Post by Crash Rodriguez on Aug 8, 2021 20:37:39 GMT -5
A private jet flies through the cloud littered, cool blue sky. Louis Pohl and Crash Rodriguez are seated across from each other within. As their plane soars through the skies, the Crooked Man keeps his attention out the window. Lou's eyes dart around the plane, glancing at the bottles of alcohol, peering at a young stewardess and then finally his eyes fall to his client. He reaches over, tapping the recent OCW signee on the knee with the back of his hand.
"Now this is what I'm talking about. See, I told you only the best for the best. This is the life we deserve. Private jets, some beautiful bimbo bringing us fancy cocktails, travelling the world. How's it feel? Finally getting what you wanted. What you deserve."
The Crooked Man raises an eyebrow. The OCW signee raises his hand, and rubs it through his beard. Lou glances up and sees Crash looking rather unamused. Lou ponders if he said something wrong, maybe insulted his client somehow. He glances back at the airline hostess and waves to her, grabbing her attention.
"Could you bring us the best tequila you got and two glasses? Oh! And bring us some of that top shelf scotch everybody always talks about? Yeah? Thank you."
The woman smiles and nods before walking off. The former attorney watches the girl's posterior as she goes to fulfill the request, despite how demeaning the man was. Gotta make a living somehow. Crash shakes his head, disapproving of the lack of seriousness from his representation. Lou catches this and quickly goes to defend himself.
"All play and no work makes you a fucking bore, yenno that? Like Christ, live a little man. More to this life than barbed wire and flaming folding chairs. You think your opponent is sitting in his private jet, brooding like some kind of pissed off high school girl?"
Crash gives Lou a look, his eyes stuck to Lou's as his brow begins to wrinkle. The stewardess places the glasses and bottle on the table between them. Lou begins to adjust his collar, realizing he must now calm down Crash.
"Hey, hey! I'm just making a joke. Didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted you to see things how I see it. Get you a fresh perspective of the whole deal. You're back. You are back in OCW, in front of that crowd, doing what you do best. This September those stadium lights will come up and the rules will go out the damn window. And when those rules go out, that’s when you get to do what you love. What you really want to do.. Hurting people. Maiming people. Breaking people. See, you got all that you’ve asked for so far, and to me, that's a cause for celebration, my friend."
Lou begins to pour a glass of tequila for his client, and scotch for himself. As the brown liquor fills, Pohl begins to think back.
Lou sits at his desk, leaning back in his chair and massaging between his eyes. Business hasn't been doing well, between questionable cases taken and with his spending habits the profits have floundered.
"Dear God, help me out. I don't ask for much. I just need a win to-"
His desk phone rings and he picks it up, his secretary's voice sounds from the otherside.
"Uhm sir, there's somebody here to see you. He, however, doesn't have appointme-"
"Send him in"
Lou settles himself into his chair, fixing his poster and folding his hands before him. The doorknob turns and the door swings open violently, smashing into the wall creating a hole.
"What the absolute fuck? You must be the…"
Lou stops himself right before he can insult the man's mental fortitude. He sees the man before him, but fails to recognize him as OCW rookie Crash Rodriguez. He just sees a headcase at best. Realizing he should watch his words, not only for the good of his shoddy law firm, but perhaps his own safety, after all the man seems rather unhinged.
"Never mind. What can I do for you?"
"What do you know about contracts and negotiations?"
"Enough to be the best lawyer in Key West. Pull up a chair."
Louis is brought back to his senses after Crash clinks his glass on the table between them. Lou quietly watches El Vagabundo, remembering the squealing voice his client had. The Crash in front of him seems so different, so much more intense. A lot has changed since the first time Crash signed with OCW, Lou thinks to himself.
"I'm proud of you. The man before me. I mean, it's unbelievable, kid. A whole new you, a better you. I promise you, you're going places."
Crash raises an eye at Lou, unsure as to where he’s going with this. He's known Lou for a long while now, and not once has he seen the man get sentimental.
"If you are going to die, kill yourself or anything along those lines. Please, wait until after the plane lands."
Crash's words stun Lou, bringing the smug ex-attorney back to reality. Crash doesn't see him as a friend, just a tool. As sad as that makes him, Lou digests the realization rather quickly. He rationalizes it, tool or not, he’s been taken care of. There’s not much left to turn to, his old law firm closed, and his shoddy character plagues him. No redeemable firm would dare entertain the idea of his employment, no matter how talented he is.
"No. I ain't planning on nothing like that."
Lou takes a sip of his scotch, as he keeps his eyes on his drink. His throat was slightly stung by the liquor.
