Post by Johnny Mason on Oct 26, 2020 0:49:15 GMT -5
One by one they all fall
Daisy.
Luke Marshall.
Jayson Sykes.
MAIM.
Anna Ahriman.
Trey Carter.
All people who thought they could beat me.
That they could somehow stop me from being who I’m meant to be.
But my destiny will be fulfilled soon enough.
I hope all the “spectators” are enjoying watching.
After all, this is a spectator sport so who’s to know I’m “The Future Hall of Famer” without people watching.
It would be nothing more than a myth.
Myths could be good or bad depending on the person it’s protecting.
For someone like me, I hate myths.
People are going to witness my greatness.
But for people like Josh Dean, he clings to them.
It’s all he has left.
Former Hall of Famer
I told you that you could count on me Johnny!
Tyson Watts smiles as he puffs away at an expensive cigar that his race-horse bought him.
The cigar is just one of many, out of the large box that he now has in his possession.
A reward that was gifted to the fat man for actually being helpful in a match for once.
Mason liked them at first.
Even smoked one with him.
But now just the smoky aroma of one makes him feel sick to his stomach.
Yeah yeah, you proved me wrong alright.
But I had it handled anyways.
Sitting at a table across from Watts who is kicked back in a creaky old recliner, the young champ has his affliction of choice. A bottle of Jack Daniels.
Those yes people were nothing to worry about. Even as loud as they were.
“Yeah but you were even louder!” laughs Mason
So Johnny boy?
Tyson pauses as he carefully picks his words
What did you think of Eccentrix?
Is he as good as he thinks he is?
He thinks for a second or two
As if he’s been asked a good question
I don’t know really.
I mean he doesn’t suck, but he’s not on the same level as me.
He’s somewhere in the middle.
Who knows if he’ll become something better.
It’s up to him I guess.
But I’d like to get in the ring with him again and prove I can beat him without your help.
Watts is almost surprised that he is actually getting credit for something he’s done.
Which puts an even bigger smile on his face
Seeing the smile that’s barely visible through the smoke, Johnny puts up the fifth of Jack after taking a swig.
See you tomorrow I guess.
Try not to think about “The Franchise” too much
Johnny scoffs
Don’t worry
I won’t
A blatant lie
Cause it doesn’t matter if it’s Josh Dean, Jimmy Dean, Jim Beam, or the Dream Team!
You’re the Vanguard Champion!
Johnny smiles before heading off into the other room.
“Fright Night”
What a joke!
This is one of the biggest matches of my life.
It’s the night that Josh Dean’s hopes and dreams die.
And no, there’s no coming back from this like one of those lame a** zombies.
This will be something people remember!
When I win
When i stand over his lifeless corpse
There won’t be any doubt at all about who was the better man
And no it’s won’t be the former hall of famer
It’ll be the future one.
Johnny lays in bed knowing he can’t sleep.
The completely quiet and dark room always makes it worse.
Makes him feel even more alone than he is.
But being alone in general isn’t really the problem as Johnny doesn’t like many people anyways.
The problem is that he’s alone without his son.
Before trying his best to fall asleep again he wonders if anyone else in the world feels the pain that he feels on a day to day basis.
In the other room, Tyson sits in the same spot he’s been in for awhile now.
The recliner hasn’t even made a slight creak as he is doing something many people think he’s not capable of,
Being deep in thought.
Watts feels alone like Johnny does, but for different reasons.
In his mind he has more pressure than anyone to maintain his spot in the WFWF
Speaking of a spot in the WFWF, his thoughts are interrupted by a phone call...
Tyson I know you’ve told me and told me that I don’t have a spot-
Watts rolls his eyes
-but i can’t do this anymore man. Either you try harder to get me a spot, o- or
Spit it out kid
Well I would say that I would earn a spot but we both know that without you I can’t get back to that level.
So maybe I should just give up
No Dion you don’t need to give it up.
What am I gonna-
You can hear the desperation in his voice
I’ll tell you what you’re going to do
Watts seems confident
You’re going to hold on a little bit longer
And I have something for you sometime after Superbrawl okay?
Are you sure?
Yeah I am!
