[[ GDW RP #4: Emotions run wild. ]]

[[ Record 02-01-00 | Other Stars Mentioned: The entire roster. ]]

[ Beyond the pale Moonlight ]:

Yep. I changed the layout again. That's what I do. If there where an AA for changing the layout I would be the first to go. I hate seeing the same thing over and over again. It gets boring. But once I find that right look, I'll stick with it. This time I decided to use the dimension of the forum boards to kind of associate myself more with the GDW fed. In case it isn't clear this RP is mostly aimed toward the Civil War match , whereas Drake's was aimed at the tag match; with both of ours kind of merging into the other.

[ Stalking the Prey ]:

The dream of the Wolfe brothers of winning the GDW tag team titles has been shattered. Now in the biggest event of the year, Civil War, they have one match as partners and one as opponents. The latter could decide who will face the current Heavyweight champion at Wrestlecade Seven.

[ The Kill ]:

//// "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." --Albert Einstein. \\\\

He looks down at the river. The air is so cold and yet the water has not frozen. Logan's usual jeans are not enough to protect him from the freezing elements. He wears a thick pair of sweat pants underneath his tattered jeans to try and trick his legs into staying warm. However, the holes in the knees and the small one on the left quad isn't tricking anyone. Up top he wears a black hoodie with the band "Seether" plastered in red lettering. Over the top of that is his letterman jacket. He opts not to wear any face or hand protection and is still just wearing red and white chucks.

The bridge is high. High enough that boats and smaller ships can safely drive under. Logan is by himself and he just stares out. Small flakes of snow fall in the near distance. His hands are in his jacket pockets but for the most part he shows little sign of actually being cold.

"Lost.." Logan's voice cracks. The very thought of losing sends Logan to a place of unknown. His entire life he was brought up to believe he was a winner. His father force fed Logan rants everyday about how 'losing is for losers', of course it always sounded more elegant when he would say it. Being a Wolfe was hard work. Even though the two children lost their father at a young age they committed their life towards his teachings.

Drake and Logan dealt with their fathers passing in completely different fashion. The former, being a couple years older than the later, took the loss very hard. He almost grew a hatred towards his father claiming that dying was the same as losing; and losing is simply something a Wolfe does not do. It took a few days for Drake to realize that truth behind it all, but it took Logan many years to show any signs of mourning.

Logan was just nine years old when his father passed. Such a tender age, knowledgeable enough to know the situation but not entirely understand it. It wasn't until his teen years, when a boy needs his father the most, that Logan really began to miss his father. He did a lot of things that he now regrets to try and fill the void that his father left behind. He had an attitude that showed he just didn't care about himself or anyone around him.

Things like LSD, meth, and cocaine where not readily accessible to a fifteen year old that lived with the family in a neighborhood such as Logan did. Things like smoking pot and 'huffing' where more his style. He would hang out in the basement of his friend and suppliers house and hang out there the entire summer. He drank and smoked cigarettes on a normal occasion. He gave up everything he worked hard in his life for that summer and he has never forgiven himself sense.

Ashley began to be an inspiration to clean himself up. She and Logan spent a lot of time together in his room after school that fall. His brother and mother assumed that he was studying their homework. Little did anyone know that while they may have been studying they also continued to smoke pot and cigarettes.

One night Logan reached under his bed and pulled out a thin plywood box. Inside where the contents of his smoking habits. A small sandwich bag with bright green flakes and next to that is a yellow pouch filled with loose tobacco meant to roll your own cigarettes. Also inside is a standard lighter and a few single leaves of white gummed paper. Logan rolls both products together into one and hands it to Ashley. He then rolls one of his own and lights them both up. Either product is something his family would frown on and he rolls them together hoping that if someone where to catch them they would only smell one of the products.

He watched the girl sitting next to him inhale sharply and begin to cough uncontrollably. He began to get nervous and reached for his bottle of water to give to Ashley. He looked in terror as he watched her down the bottle of water hoping that she was alright. Here is a girl who he has been trying to work up the nerve to ask out for sometime now and he is poisoning her.

It was just after that epiphany that his brother walked in and caught wind of what was going on. Some choice words where exchanged but in the end Drake was right, like always. Logan hated that his brother had all the answers. Just like his father. Well, not all of them. Logan was sneaking around doing things long enough to know how to hide it. The pack of cigarettes Drake crushed during the argument was just a empty pack used as a decoy. However the very next thing Logan did after his brother left was grabbed the rest of his stash and flushed it down the toilet.

