rising out of the aged leather chair. Sitting the photo back in its place upon the mantle dedicated to him and his younger brother, Vaughn Ronie Jr.; he chuckled under his breath.
The oldest Ronie brother began to pace the den of his grandparent’s home, curiously inspecting every piece of wrestling memorabilia; almost as if he’d never seen any of it before. Truth be told, he’s never seen some of it. His grandmother always kept everything in a decent rotation; the only constant being the oil painting of his grandfather, Dean Daniels; above the fireplace. This was the first time he’d truly spent any time at all in the room since his grandmother started adding items from his career.
The glimmer of a large silver trophy inside the floor to ceiling shadow box in the center of the room caught the clown’s eye. To the right of its base sat a black and white photo of his late uncles Derrick and Devin Daniels. Just above the photo hung replicas of the WARPED Tag Team championships they had won while parading as Mr. Rottentreats and his childhood friend Dougie. Although he still held a bit of a grudge over it, he couldn’t help but respect their achievements as a tag team in the wrestling world. It wasn’t the large trophy that he was fixated on. It was the WARPED Tag Titles.
Despite the rumored return of WARPED, he couldn’t help but wonder how the fans of Frontier Grappling Arts would react to he and Ai Han should they win the Joker’s Wild Tournament. Never one to let the opinions of fans get to him, he couldn’t help but allow an article he recently read about his FGA debut creep into his mind. Tears began streaming down his face once more; thinking of Bernadette not being alive to see him finish what he had started alongside Ai Han. The Interstellar Princess snuck up on him from behind. Ai was a playful one for sure, but she hadn’t been in the wrestling business for twelve years due to tomfoolery. She knew how stressful the business was. And she damn well knew how mentally taxing a Tournament Final, especially for Frontier Grappling Arts, could be based off the things she had heard from Leanne and Laurel.
One thing Ai truly didn’t know was what dug deep at the core of Treats, at this point in their relationship as a team she didn’t feel as if she earned the right to delve into his life. To ask him in depth about all of the items and pictures she had been fortunate enough to see. From her perspective the entire environment was a pleasure, all of the memories, at least that’s the extent of what she thought of them. They were an example of why she had a soft spot for English speaking countries.
Ai wrapped her long skinny arms around Treats’ stomach from behind. Giving him a hug. “Treatso, don’t do that please….” Ai said. “I’m here. I’m hereee big guy. I won’t leave.” That was all Ai could think of saying. All she could do was provide a comforting, nurturing presence. James sniffled as he turned in Ai’s arms. “I’m cool, I’m cool. These are tears of joy. Just envisioning us winning the Joker’s Wild Tournament.” The clown’s tears dropping on top of the shorter Ai’s head and the hesitation in his voice indicated everything but joy.
| PUZZLE PIECE THREE | LOCATION: RISING CIRCUS THEATRE | DATE: FEBRUARY 3rd, 2016 |
Cameras cut to a strange location. The perspective was that of someone sitting in an audience, with the camera pointed directly at a stage that had massive, pretty red curtains draped downwards. Bright lights shined throughout the area. However, they soon began to dim down substantially.
The curtains began to rise up, revealing a lone Ai standing in the middle of the stage staring out to the camera.
“Welcome to the grandiose opening of the brand new….RISING CIRCUS THEATRE! Now, I want to get right into my topic of the night. Or should I say...my performance? Treatsy needs to help me with that,” Ai said with a smirk on her face. “Let me make myself perfectly clear here, gentleladies. Myself and Treatsy are going to win the Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament against Luke Jackson and good ol’ Valero. We’re going to bulldoze through them!
Before I touch on the topic of our cute opposition, let me speak for both members of the Rising Circus when I say….
We don’t WANT to be considered as good as past FGA World Tag Team Champions. In fact, we aren’t even thinking about the belts at this particular time because that’s a situation...A bridge we’ll cross when we get to it. What I’m concerned with is the NOW. Right NOW the thought of being part of something. Listed amongst other names, it isn’t too appealing. What the Rising Circus wants is to BREATHE new life, something FRESH into the Tag Team Division in FGA. We don’t want to be like my good friends the #sparklebuddies, we want to inspire them to go for ONE more run because of the things we plan to do for this Division. I want them to try to get that one off classic match against us. And maybe if we cross that bridge they can try for that legendary third reign. We want people to consider THE RISING CIRCUS a new hot commodity that THEY need to step into the ring with. Gottie??” Ai asked the invisible audience.
