Post by soulshadow on Dec 29, 2013 19:50:02 GMT -5
Monday, December 23, New Orleans [/b]
{In the highest floors of one of New Orleans top five-star hotels are their most exclusive private suites. The massive quarters seem to be more like apartments than typical rooms. In addition to the normal bed and bathroom, it comes with a large open living room complete with a sofa, lounge chairs, dining table, full counter with bar behind, a separate television, and its own balcony with a beautiful view of the city. Obviously, this suite is reserved for only the top VIPs… corporate executives, visiting dignitaries, sports stars…}
{And champions.}
{Sitting on the couch together are the reigning MPW World Tag Team champions Aeryn Ashfield and Soul Shadow, collectively known as Phoenix Rising. On the table are the remains of what looks to have been a very delicious dinner between the pair. The two are now enjoying a little post-meal wine. Soul drains his glass, placing it gently on the table beside them.}
Soul: I really wish you could come back to Boston with me so we could spend Christmas together.
{Aeryn finishes her drink as well, though she holds onto the glass for the moment.}
Aeryn: I know, love. But I did promise my family I would spend some time with them as my career has kept me from seeing them as much as I would like. As much as I would love to be with you, my family is important to me as well during the holidays.
Soul (nodding): Believe me, I understand. This life we’ve chosen can keep us away from the ones we love for long stretches of time. So we must take advantage of the opportunities to be with them when we can. For me during this season, it means being at home with my son. For you, it means entertaining your family while they visit from London. Unfortunately, that means we are going to be apart for it. Which is why I booked an extra day here in New Orleans, so we could make the most of what we have.
Aeryn (bringing her hand to Soul’s cheek): I’m glad the injury you received from Carter last night wasn’t too serious. Usually I’m the one to spend some extended time in the training room after Reloaded.
Soul: I know. You must have been secretly enjoying being able to play nurse for once.
{Aeryn sticks her tongue out towards him in response. Soul gives a little snort, yet quickly composes himself.}
Soul: I heard you might have also joined me, had it not been for the intervention of Mr. Clash…
Aeryn: Yeah, he saved me from Kurt and Carter taking liberties after our match. I really appreciated his help.
Soul: Yes, I also heard rumor from some people you really showed your appreciation…
{Every trace of Aeryn’s smile and happiness instantly drains from her face.}
Aeryn: Look, Michael, I know what people are saying about him and me after we hugged in the ring. But you can’t seriously think there is anything between the two of us. True, Johnny dated one of my friends in our old fed. But he and I never EVER hooked up. I didn’t even gave that idea any thought when I was single. I’m sure not going to do it now that I am with you…
{Soul lets out a little laugh as he takes her hand.}
Soul: Aeryn, I’m just kidding. You know I trust you explicitly. Given what we have gone through prior to getting together, you have to realize I didn’t go into this relationship blindly.
Aeryn: I know that, love. Just… well, it is important to me you know exactly where I stand. I’ve gotten the impression others aren’t quite as understanding about my friendship with him.
Soul: I can’t control how other people might perceive what happened yesterday. And truthfully, I don’t care. What I do know is I love and trust you with every ounce of my heart. And hopefully, this Christmas present will prove it to you…
{Soul reaches behind one of the sofa cushions and pulls out a small rectangular box encased in Christmas wrapping paper. Aeryn’s eyes light up when she sees it.}
Aeryn: What’s this? I thought we had already exchanged gifts for each of us to bring home and open on Christmas…
Soul: I know we did. But this is an extra one for you which you get to open now.
{Aeryn smiles as she takes the gift. Quickly, she rips the paper apart, revealing a thin black box obviously containing some jewelry, such as a watch or a necklace. Opening the lid, she finds inside a gold chain. She lifts it with her hand, pulling it out and revealing a set of keys on the end of it.}
Aeryn: Wha… What are these?
Soul: Well…
{He reaches forward, grabbing one of the keys with his fingers.}
Soul: This one goes to the front door of my house. This one opens the door from the garage. This one goes to the back door…
Aeryn (surprise on her face): You’re giving me the keys to your place?
