Post by Adrien Cochrane on Aug 14, 2012 16:26:35 GMT -5
“I’ll figure out this camera eventually…wait, I think I got it on…”
[The only thing the camera setting upon a tripod in an almost empty room is the fleshy peach hands fiddling with it. Once the hands are gone, the whole room is visible. There is nothing really spectacular about the room, the walls are very plain looking gray which almost looks like the original drywall color. The lighting is good enough to see the man standing in front of the camera and in front of the dull gray wall.]
[The man’s attire consisted of a white polo shirt with a few thin blue stripes sporadically going across and a pair of faded blue jeans. Typically, when you see these videos, the raconteur of the promo is usually got glimmer of arrogance, of madness, or of anger. But not Adrien Cochrane. If anything, the face of the Dropkick King gives a tone of hope, with his honest blue eyes staring into the camera.]
Adrien: “I’m not here to bash. I’m not here to belittle, demean, or put down. Because in the end, all the insults in the world isn’t going to make any kind of a difference. Everybody probably gathered all the insight they needed on my attitude towards my two opponents based on my actions last Rapture. And we all know actions speak so much louder than words. For those of you who missed it, I like Heather Monroe but I don’t like Draven Logan Kennedy.
“Just because I don’t like Draven doesn’t mean I’m not aware of what he can do in the ring. He did previously have the very title we’re competing for until Liam Reilly took it off him. Do I think he deserves another shot at it? Not really, if you look at what he has been doing lately. But that’s not my call to make. If I have to get through Draven, then so be it.
“Heather Monroe, on the other hand, I have a ton of respect for. She is the only person who has ever beaten me in a PCW ring. She also kept the undefeated Danielle Lopez at bay for a while before finally succumbing to Danielle’s legendary streak. Heather is also much more down to earth than Kennedy. That’s why I decided that when Kennedy was going to mess with Heather in that match, me and Richelle quickly devised our little misdirection rescue. Heather may also be my opponent, but I want to face her in form, so I wasn’t going to let Draven take her out. Could I have just watched Draven hospitalize her and make this whole contest for the Platinum Championship a one on one affair, which would be a lot more advantageous for me?
“Of course I could have, but that’s not how I want to win this championship. I want to win this championship by being the best. If I cannot overcome Heather and Draven, I do not deserve that title. In order to prove to everyone, including myself, that I have reached the pinnacle to bear a PCW championship, I want to face Heather again, the one blemish on my PCW record. I cannot be the best unless I overcome the toughest of obstacles and rightfully earn it.”
Adrien: “I will be the new PCW Platinum Champion. No offense to Heather or Draven, but I want it more. I will do what it takes to show I deserve the title and bring honor to the belt…because I will overcome whatever obstacles come between me and my goal. So I hope Draven and Heather are bringing their A game because what I’m bringing something way beyond my A game. I’m a man on a mission and I’m coming to get my title.”
------------
Ugh…where is he?
[Adrien Cochrane taps his left foot impatiently. He went through a lot of trouble for someone who hasn’t even shown up yet, not to mention that this someone isn’t even someone he particularly likes. He booked this gym and ring for training; he got him an opportunity to show what he can do in the ring by talking Terrell Ryder into letting him have a match on an upcoming house show, and more importantly, he took time out of his busy schedule getting ready for the biggest match of his PCW career…all for someone who is, so far, a no show.]
[Adrien shows his slight frustration by running his hands through his short dirty blonde hair. Part of the Platinum Title contender wanted to just curl his fingers and rip his own hair out, but a smaller hand pulls Adrien’s arms down to stop him from doing so.]
Richelle: “Calm down. He will be here.”
[Adrien’s new manager tries to give an encouraging smile. Sure enough, the doors of the facility slam open and enters the unfortunate man of the hour. Christopher Matthew “The Filth” Marks. Chris Marks’s eyes dart from Adrien to Richelle almost immediately upon entering the room.]
Chris: “Well, hold up. You didn’t say anything about bringing this fine piece of…”
[Adrien cuts off Chris.]
Adrien: “Before, you finish that sentence, I want you to meet your first exhibition opponent for us to train you up.”
