Post by tactilizingone on Nov 8, 2023 23:58:52 GMT -5
THE ROAR OF THE CROWD
Somewhere in New York City…
There is a line of people early this morning, like most, outside of one of the city’s trendiest bakeries. The chef has captured the imagination with their pastry creations and dough work to make irresistibly tasty morsels. The buzz in the air of anticipation to get one’s hands on such an item, and people discuss what they will be ordering. It even rouses early morning commuters from the doldrums at daily risk of a swampy subway ride, delayed train, or finding yourself standing next to the next pizza rat.
But this bakery is not the focus. It is across the street, in the atrium behind a housing building. There, too, is a line of people waiting to get a meal, any meal offered, and possibly some essential items from bins stacked next to one another on tables. There is also a similar hum of conversations in the air, but the cause is different. The people largely share amongst themselves stories about family and their community.
Amidst this group stands Larry Tact, helping direct people to where they can find what they need. He has on a pair of grey jeans and a navy blue hoodie, the early morning sunshine reflecting off his bald dome.
“It’s times like these we find out who cares…” one person comments to Larry in passing, as he hands them a set of utensils and a plate.
Another passing by says, “You’re one of the good ones, please don’t stop trying to make things better.”
A third gives Larry’s stout frame a suspicious look, stroking his beard. “Who’re you here t’ help?”
Larry flashes a small grin. “Whoever will take it, sir,” he reaches with the wrapped utensil pack and plate.
“I dun’t have ter take charity from no pretender…” the man waves off Larry’s outstretched hand.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m not taking anything from here,” Larry clears up quickly. “I’m only here doing a small thing to be of service.”
When he again tries with the utensils, the man swats it out of Larry’s hand, looking with affront. “D’you have a single flippin’ idea what you’ve done a’ready?! I’ve been watching you, man.”
Larry is taken off guard for a moment, wondering if this is some sort of threat, but the man shows nothing of the sort as he picks up the utensils from the ground. “I’m innit ‘ere for needin’ lots, but I hav‘ta get a few t’ings. But never woulda thunk Larry Tact would show up at one of these events. Yeah I knew who ye were ‘ta momen’ I spotted yer in t’is row.”
Scratching his beard, Larry and this guy seem to be attracting the attention of surrounding patrons. The man doesn’t seem to give a hoot as he goes on, waving his hands with great explanatory power.
“I don’ ‘ave a ton but what I do have is a weekly gat’erin’ t’see some good ole wrasslin’. We dun’t have ter t’ink ab’t our troubles when we have the TV showing us the latest matches and struggles. I see some of yer matches earlier t’is year in Thundah Pro Wrasslin’ and it caught m’ eye, ya hear? I t’ought you could stick there, and I was right!”
Larry rubs the back of his head, seemingly caught by Mr. Rambling, and he holds a hand out. “I appreciate your being a fan, and watching my matches. I’m always fascinated by seeing my fans–”
“I ain’t DONE yet!” Mr Rambling barrels through Larry’s thought, causing him to furrow an eyebrow for an instant, but he recovers. “Yer not doin’ what I know yer capable of doin’, Tact! You had a chance to keep the Cabal from overthrowing “T’underin’ T’rry” and ended up gettin’ him replaced wit ‘is ‘alf-wit bruthah!”
Mr. Rambling sees Larry flinch at mention of the Cabal and points a crooked finger. “Yeh… yeh… I can see yer fury, but there’s not enough of it. Yer lackin’ somethin’ ta close out the Cabal. There’ve been times when yer close, but ‘t hasn’ah fallen to you. Yer ‘adda chance ‘ta put th’ Cabal atta disadv’nt’ge withah matcha b’fore Nigh’ o’ th’ Liv’ng Ded… ya blew that, too! Yer success is gon’ be fergot’n if yer not gunna close these affairs. Hella, not even the Cabal. Yer needin’ tah get yerself back int’ a groove!”
The man looks at Larry again, surveying him, and shakes his head. “We don’ have a lot ‘round ‘ere, Larry. Some of us love wrasslin’ fer tah escape. But we wanna see sumthin’ tah lift us up. All the Cabal and half this rost’r wanna do is drag each other down into tah cold nights fer their silly quota of sufferin’, or tah checkah box. You haveta keep breathin’ some good inta that squared circle space. Friday Night Fury needs to have’a soldier who wants tah make good fer the people. SO turn things around a’ready, will ya?!”
