Post by Ashleigh Grimes on Aug 12, 2016 18:36:23 GMT -5
*** ON CAMERA ***
The scene opens as you sit at the end of a long mahogany conference table. ME?! Yes you. The reason I say you is because this particular scene is shot from the first person perspective with the audience looking through the eyes of the individual seated at the table. With the advent of first person shooters, GoPro cameras and the first ever motion picture shot entirely from the first person perspective (Hardcore Henry); this technique is all the rage these days, so sit back and enjoy…
…only you don’t seem to be enjoying it. You can hear that you’re taking labored breaths as your eyes anxiously jump from one empty seat to the next. The room feels so big and you’re there all alone. You’re nervous… but why?
Looking down you adjust the sleeves of your suit jacket and note a set of designer cuff links; you’re male and judging by that Rolex on your wrist you’re wealthy. Maybe there’s nothing to fear after all. You’ve got this.
Your eyes are drawn to the door of the conference room as in walks Ashleigh Grimes, looking all business while dressed in a black pencil skirt and white blouse. She smiles warmly while closing the door behind her.
Ashleigh: I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long. Somebody always wants something; it’s the price you pay for being successful in this business.
She pauses to glance over at you.
Ashleigh: Which is why you find yourself with no place better to be than here.
One by one she closes the blinds along the windows that line the hallway.
Ashleigh: I don’t know about you but I find that for personal matters like this it’s best to have a little more privacy. You never know what might be said, how badly feelings might get hurt, if tissues will be required. Which reminds me…
She grabs a box of tissues from the far end of the table and tosses it. You catch it, setting it down in front of you. Ashleigh makes her way over to a small bar and fills a glass with ice.
Ashleigh: I also find that these things go down easier if accompanied by a drink.
She pours some whiskey and caps the bottle before bringing the glass to her lips, pausing as she looks over at you.
Ashleigh: Don’t look at me like that. We both know how you feel about alcohol, especially after what happened to poor Kenzie. I heard what you said to her. You got up on your high horse and…
Ash sighs, shaking her head before sipping from the glass.
Ashleigh: You know what? I apologize. That’s not how I wanted this to start. I wanted to start by telling you how much I respect you and that I’m a fan of your work. In fact, if there were a wrestling organization that held a massive battle royal every January and as part of that battle royal included a few nostalgia acts, I would mark out big time if that buzzer went off and, “A Little Less Conversation” blared over the PA as Jack Diamond walked to the ring.
She takes another sip.
Ashleigh: Think about it. You could wear a nice suit, squeeze into some Spanx; people would think you hadn’t aged a day. You could even hit your finisher, “The Pimp Hand” or whatever it’s called. It’s not like you need to be in shape to slap someone in a Camel Clutch. Just ask this guy…
Ashleigh: What I’m trying to say is, Jack… Is it okay if I call you Jack? I know Jack is sometimes a nickname for John much like Dick is for Richard or Cock Sucker is for Dirk, but considering Jack is what you use in the ring I’m going to go ahead and stick with that.
She draws a breath, approaching while swirling her glass so the ice clangs against the sides.
Ashleigh: Now I know what you’re thinking; this isn’t going to end well. You’re right; it probably won’t but let’s not start out all doom and gloom. Let’s focus on the positive. I bet you’re feeling pretty good about your promos, right? You literally threw everything you had at me. Just whipping shit out of thin air left and right! But I ain’t mad at ya, Jack. You did something the fans of NGW have been waiting for. You put up a fight. You actually fought back instead of curling up in the fetal position and waiting for it to end. You know what? Some of those fans are wondering. They aren’t quite familiar with my body of work and they’re asking themselves, can Ashleigh respond in kind, or is she just the product of hype and circumstance?
She smiles as she sits on the edge of the table closest to you; legs crossed because you’re a peeping pervert.
Ashleigh: What do you think Jack? Do you think I have it in me to respond to all those wild accusations or do you think I’ll fold under pressure?
She laughs while biting her bottom lip, her eyes dancing with excitement.
Ashleigh: I can hardly wait to find out. Let’s begin…
She reaches out and pulls you forward by your tie before flipping it up in your face as you fall back in your chair.
