Post by Referee Trystan Lloyd on Feb 13, 2015 19:08:43 GMT -6
He’d made it back to his hotel room, along with a carrier bag of alcohol from the nearest liquor store. This wasn’t his usual way of spending an evening. Hell, after being in the club for so long, he knew exactly why he hated to see it but it was just for one night. One night to wash away the taste in his mouth, anything to get rid of the rawness he was feeling. And yet, it all felt so strange to him that he didn’t really know how to handle it. He was always in such control, until today. A while had already passed along with a bottle and a half from the bag. One bottle sat empty on the coffee table in the middle of the room and the other in his hand, held by the neck because who needs a glass when the stuff comes in glass already?! He sat slumped yet somehow comfortable on the small sofa against the wall, his eyes shut but squeezed tight as if he was trying to forget. Not exactly hard when every mouthful began to drown out the sound of the conversation that kept going round and round in his mind. He sighs, unbuttoning the second and third buttons of his shirt, his body all a bit too clammy for his liking when there is a knock on the door. Reluctantly, he squints, opening his eyes.
Trystan: I’m sure I didn’t order room service…
Putting the bottle down, he makes a laboured effort to rise and shuffles in his socks to the door to open it. Slowly pulling the door inwards, he’s surprised at the person standing in front of him, confused even.
Trystan: Leon? Leon, why are you here?
Icon Corbin: Can I come in?
Trystan shrugs, standing aside to let World champion inside his hotel room. He may be intoxicated but he hadn’t forgotten that, recently, they hadn’t quite seen eye to eye. He closes the door behind Leon who makes a quick sweep of the room to assess the damage. How many times had he been here before to know exactly what was going on right now. He turns to the referee who’s now heading back for the sofa and his bottle.
Icon Corbin: What’s this?
Trystan: What’s what?
Icon Corbin: All this? Drinking yourself into a stupor.
Trystan actually raises his brows and smiles. The audacity of it, right? The recovering alcoholic challenging him on the one night he needed this? Leon ignores the look, deciding to remove his jacket and drape it over the back of the sofa and setting his car keys on the table with a loud clunk before taking a seat at the opposite end of Trystan.
Icon Corbin: Okay. So, I got a call from Evalyn. She desperately wanted me to take her home and was hugging me like I had just saved her from imminent danger when I showed up. She also told me she was worried about you and that I should come here.
Trystan: So you’re not here because you want to be but rather because the wife told you to? Makes perfect sense considering the way you’ve treated me in recent months…
Icon Corbin: Actually, it’s because I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
The former Canadian champion shakes his head and raises the bottle to his mouth, tipping it and swallowing at the same time. It was quickly losing its taste, he’d had that much. Leon just watches the display.
Icon Corbin: Talk to me, Trys…
Trystan: Are you kidding me? You go from ridiculing me and pretty much calling me inadequate at my job and now you want me to talk to you? Is this so you can use it against me later? Last time I opened my heart to you, you played the nastiest goddamn trick on me, exploiting my weakness. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that!
Leon hadn’t forgotten it either. He doesn’t bite back, just breathes in and out audibly.
Icon Corbin: That was years ago and I was in a very different place. I’m not here to cause any trouble, just to talk to you.
Trystan: Maybe I don’t want to talk. Maybe I am happy doing what I’m doing right now.
Icon Corbin: Yeah? Well, you don’t look too bloody happy from where I’m sitting and trust me, I have a real good fucking view from here. So why don’t you cut through the bullshit and just tell me what’s going on or do I need to fill the blanks in myself? In fact it wouldn’t take a genius to work out that it’s gotta be more than a coincidence you’re having a meltdown after seeing Joy’s twirk.
Trystan: You think I care that she’s engaged?
Icon Corbin: Are you?
Trystan: No, I’m really not. I just want my daughter, Leon. She can do what the hell she wants after that. But she’s not going to let that happen because she thinks she has all the cards. I’m sick of it. Sick of it!
Icon Corbin: I thought you get to spend time with Secret.
Trystan: I do but not that often and it’s not even because I don’t have the time or don’t want to. It’s because she’s keeping her from me under the guise that her schedule is so busy which is ironic. And to think there are people out there who have kids and take it for granted that they can have them around any time they like!
