Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2019 14:01:19 GMT -6
“Watch ME as I RISE...”
Rural Outskirts, NJ | August 16th, 2019
[ Kal surprised the lot of us when he announced that he had arranged a limousine to take us to a private airstrip, where an old paratrooper and cargo carrier rested on the runway. All the body panels had been polished to a near mirror finish. Kal was beaming like a father as he explained all the custom work that had been done to the plane. His favorite upgrade was having the propeller engines replaced with more modern turbines, resulting in a drastic reduction in noise and vibration. The icing on the cake though, that was when Kal walked us inside the plane. ]
[ The custom interior and amenities would have been frowned upon during her tours of duty. On either side were four luxurious and exquisite bedrooms, a bathroom complete with marble floors, illuminated rain shower heads and bidets, divided the bedrooms into blocks of two. After the cockpit was a gorgeous galley, with stainless steel countertops and Viking appliances throughout. Then came the fully stocked wet bar, which is where Allison, VooDoo and Anicka wound up spending the majority of the flight. A dining area came next, followed by a seating area boasting enough couch space for more than a dozen passengers comfortably, with an appropriate number of seat belts built into the sofa. I noticed a camera and made a mental note that I need to get something out to promote this ladder match of mine. ]
[ The tour continued as Kal lead me to a locked shipping container, where he handed me a key and gave me the nod and said to “Go ahead”. After unlocking the doors, I swing them open and Kal places his hand on a switch that turns on the lights revealing a pair of Arch METHOD 143 sport bikes. In the back I see another bike, but this one is covered up, when I nod and ask what’s up with that one, he told me it’s the bike he had me fix and it’s there for safe keeping for someone else. He was pretty tight lipped about it, but explained to me that the two Arch bikes were meant for me and Murphy when we were still with EWA. Kal explained that there was no good time to give the bike to me until now, said that us gearheads had to stick together. A couple of fist bumps and man hugs later, Kal waved me off and said to take care of my bike, but to keep my hands and the hands of others to themselves with the other two bikes. ]
[ I noticed that Allison, Anicka and VooDoo, as well as One and Two, were unimpressed with the tour. When I asked Kal why, he explained that he and Damon went halfsies on the project years ago, and that they’d all flown on it quite a bit before I was in the picture. Fair enough I supposed. Kal made it a point to remind us all that this plane’s location was not to be shared once we landed. The last thing he wanted to see was some mentally handicapped moron blow it up like a certain RV. We all said our goodbyes to Kal and got settled in for the flight to Green Bay. Once we were in the air, I gave Allison a kiss which she hardly noticed as she was in a heated discussion with Ani and VooDoo. Luke and Layla were asleep in their carriers which were buckled in on one of the couches, flanked by One and Two who seldom took their eyes off the kids. DJ and JJ were fighting over which room was whose, they’d be heading back home on a redeye flight after Ascension. As much as I love Allie’s little brothers, it’ll be nice to get back to some semblance of normalcy. I ventured off in search of a quiet area to shoot something for the Ascension pay per view. As I made my way, I grabbed the camera and set it up in front of cargo area. I started to record and hold up my hand with three fingers raised. ] “Three up. Three down. The last one was,” [ I roll my hands as I think of how to say this. ] “dare I say, controversial. Bottom line, in this business controversy draws attention, which draws money. Jesse Styles and Alan Envy, you guys go ahead and enjoy the influx of cash boys, you’re welcome.”
DANE PRESTON
“Before I get started on my match at Ascension, I’ve got to address this delusional tool, Deacon Horrible. Deke, you pop up on my screen acting like I’m supposed to know you, or that my father in law is supposed to know you. The reality is neither one of us have the foggiest clue who the fuck you are. So, whenever you’re ready to drop the pretenses and let one of us in on your secret identity, we’ll be ready to hear you out. Having said that, I’ve gotta tell you man, calling me a buffoon and telling that I don’t measure up to my mentor, those are the weakest insults I’ve ever heard. You see, Damon has gone on record a handful of times and told the world that I am better than he was at this point in his career. In the next ten years or so, you’ll be able to say that Damon Riggs is no Dane Preston. Between now and then, do us a favor and shut the fuck up before I choose to shut you up personally. As far as my match with Morbid Wolf goes, never take your eyes off your opponent. What’s fair is fair. Now, Deke, I’ve got more important shit to deal with than you.”
[ I shift my weight in order to stabilize as we hit a patch of rough air, not enough turbulence to make me lose balance, but just enough to make me take notice of it. I take out out my phone and start scrolling for a moment before I go on. ]
DANE PRESTON
“This Sunday at Ascension I’m booked in a ladder match for a shot at the X-Core or Trans-Atlantic Championship. That I can get behind. But a ladder match with 9 participants. This is just one of those glorified, thrown together fuck all matches because no one particularly knew what the fuck to do with the lot of us. So, in order of appearance, I’m going down the list of the usual suspects that are going to try stopping me from ASCENDING to my victory. Do keep in mind I said try, alright folks? Now bear with me as I flip through some of the notes I took down about all of you. So many people to keep track of, I wanted to make sure that each of you got a fair and equal amount of attention.”
