Feats of Daring (Voo)Do(o) - SALEM RP

[AshCandor]

Settle down, raise a family, join the P-T-A

Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevrolet

And party 'till you're broke and they drive you away

It's OK, you can dare to be stupid

‘Dare To Be Stupid’ – Weird Al Yankovic

[OFF CAMERA]

Salem Cartier drove her SUV through New York. The vehicle had been a gift from Nina Stokes after all her trials and tribulations with her 1979 Gremlin. She still had the Gremlin but it mostly stayed in the garage now, and only made it out every so often when she needed to blast music and let off some steam going down some backroads. The SUV was black and shiny, freshly washed the day before. A rather typical wash and wax had devolved into full scale water fight warfare when Artemis and Lukas joined in. She remembered it like it was yesterday, because frankly it had been:

The Replacements’ ‘I Will Dare’ played from the outside speaker, Tommy Stinson’s unorthodox bassline and Paul Westerberg’s cool loser crooning was indeed music to Salem’s ears as she washed the tires. She scrubbed and reflected; it was a therapeutic process. The act and the thinking itself were not lost on her how they intertwined: with a little elbow grease you work to wipe away the scum and muck on the surface to expose the pristine sparkle and shine underneath. This applied to a car or your own mind. The clutter of frivolous drama fell away from her thoughts, and the gears turned a little easier. So much had been going on, and not all of it good. The kidnapping of Artemis’ friend Izzy Anders shook a lot of people. Not many people actually liked her, but as a good wife she shared Artemis’ pain. Still trying to find her own daughter, exploring desperate leads in secret. This was not anything she wanted publicly known until Lily was safely home. All these thoughts swirled around in her head until she was hit upside the head by a wet sponge.

“Haha!”

It was Lukas running around. Just then he got blasted in the back by a super soaker water gun. Salem whipped her head around; it was Artemis with a sadistic grin on her face. Oh it was always something fun and exciting at the Cartier household. Salem grabbed the water hose and started spraying both of them.

“I dare you to do that again! I’ll drench you fools!”

And so it went, all of them laughing and playing until Salem’s cellphone rang in the front seat of the SUV. Standing there soaking wet, she checked the phone. It was a number she hadn’t seen for a good long time. She gasped and covered her mouth and answer it.

“…Hey.”

“Salem… it’s… Al Peterson. He’s had a heart attack. He wants to see you.”

A few other words were exchanged, and Salem ended the call. She stood there dumbfounded. Artemis came up with a look of concern.

“Sal, what is it… it’s like you’ve seen a ghost?”

Salem leaned on her.

“It’s Big Al… the guy who took me in and helped train me, after I left Virginia. I gotta go see him.”

And so her mind drifted back to the present, driving over a bridge in New York that she’d stood upon contemplating suicide when she was 19 years old. That was when ‘Big’ Al Peterson had come into her life, talking her off this very bridge and offering her a job doing clerical stuff and odds and ends for his local gym. He’d once been a boxer and pro wrestler many years before, and Salem had seen all the posters on the walls, growing more and more interested until the kind old man taught her some of the basics that she still incorporated to this day. As she pulled into the parking garage of the hospital, she took a deep breath. She hadn’t seen Big Al in about four years. But that wasn’t who she was most nervous about seeing.

-

Paint me on canvas so I become

What you could never be

I dare you to tell me to walk through fire

Wear my soul and call me a liar

‘I Dare You’ - Shinedown

[ON CAMERA]

Setting: Cartier home in Toronto, out back

Salem sat in front of a fire pit, roasting marshmallows. Lukas sat playing with toy cars off to the side.

“Hey Lucky Lukey, mind if you run inside for a bit with Arty? Mommy Sal has to do something for work okay?”

Lukas stood up with an armful of cars, almost comical. He walked over gingerly and kissed her cheek, dropping one of them. She picked it up and put it in his shirt pocket.

“See you later, Momma. Read me a bedtime story?”

“Oh, is it my turn tonight? Okay. Snow White? Wizard of Oz? “

“No, Avengers comic… Scarlet Witch!”

She patted his head.

“Alright, you got it.”

He ran off to the house as she turned to regard the camera.

“Sorry about that, family duties you know?”

She pulled a marshmallow from the flame and checked it, then put it back in.

