Ripple Effect

"Sooo... Nurse tells me you'll be released from here soon, right?" Pryce leans forward in his seat, his feet firmly planted far apart. He looks over El Masko's hospital bed. "So whaddya say? Will you take the job?" He hunches over, palms grasping his knees in anticipation.

"Uhhh..." The luchador hesitates. "El Masko is not sure... After all..." He shudders. "The fans... they have grown cold of El Masko."

"Oh, don't worry! I can fix that!" Pryce leans over, shutting off a nearby electronic fan. "...That better?"

"Yes, El Masko thanks you."

"No problem! ...Now, c'mon, whatcha think?" Pryce leans back in his chair, clenching a rallying fist. "I mean, you fight for honor! And for the good of the children, yeah? All that good stuff!" He folds his arms, nodding sagely. "And my client? Very honorable! Very childlike! Sounds like a perfect match for ya, if you ask me!"

"Er... Even if that is so..." Masko lifts an arm, scratching at his cheek. "El Masko can no longer wrestle, let alone fight!"

"Hah!" Pryce puffs his chest out proudly. "Never said there'd be any wrestling or fighting!"

"...Que?"

"Aw, look," Pryce relaxes again, crossing one leg over the other. "All I'm askin' ya to do is to watch over Chiyoko Uzuki, yeah? Travel with her, keep her safe, and make sure there's no funny business - especially with fans, yeah?"

"But..." Masko glances down in thought. "What about El Masko's tag partner? Daniel?"

"Daniel?" Pryce frowns, inquisitively tilting his head. "...What about Daniel?"

"Yeah! What about Daniel?!" A third voice barges in from the doorway, a bouquet of flowers clenched in hand. It's Daniel Collins himself, his boisterous tone suddenly shifting to genuine concern. "...Seriously, what is it? What's wrong with Daniel? Is he okay? Did he get fucked?" He approaches Pryce's chair, peering over his shoulder at Masko. "He got fucked, didn't he? Aw, shit..." He groans, glancing down at his get well present. "I only brought one bouquet of flowers!" He pauses. "...Welp, here ya go, buddy," He shoves the gift into Masko's hands with a grin. "Daniel's an asshole, anyway."

"Oh..." He nods at the gift with a small smile. "Thank you, Daniel."

"...Uh." It was a rare moment of silence from Pryce. He gives the short muscleman an odd look before turning his attention back to Masko. "...So, anyway! Will you take the job?"

"Oooooh~" Daniel coos, poking his head over Pryce's shoulder with intrigue. "A job for what~?"

"This... Billing Price is asking me to watch over his Artichoko Zucchini?" Masko shrugs.

"...Wow." Daniel sideeyes Pryce, his neck now resting on Pryce's shoulder. "You're paying him to watch vegetables? Pshaaaw! I know folks who'll do that shit for free!" He grins, practically cuddling up against the manager.

"Uh, no..." Pryce pulls away from him. "I'm offering Masko a bodyguard job to protect my client, yeah...?" He answers a bit uneasily before turning back to Masko with a smile.

"Oh, sweet! We can fight people?!"

Pryce clears his throat, looking aside with an annoyed smirk. "Only if push comes to shove, and I'm offering Masko specifically..."

"Wait, what?" Daniel pulls away from Pryce's personal space with a brief frown. "...Naaah. We're partners! You take him, you take me too!" He proudly jabs a thumb into his chest, grinning from ear to ear. "We're like peas in a pod! Peanut butter and jelly! Birds of a feather! Pickles and Kool-aid! We're a two for one special, baby!" He raises both hands, fingergunning. "You want fries with that?!"

Pryce's frown deepens. "Er... No, yeah, but..." The uncertainty he was so good at hiding was surprisingly clear in his voice, though he quickly recomposes himself. "This is Masko's decision!" Pryce reaffirms, looking back to the luchador with a pleading smile. "Right-o, Masko? I mean, you can make your own choices, yeah? You don't have to have him with you, yanno...?" He urges him, hoping he'll accept the job solo. Masko's values lined up with Chiyoko's image, after all, but this Daniel guy...? Not so much...

"Well..." El Masko stares back at the two, frowning in thought. "Daniel may have beaten Masko for the title... As well as suplex El Masko... and punch El Masko with little to no warning..." He shakes his head. "But..."

"...But?"

"El Masko and Daniel..." He pauses, staring down at the bouquet of daisies. Masko himself wasn't the best, but he always tried his best and fought with honor! Even if that honor was an albatross around his neck, well, someone had to shoulder it. And as rough as Daniel was, well... El Masko knew he meant well in his own... violent, unorthodox way. If Daniel was no better than some thug, then why would he be here? Anyone less honorable could've blamed El Masko, stabbing him in the back and kicking him while he was down. But Daniel? Here he was, thoughtful enough to check up on him, arguing for their friendship. His mind made up, El Masko gives a determined nod.

"If you hire El Masko, you hire Daniel! We are still partners!"

"YEAAAAH~!" Daniel fist pumps, holding a hand up for a high five from Masko. "Now that's what I like to hear! Big Men 4 U, together forever!"

"...Hah..." Pryce sighs, defeated as the two slap hands together; Daniel's a bit harder than it probably should have. "...Well..." The manager shakes his head, forcing a smile in realization. "At least that proves your honor and loyalty, huh...?" He pushes himself off his chair, shrugging as he gets to his feet. "We'll, uh... We'll talk later, yeah? Until then..." He pulls out two business cards, handing on to each of the duo. "Consider yourselves hired, yeah? Just call me to finalize all the details when you can. Preferably as soon as possible, aheh..." He adds as he makes his leave.

"You got it, bubsy!" Daniel flashes him a thumbs up before looking back to Masko. "You hear that, Masko?!" He plops down in the chair Pryce was sitting in, fists clenched in excitement. "We're gonna fight more nerds!"

"But... El Masko cannot fight...!"

Carefully shutting the door, Pryce sighs at the exchange, gazing up at the ceiling. "It'll be fiiiine, Bill." He shakes his head with a crooked smile. "It'll be juuust fine..."