Post by tactilizingone on Mar 27, 2024 23:00:07 GMT -5
We find ourselves looking at the exterior of a luxury shopping center, with cars lining the lot of spaces available. Spring has begun to overcome the biting chill of winter, and a torrent of rain accompanies the seasonal shift. It seems there have been quite a few things shifting as of late in Thunder Pro Wrestling, too. Some are genuinely for better, while other changes have been less than stellar…
Inside the center, one man dwarfs all but a couple of today’s shoppers. Larry Tact strides through the main thruway, a couple paper bags slung over his back and held in one hand. He looks nonplussed to be in the throng of last-minute shoppers on the week of this Easter holiday. However, he’s happy to be spending time with his wife, Cindy Winstead, who scans storefronts as adeptly as Larry reads wrestlers’ next moves in the ring. For a moment, he wonders whether or not this painstaking gathering of gifts is worth the slight barking his knee is giving him, now in hour three of their excursion. Then he feels her yanking his arm with the bags in a different direction than he’s walking, nearly causing him to stagger and drop the bags he’s holding.
“Babe, I know we’re trying to cover everyone on your list for our weekend get together, but are you trying to test whether my knee is rehabbing enough?” Larry protests.
“You’re the one who wants to have ‘input’ on what we’re gifting,” Cindy says while hawk-eyeing the corridor. “With your schedule, it doesn’t leave us a ton of time. We’ve got to make the most of this trip and knock the rest out!”
“Maybe I should’ve taken a knockout from Tony… at least it’d go quicker,” Larry almost rolls his eyes, but for Cindy shooting him a look that reminds him he knows better. Yeah, Tony was definitely the lesser threat of the two. “I would’ve settled for a running list of links or images to pick from. You didn’t have to wait for us to go here together.”
Cindy blows a raspberry, “Give me more credit than that. The chances of you looking at those links and images in time for me to order them is slim, between your bookings and business ventures,” she cocks an eyebrow momentarily. “I thought you were old school? You should enjoy this throwback shopping experience! Now where is Williams Sonoma…” she drags him over to the map and inspects it.
“Okay, point,” he grunts, looking in the bags. “But do we really need a… five pound chocolate bunny?” while holding up a rectangular box containing the seasonal sweet, and a cartoonish depiction on the back. Larry drops it back in bag.
“That’s what we’re mailing to Logan,” she traces a finger along the map. “Why do they make it so difficult to find the ‘You Are Here’ square?”
He points it out. “It’s here. But if we send this to Logan at college, he’s never going to come home again – unless he’s laughed off campus,” he smirks, then, “Hey–ow!” He rubs his arm from the jab in the arm, then follows her in a new direction.
She eyes him as he catches up. “Logan is still our sweet little baby boy. It’s our springtime kickoff tradition! He’s getting the bunny.”
Larry shrugs, “At least I can tell him I tried.”
When they arrive at the Williams Sonoma, Cindy claps her hands giddily. “This is one of two times per year they have sales!” Her eyes gleam as she approaches the entrance. “Time to show some yuppies I’ve been picking my training back up.”
“You really have been,” Larry rubs his arm again. “But don’t get yourself arrested like a common Karen.”
Cindy shakes her head, “I’m well aware of how to be subtle, Mr. Fights Mascots at ballgames.”
“That San Diego Chicken had it coming after he instigated me…” he grumbles.
She snorts. “Oh, yeah? What about Mr. Met? Your own hometown mascot!” cracking an amused grin.
“That was a misunderstanding!” Larry runs his free hand over his shaved head. “We got caught up by the escalator.”
“Are you coming?” she already moved on, scoping out the Williams Sonoma layout and calculating her course.
“Well, actually,” he sees her looks with slightly narrowed eyes. “I saw the food court back there, and…” he puts a hand on his stomach.
“Oh, fine, go fuel your tank up. Baby needs his cheat day,” as she rolls her eyes right at him.
He slightly regrets not doing the same earlier. “This eye rolling business seems like a double standard.”
