Post by soulshadow on Nov 10, 2013 19:35:13 GMT -5
PA System: Flight 429 to O’Hare is now boarding at Gate F5. Flight 429 to O’Hare is now boarding at Gate F5.
{In the waiting area, Aeryn Ashfield stands upon hearing the call. She picks up a nearby bag while double-checking the ticket in her hand. Next to her, Soul Shadow also rises. Though his bag sits on the seat next to him, he does not pick it up.}
Aeryn: Well, that’s my flight. Time to be heading home!
{Soul watches her sling the strap of the carry-on over her shoulder with a growing sense of loneliness. Once again, he and this amazing woman are going to be separated for a while. Looking inward, he is still somewhat shocked by his reactions. When they agreed to dissolve their partnership ahead of the Roll the Dice match at the last pay-per-view, he was saddened. Yet despite knowing they will be reunited in less than a week, the feeling paled in comparison to the ache gnawing at him now.}
Soul: Hey, you know, we could trade your ticket in, even at this last moment. They probably have a few people on standby anyway.
{The echoes of Aeryn’s laughter draw the attention of several on-lookers.}
Aeryn: Are you daft? If I trade my ticket in, how the hell am I to get home? Granted, I could rent a car as it is only a ten-hour drive, but that’s a pain without an American license. And despite our increased paycheck thanks to our titles, I really can’t afford to stay in a hotel all week.
Soul: Well, I was thinking you could head back to Boston with me...
Aeryn: Really? And why would you want that?
Because I hate being apart from you. Because every time we go our separate ways between the MPW cards, I always feel like a piece of me is missing. Because you’ve reawakened a spark inside me I thought had been extinguished forever one painful day about a decade past. Because I think I’m falling in love with you, Aeryn, which both scares and excites me all at once.
Soul: Well, after what Christian did to you, it may be a good idea to…
{Under the slightly withering gaze from Aeryn, his words die on his lips.}
Aeryn: Of all the insane… For God’s sake, I took far a worse a beating from Iconic Aggression and got away with only a mild concussion. A chair shot to the back from Carter is barely even a scratch compared to that. Hell, you took it worse, getting nailed by his finisher like that. I ought to be playing nurse for you this time.
Soul (raising an eyebrow): I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a nurse’s uni… OWWW!!!!!
{Shocked eyes around the terminal turn towards the pair, drawn by the loud crack of Aeryn’s backhand to Soul’s chest. He cringes in real pain, though his poor acting attempt doesn’t deceive her into believing for one moment he is seriously hurt.}
Aeryn: Let’s not get all pervy now, partner. Seriously, I do have to get back to Chicago. Rue probably is beginning to wonder if I’m planning to skip out on rent after spending nearly two weeks in New England and Alberta with you already. So unless you can give me a really compelling reason to travel with you…
In a short time, you’ve become an important part of my life. I want to continue exploring these emotions we have, to find out how real and deep they are. I want to learn everything about you. I want to share everything about myself with you. I want these feelings I’ve been riding during our times together since Tacoma to never end.
Soul: I… just want to make sure you’re alright. That’s all.
{Soul feels his cheeks flush with color, not sure if it is driven by the embarrassment or perhaps the mix of anger and shame of once again not finding voice to his feelings. Aeryn looks upset at his comments, only to have it once again melt away in the face of his awkwardness. She walks closer to him, looking directly upwards at his face.}
Aeryn: It’s sweet of you to worry over me, Michael. It’s still unnecessary, though. I’ve been taking care of my long before I met you. I’m going to be okay.
Soul: Aeryn, I…
PA System: This is the final boarding call for Flight 429 to O’Hare at Gate F5. This is the final boarding call for Flight 429 to O’Hare at Gate F5.
Aeryn: I gotta go, cutie, if I don’t want to miss my flight. Call me when you’re back in Boston. I’ll see you in Detroit!