Mr Rambling smacks the utensil pack into Larry’s hand, then picks up a different one with a plate and gives one more surly look before trudging off.
Larry looks down at the utensils, squeezing the pack in a fist.
BUILDING TRACK
Later that morning, Larry has completed handing out supplies and is chatting with a few of the organizers. He breaks away and walks towards an empty part of the atrium where he leans against a stairway and fires up a video to broadcast.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about what went down in the Asylum War Games. The brutality, yes, but also the clear intent. There was never supposed to be a match to determine who would reign over Thunder Pro Wrestling. It was technically in a ring, true, but what was that all about, really? I believe there are plenty of answer to that, and here’s mine. I believe this was nothing more than the first test from our new owner, Greg formerly Handy. Or currently, I’m not exactly clear on that point.”
Larry gives a stubborn shake of his head.
“But I refuse to believe that the Cabal can say they’re the undisputed rulers of TPW at the moment. For one thing, we’ll see what happens when Matthew Knox goes up against Peter Vaughn. There are still more scores to be settled…”
He gives a rub of his bald dome.
“I can think of one off the top of my head, in fact. Asylum War Games was only the beginning of a new era. As far as I’m concerned, while TM may have had to forfeit, it doesn’t mean that we stop fighting. There are more chapter to write in this company’s history, and I know that the THUNDERAMANIACS are not expecting anything less from me, or anyone who opposes Alexander Marshall and his Cabal.”
He shows a view of the last of the tables and chairs being stacked up for collection by the charity organization later. Some of the people who showed up for rations remain talking to a few volunteers.
“I’ve been reminded that even when we fall, there are those who will pick you back up. Sometimes it isn’t so easy as just showing up, but there is always someone who cares. For me, I know that TPW Strong means I need to care for the people who come to watch Thunder Pro wrestlers battle it out, seeing which of us can rise up and upend the current status quo, and clear the way for yet another new chapter. I may not have held the Prestige Championship myself, but I can say without a doubt that I’m in this company to raise the bar. I’m looking to get back on the path of pushing upwards, rather than stumbling into a fall.”
He goes walking while keeping the camera steady on himself.
“Which brings me to this week, the next edition of Friday Night Fury, and the ‘Fookin’ Distinguished One himself. CJ, I don’t believe we’ve had a tactful introduction to date, and I look forward to giving you just that when we set foot on the canvas. But I have to say, you’ve made your own redemption story here in Thunder Pro Wrestling. You were drawn back to the ring just like I was, looking to find something that you were looking for. You ended up fighting your way to becoming Prestige Champion, and you showed how you would fight tooth and nail to grapple your way to maintaining that status. Now, like me, you may be looking for what’s next.”
He comes around to the other side of the building, showing people exiting the trendy bakery with their small and large boxes of baked heaven. Larry keeps the shot away from himself, on them.
“There are plenty of ways to amass prestige, CJ. It isn’t all about titles and proving you were right all along, and receiving accolades and recognition endlessly. From the road I’ve traveled, there’s plenty of room between being a Champion and being a wrestler, to find out quite a lot about yourself, and where you can push your limits. It seems to me like this will be a great test of where I can reach for next, considering if I defeat a former Prestige Champion, it would allow me to bounce back after the Asylum War Games.”
He turns the camera back to himself.
“I’m not here to merely be the best in the ring, but I want to show that I’m representing TPW Strong in a tactful manner, one that allows the THUNDERAMANIACS to show up week in and week out, ready to be fired up because they know the battle will be fierce and their favorites are a real force to be reckoned with. The best way I can think of doing that, CJ, is to show up for our match with no less than the same drive I have to see the Cabal disappear, and reclaim what I’ve lost in the process, but put a new spin on it the next time around. If holding a title didn’t change the way you are, then it’s a waste, CJ. If you want to scrap, I can scrap in the ring, or out of it. I’ve shown I can be versatile. Let me show you how much moreso, as still Championship caliber. You see if you can keep up with this Star Power."
FADE OUT
