Post by Peter Vaughn on Oct 8, 2023 1:37:23 GMT
The Present
~The picture comes up on the entrance to a chapel at the Resthaven Funeral Home. There are a few solemn older men there in suits, greeting people as they enter and politely telling them where they should go for the upcoming service. Next to them, we see a large poster propped up on an easel, made specifically for today's tragic day.~
~A shadow crosses the open doorway, momentarily blocking out the sunlight coming in. Peter Vaughn walks into the entryway, dressed more formally than usual. The coveralls are gone for once, as Vaughn is dressed in a nice suit, more fitting for a sad event like this. He walks over, talking briefly with the two men and shaking their hands, before turning and staring at the poster of the man being buried today. Vaughn studies it closely, his thoughts turning back to many years ago.~
The Past
~Two boys, likely only in their teens at most, come running around the corner of the apartment building hallway, laughing as they try to outrun the other.~
Peter: I've got you now, Jar!
Jeffrey: In your dreams, Petey!
~They both rush around the next corner... and nearly crash into the arms of an older man, who catches them both easily, holding onto them.~
Mr. Vaughn: Whoa! What's the rush, kiddos? You're going to break your necks racing through here like that... or worse off, break mine, hah!
~Both of the younger kids chuckle as Mr. Vaughn lifts them up briefly, before putting them back on the ground. He winces slightly, his back likely feeling the usual aches and pains of being a janitor for the entire apartment building. They keep him busy, to put it mildly.~
Peter: Sorry, dad, we just wanted to see who was faster!
Jeffrey: And I had you, Petey, I was just starting to pull away!
Peter: Not a chance, I was going to blow past you on that turn, and you know it!
Jeffrey: Then I guess we're not done racing!
Peter: Guess not!
~Both grinning, the two boys set up to start again, only to have Mr. Vaughn step in front of them.~
Mr. Vaughn: Hold on, guys. I appreciate your spirit, but I just got done mopping the next stretch of the floor, so it's pretty slippery.
Peter: You don't understand, Dad...
Jeffrey: ... That makes it even MORE fun!
~With a laughing yell, both kids sprint around Mr. Vaughn, flying down the hallway. Mr. Vaughn watches them go, shaking his head in amusement at the unstoppable energy of youth. He walks away, laughing to himself. We rejoin the kids as they've continued their race, flying up a set of stairs all the way to the top. Jeffrey narrowly gets there first, but he's stopped by the roof door, which is, of course, locked. Peter, though, comes up next to him, brandishing the keys he 'borrowed' from his dad, and easily gets the door open. They move out onto the roof, over to a shady spot where they can sit and look out across the landscape of Dallas. Peter, ever the gracious loser, hands over a bag of candy to Jeffrey, who, as a gracious winner, lets Peter have a few as well.~
Peter: So did you see the Gloria Sternum today? In that white dress?
Jeffrey: Nope, I missed her. But I'm not surprised. Were you staring at her again? You know that makes Billy & Tomas angry when they catch you at it.
Peter: If they don't see it, they'll just come after me for some other reason. Damn bullies.
Jeffrey: You need to stop listening to your dad and stand up for yourself. Make them back off.
Peter: I know, I know... but back to Gloria. She was amazing-looking today. Red hair and a white dress really go together.
~Stars seem to fill Peter's eyes, or maybe it's hearts. Either way, it's a far cry from the barely-emotional Peter Vaughn of today.~
Peter: I'm going to marry her someday, you know.
~Jeffrey lets out a loud laugh, before popping another candy in his mouth.~
Jeffrey: Really? You marry Gorgeous Gloria, huh?
Peter: She will be mine, oh yes... she will be mine. And you, my friend, will be my best man.
Jeffrey: It would be my honor, sir Vaughnie...
