Post by Joel Hawkfield on Nov 6, 2018 23:51:41 GMT -5
Date: October 22, 2018
Location: Braga, Portugal
{Two days had passed since an unexpected turn of events had occurred in Joel’s life. Rather than waking up to the sound of a jet plane landing at an airport back in the States, he had awoken to the sounds of machinery and talks of many unfamiliar voices, let alone a different language as he struggled to move his joints albeit with a lot of struggle. Each movement felt stiff and trying to sit up felt like a massive chore but nonetheless, he managed to pull it off with a pained sigh. Instinctively, he reaches for his face and is surprised that the mask he bore is still equipped, thinking that the attendants would’ve removed it by now. Unconsciously, he runs his fingers across the edge of the mask in a slow pattern, his mind lost in thought on what was going on. The last thing he could distinctly remember was blacking out in the corridor after Blitz and now here he was in the hospital, a building filled with resounding unfamiliarity as he aimless swiveled his head, scanning the layout of the room. His body stiffens, eyes narrowing with his focus directed at the entrance to his room. From around the corner, two people enter the room: one a doctor, and the other being a rather familiar face to Joel. The private investigator, Blake.}
Blake: “About time you woke up, Mr. Hawkfield.”
Joel (disgruntled): “...Whatever Mr. Investigator.”
Blake: “I already told you the name’s Blake.”
Joel: “Yeah, cool story, and I’m telling you can drop the formality around me. Fuck’s sake just call me Joel like everyone else does. It’s not that damn hard.”
{The tension in the room starts to rocket as the two stare one another down before the Portuguese doctor intervenes.}
Doctor: “Alright you two, cool it. Settle whatever it is you two have going on when everything is said and done in here.”
Blake (stepping back): “Yes, sir.”
{The masked wrestler simply rolls his eyes at the doctor’s order but he directs one last scowl at Blake before easing off.}
Doctor: “Alright then. Joel, as you know you were rushed here following the events on Sunday after medics reported hearing you collapse and finding you unconscious in the nearby corridor. As you can tell, we were able to stabilize you and your heart has been pretty normal although a bit higher than what the average human possesses. We’re assuming for the time being that it’s just stress levels but then again we’re never entirely sure.”
Joel (nonchalant): “So in other words, you don’t really have a clue do you?”
Doctor (hesitant): “Well…”
Joel (sighing): “Seriously?”
Doctor: “Okay, yes. We don’t exactly know but in order to determine if there’s anything affecting your heart we want to run some tests before discharging you and sending you home. Especially given your line of work, Joel, the last thing we need is for a condition to go unnoticed and for you to end up far worse than you are now.”
Joel: “Any idea as to how long I’ll be kept here?”
Doctor: “Two days at a minimum.”
{A heavy sigh emits from Joel as he slumps in the bed, folding his hands over his chest.}
Joel: “So I’m supposed to just lay here until said time is up?”
Doctor: “Well, ye-”
Nurse: “Bernardo!”
Doctor: “Agh. I’ll explain later.”
{Pivoting on his heels, Bernardo leaves the room, leaving Blake and Joel to themselves. Amidst the silence, Blake moves over to Joel’s bedside, looking down at the resident Brute who looks back at him with malicious eyes.}
Joel: “Despite me flying over to a different country for business you still felt the need to follow me?”
Blake: “As a private investigator it’s my job to do so.”
Joel: “Pfft. Are you still trying to play the hero role? Bring justice to those kids and shit?”
Blake: “Whoever said I was?”
Joel: “Society, that’s who.”
Blake (shaking his head): “You’re still worked up over that?”
Joel: “Can you blame me? The amount of overexaggerated kindness and role model crap is sickening. I complain about those things yet here I am stuck in this hospital bed.”
Blake: “I would say it’s your own fault for winding up like this but given that it’s heart-related, it doesn’t apply.”
{The Brute lets out a faint-hearted chuckle, pressing his head back into the pillow, leaving Blake puzzled at the response.}
Blake: “The hell are you finding so funny?”
Joel: “The fact that you’re showing kindness towards me. That’s a rare sight to me.”
Blake: “You’re starting to contradict yourself, Joel…”
Joel: “I couldn’t care less if I am.”
Blake: “You’re bizarre.”
