Post by Jay Stevens on Feb 19, 2022 17:11:49 GMT -5
Jay Stevens' morning routine is about more than just the physical benefits, it's a time that his thoughts can be set free and just focus on the task at hand. It's practically a religious experience at this point. A daily spiritual journey into his own mind.
Or it's just a lot of running and exercise.
Either way, Jay concludes each solo workout back at the TDU. The new exterior signs have been placed, huge collegiate style block letters, black with white trim. At night they glow brightly like a beacon to the weary, screaming "wrestling happens here."
As Jay strolls through the parking lot he sees several cars are already present in the early morning hour, the only one he recognizes being Nicole Anderson's bright purple Dodge Challenger.
Before even reaching the front door, he is met with the sonic assault of the music blaring from within the facility. Rock? Metal? Hip-Hop? Classical? Unknown. The decibel level is so extreme that the only discernible trait is “loud”.
Jay enters the building and the deafening squeal of grindcore screaming vocals pierces his ears. A group of young men and women are running the ropes in one of the rings, a few more are using the free weights. In the center of the room, "Kid Dynamite" Nicole Anderson stands on the huge open mat, dancing and tumbling with her back to the door.
"Nicole!"
Jay yells out, trying to get the young woman's attention through the noise. He yells again as he approaches, to no avail. He kicks his shoes off as he reaches the mat and taps her on the shoulder.
"What the fuck?!"
Anderson screams as she spins to face Stevens. Her brow furrows as she tries to understand what Jay is saying, trying to read his lips. She nods and then removes her AirPods.
Anderson [yelling]: Holy shit, why is it so loud in here?
Stevens [also yelling]: You tell me!
Anderson reaches into her leggings and removes a remote control, turning the volume down to a near palatable level. The group in the ring cheers in relief.
Anderson: Weird, I thought they liked it. Anyway, what's up?
Stevens: I'm surprised you're here so early. And who are they?
Anderson: New students. We keep getting applications but it took someone with drive, brains and beauty to actually look through them. And that cancels you and Dusty out right away.
She smirks as Jay acquiesces with a nod. Before he can even gather his thoughts, his eyes widen at the sight before him.
Anderson: What? You see a ghost?
He points to the distance where The Old Man, the faithful companion of Dusty Griffith, starts sauntering toward them. Wearing an oversized white tee shirt with DIY neon puffy paint letters spelling "KDNA" with a heart and carrying a pair of blinged-out noise canceling headphones in his mouth.
Stevens: What did you do to him?
Anderson: I made him comfortable! Come here, boy!
The Old Man trots toward Anderson and heels at her feet as she crouches down to pet him.
Anderson: Aww, did your headphones fall off? Is Jay being too loud for you? Here, let me fix this.
She places the headphones back over his ears and then reaches to her back, removing her sunglasses from her waistband and putting them on the grizzled dog. She looks up to Jay, beaming with pride.
Anderson: Look at him, he fancy now.
Stevens: Dusty is going to kill you.
Nicole shakes her head dismissively and motions for Jay and the dog to follow her to the office. Once they arrive, The Old Man excitedly shoots into the room and dives into a huge, plush, crushed velvet dog bed, pink in color. Stevens' shocked gaze continues as T.O.M. circles in his bed, grabs a Louis Vuitton bag in his mouth and cuddles it.
Stevens: His bed is nicer than mine.
Anderson: Because he deserves nice things. Don't you, boy?
The Old Man gnaws at the expensive purse in seeming agreement. The two humans sit down around the desk.
Anderson: So you're here early too, you want to get in the ring with the newbies and throw them around for a bit? Get warmed up for the Cup?
Stevens: I'm ready. I don't need to get warmed up.
Nicole perks up in surprise.
Anderson: Wait, you don't want to work out? Are you feeling okay?
She touches the back of her hand to his forehead, "checking his temperature." He sweeps her away as she laughs.
Stevens: I'm good. For real. The work is done, Nic. I don't even know who I'm facing and I don't really care who it is, I know what I want to happen and that's up to everyone else involved to make it happen.
Anderson: Cool, but if you could choose, who do you want to see in the Finals?
Stevens: Eddie Havok. Time saved him when we wrestled, it won't be there to save him again.
Anderson: Time's up.
Stevens: Indeed.
Anderson: Hey, want to see something else I got?
Stevens: I don't know…
She hops up and walks to her locker. After digging into her bag, she proudly turns around holding a thick gold rope chain with a large pendant hanging from it, a diamond-encrusted "T.O.M." charm.
Stevens: No.
Anderson nods grinning.
Anderson: Oh yes.
Almost as soon as she hangs the chain around the neck of the pup, a voice booms over everything from the gym.
"You guys ready to go yet?"
The voice of Dusty Griffith.
"I know it's early but it's time to get it moving."
The voice gets louder as Dusty gets closer to the office. He whistles and The Old Man springs to his feet, sprinting out of the office, still carrying the bag in his mouth.
Stevens: You're dead.
There is a long silence before Dusty is heard again.
Griffith: The hell are you wearing?!
Anderson hops to her feet and claps her hands.
