Post by Tomas Luger on Feb 4, 2010 1:30:47 GMT -5
About six months ago…
Tomas Luger sits outside of The OWL headquarters. The Odessa Wrestling League, operated out of Brighton Beach, New York, owned and operated by his life long friend, Andrei Karishnikov. It lies dormant now. Andrei has been missing for several months, and Luger suspects that Karishnikov’s right hand man, Bishop Orion, is somehow behind it, though he couldn’t prove it.
Then again, Andrei did take over the wrestling school from the Russian mob, so anything is possible, though Tomas has always known Andrei to be a stand up guy, so he didn’t suspect that Karishnikov had any ties within the Russian mafia here in New York.
The school was doing well, Andrei was enjoying his retired life, Tomas was enjoying his successful career in The Wrestling Domain, everything was going in the right direction. But what goes up, must come down.
Andrei, along with his longtime girlfriend Britney Clark, has disappeared. Luger left the TWD to find his friend. Luger left in the midst of a Tag Team Title reign, the first of it’s kind, in the Wrestling Domain. He and Justin York dominated a field of fierce competitors to win the titles outright, and had successfully defended them, much to the joy of the fans of the Domain.
Now Luger sits in a car, outside of the wrestling school, following Bishop Orion, trying desperately to track down a man that is nearer to him than any of his own blood.
Bishop exit’s the row of warehouses, and enters his black Lincoln Navigator. Luger starts up his car, prepared to follow. Bishop makes a three point turn and parks his car directly in front of Luger’s car, exiting the vehicle and motioning for Tomas to do the same.
Bishop: Mr. Luger.
Tomas eyes Bishop cautiously. Bishop was a practitioner of proper manners, and a master at reading people’s body language and reading between the lines in conversation. Fortunately, Tomas has never worried about trying to pull one over on Bishop, then again, he’s never had to suspect him of foul play.
TL: Bishop. Where you off to?
Bishop: Mr. Luger, why have you been tailing me for the past several weeks? I told you, I don’t know anymore about Mr. Karishnikov’s whereabouts than you do.
TL: And I would assume, from my actions, that I believe you about as far as I can throw you.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, I’ve told you, Mr. Karishnikov is more than capable of handling his own business. I’m sure he just wanted some seclusion with Mrs. Clark. You know he was hinting at marriage before he went missing, maybe he and Mrs. Clark went somewhere on a honeymoon.
TL: I doubt that, Bishop. Don’t you think he’d let us know if that were the case? I mean, especially me, I’m his closest friend. I’d definitely be his best man at any wedding, or at least be someone he could gush to about his new wife.
Bishop: You don’t know Mr. Karishnikov as well as you think, Mr. Luger. He kept things from everyone, you know about his files that no one has seen, not even I’ve seen. He has dirt on everybody. He has his secrets, just like everyone else.
TL: That’s ridiculous, Andrei’s never been afraid to tell me anything. He tells me when I suck in the ring. He tells me when my promos aren’t up to snuff. He’d probably tell me that my fuck technique needs work if he watched some of my home movies. We don’t have secrets.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, I respect you as Andrei’s friend, but you need to give him space at the moment.
Luger froze, and the blood must have rushed from his face because Bishop began his back peddle almost immediately.
Bishop: I’m sure that wherever he is, he’s fine, but he obviously wants us to leave him be, or he’d have contacted us.
TL: You son of a bitch!
Luger grabs Bishop by the shirt and slams him on the hood of his Navigator.
TL: Tell me what you know, Bishop, or so help me, I’ll break that big, thick, neck of yours.
Bishop remained calm.
Bishop: Let’s go inside, we should discuss this in private, Tomas. Mr. Karishnikov wouldn’t want his dirty laundry aired like this.
Luger releases Bishop and the two men walk into the OWL facilities. They make their way past the dusty rings, the unused weight equipment, and up the stairs at the back of the building, and into the cramped office that Andrei used to sit in, day after day, overseeing his wrestling empire. Bishop sits behind the desk and Luger stands in front of it, arms folded, waiting angrily.
Bishop: Have a seat, Tom.
