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When Jake broke the news to Thoren Holt that it was not a drug overdose that did their friend in, and sent him to the hospital, Thoren reacted in a manner that confused Jake. Thoren was shocked, and seemingly blindsided by the idea that it was shellfish. After barreling out of the bar, Jake could not get a bead on Thoren's location, again, and was forced to take up a "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego-like" approach to finding his nephew.
Several days pass with no sign of Thoren, and Jake is to the point of frustration. He decides that it is time to call in some outside help, and gives Shawn a ring to see if he would be willing to help. Shawn agrees to meet Jake at his house to discuss things, especially since he hasn't seen Jake very much since their last encounter at the hospital. Shawn has checked with Roeper on Jake's attitude, and is eager to see the more coherent and less emotionally-reactive version of his friend. He quickly goes over, and is met by Jake at the front door. The two are quick to exchange pleasantries, and verbally check on one another's families, but after a short bout of chit chat, Shawn is eager to get more information. His knowledge is minimal, outside of the knowledge that Thoren has been missing in action. Shawn Wright: ... So what's going on with Thoren? Jake Starr: See, that's where I'm really confused... Shawn Wright: How come? Jake Starr: Alright, so I tracked Thoren down, FINALLY, and I told him what happened with Brandon. His reaction was NOTHING like what I expected, and he actually seemed genuinely freaked out, and ran out of the bar. Like SPRINTED... Shawn Wright: What in the hell did you tell him?! Jake Starr: Dude, I told him the truth! That's what makes no sense. I went in there, told him that Brandon's doctor had called me, told me wasn't an overdose, and that it ultimately was an allergic reaction to shellfish... Shawn, knowing this much of the story, nods in agreement that Jake didn't say anything off of the wall.
Shawn Wright: Ok, makes sense... What happened then? Jake Starr: That's when he kind of weirded out. He started screaming "NO, NO," and then ran out the door. I mean, was it surprising news, yeah, but was it so shocking he should have lost his damn mind, I don't think so... Shawn Wright: Yeah... To be honest it is something that he should have been more THANKFUL to hear about, if you ask me. Jake Starr: You'd think, right... I mean, that's how I was, granted a little more emotional, but still... And you were the same way, too. It just didn't make any sense to me... Shawn Wright: Well no offense, man, and I know he's your family, but Thoren hasn't made much sense at ALL, since I've known the kid. I mean, at first he was out there trying to attack you. After that, he was trying to get you to alienate everyone, so he could monopolize your time. After that, he gets called out, and is normal. Now he sees someone have a traumatic experience and is worse off than any of us. Jake Starr: Yeah... I guess I've just kind of gotten used to his erratic behavior, I don't know. This one, though, was just weird. Shawn Wright: Ever think he really doesn't know how to cope with stress? Jake Starr: I think we both know that's an understatement, man... As the two continue their conversation, they are interrupted by Jake's cell phone ringing. He pulls it out of his pocket and sees that it is one of the numbers from the hospital.
Jake Starr: Hang on a sec... Jake walks off to the side, and answers his phone. Shawn can see Jake's facial expressions go from concerned, obviously intiially thinking something was wrong with Brandon, to a look of confusion. After a couple of minutes Jake walks back over to Shawn, still looking completely confused.
Shawn Wright: ... And that was about? Jake Starr: I'm really not quite sure... The hospital asked if I could come up there... Shawn begins to get nervous.
Shawn Wright: Is everything ok? Jake Starr: Again... Not sure... But we found Thoren... Shawn Wright: What do you mean? What's going on? Jake Starr: Well Thoren is at the hospital, and is apparently just sitting in Brandon's room. They said he's in hysterics, and don't know if he's going to do something off the wall, or has something wrong with him as well. Shawn shrugs.
Shawn Wright: C'mon, he's probably had something wrong with him all along... Jake smirks and nods.
Jake Starr: Yeah... Probably... Shawn Wright: So I take it we're going? Jake Starr: Yeah... If he's losing his mind, like they seem to think he is, we may need a little extra manpower. When we get in the car I'll call Jude and tell him we're coming to get him. Shawn Wright: Why do we need manpower? Jake Starr: A 7-foot monster is always good for the intimidation factor... Especially when someone is being a crazy person... Shawn Wright: Yeah, I can see that... He just hates riding in either of our cars... Jake Starr: Then, fuck, we'll get him a massage after... Shawn chuckles, and the two depart. They pick up long time member of the "inner circle," Bane, and quickly make their way to the hospital. As they enter, they quickly check in, and are ultimately ushered hastely to the ICU. The access to Brandon's room is relatively recent development, as they have slowly been turning some of the life support machines off, in hopes his body takes back over. By allowing family and friends into the room, they hoped that it would show Brandon that he has people by his side during his recovery.