Ashleigh: I’m impressed Jack, I am. I think you might have a future in this business… just not as a wrestler. I listened very closely to everything you said and I realized that you’ve mastered the art of saying so much while saying nothing at all. What I heard from you were little wisps of insight about things my previous opponents should’ve said or done. Glimpses of what you would’ve done if you were in their shoes. If you were Shelley Silver you’d have said this, if you were Aurora Knight you’d have done that. Seems you’re rather generous when it comes to dispensing advice. What I didn’t hear, what was curious by its absence, was what Jack Diamond plans on doing at Vendetta Saturday night. You touched on each of my matches here in NGW but barely addressed ours. Couple this with the fact that you admitted you don’t have what it takes to keep up with the youth of today with our springboard 450 planchas and all, and what you get is the makings of a mouthpiece. It’s what we call a person who doesn’t wrestle yet stands on the sidelines slinging baseless accusations and senseless rhetoric. While some say they’re a dying breed Kenize Rydell employed one not too long ago. It seems poor Spencer’s fallen by the wayside; perhaps you could apply to fill the position. At the very least we know our little Kenz could sure use a sober companion.
She glances down at her nails before gazing over at you with a disappointed sigh.
Ashleigh: You don’t believe me, do you? You think your words rang true. You believe you struck a chord. Then I guess we’re going to have to do this the hard way.
Ash draws a breath, thinking for a moment before her dark eyes lock with yours.
Ashleigh: You seem to fancy yourself a realist, running around busting myths and perceived affronts to your delicate sensibilities. Some would call you a killjoy. The little boy screaming at the top of his lungs about how Dean Judas can’t be a murderer and Corey Bull can’t be schizo. You question everything because evidently you’re the one bastion of truth. Not a day goes by without little Jackie Diamond trying to blow the lid off some big story. Today it was, “Ace Andrews lies about his billions.” Yesterday it was, “Ashleigh Jericho doesn’t have an eidetic memory.” You’re so concerned with everyone else; so busy telling us what we can or can’t be. It seems like if our lives don’t jibe with your expectations you believe we should change. Why? Why should anyone change because Jack Diamond said so? I’m pretty sure all those people you shit on were here first so the way I see it you’ve got two choices… learn to let it go or move the fuck on. It doesn’t matter to me which you choose but if you continue to play this convoluted game of Fact or Fiction know that I can give as good as I get.
She sets her drink down on the table. You watch as condensation beads along the side of the glass before trailing its way down to the mahogany.
Ashleigh: You and Dirk Bentley are close, yes? How do I know this? I’ve seen the two of you giving each other rub and tugs under the table in the cafeteria. Don’t worry, Devlin enforces a strict Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy so your secret is safe with me. What I do want to talk about, since you’re so infatuated with getting to the bottom of where people’s money comes from, is the fact that your bosom buddy owns a jet. Yep, you heard me. Lifelong, “not quite a main eventer” Dirk Bentley found enough loose change between the cum stained cushions of his couch to buy himself a plane. Oh, and he bought a high rise for Taryn Willow to start her own corporation but we won’t talk about that. Think we should call the IRS? Or does your best bud get a free pass from the lofty standards you’ve held everyone else to? Don’t worry I get it; you’re from Vegas you’re used to looking the other way.
She snorts, her eyes narrowing.
Ashleigh: But wait, there’s more… was I mistaken or did Jack Diamond, a professional gambler, admit in a promo that he’s counted cards?
Ash covers her mouth in mock horror.
Ashleigh: So unless I’m way off base, I’m to understand that a man who not only made his living gambling but who ran a casino of his own just stated by his own free will and volition that he’s a cheat? I don’t know about you but to me that sounds like one hell of a way to get yourself blacklisted at casinos from Vegas to Monte Carlo. I sincerely hope I never see set foot in a casino again, because that would be unrealistic.
She deadpans for a moment.
Ashleigh: Oh, and if you’re betting that the world won’t see your little faux pas…
She pulls out her phone and swipes at the screen for a moment.
Ashleigh: I’d beg to differ…
She sets her phone down on the table beside her.
Ashleigh: But let’s talk about that eidetic memory of mine since you were so consumed with it that instead of watching footage and preparing for our match, you decided the best way to take me down was to spend your time scouring medical journals.
She rolls her eyes.
