Post by Ace King on Feb 16, 2022 18:36:44 GMT -6
For a venue called Bad Axe Throwing, things are perhaps uncharacteristically calm. Though it’s still the middle of the work day for most in Daly City, there’s excitement in the air as word’s gotten around about the season premiere of PARAMOUNT WRESTLING in its traditional home.
A few seconds later, the doors swing open, and a group of six people wearing EWC gear comes in, getting the attention of the lane attendant as they approach the counter.
“Hi, I called a little while ago about a reservation. EWC production crew,” the main man says, prompting the lane attendant to look over his notes and bookings.
“Yes, got it right here,” the attendant confirms, getting the group excited. “You basically have the entire place to yourselves, so please, follow me.”
The group follows the lane attendant back to the throwing lanes; as the attendant gets everything set up, their attention drifts to a lone thrower in the next lane over.
“Hey, wait a minute,” the smallest one in the group says, pointing to the other occupied lane with a hint of skepticism in her voice. “Isn’t that…”
The group gets a bit closer, and they all appear surprised when they recognize the identity of the lone thrower.
“...Ace?”
The name gets the attention of the thrower, who turns to them and reveals that he is, in fact, the former Undisputed Champion. Ace’s expression is relatively stoic, though he’s clearly begun to work up a lather as small beads of sweat coalesce on his forehead.
“Surprise,” he deadpans as he stays in his lane, though his face briefly scrunches up. “I figure it’s a good place for someone as dull or even nondescript as one of these axe blades to come to get away, right?”
“Fair enough, though I assumed you'd be back home,” the main crew member says with a raised eyebrow. “I assume you’ll be at the show tonight, then?”
“Yeah,” Ace states bluntly, though the group is looking over Ace’s shoulder, where they see an axe stuck into the wood at the end of his lane, evenly splitting a printout of this year’s StrangleMania poster featuring Killjoy Ito with the Undisputed Championship. They look at Ace with slightly troubled expressions, but the former Undisputed Champion simply shrugs his shoulders.
“And everything’s good with you?” the smallest one in the group asks, a hint of concern still on her face.
“I’m fine, really,” he deadpans, though he’s not completely convinced the group of that as he pulls the axe out of the target. After an extended silence, Ace clears his throat.
“It’s not intended to be personal, and I’m not going to be raining on his parade,” he clarifies. “There’s no need to twist it: He’s earned the moment he’s going to have tonight, and I’m not going to ruin it for him. With that said, that doesn’t mean I have to put my competitive fire on the back burner.”
As if to demonstrate the point, Ace hurls the axe toward the target, again hitting a bullseye on the StrangleMania poster.
“It isn’t even all about him, either,” he continues. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scouting his match, but it’s worth noting that the better half of Rushin’ Roulette is also competing tonight, so we should probably talk shop before building up to the Scaffold Match with Bobby and Jimmy, no? There’s no malice in me being here tonight. If you haven’t noticed, I’m rather purpose-driven.”
Again, Ace walks back to the target and grabs the axe, but instead of throwing it again, he wipes his forehead off and sets the axe down by the door to his lane.
“Anyway, I’ll see you guys over at the Cow Palace,” he says as he casually collects his things and vacates his lane, leaving the EWC production crew members dumbfounded as they go back to their throwing.
Just as he’s about to leave the building, Ace heads back to the counter and pulls out a few significant bills, pressing them onto the counter and whispering “that should cover them. Anything else, hang on to it.”
Ace offers a subtle nod to the attendant, who appears stunned as the Undisputed Champion walks out the door, leaving the production folks oblivious to his deed.
A few seconds later, the doors swing open, and a group of six people wearing EWC gear comes in, getting the attention of the lane attendant as they approach the counter.
“Hi, I called a little while ago about a reservation. EWC production crew,” the main man says, prompting the lane attendant to look over his notes and bookings.
“Yes, got it right here,” the attendant confirms, getting the group excited. “You basically have the entire place to yourselves, so please, follow me.”
The group follows the lane attendant back to the throwing lanes; as the attendant gets everything set up, their attention drifts to a lone thrower in the next lane over.
“Hey, wait a minute,” the smallest one in the group says, pointing to the other occupied lane with a hint of skepticism in her voice. “Isn’t that…”
The group gets a bit closer, and they all appear surprised when they recognize the identity of the lone thrower.
“...Ace?”
The name gets the attention of the thrower, who turns to them and reveals that he is, in fact, the former Undisputed Champion. Ace’s expression is relatively stoic, though he’s clearly begun to work up a lather as small beads of sweat coalesce on his forehead.
“Surprise,” he deadpans as he stays in his lane, though his face briefly scrunches up. “I figure it’s a good place for someone as dull or even nondescript as one of these axe blades to come to get away, right?”
“Fair enough, though I assumed you'd be back home,” the main crew member says with a raised eyebrow. “I assume you’ll be at the show tonight, then?”
“Yeah,” Ace states bluntly, though the group is looking over Ace’s shoulder, where they see an axe stuck into the wood at the end of his lane, evenly splitting a printout of this year’s StrangleMania poster featuring Killjoy Ito with the Undisputed Championship. They look at Ace with slightly troubled expressions, but the former Undisputed Champion simply shrugs his shoulders.
“And everything’s good with you?” the smallest one in the group asks, a hint of concern still on her face.
“I’m fine, really,” he deadpans, though he’s not completely convinced the group of that as he pulls the axe out of the target. After an extended silence, Ace clears his throat.
“It’s not intended to be personal, and I’m not going to be raining on his parade,” he clarifies. “There’s no need to twist it: He’s earned the moment he’s going to have tonight, and I’m not going to ruin it for him. With that said, that doesn’t mean I have to put my competitive fire on the back burner.”
As if to demonstrate the point, Ace hurls the axe toward the target, again hitting a bullseye on the StrangleMania poster.
“It isn’t even all about him, either,” he continues. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scouting his match, but it’s worth noting that the better half of Rushin’ Roulette is also competing tonight, so we should probably talk shop before building up to the Scaffold Match with Bobby and Jimmy, no? There’s no malice in me being here tonight. If you haven’t noticed, I’m rather purpose-driven.”
Again, Ace walks back to the target and grabs the axe, but instead of throwing it again, he wipes his forehead off and sets the axe down by the door to his lane.
“Anyway, I’ll see you guys over at the Cow Palace,” he says as he casually collects his things and vacates his lane, leaving the EWC production crew members dumbfounded as they go back to their throwing.
Just as he’s about to leave the building, Ace heads back to the counter and pulls out a few significant bills, pressing them onto the counter and whispering “that should cover them. Anything else, hang on to it.”
Ace offers a subtle nod to the attendant, who appears stunned as the Undisputed Champion walks out the door, leaving the production folks oblivious to his deed.
