S07E08 - The Final Frontier
Dec 22, 2016 10:19:24 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 10:19:24 GMT -5
Wednesday 7th December - Off Camera
“Don’t stop me noooooowww,” Annie wails into the microphone on stage as I sit in the corner of the pub, sipping at my Jack Daniels and coke; we’re in England to film our parts of A Clockwork Knight and, I suppose, are lucky enough to be on location together so we can hang out afterwards. It’s nice having someone I know and am friendly with…
Although hearing her sing whilst drunk and without autotune is making me reconsider. But this jaunt overseas has been relaxing. It’s what the doctor ordered. Away from the stresses of dealing with The Usual Suspects or Johnny Cannon, away from dealing with Christian Kane or anybody else on Subversion. Where I don’t have to worry about the Destiny Cup or the Young Guns Cup, both of which are looming just over the horizon. Both of which are my chances to show the wrestling world that Dom Harter still means business, especially after how my 2015 finished. And finally, it gets me away from dealing with whatever is going on with my mom and Johnny Zellor – something I should probably mention to her someday soon.
Something where I can slip into the skin of Warren Sterling, the charismatic head of security at the strange complex. I even got to take in an NKP show live and in person the other night, which was great.
I know I have to go back to Boston in a couple of days for the FGA show – I can’t miss the show in my adopted home city! But until then I can relax in the White Lion, wondering how or why they have so many beer mats on the walls. Literally hundreds. And wait for my turn on karaoke, despite Annie taking my song.
“‘Scuse me, are yer Dom Harter?” she drawls in her atrocious Northern accent, which I can’t quite place.
“Yeah,” I hesitate; it’s one of the first times I’ve been recognised over here, and I’ve been here for nearly four weeks. Maybe it’s just a Lancashire thing.
“I’m a huge fan…” she starts gushing, standing there all five foot six of her, or thereabouts. Cute too; she’s got a button nose and round eyes. Skinny too, just how I like them. Fuck it, who am I to say no to a fan?
“Have a seat…” I say, moving over to allow her to sit down…
“Finally,” I exclaim before clapping my hands together. The crooked grin is plastered on my face as per usual as I look into the camera. “I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been waiting for this one. Whether you want to think I’ve been two weeks since the match was announced, a year since the last time we were here, or three years ago when this all started…” I shrug, “…that’s on you. But Final Frontier, the biggest show on the FGA calendar, and I get to be in the main event again.”
“In a match where Hell has apparently frozen over, and Dom Harter teams with Johnny Karma and Cordy Stevenson…” I inhale sharply through gritted teeth before addressing the camera, “…I know, I heard it too. But the three of us team up for the first and probably only time to take on the Usual Suspects and a mystery partner. So I’ve got one question for you boys…” I shake my head, “…nah, I’ve got lots of questions. But I’ll start with: which member of the King’s Court have you got returning to back you up?”
I pause on that one, adjusting my ‘Harter 2016’ t-shirt. My gaze falls away from the camera as I continue, “Is it Danny Diamond? We haven’t seen him in a hot minute, right. He’s probably due for a shocking return, and on the grand stage too.”
“No…” I shake my head, “…not shocking enough. And we know Cannon is in no shape to compete after the last show. So that leaves just one person, and I don’t think you guys have the sway to pull that off. So now you’re probably thinking that you’re up against it, and I don’t blame you, guys.”
“I really don’t.”
“We all saw what kind of mood Karma was in on the last show; we’ve seen him rampaging for the last year trying to save FGA from people like you The Usual Suspects, like The King’s Court, like RubyWay, like Izzy, like everybody who thinks they’re bigger and better than FGA. Who thinks they have what it takes to bring FGA down. Everybody who wants to remakes FGA in their own image…” I pause, coughing into a clenched fist to clear my throat, “…good thing I’ve turned over a new leaf, right?”
“And you’ve got Cordy Stevenson, the FGA World Champion…” I glare towards someone or something off camera, grumbling under my breath, “…she’s getting close to matching my achievements now. Guess that’s the benefit of me not being in the Lethal Lottery tournament…”
“Bygones!” I exclaim, holding up my hands in a reconciliatory gesture.
“And she’s ready to do what the FGA World Champion does best. Which is go a pay-per-view without defending her title…” I pinch the bridge of my nose as I fall silent.
“Bygones!” I repeat.