Ashleigh: My abilities always have and always will revolve around wrestling. It’s not something that manifests in my everyday life and it’s muted by my meds. Just ask Gavin, I lose my fucking car keys all the time. Scale back my meds and stand me in front of a wrestling match and there’s some beautiful mind shit going on there. It all just makes sense. The pieces fit and I can see every move as if it were in super slow motion. When it’s over it stays with me and I can practice from memory until I get it right. I suppose that makes me some sort of wrestling savant and before you go around spouting off stats about how savants only exist in one in every 2.5 million people… yeah, that’s what makes me special. Get over it and figure out how to counter it instead of carrying on like the hating little bitch that you are. Which reminds me…
Ashleigh: Even worse than your garden variety hater is a hypocritical one. Funny how you took it upon yourself to scoff at both my anxiety and those who suffer from ADHD yet you turned around and cut the most pointless, unfocused promo I have ever seen. One second you were pulling at the thread of an idea and just as you were getting it started you were suddenly on to the next one. That’s text book ADHD right there. You may want to get yourself checked. Maybe then you’ll be able to cut a concise promo on a single opponent instead of whatever that word vomit was. You mentioned over thirteen other wrestlers on the NGW roster during your little tirade. No wonder you were so good in that battle royal; it fed into your condition perfectly… and to think, you claimed I was the one who went off on meaningless tangents.
You look towards the floor, shaking your head in disappointment but Ash is quick to reach over and lift your chin.
Ashleigh: There, there… we’re not done. It seems you need a lesson in wrestling math. “But Ash, what’s wrestling math?” I’m glad you asked. Wrestling math is when some dickhead thinks he can predict the outcome of a future match based on what’s happened in the past. Basically this Einstein thinks that if wrestler A beat wrestler B and wrestler B turns around and beats wrestler C, then wrestler A is guaranteed a win over wrestler C. It’s all very logical until you take into account the human condition and the fact that in this sport literally anything can happen. Hell, I knew a girl who got attacked by Scooby Doo. Wait, my bad… was that too unrealistic for you? Let me explain, it was a dude dressed up in a Scooby Doo suit. Point being, your equations are bullshit. I heard you touting my record as being 7 and 0. Whoop-dee-fucking-doo. You know how to use the NGW website. Then you proceeded to dissect those matches and apply your fuzzy math. Here’s the problem with that. If I were in NGW for the entirety of my career that 7 and 0 record would be accurate, but it’s not. So to call me 7 and 0 is like saying you’re kind of a jack ass, it doesn’t tell the whole story. You want to know my exact record? Find someone who gives a fuck and ask them. What I will tell you is that I made my debut just under a year ago and I haven’t lost a singles match yet. Yes, that means I’m harkening back to my record in Inferno.
She gasps and covers her mouth.
Ashleigh: “But Ashleigh you told Shelley Silver that other feds don’t matter.” It’s when you say shit like that, that I have to question your fact finding abilities. It seems you dig just deep enough to uncover a glimpse of what you’re looking for but never deep enough to see if facts support it. If you had taken your Ritalin you’d have realized that I chastised Shelley Silver for talking about upcoming matches in other feds she was currently wrestling in. That’s right dip shit, Shelley Silver took up NGW promo time to hype her matches in other feds. That’s what I chastised her for, not because she was bringing up past accomplishments.
Ash leans forwards and appears to be wiping something off the camera.
Ashleigh: Hold up a second. Let me get that. Looks like you’ve got a little egg on your face.
She sits back with a smile.
Ashleigh: Yes, my accomplishments span two feds, which is important because you tried to identify which of us was the superior competitor by focusing on our NGW matches versus Kenzie Rydell. You accurately pointed out that a sober and ready Kenzie faced you while a drunken Kenzie pretty much tripped over herself and fell into a pin for me. Therefore your win over her obviously meant more than mine. Only here’s the thing, I fought Kenzie Rydell in Inferno back when the only bottle that bitch would touch was filled with chocolate milk and even then she’d check the expiration date. I fought Kenzie in her prime and while you may have eked out a win during your contest, I put that bitch in the hospital. That’s not a euphemism, I literally sent her to the ER by driving her skull through a table. Know what I did the next day? Brought her breakfast. Why? Because I could and it was funny as fuck. That’s just the type of girl I am. So how do you like your eggs, Jack?
She slides off of the table and pulls up a chair directly in front of you.