“Wife. Privileges.” She gives him a peck on the lips. “Pick me up something to go?”
“Goes without saying,” he gives her a smirk and they exchange another kiss before he heads off.
*****
After the match with Tony Savage at Thunder in Paradise 3, Larry had earned a little reward. He decided it would be a quart of Chocolate Peanut Butter Haagen Daz from one of their storefronts that happened to be in this shopping center. After Larry collects his frozen treat, he pulls a freezer bag from one of the paper bags he’s carrying. “Always come prepared,” he deposits the quart into the bag and replaces it in the larger paper bag.
That’s when a few teenagers approach him with their ice cream cups and cones. One of them looks at him with curiosity. “Hey! You don’t happen to be…”
“Yo, shut up, it is!” another says.
“Larry Tact!” the first boy exclaims as he turns to face them.
“Yes, can I help you?” he pauses from heading to a sushi spot nearby. An easy lunch for him and Cindy.
“Yo, what chance does dude even stand at Retromania?” Ice Cream Cup Boy asks, though it didn’t sound much like a question.
Ice Cream Cone Boy slaps him on the arm. “It’s Larry Tact! He took down Tony Savage at Thunder In Paradise. He could beat MMS.”
Cup Boy scoffs. “Pssh… oh, fo’ sho dude… just look who fired the first shot.”
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Larry interjects.
“We all saw you left laying in the locker room, man.” Cup Boy fires back. “You already got PUNKED by the American Champ. Maybe you forgot from getting knocked the eff out!”
He cracks up laughing while Larry looks less than pleased. “I get it. You’re a fan of Maxwell Mason Stone, are you?”
Cup Boy stops laughing long enough to say, “Yo, nobody actually says his name like that, except old dudes like you. Ha! Shots fired, shots fired!” He cracks up again.
“Hey, Larry’s TPW Strong!” Cone Boy exclaims. “He’s taken on anyone who’s come at him, even if the odds weren’t with him, and he’s still there. Not like your other boy, JMont, or Chris Page.”
“Don’t disrespect Page, he retired, fool!” Cup Boy slaps Cone Boy upside the head. “He’s got more titles than this punk would ever dream of. Page went out on his terms, in an International Title match. Don’t make me teach you to respect the name.”
“Hold on, now,” Larry cuts in, and they both look at him. “We can all agree Chris Page deserves respect. He’s a legend of the pro wrestling business, and he did earn that title match against Peter Vaughn.” He unintentionally snarls the name of the current International Champion. He still makes Larry seethe instantly, but he holds it in. Another time and place for that.
Cup Boy eyes Larry. “It’s true, you know to respect Page. Didn’t he beat you on the way to earning that briefcase in the Porter Games?” he sneers. “I mean, not in the match to determine the briefcase. I think it was like, second round? Like Page said, you SUCK at one-on-one matches. Spotlight too hot for you?”
Larry tries not to glare at the snotty little kid. “I’ll have you know–”
But to his surprise, Cone Boy interrupts. “Shut UP, man! I’m tired of your little digs. It ain’t even facts.” He shoves Cup Boy, who looks a bit taken aback. “I don’t know what Page was spouting off about back then, but Tact wins his TPW matches on Pay-Per-View! Bam Miller. El Diablo Blanco. Tony Savage. What do you think those were?”
“Overrated…” Cup Boy says, though he isn’t as jovial.
“Whatever, man, you must be a fan of Page’s, and JMont. All you do is excuse away what other people do. This guy takes on all comers, and he don’t care whether or not there’s a Cabal or WGWF or even an unbeaten streak coming at him! He finds a way to just win. That’s exactly what he’s going to do to MMS, too, even if he got blindsided…” he glances at Larry. “You did get blindsided by MMS, right?”
“Clearly…” Larry admits, begrudgingly. “Tell you what? I’m going to give you something to remember today, since you both seem like TPW diehards. You can be my fan or not, but you’re passionate and showing support for the federation, so I can respect that much. How about a little promo?”
