Post by Michael Smart on May 6, 2014 8:42:17 GMT -6
”Long time no see, cousin.”
Completely dumbfounded, Daniel Smart is standing still, holding his apartment's door in silence. The man behind the door is a caucasian man wearing a dark blue hoodie, the hood pulled up, and blue jeans. He steps inside the apartment, his face coming into the camera's view. The man has dark, thick eyebrows and a well-groomed goatee. With roughly the same height and build as Daniel, one could almost mistake the two for brothers, even if they are only cousins. The man in the hoodie Daniel's cousin and adopted brother, Michael Smart.
Michael Smart is a professional wrestler who was raised by his uncle and Daniel's father, Matt Smart. A retired wrestler himself, Matt trained both Michael and Daniel from a young age. Michael was the more successful of the two, finding glory in multiple companies over the years. Daniel, on the other hand, spent years out of action, working as Michael's manager instead. It wasn't until one year ago, when Michael disappeared out of nowhere, that Daniel started training for his in-ring return.
Michael looks around the apartment, looking bemused.
”Your apartment's a mess, like always. I guess some things never...”
Turning around, Michael is surprised by a hug from Daniel. Daniel holds Michael tight, burying his face in his cousin's shoulder. Michael doesn't return the hug, but does nothing to stop Daniel, either.
”I missed you, man.”
After a moment, Daniel pulls away. His eyes are getting watery, so Daniel pretends something went in his eye, wiping the tears away.
”I haven't heard from you in a year, where the hell were you?”
Pulling his hood down, Michael takes a seat on the couch.
”I've been traveling. Brazil, Japan, India... Anywhere people wouldn't recognize me, basically. Not that I'm some kind of megastar, but where there are wrestling fans, there are people who hate me. I had to get away from that.”
”And you couldn't tell me?”
Michael shakes his head.
”I didn't want anyone to know where I was. I wanted a clean start, a year all to myself. A lot has happened in the past year, but... that's not what I'm here to talk about.”
Michael gets off the couch and walks up to Daniel.
”I'm here to talk... about... you.”
Michael pokes Daniel in the chest for emphasis. Daniel takes a step back.
”I got all those voicemails you've been sending me. Well, I got all of them and listened to a few. I had all my calls re-routed to my answering machine back in my apartment. I got home late last night and had a hundred messages waiting for me, most of them from you. I listened to the last few, and I found out what you've been up to.”
A proud smile appears on Daniel's face.
”That's right, cousin. I'm a wrestler again. I've been doing really well, too.”
Michael nods absent-mindedly.
”Yeah, yeah, but... look at who you're up against. Bryce Manning. What do you know about him?”
Daniel's smile fades.
”Before MSW, not much. I'm sure I'd heard the name before, but that's about it. I've been finding out a lot since I joined, though. I know who I'm dealing with.”
Michael looks skeptical.
”Do you? I'm sure you think you do, but I'm not sure you understand exactly what this guy is capable of. You know why they call him the Antichrist?”
Looking uncertain, Daniel slowly nods.
”...As I thought. I'll spare you the details, but Manning is absolutely ruthless. You step in his path, he'll destroy you, plain and simple. He's not some out of control loose cannon, either. He's in complete control, that's what makes him dangerous. He knows exactly what he's doing. If he has a conscience, he must be really good at ignoring it, all the awful things he's said and done.”
Daniel looks worried.
”I... I knew all that, but I guess I never really thought about it. Manning's a terrible excuse for a human being, no doubt about it. He really is despicable.”
Michael looks confused.
”Despicable? What the hell are you talking about? I LOVE Bryce Manning!”
A wide smile spreads on Michael's face. Daniel, on the other hand, opens his eyes wide in shock.
”What?”
”Bryce Manning is my role model! He knows what he does is horrible, he just doesn't give a damn! He doesn't waste his time thinking about what the “right thing” is, he just does what he wants! He doesn't spend his time moping around regretting things, he moves forward with a smile on his face!”
Daniel's jaw has dropped. He spends a while staring at his cousin before snapping out of it.
”Role model? Cousin, you just got done explaining how bad he is!”
Chuckling, Michael patronizingly pats Daniel on the head.
”Oh, Daniel, you have so much to learn. Don't worry, that's why I'm here.”
Michael starts circling around Daniel, closely examining him up and down.