Ashleigh: That’s the thing about you; you’re always throwing baseless accusations at others when in truth they apply to you. You want to scoff at my victories in NGW? Let’s be honest here. You may be the least impressive contender to ever get a shot at the Five Lakes Title and I’m pretty sure John Blade had a go at one point or another. You’re not in this spot because people want you to be here. No one demanded to see the lackluster Diamond versus Ashleigh Grimes. You benefited from a couple of major faux pas by your opponents. Right place, right time. So save that nonsense about how neither of us have accomplished anything thus far. I outlasted fifteen other competitors in a season-long tournament to become Inferno Champion. I helped lead team NGW to victory at Versus. I captured the Five Lakes Title and plan on defending it until I’m forced to vacate. You came out of retirement and basically backed into a few victories, I started from nothing and have yet to see my shoulders pinned to the mat. It’s you whose actions in the ring don’t support your record. Instead of trying to build yourself up and prove that you’re worthy you decided to launch a smear campaign against me. How’d that work out for you? Is anyone buying your bullshit or are you standing atop that hill all alone, screaming until you’re blue in the face. Little Boy Blue. Has a nice ring to it.
She glances down at her left hand and smiles before looking up.
Ashleigh: Since we’re talking about rings… when did making a big deal out of me changing my last name become cool?
She covers her mouth and breaks into a mocking impression.
Ashleigh: Oh damn yo!! She changed her name to honor the man she married… the man she loves!! That shit is whack!!
Another eye roll.
Ashleigh: Did mama Diamond not change her last name when she married daddy Diamond? If she did does that mean you respect her less? Oh wait, you were making fun of the fact that I changed it back on Twitter because Gavin and I had a fight… but I thought you didn’t care about Twitter or the pointless musings of my self-centered generation over social media. You must’ve been back reading with a bottle of lube, hoping to find that one time Dirk live tweeted a date. Don’t worry, I won’t judge.
She mimes a tossing off motion before finishing in your face. Yeah I know, ew.
Ashleigh: Since you saw fit to bring up my relationship with Gavin, let’s talk about it. I’ve been the first mate on the USS Grimes ever since I joined NGW? If that means I’ve thrown my support behind him since joining NGW then you’re wrong. Because if that’s the case I’ve been first mate on the USS Grimes long before he ever set foot in NGW. You think I joined NGW to help Gavin defend his gold? That might be the dumbest thing you said during your entire promo and that’s saying something. Gavin was doing just fine in NGW without me… in fact, he was doing better than fine, he was carrying the company. I joined NGW so our travel schedules would sync up and it would make things easier. It literally cut our travel in half… at least on weeks when Gavin didn’t book himself in sixteen other feds, but I digress. If anything my joining NGW made Gavin’s road to dominance that much more difficult. Suddenly people were questioning if he truly was the best. Thanks to my presence there was now a legitimate claim to his throne. Gavin said it himself the other day, I’ve ruined NGW for him. I became the highest paid wrestler on the roster and I stole his spotlight. Do those sound like the actions of someone who signed simply to insure he kept his gold?
Her brow quirks as she shrugs at you.
Ashleigh: You probably shouldn’t answer that, lest you incriminate yourself for being dumb as fuck.
Ashleigh: Your facts are so ass backwards it’s like you’re pulling them from some bizarro alternate universe. I never stood in the way of Gavin fighting outside NGW? Did you seriously say that out loud? Do you have any idea how many times he was ready to accept a match and I nixed it simply by telling him he was acting like an idiot? Hell, even in NGW I’ve had to step in when he was ready to give a talentless hack like Gray Malone a title shot. You say I’m stranded here in NGW while Gavin spreads his wings and takes matches elsewhere. You claim that’s against my wants and needs. Are you really that stupid? Since I debuted in Inferno there are two things I’ve never wavered on. I’m a one fed kind of girl and I fucking hate travel. So you tell me how I’m stuck here in NGW while pining to go elsewhere. Oh wait that’s right, I’m not. That’s just some more shit you made up because someone said you were boring on a radio show.
Ash stands, straightening her skirt before slowly walking around your chair as your eyes follow her.
Ashleigh: I like how you question the legitimacy of my anxiety but then turn around and reaffirm it when it’s convenient for you. Yes, Gavin is my beacon in this crazy mixed up world and yes I couldn’t function the same without him… but once more your fact finding fell short of the whole truth. I’ve maintained all along that the one place I don’t need Gavin, the one place I feel at ease is inside the ring. Last I checked that’s where you and I will be facing off. Between those ropes I can quiet the noise and shutdown my anxiety, the question is; can you silence your stupidity?
She’s behind you now and suddenly your chair tilts back so you’re staring into her eyes.