He glances at the World champion, Leon spotting him immediately and returns the glance with a dilated glare. Still, he doesn’t rise to what was clearly becoming an occasion. He leans back suddenly, letting the leather absorb the impact.
Trystan: Nothing to say, Leon?
Icon Corbin: Mm…so what do you plan to do about it? Or is getting pissed the best way to prove her wrong? I can tell you first hand that really doesn’t work.
Trystan: Don’t try to compare us, Leon. You’re an alcoholic, I’m just miserable today.
Icon Corbin: Y-
He stops himself immediately, pausing in an attempt to compose himself. He could feel his blood boil but this wasn’t the Trystan he knew and right now that was about the only thing stopping him from receiving a punch in the face. He exhales while Trystan goes for another mouthful.
Icon Corbin: Okay. And sure. I’ve had enough sessions with Holly to be able to admit that freely but whether this is just a one off occasion or not, if word gets to Joy, she’ll likely exploit it so maybe rethink this little escapade.
Trystan: Of course she will. And I’ll deserve it won’t I? I should never have gotten with Joy in the first place and how have I not had an “I told you so” yet? It’s not like you to ever miss an opportunity to gloat or make fun of someone else.
Icon Corbin: Would you stop attacking me? I’m not the one messing things up for you.
Trystan: Yeah, that’s so 2006…or was it 2007…actually I don’t even care.
The look Leon was giving him didn’t even register with the inebriated referee, neither did the fact he pulled out his phone and started aggressively hitting buttons.
Evalyn, I swear I'm gonna
fucking punch him in a minute.
Seriously, he's doing his
best to aggravate me.
Remind me why you made
me come here again and
why I shouldn't just walk the
fuck out?!
He's your friend and he needs
you. Put yourself in his situation
and show some compassion for
once. Hes hurting, hes gonna
lash out.
Why at me and not you
then? He's deliberately
trying to piss me off.
He knows how to get to you?
Rise above it lover. You're
stronger than this. Besides
you've probably heard worse.
....probably from me.
Fine. I've just never seen
him like this.
I know and I'm sorry I asked
(told) you to do this. He needed
someone to vent at.
Leon pockets his phone and tries again, shimmying over so he’s sat next Trystan.
Icon Corbin: Okay look, this isn’t working.
Trystan: That’s what she said too…
Icon Corbin: Trys, stop it. Seriously, you’re getting on my fucking nerves right now.
The hypocrisy was always strong in this one. How often had those around him put up with everything he threw at them over the years in drunken states. Trystan just stares into space, eyes glazing over and whether that was down to the alcohol or not it was getting harder to tell.
Trystan: It’s not fair, Leon. I’ve lost. I can’t try to fight a battle I can’t ever hope to win. I’m going to miss out on my daughter all because one woman thinks she can play games with people’s lives, like I don’t matter. I’ve never mattered. To anyone. Not to my father, not to you, not to Joy. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t escaped that house fire when I did. If I got a glimpse into the future and could have understood what it meant, I’d have just closed that window and just gone with the rest of my family!
Icon Corbin: Alright, you don’t mean that…
Trystan: Don’t I?! Not all of us can just wade through life and land on our feet no matter what happens, Leon! I know it sounds like I am resentful but can you blame me?! Look at you! One of the nastiest bastards to everyone around you and there you are, a father, a husband, successful among other things! Me? I tried hard to do right and what do I have to show for it? Oh sure, there’s money in the bank but that does sweet goddamn little to soothe me! So I just carry on and carry on and maybe someday someone will treat me with the respect I deserve. Not because I automatically demand it like you do but because I try to earn it! I try, Leon! I actually try and it’s just not good enough. The world doesn’t want nice people in it and I certainly have no place in it!
Icon Corbin: Believe it or not, I’ve still had to work at what I’ve got. You know that. Deep down you know that. More so when I’ve been undesirable as a person. Don’t be fooled by what you think I have. If you want something you have to go and get it, not let it pass you by or give in.
Trystan: Didn’t I try that? See where it got me?
Icon Corbin: If you’re talking about us at one time?
Trystan: God, you’re so arrogant! But yes, that too.