~Jeffrey then tosses another candy at Peter, catching him on the back of the head. Rather than being annoyed, Peter gets up, still grinning and grabs some candy to throw back himself. The two friends go at it, laughing, as the picture cuts away.~
The Present
~Peter Vaughn walks past the poster and into the chapel, making his way down the aisle. As he walks, he looks to the left and right, recognizing a few of the people who were there. People who knew Jeffrey in school, the same time as Peter. Many of them probably wouldn't recognize him for that, although some might see him as the seven-time World Champion he currently is. Vaughn stops for a moment and talks with some of Jeffrey's extended family, people who remembered them from their time in the apartment building, before everything changed. But Vaughn's eyes are still searching the crowd, until he spots what he's looking for: a red-headed woman in a dark dress, standing up near the front. She's turned away from us, clearly in mourning, feeling the loss like many others in the room.~
~Vaughn can't help but stare at her, just like he used to do back in school. It's a habit that he apparently hasn't been able to break, even after all these years, and despite so many changes. He just has to stare, no matter what...~
The Past
~The younger Peter Vaughn's face gets smashed forward, banging into the locker in front of him and eliciting a cry of pain from him. He staggers back, rubbing at the new knot on his forehead, as he's spun around by a larger teen and grabbed by the arms.~
Tomas: You're such a klutz, aren't you, Vaughn?
~Tomas laughs, with the two kids behind him joining in. You know who they are. Every school has a group like them, inferior thinkers who band together to be troublemakers and bullies. Unfortunately, Peter has been in their crosshairs for a long while, since it was revealed that he was the son of a janitor. Kids can really be cruel.~
Tomas: So I hear you were staring at girls again. You can't control yourself, can you, Vaughn? Don't you know it creeps everyone out? You're a freak, Vaughn, you shouldn't even be here!
~Agreeing, Billy steps in, shoving Peter back into the locker. In a moment of not thinking, Peter comes right back, shoving Billy... who trips over Tomas and sprawls backwards to the ground. Everyone looks shocked, including Peter. It just... happened.~
Tomas: Oh, now you're a tough guy, huh?
Peter: I... I didn't...
~Before Vaughn can say anything more, Tomas' fist lands in his gut, doubling him over. The crowd starts cheering for a fight, even though they know this one's completely one-sided. Billy and the other kid are already going to join in, swinging away, as Peter fights to get free. He looks down the corridor, towards where Gloria had been... and now sees Jeffrey standing there, staring at him with his mouth wide open. Peter's eyes are pleading... but Jeffrey instead turns, quickly walking away in the other direction, not wanting to get involved. Peter can only watch, at least for a few seconds, before another shot sends him down on the ground, where he can be kicked by all three teens easier. The picture blacks out to the sound of the kicks landing.~
~When the shot comes back up, we find ourselves in the nurse's area, where Peter is getting a few new bandages added on by the grumpy nurse. Peter looks completely disheartened, his head lowered, more beaten than we've ever seen him in the wrestling world. Nearby, we can hear two voices arguing loudly in the hallway, with neither man knowing that they are being overheard.~
Mr. Vaughn: This is completely unacceptable! Nobody's getting punished? NOBODY??
Principal: Please keep your voice down, Mr. Vaughn. This IS a school, after all.
Mr. Vaughn: Exactly! It's a school, not a fight club! And yet my son is getting attacked by a whole gang, and you're letting it slide! Who are these kids that you aren't willing to cross them? Was this the Armenta kids again? They pay you off to get them out of trouble?
Principal: That is a complete fabrication of yours, Mr. Vaughn. I am NOT bought and paid for! The truth is that nobody has stepped forward to corroborate what happened in the hallway, so we have two different stories.
Mr. Vaughn: So none of these kids were willing to step forward?
Principal: None. There are simply no witnesses. No teachers saw what happened. So there's really nothing we can do.
~Vaughn's head droops lower, as he listens to the fact that there are "no witnesses". He knows the truth... but sometimes the truth isn't enough.~
Mr. Vaughn: My son deserves better than this, Dan. If you're not going to do anything, maybe I'll take this to the board.
Principal: *laughs* If you feel like you need to, then you may do so. But don't expect them to take a... custodian... that seriously.