Luger just stands, burning holes with his glowering eyes. Bishop heaves an exasperated sigh.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, please just have a seat, and make yourself comfortable. I’m clearly going to share what I know with you, so there’s no reason to stand there, waiting to pummel me. There’s just no need.
Luger, without taking his eyes off of Bishop, sits in the chair opposite the large man. Bishop leans over the desk.
Bishop: It was almost a year ago...
About a year ago…
Bishop Orion enters the offices at the Odessa Wrestling League and seated behind the desk is the owner, and former Tennessee Wrestling Federation Champion, Andrei Karishnikov. Andrei brightens as Bishop closes the door behind him.
AK: Bishop. How are you my friend?
Andrei doesn’t bother to stand, his disposition immediately sinks and he puts his head in his hands running his fingers through his blonde hair. Bishop sits and can’t shake the look of concern off his face.
Bishop: Mr. Karishnikov…something the matter?
Andrei looks up and Bishop can see the redness to his eyes, but can’t tell if it’s from lack of sleep, crying or both.
AK: Yeah, Bishop, something is the matter.
Bishop could guess what The Eternal Flame was about to say, but he remained silent, just staring at Andrei.
AK: So I asked Britney to marry me. Last night. I-
Andrei’s voice cracked and he rubs his hand over his mouth, trying to gather the courage to continue.
AK: It was after dinner, we went for a walk along the beach, I got down on the knee-
Andrei pauses again, just staring off with a glazed look, like he’s watching the events unfold right in front of him.
Bishop: Are you sure you’re alright? Where is Mrs. Clark now?
AK: She told me to get up, and I couldn’t. I was frozen there, in the sand, on one knee, waiting for the scenario to unfold how I’d imagined. I just sat there, looking like an idiot, and Britney confirming my feeling by looking at me like I was the biggest moron on the planet. The woman I love, just staring at me like I had a fucking third eye or something.
Andrei stands and paces around the office, Bishop just watching with growing concern on his face.
AK: So after what seemed like hours, I stood and pulled out the ring, opening the box so she could see the size. It was a quarter million dollar ring, Bishop. It was a rock, my friend. I now she’s materialistic, and I’m not, but I wanted her to be happy. I wanted to make sure she couldn’t say no.
Bishop: Sir-
AK: So she tells me to put it away, and she sits on a bench, motioning for me to sit next to her. I suffed it in my pocket-
Andrei pulls the ring box from his pocket and tosses it on the desk. Bishop follows it with his eyes, but leaves it lying on the desk like a bloody murder weapon.
AK: And I sat next to her. She told me she loved me, asked me if I knew that she’d always love me, but I couldn’t answer, I might have nodded, I don’t remember. She grabbed my hands in hers and they weren’t trembling or anything. She was so calm, almost emotionless.
Andrei stops pacing and sits back down, head between his hands, and staring at the floor.
AK: She told me that this was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but that she just couldn’t keep going on, pretending like this was the life she wanted. She told me she loved me more than I would ever know, but she wasn’t ready to settle down. She didn’t want the white picket fence, the kids in the yard, the simple life. She said it was a mistake, for her to marry Brian when she did, and she never wanted to make that mistake again.
Andrei looks up, eyes red and tears streaking his face. He stares right into Bishop’s eyes, with the pain of a whole world conveyed in his one look.
AK: She stood, letting go of my hands, and told me she was leaving. She told me not to contact her, she didn’t want to feel that pain. She kissed me on the forehead and disappeared into the cloudy night. I haven’t seen her since, Bishop.
Bishop just sat there, staring at the box with the ring in it. He slowly raised his eyes and met the look in Andrei’s face.
Bishop: So what are you going to do now, Andrei?
AK: I don’t know, Bishop. I loved her, the God damned black widow, and she was so cold. I see now that she loved the status. She’s in love with her name on the marquee, the fame of the moment, she’s a cold, calculating bitch with a heart of stone. And still, I love her. I don’t know what to do, Bishop.
Bishop stands, grabbing the ring off the table and putting it in his pocket.
Bishop: You need to leave, Mr. Karishnikov. You need to find peace, within yourself. You need to let catharsis set in, and you’re not going to do that milling about this old haunt. You’re not going to do that trying to figure out what to do with these things that she’s left memories in. Let me take care of things around here, you go find a place to heal.