"How could you do this to me? You where supposed to be there for me." His moisture in his breath is seen in the cold air. His voice sounds like he is close to a nervous breakdown.

Both men where extremely confident that they where going to win the tag title match. A rarity in Logan as he always questions his abilities. It was Drake who was the man to always be optimistic. Not to say Logan, never thought he was good at anything, he just always needed that extra boost from his older brother.

"I looked up to you. And in our time of need, you failed to deliver." What was a message that seemed to be derived toward their father, it was in fact intended for Drake.

Losing his father at a young age, Drake took on the role of the father to Logan. He was only twelve and no child that young should ever need the burden, but it was a responsibility Drake took to heart. At first Logan had a hard time dealing with everything but accepted it. During his young teen years he acted out, and despised it. Now, he has grown to expect it.

"Now what?"

Earlier that day..

Ashley was in the guest room if only for appearances for Logan's mother not to worry. Though Ashley assumed his mother knew better. They have been away together without his mother long enough now that if anything his mother didn't approve of where to happen - it did. Whether it be kindness or respect, Ashley opted to use the guest room as her own for the night. Most likely because it had its own bathroom. It's own bathroom meant a shower.

Logan could hear the shower running from down the hall. He sat at the edge of his own bed. A room he has not been in since he received his contracts at GDW. Even before then he barely spent time in it. He trained and trained hard to become a wrestler. The slight nostalgia kicks in as he looks around his walls to see all of his band posters, the trophies he has won, his family pictures, it was all a blast from the past.

In his left hand was a velour covered maroon box and inside laid a diamond ring. The same ring that was intended to be on his girlfriend's finger. He stared down at it opened and closed it repeatedly. The sound of the box closing echoed louder and louder in the back of Logan's psyche. He was planning on proposing to Ashley, now his only proposal is the thought of leaving the wrestling world behind.

Everything has changed for him. He thought for sure he and his brother would be partying it up right now. He had called all of his friends to get one going to celebrate his tag title victory. Alas, he and his brother did not win and instead of what should be the happiest moment in his life he feels nothing but regret and mourning.

Initially the plan was to fly to Seattle and get together with all of his friends. It was a plan made weeks ahead and Logan's mother knew of this and insisted he come home to sleep. So even though there was nothing to celebrate he still came home with Ashley. Not to mention the fact that they didn't rent a hotel so their options where limited.

The worst part of it all: Logan and Drake are not on speaking together right now. Even though Logan was the one pinned, he blames Drake for the loss. Their first loss. A loss in itself is bad, but this match was important and too important to fail. Unfortunately they did. So now Logan's world is upside down. He looks back at every decision he has made and ponders the possibilities of whether or not they where the right ones. The most notable one is his decision to wrestle instead of sticking with football.

He stands up and places the ring inside of his desk's top drawer. To his immediate right his his trophy case. He flashes back to his glory days. Right now he can't understand why he would give up everything that he has known. He was to play college ball. He was granted a scholarship at Washington State, which is a great honor. Other schools he pondered was Southern California being as they had won the past three rose bowl games at the time and even Texas. Being the movie buff he once was Notre Dame was always his school of choice. If only for a year or two just to say he went. It was a dream of his. One that could easily be turned to reality.

"Why haven't you asked her yet?" The voice made Logan jump. He turned around to see his mother standing in the door way.

"How long have you been standing there?" He chuckles at his own embarrassment.

"Your whole life." She lets herself in and walks over to the desk and removes the ring from the drawer. "It's beautiful. You shouldn't keep her waiting."

Logan grabs the ring and shoves it back in the drawer, "I've got some issues I need to resolve first Ma, I can't be dealing with that right now."

"It's about Drake isn't it?"

"Only a little." There was a lot more to it than that.

"He let you down."

"He's holding me back!" His answer was quick. "He has failed me."

"How did he 'fail' you?"

"You wouldn't understand." He wants to get everything off of his chest, but he doesn't want to seem weak. He doesn't want to feel like he needs his mother.

"Try me."

Logan stares at his mother. The look of concern is apparent in her eyes. "Ever since Dad died I have looked up to Drake for answers. He has always guided me in the right direction. But now, I don't know. everything is wrong.." His mother sees his right eye begin to water just barely, he holds it in real well as he doesn't like to show emotions. "We where both so confident we would win. I am never confident in anything. He told me over and over again that we wouldn't lose."

"It sounds like to me like you are just trying to place the blame on someone even though you know it wasn't anyone's fault."