~The principal then walks away, probably a good idea, or else he might have found himself getting slugged himself. Mr. Vaughn then steps through the doorway, looking around for a moment as if surprised it was open. He looks over at his dejected son, letting out a painful sigh, before walking over to him and giving him a one-armed hug.~
Mr. Vaughn: C'mon, champ. Let's head home. We'll take a few days off from school, sound good?
~Vaughn says nothing, as his father leads him out through the doorway and down the hall...~
The Present
~Vaughn walks with one arm being held by an older woman, possibly the mother of the deceased. She introduces him to a few other family members, with Vaughn nodding politely when needed. He answers a few questions, thanks the mother for welcoming him, and then steps away. The woman has disappeared, likely off with another group, so Vaughn has nothing else in his way. He starts slowly walking down the aisle, looking down at first at his shoes. He glances up after a few steps, though, closing in on the casket waiting for him at the end of the chapel, near the podium.~
~Vaughn steps up to the open casket, looking inside at the man he once knew. It appears the former Mr. Ramsey is wearing his finest suit. It's unknown what he did during his life, but he likely earned at least a good salary during it. Vaughn's eyes glide across the man, focusing on one particular item: the ring sitting still on his finger, proof that vows don't always end at death. At least, not for him.~
The Past
~A more grown-up version of Peter Vaughn stands before us, wearing what appear to be hand-me-down coveralls. They've certainly been through a lot, as one would expect. Vaughn is currently working on mopping the hallway, making sure it's cleaned beautifully, showing that his perfectionism is one item that actually came from before "The Change". He finishes one more sweep across, nodding to himself, before jumping slightly at the sound behind him.~
Mr. Vaughn: You missed a spot.
~Mr. Vaughn, older now and clearly feeling his years, steps forward, grinning. He points to the left, where Peter glances over, but it's clear that he's just joking, as he pats his son on the shoulder.~
Mr. Vaughn: You've done good work, son. Really, though, I've told you, you don't have to take over so much work from me. You've got your whole life ahead of you.
Peter: I suppose. But I like helping you, Dad. It's good, honest work. And you need someone to help you get it done, or else that jerk of a landlord will throw us out.
Mr. Vaughn: I'm not saying I mind it, son. But don't you have a wedding to get ready for?
~Peter, startled, glances back at his father. He then lowers his head, before putting the mop back in its carrier.~
Peter: Who told you that?
Mr. Vaughn: The McPhersons were talking about it this morning. It's your old pal Jeffrey, right? Marrying that Gloria girl? From all I've heard, those two were really made for each other. Weren't you invited?
~Peter takes a moment before answering. He reaches into his top pocket, pulling out what does appear to be an invite.~
Peter: ... Yeah. Yeah, Jeffrey's family sent me a general one. Even gave me a +1 option.
Mr. Vaughn: So? Are you going? I'd be your plus 1, but I figure you probably have better choices, hah!
Peter: ... No, Dad. I'm not going. I... I have too much to get done around here. I told them I hoped they were... happy.
~Mr. Vaughn seems surprised, but after a second, he seems to understand. Fathers know many secrets, even if the son doesn't want to tell them.~
Mr. Vaughn: Okay, Peter. But still, you don't have to keep doing the work here. There has to be something else out there...
~As his father talks, Peter pulls out a second item from his pocket. It appears to be a newspaper clipping, taken from the want ads of the local paper.~
Peter: Actually, I was thinking of looking into something this afternoon. There's a local wrestling organization that's looking for custodial help. They're called the Global Championship Wrestling Association...
Mr. Vaughn: That's a mouthful. But maybe if they're paying better, we can start rebuilding your college fund, get that going again.
Peter: Sure, Dad... sure.