Joel: “Not denying that.”
{The laughter resumes as Joel shifts his hand to the back of his head, only leaving the private investigator confused even more.}
Blake: “Let me ask you something: Why are you so hostile to most people?”
{The laughter quickly subsides upon the words entering Joel’s mind. Unlinking his hands, he sits back up, looking Blake square in the eye.}
Joel: “That’s a dangerous question you’re asking there, Blake.”
Blake: “And it’s a question I just want an answer to.”
Joel (scoffing): “Whatever.”
Blake: “You going to answer it or not?”
Joel: “Ease up Mr. Hero.”
Blake (mocking): “Whatever.”
{In a flash, Joel swipes at the man but Blake quickly dodges the attack with a simple backstep, earning a growl from Joel as the two engage in another stare down.}
Joel: “...Fine, I’ll tell you the story.”
{Rather than approach the bed once more, Blake leans up against the far wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his trench coat.}
Joel: “Seven years ago I started my venture into the wrestling industry as a young kid with no direction in life and my best option really, was to pursue a career in wrestling otherwise I’d having nothing else to live for in life and wind up homeless. It was a massive gamble to take especially given what was at stake for me. I was fucked if I blew this opportunity but I tried my hardest to make the best of it.”
Blake: “Where’d you start?”
Joel: “I don’t know the exact location but very quickly I found myself traveling across the country with this small-time promotion. It was alright at first but some of the people there were unbearable. They berated us, newcomers, sometimes even beat us backstage for no real reason and other times they’d humiliate us for the fun of it. That’s where I first started to tap into the dark side that laid dormant inside me but after walking away from that place, I left the darkness alone and instead tried to remain stoic and keep a heart of justice and prove the hostile bastards wrong. I wasn’t going to let them get under my skin so easily and when I switched companies I did exactly that as the young up-and-comer. Won of my first few championships and later returned to the hellhole that I originated from and won their world title under a new name. Things were starting to become glorious but of course, that changed…”
{He lets out another pained sigh, shaking his head.}
Joel: “Injuries started to ruin my body. My leg was mangled, my ribs crushed, the list goes on for the amount of time I had to take part in R&R. During this time though, that dark side of me started to stir and slowly wake up. Only then did I become engulfed by hate after siding with people who were in the same crowd with me as we hated the management with a passion. We said screw the fans, screw the higher-ups, and screw anyone who tried to prevent us from accomplishing our goal. We managed, and were unstoppable for God knows how long.”
{A slight smirk crosses his lips at the thought of it.}
Joel: “Call this my hostile takeover if you will. After that place sank its own ship I started traveling the country more, even went overseas and traveled across England with an old associate of mine and again we were the dominant force. Not even my pal’s lady friend could stop us and we showed exactly why we were THE force to be reckoned with in that company.”
{A sinister laugh emits from Joel.}
Joel: “That satisfy your question...Mr. Hero?”
Blake: “It’s one hell of a one-eighty I’ll say that.”
Joel: “It was for the better. I thrive in hate and pain of others and look how far it took me, Blake. Letting darkness corrupt me made me a better wrestler and it made me more vicious, more determined to climb the ladder. I’ve been knocked down several times but that hasn’t stopped me from trying to reach my former glory.”
Blake: “So I’ve noticed. Rewatching the tapes, it’s easy to tell you don’t care what happens to your opponents. You really only care about getting your check signed and just repeating the process.”
{The masked brute shrugs at the thought.}
Joel: “In a way, you’re not wrong. I really don’t have anything else to live up to as I just move from company to company to ensure I got money in my account and food on my plate. Granted I have enough money in my savings after all this time, I still feel the need to be active enough in a sense that I don't lose touch with the sport.”
{Upon finishing his statement, a short nurse walks into the room with a clipboard in hand soon followed by Bernardo.}
Bernardo (to Blake): “Sorry to come in unexpectedly but just going to have to ask you to wait outside for a few minutes while we do Joel’s physical checkup.”
{He gives a simple nod to the doctor before heading for the exit. Stopping at the doorway, he turns back to Joel, who’s staring back at him with a blank expression.}
Blake: “So I can expect you back in the States sometime next week at the latest?”
Joel: “Atlanta is where I’m planning to recover. Still got property owned there so I’ll be staying there for some time.”