Soul: Yeah, I am. Given where our relationship is, I expect you will be coming to Boston quite a bit in the future. So I want you to know, just like Chicago and I would presume London, you have a home there as well. One with me.
Aeryn: Michael…
{Aeryn’s hand closes around the chain as she leans towards him, drawing his face towards her. Their lips meet in a tender kiss, affirming their affection for each other. When they break apart, Aeryn’s eyes are damp with emotion at Soul’s gift. She stands from the couch, taking Soul’s hand in hers as she leads him towards the bedroom.}
Aeryn: I have an extra gift for you well.
Soul: Really? And you have it in the bedroom?
Aeryn: Not quite. You see, during our time apart last week, I went shopping and bought some new lingerie…
{Soul’s eyebrows raise as he thinks about his love in such an outfit.}
Aeryn: …which I am currently wearing. So I figure if you want to unwrap me, it would best be done in the bedroom….
{Soul’s devilish smile reveals his agreement with the idea as his partner pulls him towards the bed. He grabs her in his arms as the two fall together onto the bed in a passionate embrace. Aeryn reaches over her head and turns off the lamp, whispering to her lover…}
Aeryn: …Merry Christmas…
Boston, Friday, December 27 [/b]
{Though it is named the Duck Pond inside Boston’s Public Gardens, the winter weather has long since chased the feathered fowl away in search of warmer climes. In its place, several families are taking advantage of the frozen water to skate under the Christmas lights and decorations strung amongst the nearby trees. The view is one of immense happiness, with various adults and kids frolicking on the ice. It is truly reflective of the spirit of the season.}
{The camera pulls back from the view of the Pond and scans to its right, where some bleachers have been set up for the benefit of any passerbys who wish to take in the scene. At present, only one person is seated there. One-half of the MPW World Tag Team champions, Soul Shadow, is watching the skaters enjoy themselves. His stylish navy pea coat keeps him protected from the New England cold, though from his manner you wouldn’t even realize the air is chilly in the slightest. Never taking his eyes from the action on the ice, he begins to speak.}
Soul: The Christmas period is perhaps the most fascinating time of the year to me. It is a time when one reflects on the successes and the failures of the previous twelve months. In addition, you also find yourself looking had with all of your hopes and dreams to the upcoming ones. More than any other point in your life are you living with one eye fixed on the past and one eye firmly on the future.
{Soul lets out a long sigh, sending a stream of mist from his mouth.}
Soul: If you had told me at the beginning of 2013 I would be where I am now, I would have asked you to pass me the joint you were smoking as it was obviously the good stuff. Long retired from the wrestling game, I was content to just concentrate on my sports agency business. Family-wise I was happy just being a father to my son and a good uncle to my niece. Everything in my life was going along at a steady pace with not much turmoil and I was satisfied with that.
{He sits up, a wistful smile on his face.}
Soul: But everything changed the moment my son started following the World Wrestling Organization and became interested in a young star named Wolf. In watching him, I was reminded of myself when I first broke into the business. As such, I decided to sign him and guide him through his career. However, as I helped him and immersed myself once more in the sport, I found the siren call of the ring becoming harder and harder to resist. Before long, I found myself signing on the dotted line to join the roster of Millennium Pro Wrestling.
{Soul’s eyes glaze over a little bit as he becomes lost in remembrance.}
Soul: When I started, a group named Iconic Aggression was in firm control of the entire federation. They owned the MPW World Heavyweight and MPW World Tag Team titles. Jackson Blaze was on an eventually successful quest to reclaim the Sin City championship he had never lost. And they were grooming a new member to capture the MPW Television title. Trey Baxter and his cronies had an iron grip on the league and looked poised to never let it go.
{A slight smirk appears on the champion’s face.}
Soul: What a difference just three short months make. Iconic Aggression’s new protégé Laila never was able to beat her former companion Taufik for the TV belt. Roxi Johnson made Trey submit and give away his belt in the center of the ring. Blaze did regain his Sin City belt, only to drop it less than seven weeks later to Johnny Clash. And, perhaps in the most unexpected development of all, a randomly booked six-man tag match led to me finding both a teammate and… it feels amazingly good to see this… life partner in Aeryn Ashfield, with whom I ended the long World Tag Team reign of Baxter and Blaze in one of the most brutal matches in MPW history. Though never officially working together, the combined forces of the Resistance and Phoenix Rising managed to break IA’s hold and send all three of them scurrying from the federation like roaches being exposed to a shining light. In the end, it made for such a fantastic year for the wrestling world.
