Post by ____ on Oct 28, 2010 0:16:17 GMT -5
The bond between Kurt Noble and Chris Hart was forged out of the fire. United initially by a mutual enemy their friendship grew as they went on to become one of, if not, the best tag team in Professional Wrestling. Now however that bond has almost put an end to the career of Chris Hart, with Jeremy Sterling seeking a measure of comeuppance against his co-owner by firing his best friend, his best man, and the only champion the Kingdom had seen since it's return. In a last ditch effort by Kurt Noble and a small loophole in his contract, Chris has been given a life line; his defeat against Josh Eagles, and losing his title potentially saving his career. Chris' rematch at Death's Desire will effect the entire future of the Kingdom. With a loss, Josh Eagles remains as Champion and Jeremy Sterling will haven't got one over on Kurt Noble, while Chris finds himself on the unemployment line once more. With a victory though Noble-Hart will find themselves in a familiar situation, having re-buffed a tyrannical owner and holding the gold.
---
The Noble residence in Tennessee appears to be the home of a normal middle class family, neatly trimmed lawn, stucco siding and a flower bed still in bloom in front of the front picture window. Far from the elegance of their Florida beach house, it serves it's purpose as a place away from the frenzy of the Cookeville Community Center and the Kingdom of Pride. Yet tonight it has followed him home in the presence of Chris Hart. Sitting in the lounge with scotch glasses in front of them, the air is heavy with the magnitude of the situation the two of them find themselves in looming over head.
Kurt - “It's amazing honestly the position we find ourselves in. We looked like we were finished and things were great between Jeremy and I but now that things are looking up in-fighting has started to creep in.”
Chris - “It makes a lot of sense though, both of you are head strong and want what's best for the company but have different methods of going about it. When you guys were forced to work together you were united, willing to do whatever to make sure this thing stayed afloat. Now that it's showing no signs of stopping you both want your way, and aren't going to budge for the other.”
Kurt - “I've tried to compromise with him but he's unreasonable.”
Chris - “He's probably saying the same thing about you right now, about how you're not willing to accept that you need to make mutually agreed upon decisions, not ones on a whim. Probably trying to justify firing me because my rashness has corrupted you and it will in time ruin the Kingdom.”
Kurt - “That's a load of shit ...”
Chris - “Yes, but we saw it with Aiden before, one perceived slight can manifest itself into an all encompassing idea. I mean, you came to Inception with Amy and I, it's exactly like that. You plant the seed and slowly you unconsciously nurture it until it grows into a majestic oak.”
Kurt - “You've been spending too much time with your brother.”
Chris looks at Kurt for a second, confused by the abrupt switch of topic in the conversation. Seeing the raised brow of confusion, Kurt explains his theory.
Kurt - “The Chris I teamed with would have used the parable of the Mustard Seed before a pop-culture reference.”
Chris - “Yeah, we can blame Biebs for that one.”
Kurt - “How's he doing anyway? I would've loved to get his name on that contract we offered.”
Chris - “I think he's doing well over there, the hype over our match still hasn't died down apparently and they're crazy about American Pop-Culture over there. He's already on the television for Sapporo Auto driving their new sports car and he's facing Naruki next Friday. It'll be a shame to miss that live.”
Kurt smiles at Chris, understanding the last statement as being greater than the sum of it's parts. Reaching forward he takes a drink of the scotch as Chris simply stares into his.
Kurt - “So you're confident that you're going to beat Josh on Sunday?”
Chris - “I have to be, everything's on the line here. I've done a lot to rehabilitate my image and I'm certain that I wouldn't be out of work long, Jefferson from UWL would probably snag me in a heart beat, taking away the biggest star from his largest competitor.”
Kurt - “I don't doubt for a second that he'll be there on Sunday with a contract in hand for you to sign as soon as Josh grabs the title.”
Chris - “If he does at all, I don't believe Josh is the better wrestler than me. Older and wiser, yes but I'm not sure if he can drag himself up the ladder to grab the title. He's still one of the best but he has lost a step from what I remember.”
Kurt - “You sure wouldn't notice it just watching him.”
Chris - “Yes, but you don't notice half the crap that's wrong with me either.”
Kurt - “True, but that's because you get hyped on oxy's before you go out there.”