She brushed her hair behind her back as she continued. She then reached into her back pocket, pulling out a blue Asthma Inhaler.
“All of my life I had to improvise the way I go about my career because of this little medication in my hand. Asthma makes me work AROUND everything average wrestlers are able to go straight through physically. The Rising Circus doesn’t want to be Champions ONLY. We want to work AROUND that. To use the Tournament and a shot at Canadian Stampede as a base to leave a LEGACY. We don’t WANT to fit in. We don’t WANT to be “as good as” someone else. We WANT to be the team that EVERYONE takes notice of for being different. We WANT to be the people The Murder wants to face. We WANT to be the people Ashley Sullivan and Colton Sterling come back to FGA to get a crack at. We WANT to be the ODDBALL TEAM that any major Tag Team in wrestling wants see in the ring! They’ll come to FGA JUST to wrestle The Rising Circus! We want the whole world talking about FGA’s Tag Team scene agaaaaaaaaain!
In order to do that, we need to make it past the solid pairing of Ricky Flicky Valero and Luke Jackson. We’re already one step ahead of them. They’re still known as Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson despite knowing each other since their Pride Pro Wrestling days! I’d expect them to at least have a duo name for Joker’s Wild spirit! Treats and I just linked up and we are The Rising Circus. WE are using this Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament to establish a brand. TRS is NOOOOOOT here just for the sake of it!
Personally, I think Luke Jackson is a man who has the potential to BLOOM into a beautiful venus fly trap in the future. He has all of the tools in the world, I wouldn’t doubt it one bit if he soaked up a lot of priceless knowledge from the good brother Ricky. He’ll be a stud the girls cream over for sure. But not now! Not in White Plains, New York! Not in the main event of Vertigo! That’s OUR time.”
Ai clapped her hands together.
“Speaking of Ricky, who I DO have the upmost respect for as a person and an athlete…..I believe my friendo would like to say something about him...”
Mr. Rottentreats rolls into the frame on the unicycle gifted to him by AI, with a kazoo between his lips; playing himself into the scene with “Entry Of The Gladiators”. The Whole F’N Sideshow begins circling his tag team partner; before spitting the Kazoo off the stage. Laughter ensues as Ai tosses him a ball with Ricky Valero’s face airbrushed on it. He continues circling her; tossing the ball up in the air.
”...game! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME, RICKY!”
The clown’s lime plaid coat tails flow behind him as Ai tosses him another ball; this one airbrushed with Luke Jackson’s face.
”That’s what’s going to to get you and your pal Lucas in trouble! I don’t play games. THIS is NOT a GAME! It’s not a board game, it’s not a card game, it’s not a counting game, it’s not a video game! The time for fun and GAMES is over, Valero! We weren’t invited to FGA to play games!”
“We were invited to showcase our patooties!” Ai added on the side.
Passing in front of Ai once more he catches two more, airbrushed balls with the faces of Nero Darling and Danny Diamond; he continues juggling.
”Just ask Nero Darling and Danny Diamond!”
Treats’ unicycle comes to a halt just before passing in front of Ai, he slides to his knees. Still juggling; he positions himself in a cross-legged seating position at the feet of Ai.
”Clowny don’t play no games! This is JOKER’S FREAKIN’ WILD! And this joker don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I’ve never really cared much for people who rest on their laurels.”
Treats chortles.
”Speaking of Laurels… Ricky, you’ve stated, quite over confidently, might I add. That you’re going to end the hashtag Rottentreats Retirement World Tour prematurely. HA! ..ha! ...HA!
The clown looks up at Ai; mouthing “I’m Sorry.”
”At the risk of completely alienating my mistress here… IF that tantalizing tenderonie Laurel Anne Hardy and her bird chested baby brother, Matty Graves couldn’t end my career by ridding me of hashtag, all caps MY EYE; with a turnbuckle. What makes you think you can do it by playing games? Them there’s fightin’ words, Valero!!”
Still juggling as Ai cut her eye at him, Treats beans the camera with the Nero Darling ball.