Andrei raises his bleary face, rubbing the tear streaks into his stained face, but the look of ravenous desperation is gone, replaced by nothing by blinding pain.
AK: I can’t do that, Bishop. I’ve got Tomas to think about, and the wrestling school. We’re going to be starting up a new season, I’ve got some solid recruits coming in to train. Quentin Black seems like a strong candidate to be transferred to a legit fed. I’ve got so many responsibilities.
Bishop moves behind the desk and helps Andrei to his feet. Clapping his hand on The Eternal Flame’s shoulder firmly.
Bishop: Andrei, you give so freely, to so many that don’t deserve it, and you ask for nothing in return. Do this for yourself. You’re going to be useless to us just sitting around here, dwelling. I’ll take care of business, even if it means closing the doors for a while, I’ll be the bad guy. And as far as Tomas goes…
Bishop and Andrei exchange a knowing look.
AK: It’s time he stood on his own two feet. I know I’ve always been there for him, helping him learn the business, understand the motions, fixing his mistakes. Maybe you’re right this time, maybe I’m doing more harm than good being here.
Bishop: Sir, it’s time you focus on you, let the rest of us fend for ourselves.
AK: Thank you, Bishop. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Bishop: That feeling, Andrei, is mutual. What do you want me to tell Mr. Luger. You know he’s going to look for you.
AK: Don’t tell him anything. I don’t want to be found. I’m leaving tonight, I’m not going to tell you where, no one will know. I’m leaving my phones, my laptop, everything. I’ll contact you when I’m landing at JFK, when I’m ready to come home.
Andrei and Bishop embrace in a hug.
AK: Take care of yourself, Bishop. And don’t be too hard on Tomas, he means well.
Bishop: You take care of yourself, Andrei. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.
Andrei walked from the room, looking back and smiling the first smile that had graced his face in hours. Bishop smiled back, no knowing if he’d ever see his boss and mentor ever again. Not caring if he ever did.
****
Luger is still sitting across from Bishop, but his mood has softened. The look of anger on his face has been replaced by concern and sorrow.
TL: I’m sorry, Bishop. I never knew.
Bishop: Mr. Karishnikov wanted it that way. He didn’t want you to worry, he wanted you to succeed on your own. Be Tomas Luger, instead of Andrei Karishnikov’s friend.
TL: I could care less about that, Bish. I mean, I never knew that’s what happened between Britney and Andrei. He told me he was thinking about taking his relationship to the next level, then he went missing.
Bishop: It was hard on him, Mr. Luger. He needed to find himself again. You understand, don’t you?
Luger stands.
TL: I better be going. I have some apologizing to do to Alexis and Humphries. They’ve been worried about me worrying about Andrei. I have to suck up big time, or Andrei won’t be the only single one.
Bishop stands, and moves from behind the desk. The two men shake hands.
Bishop: So, when are you getting back into the ring?
TL: I don’t know, Bish. I have to settle my personal issues first. Wrestling is secondary for me right now.
Bishop: I’m glad to hear that, strangely enough. I’m sure Mr. Karishnikov would want to see you back in the ring when he returns, though.
TL: Whenever that is…
The two men smile and Luger heads for the door.
TL: Take it easy, Bishop. I’ll see ya when I see ya…
Luger exit’s the offices and makes his way back to his car. He never turned back.
****
January 24. Houston, Texas.
Tomas Luger is sitting on a stool in the janitor’s closet that also doubles as the secret HQ of The Rabble of Dangerous Miscreants. He’s just got done causing mischief for the night, namely welcoming back Justin York and planting a bull in the dressing room of TWD tag champ and heavyweight champ Jamie Krenshaw. He’s unwrapping the tape from his ankles after his match with Dragzilla was a scratch when his cell phone rings. He picks it up and presses to answer it, setting it in the crux of his shoulder and neck as he continues to untape.
TL: Yo!
Voice: Tomas-
Luger freezes and drops the phone on the ground. It land face down and the caller ID can be read if you look close enough.