{With that, she hops on her tiptoes and gives him a quick peck on the lips. Instinctively, his arms rise to pull her tightly against him, yet he finds himself clutching empty air. Before he even realizes it, she is racing down the terminal towards her gate, waving casually back at him. Within moments, she is lost amongst the crowd. Soul observes the moving throng for a few minutes, then turns towards another section of the airport in order to find his own flight home.}
Dammit, what the hell is wrong with me? My entire life, whenever I find myself facing danger, I never feel one ounce of fear. The Damned nearly broke me in half, and I refused to even consider knuckling under their assault. Iconic Aggression has been tearing apart every single opponent like tissue paper for the past few months, and the idea of battling them in a no-rules match actually filled my heart with anticipation rather than anxiety. Even when I wrestled years ago against the most vicious motherfuckers the NWC could throw at me, no matter how many hits I was knocked down I jumped at any chance to get some more.
Yet this woman… this absolutely gorgeous, amazing, wonderful woman… has me completely turned around in knots. Her beauty, her strength, her intelligence, her humor, her resolve… she has everything I would ever want. I care deeply for her, more than I ever would have imagined when I first met her. And after our time in Boston and Canada together, I know she shares some feelings for me.
So why does the idea of telling her exactly how I feel still send shakes throughout my very core?
{Soul shakes his head in anger as he turns a corner, heading towards a security checkpoint. The camera watches him slide into line before the scene fades.}
TWO DAYS BEFORE AFTERSHOCK
{Nighttime in the city of Detroit, two days before Aftershock at the Joe Louis Arena. The night skyline of the Motor City is absolutely gorgeous, secretly perhaps one of the most beautiful in all of America. Staring at the tableau, an uninformed individual would never believe such luster actual disguises a city in decline. The destruction of the domestic automotive industry, the financial bankruptcy of the local government, the mass exodus of the population… all factors have led to what was once the jewel of the Midwest degenerating into an urban blight in record time.}
{The shot pulls back to reveal it is angled from high above the city from the balcony of a penthouse suite in an obvious five-star hotel. Leaning on his elbows against the railing and taking in the view is Soul Shadow, one-half of the reigning MPW World Tag Team champions. His eyes cast a melancholy gaze over the buildings, highlighting a sort of sadness. He lets out a large sigh, then begins to speak.}
Soul: It’s sad, really. I used to come here fairly regularly on the NWC circuit back in the day. It was a fun place to visit and had a quiet vitality to it. However, years of decline and neglect have rapidly stripped it away. Now the city sits barely alive and on life-support. I find it shocking to believe a place I used to love to visit can transform so much in just a short amount of time.
{With another sigh, he pushes himself to his full height as he places his hands on the railing.}
Soul: Much like the city, I’ve discovered the wrestling business has changed a lot since I last graced the squared circle. Regional wrestling is all but dead. Hardcore wrestling, once hidden in the shadows, is now sharing a prominent position in the limelight. And perhaps, most importantly, in many federations such as MPW women are no longer being relegated to a separate division on the card. Rather, they are now competing against men in a variety of divisions. Such a thing would have been unthinkable over a decade ago.
{Soul’s gaze continues to look across the Detroit skyline.}
Soul: Many people have asked me since I ended my retirement how I feel about that change. A few pundits and fans have questions like, “Does it bother you to have Roxi as the federation’s champion? Why would you choose Aeryn as your tag team partner when you could pick a stronger one such as Johnny Clash or Taufik? Don’t you always feel as if you have to hold back when facing one in the ring lest you be seen as a bully? Wouldn’t losing to one be a sign you shouldn’t have come back?” I swear, some people think I am secretly embarrassed to be seen wrestling either alongside or against them, as if it somehow demeans my career.
{Finally, he turns his attention to the camera.}
Soul: Truth is, I have always respected strong women, perhaps because I have been lucky to have so many in my life. My maternal grandmother was one of the smartest, headstrong, and successful women I have ever met. My mother, widowed before I was even born, busted her ass in college and her career to make sure I never wanted for anything during my entire youth. And my late wife… well, you’ve all heard the saying “Behind every great man, there stands an even greater woman.” They ought to put her picture on my plaque in the NWC Hall of Fame for I honestly feel I owe everything to her choosing to be by side. Three amazing women who only provided me a glimpse into what the so-called fairer sex is capable of achieving once they put their mind to it. So, I have no problem competing with fantastic athletes such as Aeryn, Roxi, Chrissy, and… though it kills me on some level to admit this… Laila. I see them as WRESTLERS first, and in that capacity they have all earned my respect.
Soul: But you know what I cannot respect? A bitch.