I never break a promise
A dejected Dion hangs up the phone as Watts gets out of his chair and grabs one of the whiskey bottles Johnny hasn’t made his way to yet.
On his way back he stops and takes a gulp out of the bottle as he has a deranged look on his face aimed at the closed door to Mason’s room before sitting back down.
He had it handled himself
Tyson scoffs
He wouldn’t even have his title if it wasn’t for me pushing his ungrateful *ss over and getting him the win.
He takes a drink of the bourbon
Everyone thinks of me as this idiot but they don’t know the real me.
They see Johnny winning these matches and being champion and think that he’s just f*cking great!
They don’t know I’m the mastermind behind everything!
Every single little detail that makes him what he is, is really just me showing my greatness and it rubbing off on him!
His grip on the bottle tightens almost hard enough to make it shatter
I honestly don’t know if I should move on from him or not.
This is going to explode but I might be able to salvage the situation.
It’s not like I haven’t been able to before.
But if we can make this work, I’m going to have to get Dion rolling as well.
He’s got too much potential not to.
Before long it’s morning and both Mason and Watts awake feeling as if they haven’t slept at all.
The difference is Johnny wakes up wishing he hadn’t and Tyson woke up to the smell of food.
The fat man hopes to grow fatter as he sees the young champion making breakfast.
Wh-what are you making there Johnny boy?
He wipes his eyes as he licks his lips
Eggs, bacon, toast-
Oh my god what’s the special occasion
Uh I was hungry Johnny laughs
Oh, you’re gonna give me some right?
Johnny’s smile quickly vanishes before looking him in the face
No
The fat bastard is shook
He tries to find words to say but nothing comes out of his mouth until Johnny laughs again
I’m just kidding!
Of course you can have some
Watts laughs uneasily before sitting at the table
He pushes his chair up as far as it can go before his gut hits it
So when’s it gonna be done?
Now, actually.
Come make a plate
Tyson seems surprised as if he expected Johnny to bring him his plate
So Johnny?
The pig named Tyson is doing one of the things Johnny hates the most.
Talking with his mouth full of food.
Even so, he looks away and tries not to go off
Yeah?
I got a proposition for you
Oh god
What?
Tyson of course doesn’t wait until he’s done with his food.
He points his big meaty claw at Mason
You!
He chews some more before pointing his other one at himself
Me!
Johnny is getting ready to explode!
Or walk away. He doesn’t know what he wants to do more
Working out!
And just like that Hot-Watts is back
He flexes the bat wings again with food remnants falling out of his mouth
Did I hear you right?
Oh yeah baby!
Time to get back in shape and give YOU a run for your money!
You don’t run Tyson
Watts stops flexing the wings and runs right past Johnny and out the door.
The Vanguard Champ regrets not tripping him.
Amazed, Johnny looks out the door to see Watts running, albeit slowly, down the road and to the left past a stop sign.
Almost 30 minutes have passed and the Vanguard Champion is sitting out in one of Watts sunken in lawn chairs in the yard by all the cigarette butts awaiting the arrival of the Flash himself.
Finally, coming the same way he left he appears.
To Johnny’s surprise he didn’t feel the earth shake when he rounded the corner.
Watts doesn’t look like he just ran, more like he just got ran over.
Slowly dragging himself to the yard, Johnny can smell him from yards away until he finally reaches his destination by falling on the ground in front of the lawn chair.
I told you I could run Icebreaker
Watts gasps for air as he’s on his back staring up at the sun that’s glaring off the sweat of his chunky face.
It reminds Mason of when he was a kid and he dropped his vanilla ice cream cone on the pavement and watched as it melted
I told you not to call me that!
Anyways it looks like you’re the one melting out here
Johnny laughs as he kicks the side of Tyson,
Making his stomach jiggle through his sweat soaked shirt
But okay
Watts opens his eyes and looks up at Johnny
I’ll let you come workout with me
They both smile
I’ll start you off slow
Johnny winks at Tyson before heading into the air conditioned house.
Right before he’s about to sit on the couch he hears the pig squealing
Uh hey!
A little help here?
He looks back at the fallen walrus through the window wondering if he’s gonna leave a dent in the ground
I don’t have a forklift Tyson
I do!
Forklifts are what made me get this!