The trio are shown into Brandon's room, and immediately see Thoren with his back to the door. They can hear him talking to Brandon, and decide to simply sit back a listen. They hope to garner some intel as to why Thoren is there, and what has him in such a hysterical mood. Thoren Holt: Man... I'm so sorry, Brandon... I didn't think you would have this severe of a reaction, at all... This comment makes everyone look and feel a bit confused, but makes everyone listen a little closer.
Thoren Holt: ... I just shouldn't have put the shrimp and crab into my dip, and... As Thoren says this, Jake's mind immediately flashed back to the night they all shared a meal together, and he exclaims.
Jake Starr: WAIT... WHAT?! Jake's exclamation makes Thoren jump and look back at the trio is shock. Thoren then looks into Jake's eyes with a look of panic, and Jake's outbursk continues.
Jake Starr: YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CAUSED ALL OF THIS?! Thoren goes to proclaim his innocense, and claim that it was all an accident, but as he is planning to do so, Jake lunges forward and picks Thoren up by the collar of his shirt and slams him against the wall of the room.
Jake Starr: YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU DID THIS ON PURPOSE! IT ALL FUCKING MAKES SENSE, NOW! YOU WANTED IT TO BE ALL ABOUT FUCKING THOREN HOLT, SO YOU FIGURED YOU'D JUST ELIMINATE HIM FROM THE EQUATION, HUH? Thoren tries to resist, some.
Thoren Holt: NO! That's not it at all! Shawn and Bane, having shaken off the initial shock of all of this in front of them, quickly jump in and begin trying to restrain Jake.
Shawn Wright: JAKE! Bane: DUDE, STOP! Jake Starr: Oh I am NOT fucking stopping until this motherfucker ADMITS that he wanted Brandon OUT of the picture so he could be the same, selfish, little, SHIT, that he's always been! You wanted to poison Brandon, didn't you? You KNEW he had that allergy! Jake rears back, getting ready to punch Thoren, and Bane uses this as his chance to chicken-wing Jake's arm. Jake quickly looks over, and Shawn uses that distraction to grab Jake's other arm off of Thoren's collar.
Shawn Wright: GO OUT TO THE HALLWAY THOREN! Thoren goes to obviously reply.
Shawn Wright: SHUT UP AND GO OUT THERE SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE A LITTLE SPACE, ALRIGHT? Thoren, still in hysterics from the whole situation, quickly exits the room, and Shawn and Bane take up residence, blocking Jake's path to following him. Jake goes to sidestep them, but his path is immediately blocked again.
Jake Starr: Get the FUCK out of my way, NOW! Bane replies in a very calm and collected manner.
Bane: Not going to happen, Jake... Jake Starr: I'll go right through you then... Bane steps up right in front of his friend, and looks down at him with a menacing stare.
Bane: Calm... The... Fuck... Down... Jake, panting, begins to pace back and forth in a small area, in front of the two men.
Jake Starr: How? Huh? How am I supposed to calm down when that FUCKER in the hallway just admitted to trying to kill Brandon? You tell me how I'm supposed to calm down... Shawn Wright: Well first off, you can shut the fuck up right there, yourself. Thoren didn't say that, at all! Thoren said whatever Brandon ate, that he apparently made, was the cause. Jake Starr: Yeah well explain how he's been wanting my attention for ALL of this time, and magically NOW he has it. So you're trying to say that it was just a FLUKE that he gets it now? Jake looks directly at Shawn.
Jake Starr: ... And YOU... You admitted this guy is a self-serving prick! Shawn Wright: Yeah, I did... But self-serving pricks who are trying to kill or eliminate someone from an equation don't cry at a person's bedside and ask for forgiveness. The revel in the moment... Thoren, out there, is a fucking MESS. And if you think about it, it makes PERFECT sense why he freaked out and ran away. You made him realize that, yeah, he's responsible. You opened his eyes and the guilt and realization of it overwhelmed him. Bane, again, tries to be the calming voice in the room, hoping Jake will listen, even as Jake paces, looking he's ready for a brawl.
Bane: Shawn's right, Jake... Thoren wouldn't be here begging for Brandon's forgiveness and apologizing if he wanted him out of the picture. He'd be here trying to finish the job, and he's not doing that... Jake just shakes his head.