{Soul’s eyes darken as he speaks.}
Soul: Bitches annoy me because they are whiny little things. Instead of going out to try earning their success, they utilize every shortcut they can find no matter how underhanded it may be. When things go wrong, they blame everyone else but themselves for their own failures. Many of them are cowards, stabbing people who should be their friends in the back in pursuit of their far-fetched dreams and then running away before their moment of comeuppance arrives. They can never be trusted or respected because they are never worthy of either.
{The camera pulls back as Soul approaches a table in the balcony. Placed on the top is his half of the World Tag Team title belts. He sits in a chair behind it, so the faceplate is prominent in the shot as he speaks.}
Soul: This Sunday, Phoenix Rising makes it first title defense against… let’s be honest… a bitch. The bitch has barely done anything in MPW during the few short months I have been here. The bitch thinks it is already worthy of a title shot against the hottest duo in the league despite having only ONE single match with its partner. Hell, the bitch and its partner had a laughing stock of a match when first paired against each other, yet somehow the bitch thinks they will make it work against the well-oiled machine of Aeryn and myself. Somehow, this bitch really believes it has a prayer at Aftershock.
Soul: Well, in just a moment, I’m going to let the bitch know just how wrong it is. But first, I want to take a moment to address the bitch’s partner.
{Soul leans closer in his seat.}
Soul: Valentina Madison, I get why you accepted the bitch’s offer. Since you first started wrestling for MPW shortly after High Stakes II, you’ve been on quite an impressive roll. You defeated the physically imposing Hellbender and Nathan James in a three-way dance. You took out Impaler, a man whom I can personally attest to being no slouch inside the ring. One Reloaded, you even got to main event against Iconic Aggression’s new protégé Laila and emerged with a disqualification victory, though after what Baxter, Blaze, and she did “survived” may be the better term. Thanks to your smarts, dedicated work ethic, and fearlessness in the face of danger, you are well on your way to ascending to one of the top spots on the roster. The bitch is offering you a chance to earn your first title and you feel you are ready for the challenge.
{Soul looks directly into the camera, shaking his head negatively.}
Soul: I hate to break it to you, Valentina, but you aren’t quite there yet. One advantage you’ve had in your previous matches is the tendency of your foes to underestimate you. Impaler, James, and Hellbender all compared their physique to yours and assumed their size would be too much of an advantage for you to overcome. Laila dismissed you out of hand and, quite honestly, was more concerned with making an example of you on that stupid IA-run show than winning the match. To an individual, they all believed you were absolutely no threat, just because you were either too unseasoned or too physically weak to effectively compete.
{The champion folds his hands together, placing them on the table behind his belt.}
Soul: Do you really believe for one second either Aeryn or I will make the same mistake? Granted, I am still new to the idea of women being in the ring against me. Yet as I mentioned before, the ladies in my life have taught me never to doubt their capabilities. In your previous matches, you’ve proven yours to be as every bit as special as I would suspect. I’ve also learned during my career pure talent can quite often compensate for inexperience. I won my first title belt, also a tag strap, slightly more than two months after my debut. My first World singles championship came only four months after that, at the hands of vastly more veteran competition. Better than anyone you’ve faced previously, I understand my greater strength and experience are just advantages, not guarantees, to our victory. For the first time in MPW, you are going to have to worry about opponents who won’t look past you and assume you are an easy win. It will be interesting to see how you handle it.
{His hands break apart as he brings a few fingers to his chin in a thoughtful pose.}
Soul: However, Valentina, your biggest problem in this match isn’t my partner or myself. It’s the anchor you’ve chosen to cast your lot with. The first time you were in the ring with this bitch, it was too drunk to even give you a decent match. The second time you were actually paired up with it, it was with a TV title shot on the line for the winning team. The two of you came nowhere near getting the job done, suffering defeat to Chrissy and Laila, two wrestlers who FUCKING HATE each other but managed to work together better than your team did. So I have wonder, Valentina, what makes you think you and the bitch, a duo whose two previous times together have ended in abject failure, have a ghost of a chance against Phoenix Rising, who have NEVER lost in any match where we have been paired, be it together or even the one time against each other. I hope… no, I KNOW you are smarter than this, girl.
