Post by Dave D-Flipz on Sept 29, 2022 23:58:23 GMT -5
*The scene opens up inside the Sands casino in Las Vegas. The camera moves around to see all the various gambling locations. We drift by slots, past the poker tables, past the blackjack pit. We move to an area with craps tables and roulette wheels. We see Tucker Bernard, the bedraggled beleaguered be-bearded lackey of expert hunter, and new Tapout signee, Aiden Merric, huddled over a craps table. He watches as a player tosses a seven and the crowd reacts positively as he looks down in disappointment. He shuffles his bearded form over to the roulette wheel and drops a stack of chips on something simple, red. He seems to hedge his bet and put a smaller pile on black. Guaranteed to get SOMETHING out of this. …*
Pit Boss: GREEN ZERO!
*Tucker literally falls backwards to his butt, anime style. He stands up and shuffles off the playing floor, grabbing a flute of champagne from a waitress walking by as he goes. He drinks it fast and his face instantly contorts in disgust as he swallows it.*
Tucker: Where the bloody hell is the good scotch when ya need it!?
*A man walks up behind him and claps his back*
Merric: Ah don’t worry Tuck, ya played luck based games. The House ALWAYS wins in Vegas, fella. S’why I play skill games. And even then … I ain’t betting my own dime. Cross Recoba is sponsoring this casino trip!
*Tucker’s eyes light up.*
Tucker: Ya mean it Merric?
Merric: Fer me. Sponsoring it fer me!
*Tucker narrows his eyes. He turns and storms away from Aiden as he guffaws a belly laugh the likes we haven’t seen from the hunter in some time, so rare have his victories become. Even in the GUNS Fight Club he only managed to get to the second round. Aiden snags a passing beer off a tray and shotguns the whole bottle. He wipes his mouth and gives a disappointed look. It’s some high class craft beer locally made and rated highly for all the best qualities in a beer-*
Merric: This amber fluid is gutter swill. Can’t get pissed on this shit. Where’s the Bastard Brew?
*The scene reopens a few hours later and the camera is following Tucker as he scans the casino for his mate.*
Tucker: Not in the hotel room, not in the bar, not at the blackjack tables, not playing poker, not at the bloody baccarat tables. The bloody hell did that bastard hunter slink off to?
*Tucker continues to search for Aiden. As he wanders through the casino he disregards the stage show taking place, live animals and such. As soon as Tucker is far off screen the door to the stage show area opens and Aiden Merric is dumped out of the room.*
Merric: Well bloody chunder, how was an honest hunter to know the animals are trained for shows if they aren’t labeled as such. Ya present me with the ultimate skill game in a casino and then stop me from playing. Bloody bastards. Didn’t even get to kill the goat for Mongo, another payday lost. … Wait … why does a show featuring big cats even have a goat? Did … Did Cross Recoba set this up just to fuck with Mongo?
*He dusts himself off and picks up his hunter hat off the ground and places it back over his stylish and sexy mullet. … What? … *
Merric: T’weren’t even any bears in the theater anyway. How the hell am I supposed to have fun and train for a match with a bear in this city? If Venom and Mueller were here there’d be bears for days! FOR DAYS! Goddamn Americans, never know what to expect in their places of sin and entertainment.