{Soul rubs his gloved hands together as if trying to give them some warmth.}
Soul: However, as is inevitable in this business, new challenges arose on the horizon. After long absences from the federation, Kurt Newman and former Anarchy and Tag Team champion Chris Cable returned looking to claim some gold of their own. Another former tag champion, Christian Carter, after an extended period of aimlessness in his career, decided to search for any partner available to come after our belts. And Jason X, his second Television reign just ended, was forcing himself back into the title picture. The darkness was starting to gather again and as before only the Resistance and Phoenix Rising stand in their path, ready to turn the tide once more.
{His eyes turn to the sky, watching the clouds begin to darken slightly as the light of the setting sun fades.}
Soul: So Bob Herman in his infinite wisdom, rather than sign a series of title matches for the pay-per-view, has decided to sign a War Games match pitting the four biggest title holders against the men most would see as the biggest threat to their titles on the final show of 2013. Whether he intends this to be a show for harbinger for the upcoming year or perhaps a proving ground to see if our opponents are truly worthy is anyone guess. But it is what it is. And if I want to end this year and a high note and have momentum to ride into 2014, it is imperative I and my compatriots come away with a win over these four individuals I have each battled in the recent weeks.
{Soul’s eyes return once more to the front, looking directly into the lens to capture the viewers’ attention.}
Soul: They have each in their own way managed to be a thorn in my side. Chris Cable and Jason X have done what no else has done in the history of this business… score a victory over Phoenix Rising. Kurt Newman managed to turn the tables on me and earn himself an important singles victory. And Christian Carter…
{His face becomes contorted with anger and rage.}
Soul: Carter… after I offered my hand to help you with your demons, you didn’t just refuse it. You spat in it and then chose to make me your personal target. I could forgive you for deciding to come after my belt. Hell, if you aren’t chasing gold, you don’t deserve to be in this business. But what you did later… when you tried to kill Aeryn and your former partner Valentina when you rammed that car into the dumpster… I will NEVER forgive or forget that. I know it hasn’t been proven you were the one to do it, but no one else had the means or the motive. As far as I am concerned, you are guilty until proven otherwise. And in the cage, I intend to administer your punishment.
{Soul leans forward, anger seeping from every pore of his body.}
Soul: But lest the rest of you feel I am letting you off the hook with my desire for revenge on the so-called “Lost in the Bottle Soul” Carter, you’d be wise to rethink that idea. Kurt, you’ve committed the sin of deciding to make him your running buddy in your chase of Roxi’s title. Chris and Jason, not only are you daring to think you are contenders to our gold, you also have been using Carter’s antics as distractions to try and get under our skin. All three of you have been enabling his behavior, encouraging him in sick attempts to further your own ambitions. As far as I am concerned, his actions rest on your head as much as his own.
{Soul lifts himself from his seat bleachers, showing his impressive height. He begins to walk down the bleachers, coming closer to the camera with each deliberate step.}
Soul: So Chris Cable, Kurt Newman, Jason X, and Christian Carter, your 2013 is about to end on a bad note. Being trapped in a cage with the two top singles champions in the federation and charter members of the Resistance, Johnny Clash and Roxi Johnson, along with the reigning Roll the Dice holder Aeryn Ashfield would be tough enough for any wrestler to deal with. However, that compares in no way, shape, or form with the hell I intend to bring to each and every one of you. Herman’s Christmas present to me, giftwrapped inside the steel, is the opportunity to beat down every single one of you. And none of you will be able to escape.
{Soul smiles for the audience, a malicious expression on his face.}
Soul: 2013 is going to end on a very good note for Phoenix Rising and the Resistance. And 2014 will be even better. Be there for the celebration on Sunday.