Jake Starr: And you both say you're friends of mine, and you defend HIM?! Bane: We're not defending him, Jake, we're looking at everything realistically. You need to get the emotion out of your mind long enough to realize what is happening, rather than just reacting. If you can't do that, you're simply going to be angry and not see the reality for what it really is... Shawn decides to try and throw some shade in Jake's direction.
Shawn Wright: Besides, aren't you the one who is constantly telling everyone they need to look at reality? Jake freezes, and slowly turns his head to glare at Shawn.
Shawn Wright: Am I right? Jake is not amused.
Jake Starr: Fuck you... Shawn steps up to Jake.
Shawn Wright: No Jake, fuck you... You don't get to tell people when things apply and don't apply. Thoren is a fucking wreck because, yeah, he messed up. Yes, you heard me... He messed up! He didn't do it on purpose because he's not a murderer. To even think that he would purposefully do that is completely asinine. And for fuck's sake, he wouldn't have tried to do it with fucking crab dip. Jake, think about it... Think about how long we've known Brandon. NONE of us have EVER known how bad this allergy truly is for him. So it was a damn mistake. Now could he have done it hoping to make Brandon have the shits or puke a little, sure, it's possible. But the likelihood is fucking slim. The REALITY is that he made a grave mistake and feels like SHIT because he knows how dire the situation is. So you don't need to be a complete FUCK about this, and try to pin everything on his shoulders like it was done intentionally... It wasn't! Jake Starr: Well how do you know, genius? Shawn just rolls his eyes.
Shawn Wright: Do you fucking listen? Do you fucking LOOK? Think about what you saw when you walked in. Think about the man who was GROVELING for forgiveness from an unconscious man... Bane taps Shawn on the shoulder.
Shawn Wright: Hang on, I'm making a point... Shawn goes to continue, but Bane grabs both Shawn and Jake and turn them in Brandon's direction. The two look and see Brandon's right hand, the closest to the three of them, beginning to open and close very slowly, into a fist.
Jake Starr: Holy shit! Jake runs out into the hallway, and sees Thoren standing there, still emotional. In a moment of clarity, Jake motions for Thoren to go into the room, as he then sprints down the hall toward the nurse's station. Jake alerts the ICU nurses about Brandon's movements under his own power, and the nurses are stunned. They quickly call the physician, and begin making their way down the hall toward his room. They begin to take assessments of him, and quickly begin monitoring his vitals. The four men, who briefly were engaged in heated rhetoric, all stand, watch, and hope, wondering if this is truly the beginning of when they can actually talk with their friend again.
The camera fades in on a set looking like a carbon copy of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, that many recognize as one Jake Starr has used in times past. A really cheap and bad 1990s MIDI version of the theme song, "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," begins to play, and the camera pans from the door down to a rocking chair where Jake Starr is sitting, rocking back and forth. He is wearing the traditional outfit of Mr. Rogers, but for some reason has a child's bubble pupe in his mouth. He looks up to see the camera and acts surprised. He then closes the abnormally large piece of literature in his lap, that he was "reading," and addresses the viewers.
Jake Starr: Oh! Hi, everyone! Welcome to my humble abode. I know it's been a really long time since we have had a chit-chat, together. I also know, from a really good source, that you haven't been doing a lot of reading, and I figured that this, tonight, here in my little friendly confines, would be a great opportunity for us to share a story. Now, it's not the kind of story we used to read in the past. It's not talking about Jason Zero, and his inability to not filibuster the SCW roster, and show us his glamor shots of looking like Tom Cruise, and it's not Christian Savior's constant complaining about being buried alive. So thankfully, you don't have to switch off your televisions, now. Instead, we're going to focus on life. We're going to look at reality. Do you think that's OK? I'm glad you do! Jake offers a cheesy smile.
It's been a long time since I've gotten to talk to all my friends. And a lot has happened in my life, and I'm sure yours as well. Today's story is actually a great reflection on my current events in life. And it probably reflects on your life, too. So why waste time? We should get going, shouldn't we? I think we should! Jake reaches beside his rocker, and pulls up a large book, resembling that of a children's story. He turns the book to face the camera, and begins to tell the world about it.
Friends, today's story is called "The 'C' and the 'D,'" by... Jake's eyes go wide in complete sarcastic surprise.
... Well would you look at that. This is the children's story that will be coming out to a store nowhere near you because nobody actually buys books anymore. This story is a grand masterpiece that I just penned over the past couple months, where I write about our heroine, she's simply known as "The C," waging war against the evil empire, known as "The D..." And trust me kids, this is a REALLY evil and big D, that she must deal with. Jake opens the book to the first couple of pages.