~With nothing more to say, Peter's father rests a hand on his arm, showing the love's there, if not the finances. He then turns and walks away, leaving Peter to consider his next move. It's an easy one, as the next hallway needs mopping as well. He moves off, dragging the mop bucket with him, as we fade away.~
The Present
~As Vaughn stands in front of Jeffrey's coffin, he looks down at his former friend with very little emotion shown. There are no tears. He is alone at the coffin, able to lean over and speak to him, the first time we've heard his current voice during this whole episode.~
Peter: It's been a long time, Jeffrey. This probably isn't how you saw our reunion taking place, was it? I suppose this shows that taking the safe route through life doesn't always mean you're going to have a long run, does it? You know, the old me would probably be remembering all the good times we had as kids. The new me, though? All I can remember is all the times you disappointed me. Is that too harsh to say at a man's funeral? Hell, you probably aren't hearing this anyway, so who cares.
~Vaughn turns, looking back around the chapel. He sees Gloria, his first love, standing off to the side, wiping her eyes with a tissue as she talks to another family friend.~
Peter: I wonder, Jeffrey... did you end up with her because of me? Did I end up altering your life's destiny that much? And because of that, because you were married to her, did that lead your life to the point where you died? Would you have lived longer, if we had never met? It's an intriguing question, isn't it? I know one thing... you changed my path irrevocably due to your actions. If you had stepped forward and helped me, maybe I wouldn't have felt like I needed to train so much to protect myself. If you hadn't taken Gloria away, maybe I wouldn't have considered taking that job with the GCWA... which would have meant I wouldn't have been thrown into a wrestling ring, I wouldn't have been brain-washed... and I wouldn't be the high-value superstar that I am today.
~Peter seems to think about that, nodding to himself, before turning once more to the body of the man he once knew.~
Peter: I suppose, in that regard, I ought to thank you. You ended up being one of the more influential people in my life. And now, my life continues. And yours... well, I hope you lived it well in the time that you had. Rest in peace, Jeffrey. Rest... in peace.
~The wrestler turns away for a second, about to leave. But after a moment, he turns back one more time, reaching into his pocket and pulling out what looks to be a small peppermint candy. He tosses it into the coffin, then turns and walks to a side door in the chapel, heading outside... leaving the dead man behind him.~
The Future
~The camera comes back on with Peter Vaughn sitting in a grassy area, sipping on a Texas Yellow Rose beer. He then tips it over, letting some pour out onto the ground, as he looks over in the distance... where it seems the final ceremony is taking place. Vaughn then looks towards the camera for the first time.~
Peter: Looks like it's time for another burial.
~Vaughn cracks a small grin before continuing on.~
Peter: So let's talk about the upcoming Denzel Porter Games. We're looking at some of the best wrestlers in the world today, all going at it for the right to be proclaimed the greatest currently. We have true champions like "Chronic" Chris Page and Goth, men I've fought before in some epic wars. There are guys I've heard about from other feds, like Dionysus and Gabrieal Baal, names that I've never had the opportunity to take on. And then you have guys like Larry Tact and J Mont, men I've beaten for World Titles fairly recently. Suffice to say, they can't be happy I'm in this tournament. But it was all about the luck of the draw, wasn't it? Some are getting easier match-ups, while some had terrifically bad pairings. One of those guys? Maxwell Mason Stone, the man who thinks he needs to use all three names. I mean, trait of a serial killer, but hey, I respect it. So, let's take a look at ol' Maxie.
~With a flourish, Vaughn pops open a rolled-up picture of Maxwell. It's not a pretty sight. Well, I guess it depends on your own feelings on the matter. The ugliest guys can still be seen as 'handsome' to the right woman, after all. Vaughn, though, is shaking his head.~
Peter: You'd think a guy named Mason would be more of a clean-cut type of guy, rather than a "hair-everywhere" bearded boyo. You do realize how many advantages that gives me, right, Maxie? I mean, using your hair against you has been a tried-and-true method of wrestlers for generations now. There's a reason I keep my hair so nice and tight, you know? Listen to a champion: get a trim, get a shave. Otherwise, you're going to pay for your hairy arrogance, trust me. Try and clean it up, okay? It'd be such an improvement.
~With that, Vaughn turns over the picture... showing an altered view of Maxwell Mason Stone with a bald head and no beard. Vaughn looks at it, shuddering for a second.~
Peter: Then again, I could be mistaken...