“This has been quite an eventful time for me recently, in wrestling particularly. I just brought the house down in Seattle wrestling Fran in HKW. We couldn’t even settle it in a lumberjack match, but in the aftermath we both got added to the Elimination Chamber Match for the HKW World Title. That’ll be my first crack at the title ever, and I’m beyond excited for that. And next HKW Defiance I face Luke Wisia in that show’s main event to see who gets to advance to the finals of the All Or Nothing Series for ANOTHER eventual shot at the belt. Might as well gun for everything, right? And right here in FGA: getting a big win on All Star Showdown V. I mean, wins are always nice and that’s what we want out of all this, right? But to get one on a big event, especially beating someone you had some beef with… it felt really good to put Yun Goeun in her place at least for a night. That was one heck of an event… new tag champs crowned… new World Champion. And a new Pride Champion…but more on that in just a moment. In fact, every belt changed hands except for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title… Annie held off Molly to retain. And just this evening I discovered I’ve been named the new #1 contender for the MAL belt. I just feel this certain synergy… that everything… EVERYTHING is finally coming together in my singles career. I have won two titles before, but my waist would love some gold… don’t get me wrong. The more the merrier.”

She pulled the marshmallow from the fire and took a bite.

“And now on Vertigo… a lot of things are converging. The Frontier Lions Cup brackets were announced, and some first round matches will take place. A lot of talented people are in there, myself included. Whoever wins this thing gets an FGA World Title shot! This is huge. But I do know in my heart of hearts that being a contender for something, or even being in a tournament field doesn’t amount to much if you don’t follow through and win the whole darn thing. I like to think that no matter how many times I might get knocked down a little, I get up and aspire to go ever higher on the next attempt. Well, I have the broomstick pointed onward and upward, let’s see where it takes me. Because I promise you this… to every wrestler, to every fan, to every family member, to every enemy… I dare you to tell me I can’t do everything I set my mind on. Every time I set foot in that ring is another chance for me to show that my journey is to stand toe to toe and dispense with the opposition, whether they are friendly or not. In Amarillo, Texas I get to team with Molly Reid who I consider a friend of mine. And across the way we will be facing “FujiStorm”… Fujiko Mine and Mark Storm. All four of us are in the Frontier Lions Cup… and even though this is not a tournament match, this is a showcase of talent in the main event of Vertigo.”

Salem finished off the marshmallow, wiping her mouth as the flames flickered in the lower half of the screen.

“Fujiko is another person I consider a friend. But in that ring just as in real life outside the ring, you and your friends will fight. And when the battle is done you move on. I have no qualms or reservations about fighting Fujiko, respectfully. When that bell rings… it reminds me of the old Loony Tunes cartoon… the wolf and the sheepdog. We clock in, beat the snot out of each other, clock back out and have a good laugh about it after. Fujiko is confident and talented… as I alluded to earlier, she just won the Pride Championship at All Star Showdown V from Johnny Karma. She is no slouch. I’m not one of these narrow minded dimwitted wrestlers that look at her and go ”oh look at the size of her chest, she must be an untalented bimbo”. She is anything but that. She is as creative and tenacious as any wrestler going today. The fans love her and she really feeds off that. It’s a feeling I know well. Those people spend their hard earned money for tickets to see us, buy our merchandise. Without the stands filled to capacity and a ring to showcase our wares, we’d just be goons fighting in back alleys for nothing.”

She took a sip of soda, rubbing her chin.

“And speaking of fighters, Fujiko’s partner for this show is Mark Storm. I don’t know much about him, haven’t really spoken to the guy all that much. I do know this: he has quite a championship pedigree in various promotions. He just beat Savannah Taylor at ASSV. That in itself is no small feat, speaking as someone who’s faced her multiple times and come out on each side of the won/loss column. He’s definitely unique… a bit of an oddball. But it takes a lot of flavors to populate this glorious sport, and he is no pariah upon it in my eyes. Unorthodox and very intelligent, he patterns himself a spokesman… the voice of this generation. I’m not sure that he is, but if he wants to think that I have no problem with it… unless it runs foul with my goals. And the goal for this particular Vertigo is to win this main event tag match. Whether it’s Fujiko or Mark getting defeated, or even Molly or myself getting the decision… it doesn’t matter all that much to me. I know that win, lose, or draw in this tag team match I have to turn right around and face Molly soon enough in a first round Frontier Lions Cup match. So it’s a bit weird… we get to work together to hopefully win a match over quality opponents, while at the same time getting to scout each other in the ring. Dare I bend her ear for tips on facing Annie Dupree for that MAL title, even?”

She chuckles and puts another marshmallow on her stick.