Anderson: See? He loves it.
Stevens sighs and follows Anderson out to meet Griffith and the coolest dog in the world.
End.
Or it's just a lot of running and exercise.
Either way, Jay concludes each solo workout back at the TDU. The new exterior signs have been placed, huge collegiate style block letters, black with white trim. At night they glow brightly like a beacon to the weary, screaming "wrestling happens here."
As Jay strolls through the parking lot he sees several cars are already present in the early morning hour, the only one he recognizes being Nicole Anderson's bright purple Dodge Challenger.
Before even reaching the front door, he is met with the sonic assault of the music blaring from within the facility. Rock? Metal? Hip-Hop? Classical? Unknown. The decibel level is so extreme that the only discernible trait is “loud”.
Jay enters the building and the deafening squeal of grindcore screaming vocals pierces his ears. A group of young men and women are running the ropes in one of the rings, a few more are using the free weights. In the center of the room, "Kid Dynamite" Nicole Anderson stands on the huge open mat, dancing and tumbling with her back to the door.
"Nicole!"
Jay yells out, trying to get the young woman's attention through the noise. He yells again as he approaches, to no avail. He kicks his shoes off as he reaches the mat and taps her on the shoulder.
"What the fuck?!"
Anderson screams as she spins to face Stevens. Her brow furrows as she tries to understand what Jay is saying, trying to read his lips. She nods and then removes her AirPods.
Anderson [yelling]: Holy shit, why is it so loud in here?
Stevens [also yelling]: You tell me!
Anderson reaches into her leggings and removes a remote control, turning the volume down to a near palatable level. The group in the ring cheers in relief.
Anderson: Weird, I thought they liked it. Anyway, what's up?
Stevens: I'm surprised you're here so early. And who are they?
Anderson: New students. We keep getting applications but it took someone with drive, brains and beauty to actually look through them. And that cancels you and Dusty out right away.
She smirks as Jay acquiesces with a nod. Before he can even gather his thoughts, his eyes widen at the sight before him.
Anderson: What? You see a ghost?
He points to the distance where The Old Man, the faithful companion of Dusty Griffith, starts sauntering toward them. Wearing an oversized white tee shirt with DIY neon puffy paint letters spelling "KDNA" with a heart and carrying a pair of blinged-out noise canceling headphones in his mouth.
Stevens: What did you do to him?
Anderson: I made him comfortable! Come here, boy!
The Old Man trots toward Anderson and heels at her feet as she crouches down to pet him.
Anderson: Aww, did your headphones fall off? Is Jay being too loud for you? Here, let me fix this.
She places the headphones back over his ears and then reaches to her back, removing her sunglasses from her waistband and putting them on the grizzled dog. She looks up to Jay, beaming with pride.
Anderson: Look at him, he fancy now.
Stevens: Dusty is going to kill you.
Nicole shakes her head dismissively and motions for Jay and the dog to follow her to the office. Once they arrive, The Old Man excitedly shoots into the room and dives into a huge, plush, crushed velvet dog bed, pink in color. Stevens' shocked gaze continues as T.O.M. circles in his bed, grabs a Louis Vuitton bag in his mouth and cuddles it.
Stevens: His bed is nicer than mine.
Anderson: Because he deserves nice things. Don't you, boy?
The Old Man gnaws at the expensive purse in seeming agreement. The two humans sit down around the desk.
Anderson: So you're here early too, you want to get in the ring with the newbies and throw them around for a bit? Get warmed up for the Cup?
Stevens: I'm ready. I don't need to get warmed up.
Nicole perks up in surprise.
Anderson: Wait, you don't want to work out? Are you feeling okay?
She touches the back of her hand to his forehead, "checking his temperature." He sweeps her away as she laughs.
Stevens: I'm good. For real. The work is done, Nic. I don't even know who I'm facing and I don't really care who it is, I know what I want to happen and that's up to everyone else involved to make it happen.
Anderson: Cool, but if you could choose, who do you want to see in the Finals?
Stevens: Eddie Havok. Time saved him when we wrestled, it won't be there to save him again.
Anderson: Time's up.
Stevens: Indeed.
Anderson: Hey, want to see something else I got?
Stevens: I don't know…
She hops up and walks to her locker. After digging into her bag, she proudly turns around holding a thick gold rope chain with a large pendant hanging from it, a diamond-encrusted "T.O.M." charm.
Stevens: No.
Anderson nods grinning.
Anderson: Oh yes.
Almost as soon as she hangs the chain around the neck of the pup, a voice booms over everything from the gym.
"You guys ready to go yet?"
The voice of Dusty Griffith.
"I know it's early but it's time to get it moving."
The voice gets louder as Dusty gets closer to the office. He whistles and The Old Man springs to his feet, sprinting out of the office, still carrying the bag in his mouth.
Stevens: You're dead.
There is a long silence before Dusty is heard again.
Griffith: The hell are you wearing?!
Anderson hops to her feet and claps her hands.
Anderson: See? He loves it.
Stevens sighs and follows Anderson out to meet Griffith and the coolest dog in the world.
End.