~Vaughn quickly flips the picture back around, showing the accurate version of the challenger. It will be hard for everyone to get that previous view out of their memory, however.~
Peter: So here we have MMS... man, what a strange decision, to go with three names and then abbreviate them so it sounds like a venereal disease or a worse version of PMS. It's certainly a choice, Maxie. But that's beside the point. I've been watching you for a bit now, Max. You had a few good runs over in IIW, the fed that J Mont killed. Course, you weren't able to keep it alive either, but it seems no one is blaming you for it. You did win some belts there, right? I suppose they still count, even if the fed itself has gone the way of the Dodo. I mean, you had to beat someone worthy to earn the gold, right? Oh... it was Fred Debonair? A guy who doesn't even exist anymore? .... Well, I suppose there are worse people you could have beaten to hold a lower-ranked belt.
~Vaughn has turned the picture towards himself, as if talking to Stone through it. He smirks, shaking his head.~
Peter: Still, it wasn't the big belt, was it? It wasn't even an Intercontinental Championship or even a European Championship. It was just based in one place: The UK. You couldn't get to the World Title, could you? That one was all Joe Montouri, as he went about destroying the federation. You couldn't stop him? You couldn't get in there and dethrone him, or at least break a leg or dislocate a shoulder? That might have saved IIW. But you failed there, Maxey. You failed. And your fed paid the price.
~The picture is lowered, made to look as if Stone is looking down, disappointed in himself. Of course, it's just a photo, so it doesn't really mean anything.~
Peter: But hey, you were able to shrug off that loss, right, Max? You said you were going to find somewhere else to ply your craft, earning yourself some bigger championships. You looked around, and it appears you made a decent choice in picking one of the best feds in the world today: Thunder Pro Wrestling. Of course it caught your attention, because I was making a lot of noise turning around the company by removing its handicaps, like Terry Marshall and Larry Tact. You could have come roaring into the company, all full of piss and vinegar, demanding your chance against me. But you didn't do that, did you, Maxie? What was it? A little bit of doubt, thinking that I'd just kick your teeth in right away? I can understand trying to avoid that, but still, it doesn't look that great in hindsigt, really.
~The picture is quickly crumpled up, with Vaughn taking pleasure in making it into a little projectile. Tossing the picture away towards the trash, Vaughn starts showing a closed fist to the camera.~
Peter: You decided that you should come into TPW under a mask, rather than being brave and coming right at the champions. Okay, I get it, some people want to stack up their wins against weaker competition. You'd start slow, win some lower titles, and then reveal, right? But that plan backfired in the Race To Thunder Mountain match, didn't it? You couldn't get it done against The Lost Soul, and he earned the Prestige Title shot instead of you. Then TLS gave it to CJ O'Donnell, who cashed in to become champion. So there's your first missed opportunity in TPW, Maxie.
~Vaughn raises one finger, and no, it's not the one you think. There's no reason to flip off the camera, people.~
Peter: But then, you have your big moment. You reveal yourself to the world as Max Stone, in an admittedly-cool video. You come out at Bohemian Bash ready to take the opportunity and win the battle royal, earning an International Title shot. But no, you blew that, too, didn't you? Cyrus Riddle tossed you out of that one, and once again, you missed your moment. Instead, Ava Arthur got the title shot, and all you had to show for it was a feud with Mac Bane.
~That brings up the second finger, still showing it to the camera and emphasizing Max's failures.~
Peter: So then you finish off your feud with Mac, and hey, you found a way to cheat to win, so good for you. I thought you were supposed to be a role model for the fans, but I suppose showing them that winning any way possible is the way to go. That's how I always do it. So you get past Mac, and then, there we have it, your third opportunity at a title match. All you had to do was beat Matthew Knox and Larry Tact, and you'd finally get that shot at my championship. But, uh... nope. You blew it for a third time. Knox gets to face me later on this year, and you, Max? You've struck out.