“But now I’m just getting ahead of myself, even though all of these things are on my mind. So much is happening just on the horizon for lil’ ol’ me. But I can’t look past this tag team match. I welcome the opportunity to get in there and trade my best shots with my opponents. I know Molly feels the same way. I swear that girl gets almost as much thrill from getting hit than delivering blows. It’s just visceral, you know? In the moment… the competition, the physicality. I don’t think anyone ever enjoys a cakewalk sort of match, and this one sure as heck won’t be. Tooth and nail, down to the wire. Who wants it more? I dare you to say it’s not me.”

She flashes devil horns to the camera with a sly wink, the fire framing a parting shot.

“‘Tis The Season. Witchy Out!”

-

Meet me anyplace or anywhere or anytime

Now, I don't care, meet me tonight

If you will dare, I will dare

‘I Will Dare’ – The Replacements

[OFF CAMERA]

Salem had made her way into the hospital, and checking with the front desk and nurses station she had finally arrived at the correct floor. She walked down the hallway to Room 316. The door was open so she knocked lightly on the doorframe. A kind old voice responded.

“Come in.”

Salem stepped inside and was taken aback by what she saw. Big Al always had white slicked back hair as long as she’d known him, and big black rim glasses. But it was clear he’d lost some considerable weight. He had some to lose from back then, a beer belly mostly. But the lines in his face told the tale: Big Al had seen better days.

“Big Al… it’s me. Your Sally Girl!”

She walked to him and gave him a gentle hug as he smiled and gave a raspy chuckle.

“Look at you, girl! You look healthy. Been eating good?”

Salem smiled, still standing.

“You know me, I always try to do my best… in everything. But you! You need to get out of this bed and go run laps, drop and give me fifty push-ups! I remember you barking orders at me and the boys in the gym.”

Big Al patted her wrist.

“That was mostly for their benefit, you were a step ahead of them even then. You didn’t realize how good an athlete you really were. I see you on TV sometimes, you know?”

She swallowed, a mix of flattery and slight embarrassment.

“You do? I thought you didn’t watch wrestling anymore, thought it was trash compared to the good ol’ days… the Golden Age you called it.”

He shook his head, rubbing his cheek.

“Ah Sally, you know me… I’m an old man. It’s my God given right to complain about any ol’ damn thing. I guess if you participate in anything, you’re always gonna think your era was the best. When you’re old and gray haired on your rocking chair, you’ll be the same.”

Salem nodded politely. Big Al was very grandfatherly, and had been a life saver after she’d left the commune in Virginia. She’d tracked down her sister Morgan in New York, who was there working as a stripper and a bartender. This was the period of time when Morgan was deep into drugs and debauchery, yet Salem always loved her through it all. Salem didn’t want to go home to New Hampshire and face her parents after her year in Virginia; they hadn’t parted on the best of terms. Remembering what had happened back then, she was pregnant after all and she didn’t want them to know. Yeah… pregnant…

“Salem?”

Another voice from the doorway, Salem looked over. This was the person that had called her. This was the reason she’d decided to make this trip all alone, to sort some things out. She looked at Big Al.

“Hey Al, I’ll be back in a minute okay?”

Big Al looked at the man in the doorway and nodded.

“Ah, you kids have some catching up to do… I’ll be here.”

Salem stepped outside, and looked at the young guy who stood across from her.

“Hey Salem, I wasn’t sure if you’d come. Big Al wanted to see you bad, and I…”

Salem sighed and blurted out.

“And you what? Yes you wanted to see me too, I know. Look, it’s been years Alex, and….”

He put a hand on her shoulder.

“Salem, I know. It’s a small world. After we graduated high school and we… and I…”

Both of them were awkward now, clearly the years hadn’t aged them THAT much.

“You can say it. After we had sex. After you took my virginity. And things got weird… I got weird. Yeah. I had to leave… I’m sorry. My mind wasn’t right. I’d never had a boyfriend, not really. I wasn’t sure about what I wanted. I know you were the same… right?”

Alex sighed and nodded.

“We were friends… at least I thought. We both needed someone. Everyone thought we were odd. It made sense didn’t it? And then you run off to Virginia for a year… show up in New York. Then one day out of the blue, my grandfather… Big Al Peterson calls me up talking about this sweet pale girl with dark hair. Small world is right, girl. Salem Cartier … she floats into your life, she floats out, and BOOM there she is again. And now…”

The man’s name was Alex Peterson… grandson of Big Al Peterson and rarely but sometimes referred to as Little Al.

“Yeah…now. Alex… I told you then, I had no idea he was related to you, and vice versa; and that whole one night stand, and me running off for a year? Well, we’ve got a lot to talk about… I’ve learned recently. You might want to sit down….”

[TO BE CONTINUED…in a future RP ]