Blake: “I’ll make note of that.”
{Turning away, Blake exits the room, casually whistling to himself as he heads back to the lobby. Talking to someone like Joel and extracting a story out of him was a feat in itself but to Blake, there was something else that he felt didn’t add up. Shaking his head, he soon exited the hospital and out into the bright sunlight that hung over the city.}
Date: November 2, 2018
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
{It had roughly been about a week and a half since Joel had returned to the country after spending only two days in the Braga hospital for further analysis of his heart. He was relieved as is to finally be at a place that he called home but it was what life had in store for him in the distant future that left a bit of worry in his system as he looked out from the window of his penthouse. Rather than the usual malice that filled his eyes, there were only blank stares staring down at the city below him. The sound of someone knocking at the door quickly snaps him back into reality accompanied by a long sigh as he turns away. The knocking persists as he strolls over to the door, becoming slightly more irate as the noise continues.}
Joel: "Jesus, I'm coming."
{Reaching the mahogany door, he twists the knob and pulls it open, allowing Blake to enter the interior. Rather than bearing his usual beige trench coat, he's instead wearing a white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up past his elbows and tan dress pants with a fedora resting on his head.}
Joel: "A fine way to just reveal your presence at the door."
Blake: "Knowing you Joel it seemed necessary to do given how short your attention span can be."
Joel (sarcastically): "Oh ha-ha, someone's got jokes."
{Slamming the door shut, Joel makes his way towards the large living space, Blake tailing him. Without missing a beat, Joel places a hand on top of the couch in front of him, launching himself over to the other side and landing right onto the couch while Blake makes his way around the furniture, seating himself on the corner furthest from the masked wrestler. On the coffee table between the two, sat Joel's usual vape and bottles of vape juice to go along with it but what was off-putting was the medication bottle that also sat on the table albeit distanced from the vape accessories.}
Blake: "Sooo..."
Joel: "I'm fucked."
Blake (confused): "Huh?"
{Joel shakes his head at the response.}
Joel: "My career. I'm not going any further now."
Blake (puzzled): "The hell are you on about? What happened in Braga?"
{Reaching in front of him, Joel swipes the medication bottle off the table, rattling it a bit so Blake can see it before setting it back down on the surface.}
Joel (sighing): "They ran the tests and needless to say, all of us were pretty surprised by what they found. I'm not even sure if they were trying to pinpoint this or they just managed to diagnose it by chance."
Blake: "Shit..."
Joel: "Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is what the final diagnosis was. I guess when the doctor pointed out the increased heart rate, I should've taken it as a sign. By the time they started running the tests the following morning, there was no sign in the rate decreasing at any point. It just stayed elevated forever and now here we are at an impasse."
{Reaching out, Joel takes hold of the bottle again, holding it more closely to his masked face as he reads the labels placed on it. Across from him, silence looms over Blake as he looks on in shock at thereveal. As if it were routine, Joel starts to flip the bottle about in his hand, leaning back into the furniture.}
Joel: "It really is a great debate now of whether I step out of the spotlight for the sake of my health or to keep pressing on in hopes that the medication keeps everything under control."
Blake: "Aren't you scheduled to compete though?"
Joel (shrugging): "Yeah, I guess but I'm not sure if I'm game for it now, Blake. I'm pretty sure the last thing the company wants is another death on-screen like what happened with Royce there."
Blake: "Wait, what?!"
{Joel brushes it off as he places the bottle back on the table.}
Joel: "Forget I said anything. Anyway, I guess one question does remain."
Blake: "That being?"
Joel: "With these new circumstances, you still plan on carrying out your original task?"
{SIlence washes over the two once more with Blake drawing a blank while Joel slouches in his seat, resting his elbows on the back of the couch.}
Blake (hesitant): "I...don't know really. Even though the task is still at hand, I don't know if pursuing it is worth all the time and money at this rate."
Joel: "Well, whatever you choose, not me or anyone else is stopping you, man. Besides, it's the quiet things that no one ever knows."
