Post-Retribution

[Deleted]

April 27, 2014

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

HSBC Arena - Backstage

David opened the door to his locker room and stepped inside, the din of the booing and jeering crowd still echoing inside his skull cavity. He made a beeline for the small vanity in one corner, but stopped halfway. He tossed the EHWF Championship aside, watching it land in a heap on top of the open suitcase he'd brought to Brazil with him, faceplate down. Sneering at it, he turned and went over to the vanity, planting his hands on either side of the sink and looking hard at his reflection in the mirror.

He'd done it. Of course he'd done it. Kazama had fallen by his hand, just as his brother had done exactly one year prior (to the day, David realized with no small amount of satisfaction). And in the end, Adam "Black Man" DePaolo - the new sheriff, the fill in the power vacuum, the EHWF's supposed harbinger of order and prestige - had been powerless to stop him. And tonight was only the beginning.

David brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled at his reflection, though the grin quickly turned sour; tasting copper in his mouth, David bent over the sink and spat blood - results of the Devil Trigger he took, no doubt. As he watched the crimson circle the drain, a sound reached his ears - a handle turning, hinges creaking. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he stood back up and turned to face the door as it eased open.

TBC: Anyone

[Deleted]

There, standing in the doorway, were both members of Riot Act. Jay Martial had a grey hooded top on, accompanying black track suit bottoms. Dawson Hayes had just a pair of jogging pants on, covering his otherwise naked exterior. They swarmed around David GS, setting up a triangle around the bloodied sink. Jay placed his right hand on David's shoulder, much to the displeasure of his fellow superstar. The new EHWF champion simply glared at Jay as the leader of Riot Act began to speak.

"David something smith, is that right?" Smiled Jay. "How nice to meet you, being the new champion and all that, it's quite the pleasure."

Dawson Hayes let out a childish chuckle, forcing Jay to smile arrogantly. A few moments of awkwardness persisted before Martial decided to move forward with proceedings.

"You've got the world at your feet now!" Jay giggled playfully. "Any plans, friend?"

[Deleted]

David faced forward again as Martial and Hayes posted up on either side of him, trying and failing to keep his lip from curling as the former rested a hand on his shoulder. While his skin crawled at the notion of his personal space being so brazenly invaded, least of all by bottom feeders like Riot Act, part of him was also intrigued. It was rare for maggots as low on the pecking order as these two to come crawling out of the woodwork, and he found himself wondering what exactly they wanted.

Immediately after that, however, he found himself wondering who knew. Or who cared.

David: Gideon.

Without lifting his eyes from the sink, he rolled his shoulder, shrugging off Martial's hand.

David: David Gideon Smith. If you came here looking to get on my good side, you should've at least taken the time to learn my name before prostrating yourselves. As for my plans...

He lifted his head but did not turn it, instead affixing Martial with his gaze via the mirror over the sink.

David: I fail to see how those are any of your concern.

TBC: Riot Act (or anyone else)

[Deleted]

Jay Martial grinned, waving his left hand at Dawson, signalling for him to leave. Once the EHWF champion and Jay were alone, the leader of Riot Act became more open with his words.

"A champion must have plans, right?" Jay glared. "I just wanted to know what they are, that's all. I thought id give you some time to indulge in yourself, seeing as you like the sound of your own voice. Tell me, tell the whole EHWF universe... Why do you constantly disrespect the championship, the company, the fans..."

Jays eyes widened and his smile became more sinister. He tilted his head forwards and got closer into David's personal space.

"I'm just interested, that's all." Jay insisted. "I just want to figure out how you work."

[Deleted]

Turning away from the sink, David glanced momentarily over to the door Hayes had just stepped out of, not at all convinced the oversized manchild was really gone - more than likely lying in wait just out of sight, ready to come barging back in if and when things turned sour. Even so, he disregarded the absentee member of Riot Act for the time being, tilting his chin a few degrees upward and staring narrowly down his nose at Martial.

David: The system is broken.

He leaned back against the vanity, crossing one leg over the other and folding his arms over his chest.

David: The system has been broken, since long before you or I ever aspired to become a part of it. I'm simply trying to fix it... but management does not see that, because it is part of the problem. The fans do not see it, because they are part of the problem.

David pushed off the counter, this time breaching Jay Martial's personal space so suddenly that the Riot Act leader took an involuntary step back.

David: You do not see it, because you are part of the problem.

Pausing for a moment to let his words sink in, David leaned back against the counter and refolded his arms.

TBC: Riot Act (or anyone else)

[Deleted]

Before Jay has a chance to retort, in walks DJ Moore, a grin on his face. He looks around at his fellow superstars, both of whom aren't so happy to see him. 

Moore

That's a whole lot of problems, David. I've got a few to, but hey, at least a bitch ain't one! 

Moore looks around, searching for a smile or a laugh from the two men standing in front of him. Instead, he's met with a cold stare by David and a confused, uninterested look from Jay Martial. He shrugs his shoulders, holding up the black briefcase he's holding in his right hand. 

Moore

I believe congratulations are in order, eh? 

David peers over at his championship, clearing his throat as if to say "yeah, they are." 

Moore

Oh, yeah, you won the ugh . . . EHWF championship, right. Honestly, congratulations man! It was a really good match . . . That part where you ugh, did, you know . . . Okay, I didn't watch your match. BUT, I did see Riot Act get beat by a couple of girls! GREAT job dude, well done! 

Martial dashes towards Moore much like David had done to him, DJ throwing his hands up innocently. 