Icon Corbin: I’m sorry. I know that means little but I am. But this isn’t going to get you any nearer to where you want to b-
Before Leon can finish his sentence, Trystan’s head falls onto his shoulder, the grown man clearly sobbing. Leon puts his arm around Trystan, trying to console what looked like a broken man tonight.
Icon Corbin: Trys…?
He gets no response other than heart-breaking weeping. He ignores the waft of an overfamiliar smell as the whiskey hits him like a bad flashback and just wraps both his arms around Trystan, holding him close for what it was worth.
Icon Corbin: You’ll be okay. Come on…
Leon pulls away, standing up in the process and makes the mistake of trying to take the bottle from Trystan’s grasp. Out of nowhere, the dark haired drunken man was on his feet.
Trystan: What are you doing?
Icon Corbin: That’s enough. Let me have the bottle.
Trystan: What the hell do you think you’re doing? Who the hell are you to try and tell me what to do, like you have any hold over me, “Joy”?! If I want to drink, I’ll goddamn drink!
Icon Corbin: Uh huh…give me the bottle…
Trystan: No!
Icon Corbin: Alright, let’s be sensible. Hand it over, you’ve had enough already.
Trystan: You sensible? Hah! I said no!
Icon Corbin: For fuck sake!
The politeness from the 2007 Lord was finished as he grabs the bottle but Trystan wasn’t about to just let him, instead getting defensive enough that he tries to take a swing to stop him. A weave later and Leon just lands a stiff right hand to the jaw of the referee, holding the bottle while Trystan dropped back onto the sofa, out cold. Leon just stands there, sighing. As much as he felt the man deserved a slap, he didn’t really want to go there while he was in this state. He shakes his head, moving over to the carrier bag that still had one more bottle and takes them both to the bathroom sink, pouring both down the plug hole and wondering why it never occurred to him to do the same when he needed to.
Icon Corbin: Evalyn is gonna fucking kill me for this…fucking hell!
He seemed more angry than anything else on his way to disposing of all evidence of a drunken mess by bagging all the bottles and leaving them outside the hotel room door. Back inside, he takes another look at the man who hadn’t moved a muscle since he landed on the sofa. This picture was all wrong. How the roles had reversed as he found himself going over to Trystan and starts undressing him, removing all of his clothing before he grabs an arm and hooks it around his neck to hoist the big man enough to drag him to the bathroom. He dumps Trystan in the shower and turns it on, by the cold tap of course, just the way his wife used to when she tried to wake him up out of his states of drunkenness. Trystan stirs, spluttering as the water sprays into his face, his body becoming a strange bumpy shade of grey as he cools down with goose pimples.
Icon Corbin: Trys? You okay?
Trystan: It’s wet…
Icon Corbin: I know. You’re in the shower.
Trystan says nothing, just accepting his dampened fate of Leon brandishing a showerhead at him all over until eventually he turns it off and grabs a towel, patting Trystan down then pulling him back to his feet and dragging him out of the bathroom, taking him straight to his bed. He pulls the covers back and drops the man on his back, grabbing his legs and sliding them onto the mattress then takes one sneaky look and covers the man completely who seems to have fallen asleep instantly. Once again, he slips his hand in his pocket and pulls out his phone.
Okay, he's sleeping. Should
I stay with him until he wakes?
I got rid of any other drink he
had.
I don't know what kinda state
he's in love. You'd be a better
judge.
Alright. In that case I'm gonna
stay here til the morning. I'm
not sure I trust him yet.
Alright, you ok?
Yeah...
Dotted line implies a fib
He tried to attack me when I
tried to take his bottle. And
I...made him stop.
...He’s sleeping right? Not out
cold? Do you need me to come
check on him?
He'll be okay I think. I just want
to be sure he is when he wakes.
And I hope he forgets this in the
morning. Maybe just having
someone there when he does
wake up will make this all a bit
easier tomorrow.
......alright.....but if you've killed my
friend you will be in trouble mister.
Good god woman! Anyway, I'll see
you in the morning sometime. I'll
let you know when I'm on my way
back. Is everything okay on your
end?
Lucan and George have taken over
a small country, slughtering the
natives and taking all their lego.
