Sean is at home, pacing back and forth in agitation while muttering to himself. His gaze is fixed on the floor, avoiding any reflection of himself he might find in windows or mirrors.
(Sean): Idiot! You absolute idiot, Sean!
Sean mocks his attempt to ask Michelle Learner out earlier.
(Sean): “Do you want to go for lunch or coffee or something?!” What the hell is something?! You idiot, now she’s going to think you’re a creep or something.
Sean hits himself on the forehead with the thenar portion of the palm of his hand, as if reprimanding himself. He leans on his coffee table, his fingers tapping against the wood surface as he talks aloud. His speech carries tones of anger, regret, and uncertainty, his eyes glancing up only occasionally to check the imaginary audience before returning to fixate below. Finally, after a few moments of uninterrupted monologue, he slumps into a nearby armchair.
(Sean): Why did I think that was a good idea again?!
He’d liked Michelle for a while but had never had the courage to ask her out until now. Even though she was quite shy, Sean had found her a very complex and intimidating character. Her unwavering commitment to her religious vocation in the face of so much adversity was actually something he really liked and respected about her. Even though Michelle had agreed to go out with him, Sean had immediately sensed there was a little trepidation in her voice, like she’d said yes to spare his feelings in the moment. He pulls out his phone and cycles through his Messenger contacts finds Jeremy Branson’s number and hit dial. He was so relieved to have patched things up with Jeremy after everything that had gone on prior to Havoc. It felt good to have one of his closest friends back, someone he could confide in and talk to. After a moment, Jeremy’s voice can be heard.
(Jeremy): Hey man! What’s up? I just seen on the YouTube Channel! Michelle got attacked by the new girl?! What the f**k?!
(Sean): I know, I was just at the Academy, it literally had just happened before I got there.
(Jeremy): Is she alright?
(Sean): She was pretty shaken up, a bit bruised but she’s okay. Butch, Sensei and Hans were on their way back when I left.
(Jeremy): Well that’s something. Butch will bring the hammer down on that new Alexis girl for sure. Anyway, have you seen they posted the card for Havoc, you’ve got a match against Stu-E Price and
I’ve got William Draconis!
Sean’s jam-packed train of thought is momentarily interrupted by Jeremy’s sudden revelation.
(Sean): Wait, what?! Wow, no, I’ve not seen yet but that’s not what I was calling you about. I asked Michelle out earlier…
(Jeremy): You what?! What did she say?
(Sean): She said she’d love to but I don’t know mate, she sounded really caught off-guard. I don’t know if she just said that to spare my feelings and then she’s going to shoot me down next time we see each other. I’m freaking out, mate! I’ve never even been with a girl before !
(Jeremy): Don’t freak out dude. Michelle’s literally a “no sex before marriage” girl so unless you’re planning on proposing on your first date, you’ve got nothing to worry about! Give me an hour, I’m coming over and we can talk properly.
(Sean): Thanks mate.
After he and Jeremy hang up, Sean nonchalantly tosses his phone on his sofa and brings his arms up, clasping his hands together on the back of his head. He takes a big deep exhalation. He needed a distraction whilst Jeremy made his way over and then remembered what he’d said about the Havoc card being announced. Sean would be making his Havoc debut against fellow Brit, Stu-E Price. The Englishman had arrived in the last tranche of talent that graced HWA before their problems started. The two hadn’t really crossed paths but he remembered speaking to him on a few occasions. Sean made his way through his apartment towards his “Man Cave”. Inside this room were all sorts of various film, TV and pop culture memorabilia. On several wooden shelves hanging in different places on the walls were built lego models, Funko Pop! figures, statues, dioramas etcetera. At the back of the room was a full green-screen and recording equipment with lighting, cameras, the works that Sean used for recording both his promos and his Twitch game streaming he enjoyed. Sean gets to work on setting the equipment up to record and takes a step back to compose himself. He takes a deep breath out, running his hands through his dirty blonde hair and then begins to speak as the red light on the camera indicates it’s now recording.
(Sean): Well, Stu-E, looks like HWA is going to get its first Battle of Britain! My uncle has always spoken very highly of you as a wrestler and as a person. In fact I’m pretty sure, when it was confirmed HWA was making its grand return to television and Butch started thinking about filling the roster, your name was one of the first to come up in conversation.
Sean pauses for a moment, taking of stock of his thoughts on what he’ll say next before continuing.
(Sean): I also watched your match against Draconis last week and even though you lost, I have to say, you impressed. Despite not being in the ring for a good few years, it definitely didn’t look like it. And it was really nice seeing your daughter out with you but maybe ultimately worrying about her well-being cost you the match? Now it’s not my place to tell you what to do with your daughter but maybe it might be worth considering keeping her backstage or in the crowd with a security guard chaperoning her? Regardless, Laney being there or not, I have lost time to make up for. You may have seen my mind was a little preoccupied over the last month or so and my own dumb hubris and pride cost me a chance to make history with Jeremy. But make no mistake, I will not waste this opportunity.
Sean prods his chest with his index finger in a gesturing manner.
(Sean): I am the first second-generation HWA superstar and my precious, almost career-ending injury cost me a chance to solidify myself as a wrestling great. You see, like any relative of a famous wrestler, there comes a certain expectation for you to be just like them. Some of have been successful.
Sean holds his hand out, his fingers splayed and extended and he counts them down with his other hand.
(Sean): The Anoa’i Family, Cody and Dustin Rhodes, the Von Erichs, the Harts…. But some have crashed and burned…
Sean repeats the same hand movements again.
(Sean): Ted DiBiaise Jr, Shawn Stasiak, Curtis Axel…they all failed to reach the heights of their forebears and crumpled under the weight of expectation their surname carried out. And I will make it clear now, I will not be another statistic, another entry on a random Reddit page top ten list or WrestleLamia video compilation counting down the top wrestling flops who failed to live up to their first generation counterparts.
Like those before me, I can’t help the name I was given but like many who have fallen short, I will not. I will grab this opportunity and will not let go. I know my uncle is one of the GOATs but I will not let his accomplishments define me or my own legacy I intend to build in not only HWA but in all of professional wrestling. When people talk about the Parker legacy in years to come, not only will they mention the many World Championships Butch Parker won or the history-making feuds he had with Michael Dredge, AC James, Michael James and Buff Bridges. They will talk about the great Sean Parker alongside him.
The humiliation, frustration and anger in Sean’s voice from before when he was bemoaning what had happened earlier. It was now laced with passion and fire. This was the first he had thought about what he’d want to achieve from his career.
(Sean): You see, after everything that has taken place over the last several years, before HWA was restored to its former glory, all I’ve been focused on was helping Butch and Wisdom and even just having another chance at an in-ring career. Now, with the eyes of the world on all of us, I am not going to flounder or fail. I am going to soar and it starts at Havoc with you, Stu-E. I might respect you and hell, might even like you. But at Havoc, my journey to the top starts with beating you. See you in Chicago!
Sean stops the recording with the remote and initiates the upload on to the HWA’s YouTube channel. Once he sees the green tick, he brings his phone out and goes to his Messenger and begins to type a message to Michelle:
Hey Michelle, I’m sorry if I acted all weird earlier or if I creeped you out. Can we talk again later? I don’t want to put any pressure on you!
He lets a gush of air escape his mouth as he thinks about everything that’s happened today and waits for Jeremy to arrive as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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