Post by Cassius on Jul 30, 2017 16:35:16 GMT
: “Are you sure you’re up to this?”The voice comes from the petite blonde, laying on the bed. Even in this private setting, her inbuilt sense of modesty is strong, wrapped as she is in the silk bed sheets, her long blonde hair hanging over her shoulders. Melody Lennox is lying on her front, mostly on the bed, but also partially draped over the man lying next to her. The man, none other than Cassius Reed, winces slightly as her fingers delicately graze over the skin surrounding his right eye, the burn marks from the fireball Masaru Inoue threw into it nearly a month ago still present, although fading.
MELODY LENNOX: “I mean… he nearly blinded you…”
CASSIUS REED: “He didn’t, though. Doctors say there’s no permanent damage…”
MELODY LENNOX: “The doctors said you were lucky that there was no permanent damage.”
CASSIUS REED: “Same difference.”
MELODY LENNOX: “Cass… it’s me. You can talk to me.”
Raising an eyebrow, he rolls Melody back, onto her side, just a moment, taking a finger and pulling the sheet covering her chest away from her, sneaking a peek down there.
CASSIUS REED: “Yep, it’s definitely you.”
She can’t control the blush that starts, playfully slapping him in the chest in response. He, in turn, reacts like he’s just been shot, his hand coming up to his chest as he gives a Razzie winning display of having been injured. Melody waits it out, before leaning back on him.
MELODY LENNOX: “I’m serious though… I don’t like feeling like you don’t think you can talk to me…”
CASSIUS REED: “Mel…”
He sighs, breathing deep.
CASSIUS REED: “Look… in my family… you don’t have problems.”
She raises an eyebrow, as if to indicate that she has, indeed, met his family, and there are a hell of a lot of problems.
CASSIUS REED: “No… I don’t mean it like that. You have problems… but you don’t talk about them. Because someone else’s problem is always worse. You think me and my brothers are competitive? Where do you think we get that from. I remember when my elbow got… I remember… clear as day, it’s weird. I’m there, I’m crying… and there’s my Mom, and she’s all “Cassius Reed, until you pushed three giant ass boys out of you you don’t know what pain is, shut yo’ crying.” I mean...she was probably trying to cheer me up, make me crack a smile… but that was it. In the Reed household, there was always a bigger problem than your problem. Or, more rightly… a bigger problem than my problem. So in the end…. I just stopped having problems.”
MELODY LENNOX: “I’m not your family. I mean, I don’t even think your family likes me.”
CASSIUS REED: “Doesn’t make it any easier to stop doing a thing I’ve always done, though.”
Silence falls for a moment, her head moves down to rest on his chest.
MELODY LENNOX: “You’re nervous about facing him, aren’t you?”
He doesn’t say anything… but he does softly nod. She feels the movement.
MELODY LENNOX: “That’s OK.”
CASSIUS REED: “... I could have been blinded.”
MELODY LENNOX: “But you’re not though, right?”
CASSIUS REED: “But what if I had been? I wouldn’t be able to compete no more… I’d have to give all this up… I doubt I’d even have been able to keep up my work with HKW… I’d lose… everything…”
She pointedly kisses his chest.
MELODY LENNOX: “Not everything.”
He forces a laugh.
CASSIUS REED: “Please… I’d be damaged goods. You wouldn’t want me around. You’d just…”
He stops, looking up. Melody has pushed herself up off of him, and resting on her hands, looks him square in the eyes. Her face is stern, but her gaze is mesmerising. Slowly, she leans in, and gently kisses the damaged eye, his eyelid closing just in time as she comes near.
MELODY LENNOX: “I would not. Understood?”
Nervously, he nods, and she sinks back into position. The silence hangs between them a few moments.
MELODY LENNOX: “Is that what this is about? Are you worried about him hurting you?”
Her following words are quiet, almost imperceptible to hear.
MELODY LENNOX: “Or that I’d leave you if he does?”
Again, silence.
MELODY LENNOX: “... You know I’d never, right? You’re pretty much stuck with me now.”
He looks up, happy that she can’t see the concern on his face. He lies through it.
CASSIUS REED: “I think we both know who is stuck with who here, madam.”
They both laugh, lightly. The concern, on both of their faces, is apparent, however… along with the relief that neither can see the other. In unison, they both sigh.
MELODY LENNOX: “You’re going to be fine, you know? You’re the toughest guy I know… you’ll be absolutely fine.
The tone of her voice, it’s hard to tell if she’s trying to convince him, or herself.
CASSIUS REED: “I know… but if I’m not…”
MELODY LENNOX: “Then we’d deal with it. Together. OK?”
Again, he doesn’t verbalise his response, instead just nodding his head slowly in response.