{Soul’s hands are now on his title belt.}
Soul: I’m not going to be able to get you to walk away from this, Valentina. You are too brave with so much riding on the line to do that. I admit, I admire that about you. But don’t for once assume my admiration means Aeryn or myself will be lenient. We’ve worked too hard and too long on our comebacks and this title run to let it end now. Any threats to it will be met with appropriate force. Your best bet to get out of this alive to continue with your rising MPW career? Let the bitch take the brunt of the beating. You ain’t winning the match anyway, so why not let the bitch get what it deserves.
Soul: Now, speaking of the bitch…
{The chair scrapes along the floor as Soul stands, lifting the title with him.}
Soul: So, Christian Carter, I guess the booze you’ve been pickling your tiny brain with finally finished off the last remaining cells. Hey, I realize your career hasn’t been where you’ve wanted it to be lately. Over a year ago, you were one of the top draws in the fed. The first ever Sin City champion. One-half of the finalists for the inaugural World Tag Team championship. For someone of your potential, the sky seemed to be not the pinnacle, but only the floor of what could be an amazing career. But instead, as you implied last week, you find yourself rarely being booked to appear on cards. When you are, it is almost as a sideshow to more exciting and lucrative feuds.
{His eyes turn to the belt, now hanging over his shoulder.}
Soul: So you decided the best way for you to reclaim your name was to come after me and Aeryn right after we got done beating the crap out of one of the most vicious stables in MPW history? To stake a claim for a title shot you’ve done jack shit to earn? To declare we are so unworthy of these belts that you feel you could take any person off the street and rip them from our hands? You really believe THAT would be the best way for you to show Bob and the rest of the MPW brass that they’ve been wrong to ignore you?
{Soul’s eyes switch back to the camera, wide with amazement and anger.}
Soul: Bitch, my first thought is you must be insane. The competition committee hasn’t been ignoring you. They’ve been EMBARRASSED by you. In the number-one contender’s tourney for these belts shortly after Gold Rush, your partner had to carry your drunk ass through every single match before you stabbed him in the back for daring to try and get you help. You showed up so drunk to a recent card you couldn’t even get the match started, which humiliated your opponent… ironically now your partner… far more than a loss would have. And two weeks ago, when given a chance to earn a TV title shot, you insulted your partner and worked against her at every turn to prove you could it by yourself. You’ve been given chance after chance, and at every turn YOU’VE been the one to screw it up.
{The anger dissipates from Soul’s face, taking a more sympathetic tone.}
Soul: But the more I think about it, I believe you have made a wise choice. For getting this match against Aeryn and me WILL indeed help you. After all, you get to be the first title defense for Phoenix Rising. For our partnership, it is the opportunity to prove to the world our victory over Iconic Aggression was not a fluke but just beginning of our dynasty. On an individual level, it is a chance for Aeryn to once again show why the Roll the Dice briefcase rests in a pair of worthy hands. For me, it is a chance to redeem myself from that same match with my first big win on a pay-per-view. And most importantly, after what you did to get our attention, it is one more time we are going to let the world know, just as we did with the Damned and IA…
{His face twists in anger once more.}
Soul: …that those who fuck with us get double what they paid returned upon their heads.
Soul: So Christian, at Aftershock, both Aeryn and I are going to give you some therapy to help you see where your career is. We are going to take your drunk, wasted ass and knock it from pillar to post. We are going to take our time beating you sober, only to keep at it until your body aches far worse than the most vicious hangover you’ve felt in your miserable life. We’re going to find out if you actually bleed alcohol from your broken skin. By the time we are done, you won’t ever have to worry about your career in MPW ever again.
{A wicked smile plays across Soul’s lips.}
Soul: For it will finally be over.
{Soul walks towards the balcony entrance, sliding open the glass door.}
Soul: On Sunday, Phoenix Rising gets to make its first ever defense against Valentina Madison and Christian Carter, one a true lady and one a stupid bitch. The lady is going to get a lesson which will hopefully serve to help her on her growing career. The bitch will get slapped back to the obscurity from where it came, just like it deserves. In the end, once again Aeryn and I will show we are the best damn duo in all of MPW and it will take much more than what these two offer to take these belts from our waists.
{Soul gives one last smirk.}
Soul: You’re going to have no choice but to respect that.