”Physically, you're in good shape. Not the biggest guy ever, but with enough skill you don't need to be. You were trained by the same man I was, so I'm sure your technique is up to par. You're lacking in experience, but my gameplan should cover for that. What I'm worried about is... your attitude.”
Michael stops walking, facing Daniel again.
”You need to be ruthless. Cut-throat. You need to take every advantage you can get and break every rule in the book.”
”That's... not my style, cousin.”
”Not yet. That's why I'm here. I'm a big fan of Manning, but you're my flesh and blood. I'm here to help you win, but the only way you can win against Manning is to beat him at his own game. You need to go for the jugular. Claw his eyes out, choke him until he's blue, use weapons if you can. Use every dirty trick in the book.”
Daniel shakes his head.
”I can't do that. That's not me.”
Michael rolls his eyes.
”Look, I didn't come here to insult you, but if you're not going to listen to reason, maybe you'll listen to tough love. The Daniel I know, the happy-go-lucky, fun loving, friend to everyone Daniel? He can't beat Manning. If you step into the ring hesitant to break the rules, worried about what the fans might think if you take a few shortcuts, Manning is going to eat you alive.”
Glaring at his cousin, Daniel doesn't say a word. Michael takes that as a sign to keep going.
”Hell, even if you somehow manage to fluke your way into victory, then what? When you're the champion, there's a target on your back. Everyone will be gunning for you, and even if you're not willing to take shortcuts, you can bet your ass some of them will be. If you keep going as the old goofy Daniel I know you as, you're going to be torn apart.”
Having heard enough, Daniel interrupts Michael.
”Enough. If that's what you're here to say, then I don't want to hear it. It's not in my nature to cheat my way through life.”
”It's not in your nature? Take a look at me, cousin. We might not be brothers, but we share the same family. We grew up in the same house, we were raised by the same man. Whether it's nature or nurture, we're not all that different. If I can be ruthless, then so can you. Give me the chance, and I can nurture you in the right direction.”
Visibly fuming, Daniel is fighting back the urge to yell.
”No.”
Sighing, Michael lowers his head.
”Look, you don't understand...”
”No, you don't understand. I'm not going to do things your way. I got where I am with hard work, discipline and integrity. What you're saying goes against everything I stand for. You got one thing right: The old Daniel couldn't beat Bryce Manning. But you've been gone for over a year, and in that time, I've changed. I'm not the man you used to know. The old Daniel was selfish and lazy. Had you told that man what you've told me, he might have agreed. He would have been lazy enough to take the easy way out, he would have been selfish enough to not care what anyone else thought about it.
But that's not who I am anymore. I spent the last year plus working my ass off, training my mind, body and soul. I did all of that hard work to prove to myself that I have what it takes to be the best, to prove that I have what it takes to be a champion. If I ignore all the rules, if I abandon all my principles, if I take the easy way out and steal the title from Manning, I won't be the best. I won't be a champion. I'll just be a guy with a shiny belt.”
Gritting his teeth, Michael's voice is one of disdain.
”You're a moron. You always were. You're spouting a bunch of bullshit. Principles aren't worth a damn. Morals are a way for losers to feel good about themselves. Do you want to feel good about yourself or do you want to win?”
”I want to beat Manning. In my own way. I'll work hard and try my best. If that's not enough, it just means I'll have to work even harder. If you can't accept that, you can get out of my apartment.”
”Listen, you may not see things the way I do right now...”
”Get out.”
”Just let me explain why you...”
”GET THE FUCK OUT!”
Breathing heavily after his outburst, Daniel points at the front door. Glaring at his cousin, Michael pulls his hood back up and walks over to the door, opening it and getting out. As Daniel walks over to close the door, Michael turns to him one last time.
”Don't come crying to me when Manning beats your ass.”
Daniel slams the door shut. He spends a moment holding the door knob, then lets go, leans his back against the door and sighs. After a moment, Daniel notices that the camera in his apartment is still on. Frowning, Daniel walks over to the camera, practically pressing his face on it.
”This isn't live, but I'm going to release every second of that. I want the whole world to know what just happened. Most of all, I want Manning to know that when I beat him, he's going to have no excuses. Bryce, I hope you're watching this. At Best of the Best, I'll beat you fair and square or die trying. Win or lose, I'm going to walk out of the arena feeling proud of myself. Next Sunday, all you'll feel is my knee on your face.”
