It is the last couple of hours before the start of Episode 10 of ACW Adrenaline, and the Mayfield Community Center is rife with activity. Technical crew members jog back and forth, caterers set up their tables, and, outside, a queue is already beginning to form, as a cluster of ACW faithfuls wait impatiently for the ticket officers to start allowing people through. Off to the side, near a service entrance, another gaggle of fans cranes their necks to keep an eye on any incoming superstars that may be willing to give them an autograph, but are met only by heavy-lifting crew members, who politely but firmly shoo them out of the way, as they carry big crates into the building.
Oblivious to all this, Darren Pesinger – one half of the fast-rising tag team known as RipperCussions – leans up against the front desk of the community centre, flashing his most winning smile at the young blonde sitting behind it:
Darren Pesinger: How’s it goin’, Tammy?
The girl smiles back, a little self-consciously, as she replies:
Tammy: Not bad, and you?
The cowboy motions to reply, but Tammy cuts across, perking up significantly as she remembers something:
Tammy: Hey, I have my friend’s birthday party this weekend, you wanna go shopping with me, and help me pick out a dress?
Darren frowns uncertainly, unsure about the nature of this request:
Darren Pesinger: Sure…I guess…but why d’you think I’d be good for that?
The receptionist grins condescendingly, as if explaining an obvious fact to a clueless child:
Tammy: Well, DUH! You gay guys are supposed to be *awesome* at that, aren’t you?
The cowboy’s first reaction is to gasp, the words coming out of his mouth before he can help it:
Darren Pesinger: I’M NOT…
Then, he checks himself, seeing the advantages in his current position. Clearing his throat, in an attempt to mask his outburst, he immediately tries to regain composure:
Darren Pesinger: Sure…sure, we can go. It should be fun.
Tammy smiles brightly, holding out her hand for a high-five:
Tammy: Thanks! You’re the best! High-five!
Darren slaps the girl’s hand absently, but clearly looks preoccupied with her words from before. When, after a moment, he spots his partner, Jack Ripper, pacing briskly up the hallway towards him, he grabs him by the arm, somewhat roughly, and hisses in his ear:
Darren Pesinger: I’m a queer now on ‘count a’ you!
Jack looks genuinely surprised, staring at his partner agog:
Jack Ripper: Really?! You came out?
Darren nearly leaps back in horrified shock:
Darren Pesinger: HELL NO! Are you dumb or somethin’? I was talkin’ ‘bout that stunt you pulled last week. On ‘count a’ that shit, now all the chicks think I’m queer!
Hearing this, Jack ’s expression changes to one of genuine apology:
Jack Ripper: Oh, Darren, I’m *sorry*…!
The cowboy shrugs:
Darren Pesinger: Nev’mind, ‘s all good. I just scored a date off a’that. But we gotta make it clear, bud. *You’re* the queer, not me.
Jack Ripper: I agree. It’s not fair to you. I never meant for it to come across that way, you know that, right?
Pesinger nods, and the matter seems to be settled, at least for the time being. In an attempt to prevent an uncomfortable silence from settling in, Jack then chirpily changes the subject:
Jack Ripper: So…what about these guys we’re fighting, huh? You’re bound to get along with them!
Darren frowns:
Darren Pesinger: How d'you mean?
Jack Ripper: Well, they’re from Louisiana. You’re from Georgia. You know…you all speak Southern.
Darren has a loud scream of laughter at this comment, but before he can reply to his partner, the duo bump into the very subject of their conversation: their opponents for the night, the Bradley Boys. Billy and Leroy push themselves off the catering table they’d been leaning against and stroll over to the two smaller wrestlers, eyeing them appraisingly:
Billy Bradley: Well, well, well, Leroy…if t’ain’t our Southern brotha’! Lemme ask ya, bud, how come a good ol’ Southern boy such as y’self goes around bein’ all friendly with tha’ thurr queer?
Billy jerks his head towards Jack, who dismisses the redneck’s comment for the ignorant display of bigotry it is, and doesn’t deign it with a reply. Darren, however, is not so collected, and takes one step forward heatedly:
Darren Pesinger: Lay off a’him, partner! He’s my buddy!
Billy guffaws:
Billy Bradley: Ah’ll bet ‘e is...
Then, off-handedly:
Billy Bradley: Guess it’s true wha’ folk’s been sayin’ ‘bout you bein’ a queer too, huh?
Seeing Darren’s blood is starting to boil, Jack leans forward to grab his partner’s arm, attempting to soothe him. Pesinger shakes his hand off angrily, but the gesture does not go unnoticed to Leroy Bradley, who guffaws:
Leroy Bradley: Lookit the queer gettin’ all frisky with ‘im! If'n t'ain’t the durn’dest thang!
Billy turns to his brother, pretending to apply reason, his mocking grin giving away his game:
Billy Bradley: Leave it, Leroy. What’s it ta us anyhows? Ain’t us gon’ have ta answer ta Satan when we go ta Hell!
Hearing this, Darren lunges forward again, ready to explode at the rednecks. This time, however, Ripper succeeds in grabbing him by the arm before he can do so, muttering in his ear:
Jack Ripper: Save it for the ring, Darren…
Hearing this, the two brothers once again give their opponents a mocking glance, beginning to step away to signal the discussion is over.
Billy Bradley: Yeah, you lissen to yer butt buddy, boy! Save it for tha ring. We’s gon’ finish this out thurr!
With this, the two rednecks brush past their opponents, heading back towards their locker rooms. As they disappear down the hall, however, Leroy Bradley turns around once more to deliver a final taunt:
Leroy Bradley: See ya in tha ring, ya homos!
Then, nudged sternly by his brother, he turns back the right way and continues to walk down the hall. As for RipperCussions, they are left to exchange a fleeting look and a shrug, doing their best to calm down before setting out towards their own locker room.