{With that, Soul steps inside his room and slides the door shut. The camera swings to the cityline, staring at the city lights before slowly fading out.}
{In the waiting area, Aeryn Ashfield stands upon hearing the call. She picks up a nearby bag while double-checking the ticket in her hand. Next to her, Soul Shadow also rises. Though his bag sits on the seat next to him, he does not pick it up.}
Aeryn: Well, that’s my flight. Time to be heading home!
{Soul watches her sling the strap of the carry-on over her shoulder with a growing sense of loneliness. Once again, he and this amazing woman are going to be separated for a while. Looking inward, he is still somewhat shocked by his reactions. When they agreed to dissolve their partnership ahead of the Roll the Dice match at the last pay-per-view, he was saddened. Yet despite knowing they will be reunited in less than a week, the feeling paled in comparison to the ache gnawing at him now.}
Soul: Hey, you know, we could trade your ticket in, even at this last moment. They probably have a few people on standby anyway.
{The echoes of Aeryn’s laughter draw the attention of several on-lookers.}
Aeryn: Are you daft? If I trade my ticket in, how the hell am I to get home? Granted, I could rent a car as it is only a ten-hour drive, but that’s a pain without an American license. And despite our increased paycheck thanks to our titles, I really can’t afford to stay in a hotel all week.
Soul: Well, I was thinking you could head back to Boston with me...
Aeryn: Really? And why would you want that?
Because I hate being apart from you. Because every time we go our separate ways between the MPW cards, I always feel like a piece of me is missing. Because you’ve reawakened a spark inside me I thought had been extinguished forever one painful day about a decade past. Because I think I’m falling in love with you, Aeryn, which both scares and excites me all at once.
Soul: Well, after what Christian did to you, it may be a good idea to…
{Under the slightly withering gaze from Aeryn, his words die on his lips.}
Aeryn: Of all the insane… For God’s sake, I took far a worse a beating from Iconic Aggression and got away with only a mild concussion. A chair shot to the back from Carter is barely even a scratch compared to that. Hell, you took it worse, getting nailed by his finisher like that. I ought to be playing nurse for you this time.
Soul (raising an eyebrow): I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a nurse’s uni… OWWW!!!!!
{Shocked eyes around the terminal turn towards the pair, drawn by the loud crack of Aeryn’s backhand to Soul’s chest. He cringes in real pain, though his poor acting attempt doesn’t deceive her into believing for one moment he is seriously hurt.}
Aeryn: Let’s not get all pervy now, partner. Seriously, I do have to get back to Chicago. Rue probably is beginning to wonder if I’m planning to skip out on rent after spending nearly two weeks in New England and Alberta with you already. So unless you can give me a really compelling reason to travel with you…
In a short time, you’ve become an important part of my life. I want to continue exploring these emotions we have, to find out how real and deep they are. I want to learn everything about you. I want to share everything about myself with you. I want these feelings I’ve been riding during our times together since Tacoma to never end.
Soul: I… just want to make sure you’re alright. That’s all.
{Soul feels his cheeks flush with color, not sure if it is driven by the embarrassment or perhaps the mix of anger and shame of once again not finding voice to his feelings. Aeryn looks upset at his comments, only to have it once again melt away in the face of his awkwardness. She walks closer to him, looking directly upwards at his face.}
Aeryn: It’s sweet of you to worry over me, Michael. It’s still unnecessary, though. I’ve been taking care of my long before I met you. I’m going to be okay.
Soul: Aeryn, I…
PA System: This is the final boarding call for Flight 429 to O’Hare at Gate F5. This is the final boarding call for Flight 429 to O’Hare at Gate F5.
Aeryn: I gotta go, cutie, if I don’t want to miss my flight. Call me when you’re back in Boston. I’ll see you in Detroit!
{With that, she hops on her tiptoes and gives him a quick peck on the lips. Instinctively, his arms rise to pull her tightly against him, yet he finds himself clutching empty air. Before he even realizes it, she is racing down the terminal towards her gate, waving casually back at him. Within moments, she is lost amongst the crowd. Soul observes the moving throng for a few minutes, then turns towards another section of the airport in order to find his own flight home.}
Dammit, what the hell is wrong with me? My entire life, whenever I find myself facing danger, I never feel one ounce of fear. The Damned nearly broke me in half, and I refused to even consider knuckling under their assault. Iconic Aggression has been tearing apart every single opponent like tissue paper for the past few months, and the idea of battling them in a no-rules match actually filled my heart with anticipation rather than anxiety. Even when I wrestled years ago against the most vicious motherfuckers the NWC could throw at me, no matter how many hits I was knocked down I jumped at any chance to get some more.