Ah... Here's is our fearless heroine. The C is out there showing the world she can save them from villany and evil. She triumphs over everything that is put in her path... Jake turns the page.
... But here, The C realizes that The BIG D is beginning to threaten her homeland, which is called Sea Yaddle. The BIG D has been a menace for a long time, and she realizes that this moment, this opportunity, this is her chance for immortality, and to become the greatest heroine of all time! Jake turns the page again.
The battle between The C and The BIG D commences in Sea Yaddle. The locals cheer The C on. They put their hopes and dreams and futures in her hands... Another page is turned.
... The battle is long and fierce. The heroine is pushing forward, to the delight of her supporters, but then... The final page is turned, showing The D standing above The C.
... The heroine is defeated by The D, and lies dead in a puddle of tears by her followers. Jake closes the book.
Wasn't that lovely? I sure thought so. And you know, kids, the moral of that story is really simple, and straight to the point... Jake shifts his persona from Mr. Rogers to that of Jake Starr, jumping out of the chair, and shifting his persona back to that of the person SCW fans are more familiar with.
... LIFE ISN'T A GOD DAMN FAIRY TALE, NOW, IS IT?! I walked into Seattle and did JUST what I said I would do. I took that C, and I beat her up, and I WON! I showed that entire audience why they couldn't put their feeble hopes and fucking dreams into the hands of a C like Casey, and hope that everything would be alright, especially when a big DOUCHE like myself walks in, and shows the WORLD how reality is. I made everyone realize the harsh truths about reality when I took her down, and showed everyone that she wouldn't have this glamorous and fairy tale ending to the night. I showed every one of those hipsters that no matter how much they willed her along, she wouldn't do SHIT against me. Did they listen? NO! Did they cry all the way to jumping off of the Space Needle? YES! See, in life, disappointment is everywhere. Not everything goes the way people expect, and yet, here we all are. Everyone thinks that, in the end, the good guys win. They ALL think that good will triumph over evil, when the smoke clears, but yet, here we stand. The Queen of Seattle was bitch-slapped back to reality when she realized she wasn't ready for the big leagues like I am, and her followers were heartbroken. It was something I TOLD them. It was something I EXPLAINED. It wasn't going to be this surprise, yet all of these rejects found it difficult to process, as she was completely without any semblance of a victory, and I, however, won! Jake shrugs.
And let's be perfectly honest, here... This past Breakdown, my reality wasn't as perfect as I would have hoped, either. It wasn't a moment to go at the end of a fairy tale because, yeah, I lost. Ace got the better of me, but I'm still fucking standing. And I'm not here thinking it's the end of the world. I look at it in this manner... Ace Marshall's path will traverse mine again, and he knows, deep down, that the result will be different. He knows that he won't have a chance to knee me in my skull. He knows he'll be the one looking at me, standing over him, and laughing. But the other night, was his night... It is what it is. I'm not here to dwell on it, I'm simply here to move forward with my time and energy. I focus on what's important to me now, and what it means to walk into Apocalypse, with the Apocalypse of SCW on the horizon. What is that Apocalypse, you ask? What is that moment, when hellfire and brimstone rain on the masses who inhabit the landscape of Supreme Championship Wrestling? It's simple... Jake Starr has the chance to put himself RIGHT IN FUCKING LINE for an title shot. Jake freezes in a "scared" pose, and a "DUN DUN DUN" chord blares. After the sound effect, Jake unfreezes and continues.