Daniel is launching a one man crime
spree and locking old folk in meat
freezers and Luce has decided to
launch her own reality tv show......
nah, we make cupcakes. I might
save you one
Aww but I'm sweet enough without
the need for sugar. Alright then.
See you in the morning, lover. By
sun and candlelight
Love you xxx
Love you too. Kids send a big kiss
and bigger squeeze x
Once more, the phone is back in his pocket and he looks down. Shaking his head, he pulls the covers back and moves the man onto his side then covers him again, leaving him to sleep while he heads to the sofa to get a little shut eye himself.
Trystan: I’m sure I didn’t order room service…
Putting the bottle down, he makes a laboured effort to rise and shuffles in his socks to the door to open it. Slowly pulling the door inwards, he’s surprised at the person standing in front of him, confused even.
Trystan: Leon? Leon, why are you here?
Icon Corbin: Can I come in?
Trystan shrugs, standing aside to let World champion inside his hotel room. He may be intoxicated but he hadn’t forgotten that, recently, they hadn’t quite seen eye to eye. He closes the door behind Leon who makes a quick sweep of the room to assess the damage. How many times had he been here before to know exactly what was going on right now. He turns to the referee who’s now heading back for the sofa and his bottle.
Icon Corbin: What’s this?
Trystan: What’s what?
Icon Corbin: All this? Drinking yourself into a stupor.
Trystan actually raises his brows and smiles. The audacity of it, right? The recovering alcoholic challenging him on the one night he needed this? Leon ignores the look, deciding to remove his jacket and drape it over the back of the sofa and setting his car keys on the table with a loud clunk before taking a seat at the opposite end of Trystan.
Icon Corbin: Okay. So, I got a call from Evalyn. She desperately wanted me to take her home and was hugging me like I had just saved her from imminent danger when I showed up. She also told me she was worried about you and that I should come here.
Trystan: So you’re not here because you want to be but rather because the wife told you to? Makes perfect sense considering the way you’ve treated me in recent months…
Icon Corbin: Actually, it’s because I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
The former Canadian champion shakes his head and raises the bottle to his mouth, tipping it and swallowing at the same time. It was quickly losing its taste, he’d had that much. Leon just watches the display.
Icon Corbin: Talk to me, Trys…
Trystan: Are you kidding me? You go from ridiculing me and pretty much calling me inadequate at my job and now you want me to talk to you? Is this so you can use it against me later? Last time I opened my heart to you, you played the nastiest goddamn trick on me, exploiting my weakness. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that!
Leon hadn’t forgotten it either. He doesn’t bite back, just breathes in and out audibly.
Icon Corbin: That was years ago and I was in a very different place. I’m not here to cause any trouble, just to talk to you.
Trystan: Maybe I don’t want to talk. Maybe I am happy doing what I’m doing right now.
Icon Corbin: Yeah? Well, you don’t look too bloody happy from where I’m sitting and trust me, I have a real good fucking view from here. So why don’t you cut through the bullshit and just tell me what’s going on or do I need to fill the blanks in myself? In fact it wouldn’t take a genius to work out that it’s gotta be more than a coincidence you’re having a meltdown after seeing Joy’s twirk.
Trystan: You think I care that she’s engaged?
Icon Corbin: Are you?
Trystan: No, I’m really not. I just want my daughter, Leon. She can do what the hell she wants after that. But she’s not going to let that happen because she thinks she has all the cards. I’m sick of it. Sick of it!
Icon Corbin: I thought you get to spend time with Secret.
Trystan: I do but not that often and it’s not even because I don’t have the time or don’t want to. It’s because she’s keeping her from me under the guise that her schedule is so busy which is ironic. And to think there are people out there who have kids and take it for granted that they can have them around any time they like!
He glances at the World champion, Leon spotting him immediately and returns the glance with a dilated glare. Still, he doesn’t rise to what was clearly becoming an occasion. He leans back suddenly, letting the leather absorb the impact.
Trystan: Nothing to say, Leon?
Icon Corbin: Mm…so what do you plan to do about it? Or is getting pissed the best way to prove her wrong? I can tell you first hand that really doesn’t work.
Trystan: Don’t try to compare us, Leon. You’re an alcoholic, I’m just miserable today.