The two boys look like their jaws are going to hit the floor. They both shout, “REALLY?!?”
“Sure,” Larry affirms. “If it’ll keep me away from Williams Sonoma a little longer.”
Larry pulls out his phone and he attaches it to, of all things, a selfie stick!
Cup Boy laughs, “Another dated tool for this old dude.”
“You want to be in the shot or not?” Cone Boy jabs Cup Boy in the side.
“Ow… dude! … Of course I do!”
Larry nods and raises the phone up. “THUNDERAMANIACS! I’m here with a couple of your own, waiting to hear what I’ve got to say about my match with Angelo Caito at Friday Night Fury.” He looks back at the boys and they wave excitedly, before he looks back. “So Angelo, it’s an intriguing matchup we have on tap. It seems like I don’t often cross paths with a veteran that makes me the younger stallion. I could comment further on that, about age, and all of that… but of course I won’t! Because I have too much respect for what you have dedicated your career to. Your life. You’ve been in the ring, well seasoned and ready for the battles you’ll enounter in Thunder Pro. In fact, you proved as much by hitting the Main Event against me. I don’t think Greg The Owner would want you facing me in that spot, on the first Friday Night Fury following Thunder in Paradise 3, if he didn’t believe you’d bring the heat.”
He nods, looking a bit solemn. “#TactFacts are this… it’s tough for me to want to put on a veteran’s clinic with you, this week. I think I’d much rather find a way to unlock a win against you sooner than later. Because I’ve got a couple of very big matches coming up. Maxwell Mason Stone and the American Championship, which has immediately become a more personal issue than I had anticipated. Before that, I get Amber Ryan at the Friday Night Fury on April 12. A huge collision of the number one contenders to the American Championship, and the Duos Championship. I have plenty to say on that, but first, you have to be the matter at hand. I’m going to make it a hard hitting affair, and if you think you can solve what Tony Savage couldn’t, I humbly ask that you try. Just remember… you may end up the one on the mat, tactilized, after you take me to the limit you perceive of me… and I show you why I am… the Limit Breaker!”
"Welcome to the dance, Angelo. Admission comes at a steep cost."
FADE OUT.
Inside the center, one man dwarfs all but a couple of today’s shoppers. Larry Tact strides through the main thruway, a couple paper bags slung over his back and held in one hand. He looks nonplussed to be in the throng of last-minute shoppers on the week of this Easter holiday. However, he’s happy to be spending time with his wife, Cindy Winstead, who scans storefronts as adeptly as Larry reads wrestlers’ next moves in the ring. For a moment, he wonders whether or not this painstaking gathering of gifts is worth the slight barking his knee is giving him, now in hour three of their excursion. Then he feels her yanking his arm with the bags in a different direction than he’s walking, nearly causing him to stagger and drop the bags he’s holding.
“Babe, I know we’re trying to cover everyone on your list for our weekend get together, but are you trying to test whether my knee is rehabbing enough?” Larry protests.
“You’re the one who wants to have ‘input’ on what we’re gifting,” Cindy says while hawk-eyeing the corridor. “With your schedule, it doesn’t leave us a ton of time. We’ve got to make the most of this trip and knock the rest out!”
“Maybe I should’ve taken a knockout from Tony… at least it’d go quicker,” Larry almost rolls his eyes, but for Cindy shooting him a look that reminds him he knows better. Yeah, Tony was definitely the lesser threat of the two. “I would’ve settled for a running list of links or images to pick from. You didn’t have to wait for us to go here together.”
Cindy blows a raspberry, “Give me more credit than that. The chances of you looking at those links and images in time for me to order them is slim, between your bookings and business ventures,” she cocks an eyebrow momentarily. “I thought you were old school? You should enjoy this throwback shopping experience! Now where is Williams Sonoma…” she drags him over to the map and inspects it.