{Pushing away from the couch, Joel moves away from the space, disappearing to another room off camera, leaving Blake to himself as he clasps his hands under his chin, elbows on his knees as he gets lost in thought. A lot was on both minds but the course of action that each of them took had some kind of consequence for the other. What the decision would be...only time could tell as to what would transpire.}
{Fade to black.}
Location: Braga, Portugal
{Two days had passed since an unexpected turn of events had occurred in Joel’s life. Rather than waking up to the sound of a jet plane landing at an airport back in the States, he had awoken to the sounds of machinery and talks of many unfamiliar voices, let alone a different language as he struggled to move his joints albeit with a lot of struggle. Each movement felt stiff and trying to sit up felt like a massive chore but nonetheless, he managed to pull it off with a pained sigh. Instinctively, he reaches for his face and is surprised that the mask he bore is still equipped, thinking that the attendants would’ve removed it by now. Unconsciously, he runs his fingers across the edge of the mask in a slow pattern, his mind lost in thought on what was going on. The last thing he could distinctly remember was blacking out in the corridor after Blitz and now here he was in the hospital, a building filled with resounding unfamiliarity as he aimless swiveled his head, scanning the layout of the room. His body stiffens, eyes narrowing with his focus directed at the entrance to his room. From around the corner, two people enter the room: one a doctor, and the other being a rather familiar face to Joel. The private investigator, Blake.}
Blake: “About time you woke up, Mr. Hawkfield.”
Joel (disgruntled): “...Whatever Mr. Investigator.”
Blake: “I already told you the name’s Blake.”
Joel: “Yeah, cool story, and I’m telling you can drop the formality around me. Fuck’s sake just call me Joel like everyone else does. It’s not that damn hard.”
{The tension in the room starts to rocket as the two stare one another down before the Portuguese doctor intervenes.}
Doctor: “Alright you two, cool it. Settle whatever it is you two have going on when everything is said and done in here.”
Blake (stepping back): “Yes, sir.”
{The masked wrestler simply rolls his eyes at the doctor’s order but he directs one last scowl at Blake before easing off.}
Doctor: “Alright then. Joel, as you know you were rushed here following the events on Sunday after medics reported hearing you collapse and finding you unconscious in the nearby corridor. As you can tell, we were able to stabilize you and your heart has been pretty normal although a bit higher than what the average human possesses. We’re assuming for the time being that it’s just stress levels but then again we’re never entirely sure.”
Joel (nonchalant): “So in other words, you don’t really have a clue do you?”
Doctor (hesitant): “Well…”
Joel (sighing): “Seriously?”
Doctor: “Okay, yes. We don’t exactly know but in order to determine if there’s anything affecting your heart we want to run some tests before discharging you and sending you home. Especially given your line of work, Joel, the last thing we need is for a condition to go unnoticed and for you to end up far worse than you are now.”
Joel: “Any idea as to how long I’ll be kept here?”
Doctor: “Two days at a minimum.”
{A heavy sigh emits from Joel as he slumps in the bed, folding his hands over his chest.}
Joel: “So I’m supposed to just lay here until said time is up?”
Doctor: “Well, ye-”
Nurse: “Bernardo!”
Doctor: “Agh. I’ll explain later.”
{Pivoting on his heels, Bernardo leaves the room, leaving Blake and Joel to themselves. Amidst the silence, Blake moves over to Joel’s bedside, looking down at the resident Brute who looks back at him with malicious eyes.}
Joel: “Despite me flying over to a different country for business you still felt the need to follow me?”
Blake: “As a private investigator it’s my job to do so.”
Joel: “Pfft. Are you still trying to play the hero role? Bring justice to those kids and shit?”
Blake: “Whoever said I was?”
Joel: “Society, that’s who.”
Blake (shaking his head): “You’re still worked up over that?”
Joel: “Can you blame me? The amount of overexaggerated kindness and role model crap is sickening. I complain about those things yet here I am stuck in this hospital bed.”
Blake: “I would say it’s your own fault for winding up like this but given that it’s heart-related, it doesn’t apply.”
{The Brute lets out a faint-hearted chuckle, pressing his head back into the pillow, leaving Blake puzzled at the response.}
Blake: “The hell are you finding so funny?”
Joel: “The fact that you’re showing kindness towards me. That’s a rare sight to me.”
Blake: “You’re starting to contradict yourself, Joel…”
Joel: “I couldn’t care less if I am.”
Blake: “You’re bizarre.”
Joel: “Not denying that.”
