Post by Dave D-Flipz on Feb 22, 2023 0:38:00 GMT -5
Just after TAPOUT 10 went off the air
We open on a gleeful Aussie hunter taking in the victory over his sometimes rival Tommy Strychnine. He is beaming as he walks back to gorilla position after the antics in the post-main event scrum. As Jason Long and Jack Diamond pass through the curtain, he steps into the light and smiles at them with that scheming smirk of his.
Merric: Well, if it ain’t my favorite two blokes from the GFC team! Fellas, how are we doing right now? Wait, no need to answer. Your favorite Aussie doesn’t need to be a mind-reader to understand the war you went through Jackie boy. I’m not here to be an annoyance. I just felt ya might be interested in this.
He presents each of them with a business card. Printed on it is his contact info for his old hobby/job/necessity of hunting, poaching, trapping, killing … crossed out … and protecting.
Merric: Look, neither of you blokes are the type to need extra muscle, I get it. But after seeing what that psychopath did to yer family … it touched my black heart. And see, since we are are on the same side in the GFC it is in my best interest to protect you guys. I feel like we’ve been on similar sides of some conflicts around here, Rat Bastard comes to mind. And more importantly, Cross hired me to be an asset to his business. And protecting his future World Champion, one of you, would be a huge benefit to show him he made the right decision. If’n you need a little assistance, you think of ol’ Aiden, fair dinkum?
The men look at the cards … and each other … and then Aiden laughs as he turns away
Merric: Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m coming fer that title belt. I aim to have all the trophies for my case. But I am a realist and I know I joined this golden synagogue of sin too late to be privy to that belt yet. But rest assured, the favors ARE on a pay basis, just with a discount … and they don’t extend to any matches between us. If you stand across the ring from me … I’ll take yer heads off … just ask Tommy Strychnine when he wakes up in a month. Have fun at Supremacy boys! I’ll be watching the show, make Team Black proud.
Aiden walks away from the men to grab his things and heads out of the arena.
February 1, 2023
Aiden can be seen in his mobile hunter’s lodge, still parked in the middle of the Sands Casino parking lot … to the chagrin of the owners and visitors. At least he has given up the VIP parking spots … Aiden is in his living quarters, shining his trophies and souvenirs when a knock on the door is heard.
Merric: The bloody thing is unlocked!
Tucker: Dangerous to leave the door unlocked with that maniac Poena lurking around.
Merric: A) You ain’t my grubhub driver. B) I can take care of myself. C) I’m not exactly on his radar right now, Erin hasn’t been here in some time. Took the gifts and ran away. So no idea what his gripe with me would be until I claim that title he wanted so bad. D) He’s banned from the building through Tapout 11. E) E is the letter after D, in case you got confused in that fear induced stupor, Tuck.
Tucker: Yer words are hurtful, Aiden.
Merric: My everything is hurtful, Tucker. I am a living weapon, finely sharpened over decades of experience and success.
He kisses his fists as he tosses the polishing rag at Tucker’s face. The bulky Brit manages to catch the rag. Despite his lumbering appearance and cowardly nature, the man is not one to let his friend walk COMPLETELY over him.
Tucker: Speaking of success, did you even see the Press Release from before Supremacy about Tapout 11?
Merric: Nah, I know the show isn’t until the end of the month so why would I bother. It doesn’t matter who faces me, I’ll continue my path to the top by stomping all over their faces! … With my fists!
Tucker: … In the Main Event.
Aiden’s ears perk up and he raises an eyebrow. He slowly sips his beer, he’s trying some of those American beers and has a Left Hand Milk Stout which he seems to enjoy. The foamy head settles in his stubbly mustache as a smirk comes over his features. A fire burns in his eyes.
Tucker: Uh … Merric? Should I not have said that? … Earth to Merric, are ya in there ya darned fool?
Aiden laughs with all his might as he leaps over to his trophy case and grabs a picture from his first REAL match with Tony Caffrey.
Merric: It’s been a long road to the top, Bernard. A one on one match in the main event.
Tucker: I mean, the Supremacy folks are getting a rest, NOMAD is injured, Erin and Adrien are missing, and Poena is suspended so uh … it’s kinda you or nothing in terms of high money stars.
Aiden hucks the bottle of beer at his friend.
Tucker: I SHOULDN’T OUGHTTA HAVE SAID *he ducks as the bottle smashes against the wall, foam everywhere* … that. It was the truth though …
Merric: How dare you speak the truth in my presence, ya bloody drongo? Let me have my moment. Because this is the first of many. Send out a press release, MAIN EVENT MERRIC may be the fourth or fifth best choice to main event a show, but he’s gonna be the star from here on out!