Chris laughs as he grabs the scotch glass as Kurt smiles to himself. The battle with sobriety is a constant struggle but the reprieve from the ring has done him well, the aches and pains that had made rolling out of bed a chore now replaced by a vigor to get to the office.
Chris - “You know what I find surprising, you're the only one who hasn't asked me whether I think that Josh cheated on purpose or whether it was simply an accident that his feet ended up on the ropes.”
Kurt - “Why would I need to ask when I already know the answer?”
Chris pauses for a moment, taking a drink before responding flatly.
Chris - “What is it?”
Kurt - “That it doesn't matter whether he cheated intentionally or not. For the match it's your job to make sure that you don't end up in a position were he could cheat to win by ending it before then, or if that couldn't happen to make sure you got the shoulder up. As far as mentally, it's not going to bother you because you know that on any given Sunday Josh can beat you, or you can beat him without the need of 'cheating' because you're both that good.
In that same frame though, it's also in Josh's head for the next match. If he did knowingly cheat the fact that it doesn't faze you is going to play with his psyche and your confidence is going to affect him, he'll try and prove that he can beat you without cheating and your record shows that doesn't happen. If it was an accident he's going to make sure that it doesn't happen in this match and he could hesitate at a pivotal moment. That split second where he's frozen in a match between the two of you is going to be the difference between a win and a loss.”
Chris - “It's amazing that no one else understands that.”
Kurt - “I think it's that they're not willing to understand it. Like you said, even though you've rehabilitated your image to the point where you won't be out of work, people still will see you as the hot headed kid from Canada and when one of your best friends pulls something like that they expect to see you raise hell. It wasn't but four months ago you destroyed half the PWF locker room in one blast of fury and we needed a strait-jacket to stop you.”
Chris - “That was fun.”
Kurt - “And it was scary to watch. People still see that as the real you Chris – as long as you've been in the public eye outside of Canada there's been a mystique about you. Every time something seems to go wrong you end up finding your way to the centre of it. The fall of PWF was the first time and despite the fact that it was simply an issue with television people are still blaming your contract for it's fall.”
Chris - “I know that but they've got to realize that the Kingdom is something more than anywhere else I've been. I've got bonds here that run deeper than wrestling – where it'd be pure lunacy to wreck them over a title belt ...”
Kurt - “And that's another reason you don't care about Josh potentially cheating.”
Chris - “I can finish my own sentences thank you.”
Kurt and Chris both laugh before polishing off the last remnants of the scotch in their glasses. Kurt starts to get up to refill them but Chris waves his hand slightly, signalling the end of the alcohol for the evening.
Kurt - “I really hope you win on Sunday because that place is going to be hectic, my brother, Storm, John Parker. You've been that one rock that we can count on to go out to the ring every night and ever since we got you to stop doing all the promotional work for us, you've been a big help in the back.”
Chris - “It's been my pleasure. I owe you in essence my career so helping you guys out hasn't been an issue in the slightest. Just, whatever you do, don't let that hope consume you and cause you to get involved. This is my battle and I know if something like that happens Jeremy will find a way to get rid of the both of us.”
Kurt nods his head in agreement as he leans back into the couch as Chris grabs a set of die and rolls it across the table towards Kurt before stopping and turning up with a total of seven.
Chris - “Big Red.”
Kurt - “You shoot?”
Chris - “Back home I do but I've got another year to wait until I can roll here.”
Kurt studies Chris for a moment, peering at him with the analytical glance that has become a common trait as of late. Not only reading the body of Chris, but removing himself from the situation to process as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Kurt - “I always seem to forget how young you really are.”
Chris - “And what's that supposed to mean?”
Kurt - “That you're mature beyond your years and it has nothing to do with your choice of drinks. You've got this hyper-analysis of things, a breadth of knowledge across a variety of spectrums and God given talent that most would kill for. Yet you, at least as of late, have taken all of that and don't use it to hype yourself in the way we're accustomed to today. You ... you've got this way about you and while some could see it as arrogance, it's more a quiet self-confidence in that you've fought your entire life against adversity and you're finally reaping the rewards you deserve.