"I just meant, you've changed for the better and I'm glad I've been able to help with that process. Look, I've never had kids of my own, the closest thing I got is my sister's good for nothing son. I like to imagine this is that fatherly pride shit I hear people go on about, yenno what I mean?"
The Crooked Man eyes his empty glass, anticipating his refill. Lou notices and fills it back up, as he forces a small smile. As Pohl screws the lid back on, Crash chugs the glass as if it's a shot glass to the shock of his representation. Louis shakes himself back to the matter at hand.
"I'm just saying. I'm proud and those people love you. Everywhere you go, eyes will be glued, OCW is lucky to have you. Thank God for Tony Savage, the man almost makes up for that punk ass Leo kid. You know I'm surprised he hasn't ended up fucking dead. Nobody likes him."
"Get to the point, Lou."
Lou stops his ramblings. He sits a second trying to gather his thoughts and choose the right words.
"To put it simply. My pride isn't misplaced. You're not only the best you've ever been, you're beyond what anybody could have ever expected. Whether you're up against some pissant kid named Ian or the entire OCW Hall of Fame, you have something nobody on the roster, past, present or future will ever have."
"You?"
Crash asks behind a faint chuckle, as he finds Lou being his 'X Factor' to be nothing short of laughable.
"You flatter me. No asshole, you have that instinct. That unteachable edge. You survive and accomplish anything you want at all costs. You'll cut off your right leg and hobble your ass up a fucking mountain just to kill something with your bare fucking hands and eat it. You'll sacrifice your body to make sure your opponent's is worse off. I 100% believe you'll die killing your own fucking killer. The walking embodiment of destruction. You're a goddamn boogeyman.
Louis Pohl is on the edge of his seat, staring at Crash Rodriguez. The Crooked Man sits nodding his head as he soaks up the crooked attorney's words. Pohl loosens his collar attempting to regain his composure. He looks over at Crash, waiting for any reaction from his client. The seconds count by, and time creeps to minutes. Lou begins to speak, desperately wanting to cut through the tension on the plane.
"I'm sor-"
"You are absolutely right, Lou."
As Crash's words hit Lou's ears, a wave of relief settles over him. He smiles as he leans back and sips on his scotch. Crash faintly smiles at Lou before turning to look out the window. Perhaps Lou had it wrong, maybe somewhere deep inside the Crooked Man is a heart after all. Perhaps Lou isn't a tool, but really is a comrade. Rather quickly the thought fades away from Lou. Reality settles in, but at least for now he can relax, knowing all is well between him and his client. As Lou brings his scotch to his lips, Crash pours himself another glass of tequila and turns to Lou.
"One other thing."
Lou tenses up, as the liquor hits his throat.
"Don't hurt yourself."
Lou gulps down his drink, as he nods happily.
"Don't worry, kid, I'll be fine"
"Now this is what I'm talking about. See, I told you only the best for the best. This is the life we deserve. Private jets, some beautiful bimbo bringing us fancy cocktails, travelling the world. How's it feel? Finally getting what you wanted. What you deserve."
The Crooked Man raises an eyebrow. The OCW signee raises his hand, and rubs it through his beard. Lou glances up and sees Crash looking rather unamused. Lou ponders if he said something wrong, maybe insulted his client somehow. He glances back at the airline hostess and waves to her, grabbing her attention.
"Could you bring us the best tequila you got and two glasses? Oh! And bring us some of that top shelf scotch everybody always talks about? Yeah? Thank you."
The woman smiles and nods before walking off. The former attorney watches the girl's posterior as she goes to fulfill the request, despite how demeaning the man was. Gotta make a living somehow. Crash shakes his head, disapproving of the lack of seriousness from his representation. Lou catches this and quickly goes to defend himself.
"All play and no work makes you a fucking bore, yenno that? Like Christ, live a little man. More to this life than barbed wire and flaming folding chairs. You think your opponent is sitting in his private jet, brooding like some kind of pissed off high school girl?"
Crash gives Lou a look, his eyes stuck to Lou's as his brow begins to wrinkle. The stewardess places the glasses and bottle on the table between them. Lou begins to adjust his collar, realizing he must now calm down Crash.
"Hey, hey! I'm just making a joke. Didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted you to see things how I see it. Get you a fresh perspective of the whole deal. You're back. You are back in OCW, in front of that crowd, doing what you do best. This September those stadium lights will come up and the rules will go out the damn window. And when those rules go out, that’s when you get to do what you love. What you really want to do.. Hurting people. Maiming people. Breaking people. See, you got all that you’ve asked for so far, and to me, that's a cause for celebration, my friend."
Lou begins to pour a glass of tequila for his client, and scotch for himself. As the brown liquor fills, Pohl begins to think back.