”Nero Darling and Danny Diamond proved quite the test for the Rising Circus; albeit quite standardized. Who am I kidding, that one’s going to go right over the FGA audience’s heads!”
The Danny Diamond ball darts past the camera.
”Hanni-buns emphasized wants. Well, I’m a clown with needs. And what I NEED is not just Luke Jackson, but both of you to bring your A plus GAMES! Because I want, NAY! NEED for this victory to be even more sweeter than the last! So please, don’t drop the ball, boys.”
Treats crosses his arms allowing both Luke Jackson and Ricky Valero balls to drop to his side; before they roll away.
“I’d say this is the most important match for us both as individuals and as a team. Recognition is on the line. On the sixth, we’re TAKING that legacy base I spoke of.
Ricky….
Luke….
Sorry, cuties. This is just the way things’ll be going around here! Zaijian!” Ai stated boldly.
Ai began to walk towards the camera positioned in the "audience." She picked the camera up...Fizzling it out with the thought that the next time the audience sees The Rising Circus, they’ll be poised to be the finals winners!
The Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament victory was the fourth piece of the puzzle…..
Knock! Knock!
No answer…
One half of the newly branded Rising Circus, Ai, knocked on a strange looking apartment door. She pulled on the cuffs of her white long sleeved blouse. No, it wasn’t just any door, there were big jumbo Chinese characters for “Rage” and “Intensity” carved into it. The door itself was a sight to behold for Ai. She turned to the man who was quickly becoming one of her better friends in the wrestling business, James Ronie, or as Ai liked to call him - Treatsickles!
“I’mmmmmmmmmma gonna need you to wait out here for a sec, Treatsify. He’s sort of in the old mindset where he thinks if I’m around any foreigner our bloodline will be forever tainted,” Han stated to Treats. “No offense or anything, that’s what I hate about the generations before me.” She added, looking at the Chinese Characters on the door with an annoyed expression on her face. The multi-time champion really didn’t mean to say those things to her partner. It was just the reality of society. Treats chuckled lightheartedly, while twisting the wedding band on his left ring finger. “Oh, the irony.” he stated as he pointed to the North Carolina flag patch on the breast pocket of his lime plaid sportcoat.
“Yes! So wait out here, maybe I’ll talk him into wanting to see you. This is really important to me, though. Part of me feels like I have to do this. Both my professional and personal lives count on it.” Ai patted Treats on the shoulder then reached down to the door knob, twisting it to push the door back slowly. Han closed it behind her quickly. At the sound of the silent click after the door was closed Ai turned around then jumped up shocked! “OH!” She yelled out.
There he was….
Sitting on a mat in the center of the apartment. Han Jiang. His veiny eyes darted in the direction of his Granddaughter. The founder of the Glory For Puroresu promotion, Ai’s Grandpapa, as well as the patriarch of the Chinese side of Ai’s family. Just the sight of the old man sent chills up Ai’s spine, for many reasons. For now, let us say she’s quite afraid to confront him about….
“Yeye. I’m glad we scheduled this talk now otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to come. This Joker’s WIld Tag Team Tournament final for Frontier Grappling Arts I’m supposed to be getting ready for is crucial to my career. CRUCIAL!! That being said... Now I can ask you something serious.” Ai uttered out.
She twirled her thumbs slowly. “Why haven’t you ever……..Cared for me?” Ai asked straight out of the gate in the Mandarin language. It was the first time Ai has seen her Grandfather in over five years and the only thing on her mind was the years of verbal abuse. If it wasn’t verbal abuse it was neglect. “I try my BESTLES to avoid this country, avoid YOUUU, Yeye. But I always find my ass jiggling back to a point where I’m pissed OFF,” Ai said. Slowly building up the courage to tell Jiang what she felt on the inside towards him.
“Sit down. We’ll finally open the door to discuss why things happened the way they did,” Jiang said to his Granddaughter. Still staring right through Ai with those cold eyes.
The Interstellar Princess moved closer towards her Grandfather. “Hold on, need to fix my SSSSSmurfkt.” She said, looking down at her tight fitting black skirt. She adjusted it in a manner where she could sit in front of Jiang. “I thought I could just ignore my Chinese side for the rest of my life and feel NATAthing. Nothing, Yeye. There were times when I evennnnn lied about being a wull trull full blooded Nihonjin so people wouldn’t say things about me,” Han said. Truly opening up about her continuous identity crisis.