I mean, look at what we've come from and who we've been against. Jerry McLean, driven by an ego to make it to the top and showing a complete disregard for others. Tic Tic, a masochist who borders on insane, Hannibal Lecter sans Cannabilism. In the Kingdom we've had Christian Kane and his merry band of brothers, Johnny Noble who seems dependant on ruining me because of some perceived slight and then Josh Eagles who, too many, appears to be sane yet he's so focused on winning the title that he's in a sense lost sight of the larger picture.
I guess that's what I'm trying to get at here, is you're faced with a match for your career, your title, your promotion in a sense because without you Chris, we're not here. Instead of running back to Calgary to train and watch film, or slinking into a dark room to bleed the stress out, you're sipping scotch with me and we're talking about shooting craps. You appreciate that wrestling isn't the be all – end all. Inside of the ring that's what it is for you, it is your life but you, unlike so many others at least acknowledge that there is something out there beyond wrestling, beyond what we do. You Chris, are real in what most consider a fake world.”
Trying to process exactly what Kurt said, Chris sits without blinking for a moment. Raekwon Carter, jailed for embezzlement, Aiden Bamford his company ruined, Josh Eagles mired in the controversy, faced with the fact that in order to achieve his goal of being a champion he must ruin his best friend, and already showing the stress of being a champion as getting to him – based on the simple fact of choosing a challenger. Then his own life, the time spent in Japan, California, Canada, all promoting Kingdom of Pride and wrestling, but also with a smile and the ability to enjoy the free moments he had. Though they were scarce, they were still there – and rather than waste them away, he had seized full advantage of them.
Chris - “That's probably the last thing anyone would've expect to hear a year ago.”
Kurt - “Yes but that was a year ago, things have a changed a great deal since them. You're not the blue eyed blond who gives off an aura of being coddled and fed with a silver spoon. Look at yourself Chris for a moment.”
Chris doesn't need to look in the table to realize how he has changed. His chest has broadened, the eyes have sunk slightly, the black hair in stark contrast to the former blond. His hands, calloused and marked, his arms slightly tanned as opposed to the pale skin from Calgary's North. The hitch in his step, the ache every time he threw a clothesline - the battle wounds of a champion.
Kurt - “All of that Chris, is you growing up and I've been proud to watch you do it. All those aches are for the people, the wounds for the boys. No matter what happens on Sunday, you're always going to be special to the Kingdom because without you, we were done a long time ago. Win or lose, it will be your home no matter what Jeremy Sterling says.
Chris - “Home's where the Hart is.”
---
At Death's Desire, Kingdom of Pride will face a turning point. The battle of friends, both inside of the ring and outside of it having negative consequences. Win or lose for Chris Hart, his accomplishments have built a spot for him in the hearts of wrestling fans in Tennessee, something that will exist long after the titles have lost all meaning.
---
The Noble residence in Tennessee appears to be the home of a normal middle class family, neatly trimmed lawn, stucco siding and a flower bed still in bloom in front of the front picture window. Far from the elegance of their Florida beach house, it serves it's purpose as a place away from the frenzy of the Cookeville Community Center and the Kingdom of Pride. Yet tonight it has followed him home in the presence of Chris Hart. Sitting in the lounge with scotch glasses in front of them, the air is heavy with the magnitude of the situation the two of them find themselves in looming over head.
Kurt - “It's amazing honestly the position we find ourselves in. We looked like we were finished and things were great between Jeremy and I but now that things are looking up in-fighting has started to creep in.”
Chris - “It makes a lot of sense though, both of you are head strong and want what's best for the company but have different methods of going about it. When you guys were forced to work together you were united, willing to do whatever to make sure this thing stayed afloat. Now that it's showing no signs of stopping you both want your way, and aren't going to budge for the other.”
Kurt - “I've tried to compromise with him but he's unreasonable.”
Chris - “He's probably saying the same thing about you right now, about how you're not willing to accept that you need to make mutually agreed upon decisions, not ones on a whim. Probably trying to justify firing me because my rashness has corrupted you and it will in time ruin the Kingdom.”
Kurt - “That's a load of shit ...”
Chris - “Yes, but we saw it with Aiden before, one perceived slight can manifest itself into an all encompassing idea. I mean, you came to Inception with Amy and I, it's exactly like that. You plant the seed and slowly you unconsciously nurture it until it grows into a majestic oak.”
Kurt - “You've been spending too much time with your brother.”