Moore

Hey, come on man, I was only joking. You win some and you lose some, right? Or in your case . . . You just lose a lot.

DJ lowers his hands, smiling as a fuming Jay stands mere inches from his face. 

(TBC by DGS, Riot Act or someone else!)

[Deleted]

David turned away from Martial as another presence made itself known, and he deepened the frown on his face as DJ Moore entered his locker room, making no attempt to hide his annoyance and disdain. During a brief lull in Moore's speech he cleared his throat, preparing to tell the man to leave, but was cut off by yet more inane rambling. When Moore's arrogant and self-indulgent diatribe had run its course and he and Jay Martial stood at odds with one another, he cocked his head to one side, watching the staredown from his place against the vanity, arms still folded over his chest.

David: Are the weekly Job Squad meetings always going to be held in my locker room from now on, or is this the only one? I don't want to invest in a padlock if I don't have to.

TBC: Any

[Deleted]

Moore peers over Jay's shoulder, smirking at David's snide comment.

Moore

I'm sorry, David. I was just passing by and couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You wanna know how Mr. Gideon Smith works, Jay? Well, so do I. But I don't think any of us will ever really know. No, we'll just be subject to his rants about how the industry has changed and it's all a big conspiracy or whatever crap spews out of his mouth each week. He thinks he can fix it, but the only thing that needs to be fixed around here, is his attitude. 

DJ moves past Martial now, stepping closer and closer to Smith. 

Moore

And I'd be MOORE than happy to be the one to fix it. The last time that we met, David, you beat me, yeah . . . But I didn't go down without a fight. And now here I stand, a championship match awaiting me . . . I'm the future of this company. You? . . . You're the past. Maybe that's why you're always so upset, so eager to try and "fix" the "problem". You know that your time is almost up!

DJ remains front and center, staring at David eye to eye, wondering what he'll have to say next.

(TBC by anyone.)

[Deleted]

David reared up to his full height and unfolded his arms, affirming his status as the largest man in the room - both in terms of height and muscle mass - by a sizeable margin. Staring down his nose at Moore, his expression completely and utterly impassive, he briefly closed his eyes and sighed before responding.

David: You're right. You didn't go down without a fight... but you did go down.

He shot a pointed glance over at Jay Martial before returning his eyes to Moore.

David: In the ring with me, everyone goes down... but that's beside the point. Based on your analysis of my... rants... I'm forced to assume that you either got your information secondhand from an idiot, or are in fact one yourself. You coming in here and waving that briefcase around like it's worth something has me leaning toward the latter, which is why I'm going to say this as clearly and concisely as I possibly can.

He leaned down, bringing his nose to within an inch of Moore's.

David: You will either walk out of my locker room now, or be stretchered out within the next five minutes.

TBC: Any

[Deleted]

Jay chuckles with sadistic pleasure. He steps in between the two superstars and places a hand on each mans shoulder.

"Now now" Laughs Jay. "No need for handbags."

[Deleted]

David lashed out with one arm, grabbing a fistful of Martial's hoodie and yanking him close, knocking Moore off-balance in the process. He'd had enough. Holding the much-shorter Martial by the front of his hoodie, David narrowed his eyes at him, teeth gnashing against each other as he spoke.

David: Get. Out. Now.

He shoved Martial away, hard enough that the Riot Act leader stumbled back into the wall next to the locker room door.

TBC: Any

[Deleted]

Jay fell back, his left elbow connected with the wall nearest the locker room door. He let out a slight gasp before standing upright and rigid, trying to assert a fresh burst of dominance via stature. He coughed and wheezed a few times, beating his chest as he did. He laughed with awkward unease before giving the pair some stuttered advice.

"Seriously!" He blurted. "You do not have a clue who you're fucking messing with!"

As those words left Jay Martials mouth, so did he from the room. DJ Moore and the EHWF Champion, David GS, were left to find a solution by themselves.

[Deleted]

DJ raises his eyebrows, watching as Jay Martial scurries out of the room. He then turns his attention back to David, the room silent for what seems like a lifetime. 

Moore

Well, that escalated quickly! As much as I would love to stay and listen to you make a few more empty threats, I've got places to be. So ugh, you have a good night, Smith. And don't think for a second that this is over . . .

Moore looks Gideon up and down, cracking a smile as he nears the locker room door. 

Moore

. . . If I were you, I WOULD invest in that padlock. You've got a pretty big target on your back now . . . And you just made THREE new enemies . . . I'll catch you later, champ. 

DJ lets out a small chuckle as he exits the room, leaving David to be with himself at last. 

[Deleted]

David watched Moore leave, then heaved a weary sigh and turned to his locker, shaking his head in a combination of reproof and contempt. Rants, he'd said. Empty threats, he'd said. Some things, it seemed, would never change. The minds of the weak were incapable of perceiving the machinations of the strong - it had always been that way, and likely always would be. The likes of Martial, Hayes, and Moore were of no concern to him; they were so far beneath him that it was almost pathetic, and if he were a betting man, he'd put money on that fact never changing.

And although watching them puff their chests out proved amusing from time to time, it occurred to David as he opened his locker that interactions like the ones he'd just had were likely par for the course. While it had been true for a while, the match he'd just wrestled against Silver Kazama had made it official, undisputed fact: it wasn't just the likes of Martial, Hayes, and Moore anymore.

Now, everyone was beneath him. On record as well as in practice.

TBC: Anyone, though it's pretty much k'd at this point.