With that, the camera cuts to black.
Completely dumbfounded, Daniel Smart is standing still, holding his apartment's door in silence. The man behind the door is a caucasian man wearing a dark blue hoodie, the hood pulled up, and blue jeans. He steps inside the apartment, his face coming into the camera's view. The man has dark, thick eyebrows and a well-groomed goatee. With roughly the same height and build as Daniel, one could almost mistake the two for brothers, even if they are only cousins. The man in the hoodie Daniel's cousin and adopted brother, Michael Smart.
Michael Smart is a professional wrestler who was raised by his uncle and Daniel's father, Matt Smart. A retired wrestler himself, Matt trained both Michael and Daniel from a young age. Michael was the more successful of the two, finding glory in multiple companies over the years. Daniel, on the other hand, spent years out of action, working as Michael's manager instead. It wasn't until one year ago, when Michael disappeared out of nowhere, that Daniel started training for his in-ring return.
Michael looks around the apartment, looking bemused.
”Your apartment's a mess, like always. I guess some things never...”
Turning around, Michael is surprised by a hug from Daniel. Daniel holds Michael tight, burying his face in his cousin's shoulder. Michael doesn't return the hug, but does nothing to stop Daniel, either.
”I missed you, man.”
After a moment, Daniel pulls away. His eyes are getting watery, so Daniel pretends something went in his eye, wiping the tears away.
”I haven't heard from you in a year, where the hell were you?”
Pulling his hood down, Michael takes a seat on the couch.
”I've been traveling. Brazil, Japan, India... Anywhere people wouldn't recognize me, basically. Not that I'm some kind of megastar, but where there are wrestling fans, there are people who hate me. I had to get away from that.”
”And you couldn't tell me?”
Michael shakes his head.
”I didn't want anyone to know where I was. I wanted a clean start, a year all to myself. A lot has happened in the past year, but... that's not what I'm here to talk about.”
Michael gets off the couch and walks up to Daniel.
”I'm here to talk... about... you.”
Michael pokes Daniel in the chest for emphasis. Daniel takes a step back.
”I got all those voicemails you've been sending me. Well, I got all of them and listened to a few. I had all my calls re-routed to my answering machine back in my apartment. I got home late last night and had a hundred messages waiting for me, most of them from you. I listened to the last few, and I found out what you've been up to.”
A proud smile appears on Daniel's face.
”That's right, cousin. I'm a wrestler again. I've been doing really well, too.”
Michael nods absent-mindedly.
”Yeah, yeah, but... look at who you're up against. Bryce Manning. What do you know about him?”
Daniel's smile fades.
”Before MSW, not much. I'm sure I'd heard the name before, but that's about it. I've been finding out a lot since I joined, though. I know who I'm dealing with.”
Michael looks skeptical.
”Do you? I'm sure you think you do, but I'm not sure you understand exactly what this guy is capable of. You know why they call him the Antichrist?”
Looking uncertain, Daniel slowly nods.
”...As I thought. I'll spare you the details, but Manning is absolutely ruthless. You step in his path, he'll destroy you, plain and simple. He's not some out of control loose cannon, either. He's in complete control, that's what makes him dangerous. He knows exactly what he's doing. If he has a conscience, he must be really good at ignoring it, all the awful things he's said and done.”
Daniel looks worried.
”I... I knew all that, but I guess I never really thought about it. Manning's a terrible excuse for a human being, no doubt about it. He really is despicable.”
Michael looks confused.
”Despicable? What the hell are you talking about? I LOVE Bryce Manning!”
A wide smile spreads on Michael's face. Daniel, on the other hand, opens his eyes wide in shock.
”What?”
”Bryce Manning is my role model! He knows what he does is horrible, he just doesn't give a damn! He doesn't waste his time thinking about what the “right thing” is, he just does what he wants! He doesn't spend his time moping around regretting things, he moves forward with a smile on his face!”
Daniel's jaw has dropped. He spends a while staring at his cousin before snapping out of it.
”Role model? Cousin, you just got done explaining how bad he is!”
Chuckling, Michael patronizingly pats Daniel on the head.
”Oh, Daniel, you have so much to learn. Don't worry, that's why I'm here.”
Michael starts circling around Daniel, closely examining him up and down.