“Mama told me, and I’m quoting her. “Ai, it’s better to ignore that culture. Ignore it all for your own good here in Nihon. No Nihonjin will marry a weirdo Hafu! You’ll never have a family or children,” she told me those things Yeye.” Ai said. “I want nothing more than to be a Mama after my career is all said and done so it was melded in my brain to neglect my Chinese heritage.” Ai gritted out through her teeth.
By itself, the thought of never being a mother was a cardinal sin to Ai as a person brought up within her culture. It was compelling enough to deny a whole part of herself. “Keyword there,” Jiang injected his own saying into the conversation. “Neglect.” He said as he placed his palm on Ai’s knee. “As a product of your Okaasan you neglected me. You neglected your cousins. Everyone here who would have taken you in. That’s the reason Ayumi was the favorite to your Papa when she was still with us!” He yelled in the Interstellar Princess’ direction. “Every action has a reaction,” Jiang literally gargled out.
Pointing towards Jiang - Ai shook her head. “I don’t wanna hear that! I was young! An eight-nine year old! Only doing what Okaasan TOLD me was good for my future. Besides, I haven’t really felt this shitty inside about it until this Joker’s Wild Tournament came along. Teaming with Mr. Rottentreats-” Ai was cut off as her Granddaddy raised his hand. “Rotten-Treats?” He asked. Jiang probably was more taken back by it than unimpressed, he was used to proper traditional “Family Name first. Given name second” types of ring names. “Yes!” Ai said. “The concept is to work well enough with someone you don’t really know in order to win a Tournament to go on and win the FGA Tag Titles. And I’m in the finals, donut head!” Ai spat out at her Granddad in a childlike manner.
“You can’t succeed under conditions like that,” Jiang bluntly laid out to Ai.
A statement like that only served to frustrate Ai, whom took the Joker’s Wild VERY seriously. “Coming here was a fucking mistake,” Ai said, starting to stand up. Before she could Jiang snatched her forearm! Ai was startled, she knew he was aggressive, but hot damn! “Owwe! Let me go!” Ai said. Trapped in Jiang’s clutches. “No, listen to me, little woman.” He said, poking his index finger onto the forehead of Ai.
“How do you expect to PAIR UP with someone you don’t know? How do you think you can be a TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT WINNER let alone a future TAG TEAM CHAMPION for this FGA with someone random when you’re inner essence, your bi-cultural heritage, are all a TERRIBLE team together? Explain that to me.” He asked Ai. Low and behold, Ai couldn’t respond. “Today was the first step in getting right with yourself. Accepting WHAT you are. You’re not Nihonjin. You’re a HAFU!!” He yelled in my face while placing his free hand on top of my head, which is probably something he had wanted to do for years. “Woman, you are a HAFU of Chinese and Japanese origin whether you like it or not. ACCEPT that. Learn to be a TEAM internally. CO-EXIST with yourself. Learn to do those things on your way home then MAYBE the stars will align well enough for you to do well on this Joker’s Wild Team affair.” After the scolding, he let Ai’s forearm go. She stood up to her feet. Hair in a scruff.
Maybe Jiang was right. Just maybe Ai had a gripe for so long, and never got close enough to hearing both sides of the story clearly. MAYBE Ai did have to get right with herself before the February 6th edition of Vertigo. To turn the two conflicting inner Ai’s….The Joker’s Wild of cultures she lives with inside her body and mind…. into one.
One external clear headed technical machine.
Ai walked outside of the apartment. The scruffed up Interstellar Princess looked over to Treats. “So much for talking him into seeing you. I barely crawled outta there alive, Treasticles.” Ai said. Finally able to revert back to the much simpler English language. “No worries here, I’m just glad you made it out!” Treats let out a hearty chortle, placing his pork pie hat atop his head; then offering his left arm to his tag team partner. Ai giggled a bit then took the arm. The two headed down the hallway. One whom possibly may have finally took a step towards ending the twenty-three year long war inside herself so that she and Rottentreats can be a better unit.
