Revelation, Pt. 2: Finding Solace [EXP 12 Multiplayer]

Morning light shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the high-rise New York City home of Larry Tact. He finds himself sitting up in bed, scrolling through some news bits online, more absentmindedly than not. The past few weeks had been taking some toll on him, emotionally. He had given up the reigns of his own business for the first time after decades of building it up, allowing his mentee and friend, Cesar Salvador Ramon to assume control of the company. Things had been going well so far, as Cesar knew what was expected of him and had a handle on the company’s priorities and how to direct their staff to get business done. It wasn’t about Cesar’s running of the business, of course; Larry was someone who desired to have his fingerprints on his business, and make sure things were taken care of with his authorization. It would take some time to adjust.



He had also hit a bit of a wall in Level Up Wrestling, what with his recent attempts at capturing a title coming up short. Devil May Cry was fast approaching, and he found himself in need of making a move to get back in the hunt. He had wanted to find an opening in the multiplayer match at EXP 11, however, as seemed to be a recurring theme, his partner came up a bit short. Ironically, Don Tirri, with whom Larry had been forced to partner with at EXP 10, benefitted from Tact’s being taken out of the equation. That didn’t change the fact that Larry needed to get back on the right side of these matches. Otherwise, he would be in a kind of limbo. The talent had been bolstered up as word spread of Level Up’s unique presentation and roster. Larry, of course, had seen the potential from the start, which is what drew him back into the sport. Now that things were picking up and the company had hit on the road, it was critical for Larry to find the next level within himself. His story was far from over, but he didn’t have any guarantees in the business, especially with the possible stigma of age working against him, depending on how things panned out.



Larry looked up from his phone as his wife, Cindy Winstead walked in with their infant, Morgan, wearing a sky blue onesie with foxes printed all over. He watched as Cindy walked around and tenderly rocked their baby girl, cooing to her with encouragement. “You’re just the perfect little baby,” she said, brushing some of her shoulder-length auburn hair back from her shoulder.



“It feels like she already knows you’re holding her is the ultimate safe space,” Larry commented, smiling at Cindy, who smiled back.



“She’s the sweetest girl, never wanting to fuss. Unless she’s hungry or needing her diaper changed,” Cindy returned the smile, then giving little kisses on Morgan’s forehead.



“I so needed to take this time off from work,” Larry said. “With Logan, I was so dead-set on not losing momentum in the ring, and making sure to keep things running with the company. I didn’t stop enough to see the little miracle we had growing right in front of us. I don’t want to make that mistake again.”



“Never think you made a mistake, sweetheart,” Cindy replied, walking over to him and sitting on the bed next to him. “You worked your butt off to make sure things for us were stable. I’m not saying it was easy on me to see you away for so long, but if you hadn’t done that, I probably would have had to go back to work at the firm after a year. Instead, you grew TE and main evented shows to set us for good. Everyone makes sacrifices, and obviously we’re better off for it,” she leaned in and they kissed three times in quick succession. This was their morning ritual, one they’d found comfortable since they were dating. Larry never got tired of Cindy’s kisses They were both calming and gave him a spark to energize him. At the right times and places, when the kids were tucked in or otherwise occupied, they still found time for more than a few kisses. Even 19 years in, they still craved those times, too, which Larry was ever-so-grateful for.



“How did I get so lucky to hang onto you? Another miracle to be thankful for,” he said, looking into her hazel eyes.



“You still got it,” Cindy mock chanted, making Larry break out in laughter.



“No, YOU still got it,” he called back, with a smile and another kiss before Larry got out of bed and went to change.