*He notices the camera and smirks. He straightens his posture and readjusts his thankfully empty bandoliers. He strides to the cameraman and pulls him into the gambling floor. Aiden presents his arms to show off the spectacle of the casino where Tapout 7 will be held … and of course, also, End of Days week 1.*
Merric: Welcome to my favorite little place in the desert. The Vegas Strip has some spectacle and fun fer every type of person. And if yer smart ya can make some greenbacks while yer at it! Take a good look around. You won’t find a bigger hub of scum and villainy for thousands of clicks! And what does this paradise on Earth offer to the lowly hunter? Why … it offers the End of Days, my friends. Yes that’s right, ol’ Aiden is getting back on the horse…
*A horse is being led out of the live animal show. It has a saddle with a distinctive AM branding on its back, and it appears to be drunk.*
Merric: … so to speak …
*The animal trainers and security helping the happy, drunk horse to the drunk tank shoot Aiden a look and the symbol for ‘I’m watching you’ as they exit the area. Aiden just lets out a laugh*
Merric: Only good thing to do with the piss swill they serve here. I bet Tuck is getting his jollies with the champagne. Amateur. Anyhow, Aiden is getting back into the global game and representing his new home RIGHT out the chute. See, Mr. Recoba recognizes talent when he sees it, and he has tabbed me to bring the X*Crown trophy home to Tapout. What better way to make a goddamn statement than to sign a talent so many looked down on, and immediately have him score you the biggest prize in the game. And the attention and accolades that brings. Top billing. Lots of advertising dollars from other places. And just in time for his little tournament to crown a champion. And what do I get out of it? Why, the trophy and the respect for one. But beyond that?
*He folds out the printed version of the card, with its wonderful graphical designs. He points to the graphic of the four-way with himself in it.*
Merric: The hunt! We Outback Reprobates LOVE the hunt. Take a look at this here lineup. You have this dashing, daring, amazing wonder from down under. And there … you have a literal BEAR! And here, a TITAN! I love abusing historical deities, it reminds me of the hunt. And uh … there’s this masked guy who nobody knows, cares about, loves, or would care if he was viciously mauled by a bear, a butterfly knife, and a trident. I suppose he is here because he is the CURE for an exciting A+ lineup. Gotta have the token normal guy to take a fall and make the crowd feel good about being better than THAT guy.
*Aiden laughs, then turns the picture back to himself and sucks in a huge breath and sighs in delight.*
Merric: No, but seriously, I am chuffed as a kangaroo on boxing day. This is exactly the kind of thing I was expecting when I signed up with the XHF Network. The Network is the best place to find all these talented celebrity ursine fighters … and get my bare hands on their bear hands.
*Aiden pockets the paper and pulls out a pack of gum, pops a square out through the foil backing, and tosses hit into his mouth.*
Merric: Let me fill you all in on why this is so big for me. The last year plus has been a right painful experience. My gains in this business came crashing down. It’s clear REIGN just didn’t appreciate my talents. That pissant Donzig and his cronies were allowed to run roughshod over the place, never giving anyone else a fair chance. And despite my prowess in the AWF, my track record in these global events has been less than stellar. So here I am out to impress a new batch of fans, bosses, and colleagues. I need to show them all that despite someone else eventually holding that world title … that I am the true gem in the rough. That this entire roster needs to be waking up at the sparrow’s fart and looking over their shoulder. A true hunter, a killer, their superior might be behind them at anytime. Out to collect the accolades and the trophies. Anyone could be the next challenge I need to overcome. I need to make sure the entire Tapout locker room knows that when they go out to hit the Turps to quell that anxiety or celebrate, they need to be head on a swivel because the Aussie savant might be out fer their blood.
*He begins to stroll through the casino as he leads the cameraman around the gambling floor. He rubs his hands together in some kind of sick anticipation. While any normal man might see a bear and a convicted murderer and go running for the hills, Aiden is anything but normal.*
Merric: And this is the best I could hope for to showcase my skills to everyone, on a global stage, in front of my new home crowds. Have you ever known me to be so mirthful? *he practically skips in excitement* I got myself in a pozzy to make an immediate impact. CURE-E is some upstart from that N’Orleans squad. But he talks like some old hand. I gotta say, if you are some legend from the game and hiding behind a mask, that doesn’t really shine the light on yer career works does it? Ya think maybe you didn’t want to show yer face because nobody gives a shit about ya? Cuz it seems awfully strange to be hiding who you are if you have a legacy. You don’t see former world champs hiding under a mask to shock the world …
*A news report on the TV behind Aiden flashes a news reporter named Dylan presenting a story about an Anomaly in America to find a man dying from the Venom of some Spanish snake species. … Beat …*
Merric: But if’n this is all some stunt to try and prove you are better than just name notoriety? Well it’s off to a rotten start isn’t it? Has anyone heard of you? I haven’t heard any news about you. At least do it the fun way and wear a fake nose and pretend to be Puerto Rican, and a Gen Z’er. Open a taco truck.
