Post by oldprydeaccountdoesnotwork on Feb 28, 2014 12:03:22 GMT -5
“It’s dangerous to sacrifice,
It makes your blood run to throw the dice.
It’s dangerous, it’s what you like,
It’s what you’ll die for to live this life.”
The loss of a loved one is never easy.
I do want to send my condolences to Jeremy for the death of his mother. It does not matter how much you think you have braced yourself, you still are not ready for the pain of loss. You are lucky you had the opportunity to get to know her better and build a relationship. At least she talked to you. At least she was proud of you.
I won’t insult you by suggesting postponing the match. You are too much of a professional to do that. I can respect that. But I also know I will not be facing you at full strength. Your mind will be preoccupied with your loss. That is not what I wanted. But it is how it is going to be.
You call yourself the Devil. I have been called many names over the years myself, including one that has stuck with me no matter how hard I’ve tried to rid myself of it. I don’t worry about nicknames anymore. I’m about results, and this Monday, the result will be a victory for Pryde and a fall for the Devil.
My loss isn’t the death of a family member, but I think it was almost as painful. When my wife Crystal said she wanted a divorce, it was like she was cut out of my life. It was almost like she had been hit by a car, how quickly she cut herself off from me. But I know it was my fault. At least I can dream of someday proving to her that I have changed. That I am a better man.
Will she ever give me the chance? The way she has argued with her brother about me, it does not look likely. But I can dream, dream of a past that fell apart and a future that could always be close by.
~The fighting in the hotel room next store was too loud for Pryde to ignore. He sat and listened to Grant and Crystal argue about whether Grant was wasting his time being Pryde’s ally. You can only listen to so much before you either get involved or get out. Pryde chose to get out. He left the hotel and went for a walk in Lubbock, looking at the sights. He ended up in a park with a pond. He watched the ducks and geese swimming on the pond searching for something to eat. He got lost in thought, remembering the past, when movement next to him caught his eye. There was a young man tossing out his fishing line into the water and reeling it back in. Pryde went over to him~
Pryde: It is a nice morning for fishing.
Young Man: Yes it is. Although the fish aren’t biting.
Pryde: I wouldn’t think this pond would have too many fish in it.
Young Man: They restock it every week for the ducks. But I haven’t caught anything in three weeks, so maybe they aren’t doing it now. Are you a fisherman?
~The young man casts again and looks at Pryde for the first time. He looks surprised by the mask and takes a step away. Before Pryde can grab him, the young man falls backwards into the shallow water of the pool. Pryde steps in to help him up and gets the fishing pole out of the water too~
Pryde: Sorry I did not mean to scare you. I am not a mugger, I am a professional wrestler. I have to wear the mask when I am out in public.
Young Man: Fuck, I am soaked! It was cold too! And smelly!
Pryde: That is the joy of fishing in February.
Young Man: I was hoping to catch something but not a cold! I need to go change now.
Pryde: I will watch your equipment, you go change. Maybe I will have better luck catching a fish.
~The young man does not want to leave his stuff but he is shivering and needs to get out of the cold air. He walks away as Pryde picks up the fishing pole and gets it cast back out in the lake. Fishing is always a good thing to do when you need to think about things. Time goes by and Pryde casts out but there is no bites. The fish are not taking the bait. As Pryde casts again, Grant walks up having been looking for him~
Grant: Did you go out and buy a fishing reel? Or was that hidden in your suitcase?
Pryde: Another guy is letting me use it. He should be back soon.
Grant: Oh. I didn't know you knew how to fish.
Pryde: You cast it out and reel it in, it's not hard.
~Grant can tell Pryde is doing it wrong but he does not say anything~
Grant: Crystal left. I don’t know if she will be at the arena on Monday or not.
~Pryde has nothing to say to this. They fish in silence for a while~
Grant: You know she still loves you, don’t you?
Pryde: If she does, she is hiding it well.
Grant: Trust me. A brother knows these things about his sister. She married you not because you were a wrestler, but because of who you are inside.
Pryde: But that person was not enough for her.
Grant: Not with all the self-loathing and hate you piled upon yourself. That was hard for anyone who loves you to watch.
~Pryde knows there were dark times. Times when he couldn’t look at his own reflection in the mirror. He looks at himself now, reflected in the pond, wearing the mask~
Pryde: Have I gotten better, Grant? Or worse?
Grant: I think you are better, and I told Crystal that too. It doesn’t matter how she or the rest of our family feels, I am not backing down. I will be there ready for anything you need help with.
Pryde: You are a great friend, Grant. One of my only friends. Thank you.
Grant: Don’t mention it.
~The young man returns wearing a different shirt and jeans. He looks at the new person to see what is happening. Pryde hands him the fishing pole~
Pryde: Here is your fishing rod. I am sorry for your clothes. Do you need some money to get them cleaned?
Young Man: They are clothes meant to be dirtied up. I’m sorry I overreacted to the mask.
Pryde: I hope the fish start biting.
Young Man: Me too.
~Pryde and Grant turn and walk away. The young man pulls on the reel but the line is snagged on a branch out in the pond. He starts to work on freeing it from where it got poorly thrown. Pryde and Grant don’t see this~
Grant: I got a call from a local gym. They are a contact for us to use to train up for Monday night. Do you want to head there?
Pryde: Let me get my workout gear and we will go. I could use a good work-out to clear my mind. And I need to be at the top of my game to beat Santos.
Grant: I wouldn’t worry. I think you will beat him quicker than you think.
Pryde: If I want this run to mean something, I will need to.
Grant: I’ve got your back. Speaking of, once we’re done training, let’s go to a bar and see if that mask is still good at attracting the ladies.
~Pryde and Grant walk off~
The travelling is over. It is all about preparation now. The first step in my transformation now lies before me. I cannot stumble now.
I still have someone backing me up. That alone gives me a boost of confidence in myself. I am not alone in my fight for a better life. Maybe Crystal and I will never be together again. Maybe my family will never support what I do. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
All that matters is that Grant is in my corner, that Dean has faith in me, and that I know I can win at Massacre. I can be a winner. I can become what I have hoped to be. It all lies before me.
In the old stories, Pryde was the deadliest of all the sins. The leader of Hell, Lucifer, was taken down by it. Pryde always comes before a fall, and as one devil goes, so will another. Prepare for the fall, Santos. I hope you survive it.