“I promise, Cordy, I’ll co-exist with you for one night. Then we can go back to being rivals like we have been for the last few years; you can hold the belt and I’ll remind you about how I handed you your first singles loss way back when, then how I beat you a few months ago. And you can remind me how I should be focusing on the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title so I can complete my Grand Slam…” I gently slap my forehead, “…and I’ll curse out Annie Zellor or jinxing me before Retribution, when she told me I better not get distracted.”
“How was she to know I’d end up dealing with The Usual Suspects though? Or that Zero would take his ball and go home, and cause the Lethal Lottery to take over proceedings. Or that she’d lose the belt and invoke her rematch clause, to keep me out the picture for a little while longer?” I shake my head once again, taking a deep breath in before I speak, “Evil fucking genius, that’s what she is!”
“But all of that serves a purpose. All of that brings us to the people who’ll be standing opposite me, Cordy, and Karma on Saturday night in Albany. And, boys, it’s been a long time. I’ll do you a favour, and I won’t rehash our history from before your hiatus from FGA. Lets just focus on the last few months, when you felt the need to attack me when I was about to beat Tony. And I’ve got to wonder why you felt the need to do that?”
“Why Chris, why? And you too, Jason…” I roll my eyes.
“Were you testing me? Seeing if I really had turned over a new leaf? Trying to expose me for the heartless bastard I’ve always been? Or were you just wanting to get one over on me? To be the guys beating down Dom Harter for a change, and get revenge for what happened way back when! Because, and I can’t stress this enough, if you strike me, I will strike back. Turning over a new leaf doesn’t make mean I’ve become a pussy. I’m just not cheating, I’m not putting people through car hoods anymore, I’m not breaking legs, or crippling young, hopeless wrestlers. I’m not beating down the people who fail me. That’s turning over a new leaf…” I state, jabbing a finger at the camera, “…but when you attack me, when you stop me from beating people cleanly like I could’ve done, then you’re going to get an iPad to the forehead. Again.”
“When you beat me down backstage, I’m going to come right back at you. When you break a tablet over my head, there’s payback for that. And at Final Frontier, I’m exacting that revenge.”
“Because you guys have pissed me off. And you know better than anybody, how dangerous I can be when I’m pissed off. You know better than most what I can do when I’m angry. And you know that you shouldn’t have made this personal. But here we are…”
“So whoever you’ve got as your mystery partner, doesn’t change a damn thing. Tryon, Marx, you two have this coming. And Final Frontier will go a lot better for me this year than last. This’ll be the site of my greatest triumph; showing everybody that I’ve grown, and bettered myself. That I don’t need to rely on those same tactics that I became known for in order to survive and thrive. That I’m the best damn wrestler in FGA history!” I jab a finger at my own chest, “And I’m closing 2016 by defeating some of oldest rivals. And next year I’ll head back to my Grand Slam goal, and defeat Annie or Salem – whichever of them has the belt I need to finish my collection. And I’ll show the World that I’m the best wrestler aged under twenty-five in the world today when I go on to win the Young Guns Cup. And after all that, then I’ll inspire some wrestlers that I can be proud of, not like some of those who’ve modelled themselves on me before now…”
“But before then, before any of that. I just need to defeat The Usual Suspects and their mystery partner…” I shrug, “…and that sounds like a fun Saturday night to me. See you at Final Frontier, guys.”
Thursday 8th December - Off Camera
“Wake up,” she shakes me awake, “yer gotta get out the house soon.”
I notice it’s still dark outside as I open my eyes; the curtains have been pulled back, revealing the glowing orange from the street light outside her bedroom window. “I’m up, I’m awake,” I grumble as I sit up, stretching my arms as I try to take in my surroundings. First nights are usually at her house so they don’t find out where I live, especially when they’re fans. I don’t need the crazy to follow me home. But this…
“Get dressed,” she whispers, “we’ve gotta go.”
“Go where?” I ask as I roll out of the bed, pulling up my pants from their convenient position on the floor. My vision is clearer now than a moment ago, and I notice she’s wearing black shoes, and navy blue tights with a matching skirt. As well as a blazer.
“Yer can go anywhere,” she replies, “but I’ve gotta catch the bus to school soon.”
I take a moment, “Sc-school?” I ask, stumbling over the word, I stand up next to her, noticing that she’s definitely not five foot six. And without the make up she’s not as hot as she was last night, but that might be the uniform. I muster up all the courage I need to ask the question; she shrinks down in front of me, shying away as I probably look angry, or vexed, or anything but calm. “What? Just exactly how old are you?”