*Aiden seems to spot someone he knows and begins to walk faster over towards the entrance to the casino bar. A heavyset British man with a beard so long it soaks in his mug of ale sits at the bar, looking lonely and dejected.*
Merric: No but, seriously, do go on. I’m learning so much from this master class. Trying to explain how the wrestling match isn’t a hunt … *Aiden smirks and leans into the camera* Isn’t it? Look at our opponents. You can underestimate them at your own peril, but I intend to come in, blades flying, carving my hunk of flesh out of the God and the Animal. Cuz see, making a God bleed is the kind of thing that is VERY hard to get onto a resume. And yet here I am … intent to do that very thing. What have you done with your career? You wanna talk to me about losing on the grandest stages but here you are in some Podunk arena in the back sticks of America’s crotch beating such AMAZING conquests like Chris Marks … the famous, amazing, highly rated … Chris Marks! Congratulations, I’ve seen SKID marks harder to beat. Washing machine or heavy rain, you choose which way you want this metaphor to go. The point is your resume stinks. So maybe try making it on the big stage before you try and talk down to me for a bit of a losing streak. You are talking to one of the longest reigning Phoenix CHamps of all time. I was actively head hunted by every fed on the Network … except Fireside … and have made bank in only a few years. And after all, it’s how we come back from defeat that defines a man. Do we go hide behind a mask and try to get a clean slate because we are so ashamed? Or do we come right back out, and shoot to kill the next target?
*Aiden wades his way through the crowded bar towards the actual back bar where Tucker Bernard sits*
Merric: Know when to give up, CURE-E. But hey, you stay out of my way and you can ride my coattails to the next round, because it’s the other two that interest me. Hyperion … I don’t much care if you actually are the reincarnation of some ancient deity, or just some dero bushranger trying to build an insanity plea for yer next stint in the clink. Hey who am I to talk? I’ve been in the big house the last two rumbles after all! But murder, cults, drugs. That’s the big stuff man. I almost admire that. You gotta have bollocks of steel to think you can do what you did and get away with it. And somehow here you are, challenging for titles right here in Las Vegas in that other fed, and coming face to face with your next big challenge. Tell me God of Light … what do you see when you close your eyes?
*Aiden claps Tucker on the back, causing him to spray beer all over the back bar wall, much to the dismay of the barkeep. Tuck grabs a napkin to wring out his beard*
Merric: Hmm? Do you see the faces of the people who once worshipped you? Rotted in the ground for centuries? Or … maybe rotting in the ground for the last year after you ruined their lives? Do you see the open road from that hog of yours? Or do you just sleep to the sound of your own bull spit? DO you just disassociate from the madness that surrounds you? I’d really like to hear this one. Because I am a bad man, I’ve done horrible things in my life. I’ve broken several codes I set for myself at various points in my life. I’ve been low. I’ve been high. Literally and figuratively. And you did it all in just the few years since you joined this network. And still found time to lose to a spaceman, have the holiness knocked out of you by some scrawny Brit, and get yourself arrested for attempted murder of your own friend while running a bloody cult. I don’t know if I could top that if I tried! But then, I’m not out for the biggest rap sheet, I’m out for the biggest trophy case.
Tucker: You are stepping in the ring with a convicted murderer? Who ran a cult?
Merric: We were in AWF, how did you not realize this? The big scary man with the pitchfork, giving drugs to addicts and claiming to be a God. Hell, his drugs did something wackadoodle to that Natasha lady. I’m excited. The thrill of hunting something I know can kill me, and might be insane enough to literally try … it’s like working for Kira Izumi!
*beat*
Tucker: Are you INSANE? Give up now! Who is gonna keep me well off if you get yerself killed? I have a lifestyle to uphold.