{With that, Soul turns from the camera and walks towards the Duck Pond. The camera follows him briefly while pulling back and raising the angle, showing the entire Gardens in its holiday splendor. The camera pulls out of focus, filling with the Christmas lights, before fading to black.}
{In the highest floors of one of New Orleans top five-star hotels are their most exclusive private suites. The massive quarters seem to be more like apartments than typical rooms. In addition to the normal bed and bathroom, it comes with a large open living room complete with a sofa, lounge chairs, dining table, full counter with bar behind, a separate television, and its own balcony with a beautiful view of the city. Obviously, this suite is reserved for only the top VIPs… corporate executives, visiting dignitaries, sports stars…}
{And champions.}
{Sitting on the couch together are the reigning MPW World Tag Team champions Aeryn Ashfield and Soul Shadow, collectively known as Phoenix Rising. On the table are the remains of what looks to have been a very delicious dinner between the pair. The two are now enjoying a little post-meal wine. Soul drains his glass, placing it gently on the table beside them.}
Soul: I really wish you could come back to Boston with me so we could spend Christmas together.
{Aeryn finishes her drink as well, though she holds onto the glass for the moment.}
Aeryn: I know, love. But I did promise my family I would spend some time with them as my career has kept me from seeing them as much as I would like. As much as I would love to be with you, my family is important to me as well during the holidays.
Soul (nodding): Believe me, I understand. This life we’ve chosen can keep us away from the ones we love for long stretches of time. So we must take advantage of the opportunities to be with them when we can. For me during this season, it means being at home with my son. For you, it means entertaining your family while they visit from London. Unfortunately, that means we are going to be apart for it. Which is why I booked an extra day here in New Orleans, so we could make the most of what we have.
Aeryn (bringing her hand to Soul’s cheek): I’m glad the injury you received from Carter last night wasn’t too serious. Usually I’m the one to spend some extended time in the training room after Reloaded.
Soul: I know. You must have been secretly enjoying being able to play nurse for once.
{Aeryn sticks her tongue out towards him in response. Soul gives a little snort, yet quickly composes himself.}
Soul: I heard you might have also joined me, had it not been for the intervention of Mr. Clash…
Aeryn: Yeah, he saved me from Kurt and Carter taking liberties after our match. I really appreciated his help.
Soul: Yes, I also heard rumor from some people you really showed your appreciation…
{Every trace of Aeryn’s smile and happiness instantly drains from her face.}
Aeryn: Look, Michael, I know what people are saying about him and me after we hugged in the ring. But you can’t seriously think there is anything between the two of us. True, Johnny dated one of my friends in our old fed. But he and I never EVER hooked up. I didn’t even gave that idea any thought when I was single. I’m sure not going to do it now that I am with you…
{Soul lets out a little laugh as he takes her hand.}
Soul: Aeryn, I’m just kidding. You know I trust you explicitly. Given what we have gone through prior to getting together, you have to realize I didn’t go into this relationship blindly.
Aeryn: I know that, love. Just… well, it is important to me you know exactly where I stand. I’ve gotten the impression others aren’t quite as understanding about my friendship with him.
Soul: I can’t control how other people might perceive what happened yesterday. And truthfully, I don’t care. What I do know is I love and trust you with every ounce of my heart. And hopefully, this Christmas present will prove it to you…
{Soul reaches behind one of the sofa cushions and pulls out a small rectangular box encased in Christmas wrapping paper. Aeryn’s eyes light up when she sees it.}
Aeryn: What’s this? I thought we had already exchanged gifts for each of us to bring home and open on Christmas…
Soul: I know we did. But this is an extra one for you which you get to open now.
{Aeryn smiles as she takes the gift. Quickly, she rips the paper apart, revealing a thin black box obviously containing some jewelry, such as a watch or a necklace. Opening the lid, she finds inside a gold chain. She lifts it with her hand, pulling it out and revealing a set of keys on the end of it.}
Aeryn: Wha… What are these?
Soul: Well…
{He reaches forward, grabbing one of the keys with his fingers.}
Soul: This one goes to the front door of my house. This one opens the door from the garage. This one goes to the back door…
Aeryn (surprise on her face): You’re giving me the keys to your place?
Soul: Yeah, I am. Given where our relationship is, I expect you will be coming to Boston quite a bit in the future. So I want you to know, just like Chicago and I would presume London, you have a home there as well. One with me.
