Post by Dave D-Flipz on Jan 4, 2023 10:51:01 GMT -5
JUST AFTER THE SPIKE V AIDEN MATCH AT TAPOUT 9:
*Aiden is being assisted through the curtain by a staffer as he staggers to a waiting chair in gorilla position. He has a twisted smirk on his face, half pain and half exuberance. He laughs to himself before coughing up blood. The match has taken a lot from him and he is exhausted, but he was victorious. He pumps his arm in glory before he waves the staffer on.*Merric: I bloody told them. I told them, I did. Aiden Merric is no loser. This Aussie is as dangerous as any of the fauna in the outback. Let them come at me, let them look down on these fists of fury. I’ll make this a personal tutorial to each and every drongo who thinks they can waltz past me. Where’s my esky?
*The staffer returns and hands him a small cooler which Aiden nods at. He grabs a Bastard Brew … and tosses it over his shoulder where it clonks a reporter on the head. He grabs a VB and pops the cap with his gnarled teeth.*
Merric: Think I’ve earned the amber fluid after that one. I’m sure Spike will be out for my blood. Good. Let him come. I outsmarted the violent bastard. Lesson one: just cuz I respect ya ain’t reason fer me to play fair.
*He downs the beer in one then tosses the empty bottle. It also clanks off the reporter’s head as she tries to interview one of the other Tapout officials. She angrily strolls over to the Aussie assaulter.*
Reporter: Excuse me. Is there a reason you have been hitting me with awful beer?
*Aiden looks her up and down and shrugs.*
Merric: Lucky shot? Didn’t even clock you behind me, toots.
Reporter: Toots? I happen to be working on a report on the state of entertainment in Las Vegas. Are you telling me this is the caliber of person Cross Recoba is hiring.
*Aiden smirks and stands up.*
Merric: Why yes, yes I am. Aiden Merric, Aussie prize hunter and just in general prize. Your future X*Crown champion, your future Tapout Openweight Champion, your future-
Reporter: Jailbird? You assaulted me with beer.
Merric: HA! Nah, Sheila, I tossed some garbage at the trash behind me and had the good fortune to get myself some added publicity. Didn’t even know ya were there, but blimey am I glad yer here. Tell me toots, ya been looking into the top talent here? Or worrying about the drivel beneath us? Cuz let me tell ya, yer gonna make this company look bad if yer interviewing the wretches like Sam Sawyer, Jackalope, or Tommy Strychnine.
Reporter: And what makes you so good?
Merric: Have ya looked at me good, Sheila? I am the Wonder from Down Under. Tapout’s hidden treasure that ain’t bout to be hidden any longer. Ya been around the XHF at all?
Reporter: I was looking into SCCW the other-
Merric: BAH! SCCW is so last year. Their majority owner works for us here. And he ain’t even on the level of us stars. The belles of Sin City are here in Tapout. Jack Diamond, Jason Long, Aiden Merric – who you can see every week on Team Dylan in GUNS Fight Club *wink to camera*. Erin Gordon once she’s back, hell I’ll even give some props to that sadistic fucktoy Poena. Look at the talent here, and tell me this isn’t the top of the food chain. I just came off a match for the ages, match of the night against an XHF Legend and the active Hardcore Champion, Spike Kane. It doesn’t matter who they line me up with, I’m the next big star here, and Cross Recoba sees that. Man recognizes talent.
Reporter: Ok so you just won a match against a legend. What comes next?
*Aiden laughs at her and pats her on the shoulder.*
Merric: Well, toots, the next thing I do is continue to climb the ranks so once this tournament is over, the headline match involves me and the champion for the belt. And then I take my trophy home. Until then, maybe I go teach a lesson to someone else. Maybe I get used to bring the fans to their seat and open the show for them. Maybe I go on a little trophy hunt and get some Jackalope antlers for my trophy wall. Long as the money comes in, I’ll be happy. Gotta bring home the glory for my admirers.
*The reporter smirks a sadistic smirk for the ages.*
Reporter: And how would your “admirer” back home nursing injuries feel about you hitting on me? Where is she anyway? Does she return your calls? Does she approve of you hunting other wrestlers?