~With a third finger showing, Vaughn waves them in front of the camera, before lowering his hand and shaking his head.~
Peter: Honestly, Maxie, judging by your TPW record, I should be thinking of you as an easy victory in the first round of the tournament. But you know what, Maxwell? I'm not. Because I know, deep inside, you're capable of more. I've seen it. I've watched the videos on you, and I know that you could actually be a force again, if you could get your head straight after losing IIW. I have confidence that, eventually, you're going to start turning it around and become somebody again... and I don't mean by putting on another mash and calling yourself 666 or something.
~Vaughn nods, before grabbing up another bottle and popping the top. He takes a drink, still nodding, before facing the camera once more.~
Peter: But that turnaround, boyo? That's not happening in the DPG.
~With that, Vaughn throws the beer away. It lands in a nearby trash can, showing both Vaughn's accuracy and his decision not to litter, because it's everyone's responsibility to keep the world clean.~
Peter: Here's how it's going to go, Mms Stone. You're going to come in desperate to prove yourself, wanting to tear through me. I'm going to weather your attacks and begin to turn them against you. You're going to start panicking, thinking to yourself "Not again, I can't afford another embarrassing loss, somebody help me!" and who knows, maybe J Mont or some other IIW guy will show up to bail you out. I'll knock them cold as well, and then I'll come back and finish you with the Plunge of your life. After that... maybe I'll cash in some favors, start to see if I can turn things around for you in TPW. Maybe. You have potential... you just need someone to lead you to it. And maybe the Cabal is what can do it for you.
~Vaughn picks up the rest of his stuff, storing it away, before turning back one more time.~
Peter: Until then, though, Maxie, you're just going to have to deal with the fact that you aren't going to be advancing in the tournament. Not when you're going against someone like The Mechanic. Good luck to you. Good luck to all of the competitors who are going to be left for me to go to war with. I can't wait.
~With that, Vaughn gets the rest of the stuff in his truck, Gabriella, making sure he leaves a clean area. He then goes around, ready to get into the car, as people are slowly returning from the final ceremony. Right now, Jeffrey is being lowered into the ground, never to be seen again. Way too young to be buried, but that happens sometimes to people who don't deserve it. Sometimes it happens to ones that do deserve it, too. Vaughn shakes his head, doing one final nod in his direction, before getting into Gabriella. That's when the red-haired woman from earlier spots him, coming over.~
Gloria: Peter? Peter Vaughn? I thought I saw you earlier...
~Vaughn stops, a little surprised that Gloria remembers him. He reluctantly steps back out of the truck to greet her, rather than talking through the window.~
Peter: Uh... hi, Gloria. I'm... I'm sorry for your loss.
Gloria: Thank you, Peter. I know Jeffrey would have been happy that you made it here. I know you're pretty busy wrestling all over the world. Jeffrey and I always watched whenever we could.
Peter: ... Huh. I didn't think you guys would be keeping track. You had your own things to take care of, after all.
Gloria: Jeffrey always made the time for you. He was really hoping to hang on and see how you did in the Denzel Porter tournament. I'm sure he'll be watching from above, cheering you on as you break that Stone.
Peter: I'll... uh... I'll see what I can do in his name.
~Vaughn's looking a little awkward, but Gloria doesn't notice. She has more than enough on her mind. She does, however, get out her phone, looking for something in particular.~
Gloria: What's your phone number? I want to text you a picture I found...
~Still off-balance, Vaughn gives over his info, without showing it to the camera, of course. He doesn't need to be getting a ton of texts from all those rabid fans out there. Gloria quickly shoots over what she's found, sending it to his phone. Vaughn pops it open, staring at the picture stored there: a shot of Jeffrey and Peter as youngsters, each looking completely thrilled with whatever they just accomplished. The smiles can't be faked. Those were happy times. Vaughn clears his throat, before finally speaking.~
Peter: ... Thank you, Gloria. I appreciate this. More than you know.
Gloria: I'm glad I could give it to you. We'll talk soon, Peter.
~Gloria then walks off, headed back to the family members who are waiting for her, as Vaughn just stares at the picture on his phone, as if trying to sort something out. He finally closes the phone and gets into the truck, driving off without another word.~