{The laughter resumes as Joel shifts his hand to the back of his head, only leaving the private investigator confused even more.}
Blake: “Let me ask you something: Why are you so hostile to most people?”
{The laughter quickly subsides upon the words entering Joel’s mind. Unlinking his hands, he sits back up, looking Blake square in the eye.}
Joel: “That’s a dangerous question you’re asking there, Blake.”
Blake: “And it’s a question I just want an answer to.”
Joel (scoffing): “Whatever.”
Blake: “You going to answer it or not?”
Joel: “Ease up Mr. Hero.”
Blake (mocking): “Whatever.”
{In a flash, Joel swipes at the man but Blake quickly dodges the attack with a simple backstep, earning a growl from Joel as the two engage in another stare down.}
Joel: “...Fine, I’ll tell you the story.”
{Rather than approach the bed once more, Blake leans up against the far wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his trench coat.}
Joel: “Seven years ago I started my venture into the wrestling industry as a young kid with no direction in life and my best option really, was to pursue a career in wrestling otherwise I’d having nothing else to live for in life and wind up homeless. It was a massive gamble to take especially given what was at stake for me. I was fucked if I blew this opportunity but I tried my hardest to make the best of it.”
Blake: “Where’d you start?”
Joel: “I don’t know the exact location but very quickly I found myself traveling across the country with this small-time promotion. It was alright at first but some of the people there were unbearable. They berated us, newcomers, sometimes even beat us backstage for no real reason and other times they’d humiliate us for the fun of it. That’s where I first started to tap into the dark side that laid dormant inside me but after walking away from that place, I left the darkness alone and instead tried to remain stoic and keep a heart of justice and prove the hostile bastards wrong. I wasn’t going to let them get under my skin so easily and when I switched companies I did exactly that as the young up-and-comer. Won of my first few championships and later returned to the hellhole that I originated from and won their world title under a new name. Things were starting to become glorious but of course, that changed…”
{He lets out another pained sigh, shaking his head.}
Joel: “Injuries started to ruin my body. My leg was mangled, my ribs crushed, the list goes on for the amount of time I had to take part in R&R. During this time though, that dark side of me started to stir and slowly wake up. Only then did I become engulfed by hate after siding with people who were in the same crowd with me as we hated the management with a passion. We said screw the fans, screw the higher-ups, and screw anyone who tried to prevent us from accomplishing our goal. We managed, and were unstoppable for God knows how long.”
{A slight smirk crosses his lips at the thought of it.}
Joel: “Call this my hostile takeover if you will. After that place sank its own ship I started traveling the country more, even went overseas and traveled across England with an old associate of mine and again we were the dominant force. Not even my pal’s lady friend could stop us and we showed exactly why we were THE force to be reckoned with in that company.”
{A sinister laugh emits from Joel.}
Joel: “That satisfy your question...Mr. Hero?”
Blake: “It’s one hell of a one-eighty I’ll say that.”
Joel: “It was for the better. I thrive in hate and pain of others and look how far it took me, Blake. Letting darkness corrupt me made me a better wrestler and it made me more vicious, more determined to climb the ladder. I’ve been knocked down several times but that hasn’t stopped me from trying to reach my former glory.”
Blake: “So I’ve noticed. Rewatching the tapes, it’s easy to tell you don’t care what happens to your opponents. You really only care about getting your check signed and just repeating the process.”
{The masked brute shrugs at the thought.}
Joel: “In a way, you’re not wrong. I really don’t have anything else to live up to as I just move from company to company to ensure I got money in my account and food on my plate. Granted I have enough money in my savings after all this time, I still feel the need to be active enough in a sense that I don't lose touch with the sport.”
{Upon finishing his statement, a short nurse walks into the room with a clipboard in hand soon followed by Bernardo.}
Bernardo (to Blake): “Sorry to come in unexpectedly but just going to have to ask you to wait outside for a few minutes while we do Joel’s physical checkup.”
{He gives a simple nod to the doctor before heading for the exit. Stopping at the doorway, he turns back to Joel, who’s staring back at him with a blank expression.}
Blake: “So I can expect you back in the States sometime next week at the latest?”
Joel: “Atlanta is where I’m planning to recover. Still got property owned there so I’ll be staying there for some time.”
Blake: “I’ll make note of that.”