Andrei Karishnikov.
FADE OUT
Tomas Luger sits outside of The OWL headquarters. The Odessa Wrestling League, operated out of Brighton Beach, New York, owned and operated by his life long friend, Andrei Karishnikov. It lies dormant now. Andrei has been missing for several months, and Luger suspects that Karishnikov’s right hand man, Bishop Orion, is somehow behind it, though he couldn’t prove it.
Then again, Andrei did take over the wrestling school from the Russian mob, so anything is possible, though Tomas has always known Andrei to be a stand up guy, so he didn’t suspect that Karishnikov had any ties within the Russian mafia here in New York.
The school was doing well, Andrei was enjoying his retired life, Tomas was enjoying his successful career in The Wrestling Domain, everything was going in the right direction. But what goes up, must come down.
Andrei, along with his longtime girlfriend Britney Clark, has disappeared. Luger left the TWD to find his friend. Luger left in the midst of a Tag Team Title reign, the first of it’s kind, in the Wrestling Domain. He and Justin York dominated a field of fierce competitors to win the titles outright, and had successfully defended them, much to the joy of the fans of the Domain.
Now Luger sits in a car, outside of the wrestling school, following Bishop Orion, trying desperately to track down a man that is nearer to him than any of his own blood.
Bishop exit’s the row of warehouses, and enters his black Lincoln Navigator. Luger starts up his car, prepared to follow. Bishop makes a three point turn and parks his car directly in front of Luger’s car, exiting the vehicle and motioning for Tomas to do the same.
Bishop: Mr. Luger.
Tomas eyes Bishop cautiously. Bishop was a practitioner of proper manners, and a master at reading people’s body language and reading between the lines in conversation. Fortunately, Tomas has never worried about trying to pull one over on Bishop, then again, he’s never had to suspect him of foul play.
TL: Bishop. Where you off to?
Bishop: Mr. Luger, why have you been tailing me for the past several weeks? I told you, I don’t know anymore about Mr. Karishnikov’s whereabouts than you do.
TL: And I would assume, from my actions, that I believe you about as far as I can throw you.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, I’ve told you, Mr. Karishnikov is more than capable of handling his own business. I’m sure he just wanted some seclusion with Mrs. Clark. You know he was hinting at marriage before he went missing, maybe he and Mrs. Clark went somewhere on a honeymoon.
TL: I doubt that, Bishop. Don’t you think he’d let us know if that were the case? I mean, especially me, I’m his closest friend. I’d definitely be his best man at any wedding, or at least be someone he could gush to about his new wife.
Bishop: You don’t know Mr. Karishnikov as well as you think, Mr. Luger. He kept things from everyone, you know about his files that no one has seen, not even I’ve seen. He has dirt on everybody. He has his secrets, just like everyone else.
TL: That’s ridiculous, Andrei’s never been afraid to tell me anything. He tells me when I suck in the ring. He tells me when my promos aren’t up to snuff. He’d probably tell me that my fuck technique needs work if he watched some of my home movies. We don’t have secrets.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, I respect you as Andrei’s friend, but you need to give him space at the moment.
Luger froze, and the blood must have rushed from his face because Bishop began his back peddle almost immediately.
Bishop: I’m sure that wherever he is, he’s fine, but he obviously wants us to leave him be, or he’d have contacted us.
TL: You son of a bitch!
Luger grabs Bishop by the shirt and slams him on the hood of his Navigator.
TL: Tell me what you know, Bishop, or so help me, I’ll break that big, thick, neck of yours.
Bishop remained calm.
Bishop: Let’s go inside, we should discuss this in private, Tomas. Mr. Karishnikov wouldn’t want his dirty laundry aired like this.
Luger releases Bishop and the two men walk into the OWL facilities. They make their way past the dusty rings, the unused weight equipment, and up the stairs at the back of the building, and into the cramped office that Andrei used to sit in, day after day, overseeing his wrestling empire. Bishop sits behind the desk and Luger stands in front of it, arms folded, waiting angrily.
Bishop: Have a seat, Tom.
Luger just stands, burning holes with his glowering eyes. Bishop heaves an exasperated sigh.