Icon Corbin: Y-
He stops himself immediately, pausing in an attempt to compose himself. He could feel his blood boil but this wasn’t the Trystan he knew and right now that was about the only thing stopping him from receiving a punch in the face. He exhales while Trystan goes for another mouthful.
Icon Corbin: Okay. And sure. I’ve had enough sessions with Holly to be able to admit that freely but whether this is just a one off occasion or not, if word gets to Joy, she’ll likely exploit it so maybe rethink this little escapade.
Trystan: Of course she will. And I’ll deserve it won’t I? I should never have gotten with Joy in the first place and how have I not had an “I told you so” yet? It’s not like you to ever miss an opportunity to gloat or make fun of someone else.
Icon Corbin: Would you stop attacking me? I’m not the one messing things up for you.
Trystan: Yeah, that’s so 2006…or was it 2007…actually I don’t even care.
The look Leon was giving him didn’t even register with the inebriated referee, neither did the fact he pulled out his phone and started aggressively hitting buttons.
Evalyn, I swear I'm gonna
fucking punch him in a minute.
Seriously, he's doing his
best to aggravate me.
Remind me why you made
me come here again and
why I shouldn't just walk the
fuck out?!
He's your friend and he needs
you. Put yourself in his situation
and show some compassion for
once. Hes hurting, hes gonna
lash out.
Why at me and not you
then? He's deliberately
trying to piss me off.
He knows how to get to you?
Rise above it lover. You're
stronger than this. Besides
you've probably heard worse.
....probably from me.
Fine. I've just never seen
him like this.
I know and I'm sorry I asked
(told) you to do this. He needed
someone to vent at.
Leon pockets his phone and tries again, shimmying over so he’s sat next Trystan.
Icon Corbin: Okay look, this isn’t working.
Trystan: That’s what she said too…
Icon Corbin: Trys, stop it. Seriously, you’re getting on my fucking nerves right now.
The hypocrisy was always strong in this one. How often had those around him put up with everything he threw at them over the years in drunken states. Trystan just stares into space, eyes glazing over and whether that was down to the alcohol or not it was getting harder to tell.
Trystan: It’s not fair, Leon. I’ve lost. I can’t try to fight a battle I can’t ever hope to win. I’m going to miss out on my daughter all because one woman thinks she can play games with people’s lives, like I don’t matter. I’ve never mattered. To anyone. Not to my father, not to you, not to Joy. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t escaped that house fire when I did. If I got a glimpse into the future and could have understood what it meant, I’d have just closed that window and just gone with the rest of my family!
Icon Corbin: Alright, you don’t mean that…
Trystan: Don’t I?! Not all of us can just wade through life and land on our feet no matter what happens, Leon! I know it sounds like I am resentful but can you blame me?! Look at you! One of the nastiest bastards to everyone around you and there you are, a father, a husband, successful among other things! Me? I tried hard to do right and what do I have to show for it? Oh sure, there’s money in the bank but that does sweet goddamn little to soothe me! So I just carry on and carry on and maybe someday someone will treat me with the respect I deserve. Not because I automatically demand it like you do but because I try to earn it! I try, Leon! I actually try and it’s just not good enough. The world doesn’t want nice people in it and I certainly have no place in it!
Icon Corbin: Believe it or not, I’ve still had to work at what I’ve got. You know that. Deep down you know that. More so when I’ve been undesirable as a person. Don’t be fooled by what you think I have. If you want something you have to go and get it, not let it pass you by or give in.
Trystan: Didn’t I try that? See where it got me?
Icon Corbin: If you’re talking about us at one time?
Trystan: God, you’re so arrogant! But yes, that too.
Icon Corbin: I’m sorry. I know that means little but I am. But this isn’t going to get you any nearer to where you want to b-
Before Leon can finish his sentence, Trystan’s head falls onto his shoulder, the grown man clearly sobbing. Leon puts his arm around Trystan, trying to console what looked like a broken man tonight.
Icon Corbin: Trys…?
He gets no response other than heart-breaking weeping. He ignores the waft of an overfamiliar smell as the whiskey hits him like a bad flashback and just wraps both his arms around Trystan, holding him close for what it was worth.