[Chris’s face reads of both surprise and temptation. He begins to lick his lips as he look up and down Richelle, who clearly looks uncomfortable with Chris staring at her.]
Chris: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll try not to hurt you too badly.”
[Adrien gives a wide grin because he knows something Chris does not.]
Adrien: “Richelle here has actually done something you have not. That, being actually winning a match. In fact, she has only one loss on her record, to Danielle Lopez’s cousin...”
Chris: “Blah blah blah, names I’ve never heard of…don’t care. Let’s go.”
[Eight minutes later…]
[Adrien pats the downed Chris Marks on the back. Chris Marks slowly pulls himself up on the ropes. Adrien speaks softly to Chris Marks so that the conversation is between only the two of them.]
Adrien: “Right now, Jimmy Wilkes would be announcing to everyone that Richelle is the winner of match. Chris, I can’t help you unless you start taking things seriously. You have a match on Saturday against Jay Thunder.”
[Adrien helps Chris Marks to his feet. Chris Marks just looks back at Adrien without saying a word.]
Adrien: “Chris, all of this arrogantly ignoring all advice, showing up late, hitting on one of the people training you…not to mention she’s a possible love interest of the guy getting you through this mess…isn’t going to get you anywhere. You need a serious attitude adjustment, Chris, if this is going to work.”
[Still without speaking a word, Chris Marks departs the ring. Both Richelle and Adrien watch Marks as he gaits towards the locker room, not making any eye contact with anyone and still remaining absolutely silent. Richelle turns to Adrien.]
Richelle: “What did you say to him? Should one of us go back there to check on him?”
Adrien: “He’ll be fine. He just needs some time.”
At least I hope so…
------------------
[Adrien Cochrane sits back and listens to birds flutter around and chirp in the park around him. Adrien considers for a few moments just closing his eyes behind his sunglasses and sleep to the ambient sounds of nature. The large tree to Adrien’s immediate left does a decent duty of making sure the radiant sun isn’t beaming down directly on the New Orleanian. While the bench Adrien may be sitting on is sitting in the shade, Adrien still felt the presence of a shadow standing over him.]
“Care if I sit down here for a second?”
[Adrien looks up for a moment at the male voice that spoke.]
Adrien: “Yeah, sure. Take a seat.”
[The first thing Adrien notices about the gentleman was the torn jeans and a black t-shirt. The man, like Adrien, is sporting a pair of sunglasses, though this gentleman’s sporting a pair of Ray-Bans. Once seated, a smile comes across the stranger’s face.]
“Looks like you have quite a lot on your plate, Adrien.”
[Name dropping isn’t exactly a tactic that works on Adrien too much. Adrien’s a well-known musician and wrestler so anyone can know who he is. But once the rest of the sentence sinks into Adrien’s head, he realizes this can’t just be a regular stranger sitting next to him. Adrien subtly sits back up and glances out of the corner of his eye at the stranger. The stranger chuckles as if he knows exactly what Adrien is doing.]
Adrien: “Mariano Fernandez. What on earth are you doing in New Orleans?”
[The White Knight chuckles once again.]
Mariano: “I thought I would have a talk with the one and only Adrien Cochrane.”
[Adrien is starting to feel a little embarrassed at the beginning of the conversation with the very PCW Hall of Famer that Adrien is constantly compared to. Sickboy went as far as saying Adrien was the second coming of Mariano Fernandez.]
Mariano: “If it freaks you out a little less, I did find you through Richelle. She told me you were enjoying a day at the park.”
[Both men laugh.]
Adrien: “It’s fine. Just a little surprising. What did you want to talk about?”
[Mariano reaches for his sunglasses and removes them from his face. He fiddles with them in his hands as begins to address his purpose for meeting up with Adrien.]
Mariano: “I’ve been impressed by you so far…inside and out of the ring. I knew one of these days, I was going to end up having someone come into PCW and be labeled the “next Mariano” and, quite honestly, was dreading so. I don’t want young kids coming in and being put under the pressure of being labeled the next “any Hall of Famer” because that could ruin a career if they can’t live up to that insurmountable amount of hype. I didn’t want to be responsible for that.”