Chris looks at Kurt for a second, confused by the abrupt switch of topic in the conversation. Seeing the raised brow of confusion, Kurt explains his theory.
Kurt - “The Chris I teamed with would have used the parable of the Mustard Seed before a pop-culture reference.”
Chris - “Yeah, we can blame Biebs for that one.”
Kurt - “How's he doing anyway? I would've loved to get his name on that contract we offered.”
Chris - “I think he's doing well over there, the hype over our match still hasn't died down apparently and they're crazy about American Pop-Culture over there. He's already on the television for Sapporo Auto driving their new sports car and he's facing Naruki next Friday. It'll be a shame to miss that live.”
Kurt smiles at Chris, understanding the last statement as being greater than the sum of it's parts. Reaching forward he takes a drink of the scotch as Chris simply stares into his.
Kurt - “So you're confident that you're going to beat Josh on Sunday?”
Chris - “I have to be, everything's on the line here. I've done a lot to rehabilitate my image and I'm certain that I wouldn't be out of work long, Jefferson from UWL would probably snag me in a heart beat, taking away the biggest star from his largest competitor.”
Kurt - “I don't doubt for a second that he'll be there on Sunday with a contract in hand for you to sign as soon as Josh grabs the title.”
Chris - “If he does at all, I don't believe Josh is the better wrestler than me. Older and wiser, yes but I'm not sure if he can drag himself up the ladder to grab the title. He's still one of the best but he has lost a step from what I remember.”
Kurt - “You sure wouldn't notice it just watching him.”
Chris - “Yes, but you don't notice half the crap that's wrong with me either.”
Kurt - “True, but that's because you get hyped on oxy's before you go out there.”
Chris laughs as he grabs the scotch glass as Kurt smiles to himself. The battle with sobriety is a constant struggle but the reprieve from the ring has done him well, the aches and pains that had made rolling out of bed a chore now replaced by a vigor to get to the office.
Chris - “You know what I find surprising, you're the only one who hasn't asked me whether I think that Josh cheated on purpose or whether it was simply an accident that his feet ended up on the ropes.”
Kurt - “Why would I need to ask when I already know the answer?”
Chris pauses for a moment, taking a drink before responding flatly.
Chris - “What is it?”
Kurt - “That it doesn't matter whether he cheated intentionally or not. For the match it's your job to make sure that you don't end up in a position were he could cheat to win by ending it before then, or if that couldn't happen to make sure you got the shoulder up. As far as mentally, it's not going to bother you because you know that on any given Sunday Josh can beat you, or you can beat him without the need of 'cheating' because you're both that good.
In that same frame though, it's also in Josh's head for the next match. If he did knowingly cheat the fact that it doesn't faze you is going to play with his psyche and your confidence is going to affect him, he'll try and prove that he can beat you without cheating and your record shows that doesn't happen. If it was an accident he's going to make sure that it doesn't happen in this match and he could hesitate at a pivotal moment. That split second where he's frozen in a match between the two of you is going to be the difference between a win and a loss.”
Chris - “It's amazing that no one else understands that.”
Kurt - “I think it's that they're not willing to understand it. Like you said, even though you've rehabilitated your image to the point where you won't be out of work, people still will see you as the hot headed kid from Canada and when one of your best friends pulls something like that they expect to see you raise hell. It wasn't but four months ago you destroyed half the PWF locker room in one blast of fury and we needed a strait-jacket to stop you.”
Chris - “That was fun.”
Kurt - “And it was scary to watch. People still see that as the real you Chris – as long as you've been in the public eye outside of Canada there's been a mystique about you. Every time something seems to go wrong you end up finding your way to the centre of it. The fall of PWF was the first time and despite the fact that it was simply an issue with television people are still blaming your contract for it's fall.”
Chris - “I know that but they've got to realize that the Kingdom is something more than anywhere else I've been. I've got bonds here that run deeper than wrestling – where it'd be pure lunacy to wreck them over a title belt ...”
Kurt - “And that's another reason you don't care about Josh potentially cheating.”
Chris - “I can finish my own sentences thank you.”
Kurt and Chris both laugh before polishing off the last remnants of the scotch in their glasses. Kurt starts to get up to refill them but Chris waves his hand slightly, signalling the end of the alcohol for the evening.