“Okay, point,” he grunts, looking in the bags. “But do we really need a… five pound chocolate bunny?” while holding up a rectangular box containing the seasonal sweet, and a cartoonish depiction on the back. Larry drops it back in bag.
“That’s what we’re mailing to Logan,” she traces a finger along the map. “Why do they make it so difficult to find the ‘You Are Here’ square?”
He points it out. “It’s here. But if we send this to Logan at college, he’s never going to come home again – unless he’s laughed off campus,” he smirks, then, “Hey–ow!” He rubs his arm from the jab in the arm, then follows her in a new direction.
She eyes him as he catches up. “Logan is still our sweet little baby boy. It’s our springtime kickoff tradition! He’s getting the bunny.”
Larry shrugs, “At least I can tell him I tried.”
When they arrive at the Williams Sonoma, Cindy claps her hands giddily. “This is one of two times per year they have sales!” Her eyes gleam as she approaches the entrance. “Time to show some yuppies I’ve been picking my training back up.”
“You really have been,” Larry rubs his arm again. “But don’t get yourself arrested like a common Karen.”
Cindy shakes her head, “I’m well aware of how to be subtle, Mr. Fights Mascots at ballgames.”
“That San Diego Chicken had it coming after he instigated me…” he grumbles.
She snorts. “Oh, yeah? What about Mr. Met? Your own hometown mascot!” cracking an amused grin.
“That was a misunderstanding!” Larry runs his free hand over his shaved head. “We got caught up by the escalator.”
“Are you coming?” she already moved on, scoping out the Williams Sonoma layout and calculating her course.
“Well, actually,” he sees her looks with slightly narrowed eyes. “I saw the food court back there, and…” he puts a hand on his stomach.
“Oh, fine, go fuel your tank up. Baby needs his cheat day,” as she rolls her eyes right at him.
He slightly regrets not doing the same earlier. “This eye rolling business seems like a double standard.”
“Wife. Privileges.” She gives him a peck on the lips. “Pick me up something to go?”
“Goes without saying,” he gives her a smirk and they exchange another kiss before he heads off.
*****
After the match with Tony Savage at Thunder in Paradise 3, Larry had earned a little reward. He decided it would be a quart of Chocolate Peanut Butter Haagen Daz from one of their storefronts that happened to be in this shopping center. After Larry collects his frozen treat, he pulls a freezer bag from one of the paper bags he’s carrying. “Always come prepared,” he deposits the quart into the bag and replaces it in the larger paper bag.
That’s when a few teenagers approach him with their ice cream cups and cones. One of them looks at him with curiosity. “Hey! You don’t happen to be…”
“Yo, shut up, it is!” another says.
“Larry Tact!” the first boy exclaims as he turns to face them.
“Yes, can I help you?” he pauses from heading to a sushi spot nearby. An easy lunch for him and Cindy.
“Yo, what chance does dude even stand at Retromania?” Ice Cream Cup Boy asks, though it didn’t sound much like a question.
Ice Cream Cone Boy slaps him on the arm. “It’s Larry Tact! He took down Tony Savage at Thunder In Paradise. He could beat MMS.”
Cup Boy scoffs. “Pssh… oh, fo’ sho dude… just look who fired the first shot.”
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Larry interjects.
“We all saw you left laying in the locker room, man.” Cup Boy fires back. “You already got PUNKED by the American Champ. Maybe you forgot from getting knocked the eff out!”
He cracks up laughing while Larry looks less than pleased. “I get it. You’re a fan of Maxwell Mason Stone, are you?”
Cup Boy stops laughing long enough to say, “Yo, nobody actually says his name like that, except old dudes like you. Ha! Shots fired, shots fired!” He cracks up again.
“Hey, Larry’s TPW Strong!” Cone Boy exclaims. “He’s taken on anyone who’s come at him, even if the odds weren’t with him, and he’s still there. Not like your other boy, JMont, or Chris Page.”
“Don’t disrespect Page, he retired, fool!” Cup Boy slaps Cone Boy upside the head. “He’s got more titles than this punk would ever dream of. Page went out on his terms, in an International Title match. Don’t make me teach you to respect the name.”