And I don’t like her answer…
“Don’t stop me noooooowww,” Annie wails into the microphone on stage as I sit in the corner of the pub, sipping at my Jack Daniels and coke; we’re in England to film our parts of A Clockwork Knight and, I suppose, are lucky enough to be on location together so we can hang out afterwards. It’s nice having someone I know and am friendly with…
Although hearing her sing whilst drunk and without autotune is making me reconsider. But this jaunt overseas has been relaxing. It’s what the doctor ordered. Away from the stresses of dealing with The Usual Suspects or Johnny Cannon, away from dealing with Christian Kane or anybody else on Subversion. Where I don’t have to worry about the Destiny Cup or the Young Guns Cup, both of which are looming just over the horizon. Both of which are my chances to show the wrestling world that Dom Harter still means business, especially after how my 2015 finished. And finally, it gets me away from dealing with whatever is going on with my mom and Johnny Zellor – something I should probably mention to her someday soon.
Something where I can slip into the skin of Warren Sterling, the charismatic head of security at the strange complex. I even got to take in an NKP show live and in person the other night, which was great.
I know I have to go back to Boston in a couple of days for the FGA show – I can’t miss the show in my adopted home city! But until then I can relax in the White Lion, wondering how or why they have so many beer mats on the walls. Literally hundreds. And wait for my turn on karaoke, despite Annie taking my song.
“‘Scuse me, are yer Dom Harter?” she drawls in her atrocious Northern accent, which I can’t quite place.
“Yeah,” I hesitate; it’s one of the first times I’ve been recognised over here, and I’ve been here for nearly four weeks. Maybe it’s just a Lancashire thing.
“I’m a huge fan…” she starts gushing, standing there all five foot six of her, or thereabouts. Cute too; she’s got a button nose and round eyes. Skinny too, just how I like them. Fuck it, who am I to say no to a fan?
“Have a seat…” I say, moving over to allow her to sit down…
[REC]
“Finally,” I exclaim before clapping my hands together. The crooked grin is plastered on my face as per usual as I look into the camera. “I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been waiting for this one. Whether you want to think I’ve been two weeks since the match was announced, a year since the last time we were here, or three years ago when this all started…” I shrug, “…that’s on you. But Final Frontier, the biggest show on the FGA calendar, and I get to be in the main event again.”
“In a match where Hell has apparently frozen over, and Dom Harter teams with Johnny Karma and Cordy Stevenson…” I inhale sharply through gritted teeth before addressing the camera, “…I know, I heard it too. But the three of us team up for the first and probably only time to take on the Usual Suspects and a mystery partner. So I’ve got one question for you boys…” I shake my head, “…nah, I’ve got lots of questions. But I’ll start with: which member of the King’s Court have you got returning to back you up?”
I pause on that one, adjusting my ‘Harter 2016’ t-shirt. My gaze falls away from the camera as I continue, “Is it Danny Diamond? We haven’t seen him in a hot minute, right. He’s probably due for a shocking return, and on the grand stage too.”
“No…” I shake my head, “…not shocking enough. And we know Cannon is in no shape to compete after the last show. So that leaves just one person, and I don’t think you guys have the sway to pull that off. So now you’re probably thinking that you’re up against it, and I don’t blame you, guys.”
“I really don’t.”
“We all saw what kind of mood Karma was in on the last show; we’ve seen him rampaging for the last year trying to save FGA from people like you The Usual Suspects, like The King’s Court, like RubyWay, like Izzy, like everybody who thinks they’re bigger and better than FGA. Who thinks they have what it takes to bring FGA down. Everybody who wants to remakes FGA in their own image…” I pause, coughing into a clenched fist to clear my throat, “…good thing I’ve turned over a new leaf, right?”
“And you’ve got Cordy Stevenson, the FGA World Champion…” I glare towards someone or something off camera, grumbling under my breath, “…she’s getting close to matching my achievements now. Guess that’s the benefit of me not being in the Lethal Lottery tournament…”
“Bygones!” I exclaim, holding up my hands in a reconciliatory gesture.
“And she’s ready to do what the FGA World Champion does best. Which is go a pay-per-view without defending her title…” I pinch the bridge of my nose as I fall silent.
“Bygones!” I repeat.