Together.
| PUZZLE PIECE TWO | LOCATION: GREENSBORO, NC | DATE: FEBRUARY 1st, 2016 |
After an enlightening trip to the economically superb Chinese city of Shanghai, Treats had a strife of his own to deal with. The man underneath all of the vibrant plaid and behind the clown paint has never been serious about much. James Ronie could count on one hand the things he’s take a bullet for serious about. Family would have to be at the top of that short list, whether immediate, or extended; he loved them all equally, except for Bernadette Ronie. She was his favorite cousin.
It was barely twenty-four hours ago that he received news that dropped him to his knees in front of his wife and son. The cousin he was closest to was dead. The one that he’d end up in the principal’s office for on multiple occasions, the one that could cheer him up at the drop of a dime, the one that had he not had a date for prom would have been his back up; don’t kid yourself, we’ve all got one.
If you’re a wrestler, and true honest to goodness friend of James Ronie, you’ve at one point or another been introduced to her. Bernadette Ronie was usually the first non-wrestler at any given venue in the Carolinas when James was booked. She always showed up with a tray of special brownies and a smile that could light up the Greensboro Coliseum.
The inside joke between James and Bernadette was their attire. Whether he was clowning, wrestling, or just about town running errands. James was always as Bernadette would put it plaid clad, and buh-buh-buh-bad. Bernadette on the other hand always showed up to James’ wrestling events dressed like she was just yanked out of a 1950s sitcom; giving Lucille Ball a run for her money. Her attire would always get the same reaction from the other wrestlers booked for the evening, Is she serious? As serious as that couch lock they’re about to feel after the show.
James Ronie, otherwise known as Mr. Rottentreats in the wrestling world sat quietly weeping; his elbows propped on his knees. Tears streamed down his face and splashed upon the glass of the picture frame he was holding in his hands. He couldn’t help but smile as he thumbed the teardrops away from the two photos in the frame; a happy reminder of his early days as a clown and as a professional wrestler.
The photographs under the glass were his big debuts; Ringling Bros. and professional wrestling. The Ringling Bros. photo showed their playfulness off the best, with Bernadette holding a pie up in a threatening manner; the frightened clown hiding behind his father Vaughn Ronie Sr. James couldn’t help but chuckle to himself; wiping tears from his face with his fuschia tie. The post wrestling debut photo wasn’t so light-hearted. James’ face paint was smeared, his clown get-up soaked with sweat and stained with his own face paint; indicating that he’d been tied in a knot by his opponent. His eyes were filled with pain, and a sense of why am I even doing this? Bernadette on the other hand was baring her teeth with a proud smile.
James winced remembering the very reason why he looked to be in such agony. A smile crept across his face as soon as he noticed Bernadette’s; remembering her exact words as the photo was snapped. Don’t do that flippy-thing, ever again! The flippy thing being a Shooting Star Leg Drop. Remembering all the times he went to the top rope when she was in the crowd and he threw up the international hand sign for flips n shit; a smirk appeared upon his bare face. Mostly doing it to mess with his cousin; it usually ended up with him being crotched on the top turnbuckle.
James was seriously pondering the attempt in his next match for Frontier Grappling Arts; rising out of the aged leather chair. Sitting the photo back in its place upon the mantle dedicated to him and his younger brother, Vaughn Ronie Jr.; he chuckled under his breath.
The oldest Ronie brother began to pace the den of his grandparent’s home, curiously inspecting every piece of wrestling memorabilia; almost as if he’d never seen any of it before. Truth be told, he’s never seen some of it. His grandmother always kept everything in a decent rotation; the only constant being the oil painting of his grandfather, Dean Daniels; above the fireplace. This was the first time he’d truly spent any time at all in the room since his grandmother started adding items from his career.
The glimmer of a large silver trophy inside the floor to ceiling shadow box in the center of the room caught the clown’s eye. To the right of its base sat a black and white photo of his late uncles Derrick and Devin Daniels. Just above the photo hung replicas of the WARPED Tag Team championships they had won while parading as Mr. Rottentreats and his childhood friend Dougie. Although he still held a bit of a grudge over it, he couldn’t help but respect their achievements as a tag team in the wrestling world. It wasn’t the large trophy that he was fixated on. It was the WARPED Tag Titles.