Ashleigh: What is it with you and all this wishing we were in another sport? If this were the NFL Gavin would be unemployed because of his abusive behavior? I’m sorry, I thought we were wrestlers. In fact I thought we were in a sport where men and women compete regularly in physical combat. Are you telling me in all your years of treachery and deceit you never once struck a woman? Somehow I doubt that. Of all the so called atrocities I’ve seen visited upon women in this industry a cold shower is among the least of them. I’d hazard to guess that you plan on doing far worse to me at Vendetta. So stop whining about what would happen, “if things were different.” Things aren’t different and this is the business you chose. Either accept them as they are or get the fuck out because right now you’re just a salty little bitch sitting in a chat room making side eyes while the rest of us get on with our lives.
She winks before sighing.
Ashleigh: What’s this bullshit you’re spewing about gimmicks? You went on this rant about how I was going to say your gambler shtick is a gimmick but I did no such thing. You on the other hand created an issue, chastised me over it and then went ahead and did the very thing you’d pretended I’d been doing? What the what?! Somehow that ended with you accusing me of having the gimmick of a, manic pixie girl? I’m not even sure what that is. What I am sure of is that you stepped in it when you said that if you do have a gimmick at least it’s an original, one of a kind type thing. Really? Because I’m pretty sure Ace Andrews might have something say about that.
Ashleigh: The dolt train didn’t stop there though, it continued full steam ahead without even stopping at, Oh My God This is Fucking Ridiculous Station. You claim I took offense to Aurora and Damon bagging on my looks yet I did the very same thing to Kenzie and Sangrienta? By the way, big ups to that clown faced jack ass. You really do lack attention to detail, don’t you Jack? I agreed with everything Aurora and Damon said about my appearance save for one thing. I do have a scrunch face. I do look young. But Jack, they said I have no ass. C’mon son…
Ashleigh: As for me saying Kenzie is flat chested and Sangrienta is as ugly as the day is long… uh yeah.
She snorts before spinning your chair so you’re facing her.
Ashleigh: Your whole kings and queens analogy sucked hard because if you’d been paying attention you’d know that Gavin and I have been calling ourselves the king and queen of NGW for some time. Hell, we’ve even got tee shirts…
Ashleigh: Good effort painting the queen as always subservient to the king though. You should know that what you see on the surface isn’t the same as what goes on below. Didn’t Cersei Lannister ascend to the Iron Throne after Tommen pitched himself out a window? Succession can be such a cruel mistress. It just goes to show you, only the strong and the brutal survive, of which you my jester are neither. The fact that you blindly assume none of the careers I’ve ended amount to anything only reinforces that you love to play the role of the fool. Keelan Jayce, who’s a distinguished member of that list, would dismantle you almost as easily as I will. For a betting man you sure throw out a lot of blind accusations and baseless claims. Never assume without first doing your homework, Jack. It only makes you look like even more of ass than you already are.
Ash blows a stray hair from her face.
Ashleigh: It seems Go Fish was the perfect analogy for you promo because in reality that’s all you were doing, casting a thousand lines into the sea in hopes of catching a nibble. You played the game of twisting my words to suit your needs but came up empty every time. You even took the time to summarize my childhood for all the fans at home, double checking to insure they understood before telling everyone that you didn’t care. So you just wasted a bunch of promo time telling the fans something they already knew and that you care nothing about? You must be a big fan of useless filler. Which makes sense considering in this match, that’s exactly what you’ll be.
She leans down, placing a hand on either arm of your chair as she peers into your eyes.
Ashleigh: You ended your promo with a question. You asked if I had anything to say, but let me flip the script and ask if you have anything to say that’s actually worthwhile. Anyone who thought you made a valid point now knows that you’re a fucking farce just swatting at flies in the dark. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this little tete a tete but you didn’t push me. I have yet to lose because I’m comfortable in my skin and I own my flaws, so nothing you conjure up is going to make a dent. I know who I am but it looks like you’re changing shit up, trying to find an identity, trying to please the masses you claim to care nothing about… and here I thought you did this only for you. Guess you were full of shit there too. Don’t worry though, there are those who will give you credit, those who will say you stepped up your game and I’m inclined to agree with them. This version of Jack Diamond seems ready for a fight, just not a fight with me. There’s no shame in losing to me though, everyone else has. So now that you’re a little more educated about how things work; why don’t you reach into your little deck one more time because I don’t have any losses but you’re about to draw your first… go fucking fish.
She spins the chair again, leaving you staring at the empty conference table and a deck of cards, as the scene slowly fades to black.