“This Sunday at Ascension I’m booked in a ladder match for a shot at the X-Core or Trans-Atlantic Championship. That I can get behind. But a ladder match with 9 participants. This is just one of those glorified, thrown together fuck all matches because no one particularly knew what the fuck to do with the lot of us. So, in order of appearance, I’m going down the list of the usual suspects that are going to try stopping me from ASCENDING to my victory. Do keep in mind I said try, alright folks? Now bear with me as I flip through some of the notes I took down about all of you. So many people to keep track of, I wanted to make sure that each of you got a fair and equal amount of attention.”
USUAL SUSPECT #1 VIOLETTA PIERRMAN
“Cute brunette, here for reasons only God knows. Now, I may be making assumptions here, but she might very well be a former piece of ass that that douchecanoe Shane Sparx kicked to the curb. Her best friend Kinzie has an apparent unhealthy obsession with her. Or it could be that Kinzie is a lesbian and in love with her and she’s too stupid to notice it. The year is 2019 not 1819, Kinzie wants your muffin Violetta, let her have a taste. Ya might like it. I can say with absolute certainty that you’ll like the feeling of her munchin on your southern lips a whole helluva lot more than you’re going to like the feeling of me throwing your tight ass off my ladder and the subsequent crash onto the mat that follows.”
USUAL SUSPECT #2 KEVIN DRAKE
“Chrome dome. Hired muscle. Speaks in riddles. Quoter of movies, and not a bad one to quote I might add. I’m not exactly sure what he expects to get out of this match besides becoming someone’s lackey or henchman. If that’s what gives you satisfaction in this business, who the fuck am I to judge ya? But I wanna make it very clear Kevin, I know of at least 3 guys in this match, myself included, that will wipe the fucking ring with your ugly mug if you think of making victims out of us. To continue with the theme, I’ll take your head if you stand in my way of reaching the top of that ladder. Mark my words.”
[ I clear my throat as I scroll through my phone a bit more, going through the notes that I’ve jotted down about my opponents. ]
USUAL SUSPECT #3 NOMAD
“One guy that I have my reservations about is this guy right here. He’s got a quiet confidence about him. As his name indicates, he strikes me as something of a lone, nomadic traveler with a history of violence I can only assume that has been nipping at his heels the whole time he’s been traveling on the proverbial road. He’s got his demons and, like me, he has his demons kept at bay. But this quiet confidence is encased in a sizable physique that has seen its fair share of war, that looks primed and ready to run head first into the next warzone. There’s something...I can’t quite put my finger on...something almost familiar about him. This is one dude I’m not feeling particularly excited about stepping into the ring with, but I will be more than happy to bring the fight to him all the same.”
USUAL SUSPECT #4 JOE AUGUST
“Young. Hungry. Confident. Been there myself, still there to be honest. This is one of those cases where I feel like I could be looking in a mirror. When I was just a few years younger than this young lion, I had my own place, I was training to be a professional mixed martial artist, I was wrenching on cars and bikes to pay the bills. Doing anything and every damn thing I could to keep my head above water. Until I wound up in jail. Long story, wanna know the history, go back and look that shit up. Suffice it to say, this kid impresses me, and I’m not at all easily impressed. I wish him all the best, but will gladly drop him in a heartbeat to secure the victory for myself.”
[ I glance down at my phone and immediately cross my arms over my chest. With my free hand, I reach up and rub my temples with my thumb and middle finger. These next few are going to be problems, I know it already. ]
USUAL SUSPECT #5 NOCTURNAL
“All I can say is WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE FUCK DID I WATCH? There are some stories that are just too gotdamned long to be shot all at once. So long in fact, that people lose interest after the first few minutes and shut that shit down. I’m going to address what very little he had to say about our match. First, I’m not one of these past their prime folks you are talking about. Secondly, you have never stepped into the ring with me, so before you start thinking that you’re walking in and out of this match as though it’s a cake walk, I would highly recommend you rethink that. As far as that Silver Briefcase goes, it means nothing to me. A win is what I am after, and your creepy Koresh cult following ass will not stop me from rising to the top!”
USUAL SUSPECT #6 KYLE MANSON
“Someone is either off their meds or they’re experimentally self medicating with really high grade shit. This one comes out and starts preaching his intellectual superiority which slowly degrades into some twisted morality. Yo Kyle, a word of advice, don’t come waltzing into the arena flexing this holier than thou mentality. Your God simply isn’t real, and you are most definitely not acting on his or her behalf. You’re a weak minded loon who belongs in a padded cell with observation around the clock. The kind of sickness that comes from your lips makes me want to pummel your face in. But please, do feel free to come into our match thinking that you are morally superior, it'll be that much sweeter when you crash and burn at my feet.”
