ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE EDGE
Angelica Brooks is pacing back and forth backstage, microphone in hand, and a world of questions in her head, all dependent upon who walks around the corner next. She’d made a bet with Matt Mills and had lost that bet, thus necessitating this exercise of ‘Interview the Next Person Around the Corner’. It was a dumb game, but one that could’ve gone the other way.
The bet that Angelica lost? That’s a story for a different day.
Especially because Angelica hears the footsteps of a PRIME official or wrestler walking closer and closer to them. She grabs their microphone, looks at the camera guy, and then prepares for the person she will be interviewing.
Lo and behold though, it is the MGM-Grand Arena’s fifth favorite wrestler (those above him? Brandon Youngblood. The Anglo Luchador. Nova. Hayes Hanlon. King Blueberry. In that order), Dusk.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
There’s only so many times left to do this, so we are going to enjoy it while it lasts, mmkay?
Angelica rushes over to Dusk, questions flowing to the forefront of her mind in a hurry.
Angelica Brooks: Dusk, Dusk… a moment of your time? Would love to get your thoughts on the recent events with Larry Tact.
Dusk, dressed in a pair of white linen pants and a black t-shirt that simply reads President and Founding Member of the King Blueberry Club, looks at Angie and simply nods their head.
Angelica Brooks: Thanks. So, first and foremost, you had a match against Nate Colton last week, a match that seemed fairly even between the two of you. A match that you lost thanks to a distraction from Larry Tact. What are your thoughts?
Dusk chews on the inside of his mouth for a moment, before answering.
Dusk: You know, since I’ve stepped foot back in PRIME back at the beginning of the year, I’ve only won two matches. Teddy Palmer and Bobby Dean. I’ve also lost four matches in that time and two of those were due to interference from someone else. Tapioca Puddings and Nate Colton. You know, it’s getting old and tiresome. Because it takes a real shitbag to cost someone a match. Tact just wrestled and I didn’t go out there, messing with him, right? No. It’s getting old and tiresome, and I’m growing a bit restless if you pick up my drift.
Angelica Brooks: Do you mean you’re ready to physically attack Tact?
Dusk: I’ve tried to be a man that handles their business in the ring, but what does it matter if people like Atken and Tact disgrace the very idea of competing within said ring? I didn’t come back to PRIME with dozens upon dozens of matches left within me. I knew there was only so many matches I would be able to compete in before my body told me no more. So to have two of those matches wasted so wantonly has got me a bit… agitated, to say the least.
Angelica Brooks: So what’s your plan, then? Are you going to go after Tact? Or wait until UltraViolence?
A smile appears on Dusk’s face.
Dusk: You know, UltraViolence is apt for the hell that I’m going to reign down upon Tact. In the meantime, if I’m Tact, I would watch my back, because I’ve reached my limit and he doesn’t quite understand the beast he has awoken.
Angelica Brooks: Now, your match at UltraViolence, it appears that will be your last match as a wrestler. How does that make you feel?
Dusk: You know, if I had it my way, I wouldn’t even be here right now. I tried to go out to that ring and retire, gracefully. Instead, Tact decided to get involved in my business, business he has no business getting involved in. Tact wants to be my final match? His wish will come true. Then, after it is all said and done, I’ll be able to walk away with my head held high.
Angelica smiles at Dusk.
Angelica Brooks: It will be odd to not have you around.
Dusk: You’re telling me.
Angelica Brooks: One final question for you as I know you’ve got things to do. You approached the door of Lindsay Troy last week. For what purpose?
Dusk: Well–
Before he can answer though, a boot comes crashing against his face, sending him sprawling to the floor. Angelica scurries out of the way, years of experience with dealing with situations just like this. Dusk tries to get back up to his feet, but is met with a flurry of furious punches to his face, each one stiffer than the previous one. The camera moves to a different angle as it is revealed Larry Tact is the one who has attacked Dusk, to no one’s surprise.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Tact rises to his feet and drags Dusk up with him. The Lost Soul tries to fight back, but Tact grabs the back of his head and bashes it into the brick wall behind them. Dusk stumbles to his knees, dazed from the blow as Tact comes up behind him and begins to connect with a series of cutting elbows across the Dusk’s face before Larry pushes him into the ground. Tact proceeds to stomp away at him until Tact lifts him off of the ground, revealing the bloodied mess that Dusk is now.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Before Tact can extract any additional punishment, security rushes in and pulls him away from him as medical officials hurry to Dusk to check on him.
There is a momentary smirk on Tact’s face before it fades as he looks down at Dusk, at what he has done to the PRIME legend. Larry then walks over to Angelica and brings the mic towards him, a look of disgust on his face.
Larry Tact: For some reason, you all want to live in a fairy tale of Dusk getting his send off into the sunset, proudly looking back at a career of, what exactly? I’ve looked back and even when Dusk still had the spine and stomach to do what needs to be done in this place, he still fell short. Now?
He glances back at Dusk on the ground, medical staff surrounding him in concern. Larry scoffs and mocks wiping tears from his eyes.
Angelica Brooks: Larry, regardless of your motivations, you can’t change Dusk’s history with PRIME and the achievements he has had over the years. You only just began in PRIME with this current run, and it feels as if you’ve taken issue with Dusk for simply wanting to step aside and let other, talented wrestlers to emerge. What’s the problem with that?
Larry Tact: The problem is this man should never have returned to PRIME in the first place! What I’m doing is a favor to Dusk. I’ll tell you why, considering you and these average slobs who paid to be here can barely even put two thoughts together. The fact is, yes, I haven’t accrued much prestige in PRIME yet. Those who have are content to let this out of touch, waste of oxygen have his final moments in the spotlight. Meanwhile, those of us who have actually been trying, and getting shorted on time? Maybe we don’t want to wait so long. Maybe we find it the ‘same old, same old’ story with these ‘legends’ being given leeway and a graceful exit.I for one am sick of it! At UltraViolence, this ends, and it’ll be on my terms, Dusk, not your pathetic sob story version. I’m going to turn back the clock and show what you can no longer do, no longer have the stomach for – and what I’ve been pining for. That’s to unleash a hell upon you that’s so severe, so out of bounds, that you’ll have no choice but to end your career on a stretcher! Yes, I’ll retire you, Dusk, for all the people who you’ve sucked opportunities away from. Then, once and for all, you’ll be seen through the filter everyone should have put you under all along. A pathetic, broken down cripple. I’ll make sure to bring about that last part, personally.
Larry turns and approaches Dusk again, but officials push him away and give Dusk the space he needs while the medical professionals treat him. Larry shakes his head and spits at Dusk before waving him off and walking away.
We then cut to… something.