Adrien: “But me on the other hand…”
[Mariano grins.]
Mariano: “You have an incredible amount of potential, Adrien. Whether you realize it or not, you have really taken PCW by storm since you got here. And it’s not just your in-ring abilities. You’ve demonstrated honor, chivalry, and you actually care about the people who are spending their hard earned money to give you any kind of attention in the ring.”
[Adrien starts feeling a combination of embarrassment and pride.]
Mariano: “You got a good head on your shoulders, Adrien. But I chose to talk to you now, not to enlarge that head of yours, but because now you’re being pitted against two people who are in the very same PCW Hall of Fame.”
[It actually never occurred to Adrien, but Mariano is right. Both Heather Monroe and Draven are Hall of Famers.]
Adrien: “So you don’t want me to be some other kid that comes in and succumbs to the pressure of hype.”
Mariano: “Something like that. You are aware you are capable of winning this match, right?”
[Adrien tries to find a humble way to nod but it ends up looking like just a normal nod.]
Mariano: “I see good things coming. More specifically, if you can win yourself this Platinum Title, you can start shedding your identity as the ‘next Mariano Fernandez’ and start being known as the ‘present Adrien Cochrane’. But take things one step at a time, Adrien. Focus on this match right now. The match between you and Heather Monroe could have gone either way, and Draven is a shadow of his former self. Win this match.”
[Adrien nods. Everything Mariano was saying to him made complete sense to him.]
Mariano: “Win this match right here, and it will start to snowball your PCW career into a career that not a whole lot of people can say they’ve had. I don’t want to see you waste your potential. I’m counting on you. Win. This. Match.”
[Adrien smiles.]
Adrien: “Mariano, I will win this match.”
Mariano: “That’s the spirit. I want to see you holding that Platinum Title next time I see you, understand?”
Adrien: “Yes, sir!”
[If Adrien wasn’t already to win the Platinum Championship, he certainly was now. The talk with Mariano definitely lit a fire in Adrien to win his upcoming match. Because the reality is, this is much bigger than just Adrien’s career. If Adrien can win this one match, it could actually change the face of the entire Premium Championship Wrestling universe.]
[The only thing the camera setting upon a tripod in an almost empty room is the fleshy peach hands fiddling with it. Once the hands are gone, the whole room is visible. There is nothing really spectacular about the room, the walls are very plain looking gray which almost looks like the original drywall color. The lighting is good enough to see the man standing in front of the camera and in front of the dull gray wall.]
[The man’s attire consisted of a white polo shirt with a few thin blue stripes sporadically going across and a pair of faded blue jeans. Typically, when you see these videos, the raconteur of the promo is usually got glimmer of arrogance, of madness, or of anger. But not Adrien Cochrane. If anything, the face of the Dropkick King gives a tone of hope, with his honest blue eyes staring into the camera.]
Adrien: “I’m not here to bash. I’m not here to belittle, demean, or put down. Because in the end, all the insults in the world isn’t going to make any kind of a difference. Everybody probably gathered all the insight they needed on my attitude towards my two opponents based on my actions last Rapture. And we all know actions speak so much louder than words. For those of you who missed it, I like Heather Monroe but I don’t like Draven Logan Kennedy.
“Just because I don’t like Draven doesn’t mean I’m not aware of what he can do in the ring. He did previously have the very title we’re competing for until Liam Reilly took it off him. Do I think he deserves another shot at it? Not really, if you look at what he has been doing lately. But that’s not my call to make. If I have to get through Draven, then so be it.
“Heather Monroe, on the other hand, I have a ton of respect for. She is the only person who has ever beaten me in a PCW ring. She also kept the undefeated Danielle Lopez at bay for a while before finally succumbing to Danielle’s legendary streak. Heather is also much more down to earth than Kennedy. That’s why I decided that when Kennedy was going to mess with Heather in that match, me and Richelle quickly devised our little misdirection rescue. Heather may also be my opponent, but I want to face her in form, so I wasn’t going to let Draven take her out. Could I have just watched Draven hospitalize her and make this whole contest for the Platinum Championship a one on one affair, which would be a lot more advantageous for me?