Yet this woman… this absolutely gorgeous, amazing, wonderful woman… has me completely turned around in knots. Her beauty, her strength, her intelligence, her humor, her resolve… she has everything I would ever want. I care deeply for her, more than I ever would have imagined when I first met her. And after our time in Boston and Canada together, I know she shares some feelings for me.
So why does the idea of telling her exactly how I feel still send shakes throughout my very core?
{Soul shakes his head in anger as he turns a corner, heading towards a security checkpoint. The camera watches him slide into line before the scene fades.}
TWO DAYS BEFORE AFTERSHOCK
{Nighttime in the city of Detroit, two days before Aftershock at the Joe Louis Arena. The night skyline of the Motor City is absolutely gorgeous, secretly perhaps one of the most beautiful in all of America. Staring at the tableau, an uninformed individual would never believe such luster actual disguises a city in decline. The destruction of the domestic automotive industry, the financial bankruptcy of the local government, the mass exodus of the population… all factors have led to what was once the jewel of the Midwest degenerating into an urban blight in record time.}
{The shot pulls back to reveal it is angled from high above the city from the balcony of a penthouse suite in an obvious five-star hotel. Leaning on his elbows against the railing and taking in the view is Soul Shadow, one-half of the reigning MPW World Tag Team champions. His eyes cast a melancholy gaze over the buildings, highlighting a sort of sadness. He lets out a large sigh, then begins to speak.}
Soul: It’s sad, really. I used to come here fairly regularly on the NWC circuit back in the day. It was a fun place to visit and had a quiet vitality to it. However, years of decline and neglect have rapidly stripped it away. Now the city sits barely alive and on life-support. I find it shocking to believe a place I used to love to visit can transform so much in just a short amount of time.
{With another sigh, he pushes himself to his full height as he places his hands on the railing.}
Soul: Much like the city, I’ve discovered the wrestling business has changed a lot since I last graced the squared circle. Regional wrestling is all but dead. Hardcore wrestling, once hidden in the shadows, is now sharing a prominent position in the limelight. And perhaps, most importantly, in many federations such as MPW women are no longer being relegated to a separate division on the card. Rather, they are now competing against men in a variety of divisions. Such a thing would have been unthinkable over a decade ago.
{Soul’s gaze continues to look across the Detroit skyline.}
Soul: Many people have asked me since I ended my retirement how I feel about that change. A few pundits and fans have questions like, “Does it bother you to have Roxi as the federation’s champion? Why would you choose Aeryn as your tag team partner when you could pick a stronger one such as Johnny Clash or Taufik? Don’t you always feel as if you have to hold back when facing one in the ring lest you be seen as a bully? Wouldn’t losing to one be a sign you shouldn’t have come back?” I swear, some people think I am secretly embarrassed to be seen wrestling either alongside or against them, as if it somehow demeans my career.
{Finally, he turns his attention to the camera.}
Soul: Truth is, I have always respected strong women, perhaps because I have been lucky to have so many in my life. My maternal grandmother was one of the smartest, headstrong, and successful women I have ever met. My mother, widowed before I was even born, busted her ass in college and her career to make sure I never wanted for anything during my entire youth. And my late wife… well, you’ve all heard the saying “Behind every great man, there stands an even greater woman.” They ought to put her picture on my plaque in the NWC Hall of Fame for I honestly feel I owe everything to her choosing to be by side. Three amazing women who only provided me a glimpse into what the so-called fairer sex is capable of achieving once they put their mind to it. So, I have no problem competing with fantastic athletes such as Aeryn, Roxi, Chrissy, and… though it kills me on some level to admit this… Laila. I see them as WRESTLERS first, and in that capacity they have all earned my respect.
Soul: But you know what I cannot respect? A bitch.