Aeryn: Michael…
{Aeryn’s hand closes around the chain as she leans towards him, drawing his face towards her. Their lips meet in a tender kiss, affirming their affection for each other. When they break apart, Aeryn’s eyes are damp with emotion at Soul’s gift. She stands from the couch, taking Soul’s hand in hers as she leads him towards the bedroom.}
Aeryn: I have an extra gift for you well.
Soul: Really? And you have it in the bedroom?
Aeryn: Not quite. You see, during our time apart last week, I went shopping and bought some new lingerie…
{Soul’s eyebrows raise as he thinks about his love in such an outfit.}
Aeryn: …which I am currently wearing. So I figure if you want to unwrap me, it would best be done in the bedroom….
{Soul’s devilish smile reveals his agreement with the idea as his partner pulls him towards the bed. He grabs her in his arms as the two fall together onto the bed in a passionate embrace. Aeryn reaches over her head and turns off the lamp, whispering to her lover…}
Aeryn: …Merry Christmas…
Boston, Friday, December 27 [/b]
{Though it is named the Duck Pond inside Boston’s Public Gardens, the winter weather has long since chased the feathered fowl away in search of warmer climes. In its place, several families are taking advantage of the frozen water to skate under the Christmas lights and decorations strung amongst the nearby trees. The view is one of immense happiness, with various adults and kids frolicking on the ice. It is truly reflective of the spirit of the season.}
{The camera pulls back from the view of the Pond and scans to its right, where some bleachers have been set up for the benefit of any passerbys who wish to take in the scene. At present, only one person is seated there. One-half of the MPW World Tag Team champions, Soul Shadow, is watching the skaters enjoy themselves. His stylish navy pea coat keeps him protected from the New England cold, though from his manner you wouldn’t even realize the air is chilly in the slightest. Never taking his eyes from the action on the ice, he begins to speak.}
Soul: The Christmas period is perhaps the most fascinating time of the year to me. It is a time when one reflects on the successes and the failures of the previous twelve months. In addition, you also find yourself looking had with all of your hopes and dreams to the upcoming ones. More than any other point in your life are you living with one eye fixed on the past and one eye firmly on the future.
{Soul lets out a long sigh, sending a stream of mist from his mouth.}
Soul: If you had told me at the beginning of 2013 I would be where I am now, I would have asked you to pass me the joint you were smoking as it was obviously the good stuff. Long retired from the wrestling game, I was content to just concentrate on my sports agency business. Family-wise I was happy just being a father to my son and a good uncle to my niece. Everything in my life was going along at a steady pace with not much turmoil and I was satisfied with that.
{He sits up, a wistful smile on his face.}
Soul: But everything changed the moment my son started following the World Wrestling Organization and became interested in a young star named Wolf. In watching him, I was reminded of myself when I first broke into the business. As such, I decided to sign him and guide him through his career. However, as I helped him and immersed myself once more in the sport, I found the siren call of the ring becoming harder and harder to resist. Before long, I found myself signing on the dotted line to join the roster of Millennium Pro Wrestling.
{Soul’s eyes glaze over a little bit as he becomes lost in remembrance.}
Soul: When I started, a group named Iconic Aggression was in firm control of the entire federation. They owned the MPW World Heavyweight and MPW World Tag Team titles. Jackson Blaze was on an eventually successful quest to reclaim the Sin City championship he had never lost. And they were grooming a new member to capture the MPW Television title. Trey Baxter and his cronies had an iron grip on the league and looked poised to never let it go.
{A slight smirk appears on the champion’s face.}
Soul: What a difference just three short months make. Iconic Aggression’s new protégé Laila never was able to beat her former companion Taufik for the TV belt. Roxi Johnson made Trey submit and give away his belt in the center of the ring. Blaze did regain his Sin City belt, only to drop it less than seven weeks later to Johnny Clash. And, perhaps in the most unexpected development of all, a randomly booked six-man tag match led to me finding both a teammate and… it feels amazingly good to see this… life partner in Aeryn Ashfield, with whom I ended the long World Tag Team reign of Baxter and Blaze in one of the most brutal matches in MPW history. Though never officially working together, the combined forces of the Resistance and Phoenix Rising managed to break IA’s hold and send all three of them scurrying from the federation like roaches being exposed to a shining light. In the end, it made for such a fantastic year for the wrestling world.