MELODY LENNOX: “It’ll be fine…”
-----
The camera fades up in what seems to be an artist’s studio. Half finished works of art stand on a myriad of easels, dotted about the place seemingly at random. The floor is a mish mash of colour, a victim of “friendly fire”, the splashes and dropped palettes of a who knows how many artists permanently scarring it. As we pan the room, we see a single easel, facing away from the camera, a concealed figure working industriously on it. Other that the occasional flourish of a paintbrush, or a wild gesticulation with a palette, you’d probably not know. As the camera homes in on this figure, we see a range of photographs taped to wall. Owls, in flight. Phoenix Wrestling star Masaru Inoue (with painted on devil horns and Van Dyke beard, of course)... and a lot of pictures of Phoenix Wrestling’s very own Iron King, the Rebirth champion Cassius Reed. A range of promotional shots, casual photos, and the occasional piece of “boudoir photography” come together to form a mosaic, the camera panning to hang on them.
CASSIUS REED: “Ahh, Cassius sees you’ve found his mood board.”
The camera spins suddenly, as if surprised by the voice. The new angle affords a shot of the artist working at the easel: unsurprisingly, it’s Cassius himself. Dressed in an oversized painters smock, with a beret perched precariously on his afro, he continues to work on the still unseen piece of art, his focus entirely consumed by his work, his paint brush darting all over the canvas. His injured eye is uncovered, and seems to be entirely healed from Masaru’s fireball attack, save for a touch of discolouration in the skin surrounding it. After a few moments, he turns his head to face the camera, with that million megawatt smile lighting up his face. As he talks, his voice is soft, calm and collected… not unlike a certain popular television painting tutor.
CASSIUS REED: “Hi. Welcome back. Cassius is glad to see you again today.”
A cheeky, not in the slightest bit subtle, wink to the camera puts an exclamation point on that opening statement.
CASSIUS REED: “Today, Cassius Reed is gonna paint all you suckas a picture. ‘Cause it seems like there’s some out there who still don’t get it. Suckas who think that Cassius is just an outsider loiterin’ around, who doesn’t get Phoenix. Suckas who think that Cassius fluked his way to becomin’ the Iron King. Suckas who think that the blood, tears, sweat and holy water Cassius spilled in his quest there didn’t earn Cassius his throne. You even got whatever sucka it is who writes up the hype for the shows disrespectin’ Cassius. “ Is Cassius ready for the “Japanese Wrecking Ball” Masaru Inoue?””
Cassius sets his paint palette aside, before turning himself to face the camera fully. He still wields the paintbrush, almost threateningly, using to assist in his gesticulations like a baton.
CASSIUS REED: “That’s what that sucka said. Is the Iron King ready? DAMN, WHY AIN’T NO SUCKA ASKIN’ IF THIS SUCKA READY FOR THE CASSIUS REED EXPERIENCE? Oh yeah, that’s right: Ain’t nobody ready for the Cassius Reed experience. Not Faith. Not Zack “Philly Ninja” Jones. Not Andreas THE MAMMAJAMMIN’ DEVIL CASSIUS SWEARS Lasiewicz. Not even the BOOBS OF DEATH DAMN SON Aurora. You askin’ if Cassius is ready? Bitch please: Cassius has been here for 8 months. He ain’t the outsider no more. He’s the mammajammin’ Rebirth Chamption for Funk’s sake. You want to keep on biggin’ up your Phoenix veterans, whatever, but you dare to disrespect Cassius with the amount of work he put in to be stood where he is today? CASSIUS REED IS UNDEFEATED IN PHOENIX WRESTLIN’. Open wide, and let that truth juice slide down your thirsty ass throats a moment. This belt ain’t just some fancy decoration, some big gold target for Cassius to hang around his waist. As much as the crown Cassius wears as Iron King, It’s a symbol of everythin’ Cassius has worked to achieve this past year, since Cassius decided to ditch the deadweight that was holdin’ him back, and show the world exactly what he could do. You see… this belt came into Cassius’ life just as he achieved his own Rebirth… and you think that Cassius is just gonna let some sucka who looks like they tripped and fell face first into a tub of safety pins just take that away from Cassius? This ain’t no championship. This ain’t no title. This belt IS Cassius’ Rebirth. His reimaginin’. His renaissance.”
We cut to Cassius’ signature side camera, Cassius head snapping down to face it as we do.
CASSIUS REED: “Renaissance. The Renaissance. Paintin’. You suckas see what Cassius did there? Stay tuned. It’s gonna get even better.”
And back to the main camera.
CASSIUS REED: “Now then… Masaru. Cassius was prepared for this to be just another match. But you had a bee in your little pretty pink bonnet ever since Cassius arrived here. And Cassius knows what it is: you’re threatened. And that’s OK. It’s OK to feel threatened by the appearance of a fine sculpted piece of ebony like Cassius. Heck, if Cassius was a freaky ass, metal face havin’, owl lovin’ weirdo like you, he’d probably feel threatened by this dark chocolate GOD descendin’ upon his house, spittin’ fire like it’s the Old Testament. THIS SUCKA HERE TRIED TO TAKE CASSIUS’ EYE FOR FUNK’S SAKE.”
He pauses for just a moment, bringing his fingers up to tenderly touch the discoloured skin surrounding the offended orb.