{Soul’s eyes darken as he speaks.}
Soul: Bitches annoy me because they are whiny little things. Instead of going out to try earning their success, they utilize every shortcut they can find no matter how underhanded it may be. When things go wrong, they blame everyone else but themselves for their own failures. Many of them are cowards, stabbing people who should be their friends in the back in pursuit of their far-fetched dreams and then running away before their moment of comeuppance arrives. They can never be trusted or respected because they are never worthy of either.
{The camera pulls back as Soul approaches a table in the balcony. Placed on the top is his half of the World Tag Team title belts. He sits in a chair behind it, so the faceplate is prominent in the shot as he speaks.}
Soul: This Sunday, Phoenix Rising makes it first title defense against… let’s be honest… a bitch. The bitch has barely done anything in MPW during the few short months I have been here. The bitch thinks it is already worthy of a title shot against the hottest duo in the league despite having only ONE single match with its partner. Hell, the bitch and its partner had a laughing stock of a match when first paired against each other, yet somehow the bitch thinks they will make it work against the well-oiled machine of Aeryn and myself. Somehow, this bitch really believes it has a prayer at Aftershock.
Soul: Well, in just a moment, I’m going to let the bitch know just how wrong it is. But first, I want to take a moment to address the bitch’s partner.
{Soul leans closer in his seat.}
Soul: Valentina Madison, I get why you accepted the bitch’s offer. Since you first started wrestling for MPW shortly after High Stakes II, you’ve been on quite an impressive roll. You defeated the physically imposing Hellbender and Nathan James in a three-way dance. You took out Impaler, a man whom I can personally attest to being no slouch inside the ring. One Reloaded, you even got to main event against Iconic Aggression’s new protégé Laila and emerged with a disqualification victory, though after what Baxter, Blaze, and she did “survived” may be the better term. Thanks to your smarts, dedicated work ethic, and fearlessness in the face of danger, you are well on your way to ascending to one of the top spots on the roster. The bitch is offering you a chance to earn your first title and you feel you are ready for the challenge.
{Soul looks directly into the camera, shaking his head negatively.}
Soul: I hate to break it to you, Valentina, but you aren’t quite there yet. One advantage you’ve had in your previous matches is the tendency of your foes to underestimate you. Impaler, James, and Hellbender all compared their physique to yours and assumed their size would be too much of an advantage for you to overcome. Laila dismissed you out of hand and, quite honestly, was more concerned with making an example of you on that stupid IA-run show than winning the match. To an individual, they all believed you were absolutely no threat, just because you were either too unseasoned or too physically weak to effectively compete.
{The champion folds his hands together, placing them on the table behind his belt.}
Soul: Do you really believe for one second either Aeryn or I will make the same mistake? Granted, I am still new to the idea of women being in the ring against me. Yet as I mentioned before, the ladies in my life have taught me never to doubt their capabilities. In your previous matches, you’ve proven yours to be as every bit as special as I would suspect. I’ve also learned during my career pure talent can quite often compensate for inexperience. I won my first title belt, also a tag strap, slightly more than two months after my debut. My first World singles championship came only four months after that, at the hands of vastly more veteran competition. Better than anyone you’ve faced previously, I understand my greater strength and experience are just advantages, not guarantees, to our victory. For the first time in MPW, you are going to have to worry about opponents who won’t look past you and assume you are an easy win. It will be interesting to see how you handle it.
{His hands break apart as he brings a few fingers to his chin in a thoughtful pose.}
Soul: However, Valentina, your biggest problem in this match isn’t my partner or myself. It’s the anchor you’ve chosen to cast your lot with. The first time you were in the ring with this bitch, it was too drunk to even give you a decent match. The second time you were actually paired up with it, it was with a TV title shot on the line for the winning team. The two of you came nowhere near getting the job done, suffering defeat to Chrissy and Laila, two wrestlers who FUCKING HATE each other but managed to work together better than your team did. So I have wonder, Valentina, what makes you think you and the bitch, a duo whose two previous times together have ended in abject failure, have a ghost of a chance against Phoenix Rising, who have NEVER lost in any match where we have been paired, be it together or even the one time against each other. I hope… no, I KNOW you are smarter than this, girl.