*Aiden stares at him.*
Merric: And not just a God but a bear. I missed my chance to kill the bears in GUNS. Smart bears, real challenge. Can you imagine if I were the one to take out the undead man bear? Or the champion bear? I suppose I’ll settle for this new one. This one’s a bit scrawny and fluffy for a wild animal but hey, who am I to judge. Bear dinner is bear dinner. Gotta make sure to let it know I’m a bigger, badder beastie than it is. Bears respect the challenge. Or run from it. I bet this one pisses its fur and runs away when it gets a load of this mug.
*Aiden points to his own chin*
Merric: Anyway Bernard, the fact is I ain’t scared. In fact, I am giddy with excitement. This is my chance to finally stand atop the mountain and teach all those Caffrey folks that I am the best damn thing to ever hit this network. And I will bring the glory home. Tapout trusted me to skin this bear and bring back a rug for Cross’s office (and some slippers fer your’s truly). Recoba believes in me to gut and destroy the fake God who sullied his first home in the network. And uh … I guess to drag this wanna be instructor along for the ride then beat him senseless next week. And I am not one to fail on a contract. He deposits the money, I bring home the belt. Now I need to go get in some anti-bear training at the gym.
Tucker: Real funny.
Merric: Nah it’s a real class they offer for the exotic tourists on the strip!
*Aiden spits his gum into the remnants of Tucker’s drink and slaps on a nicotine patch as he heads to the hotel lobby to find a gym to train in*
Tucker: You know you really shouldn’t wrestle with those on, they are toxic and skin absorbed, your opponents might suffer side effects and … now … I said it on camera Cross will likely institute that as a rule and … oh I shouldn’t oughtta’ve said that. Should NOT have said that…
*Aiden slaps him and turns to walk away*
Merric: Yer lucky I’m saving all this pent up aggression for the God and the bear. A couple of trophies on my way to the title will satisfy my need to add to my collection.
*A woman in the lobby reading a newspaper lowers it and looks at him funny.*
Woman: Y’inz know that’s a person in a mascot costume, right?
*Aiden raises his eyebrow … then pulls out his phone and looks up the application of this bear.*
Merric: *sigh* Well I’ll be stuffed. This would have been the good oil to have before I brought all my bear killing gear… Bloody hell. It reminds me nothing of the hunt.
*Fade out*
Pit Boss: GREEN ZERO!
*Tucker literally falls backwards to his butt, anime style. He stands up and shuffles off the playing floor, grabbing a flute of champagne from a waitress walking by as he goes. He drinks it fast and his face instantly contorts in disgust as he swallows it.*
Tucker: Where the bloody hell is the good scotch when ya need it!?
*A man walks up behind him and claps his back*
Merric: Ah don’t worry Tuck, ya played luck based games. The House ALWAYS wins in Vegas, fella. S’why I play skill games. And even then … I ain’t betting my own dime. Cross Recoba is sponsoring this casino trip!
*Tucker’s eyes light up.*
Tucker: Ya mean it Merric?
Merric: Fer me. Sponsoring it fer me!
*Tucker narrows his eyes. He turns and storms away from Aiden as he guffaws a belly laugh the likes we haven’t seen from the hunter in some time, so rare have his victories become. Even in the GUNS Fight Club he only managed to get to the second round. Aiden snags a passing beer off a tray and shotguns the whole bottle. He wipes his mouth and gives a disappointed look. It’s some high class craft beer locally made and rated highly for all the best qualities in a beer-*
Merric: This amber fluid is gutter swill. Can’t get pissed on this shit. Where’s the Bastard Brew?
*The scene reopens a few hours later and the camera is following Tucker as he scans the casino for his mate.*
Tucker: Not in the hotel room, not in the bar, not at the blackjack tables, not playing poker, not at the bloody baccarat tables. The bloody hell did that bastard hunter slink off to?