Not long after, the couple were down in the kitchen making some food. Cindy had fed and set Morgan down in her crib. She was content to watch the mobile spinning and playing around with a muslin that had been hung on the side. She was big enough to start testing the fortitude of objects, so they did need to keep an eye on her in case she decided to go destructive and tear apart the muslin. Most of the time, though, she enjoyed holding or teething on it. They also had a nanny, Odney, who would help around the house and tend to Morgan while Larry and Cindy ate or attended to some other day-to-day tasks. They had met Odney when she was in her early 30’s, studying to get her citizenship and a nursing degree, and they were looking to get a caretaker for Logan. She had her own daughter, as well, and they quickly realized that they wanted this woman to be helping nurture and educate Logan. Not only did she have a steady hand for feeding, sewing, cooking, and other necessities; Odney brought with her lived experiences that they simply had not been exposed to. She came to the US from Haiti and still visited her relatives there, keeping her daughter involved with them. Odney’s life was anything but easy, and she weathered lean years and being a single mother to reach where she was today.



Odney was forced to grow up more quickly than most people, and at one point in her 20’s she realized the crossroads she was at: find someone to help support she and her daughter; or go it alone and carve out the life she wanted for herself and her daughter. With supreme resiliency and ambition, she chose the latter and made it work. She had joined an agency to find families who had a need for a nanny, and over the first few years it was touch-and-go to make ends meet.



One day, she connected with a well-to-do family who had more friends in high places. Odney helped care for their three children two days a week. It was a breakthrough and turning point, as the family came to be friends with Odney. They recommended her services to other families in their circle of friends, and her network continued to branch out. Odney was smart with her money and her situation began to improve. Now her daughter was in college, a dream goal of Odney’s that she was beyond proud of. She herself had attended night school and completed a pre-med degree, but what she truly wanted was to be a nurse. She set herself to it, and was currently working towards her Master’s for a nursing degree.



Odney had met Larry and Cindy through the grapevine of recommendations, and they quickly realized how invaluable she would be to Logan’s care and development, both through her storytelling of her own experiences, and her ability to listen and relate to this boy who was just beginning to learn about the world. With Morgan, she brought the care and attention to detail that Larry and Cindy knew any hospital would want to have on their payroll. But Larry had other plans in mind.



They had offered to pay for her schooling, but Odney took such pride in making her own way and had graciously declined. Instead, one day while Cindy was pregnant with Morgan, they had sat down with Odney at the table, doing their usual daily recap of events and, with Logan, hijinks and attempted pranks. Larry had then slid a check across the table. “Odney, with another baby on the way, we need you more than ever,” he had told her earnestly. “We appreciate your helping multiple families as a nursemaid. Your guidance, care, and good cheer are nothing short of the best we could ask for.”



“You’ve obviously had a positive effect on Logan, and we want that to continue,” Cindy said, a confident grin forming, “At any cost.”



Odney had looked down at the check, and her head cocked slightly to one side. “I don’t understand, what are you offering me?”



“Whatever it takes, Odney. We want you to be our children’s nursemaid, exclusively,” Larry said.



“But this check is blank? How… how do I know your offer?” she asked, innocently.



“Name your price,” Cindy confirmed, and Odney’s mouth went slightly agape in realization, as Cindy nodded.



It look a little bit of convincing, as this was not an offer Odney had been presented before. In the end, she decided to accept and here they were.



While Cindy was typically able to care for Morgan, Logan needed to have some boundaries and oversight. Cindy couldn’t split herself, much less enough to keep track of Logan and his imagination, so Odney certainly helped keep track of where he was and what he was doing, as much as you could with any teenager. It was a daunting task but one she kept up with while helping Cindy with laundry for Morgan and general cleaning around the home. She didn’t often ask for it, but if Odney wanted a day off they tried to accommodate her, seeing as she wanted to do things with her own daughter when she wasn’t at college.



Odney’s presence also gave time for Larry to maintain his travel schedule and not worry that Cindy would be completely overwhelmed. As much of a superstar as she was, his wife still needed time to breath and live, herself. She still had connections in her previous career as a lawyer, and while she wasn’t active in the field she did do speaking events on occasion. The recession in 2008 hit only shortly after she had left her firm, which further validated the decision in Larry’s mind.