“Of course I could have, but that’s not how I want to win this championship. I want to win this championship by being the best. If I cannot overcome Heather and Draven, I do not deserve that title. In order to prove to everyone, including myself, that I have reached the pinnacle to bear a PCW championship, I want to face Heather again, the one blemish on my PCW record. I cannot be the best unless I overcome the toughest of obstacles and rightfully earn it.”
Adrien: “I will be the new PCW Platinum Champion. No offense to Heather or Draven, but I want it more. I will do what it takes to show I deserve the title and bring honor to the belt…because I will overcome whatever obstacles come between me and my goal. So I hope Draven and Heather are bringing their A game because what I’m bringing something way beyond my A game. I’m a man on a mission and I’m coming to get my title.”
------------
Ugh…where is he?
[Adrien Cochrane taps his left foot impatiently. He went through a lot of trouble for someone who hasn’t even shown up yet, not to mention that this someone isn’t even someone he particularly likes. He booked this gym and ring for training; he got him an opportunity to show what he can do in the ring by talking Terrell Ryder into letting him have a match on an upcoming house show, and more importantly, he took time out of his busy schedule getting ready for the biggest match of his PCW career…all for someone who is, so far, a no show.]
[Adrien shows his slight frustration by running his hands through his short dirty blonde hair. Part of the Platinum Title contender wanted to just curl his fingers and rip his own hair out, but a smaller hand pulls Adrien’s arms down to stop him from doing so.]
Richelle: “Calm down. He will be here.”
[Adrien’s new manager tries to give an encouraging smile. Sure enough, the doors of the facility slam open and enters the unfortunate man of the hour. Christopher Matthew “The Filth” Marks. Chris Marks’s eyes dart from Adrien to Richelle almost immediately upon entering the room.]
Chris: “Well, hold up. You didn’t say anything about bringing this fine piece of…”
[Adrien cuts off Chris.]
Adrien: “Before, you finish that sentence, I want you to meet your first exhibition opponent for us to train you up.”
[Chris’s face reads of both surprise and temptation. He begins to lick his lips as he look up and down Richelle, who clearly looks uncomfortable with Chris staring at her.]
Chris: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll try not to hurt you too badly.”
[Adrien gives a wide grin because he knows something Chris does not.]
Adrien: “Richelle here has actually done something you have not. That, being actually winning a match. In fact, she has only one loss on her record, to Danielle Lopez’s cousin...”
Chris: “Blah blah blah, names I’ve never heard of…don’t care. Let’s go.”
[Eight minutes later…]
[Adrien pats the downed Chris Marks on the back. Chris Marks slowly pulls himself up on the ropes. Adrien speaks softly to Chris Marks so that the conversation is between only the two of them.]
Adrien: “Right now, Jimmy Wilkes would be announcing to everyone that Richelle is the winner of match. Chris, I can’t help you unless you start taking things seriously. You have a match on Saturday against Jay Thunder.”
[Adrien helps Chris Marks to his feet. Chris Marks just looks back at Adrien without saying a word.]
Adrien: “Chris, all of this arrogantly ignoring all advice, showing up late, hitting on one of the people training you…not to mention she’s a possible love interest of the guy getting you through this mess…isn’t going to get you anywhere. You need a serious attitude adjustment, Chris, if this is going to work.”
[Still without speaking a word, Chris Marks departs the ring. Both Richelle and Adrien watch Marks as he gaits towards the locker room, not making any eye contact with anyone and still remaining absolutely silent. Richelle turns to Adrien.]
Richelle: “What did you say to him? Should one of us go back there to check on him?”
Adrien: “He’ll be fine. He just needs some time.”
At least I hope so…
------------------
[Adrien Cochrane sits back and listens to birds flutter around and chirp in the park around him. Adrien considers for a few moments just closing his eyes behind his sunglasses and sleep to the ambient sounds of nature. The large tree to Adrien’s immediate left does a decent duty of making sure the radiant sun isn’t beaming down directly on the New Orleanian. While the bench Adrien may be sitting on is sitting in the shade, Adrien still felt the presence of a shadow standing over him.]
“Care if I sit down here for a second?”