*Tucker continues to search for Aiden. As he wanders through the casino he disregards the stage show taking place, live animals and such. As soon as Tucker is far off screen the door to the stage show area opens and Aiden Merric is dumped out of the room.*
Merric: Well bloody chunder, how was an honest hunter to know the animals are trained for shows if they aren’t labeled as such. Ya present me with the ultimate skill game in a casino and then stop me from playing. Bloody bastards. Didn’t even get to kill the goat for Mongo, another payday lost. … Wait … why does a show featuring big cats even have a goat? Did … Did Cross Recoba set this up just to fuck with Mongo?
*He dusts himself off and picks up his hunter hat off the ground and places it back over his stylish and sexy mullet. … What? … *
Merric: T’weren’t even any bears in the theater anyway. How the hell am I supposed to have fun and train for a match with a bear in this city? If Venom and Mueller were here there’d be bears for days! FOR DAYS! Goddamn Americans, never know what to expect in their places of sin and entertainment.
*He notices the camera and smirks. He straightens his posture and readjusts his thankfully empty bandoliers. He strides to the cameraman and pulls him into the gambling floor. Aiden presents his arms to show off the spectacle of the casino where Tapout 7 will be held … and of course, also, End of Days week 1.*
Merric: Welcome to my favorite little place in the desert. The Vegas Strip has some spectacle and fun fer every type of person. And if yer smart ya can make some greenbacks while yer at it! Take a good look around. You won’t find a bigger hub of scum and villainy for thousands of clicks! And what does this paradise on Earth offer to the lowly hunter? Why … it offers the End of Days, my friends. Yes that’s right, ol’ Aiden is getting back on the horse…
*A horse is being led out of the live animal show. It has a saddle with a distinctive AM branding on its back, and it appears to be drunk.*
Merric: … so to speak …
*The animal trainers and security helping the happy, drunk horse to the drunk tank shoot Aiden a look and the symbol for ‘I’m watching you’ as they exit the area. Aiden just lets out a laugh*
Merric: Only good thing to do with the piss swill they serve here. I bet Tuck is getting his jollies with the champagne. Amateur. Anyhow, Aiden is getting back into the global game and representing his new home RIGHT out the chute. See, Mr. Recoba recognizes talent when he sees it, and he has tabbed me to bring the X*Crown trophy home to Tapout. What better way to make a goddamn statement than to sign a talent so many looked down on, and immediately have him score you the biggest prize in the game. And the attention and accolades that brings. Top billing. Lots of advertising dollars from other places. And just in time for his little tournament to crown a champion. And what do I get out of it? Why, the trophy and the respect for one. But beyond that?
*He folds out the printed version of the card, with its wonderful graphical designs. He points to the graphic of the four-way with himself in it.*
Merric: The hunt! We Outback Reprobates LOVE the hunt. Take a look at this here lineup. You have this dashing, daring, amazing wonder from down under. And there … you have a literal BEAR! And here, a TITAN! I love abusing historical deities, it reminds me of the hunt. And uh … there’s this masked guy who nobody knows, cares about, loves, or would care if he was viciously mauled by a bear, a butterfly knife, and a trident. I suppose he is here because he is the CURE for an exciting A+ lineup. Gotta have the token normal guy to take a fall and make the crowd feel good about being better than THAT guy.
*Aiden laughs, then turns the picture back to himself and sucks in a huge breath and sighs in delight.*
Merric: No, but seriously, I am chuffed as a kangaroo on boxing day. This is exactly the kind of thing I was expecting when I signed up with the XHF Network. The Network is the best place to find all these talented celebrity ursine fighters … and get my bare hands on their bear hands.