”Physically, you're in good shape. Not the biggest guy ever, but with enough skill you don't need to be. You were trained by the same man I was, so I'm sure your technique is up to par. You're lacking in experience, but my gameplan should cover for that. What I'm worried about is... your attitude.”
Michael stops walking, facing Daniel again.
”You need to be ruthless. Cut-throat. You need to take every advantage you can get and break every rule in the book.”
”That's... not my style, cousin.”
”Not yet. That's why I'm here. I'm a big fan of Manning, but you're my flesh and blood. I'm here to help you win, but the only way you can win against Manning is to beat him at his own game. You need to go for the jugular. Claw his eyes out, choke him until he's blue, use weapons if you can. Use every dirty trick in the book.”
Daniel shakes his head.
”I can't do that. That's not me.”
Michael rolls his eyes.
”Look, I didn't come here to insult you, but if you're not going to listen to reason, maybe you'll listen to tough love. The Daniel I know, the happy-go-lucky, fun loving, friend to everyone Daniel? He can't beat Manning. If you step into the ring hesitant to break the rules, worried about what the fans might think if you take a few shortcuts, Manning is going to eat you alive.”
Glaring at his cousin, Daniel doesn't say a word. Michael takes that as a sign to keep going.
”Hell, even if you somehow manage to fluke your way into victory, then what? When you're the champion, there's a target on your back. Everyone will be gunning for you, and even if you're not willing to take shortcuts, you can bet your ass some of them will be. If you keep going as the old goofy Daniel I know you as, you're going to be torn apart.”
Having heard enough, Daniel interrupts Michael.
”Enough. If that's what you're here to say, then I don't want to hear it. It's not in my nature to cheat my way through life.”
”It's not in your nature? Take a look at me, cousin. We might not be brothers, but we share the same family. We grew up in the same house, we were raised by the same man. Whether it's nature or nurture, we're not all that different. If I can be ruthless, then so can you. Give me the chance, and I can nurture you in the right direction.”
Visibly fuming, Daniel is fighting back the urge to yell.
”No.”
Sighing, Michael lowers his head.
”Look, you don't understand...”
”No, you don't understand. I'm not going to do things your way. I got where I am with hard work, discipline and integrity. What you're saying goes against everything I stand for. You got one thing right: The old Daniel couldn't beat Bryce Manning. But you've been gone for over a year, and in that time, I've changed. I'm not the man you used to know. The old Daniel was selfish and lazy. Had you told that man what you've told me, he might have agreed. He would have been lazy enough to take the easy way out, he would have been selfish enough to not care what anyone else thought about it.
But that's not who I am anymore. I spent the last year plus working my ass off, training my mind, body and soul. I did all of that hard work to prove to myself that I have what it takes to be the best, to prove that I have what it takes to be a champion. If I ignore all the rules, if I abandon all my principles, if I take the easy way out and steal the title from Manning, I won't be the best. I won't be a champion. I'll just be a guy with a shiny belt.”
Gritting his teeth, Michael's voice is one of disdain.
”You're a moron. You always were. You're spouting a bunch of bullshit. Principles aren't worth a damn. Morals are a way for losers to feel good about themselves. Do you want to feel good about yourself or do you want to win?”
”I want to beat Manning. In my own way. I'll work hard and try my best. If that's not enough, it just means I'll have to work even harder. If you can't accept that, you can get out of my apartment.”
”Listen, you may not see things the way I do right now...”
”Get out.”
”Just let me explain why you...”
”GET THE FUCK OUT!”
Breathing heavily after his outburst, Daniel points at the front door. Glaring at his cousin, Michael pulls his hood back up and walks over to the door, opening it and getting out. As Daniel walks over to close the door, Michael turns to him one last time.
”Don't come crying to me when Manning beats your ass.”
Daniel slams the door shut. He spends a moment holding the door knob, then lets go, leans his back against the door and sighs. After a moment, Daniel notices that the camera in his apartment is still on. Frowning, Daniel walks over to the camera, practically pressing his face on it.
”This isn't live, but I'm going to release every second of that. I want the whole world to know what just happened. Most of all, I want Manning to know that when I beat him, he's going to have no excuses. Bryce, I hope you're watching this. At Best of the Best, I'll beat you fair and square or die trying. Win or lose, I'm going to walk out of the arena feeling proud of myself. Next Sunday, all you'll feel is my knee on your face.”
With that, the camera cuts to black.