"See! This is why I didn't want to say anything. I knew you would say that." Logan's shouting prompts his over active self hating anger over the roof and he lets himself out of the room and leaves the house leaving everything behind.

Ashley was just stepping out of the shower when she heard the door slam. She wraps a towel over herself quickly and peeks out the hallway to see Logan's mother in his room.

"What was that about?"

"Logan and I don't have the strongest relationship." She sat on the floor leaning against a wall.

Ashley quickly puts on some clothes and walks over the now crying woman, "I know that Mrs. Wolfe, but what where the particulars this time?"

"He was going to propose to you." Now it is her turn to begin to form tears.

"What? And you said no?"

She ignored the question. She doesn't have to answer to the girls false acquisitions. "Logan has been lost ever since his father died. It's been hard on all of us. But he cant seem to let it go."

"Trust me Mrs. Wolfe, I know. I know all to well."

Even earlier still..

"Almost military but a little longer on top. I want to be able to spike it. But, make sure you blend the top to the sides. " Logan sat in the barbers chair and explained what he wanted done.

"No problem." The gray haired man wrapped the protective sheet over his patron and smiled, "Have you come in here before? You look familiar."

A smile creeps in from one side of Logan's mouth, "No. But I get that a lot. I guess I just have one of them faces." He lies.

"No. You're Logan Wolfe! What are you doing in Seattle?"

"Well I live here. Born and raised."

"Oh. I probably should have known that. But I don't really follow wrestling."

"Yeah? Why's that?"

"Wrestling is not what it used to be. Wrestlers used to be athletes, now they are stunt men with some acting lessons. No offense." He picks up a set of bright sheers and begins to trim the top of Logan's hair.

"None taken, I guess." You don't want to anger someone who has a sharp blade raised over your head.

"Didn't you have a pay per view just recently?"

"Well actually it's coming up."

"Yeah and your going for those tag titles right?"

"No no, that was last week. We lost.."

"How did that happen?"

This old man obviously keeps up to date with current affairs to some degree. Maybe one of Logan's fans came in to get a haircut and the barber overheard the boy talking. Maybe one of Logan's old friends came in. Or just maybe the barber actually caught a taping and enjoyed it. regardless he was still a stranger, "Let's just say there was some miscommunication and leave it at that."

"Well you don't have to get sassy about it boy, I was just wondering. So now you have another match with the tag titles or..?" he ends his question without finishes the sentence.

"No. Unfortunately we have to put that on the side for now. We have to face a couple of other people instead. A couple of girls."

"Girls? In my day girls knew their place. They were to stay in the house and make sure we men where happy." The barber obviously showing is age here.

"Yeah, well a lot has changed. It's the twenty-first century. These women are tough nowadays."

"I think its a dirty shame. If I was running that company all the women would be released. They have no place in the ring."

"Well lets just agree to disagree on this one."

The barber shakes his head and finally grabs the clippers he has been waiting to grab for the right moment and begins to shave the rest of his clients hair. The vibrating sensation sends a chill down Logan's spine and the muscles begin to contract around the hairs of his right leg and arm causing goose bumps. The hair cut is complete and he pays the man. Logan planned on letting his hair grow. That obviously didn't last long.

"So why are you in town anyway?" The barber continues as he hands Logan the change from his twenty dollar bill.

"I just came here to brush up with my roots."

"Well I hope you find what you are looking for. Come back again."

"Thanks. I will."

Later that day..

It's just three days before the next event. Logan packs his bags. He needs to be in Michigan and planned on driving the whole way. As a graduation present he was given a car by his brother. Logan may not necessarily be a car fanatic, but knows certain cars and have always loved the fast ones. Logan also finds a certain state of peace and serenity driving regardless the speed. Even if it is a thirty five hour drive.

"All set?" Logan's mother stood in the doorway of his room.

"I wish you wouldn't do that, ma. It's creepy."

"Old habits die hard."

"Yeah I guess. What did you want?"

"I wanted to see you off. Who knows when the next time I see you will be."

"You can see me every Friday night.."

"I know, but it's not the same."

"Well, I got to get going, Ma. It's a long drive."

They hug each other goodbye even though it isn't completely heart filled. Ashley is already ready and she gives Logan's mother a quick hug as well. They both head for the Logan's car. They throw their luggage in trunk and head off. 

"Hey did you print out the directions?" Logan asks.

"Yeah I got them."

The ride was quite. Neither one had too much to say. Logan was still kind of upset about everything and Ashley couldn't stop thinking about her knowing that Logan was going to propose. It's not that Logan didn't want to talk to Ashley, but the proposal was something that was running around the back of Logan's mind as well.