Despite the rumored return of WARPED, he couldn’t help but wonder how the fans of Frontier Grappling Arts would react to he and Ai Han should they win the Joker’s Wild Tournament. Never one to let the opinions of fans get to him, he couldn’t help but allow an article he recently read about his FGA debut creep into his mind. Tears began streaming down his face once more; thinking of Bernadette not being alive to see him finish what he had started alongside Ai Han. The Interstellar Princess snuck up on him from behind. Ai was a playful one for sure, but she hadn’t been in the wrestling business for twelve years due to tomfoolery. She knew how stressful the business was. And she damn well knew how mentally taxing a Tournament Final, especially for Frontier Grappling Arts, could be based off the things she had heard from Leanne and Laurel.
One thing Ai truly didn’t know was what dug deep at the core of Treats, at this point in their relationship as a team she didn’t feel as if she earned the right to delve into his life. To ask him in depth about all of the items and pictures she had been fortunate enough to see. From her perspective the entire environment was a pleasure, all of the memories, at least that’s the extent of what she thought of them. They were an example of why she had a soft spot for English speaking countries.
Ai wrapped her long skinny arms around Treats’ stomach from behind. Giving him a hug. “Treatso, don’t do that please….” Ai said. “I’m here. I’m hereee big guy. I won’t leave.” That was all Ai could think of saying. All she could do was provide a comforting, nurturing presence. James sniffled as he turned in Ai’s arms. “I’m cool, I’m cool. These are tears of joy. Just envisioning us winning the Joker’s Wild Tournament.” The clown’s tears dropping on top of the shorter Ai’s head and the hesitation in his voice indicated everything but joy.
| PUZZLE PIECE THREE | LOCATION: RISING CIRCUS THEATRE | DATE: FEBRUARY 3rd, 2016 |
Cameras cut to a strange location. The perspective was that of someone sitting in an audience, with the camera pointed directly at a stage that had massive, pretty red curtains draped downwards. Bright lights shined throughout the area. However, they soon began to dim down substantially.
”CURTAIN UP PLEASOWEASE!”
The curtains began to rise up, revealing a lone Ai standing in the middle of the stage staring out to the camera.
“Welcome to the grandiose opening of the brand new….RISING CIRCUS THEATRE! Now, I want to get right into my topic of the night. Or should I say...my performance? Treatsy needs to help me with that,” Ai said with a smirk on her face. “Let me make myself perfectly clear here, gentleladies. Myself and Treatsy are going to win the Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament against Luke Jackson and good ol’ Valero. We’re going to bulldoze through them!
Before I touch on the topic of our cute opposition, let me speak for both members of the Rising Circus when I say….
We don’t WANT to be considered as good as past FGA World Tag Team Champions. In fact, we aren’t even thinking about the belts at this particular time because that’s a situation...A bridge we’ll cross when we get to it. What I’m concerned with is the NOW. Right NOW the thought of being part of something. Listed amongst other names, it isn’t too appealing. What the Rising Circus wants is to BREATHE new life, something FRESH into the Tag Team Division in FGA. We don’t want to be like my good friends the #sparklebuddies, we want to inspire them to go for ONE more run because of the things we plan to do for this Division. I want them to try to get that one off classic match against us. And maybe if we cross that bridge they can try for that legendary third reign. We want people to consider THE RISING CIRCUS a new hot commodity that THEY need to step into the ring with. Gottie??” Ai asked the invisible audience.
She brushed her hair behind her back as she continued. She then reached into her back pocket, pulling out a blue Asthma Inhaler.
“All of my life I had to improvise the way I go about my career because of this little medication in my hand. Asthma makes me work AROUND everything average wrestlers are able to go straight through physically. The Rising Circus doesn’t want to be Champions ONLY. We want to work AROUND that. To use the Tournament and a shot at Canadian Stampede as a base to leave a LEGACY. We don’t WANT to fit in. We don’t WANT to be “as good as” someone else. We WANT to be the team that EVERYONE takes notice of for being different. We WANT to be the people The Murder wants to face. We WANT to be the people Ashley Sullivan and Colton Sterling come back to FGA to get a crack at. We WANT to be the ODDBALL TEAM that any major Tag Team in wrestling wants see in the ring! They’ll come to FGA JUST to wrestle The Rising Circus! We want the whole world talking about FGA’s Tag Team scene agaaaaaaaaain!