*Aiden pockets the paper and pulls out a pack of gum, pops a square out through the foil backing, and tosses hit into his mouth.*
Merric: Let me fill you all in on why this is so big for me. The last year plus has been a right painful experience. My gains in this business came crashing down. It’s clear REIGN just didn’t appreciate my talents. That pissant Donzig and his cronies were allowed to run roughshod over the place, never giving anyone else a fair chance. And despite my prowess in the AWF, my track record in these global events has been less than stellar. So here I am out to impress a new batch of fans, bosses, and colleagues. I need to show them all that despite someone else eventually holding that world title … that I am the true gem in the rough. That this entire roster needs to be waking up at the sparrow’s fart and looking over their shoulder. A true hunter, a killer, their superior might be behind them at anytime. Out to collect the accolades and the trophies. Anyone could be the next challenge I need to overcome. I need to make sure the entire Tapout locker room knows that when they go out to hit the Turps to quell that anxiety or celebrate, they need to be head on a swivel because the Aussie savant might be out fer their blood.
*He begins to stroll through the casino as he leads the cameraman around the gambling floor. He rubs his hands together in some kind of sick anticipation. While any normal man might see a bear and a convicted murderer and go running for the hills, Aiden is anything but normal.*
Merric: And this is the best I could hope for to showcase my skills to everyone, on a global stage, in front of my new home crowds. Have you ever known me to be so mirthful? *he practically skips in excitement* I got myself in a pozzy to make an immediate impact. CURE-E is some upstart from that N’Orleans squad. But he talks like some old hand. I gotta say, if you are some legend from the game and hiding behind a mask, that doesn’t really shine the light on yer career works does it? Ya think maybe you didn’t want to show yer face because nobody gives a shit about ya? Cuz it seems awfully strange to be hiding who you are if you have a legacy. You don’t see former world champs hiding under a mask to shock the world …
*A news report on the TV behind Aiden flashes a news reporter named Dylan presenting a story about an Anomaly in America to find a man dying from the Venom of some Spanish snake species. … Beat …*
Merric: But if’n this is all some stunt to try and prove you are better than just name notoriety? Well it’s off to a rotten start isn’t it? Has anyone heard of you? I haven’t heard any news about you. At least do it the fun way and wear a fake nose and pretend to be Puerto Rican, and a Gen Z’er. Open a taco truck.
*Aiden seems to spot someone he knows and begins to walk faster over towards the entrance to the casino bar. A heavyset British man with a beard so long it soaks in his mug of ale sits at the bar, looking lonely and dejected.*
Merric: No but, seriously, do go on. I’m learning so much from this master class. Trying to explain how the wrestling match isn’t a hunt … *Aiden smirks and leans into the camera* Isn’t it? Look at our opponents. You can underestimate them at your own peril, but I intend to come in, blades flying, carving my hunk of flesh out of the God and the Animal. Cuz see, making a God bleed is the kind of thing that is VERY hard to get onto a resume. And yet here I am … intent to do that very thing. What have you done with your career? You wanna talk to me about losing on the grandest stages but here you are in some Podunk arena in the back sticks of America’s crotch beating such AMAZING conquests like Chris Marks … the famous, amazing, highly rated … Chris Marks! Congratulations, I’ve seen SKID marks harder to beat. Washing machine or heavy rain, you choose which way you want this metaphor to go. The point is your resume stinks. So maybe try making it on the big stage before you try and talk down to me for a bit of a losing streak. You are talking to one of the longest reigning Phoenix CHamps of all time. I was actively head hunted by every fed on the Network … except Fireside … and have made bank in only a few years. And after all, it’s how we come back from defeat that defines a man. Do we go hide behind a mask and try to get a clean slate because we are so ashamed? Or do we come right back out, and shoot to kill the next target?
*Aiden wades his way through the crowded bar towards the actual back bar where Tucker Bernard sits*
Merric: Know when to give up, CURE-E. But hey, you stay out of my way and you can ride my coattails to the next round, because it’s the other two that interest me. Hyperion … I don’t much care if you actually are the reincarnation of some ancient deity, or just some dero bushranger trying to build an insanity plea for yer next stint in the clink. Hey who am I to talk? I’ve been in the big house the last two rumbles after all! But murder, cults, drugs. That’s the big stuff man. I almost admire that. You gotta have bollocks of steel to think you can do what you did and get away with it. And somehow here you are, challenging for titles right here in Las Vegas in that other fed, and coming face to face with your next big challenge. Tell me God of Light … what do you see when you close your eyes?