{Soul’s hands are now on his title belt.}
Soul: I’m not going to be able to get you to walk away from this, Valentina. You are too brave with so much riding on the line to do that. I admit, I admire that about you. But don’t for once assume my admiration means Aeryn or myself will be lenient. We’ve worked too hard and too long on our comebacks and this title run to let it end now. Any threats to it will be met with appropriate force. Your best bet to get out of this alive to continue with your rising MPW career? Let the bitch take the brunt of the beating. You ain’t winning the match anyway, so why not let the bitch get what it deserves.
Soul: Now, speaking of the bitch…
{The chair scrapes along the floor as Soul stands, lifting the title with him.}
Soul: So, Christian Carter, I guess the booze you’ve been pickling your tiny brain with finally finished off the last remaining cells. Hey, I realize your career hasn’t been where you’ve wanted it to be lately. Over a year ago, you were one of the top draws in the fed. The first ever Sin City champion. One-half of the finalists for the inaugural World Tag Team championship. For someone of your potential, the sky seemed to be not the pinnacle, but only the floor of what could be an amazing career. But instead, as you implied last week, you find yourself rarely being booked to appear on cards. When you are, it is almost as a sideshow to more exciting and lucrative feuds.
{His eyes turn to the belt, now hanging over his shoulder.}
Soul: So you decided the best way for you to reclaim your name was to come after me and Aeryn right after we got done beating the crap out of one of the most vicious stables in MPW history? To stake a claim for a title shot you’ve done jack shit to earn? To declare we are so unworthy of these belts that you feel you could take any person off the street and rip them from our hands? You really believe THAT would be the best way for you to show Bob and the rest of the MPW brass that they’ve been wrong to ignore you?
{Soul’s eyes switch back to the camera, wide with amazement and anger.}
Soul: Bitch, my first thought is you must be insane. The competition committee hasn’t been ignoring you. They’ve been EMBARRASSED by you. In the number-one contender’s tourney for these belts shortly after Gold Rush, your partner had to carry your drunk ass through every single match before you stabbed him in the back for daring to try and get you help. You showed up so drunk to a recent card you couldn’t even get the match started, which humiliated your opponent… ironically now your partner… far more than a loss would have. And two weeks ago, when given a chance to earn a TV title shot, you insulted your partner and worked against her at every turn to prove you could it by yourself. You’ve been given chance after chance, and at every turn YOU’VE been the one to screw it up.
{The anger dissipates from Soul’s face, taking a more sympathetic tone.}
Soul: But the more I think about it, I believe you have made a wise choice. For getting this match against Aeryn and me WILL indeed help you. After all, you get to be the first title defense for Phoenix Rising. For our partnership, it is the opportunity to prove to the world our victory over Iconic Aggression was not a fluke but just beginning of our dynasty. On an individual level, it is a chance for Aeryn to once again show why the Roll the Dice briefcase rests in a pair of worthy hands. For me, it is a chance to redeem myself from that same match with my first big win on a pay-per-view. And most importantly, after what you did to get our attention, it is one more time we are going to let the world know, just as we did with the Damned and IA…
{His face twists in anger once more.}
Soul: …that those who fuck with us get double what they paid returned upon their heads.
Soul: So Christian, at Aftershock, both Aeryn and I are going to give you some therapy to help you see where your career is. We are going to take your drunk, wasted ass and knock it from pillar to post. We are going to take our time beating you sober, only to keep at it until your body aches far worse than the most vicious hangover you’ve felt in your miserable life. We’re going to find out if you actually bleed alcohol from your broken skin. By the time we are done, you won’t ever have to worry about your career in MPW ever again.
{A wicked smile plays across Soul’s lips.}
Soul: For it will finally be over.
{Soul walks towards the balcony entrance, sliding open the glass door.}
Soul: On Sunday, Phoenix Rising gets to make its first ever defense against Valentina Madison and Christian Carter, one a true lady and one a stupid bitch. The lady is going to get a lesson which will hopefully serve to help her on her growing career. The bitch will get slapped back to the obscurity from where it came, just like it deserves. In the end, once again Aeryn and I will show we are the best damn duo in all of MPW and it will take much more than what these two offer to take these belts from our waists.
{Soul gives one last smirk.}
Soul: You’re going to have no choice but to respect that.
{With that, Soul steps inside his room and slides the door shut. The camera swings to the cityline, staring at the city lights before slowly fading out.}