{Turning away, Blake exits the room, casually whistling to himself as he heads back to the lobby. Talking to someone like Joel and extracting a story out of him was a feat in itself but to Blake, there was something else that he felt didn’t add up. Shaking his head, he soon exited the hospital and out into the bright sunlight that hung over the city.}
Date: November 2, 2018
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
{It had roughly been about a week and a half since Joel had returned to the country after spending only two days in the Braga hospital for further analysis of his heart. He was relieved as is to finally be at a place that he called home but it was what life had in store for him in the distant future that left a bit of worry in his system as he looked out from the window of his penthouse. Rather than the usual malice that filled his eyes, there were only blank stares staring down at the city below him. The sound of someone knocking at the door quickly snaps him back into reality accompanied by a long sigh as he turns away. The knocking persists as he strolls over to the door, becoming slightly more irate as the noise continues.}
Joel: "Jesus, I'm coming."
{Reaching the mahogany door, he twists the knob and pulls it open, allowing Blake to enter the interior. Rather than bearing his usual beige trench coat, he's instead wearing a white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up past his elbows and tan dress pants with a fedora resting on his head.}
Joel: "A fine way to just reveal your presence at the door."
Blake: "Knowing you Joel it seemed necessary to do given how short your attention span can be."
Joel (sarcastically): "Oh ha-ha, someone's got jokes."
{Slamming the door shut, Joel makes his way towards the large living space, Blake tailing him. Without missing a beat, Joel places a hand on top of the couch in front of him, launching himself over to the other side and landing right onto the couch while Blake makes his way around the furniture, seating himself on the corner furthest from the masked wrestler. On the coffee table between the two, sat Joel's usual vape and bottles of vape juice to go along with it but what was off-putting was the medication bottle that also sat on the table albeit distanced from the vape accessories.}
Blake: "Sooo..."
Joel: "I'm fucked."
Blake (confused): "Huh?"
{Joel shakes his head at the response.}
Joel: "My career. I'm not going any further now."
Blake (puzzled): "The hell are you on about? What happened in Braga?"
{Reaching in front of him, Joel swipes the medication bottle off the table, rattling it a bit so Blake can see it before setting it back down on the surface.}
Joel (sighing): "They ran the tests and needless to say, all of us were pretty surprised by what they found. I'm not even sure if they were trying to pinpoint this or they just managed to diagnose it by chance."
Blake: "Shit..."
Joel: "Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is what the final diagnosis was. I guess when the doctor pointed out the increased heart rate, I should've taken it as a sign. By the time they started running the tests the following morning, there was no sign in the rate decreasing at any point. It just stayed elevated forever and now here we are at an impasse."
{Reaching out, Joel takes hold of the bottle again, holding it more closely to his masked face as he reads the labels placed on it. Across from him, silence looms over Blake as he looks on in shock at thereveal. As if it were routine, Joel starts to flip the bottle about in his hand, leaning back into the furniture.}
Joel: "It really is a great debate now of whether I step out of the spotlight for the sake of my health or to keep pressing on in hopes that the medication keeps everything under control."
Blake: "Aren't you scheduled to compete though?"
Joel (shrugging): "Yeah, I guess but I'm not sure if I'm game for it now, Blake. I'm pretty sure the last thing the company wants is another death on-screen like what happened with Royce there."
Blake: "Wait, what?!"
{Joel brushes it off as he places the bottle back on the table.}
Joel: "Forget I said anything. Anyway, I guess one question does remain."
Blake: "That being?"
Joel: "With these new circumstances, you still plan on carrying out your original task?"
{SIlence washes over the two once more with Blake drawing a blank while Joel slouches in his seat, resting his elbows on the back of the couch.}
Blake (hesitant): "I...don't know really. Even though the task is still at hand, I don't know if pursuing it is worth all the time and money at this rate."
Joel: "Well, whatever you choose, not me or anyone else is stopping you, man. Besides, it's the quiet things that no one ever knows."
{Pushing away from the couch, Joel moves away from the space, disappearing to another room off camera, leaving Blake to himself as he clasps his hands under his chin, elbows on his knees as he gets lost in thought. A lot was on both minds but the course of action that each of them took had some kind of consequence for the other. What the decision would be...only time could tell as to what would transpire.}
{Fade to black.}