[Adrien looks up for a moment at the male voice that spoke.]
Adrien: “Yeah, sure. Take a seat.”
[The first thing Adrien notices about the gentleman was the torn jeans and a black t-shirt. The man, like Adrien, is sporting a pair of sunglasses, though this gentleman’s sporting a pair of Ray-Bans. Once seated, a smile comes across the stranger’s face.]
“Looks like you have quite a lot on your plate, Adrien.”
[Name dropping isn’t exactly a tactic that works on Adrien too much. Adrien’s a well-known musician and wrestler so anyone can know who he is. But once the rest of the sentence sinks into Adrien’s head, he realizes this can’t just be a regular stranger sitting next to him. Adrien subtly sits back up and glances out of the corner of his eye at the stranger. The stranger chuckles as if he knows exactly what Adrien is doing.]
Adrien: “Mariano Fernandez. What on earth are you doing in New Orleans?”
[The White Knight chuckles once again.]
Mariano: “I thought I would have a talk with the one and only Adrien Cochrane.”
[Adrien is starting to feel a little embarrassed at the beginning of the conversation with the very PCW Hall of Famer that Adrien is constantly compared to. Sickboy went as far as saying Adrien was the second coming of Mariano Fernandez.]
Mariano: “If it freaks you out a little less, I did find you through Richelle. She told me you were enjoying a day at the park.”
[Both men laugh.]
Adrien: “It’s fine. Just a little surprising. What did you want to talk about?”
[Mariano reaches for his sunglasses and removes them from his face. He fiddles with them in his hands as begins to address his purpose for meeting up with Adrien.]
Mariano: “I’ve been impressed by you so far…inside and out of the ring. I knew one of these days, I was going to end up having someone come into PCW and be labeled the “next Mariano” and, quite honestly, was dreading so. I don’t want young kids coming in and being put under the pressure of being labeled the next “any Hall of Famer” because that could ruin a career if they can’t live up to that insurmountable amount of hype. I didn’t want to be responsible for that.”
Adrien: “But me on the other hand…”
[Mariano grins.]
Mariano: “You have an incredible amount of potential, Adrien. Whether you realize it or not, you have really taken PCW by storm since you got here. And it’s not just your in-ring abilities. You’ve demonstrated honor, chivalry, and you actually care about the people who are spending their hard earned money to give you any kind of attention in the ring.”
[Adrien starts feeling a combination of embarrassment and pride.]
Mariano: “You got a good head on your shoulders, Adrien. But I chose to talk to you now, not to enlarge that head of yours, but because now you’re being pitted against two people who are in the very same PCW Hall of Fame.”
[It actually never occurred to Adrien, but Mariano is right. Both Heather Monroe and Draven are Hall of Famers.]
Adrien: “So you don’t want me to be some other kid that comes in and succumbs to the pressure of hype.”
Mariano: “Something like that. You are aware you are capable of winning this match, right?”
[Adrien tries to find a humble way to nod but it ends up looking like just a normal nod.]
Mariano: “I see good things coming. More specifically, if you can win yourself this Platinum Title, you can start shedding your identity as the ‘next Mariano Fernandez’ and start being known as the ‘present Adrien Cochrane’. But take things one step at a time, Adrien. Focus on this match right now. The match between you and Heather Monroe could have gone either way, and Draven is a shadow of his former self. Win this match.”
[Adrien nods. Everything Mariano was saying to him made complete sense to him.]
Mariano: “Win this match right here, and it will start to snowball your PCW career into a career that not a whole lot of people can say they’ve had. I don’t want to see you waste your potential. I’m counting on you. Win. This. Match.”
[Adrien smiles.]
Adrien: “Mariano, I will win this match.”
Mariano: “That’s the spirit. I want to see you holding that Platinum Title next time I see you, understand?”
Adrien: “Yes, sir!”
[If Adrien wasn’t already to win the Platinum Championship, he certainly was now. The talk with Mariano definitely lit a fire in Adrien to win his upcoming match. Because the reality is, this is much bigger than just Adrien’s career. If Adrien can win this one match, it could actually change the face of the entire Premium Championship Wrestling universe.]