He pats his stomach with one hand as he mimics eating with a fork with the other one as Johnny closes the blinds
Tonight is much like the last
Johnny went to bed to deal with his demons and Tyson is left alone with his sh*tty self and insecurities.
But that’s the thing about struggling to make it through the night, once it’s morning no one knows anything happened at all.
For Mason, it’s November 3rd.
The day he lost everything
And Fright Night
The night he gains everything
And for Watts, just for tonight,
His mind is solely on the gym and how he has to impress Johnny
As they both fall asleep all they can hope for is a better tomorrow
BEEP BEEP MOTHERF*CKER
As the alarm goes off Tyson stands over Johnny’s bed.
A scene that makes his nightmares feel like the sweetest of dreams compared to the reality of what’s glooming over him.
Tyson.
With his bloodshot raccoon eyes wearing nothing but his sh*t stained whitey tighties.
Come on!
Let’s go to the gym!
Why are you so hairy?
For every girl I’ve been with I get a hair! He quickly snaps back
Now come on!
After he’s dressed Johnny guesses that he’s as ready as he will ever be as he steps out of his bedroom
You’re wearing that to go workout?
Tyson has on a pair of khaki shorts with a Gucci shirt while Johnny has on a tanktop and basketball shorts
Hot-Watts got the sauce!
Johnny tries to walk past him to the fridge for something to drink but the gleeful ogre is in his way
Anyways it’s better than that wife beater
He pauses
Wait I’ve heard that in my past
Okay whatever
I’m trying to get through here
Okay okay Watts says stepping out of the way
We need to leave anyways!
Mason grabs a Gatorade as Tyson goes and sits in the car.
Locking the door on his way out, Johnny reluctantly joins him as he honks the horn.
We’re finally here!
The duo have arrived at Johnny’s go to gym.
Nice and clean, the opposite of the man skipping in front of him.
I don’t know why you’re so excited when you haven’t worked out in years
I guess I got the inspiration now
Why what-
Tyson trots into the gym leaving the door to come inches away from slamming into Johnny’s face.
He yanks it open to find Tyson perplexed
Where is everyone?
I called yesterday and made sure we are the only ones in here today.
What why?
Are you jealous everyone might get a glimpse of me and it will outshine you?
Oh yeah.
Definitely.
Well let’s get started!
Okay do some stretches
Stretches?
That’s not what I had in mind
Well that’s what you’re going to do
Tyson huffs and puffs
He might even shed a tear
Alright! He bellows
The fat man tries to touch his toes but his big gut gets in the way
Sit down and try it
It’ll be easier
Tyson mumbles to himself getting pissed off
He tries to touch his feet again and fails miserably causing him to yell
Now dammit Johnny this is bullsh*t!
I’m here to work out!
Okay fine you wanna workout?
Come do the bench press
Finally!
You know I can lift more than you right?
Yeah sure
Here, I put 175 on here
You should have no problem
Pshhh! That’s nothing!
Watts lays down on the bench and lifts the weights up with no problem.
He does ten reps and for everyone of them he reeks of body odor that gets worse and worse
Okay that was good Tyson
Damn right
But did you put on deodorant?
I mean I’m used to gyms smelling bad but this one wasn’t until you started
It’s not me! He scoffs
I’m insulted!
Okay never mind
I’ll put 225 on here and do ten more
No problem Watts says through his teeth
And he wasn’t lying.
He does all ten reps even if the last couple barely made it up.
Let’s see you do that big man!
They change places and Johnny does the same thing easily as at the same time he tries to dodge the bullets of sweat falling on him from Tyson
There.
Now we need to do some cardio
Cardio?
No way! Let’s lift some more!
You did good Tyson but you’re gassed out.
Cardio helps with that.
Gassed out?
Josh Dean should consider himself lucky he’s only in there with you!
How’s that?
Well if he disrespects us like that again he won’t have to worry about facing just you
What do you mean?
Are you going to get in the ring and face him?
Johnny thinks about rolling his eyes but he wants to hear what the fat man has to say.
It amuses him
I figured that “The Icebreaker and Hot-Watts” could take him on
Don’t call me icebreaker!
You know I hate that!
But he can bring that sexy Nikki Dean with him and we can tag team her!