Bishop: Mr. Luger, please just have a seat, and make yourself comfortable. I’m clearly going to share what I know with you, so there’s no reason to stand there, waiting to pummel me. There’s just no need.
Luger, without taking his eyes off of Bishop, sits in the chair opposite the large man. Bishop leans over the desk.
Bishop: It was almost a year ago...
About a year ago…
Bishop Orion enters the offices at the Odessa Wrestling League and seated behind the desk is the owner, and former Tennessee Wrestling Federation Champion, Andrei Karishnikov. Andrei brightens as Bishop closes the door behind him.
AK: Bishop. How are you my friend?
Andrei doesn’t bother to stand, his disposition immediately sinks and he puts his head in his hands running his fingers through his blonde hair. Bishop sits and can’t shake the look of concern off his face.
Bishop: Mr. Karishnikov…something the matter?
Andrei looks up and Bishop can see the redness to his eyes, but can’t tell if it’s from lack of sleep, crying or both.
AK: Yeah, Bishop, something is the matter.
Bishop could guess what The Eternal Flame was about to say, but he remained silent, just staring at Andrei.
AK: So I asked Britney to marry me. Last night. I-
Andrei’s voice cracked and he rubs his hand over his mouth, trying to gather the courage to continue.
AK: It was after dinner, we went for a walk along the beach, I got down on the knee-
Andrei pauses again, just staring off with a glazed look, like he’s watching the events unfold right in front of him.
Bishop: Are you sure you’re alright? Where is Mrs. Clark now?
AK: She told me to get up, and I couldn’t. I was frozen there, in the sand, on one knee, waiting for the scenario to unfold how I’d imagined. I just sat there, looking like an idiot, and Britney confirming my feeling by looking at me like I was the biggest moron on the planet. The woman I love, just staring at me like I had a fucking third eye or something.
Andrei stands and paces around the office, Bishop just watching with growing concern on his face.
AK: So after what seemed like hours, I stood and pulled out the ring, opening the box so she could see the size. It was a quarter million dollar ring, Bishop. It was a rock, my friend. I now she’s materialistic, and I’m not, but I wanted her to be happy. I wanted to make sure she couldn’t say no.
Bishop: Sir-
AK: So she tells me to put it away, and she sits on a bench, motioning for me to sit next to her. I suffed it in my pocket-
Andrei pulls the ring box from his pocket and tosses it on the desk. Bishop follows it with his eyes, but leaves it lying on the desk like a bloody murder weapon.
AK: And I sat next to her. She told me she loved me, asked me if I knew that she’d always love me, but I couldn’t answer, I might have nodded, I don’t remember. She grabbed my hands in hers and they weren’t trembling or anything. She was so calm, almost emotionless.
Andrei stops pacing and sits back down, head between his hands, and staring at the floor.
AK: She told me that this was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but that she just couldn’t keep going on, pretending like this was the life she wanted. She told me she loved me more than I would ever know, but she wasn’t ready to settle down. She didn’t want the white picket fence, the kids in the yard, the simple life. She said it was a mistake, for her to marry Brian when she did, and she never wanted to make that mistake again.
Andrei looks up, eyes red and tears streaking his face. He stares right into Bishop’s eyes, with the pain of a whole world conveyed in his one look.
AK: She stood, letting go of my hands, and told me she was leaving. She told me not to contact her, she didn’t want to feel that pain. She kissed me on the forehead and disappeared into the cloudy night. I haven’t seen her since, Bishop.
Bishop just sat there, staring at the box with the ring in it. He slowly raised his eyes and met the look in Andrei’s face.
Bishop: So what are you going to do now, Andrei?
AK: I don’t know, Bishop. I loved her, the God damned black widow, and she was so cold. I see now that she loved the status. She’s in love with her name on the marquee, the fame of the moment, she’s a cold, calculating bitch with a heart of stone. And still, I love her. I don’t know what to do, Bishop.
Bishop stands, grabbing the ring off the table and putting it in his pocket.
Bishop: You need to leave, Mr. Karishnikov. You need to find peace, within yourself. You need to let catharsis set in, and you’re not going to do that milling about this old haunt. You’re not going to do that trying to figure out what to do with these things that she’s left memories in. Let me take care of things around here, you go find a place to heal.