Summer, 2019
"Dear God, help me out. I don't ask for much. I just need a win to-"
His desk phone rings and he picks it up, his secretary's voice sounds from the otherside.
"Uhm sir, there's somebody here to see you. He, however, doesn't have appointme-"
"Send him in"
Lou settles himself into his chair, fixing his poster and folding his hands before him. The doorknob turns and the door swings open violently, smashing into the wall creating a hole.
"What the absolute fuck? You must be the…"
Lou stops himself right before he can insult the man's mental fortitude. He sees the man before him, but fails to recognize him as OCW rookie Crash Rodriguez. He just sees a headcase at best. Realizing he should watch his words, not only for the good of his shoddy law firm, but perhaps his own safety, after all the man seems rather unhinged.
"Never mind. What can I do for you?"
"What do you know about contracts and negotiations?"
"Enough to be the best lawyer in Key West. Pull up a chair."
Present Day
"I'm proud of you. The man before me. I mean, it's unbelievable, kid. A whole new you, a better you. I promise you, you're going places."
Crash raises an eye at Lou, unsure as to where he’s going with this. He's known Lou for a long while now, and not once has he seen the man get sentimental.
"If you are going to die, kill yourself or anything along those lines. Please, wait until after the plane lands."
Crash's words stun Lou, bringing the smug ex-attorney back to reality. Crash doesn't see him as a friend, just a tool. As sad as that makes him, Lou digests the realization rather quickly. He rationalizes it, tool or not, he’s been taken care of. There’s not much left to turn to, his old law firm closed, and his shoddy character plagues him. No redeemable firm would dare entertain the idea of his employment, no matter how talented he is.
"No. I ain't planning on nothing like that."
Lou takes a sip of his scotch, as he keeps his eyes on his drink. His throat was slightly stung by the liquor.
"I just meant, you've changed for the better and I'm glad I've been able to help with that process. Look, I've never had kids of my own, the closest thing I got is my sister's good for nothing son. I like to imagine this is that fatherly pride shit I hear people go on about, yenno what I mean?"
The Crooked Man eyes his empty glass, anticipating his refill. Lou notices and fills it back up, as he forces a small smile. As Pohl screws the lid back on, Crash chugs the glass as if it's a shot glass to the shock of his representation. Louis shakes himself back to the matter at hand.
"I'm just saying. I'm proud and those people love you. Everywhere you go, eyes will be glued, OCW is lucky to have you. Thank God for Tony Savage, the man almost makes up for that punk ass Leo kid. You know I'm surprised he hasn't ended up fucking dead. Nobody likes him."
"Get to the point, Lou."
Lou stops his ramblings. He sits a second trying to gather his thoughts and choose the right words.
"To put it simply. My pride isn't misplaced. You're not only the best you've ever been, you're beyond what anybody could have ever expected. Whether you're up against some pissant kid named Ian or the entire OCW Hall of Fame, you have something nobody on the roster, past, present or future will ever have."
"You?"
Crash asks behind a faint chuckle, as he finds Lou being his 'X Factor' to be nothing short of laughable.
"You flatter me. No asshole, you have that instinct. That unteachable edge. You survive and accomplish anything you want at all costs. You'll cut off your right leg and hobble your ass up a fucking mountain just to kill something with your bare fucking hands and eat it. You'll sacrifice your body to make sure your opponent's is worse off. I 100% believe you'll die killing your own fucking killer. The walking embodiment of destruction. You're a goddamn boogeyman.
Louis Pohl is on the edge of his seat, staring at Crash Rodriguez. The Crooked Man sits nodding his head as he soaks up the crooked attorney's words. Pohl loosens his collar attempting to regain his composure. He looks over at Crash, waiting for any reaction from his client. The seconds count by, and time creeps to minutes. Lou begins to speak, desperately wanting to cut through the tension on the plane.
"I'm sor-"
"You are absolutely right, Lou."
As Crash's words hit Lou's ears, a wave of relief settles over him. He smiles as he leans back and sips on his scotch. Crash faintly smiles at Lou before turning to look out the window. Perhaps Lou had it wrong, maybe somewhere deep inside the Crooked Man is a heart after all. Perhaps Lou isn't a tool, but really is a comrade. Rather quickly the thought fades away from Lou. Reality settles in, but at least for now he can relax, knowing all is well between him and his client. As Lou brings his scotch to his lips, Crash pours himself another glass of tequila and turns to Lou.
"One other thing."
Lou tenses up, as the liquor hits his throat.
"Don't hurt yourself."
Lou gulps down his drink, as he nods happily.
"Don't worry, kid, I'll be fine"