Watts shadow boxes before dry humping the air. Thrusting his hips towards a disgusted Mason who wonders just how serious Tyson’s mental problems are
Dude just follow me
Watts follows Johnny straight to the treadmill
You can do this or get on a bike
I’ve shown you I can run!
But I don’t know how to ride a bike Johnny!
It’s uh
Stationary
Yeah I knew that...
Tyson almost steps on the treadmill before stopping himself.
You just want to get me on this death trap because I proved I can out lift you!
You didn’t prove anything.
Do you really even think that?
No I know it!
He marches his stank a*s back to the bench before putting bigger and bigger weights on.
He can barely pick them up as he now has 600 pounds on the bench
Too much for you Johnny boy? Tyson laughs
Johnny closes his eyes and takes a deep breath while wiping his face, trying not to snap
You can’t even lift that
I did putting them on there didn’t I?
Yeah.
One at a time!
You’re just scared Johnny
Admit it!
I’m not f*cking scared!
You’re just dumb!
Over his sh*t, Johnny walks past him trying to go out the door
See Mason that’s why nobody respects the Vanguard Championship as much as the World Title.
Johnny stops and looks back at Tyson’s huge grin
What the f*ck did you just say to me?
The veins in his head and neck are popping out as his face is red like he’s about to explode
You heard me!
How do you expect to beat Dean when you’re this big of a p*ssy?
Watts makes a v with his hands, holding it in front of his crotch
Just shut up.
This will not end up good for you!
Then just lift the weights!
Fine!
Johnny gets on the bench as Watts stands over him with a huge smile
Five reps
F*ck you!
Johnny wraps both hands around the bar and lifts it off
His arms shake as he gets it down to his chest and back up.
And does so once again
Watts is stunned
Johnny goes down for the third rep and his arms shake so bad he loses his grip and it falls against his chest.
Watts is even more stunned as Johnny spits and sputters for air while still trying to lift it off of him
Squashed under the weights he can only muster out a small help with as much desperation in his voice as ever before while Watts just stands there with his mouth open
Finally he snaps out of it and they both manage to get it back up and secured as Johnny falls to the floor beside him still gasping for air
Why
He clutches his chest and gasps more and more as his breath is finally coming back
Why didn’t you help me you son of a b*tch!
Johnny springs up and grabs Tyson by the shirt but Watts pushes him back down to the ground with all his might
With Mason on the ground and Watts standing over him they both hold their mouths open wide
Man f*ck you! Johnny screams
He gets up and stomps out of the gym as Watts follows behind, barely getting through before the door closes
Johnny gets in the car and before he can take off Watts manages to slither his way into the passenger seat
You’re not leaving me this time!
Mason looks straight ahead and pushes the gas pedal to the floor as they speed down the road.
S-Slow down man!
Johnny doesn’t acknowledge Watts not because he’s ignoring him, but as it’s almost as he’s in a different world...
“Daddy you wouldn’t let anything happen to me would you?”
The young child looks up at his father with pride.
Because he just needs assurance to the thing he already knows,
His dad is his protector.
“No Bryce of course not.
I’ve looked under the bed and checked in the closet.”
Bryce’s bedroom is dark but not completely, as the hallway light serves as a nightlight that shines through the open door
“But what if something comes in through the door daddy?”
“I think I need a lock.”
“I got an idea!”
As Bryce’s eyes grow wide out of curiosity, he watches as his father goes and gets one of his stuffed animals
“Rufus?”
“What would he do if someone came in?”
“Oh you didn’t know son?”
“Rufus is a guard dog!”
Johnny lays the brown and white stuffed animal at the end of his bed.
Using some of Bryce’s blanket he covers up everything on the dog besides his head which is faced at the door
“See, now he won’t get cold and he’ll bark if he sees anything or anybody coming.”
Bryce smiles
“Thanks dad”
“Now get some sleep so you can get up early and go to school tomorrow.”
“Love you”
“Love you daddy”
“Goodnight”
“Goodnight”
“Sweet dreams”
Bryce blows Johnny a kiss as he shuts the door behind him.
The hallway light is still on illuminating the floor in front of the door.
He takes one last look at Rufus and smiles once again, because he knows he’s safe
JOHNNY!