*Aiden claps Tucker on the back, causing him to spray beer all over the back bar wall, much to the dismay of the barkeep. Tuck grabs a napkin to wring out his beard*
Merric: Hmm? Do you see the faces of the people who once worshipped you? Rotted in the ground for centuries? Or … maybe rotting in the ground for the last year after you ruined their lives? Do you see the open road from that hog of yours? Or do you just sleep to the sound of your own bull spit? DO you just disassociate from the madness that surrounds you? I’d really like to hear this one. Because I am a bad man, I’ve done horrible things in my life. I’ve broken several codes I set for myself at various points in my life. I’ve been low. I’ve been high. Literally and figuratively. And you did it all in just the few years since you joined this network. And still found time to lose to a spaceman, have the holiness knocked out of you by some scrawny Brit, and get yourself arrested for attempted murder of your own friend while running a bloody cult. I don’t know if I could top that if I tried! But then, I’m not out for the biggest rap sheet, I’m out for the biggest trophy case.
Tucker: You are stepping in the ring with a convicted murderer? Who ran a cult?
Merric: We were in AWF, how did you not realize this? The big scary man with the pitchfork, giving drugs to addicts and claiming to be a God. Hell, his drugs did something wackadoodle to that Natasha lady. I’m excited. The thrill of hunting something I know can kill me, and might be insane enough to literally try … it’s like working for Kira Izumi!
*beat*
Tucker: Are you INSANE? Give up now! Who is gonna keep me well off if you get yerself killed? I have a lifestyle to uphold.
*Aiden stares at him.*
Merric: And not just a God but a bear. I missed my chance to kill the bears in GUNS. Smart bears, real challenge. Can you imagine if I were the one to take out the undead man bear? Or the champion bear? I suppose I’ll settle for this new one. This one’s a bit scrawny and fluffy for a wild animal but hey, who am I to judge. Bear dinner is bear dinner. Gotta make sure to let it know I’m a bigger, badder beastie than it is. Bears respect the challenge. Or run from it. I bet this one pisses its fur and runs away when it gets a load of this mug.
*Aiden points to his own chin*
Merric: Anyway Bernard, the fact is I ain’t scared. In fact, I am giddy with excitement. This is my chance to finally stand atop the mountain and teach all those Caffrey folks that I am the best damn thing to ever hit this network. And I will bring the glory home. Tapout trusted me to skin this bear and bring back a rug for Cross’s office (and some slippers fer your’s truly). Recoba believes in me to gut and destroy the fake God who sullied his first home in the network. And uh … I guess to drag this wanna be instructor along for the ride then beat him senseless next week. And I am not one to fail on a contract. He deposits the money, I bring home the belt. Now I need to go get in some anti-bear training at the gym.
Tucker: Real funny.
Merric: Nah it’s a real class they offer for the exotic tourists on the strip!
*Aiden spits his gum into the remnants of Tucker’s drink and slaps on a nicotine patch as he heads to the hotel lobby to find a gym to train in*
Tucker: You know you really shouldn’t wrestle with those on, they are toxic and skin absorbed, your opponents might suffer side effects and … now … I said it on camera Cross will likely institute that as a rule and … oh I shouldn’t oughtta’ve said that. Should NOT have said that…
*Aiden slaps him and turns to walk away*
Merric: Yer lucky I’m saving all this pent up aggression for the God and the bear. A couple of trophies on my way to the title will satisfy my need to add to my collection.
*A woman in the lobby reading a newspaper lowers it and looks at him funny.*
Woman: Y’inz know that’s a person in a mascot costume, right?
*Aiden raises his eyebrow … then pulls out his phone and looks up the application of this bear.*
Merric: *sigh* Well I’ll be stuffed. This would have been the good oil to have before I brought all my bear killing gear… Bloody hell. It reminds me nothing of the hunt.
*Fade out*