“Hold on, now,” Larry cuts in, and they both look at him. “We can all agree Chris Page deserves respect. He’s a legend of the pro wrestling business, and he did earn that title match against Peter Vaughn.” He unintentionally snarls the name of the current International Champion. He still makes Larry seethe instantly, but he holds it in. Another time and place for that.
Cup Boy eyes Larry. “It’s true, you know to respect Page. Didn’t he beat you on the way to earning that briefcase in the Porter Games?” he sneers. “I mean, not in the match to determine the briefcase. I think it was like, second round? Like Page said, you SUCK at one-on-one matches. Spotlight too hot for you?”
Larry tries not to glare at the snotty little kid. “I’ll have you know–”
But to his surprise, Cone Boy interrupts. “Shut UP, man! I’m tired of your little digs. It ain’t even facts.” He shoves Cup Boy, who looks a bit taken aback. “I don’t know what Page was spouting off about back then, but Tact wins his TPW matches on Pay-Per-View! Bam Miller. El Diablo Blanco. Tony Savage. What do you think those were?”
“Overrated…” Cup Boy says, though he isn’t as jovial.
“Whatever, man, you must be a fan of Page’s, and JMont. All you do is excuse away what other people do. This guy takes on all comers, and he don’t care whether or not there’s a Cabal or WGWF or even an unbeaten streak coming at him! He finds a way to just win. That’s exactly what he’s going to do to MMS, too, even if he got blindsided…” he glances at Larry. “You did get blindsided by MMS, right?”
“Clearly…” Larry admits, begrudgingly. “Tell you what? I’m going to give you something to remember today, since you both seem like TPW diehards. You can be my fan or not, but you’re passionate and showing support for the federation, so I can respect that much. How about a little promo?”
The two boys look like their jaws are going to hit the floor. They both shout, “REALLY?!?”
“Sure,” Larry affirms. “If it’ll keep me away from Williams Sonoma a little longer.”
Larry pulls out his phone and he attaches it to, of all things, a selfie stick!
Cup Boy laughs, “Another dated tool for this old dude.”
“You want to be in the shot or not?” Cone Boy jabs Cup Boy in the side.
“Ow… dude! … Of course I do!”
Larry nods and raises the phone up. “THUNDERAMANIACS! I’m here with a couple of your own, waiting to hear what I’ve got to say about my match with Angelo Caito at Friday Night Fury.” He looks back at the boys and they wave excitedly, before he looks back. “So Angelo, it’s an intriguing matchup we have on tap. It seems like I don’t often cross paths with a veteran that makes me the younger stallion. I could comment further on that, about age, and all of that… but of course I won’t! Because I have too much respect for what you have dedicated your career to. Your life. You’ve been in the ring, well seasoned and ready for the battles you’ll enounter in Thunder Pro. In fact, you proved as much by hitting the Main Event against me. I don’t think Greg The Owner would want you facing me in that spot, on the first Friday Night Fury following Thunder in Paradise 3, if he didn’t believe you’d bring the heat.”
He nods, looking a bit solemn. “#TactFacts are this… it’s tough for me to want to put on a veteran’s clinic with you, this week. I think I’d much rather find a way to unlock a win against you sooner than later. Because I’ve got a couple of very big matches coming up. Maxwell Mason Stone and the American Championship, which has immediately become a more personal issue than I had anticipated. Before that, I get Amber Ryan at the Friday Night Fury on April 12. A huge collision of the number one contenders to the American Championship, and the Duos Championship. I have plenty to say on that, but first, you have to be the matter at hand. I’m going to make it a hard hitting affair, and if you think you can solve what Tony Savage couldn’t, I humbly ask that you try. Just remember… you may end up the one on the mat, tactilized, after you take me to the limit you perceive of me… and I show you why I am… the Limit Breaker!”
"Welcome to the dance, Angelo. Admission comes at a steep cost."
FADE OUT.