USUAL SUSPECT #7 TOMMY KAIN
“I don’t know what it is with the dudes that Jesse Styles is hiring, but I’ll be damned if they aren’t a colorful and nutty bunch. From Deacon Horrible, Morbid Wolf and Johnny Stylez to Nocturnal, Kyle Manson and now this chucklehead Tommy Kain, I’m surrounded by a bunch of mental hospital escapees with delusions of grandeur and an overinflated sense of self importance. Hell, best thing this Tommy guy has going for him is that he has great taste in classic cars. I’m more a Challenger guy myself, but hey, not everyone can have impeccable taste like yours truly. That said, Kain, you’re in for one hell of a ride during this adventure of yours, and I’m proud to say that I’m going to be the guy that runs you off the road. Sorry, 5 years in the joint for vehicular manslaughter, since everyone around these parts is showing off their demons and just how many levels of crazy they are, I figured I may as well flaunt mine too.”
[ I look down at my phone for the last time, prompting me to nod in approval before I slip the phone into my back pocket and bring my hands together. ]
USUAL SUSPECT #8 HUDSON MCKNIGHT
“Now, there’s a name that has been thrown around in conversations throughout the years. Whether it’s the Wolfs or the Riggs doing the talking, I recall a certain level of respect being shown to the McKnight clan. Well, except when Vincent was the one talking… Is it true that he once told you that you should change your name to Mr. Anicka Swan? I mean, I’ve only heard the stories, but from what I remember, it was implied the only reason you won the World Title was because you were dating Ani at the time. Keep in mind Hudson, your ex is a fucking badass and sexy as hell, there are worse things to be called. I will say though, that makes me wonder if Ani’s good lovin' imbues her lovers with the gift of Lady Luck… I might have to put that to the test at some point. But that’s neither here nor there. You are one of those dudes I referenced earlier as being the stronger of the participants in this match. Knowing who you are, knowing who you have competed with in the past, I tip my hat to you and promise to do everything I can to live up to the reputations of those who trained me, that you warred with so many times in the past. But don't mistake my respect for timidness, because I will not hesitate to whoop your ass and get to the top of that ladder before you or anyone else.”
“Mark my words lady and germs, I am not walking into a warzone with you, to the contrary it’s all of you that have been dealt one shitty hand, each and everyone of you are lambs being led to slaughter. Not only am I the executioner and the butcher, I’m the guy that will be feasting savagely when all is said and done. You’ve all got three possible options, the first is to simply not show up. The second is to try the opportunist route, I will still mow you down and yank your sorry asses off the ladder. The last option is to just run headfirst into the thick of battle. You know, channel your inner Leroy Jenkins. After all, not many of you are all that bright, and judging by what I’ve seen, you’re all off your gotdamn rockers. I wouldn’t put it past any one of you nutters for one or more of you to rush into a fight. But hey, who the hell am I to judge, right? Green Bay, Wisconsin. Cheesetown, USA. I plan on giving you the show of a lifetime. To those of you in the ring with me, unfortunately for you all, the beating I plan on throwing at the lot of ya is more than likely going to shorten your lifetime. My only recommendation is for you all to step hard when you step to me, otherwise you’ll find yourselves staring up at the lights, dazed and confused, while I make my ASCENSION to the top of that ladder and securing my Silver Briefcase. But I'm going to let you know now, I'll be holding onto the contract for a while before I cash it in. To all of you, do prepare yourselves...”
“GET BENT OR GET BROKEN!”
“...watch ME as I RISE to the top...”
“...watch ME as I RISE to the top...”
[ I glanced out one of the windows and noticed how dark the sky was and that it was getting late. As I head back around the corner and the wet bar comes into view, I notice that almost everyone had already turned in for the evening. I glance over at the bar and see only Ani and Allison, and they were very close to one another. Ani looks to be whispering something kinky to Allie because her face grew red quickly. I clear my throat, prompting Allie to turn around and smile at me. Without a word she climbs off her stool and takes Ani by the hand, when both of them come toward me. Allison reaches for my hand and walks the three of us into a bedroom and closes the door once we make it inside. ]
OOC Notes: My apologies to my fellow ladder match competitors. This isn't even up to my standards. This week has been extremely exhausting for me, every time I sat down to write I would start to fall asleep at the computer. Best of luck to everyone.
OOC Notes: My apologies to my fellow ladder match competitors. This isn't even up to my standards. This week has been extremely exhausting for me, every time I sat down to write I would start to fall asleep at the computer. Best of luck to everyone.