Andrei raises his bleary face, rubbing the tear streaks into his stained face, but the look of ravenous desperation is gone, replaced by nothing by blinding pain.
AK: I can’t do that, Bishop. I’ve got Tomas to think about, and the wrestling school. We’re going to be starting up a new season, I’ve got some solid recruits coming in to train. Quentin Black seems like a strong candidate to be transferred to a legit fed. I’ve got so many responsibilities.
Bishop moves behind the desk and helps Andrei to his feet. Clapping his hand on The Eternal Flame’s shoulder firmly.
Bishop: Andrei, you give so freely, to so many that don’t deserve it, and you ask for nothing in return. Do this for yourself. You’re going to be useless to us just sitting around here, dwelling. I’ll take care of business, even if it means closing the doors for a while, I’ll be the bad guy. And as far as Tomas goes…
Bishop and Andrei exchange a knowing look.
AK: It’s time he stood on his own two feet. I know I’ve always been there for him, helping him learn the business, understand the motions, fixing his mistakes. Maybe you’re right this time, maybe I’m doing more harm than good being here.
Bishop: Sir, it’s time you focus on you, let the rest of us fend for ourselves.
AK: Thank you, Bishop. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Bishop: That feeling, Andrei, is mutual. What do you want me to tell Mr. Luger. You know he’s going to look for you.
AK: Don’t tell him anything. I don’t want to be found. I’m leaving tonight, I’m not going to tell you where, no one will know. I’m leaving my phones, my laptop, everything. I’ll contact you when I’m landing at JFK, when I’m ready to come home.
Andrei and Bishop embrace in a hug.
AK: Take care of yourself, Bishop. And don’t be too hard on Tomas, he means well.
Bishop: You take care of yourself, Andrei. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.
Andrei walked from the room, looking back and smiling the first smile that had graced his face in hours. Bishop smiled back, no knowing if he’d ever see his boss and mentor ever again. Not caring if he ever did.
****
Luger is still sitting across from Bishop, but his mood has softened. The look of anger on his face has been replaced by concern and sorrow.
TL: I’m sorry, Bishop. I never knew.
Bishop: Mr. Karishnikov wanted it that way. He didn’t want you to worry, he wanted you to succeed on your own. Be Tomas Luger, instead of Andrei Karishnikov’s friend.
TL: I could care less about that, Bish. I mean, I never knew that’s what happened between Britney and Andrei. He told me he was thinking about taking his relationship to the next level, then he went missing.
Bishop: It was hard on him, Mr. Luger. He needed to find himself again. You understand, don’t you?
Luger stands.
TL: I better be going. I have some apologizing to do to Alexis and Humphries. They’ve been worried about me worrying about Andrei. I have to suck up big time, or Andrei won’t be the only single one.
Bishop stands, and moves from behind the desk. The two men shake hands.
Bishop: So, when are you getting back into the ring?
TL: I don’t know, Bish. I have to settle my personal issues first. Wrestling is secondary for me right now.
Bishop: I’m glad to hear that, strangely enough. I’m sure Mr. Karishnikov would want to see you back in the ring when he returns, though.
TL: Whenever that is…
The two men smile and Luger heads for the door.
TL: Take it easy, Bishop. I’ll see ya when I see ya…
Luger exit’s the offices and makes his way back to his car. He never turned back.
****
January 24. Houston, Texas.
Tomas Luger is sitting on a stool in the janitor’s closet that also doubles as the secret HQ of The Rabble of Dangerous Miscreants. He’s just got done causing mischief for the night, namely welcoming back Justin York and planting a bull in the dressing room of TWD tag champ and heavyweight champ Jamie Krenshaw. He’s unwrapping the tape from his ankles after his match with Dragzilla was a scratch when his cell phone rings. He picks it up and presses to answer it, setting it in the crux of his shoulder and neck as he continues to untape.
TL: Yo!
Voice: Tomas-
Luger freezes and drops the phone on the ground. It land face down and the caller ID can be read if you look close enough.
Andrei Karishnikov.
FADE OUT