*Aiden scowls deeper with each hit piece question. He leans in real close to the microphone*
Merric: If’n yer trying to piss me off … you have a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock … Sheila … Erin and I are on good terms. I’m respecting her privacy. More than I can say for nosy nellies like you. Why don’t you go talk to Recoba instead.
*Aiden turns and storms away.*
JANUARY 1, 2023 – 12:05AM
*Aiden is seen in the casino having just watched the ball drop, alone, and he has decided to play away his first day in the new calendar year.*
Merric: AH I’m riding a good luck wave. Beating Spike has put a pep in my step. No better way to show my value to the people who fund me. Maybe they’ll let me hunt that Jackalope critter if’n I impress them at Tapout 10. First show of the new year, let’s put this luck to good use!
*He proceeds to sit at a blackjack table … and lose … and lose… and lose. He finally hits a 20! … Dealer has a blackjack… He spins on the seat and looks confused as he instead goes over to the craps table. We cut back in an hour later and he is crestfallen. Head down … he sits at a slot machine. We open up an hour later … and he is sitting at the same machine slamming his head against the golden effigy of avarice and greed.*
Merric: Alright … clearly … I am not lucky tonight. Ten g’s down the tubes … haven’t won ONCE …
*A man walks up to him, yawning through the mess of hair he calls a beard.*
Tucker: Merric, I know I’m on UK time and it’s 8:30AM there, but it’s 2:30 here. What’re ya doin’ ya daft cunt?
Merric: Losing my ass, fer one, Tuck.
Tucker: I’m gonna skip the part where I act surprised and just assume you also stole the thousand greenbacks I had converted for my own use here?
Merric: All gone. Along with nine thousand of my own.
Tucker: You are not a lucky man. I mean you get to open the show after your match of the night, and ya get some washed up 80’s hair metal wannabe. Keith Richards would find him a bit much.
*Merric slumps … then thinks … then sits up, perked up at a thought.*
Merric: I dunno what I was thinking, Tucker! It ain’t luck. Ain’t never been luck. Skill and stubbornness got me where I am today. I beat Spike on my own merits and I knew that. I was a fool to try and play with fate. I need to do what I always do and grab fate by the throat. Throttle it into submission, and make it my bitch!
Tucker: Ok that isn’t imagery you should be shouting at the top of your lungs in the middle of a crowded room full of drunks with their women, bartenders dressed in skimpy attire, and security.
*Aiden looks around at the dirty looks from every man with a woman on his arm, every woman in general, and most of the security who haven’t been assigned to keep the known brawler from getting into trouble by Tapout itself.*
Merric: Right. Not tryin’ ta go to the clink.
Tucker: After all it ain’t April, yet.
*Aiden shoots him a disappointed look. He shakes his head and leaps up from the slot machine, having already put a coin into it but not pulling the handle. An incredibly old man slinks behind and sits down. He waits as Aiden talks and walks away*
Merric: Regardless, I’m going to exert my influence on this Strychnine bloke. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. What he might not realize is this is a punishment for him. Someone wants him to suffer and learn a lesson. And I am the man to do it. Tommy has been a consistent disappointment wherever he goes. AWF, fizzled out. He continues to reinvent himself, show some promise, then shit the bed like the drugged up rocker he is. The fact he made it back to Tapout to even try and step to me is a miracle.
Tucker: The man has talent though. He has been able to win titles.
Merric: Those skills don’t pay the bills. Sure, he can fight. But I am the third ranked fighter in the GFC, I am the former longest reigning Phoenix Champ. I am a big ticket item who is only improving with each fight as I learn new tactics. And I am a far better strategist and tactical mind than a drugged out coke whore like Tommy. These fists here? They are all I need to Tommyknock his head off. Forget recreation, when I’m done with him he’ll need the maximum strength painkillers to get through the day while they spend countless resources rebuilding his face to preserve that rock star look. Point is he ain’t anything special. And I don’t need luck to beat an underwhelming target like him. But in the end it’s all business. If I happen to snag his sweaty headband as a trophy? Fine. It’s quick and dirty victory, then on to bigger things.
*Behind him, the old man pulls the slot handle and the machine begins making noise and flashing lights. Aiden spins on his heel as the old man celebrates. He tries to say something but security is quick to surround him and the old man. Aiden facepalms*
Merric: Damn good thing I don’t need luck … bloody hell…
*Fade out*