Icon Corbin: You’ll be okay. Come on…
Leon pulls away, standing up in the process and makes the mistake of trying to take the bottle from Trystan’s grasp. Out of nowhere, the dark haired drunken man was on his feet.
Trystan: What are you doing?
Icon Corbin: That’s enough. Let me have the bottle.
Trystan: What the hell do you think you’re doing? Who the hell are you to try and tell me what to do, like you have any hold over me, “Joy”?! If I want to drink, I’ll goddamn drink!
Icon Corbin: Uh huh…give me the bottle…
Trystan: No!
Icon Corbin: Alright, let’s be sensible. Hand it over, you’ve had enough already.
Trystan: You sensible? Hah! I said no!
Icon Corbin: For fuck sake!
The politeness from the 2007 Lord was finished as he grabs the bottle but Trystan wasn’t about to just let him, instead getting defensive enough that he tries to take a swing to stop him. A weave later and Leon just lands a stiff right hand to the jaw of the referee, holding the bottle while Trystan dropped back onto the sofa, out cold. Leon just stands there, sighing. As much as he felt the man deserved a slap, he didn’t really want to go there while he was in this state. He shakes his head, moving over to the carrier bag that still had one more bottle and takes them both to the bathroom sink, pouring both down the plug hole and wondering why it never occurred to him to do the same when he needed to.
Icon Corbin: Evalyn is gonna fucking kill me for this…fucking hell!
He seemed more angry than anything else on his way to disposing of all evidence of a drunken mess by bagging all the bottles and leaving them outside the hotel room door. Back inside, he takes another look at the man who hadn’t moved a muscle since he landed on the sofa. This picture was all wrong. How the roles had reversed as he found himself going over to Trystan and starts undressing him, removing all of his clothing before he grabs an arm and hooks it around his neck to hoist the big man enough to drag him to the bathroom. He dumps Trystan in the shower and turns it on, by the cold tap of course, just the way his wife used to when she tried to wake him up out of his states of drunkenness. Trystan stirs, spluttering as the water sprays into his face, his body becoming a strange bumpy shade of grey as he cools down with goose pimples.
Icon Corbin: Trys? You okay?
Trystan: It’s wet…
Icon Corbin: I know. You’re in the shower.
Trystan says nothing, just accepting his dampened fate of Leon brandishing a showerhead at him all over until eventually he turns it off and grabs a towel, patting Trystan down then pulling him back to his feet and dragging him out of the bathroom, taking him straight to his bed. He pulls the covers back and drops the man on his back, grabbing his legs and sliding them onto the mattress then takes one sneaky look and covers the man completely who seems to have fallen asleep instantly. Once again, he slips his hand in his pocket and pulls out his phone.
Okay, he's sleeping. Should
I stay with him until he wakes?
I got rid of any other drink he
had.
I don't know what kinda state
he's in love. You'd be a better
judge.
Alright. In that case I'm gonna
stay here til the morning. I'm
not sure I trust him yet.
Alright, you ok?
Yeah...
Dotted line implies a fib
He tried to attack me when I
tried to take his bottle. And
I...made him stop.
...He’s sleeping right? Not out
cold? Do you need me to come
check on him?
He'll be okay I think. I just want
to be sure he is when he wakes.
And I hope he forgets this in the
morning. Maybe just having
someone there when he does
wake up will make this all a bit
easier tomorrow.
......alright.....but if you've killed my
friend you will be in trouble mister.
Good god woman! Anyway, I'll see
you in the morning sometime. I'll
let you know when I'm on my way
back. Is everything okay on your
end?
Lucan and George have taken over
a small country, slughtering the
natives and taking all their lego.
Daniel is launching a one man crime
spree and locking old folk in meat
freezers and Luce has decided to
launch her own reality tv show......
nah, we make cupcakes. I might
save you one
Aww but I'm sweet enough without
the need for sugar. Alright then.
See you in the morning, lover. By
sun and candlelight
Love you xxxLove you too. Kids send a big kiss
and bigger squeeze x
Once more, the phone is back in his pocket and he looks down. Shaking his head, he pulls the covers back and moves the man onto his side then covers him again, leaving him to sleep while he heads to the sofa to get a little shut eye himself.