The Vanguard Champion snaps out of it just in time as he’s started to run off the road.
He pulls over and parks the car, much to the relief of a nervous Watts who’s gripping his seatbelt, holding on for dear life
Y-you need to drive
Okay?
Johnny gets out of the car and goes around the front as Tyson does the same but goes around the back
Now with the positions switched, Tyson starts up the car again and slowly gets back on the road as Johnny lays his head against the window
The quietness and awkwardness are interrupted by a desperate Mason
All the memories of my son
The good and the bad
Now all they bring is pain.
Watts remains painfully silent
No-November third is the one year anniversary of his death.
And at the same time I’m so focused in on this match with Josh Dean that I feel like both are consuming me.
Mason stops talking for a second as his voice cracks and he tries to regain himself.
Watts glances over for a moment before looking back at the road
Life sucks.
You should know that by now
You’re lucky for what you do have.
I understand that I’m lucky in the WFWF.
But at the same time I’ve earned it.
Watts rolls his eyes, unbeknownst to Johnny
But I need my son
I would give this all up just to get him back
I lost my dad!
You don’t see me over here crying and pouting around because I miss him.
You have to move on.
I can’t
You don’t understand.
Why?
Because I don’t have a kid?
Well that I know of, of course
Tyson chuckles as Mason still has his head against the cold glass of his window.
This isn’t a joke
This is my life.
I’m tired of putting on this act!
My son is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing before I fall asleep if I even do fall asleep.
That Vanguard Championship is what you should consider your child now.
You know that’s the most important thing to me now.
Is it really?
You can’t mess this one up Johnny.
You have a match with Josh Dean and Superbrawl is coming up!
It’s do or die!
Sometimes I wish I was the one who died in that crash instead of him
Tyson shakes his head in disgust
I thought you were stronger than that
They arrive back at the house and Watts doesn’t wait up for Johnny.
Just makes his way inside.
Johnny thinks about going in as well but doesn’t want to face Tyson head on again.
This is what they do. They fight but when it’s time for the show, they’re a unit.
He realizes how tense he is and tries to correct it.
He unclenches his fists that have made his palms sweaty.
He unclenches his teeth that have been grinding together.
He lifts his head up off the window and tries to hold it high.
Tyson was wrong.
It’s okay to let your past define you.
Because Johnny can’t and will never forget about Bryce and leave him behind.
He was his everything and just because he passed away doesn’t mean that he can’t still be.
He will always be with him
Through the highs and the lows
And through his match with Josh Dean.
Josh you can take all the cheap shots that you want but it will not change your reality.
The reason you sucker punched me is the same reason why you stole the World Championship.
You’re insecure
I want you to listen closely to what I’m going to say
I am not the underdog
I am the champion
To be completely honest I don’t care what you were before.
I am not underestimating you but I don’t care what you have accomplished.
Because now all I see you as is a stepping stone to get me even farther into the pantheon of greats, where people say you already are
Maybe so, but nowadays it’s pretty ironic the guy called “The Franchise” got left behind by his own nickname.
Contrary to me not caring about your past, I’ve done a little bit of homework
Seems to me that back in your day you were somewhat like I am now.
Thought of as the next big thing.
But you couldn’t deal with the pressure could you?
I mean you had the World Championship, but only for a couple minutes
You beat Drakz once but he’s now recognized as the best of all time.
And you’re recognized as a guy who used to be great, but had the potential to be so much more.
If only you were as headstrong as you think you are, who knows, maybe you would be thought of as in the same breath as he is.
But none of that is my business I guess.
What IS my business is you coming back once again because you’re scared of people forgetting who you are.
But Josh, you really should of stayed gone.
You could of let the myth grow more and more.
But you couldn’t help yourself.
Every day it eats you up inside when you think about what could of been.
Now you’ve made your great return and what for?
To get beat before you even get to your title match you did nothing to deserve?
You’ve tainted your own legacy.
You need to understand something.
What you once were, you are NEVER going to get back to that
Not with me around here.
When I beat you and end this facade, I hope you go back into whatever hole you crawled back out of after all these years and you realize your worth.
Forget Drakz,
Because you couldn’t make it past Johnny and Bryce Mason
