My Reward
Cutting elsewhere backstage, Angelica Brooks is doing her best to hold a polite, professional mask, but the two men standing to either side have no such regard.
Angelica Brooks: Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time are the tag team–
Teddy Palmer: Excuse you?
Angelica pauses.
Angelica Brooks: Seriously? You know that’s not a…
She trails off, rolls her eyes, and decides this argument is absolutely not worth it.
Angelica Brooks: Fine. The “two-man stable,” Red & Ted.
The shot pans back to get everyone into the shot naturally. Teddy Palmer is already in his ring gear, with the addition of the tropical themed edition of the classic tee. Alex Redding stands by still in street attire: Hail the Villain tee over faded black jeans and black and white Adidas shell toed sized 13s.
Teddy Palmer: It’ll do.
Alexander Redding: Alberta.
Journalistic integrity already being weighed and measured, Angelica looks somewhere just over the camera, but definitely not to either man.
Angelic Brooks: Yeah that’s not my name. Regardless, both of you are in action tonight, but I wanted to go back just two weeks and your first win in PRIME, Redding. Ted, maybe you’d like to explain why you needed to hit the Nosebleed Section on Mephisto when the referee had her back turned?
Looking utterly shocked and afronted, Teddy Palmer can’t even turn to the microphone placed up to him. Instead, the mic, and the arm attached, are gently guided to the opposite side.
Alexander Redding: Real cute. You start with that? For the record, there was a bee in the building. Ted, not knowing if he is allergic–
Teddy Palmer: I’ve heard that could be really bad.
Alexander Redding: You know it. So Ted gets to thinking the only thing he can think, and that’s just run. It isn’t his fault Mephisto’s comically large noggin got in his way. Really, Ted showed remarkable athleticism to keep his feet.
With an annoyed ‘excuse me’ cough, Brooks pulls free her arm and looks once more just off camera.
Angelica Brooks: While you were able to finally overcome your losing streak, Red, Ted has found himself the loser of two in a row now. With Dusk tonight, are you planning on trying to break out of that funk?
Teddy’s head nods slightly, his tongue pressed into his bottom lip. He doesn’t turn his head to face the spunky reporter, but rather side eyes her.
Teddy Palmer: Extenuating circumstances have seen a couple ticks scratched into the ‘L’ column, sure. Congratulations on stating the obvious. Let me follow suit by stating the obvious; everyone in this arena, yourself included, know damn well that tonight will be a very different story.
Alexander Redding: The kiddos and creepers might be out there with their Baby Dusk dolls, but you know the women are going to bed with their Dixon Seider ‘massage aids.’
Teddy offers a raised brow and wink to a disgusted Brooks.
Angelica Brooks: Uh huh. On that distasteful note… it’s been rumored that you’ve both been ignoring messages from Front Office all week. Care to address that here?
Jumping ahead of the bullet aimed his partner’s way, Red starts with a laugh.
Alexander Redding: I thought I made it clear to Troy and Co that I wasn’t interested in their joke of a deal, even if the interviewers around here certainly could use a boost in the arm.
Taking offense to the pointed jab, Brooks turns with a look to kill, but mistakenly, the microphone in range.
Alexander Redding: Do you have some objections?
With a well acted cough, Ted motions Brooks to raise the mic his way.
Teddy Palmer: You know what? Fine. Since we have the floor: Lindz, stop texting me at 2 in the morning. I know you’re hitting the sauce.
The deadpan delivery is accompanied with Redding head down, just shaking disapprovingly. Angelica stares in Timberlake at this bullshit.
Alexander Redding: Alberta, quick, before we worry the investors.
Annoyed and over it all, Brooks slams the mic into Redding’s chest and walks off camera.
Alexander Redding: Where is she going? We’re live. This place really does need a better class of interviewer. Hmph. Shame. Speaking of: Hayes Hanlon. Trust me, this isn’t anything personal, it’s all business around here. See, the Man has come back, this time for itty bitty Bambi, and while your hide hanging on the wall is going to look great, I think that 5 Star is the trophy I’ll really cherish most.
Looking down to the mic, and the not-there Brooks, Redding shrugs and gently sets the thing on the polished concrete floor.
Alexander Redding: You going to need me out there with ya, good buddy?
Both men turn to exit stage left, but their conversation can still be picked up.
Teddy Palmer: Negative, broseph. You just keep that laser focus on the main event. Oh, and figuring out watcha wanna do to celebrate the big W’s tonight. Focus on that.
Back into view is Brooks to retrieve the microphone. Quick on the scene is Enemigo IV to stop said microphone from being tossed at the back of either Red or Ted’s skulls.
Fade transition as we take it back ringside.