"I know I have been distant with you lately," Logan ponders an excuse to give but nothing sounds right. All he could come up with is, "I'm sorry." Sometimes that's the best thing to say anyway.

Ashley looks over to her man with a concerned look. "You don't have to apologize to me babe. I understand."

"I know that, but it's still not fair to you." Logan still hasn't looked away from the road.

"You've got a lot on your plate. You got the tag match to prepare for and then you got two other matches after that in the same night. It's more than one man should have to do."

"Yeah.. I guess."

Even if it is about work at least Logan is talking. Ashley keeps running that thought in her head as she asks, "So how do you feel about the tag match?"

Logan takes his time responding. He almost forgets the question by the time he answers. "It's just another match."

"It's a tag match. With your brother as your partner."

"Yes," he pauses, "it is." His answers are short. He wants to talk to his girlfriend but doesn't want to talk about Drake. He does all he can not to burst.

"Think you will do alright?" Still just trying to get Logan to open up.

"Shouldn't be too difficult." It was too short.

"Well, I think you and Drake will do fine." She continues.

"Me too." Even shorter. It's not looking good. She needs to do something fast.

"So what about the battle royal match afterwards? How have you prepared for that?" She finally changes the subject.

"I've been doing my research on everyone in the company. Especially the ones in my tier. Trying to figure out their weaknesses. Looking into their styles. Who can be trusted and who can't." Finally he opens up.

"Can any of them really be trusted though?"

"Some of them will be all right. Most of them I will need to be watching my back though. I mean come on, it is for the chance to be number one contender, why have allies in a match like that?"

"But you will have an ally in that ring." Logan's eyebrows cringe a little as the obvious reference to his brother is made. There are truth in her words though Logan doesn't see it. She tries to change the subject again. "So are Presley or Noah in the match?"

"Every member of the roster is in the match."

"No, I mean in your particular match."

"They are not in the first tier if that's what you mean. But either one of them could be in the final match."

"Everyone has equal odds, but what are the chances either of them would really be in it?"

"I don't -- I don't know. Why so interested?"

"I just think it would be a nice bit of payback is all."

"Well yeah, but in all reality them beating us was payback for me beating Presley the previous event. It's all in good sportsmanship. We'll face each other again. Some day."

The car goes silent again, save for the radio that is just on to be on. "So what else have you done?"

"Not a lot. Some of these people will be removed easily and there is no reason to discuss -- anyone really."

"Oh. Why not?"

"Come on, babe. You know I don't like to trash talk people. I like to give everyone a chance to show their talents in the ring."

"In other words you don't like to put your foot in your mouth."

"That too." He chuckles. Finally a sign of the man Ashley knows Logan to be. Kind hearted and open to the world. Not depressed and silent inside. Logan really does hate being so shut inside. It's not like him at all. He knows he needs to forgive his brother - and he will eventually. Being in the ring with him isn't going to be easy. Not in the tag match or in the singles. Especially not in the singles as he can potentially remove his brother from competition. A thought that has crossed Logan's mind once or twice. A thought that shouldn't be there. There should be no reason for it.

The drive is long and why Logan thought it would be a good reason to start driving at night was beyond understanding. Ashley sleeps in the passenger seat and Logan turns up the radio loud enough to keep his mind going. The only thing he can think of is his matches at Civil War.

He finds it slightly ironic that at the event named after a war between what was once a single thing that wants to be two separate things is happening as the same time as he is trying to branch away from his brother. After all their can be only one winner of the Civil War and who's to say it can't be Logan? His thought of the war is an extremely bastardized and simplified version of the term, but still decent enough to be understood, at least he understood it.

The truth of it is that there are over a dozen other people in the same ring as the Wolfe brothers and the real attention should be on them. It has taken Logan a long time, almost too long, to realize this, but he does know his brother loves him and would never purposely stray from being on his side.

The heavyweight title is the biggest prize one can achieve in the world of professional wrestling and at Civil War every man and woman have a chance at being a contender for that title. That makes every single one of them very dangerous people. Everyone has their own stories as to why they are in the business and why the title means so much to them.

In Logan's case it simply means one thing: greatness. It means you are the best of the best of the best. It means that you have made your way from the bottom of the metaphorical ladder of success, all the way to the top. Feelings of regret and questions concerning your career decisions become answered in one night. There is no better high than knowing that of every man and woman on the roster you are the greatest of them all.