Cindy had started to speak with her lawyer friends who had been laid off, encouraging them on different avenues they could pursue, or what they could do financially to plan out a path while they were unemployed. Eventually, that lead to her speaking at some alumni events for NYU, and she began working speaking engagements for soon-to-be and recent grads at different colleges and universities. It had become something of a side hustle for her, and while she kept up with what was happening in the field, she didn’t have the itch to return to it. She had done her time, paid off her debt, and banked some savings. She was content with her family and helping guide others.



This morning, Larry had something on his mind to let Cindy know about. While he was being honest that he needed to take time away from work, and he had his standing in Level Up on his mind, he also decided it was time to confide in her about these visions he had been having. Larry poured them both cups of homemade cold brew, stirred in some oatmilk, and sat at their breakfast nook while she brought over Spanish omelets for breakfast. Larry took his plate with thanks and took a couple forkfuls and a sip of coffee. “Honey, I just want to thank you again for allowing me flexibility by taking care of Morgan with Odney. I know I’ve been doing work in the office pretty late the past few months, and now that I’m on leave, I won’t be there so much. I have to ask, though, have you heard me, uh, talking in my sleep when I’ve stayed in bed?” Real smooth start there, he thought, internally slapping himself in the forehead. Not suspicious at all.



“No more than usual, just your random stuff,” she shrugged. She paused, then, and placed a finger to her chin momentarily, “Although, I guess there have been a few nights you sounded like you may be ‘dream-promoing’ at someone. I’ve learned to tune that stuff out, babe, or I wouldn’t get any sleep,” she chuckled, eating some of her food.



“I love you for that,” Larry said, smiling, before taking a breath. Rip the band-aid off. “But it feels like the past few months… well, I have to tell you something about the past few months.”



Cindy sipped her coffee and when she looked up at Larry, she paused with her cup in hand. She read his eyes and nodded. “This isn’t about rambling in your sleep,” she said, but already knew there was something really bothering her husband. He wore his emotions on his face, more often than not. Even if he didn’t, she knew when he was trying to get around giving her news that he would rather not have to tell her. Setting her cup on the table in the nook, she placed a hand over his. “I’m right here, sweetheart, and you know I’m not going anywhere. You can tell me anything,” she rubbed his hand gently.



Larry nodded, knowing as much but still feeling he was burdening her for possibly nothing. He felt it was hitting him harder now than when it started, though, and going beyond just bizarre dreams. He had shared some of what happened with Cesar, but a recent episode that saw him nearly paralyzed in his mind had been more than he was willing to share with anyone, except for one person. “This is going to sound really, really unbelievable, but stick with me on it, okay?” he prefaced for her.



“You know I enjoy a crazy story. You may not know this, but I’m married to a wrestler and there’s some wild and crazy things that go down in those arenas,” she winked and gave his hand a squeeze.



Larry laughed, appreciating her snark and alleviating a little of his trepidation of embarrassing himself. So he told her everything, all of the visions. How he thought they were nightmares, then realized there was more at work. He mentioned the presence of the Watcher, a figure he still knew little about, and how it creeped him out that he couldn’t see their face. He wasn’t sure whether they had an agenda, but there was little doubt to Larry that Watcher was in some position of control, more than he even let on. The inclusion of people and places he was familiar with, even Cesar, and how Larry felt like he was competing against his own mind at times. How he felt like he may have been going crazy, but then the Watcher clarifying just enough of it all to make him feel simply like a pawn in a game he didn’t know the rules of.



Cindy listened to it all and sipped her coffee. “You should have told me sooner, you know. Is that why you’ve been going to the office?” she asked.



“I didn’t want to have a freak out and wake you, or Morgan,” Larry admitted. “I still may be going crazy, you know,” he added.



She shook her head. “Honestly? I don’t exactly know what to think if it’s been going on for this long. It sounds too routine and vivid. Maybe you need a therapist?”