Kurt - “I really hope you win on Sunday because that place is going to be hectic, my brother, Storm, John Parker. You've been that one rock that we can count on to go out to the ring every night and ever since we got you to stop doing all the promotional work for us, you've been a big help in the back.”
Chris - “It's been my pleasure. I owe you in essence my career so helping you guys out hasn't been an issue in the slightest. Just, whatever you do, don't let that hope consume you and cause you to get involved. This is my battle and I know if something like that happens Jeremy will find a way to get rid of the both of us.”
Kurt nods his head in agreement as he leans back into the couch as Chris grabs a set of die and rolls it across the table towards Kurt before stopping and turning up with a total of seven.
Chris - “Big Red.”
Kurt - “You shoot?”
Chris - “Back home I do but I've got another year to wait until I can roll here.”
Kurt studies Chris for a moment, peering at him with the analytical glance that has become a common trait as of late. Not only reading the body of Chris, but removing himself from the situation to process as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Kurt - “I always seem to forget how young you really are.”
Chris - “And what's that supposed to mean?”
Kurt - “That you're mature beyond your years and it has nothing to do with your choice of drinks. You've got this hyper-analysis of things, a breadth of knowledge across a variety of spectrums and God given talent that most would kill for. Yet you, at least as of late, have taken all of that and don't use it to hype yourself in the way we're accustomed to today. You ... you've got this way about you and while some could see it as arrogance, it's more a quiet self-confidence in that you've fought your entire life against adversity and you're finally reaping the rewards you deserve.
I mean, look at what we've come from and who we've been against. Jerry McLean, driven by an ego to make it to the top and showing a complete disregard for others. Tic Tic, a masochist who borders on insane, Hannibal Lecter sans Cannabilism. In the Kingdom we've had Christian Kane and his merry band of brothers, Johnny Noble who seems dependant on ruining me because of some perceived slight and then Josh Eagles who, too many, appears to be sane yet he's so focused on winning the title that he's in a sense lost sight of the larger picture.
I guess that's what I'm trying to get at here, is you're faced with a match for your career, your title, your promotion in a sense because without you Chris, we're not here. Instead of running back to Calgary to train and watch film, or slinking into a dark room to bleed the stress out, you're sipping scotch with me and we're talking about shooting craps. You appreciate that wrestling isn't the be all – end all. Inside of the ring that's what it is for you, it is your life but you, unlike so many others at least acknowledge that there is something out there beyond wrestling, beyond what we do. You Chris, are real in what most consider a fake world.”
Trying to process exactly what Kurt said, Chris sits without blinking for a moment. Raekwon Carter, jailed for embezzlement, Aiden Bamford his company ruined, Josh Eagles mired in the controversy, faced with the fact that in order to achieve his goal of being a champion he must ruin his best friend, and already showing the stress of being a champion as getting to him – based on the simple fact of choosing a challenger. Then his own life, the time spent in Japan, California, Canada, all promoting Kingdom of Pride and wrestling, but also with a smile and the ability to enjoy the free moments he had. Though they were scarce, they were still there – and rather than waste them away, he had seized full advantage of them.
Chris - “That's probably the last thing anyone would've expect to hear a year ago.”
Kurt - “Yes but that was a year ago, things have a changed a great deal since them. You're not the blue eyed blond who gives off an aura of being coddled and fed with a silver spoon. Look at yourself Chris for a moment.”
Chris doesn't need to look in the table to realize how he has changed. His chest has broadened, the eyes have sunk slightly, the black hair in stark contrast to the former blond. His hands, calloused and marked, his arms slightly tanned as opposed to the pale skin from Calgary's North. The hitch in his step, the ache every time he threw a clothesline - the battle wounds of a champion.
Kurt - “All of that Chris, is you growing up and I've been proud to watch you do it. All those aches are for the people, the wounds for the boys. No matter what happens on Sunday, you're always going to be special to the Kingdom because without you, we were done a long time ago. Win or lose, it will be your home no matter what Jeremy Sterling says.
Chris - “Home's where the Hart is.”
---
At Death's Desire, Kingdom of Pride will face a turning point. The battle of friends, both inside of the ring and outside of it having negative consequences. Win or lose for Chris Hart, his accomplishments have built a spot for him in the hearts of wrestling fans in Tennessee, something that will exist long after the titles have lost all meaning.