That's right, everyone. SCW is beginning to realize it cannot ignore the fact that I have been steamrolling those around me. They are realizing that Jake Starr is BACK on the same playing field as all of those people who THINK that they're the top of the heap. I have been given the chance to prove to EVERYONE who has been shitting on me, and counting me out, that it was a complete waste of their fucking time because I am here to PROVE to everyone that I still have what it takes. And at Apocalypse, I get to take that chance and take that proof and shove it up each and every one of the doubter's asses. The best part about it all is that it isn't against some nobody who everyone expects me to beat. Hell, it isn't even like the Ultimate Opportunity match at Retribution 2009, where it was 400 different nobodies that I took out. Instead of a group of nobodies, I have two somebodies on the roster who are stepping up to the plate to try and actually take from me, what I deserve more than ANYBODY, another shot to be the United States Champion! And do I deserve it? YES! Why do I deserve it? Because I was fucking born, that's why! Or at least that's what Ace Marshall needs to tell himself in order to sleep at night, I don't know. Now while I shit on Ace, which I know is something he's had AT LEAST a few "women" do to him, he did raise a good point. The crowd is going to be torn in this match. There are three of us who are very much not liked, and we have to try and make people want to see one of us win. Or at least that is what management wants. It's either us be able to make the crowd get all hot and bothered, or just try and kill one another in some form of three-way murder-suicide, and make EVERYONE happy. But I don't think any of us are really out there to make people happy, so for those of you, like Ace, probably hoping for a three-way killing, tough titty said the kitty, it isn't going to be happening at Apocalypse. See, Chris Cannon and Blake Mason are both guys I have faced off with in the past. Both of these guys are people who you can't just KNOW you're going to walk all over. I mean, I plan on walking all over their lifeless corpses, as I bring the next Apocalypse onto this world, but you can't just assume with guys of this caliber. With these two, the each bring a little intrigue to the matchup for me. Chris, he comes in with the idea that I have continually been the guy to upstage his wife. I mean, think about it... I'm the one who helped her get away from Silas... I'm the one who ended Silas... I'm the one who continually acts as a thorn in her side... And add in the reality that I have beaten his ass, I think the world is curious what would happen if we crossed paths again. Would he channel that "defender of his wife" type of energy to strike me down where I stood? Or would he, again, fall victim to Jake Starr? Quite honestly I don't much care what anyone THINKS may happen when it comes to he and I because the fact is he and Kelcey BOTH will try to beat me at Apocalypse. They have an inability to do things individually, and thus HAVE to win in tandem. If they don't, they lose, and everyone mocks them like the complete jizzbags that they BOTH are. But if they both try to fight me, fine. I TRULY do not give a shit. I am out there for myself, and to prove a point. They can try to weasel their way through the whole process all they want, but at the end of the day, I have an equalizer that would quickly put things on a much more even playing field... Jake reaches down and pulls up the chair.
... Ah... I've missed her... Now do I need this to win, no. I've proven with Greg and that C that I beat in Seattle, but if Kelcey thinks their little numbers advantage is going to MAGICALLY help him get by me, HA, she had better get ready for the taste of twisted steel across that pretty little face of hers. This is the type of environment where I'm NOT afraid of what people may say about me, or think of me if I use it. THIS is the situation I use Chairee in, with NO QUALMS. Now if Kelcey is wise and stays her ass away from this match, she may not have to have her nose fixed by a plastic surgeon and her jaw realigned. Then you have Blake Mason. The guy who, I'm not quite sure whether he's ballsy or just plain insane. I say this because TECHNICALLY, that dude has to step up and wrestle TWICE at Apocalypse. Now I say technically because I haven't actually seen them say that David Miller, or some surrogate thereof, won't show up and make him fight that match anyway. So as far as I'm concerned, this fool still has two matches on his dockett. And I'll say that Blake has come a long way in his career. He used to be the guy we all kind of pointed and laughed at because he thought he was actually talented. Now we just point and laugh at him because he's a chode of a human being, desperate for attention... Jake goes to continue, but pauses, and corrects the record.
... And before anyone says otherwise, I'm not desperate for attention, and I'm not a chode. Ok with that cleared up, back to Mason... Mason is a guy who has stepped up and kind of shown the world he actually knows how to perform. I give him his credit in that regard. He's not a wash anymore, but that doesn't mean he's in Jake Starr's league. It doesn't mean that he's qualified to say HE deserves the United States Championship more than I do. This train is not his to get on because I've done a LOT to crawl from the dregs of humanity holding this company down, to shine brighter than the rest. I've had to bask in mediocrity for TOO FUCKING LONG to be OK with he, or Chris for that matter, taking this from me. Did you hear that, Cannon? Did you hear that Blake? I went out on Breakdown to make it CLEAR that I was gunning for gold again, and for once in a LONG TIME, nobody could say I hadn't earned the right to do so. So I'm not going to let Kelcey Wallace's gimp or fuckwad Blake Mason get ANYWHERE close to taking this opportunity from me. Not now! I have worked too FUCKING hard to get my ass back in line for gold, and neither of you FUCKS are going to jeopardize it from happening. This is a pay-per view that belongs to me, and will be a moment people do NOT forget because when the smoke clears, there will only be ONE FUCKING MAN who stands above the rest, and it won't be either of you. I've said it once, I'll say it again... This is MY TIME! Don't get any ideas, assholes... They won't do you any fucking good whatsoever because while I say reality doesn't always end with good triumphing over evil, in my case, Apocalypse will be pure HAPPILY EVER AFTER! Fin |
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