Tucker: I ain’t yer publicist ya bloody cunt.
Aiden lowers his arms and ponders. Does he need a publicist? Or a real agent now? How do the big stars handle it? He writes a note on a post it and sticks it to the wall by the phone, “Call Dylan, Jack, Jason, and Marty from GFC. Ask for notes on main event publicity and agents.” Tucker just chuckles and shakes his head and grabs another beer for Aiden. He pops the cap off with a bottle opener shaped like a hippogriff. He then grabs a can of Twisted Tea for himself. Do uh … Brits drink alcoholic cold tea? This Brit does, fuck it. Aiden pulls out a remote from the drawer and aims it at the security cameras in his room and pushes a button labeled, “Promo mode” The lights change to frame him and the cameras begin to track him as the little hut broadcasts a signal to the XHF Network.
Merric: TAPOUT FAITHFUL! I know you have been dealing with a lot of FOMO lately. Did you get to see Adrien or Erin before they vanished? Did you get to buy that NOMAD merch before the big bloke buggered back to Back Assia? Forget to get your autograph from Spike before the Blood God met the Bloody Stabman’s Apprentice … and the hood of a British lorry?
Tucker: It really is an indictment of what happens when you pal around with Donzig.
Aiden nods in approval and laughs. He postures for the camera.
Merric: Well can that worry, because at Tapout 11, this is the first of MANY appearances for the Main Event Merric. The Top Draw Dingoslayer. The Wonder from Down Under going Over. This is the first of what will be a lengthy spree of main events for ol’ Outback. See I don’t like to give up my spot once I earn it. And I earned this one. I fought through a YEAR of pathetic results and finding my groove. A year of dealing with global events and … Donzig … Started from the Down Under now we’re here! And to whoever my first opponent is? Well, I would apologize but it’d be disingenuous. You just got some right bad bloody luck, ya pissant! You understand that I cannot, WILL NOT, be denied a victory to cement myself as the top draw deserving of the title. If I have to make a special hunt for that Jackalope to hang his antlers … and his ranking in the power ranks … in my case? If I have to put blade to throat on some sickly clowns or flay some pain-loving zealot? Oh you best believe the censors will be out in force because it’ll go down faster than a Cheetah nabbing the sick gazelle. TUCK! Who is the unlucky bastard that gets to tangle with these hands?
Tucker flips through a roster page on the TAPOUT website.
Tucker: Erm … a Sam Sawyer? They seem nice enough?
Merric: Well Mr. … *he looks at the screen* Ms? … Uh Mx. Sawyer! … I dunno why you had them upload a high school photo to the roster page but you have earned a first class trip right to PAINTOWN! You see, you may not know me, since I don’t know the first thing about you … but … I am a violent man. I am a powerful man. I am a resilient survivor. And … Tuck … What are you waving me down fer?
Tucker gulps …
Tucker: They’re seventeen.
Aiden’s entire mood and demeanor sink. He lowers his arms and looks at the biography on his computer. A hand runs through his disheveled hair in disgust.
Merric: Bloody fucking hell … Cross? Why are you sending a child into an adult’s ring? Seventeen? They ain’t built to compete with ME in the main event! What would their family say?
Tucker: Best I can tell they have a broken family? Were silent fer a long time, built a cult in their gym.
Aiden facepalms. He runs his hand over his face and beard as he sighs.
Merric: Right, well I ain’t gonna go merc a kid! What kind of example would that set?
Tucker: Merric? Why does this bother you so much?
Merric: YA KNOW DAMN WELL WHY! I don’t make a habit of punching down! Fighting kids! Frankie Webb, now this. Ok … ok calm down, I cannot let this opportunity go. Kid must be resilient to be in Cross’s good graces. Ok maybe I just pull my punches and end it quick. Get out without much damage. Just a kid anyway. How good can they be?
February 2, 2023
Aiden is watching tape of Sam Sawyer from Fireside and previous Tapout shows. His smile is wide … at first. Then as the hours time-lapse by … his smile fades and turns into a grimace … into a frown … and into a scowl.
Merric: Bloody fucking hell … this is gonna require some special training on my part. To win … and not kill this child. Why did they have to be TALENTED! GAH!
He overturns the table and storms out towards the casino, a chirp of a lock of the car door is heard just after it slams.