“Never. I don’t need to have this get out to the public, and even with confidentiality… not to mention, I don’t trust therapists,” Larry said. Cindy knew well that he thought of therapists similar to how he thought of wrestling companies: full of vultures and predatory types, looking to sell a bill of goods. Right or wrong, he didn’t want to be psychoanalyzed.



“Well, let’s put our heads together. I bet we can think of a few things that could help make you feel in more control, if it happens again,” Cindy replied.



“It will, I know it will. Plus, next time… I think it’s getting deeper to something. Somehow it came around to… thinking of Lazarus… and something happened,” Larry said.



Cindy’s eyes widened momentarily. “Your brother…”






We find ourselves in a living room of Larry Tact’s luxury Manhattan apartment. The fireplace is not currently active, and Larry himself sits on one of the plush sofas with his legs up on the coffee table, arms behind his head. He has on a sleeveless pine green cutoff and stonewashed blue jeans, his golden-blonde hair tied back behind his head. He looks relaxed, but for his eyes that are locked onto the camera.



LARRY TACT: “Surprised to see me? I’ve been taking some time away to think over a few things on my mind. With social media basically being a megaphone for moronic fans, supposed old school types, and unjustly confident stoners, I don’t exactly prioritize it on my daily checklist. I hear enough undue bluster hearing Don Tirri, Bert McAlroy, and Duncan Shepard chirp about how ‘clearly’ better than me they are because they win matches that I’m involved in. Funny, though, they haven’t been able to directly pin me. That sounds like more of the same that wrestling has to offer: pyrrhic victories and false bravado, as it has and probably always will be.”



He shakes his head.



LT: But let’s not pay too much mind to that for the moment. This week, I have another multiplayer matchup, however, I actually have what appear to be competent allies on my side this time. Unlike the past couple weeks, the Time Jumpers present a team that has been making immediate waves in Level Up, and they have a fire that I haven’t seen in a team since I returned. I like their style: unafraid to speak their minds, while at the same time they are willing to acknowledge if they fucked up. I can dig that, maybe even work with them this week.”



“They also have some experience with the opposition, too. It seems like I have entered a Food Wars situation for EXP 12, with Dionysus and Chef Andre being on the opposing side. They have a reputation for… flying off the handle, and experimentation, I guess you can say. I don’t know whether or not they know what arena they’re entering, but this will present a clash of styles for sure. Their more, shall we say, new era style of brawling up versus what I like to present as a hybrid style of technical and power wrestling. We both have our delicacies that we know how to prepare our opposition for, so the way I see it? It all comes down to execution. When that is the order of the day, you can best be sure that Larry Tact receives high marks every time out. I know the ingredients to prime my opponents in the ring for the finished product. I have a wealth of experience at the squared circle we will be dining in. For that matter, I’ve possibly got more experience than any of you. But in this arena, that means I know the way to season and tenderize before I make the final cuts. So get ready to be served up your humbling tactful surrenders.”



“Lastly, there’s Erika Crawford. A sprark plug seeming competitor who definitely isn’t afraid to take risks to make an impact. Erika, unfortunately what I see most of all in you, for all your fight and perhaps even grit, is a woman who hasn’t experienced ENOUGH hardship in this industry. Yes, I heard that you’ve gone through some pretty serious injuries. However, you should take the advice from those around you, and mind the dangers of continuing on in the ring. Because not everyone is going to express sympathy and understanding for your sob story. Sure, you’re back and you’re resilient, but what does that mean to someone who has been in the ring and had his lumps and tears and damage over the course of decades? It simply means I’ve wanted to get back more than you, and I’ve made it through. So while you can keep fighting the good fight, I’m going to show you that I’ve got the fortitude to overcome more in our match. When it’s said and done, you will find a humbling few lessons were passed along from your time in the ring with me, brief as it will be. You’re welcome, by the way.”



He smirks and waves.