{Soul rubs his gloved hands together as if trying to give them some warmth.}
Soul: However, as is inevitable in this business, new challenges arose on the horizon. After long absences from the federation, Kurt Newman and former Anarchy and Tag Team champion Chris Cable returned looking to claim some gold of their own. Another former tag champion, Christian Carter, after an extended period of aimlessness in his career, decided to search for any partner available to come after our belts. And Jason X, his second Television reign just ended, was forcing himself back into the title picture. The darkness was starting to gather again and as before only the Resistance and Phoenix Rising stand in their path, ready to turn the tide once more.
{His eyes turn to the sky, watching the clouds begin to darken slightly as the light of the setting sun fades.}
Soul: So Bob Herman in his infinite wisdom, rather than sign a series of title matches for the pay-per-view, has decided to sign a War Games match pitting the four biggest title holders against the men most would see as the biggest threat to their titles on the final show of 2013. Whether he intends this to be a show for harbinger for the upcoming year or perhaps a proving ground to see if our opponents are truly worthy is anyone guess. But it is what it is. And if I want to end this year and a high note and have momentum to ride into 2014, it is imperative I and my compatriots come away with a win over these four individuals I have each battled in the recent weeks.
{Soul’s eyes return once more to the front, looking directly into the lens to capture the viewers’ attention.}
Soul: They have each in their own way managed to be a thorn in my side. Chris Cable and Jason X have done what no else has done in the history of this business… score a victory over Phoenix Rising. Kurt Newman managed to turn the tables on me and earn himself an important singles victory. And Christian Carter…
{His face becomes contorted with anger and rage.}
Soul: Carter… after I offered my hand to help you with your demons, you didn’t just refuse it. You spat in it and then chose to make me your personal target. I could forgive you for deciding to come after my belt. Hell, if you aren’t chasing gold, you don’t deserve to be in this business. But what you did later… when you tried to kill Aeryn and your former partner Valentina when you rammed that car into the dumpster… I will NEVER forgive or forget that. I know it hasn’t been proven you were the one to do it, but no one else had the means or the motive. As far as I am concerned, you are guilty until proven otherwise. And in the cage, I intend to administer your punishment.
{Soul leans forward, anger seeping from every pore of his body.}
Soul: But lest the rest of you feel I am letting you off the hook with my desire for revenge on the so-called “Lost in the Bottle Soul” Carter, you’d be wise to rethink that idea. Kurt, you’ve committed the sin of deciding to make him your running buddy in your chase of Roxi’s title. Chris and Jason, not only are you daring to think you are contenders to our gold, you also have been using Carter’s antics as distractions to try and get under our skin. All three of you have been enabling his behavior, encouraging him in sick attempts to further your own ambitions. As far as I am concerned, his actions rest on your head as much as his own.
{Soul lifts himself from his seat bleachers, showing his impressive height. He begins to walk down the bleachers, coming closer to the camera with each deliberate step.}
Soul: So Chris Cable, Kurt Newman, Jason X, and Christian Carter, your 2013 is about to end on a bad note. Being trapped in a cage with the two top singles champions in the federation and charter members of the Resistance, Johnny Clash and Roxi Johnson, along with the reigning Roll the Dice holder Aeryn Ashfield would be tough enough for any wrestler to deal with. However, that compares in no way, shape, or form with the hell I intend to bring to each and every one of you. Herman’s Christmas present to me, giftwrapped inside the steel, is the opportunity to beat down every single one of you. And none of you will be able to escape.
{Soul smiles for the audience, a malicious expression on his face.}
Soul: 2013 is going to end on a very good note for Phoenix Rising and the Resistance. And 2014 will be even better. Be there for the celebration on Sunday.
{With that, Soul turns from the camera and walks towards the Duck Pond. The camera follows him briefly while pulling back and raising the angle, showing the entire Gardens in its holiday splendor. The camera pulls out of focus, filling with the Christmas lights, before fading to black.}