“I promise, Cordy, I’ll co-exist with you for one night. Then we can go back to being rivals like we have been for the last few years; you can hold the belt and I’ll remind you about how I handed you your first singles loss way back when, then how I beat you a few months ago. And you can remind me how I should be focusing on the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title so I can complete my Grand Slam…” I gently slap my forehead, “…and I’ll curse out Annie Zellor or jinxing me before Retribution, when she told me I better not get distracted.”
“How was she to know I’d end up dealing with The Usual Suspects though? Or that Zero would take his ball and go home, and cause the Lethal Lottery to take over proceedings. Or that she’d lose the belt and invoke her rematch clause, to keep me out the picture for a little while longer?” I shake my head once again, taking a deep breath in before I speak, “Evil fucking genius, that’s what she is!”
“But all of that serves a purpose. All of that brings us to the people who’ll be standing opposite me, Cordy, and Karma on Saturday night in Albany. And, boys, it’s been a long time. I’ll do you a favour, and I won’t rehash our history from before your hiatus from FGA. Lets just focus on the last few months, when you felt the need to attack me when I was about to beat Tony. And I’ve got to wonder why you felt the need to do that?”
“Why Chris, why? And you too, Jason…” I roll my eyes.
“Were you testing me? Seeing if I really had turned over a new leaf? Trying to expose me for the heartless bastard I’ve always been? Or were you just wanting to get one over on me? To be the guys beating down Dom Harter for a change, and get revenge for what happened way back when! Because, and I can’t stress this enough, if you strike me, I will strike back. Turning over a new leaf doesn’t make mean I’ve become a pussy. I’m just not cheating, I’m not putting people through car hoods anymore, I’m not breaking legs, or crippling young, hopeless wrestlers. I’m not beating down the people who fail me. That’s turning over a new leaf…” I state, jabbing a finger at the camera, “…but when you attack me, when you stop me from beating people cleanly like I could’ve done, then you’re going to get an iPad to the forehead. Again.”
“When you beat me down backstage, I’m going to come right back at you. When you break a tablet over my head, there’s payback for that. And at Final Frontier, I’m exacting that revenge.”
“Because you guys have pissed me off. And you know better than anybody, how dangerous I can be when I’m pissed off. You know better than most what I can do when I’m angry. And you know that you shouldn’t have made this personal. But here we are…”
“So whoever you’ve got as your mystery partner, doesn’t change a damn thing. Tryon, Marx, you two have this coming. And Final Frontier will go a lot better for me this year than last. This’ll be the site of my greatest triumph; showing everybody that I’ve grown, and bettered myself. That I don’t need to rely on those same tactics that I became known for in order to survive and thrive. That I’m the best damn wrestler in FGA history!” I jab a finger at my own chest, “And I’m closing 2016 by defeating some of oldest rivals. And next year I’ll head back to my Grand Slam goal, and defeat Annie or Salem – whichever of them has the belt I need to finish my collection. And I’ll show the World that I’m the best wrestler aged under twenty-five in the world today when I go on to win the Young Guns Cup. And after all that, then I’ll inspire some wrestlers that I can be proud of, not like some of those who’ve modelled themselves on me before now…”
“But before then, before any of that. I just need to defeat The Usual Suspects and their mystery partner…” I shrug, “…and that sounds like a fun Saturday night to me. See you at Final Frontier, guys.”
Thursday 8th December - Off Camera
“Wake up,” she shakes me awake, “yer gotta get out the house soon.”
I notice it’s still dark outside as I open my eyes; the curtains have been pulled back, revealing the glowing orange from the street light outside her bedroom window. “I’m up, I’m awake,” I grumble as I sit up, stretching my arms as I try to take in my surroundings. First nights are usually at her house so they don’t find out where I live, especially when they’re fans. I don’t need the crazy to follow me home. But this…
“Get dressed,” she whispers, “we’ve gotta go.”
“Go where?” I ask as I roll out of the bed, pulling up my pants from their convenient position on the floor. My vision is clearer now than a moment ago, and I notice she’s wearing black shoes, and navy blue tights with a matching skirt. As well as a blazer.
“Yer can go anywhere,” she replies, “but I’ve gotta catch the bus to school soon.”
I take a moment, “Sc-school?” I ask, stumbling over the word, I stand up next to her, noticing that she’s definitely not five foot six. And without the make up she’s not as hot as she was last night, but that might be the uniform. I muster up all the courage I need to ask the question; she shrinks down in front of me, shying away as I probably look angry, or vexed, or anything but calm. “What? Just exactly how old are you?”
And I don’t like her answer…