In order to do that, we need to make it past the solid pairing of Ricky Flicky Valero and Luke Jackson. We’re already one step ahead of them. They’re still known as Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson despite knowing each other since their Pride Pro Wrestling days! I’d expect them to at least have a duo name for Joker’s Wild spirit! Treats and I just linked up and we are The Rising Circus. WE are using this Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament to establish a brand. TRS is NOOOOOOT here just for the sake of it!
Personally, I think Luke Jackson is a man who has the potential to BLOOM into a beautiful venus fly trap in the future. He has all of the tools in the world, I wouldn’t doubt it one bit if he soaked up a lot of priceless knowledge from the good brother Ricky. He’ll be a stud the girls cream over for sure. But not now! Not in White Plains, New York! Not in the main event of Vertigo! That’s OUR time.”
Ai clapped her hands together.
“Speaking of Ricky, who I DO have the upmost respect for as a person and an athlete…..I believe my friendo would like to say something about him...”
Mr. Rottentreats rolls into the frame on the unicycle gifted to him by AI, with a kazoo between his lips; playing himself into the scene with “Entry Of The Gladiators”. The Whole F’N Sideshow begins circling his tag team partner; before spitting the Kazoo off the stage. Laughter ensues as Ai tosses him a ball with Ricky Valero’s face airbrushed on it. He continues circling her; tossing the ball up in the air.
”...game! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME, RICKY!”
The clown’s lime plaid coat tails flow behind him as Ai tosses him another ball; this one airbrushed with Luke Jackson’s face.
”That’s what’s going to to get you and your pal Lucas in trouble! I don’t play games. THIS is NOT a GAME! It’s not a board game, it’s not a card game, it’s not a counting game, it’s not a video game! The time for fun and GAMES is over, Valero! We weren’t invited to FGA to play games!”
“We were invited to showcase our patooties!” Ai added on the side.
Passing in front of Ai once more he catches two more, airbrushed balls with the faces of Nero Darling and Danny Diamond; he continues juggling.
”Just ask Nero Darling and Danny Diamond!”
Treats’ unicycle comes to a halt just before passing in front of Ai, he slides to his knees. Still juggling; he positions himself in a cross-legged seating position at the feet of Ai.
”Clowny don’t play no games! This is JOKER’S FREAKIN’ WILD! And this joker don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I’ve never really cared much for people who rest on their laurels.”
Treats chortles.
”Speaking of Laurels… Ricky, you’ve stated, quite over confidently, might I add. That you’re going to end the hashtag Rottentreats Retirement World Tour prematurely. HA! ..ha! ...HA!
The clown looks up at Ai; mouthing “I’m Sorry.”
”At the risk of completely alienating my mistress here… IF that tantalizing tenderonie Laurel Anne Hardy and her bird chested baby brother, Matty Graves couldn’t end my career by ridding me of hashtag, all caps MY EYE; with a turnbuckle. What makes you think you can do it by playing games? Them there’s fightin’ words, Valero!!”
Still juggling as Ai cut her eye at him, Treats beans the camera with the Nero Darling ball.
”Nero Darling and Danny Diamond proved quite the test for the Rising Circus; albeit quite standardized. Who am I kidding, that one’s going to go right over the FGA audience’s heads!”
The Danny Diamond ball darts past the camera.
”Hanni-buns emphasized wants. Well, I’m a clown with needs. And what I NEED is not just Luke Jackson, but both of you to bring your A plus GAMES! Because I want, NAY! NEED for this victory to be even more sweeter than the last! So please, don’t drop the ball, boys.”
Treats crosses his arms allowing both Luke Jackson and Ricky Valero balls to drop to his side; before they roll away.
“I’d say this is the most important match for us both as individuals and as a team. Recognition is on the line. On the sixth, we’re TAKING that legacy base I spoke of.
Ricky….
Luke….
Sorry, cuties. This is just the way things’ll be going around here! Zaijian!” Ai stated boldly.
Ai began to walk towards the camera positioned in the "audience." She picked the camera up...Fizzling it out with the thought that the next time the audience sees The Rising Circus, they’ll be poised to be the finals winners!
The Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament victory was the fourth piece of the puzzle…..
