Post by Thomas Snow on Jan 3, 2021 21:46:12 GMT -5
Blaze with the rage who cage the flames of fire
Blaze like a beast to feast on my desire
Break, make me human, you can take me higher
Make the nightmare end
Make me something real
Derrick Vayden is seen standing on the porch of his house. His back is to the viewer He’s leaning on the railing as he stares out into his backyard at the dense forest at the opposite end. A thick layer of snow covers the ground and sits heavily on the branches of the trees. Said trees sway slowly in the brisk winter breeze, the sound of the wind blowing creates an eerie environment.
No one wants to admit they’re the bad guys. No one wants to believe they’re the ones fucking everything up rather than trying to keep everything in order. It’s not in our nature to embrace the darkness and tell the world that we’re the ones they should hate.
Except for me, that is.
From the moment I made my presence known in Revolution1, I knew I wasn’t going to be seen as a good guy. And quite honestly I don’t care. I’m fine with being seen as the villain, as the bad guy everyone casts out. Sometimes that’s what I have to do. I am up for the burden...
But what about you, Amy? Do you see yourself as the hero? Do you think you’re the good guy, the one to lift us up above the pain and strife? I mean, I know you like to talk down about yourself in a piss poor attempt at making it seem like you don’t like yourself, but I know the truth. It’s plain to see.
You just want people to feel bad for you. You want people to buy into this fragile woe-is-me badass persona so fucking badly. And the worst part is, they have. They eat up every word and paint you into the
Derrick turns around to face the viewer. His long beard blows in the wind as he stares hard. In the background, for the briefest of moments, the forest is engulfed with towering orange flames, thick plumes of smoke fill the yard. Fire burns in his eyes just as fiercely as it does behind him.
Then, all at once, it’s gone. All is normal and still aside from the calm, cool breeze.
You’re not a victim, Amy. You’re not someone we should feel bad for. You want to know why? It’s because you’re just a fucking puppet. You’re exactly what these people want, you’ve positioned yourself as a woman of the people and thus, you’re perfect for the boss to rake in new viewers as well as more money.
Just look at how hard and how quickly you’ve been pushed to the top. If you were this rebel punk you’ve labeled yourself as you would just be another pretty face.
It’s kinda smart if I’m honest. You’re kissing up to all the fans and the general manager and look at how that’s worked out! Your first match is to position yourself for a championship match, you win all kinds of these awards and praise. Everyone is bowing down and kissing your feet and your ass.
You even have champions getting in line to hand you title shots. I’m sure everyone else thinks it’s because you’re just that talented or just that good at your job, and maybe that’s starting to rub off on you and affect your way of thinking. Thinking you’re invincible, or that you are more important than you really are. Well, let me be the first to tell you that is a dangerous way of thinking. Your ego will get bigger than you can handle and suddenly, the people you thought of as friends are turning against you and leaving you for dead.
You can call me the bad guy all you want, Amy. I just want to help you. I want you to learn from my missteps to help yourself. You may not like my methods, but you will be stronger for it in the end.
Another blink and Vayden is surrounded by thick smoke. The light grey overcast sky is buried underneath the clouds of smog. Derrick seems unphased by the suffocating smoke he is enveloped in. His intense gaze remains locked onto the viewer.
Then, just like before, it’s all gone. The environment is once again still and quiet aside from the howl of the wind.
Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Portia. That’s the beauty of this Lethal Lottery tournament. You never know who you’re going to be paired up with. In this case, a selfish lone wolf rocker is paired up with a plucky “just happy to be here” southern good girl.
Portia. I hope you realize you’re not getting a partner in Amelia. You’re getting someone who is going to use you as a human shield while she works towards her own goals. You’re not an equal, she sees you as the anchor dragging her down. You’re something she needs to carry while on her way to the top.
You know what? I don’t necessarily disagree with her on that front.
You have a lot to learn in this business. You both do, but at least she has the mindset down. She knows this is all work. Wrestling is a job just as much as it is a dream. You can’t waste your time staring out the window, worrying about what others think of you, or being mesmerised by the bright lights.
Sure, you can stop and smell the flowers, but if you get too far lost in wonderland, you’re going to get your ass kicked sooner or later. This bubbly, childish attitude is going to be the death of you if you’re not careful.
I’ve seen plenty of people like you. People breaking in to wrestling after growing up poor, only to get caught up in the gravitas of it all and wind up falling flat on their faces and ending up exactly where they started. Broke and in the gutter.
I implore you to take my advice, Portia. I say you kick Hearts to the curb before she does the same to you. And she will do the same because you’re the expendable one, the weakest link. Prove to me that you’re more than another naive deer just waiting to be hit by oncoming traffic by taking Amelia out before she does the same to you.
Trust me, I wish I had someone to give me such advice...
But you won’t take my advice, will you? Because you don’t want to ruffle any feathers and ruin your chance at stardom. Again, I’ve seen it before. But at least take what I’ve told you into consideration. Keep it somewhere in your mind as you tag with your so-called partner, knowing she’s going to kick you to the curb as soon as you’re no longer useful to her…
Though maybe that’s what you want. You want to become the victim at the hands of Stylez and myself, or even better, at the hands of your own partner. All so you can soak in the sympathy from the crowd and use it as some sort of launchpad to further stardom.
Sure, taking that route is fine. I’m not going to stop you. But just know, when it inevitably blows up in your face, you can’t say I didn’t fucking warn you...
As soon as Vayden stops talking, he closes his eyes as the area is filled with screams. Cries of agony, pleads for help, the pained anguish of men and women alike echo all around the Vengeful Vayden. However, no matter how loud the cries for mercy are, one voice manages to come across clear as crystal through it all…
NO ONE IS SAFE
Soon all the voices fade back to silence. Vayden slowly opens his eyes. He exhales through his nose before resuming his speech.
Johnny, he and I don’t get along. We’ve never gotten along. Hell, we’ve fought each other a couple of times. But there is something that links us. We don’t care what anyone thinks of us. Whether they love us or hate us, cheer or boo, we carry on. We’re not pushing to please anyone, each other included. We’re just going to go out there and do what we need to do.
But don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t like the guy. And I’m sure he doesn’t like me either. But we both understand what we need to do to get what’s best for us. And right now, that is beating you two, winning the entire tournament, and becoming the first tag team champions. We’ll focus on trying to gel as a team after those tasks are completed.
So keep telling yourselves you’re on the right side of things, ladies. Keep pretending to be faux champions of the people. Keep telling yourselves you’re the victims. Because Portia, Amelia, I’m going to force you and everyone else to see the truth.
And I’m going to enjoy every moment of watching you burn…
Vayden glares for a moment before walking out of shot towards the viewer. Once he’s out of frame, a figure far in the distance, standing just within the trees of the forest is revealed. He is dressed in all black, standing out amongst the white and green.
In an instant, the blazing terrain returns, engulfing the figure in flames. But yet he is still. Smoke slowly creeps closer to the viewer. It gets closer and closer until it completely swallows the view in a thick grey cloud until it fades to black...