CASSIUS REED: “Now you may think Cassius is the kind of person who would return the favor in kind. AWWW HELL NAW. This sucka came for Cassius’ eye? Let’s have some fun. Cassius is goin’ to take his mammajammin’ face. Gonna beat that mug so hard that he’s gonna look like he was designed by Picasso. Cassius gonna paint that mat usin’ his face as his brush. Shit’s gonna be so bad Slaine’ll be able to lift the canvas off the ring at the end and sell that sucka as a Jackson Pollock. You think it was a big deal when that mammajamma set off that fireball in Cassius’ face? BITCH PLEASE. CASSIUS STILL WON A MATCH RIGHT AFTER! THAT WEREN’T NO ART ATTACK! THIS IS AN ART ATTACK!”
Another turn to the side camera, Cassius this time speaking in a conspiratorial whisper.
CASSIUS REED: “That one was for all Cassius’ British fans. You’re welcome.”
And once more, back to the main camera.
CASSIUS REED: “This ain’t no time for old masters. It’s 2017, and the world has moved on wit’ the times. Hell may be waitin’, but damn, Cassius was a champion of that joint, so he ain’t too bothered. Masaru wants this to be big? Sucka wants to go? THEN LET’S VAN GOGH! You steppin’ heavy in Cassius’ Kingdom, and tryin’ to make a claim on the thing that symbolises every single thing he has achieved in the past half a year? Sucka you’d better leave Hedwig at home, because the righteous ass kickin’ King Cassius about to hand your Emo Harry Potter ass ain’t a thing for his precious little eyes.”
Snap to the side camera, Cassius’ head whipping round, and proudly patting his chest.
CASSIUS REED: “Hufflepuff for life, suckas.”
Back to the main camera.
CASSIUS REED: “Plenty of people expectin’ some kind of massacre here. Masaru so scary, Masaru so tough, Masaru some kind of crazy ass deathmatch mammajamma who barely registers as human on any day endin’ in a Y. Cassius hears you. Cassius gets it. But Cassius rejects it. Like Cassius rejected it when he beat the Devil. When he beat the Snake God. When he beat the Puppet Assassin. Cassius has spent his entire professional career standin’ against freaks of nature that people ain’t given him a spit of a chance against… and then he’s beat them. So all you suckas sayin’ King Cassius gonna fall? Just pretend you’re a whisper floatin’ across a mountain… and shut the Funk up. In Las Vegas, when Caesar’s Palace becomes Cassius’ Palace… you’re all gonna be witness to Cassius’ greatest masterpiece… his Magnum Opus. Still champion. Still undefeated. Still King.”
Cassius turns his attention back to his painting, quickly attacking it with a few final brush strokes, before stepping back from the canvas, he looks to the camera, before dropping his paintbrush to the floor, almost as if he’s dropping a mic.
CASSIUS REED: “There…”
With his signature self confident grin, he walks away, through the studio, towards the exit. As he does so, the camera finally pans around, catching him walking out in the background, with his painting in the foreground. An explosion of colour fills the canvas, an eclectic mix of pastels, neons, everything… with four words in bold, heavy brushstrokes, their pure black colour contrasting heavily with the incredibly colourful backdrop. They’re not quite decipherable at first, as the camera focuses on Cassius, but as the focus adjusts, the words come into sharp relief.
LONG LIVE THE KING
The camera stays focused on them for a few moments longer… before cutting to static.
-----
?: “Are you sure you’re up to this?”As Cassius works the heavy bag, his cousin, and confidant, the Reverend Lucius Reed looks on, arms folded. Cassius ignores the question, continuing to work the bag, although it’s clear by the expression on his face that it sparks something in his head.
LUCIUS REED: “I only ask, because it’s barely a month ago that this crazy son of a bitch tried to set your head on fire.”
No verbal response, just the increasing intensity of the sound of Cassius’ fists colliding with the vinyl as Lucius brings the incident up..
LUCIUS REED: “You know it’d be fine it…”
Cassius stops, stepping away from the bag. He turns, and looks his taller cousin square in the eye.
CASSIUS REED: “I’m fine. The bastard caught me with a cheap shot, and I’m going to make sure he gets his as a result.”
With that, Cassius gets straight back to it, working the bag.
LUCIUS REED: “So you don’t have a problem with facing him?”
Cassius doesn’t stop working the bag, his response coming in time with the rhythm he’s creating with his fists.
CASSIUS REED: “I’m a Reed, Lucius. Reeds don’t have problems…”
Winding up, Cassius delivers a powerful left handed Bolo Punch to the bag, setting it swinging.
CASSIUS REED: “Reed have solutions.”
Lucius grins widely, bathing in Cassius’ confidence.
LUCIUS REED: “There’s the cousin I know. Come on, let’s get a drink before moving on. You’ve earned it.”
The expression on Cassius’ face as Lucius turns his back on him betrays the lie in his confidence. It’s sits there for just a moment before passing, and he jogs to keep up.
LUCIUS REED: “That son of a bitch ain’t got a clue what he’s messing with when you mess with a Reed.”