This is not to say Logan is an egotistical man - quite the contrary. Logan always doubts everything he does in life. Every decision that he has made every action he has taken has been full of fear and doubt. His brother constantly needs to remind him of just who he is. He is a champion regardless of the belt he wears. He is a Wolfe.

It's the night before the event and Logan hasn't physically trained in days. His heart rate is low and his breathing is all wrong. Most of all he feels week. Ashley is away doing who knows what so he leaves her a note stating he went to look for a gym. He steps outside wearing just his sweats and chucks and proceeds to jog to the gym. There was one not too far away but Logan hadn't adequately raised his heart rate yet to he chooses to run around the block a few times first.

Now satisfied he goes in the door and goes straight for the weight bench and adds two hundred and twenty pounds, his own approximant weight, to the bar.

"Can someone spot me?" He yells hoping someone will hear. A largely muscular man wearing way too small of shorts and a tank top walks over and agrees to help out. He introduces himself as Craig.

He does several sets under this weight. More than he normally would, but he figured since he'd been slacking he should push himself a little more than usual.

"Why are you pushing yourself so hard, mate?" The large fellow spoke with what sounded like a Scottish accent, but Logan was breathing so heavy he couldn't tell for sure.

"It's just been a while man. I have to catch up."

"You're going to strain yourself if you keep it up like this though brother." Logan quickly thought of his own brother as the Scot used a word his culture uses freely to describe any friendly male figure.

"Yeah, you are probably right." Logan replies saying a syllable inside of each rep. He gets help putting the bar back to the bench and stands up. "Why so interested in my safety?"

"Well you've got an important match coming up and I don't want you hurting yourself."

"Man, I am more popular than I thought." He remembers the bartender that just so happen to know who he was and now a random man in a gym.

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind."

They remove twenty pounds from each side bringing the total weight down to one hundred and eighty."There! Now you have a less likely chance of straining yourself."

Logan lifts the bar and notices a considerable difference forty pounds makes. Still thinking about his fame he asks, "So you're a fan of mine?" He finishes an entire sentence in between reps.

"Not particularly brother, but I don't have anything against you either."

Puzzled, Logan asks the only obvious question, "Well then why are you so concerned with my well being?"

"I got a lot of money riding on you to win the Civil War match."

"A bet?"

"It's more than that brother. It's gambling."

"Why me then?"

"You have the best outcome. I paid a small sum to bid on you and I make the most money out if it if you win."

"That's gambling alright." It takes Logan a moment to realize that wasn't exactly a compliment, "Wait I have the worst chances of winning?"

"Well not the worst mate, but it's pretty bad. And don't even ask who's below you because I wont tell you."

"So you don't think I have a chance?"

"On the contrary, I think very much you will win. Otherwise I wouldn't have bet on you."

"Why me?"

"A few reasons.."

"Care to elaborate?"

"You are one of the newest additions to the show so you have a lot more to prove than most of the other guys."

"Keep going.." The repetitions begin to slow.

"Well, you just suffered a major loss brother. That makes you feel vulnerable and want to work harder at making sure your next match doesn't end the same. Case and point you being here."

Logan lets the bar go all the way down and pauses for a moment, "You knew I would be here didn't you?"

"Well I had a feeling mate. It paned out it seems too." He cracks a smile.

Logan does one more and puts the bar back on the bench and sits up.

"Can I ask you something personal?"

"I guess so."

"Where are you from?"

The muscular man laughs, "Well I was born in Scotland, but I have spent the good part of my adult life in London. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious as to what accent that was. It makes sense now." He pauses for a moment to catch his breath. "So you like my style and you think I am a good wrestler, but you are not a fan?"

"Do you want me to be your fan brother?"

"I want you to respect me as a competitor and I want you to hope I win all my matches regardless of if there is money on it or not."

"That second half is harder said than done, but that first part is true. You are an amazing talent and I have little fear that will lose."

"I guess I can handle that." He shakes the Scots hand and they put the weights away. "So you want to keep talking while I do the rest of my work out?"

"I can do that." Logan makes his way towards other various machines and his new friend follows. It seems like at least temporarily Logan found the attention he needed to get pumped up as the Scot takes on the role he would be missing from his brother.

They talk back and forth about various wrestling maneuvers and strategy plans for the upcoming event. Turns out Logan isn't the only wrestler out of the two. Craig apparently has roots in the wrestling ring, but an injury cost him a year and he lost his opportunity. He was fortunate enough to be in a similar style match and guides Logan as best he can as to some tricks of the trade..

~FIN