Post by Dave D-Flipz on Sept 28, 2023 5:41:59 GMT -5
*The scene opens up at a press conference. The podium has the XHF logo and End of Days on it, the banner behind is TAPOUT. The Salt Lake City sports media is gathered around with a few other people here for the special event status of this event. Onto the stage, walking up to the podium, strolls a very calm and relaxed Aiden Merric. He is chewing nicotine gum, and clearly Tapout security has gotten to him as he has no visible weaponry or trophies that could be considered offensive on his body. He grabs the mic and adjusts it to his liking, plants both hands on either side of the dais, and smirks as he leans into the mic.*
"G’day blokes and sheilas. What can the Wonder From Down Under do fer you today?"
"Ted Jensen, Sportskeeda. Mr. Merric…"
"Oh no no, please. I’m not a formal man. Aiden is fine. Mr. Merric was my good for nothing deadbeat father."
"Er, right … Aiden. You are heading into this event with a chance to win a world title for the first time in your career. How do you prepare for something like this?"
"Mate, let me clue you in to something. I am not the type to get nerves before the big performance. I am in my forties. Ain’t nothing new or exciting about this, it’s another match … and another trophy hunt. I have now got experience with both. I have to treat this like any other mtch. What else is there?"
"Given Mr. Poena’s … well … proclivities for … um…"
"Breaking bones, threats, home invasion, violence? Teddy, look at me. I am not Jack Diamond. I am not a good man trying to preserve the sanctity of my sport or my family. There’s but one woman I would put on that level of being in his sights … well … ok maybe two now. And both of them? They won’t just let shit happen. Have you seen what my associate can do? If I recall, she beat him on the very first night of this here company! And momma? Well … let’s just say if Erin will make him wish he were dead, momma will make him wish he were never born. Point is … I can only treat this like a match, because that’s what it is. It’s a World Title match and I’m more concerned with claiming my trophy and rectifying my losses in my two chance at the network’s big prize."
"Jim Saronis, ESPN.com, Aiden are you saying you don’t think Poena is a threat?"
*Aiden laughs and pinches the bridge of his nose.*
"Listen you cheeky dingo, stop trying to inspire the insane psychopath to filet the upstanding Aussie heartthrob, savvy?"
*The crowd lets out a laugh. Aiden’s face shows a bit of reticence but he decides to go in.*
"Jimmy, let me explain how this … entity … works. Right now? I’m a nuisance he knows from stopping his fun, and then failing to stop his fun. Hell if ya ask him, he thinks I caused him to hurt Erin, as if he was gonna stop. Yeah I buy that as much as I buy Teddy over there having a REAL tan and not a cheap spray job."
*More laughs, Aiden is unusually jovial for this interview.*
"Fact is, if he beats me … I go back down the card to earn my way back to my title. And I take it then. He has nothing to worry about. If I beat him? Well then I become a problem … but by the nature of having that title … he ALSO has to earn his way back to me. That gives me time to get things in order and make sure his attention stays right here. *points between his own eyes* As for in the match? Of course he’s a bloody threat. You saw what he’s done to Erin, NOMAD, Jack, and Jason. This is not a man who is lacking in the fighting arts. He seems to be unwilling to change his strategy to avoid pain. He is a master manipulator. He is the bloody Openweight Champion who took down a 2x X*Crown champ. If you think that puts the fear of God in me? …. Heheheh. Well let’s just say I can respect the skill without respecting or fearing the man."
"Helen Temperature, Wrestletalk. Poena praised you for having the will to speak to him…"
*Aiden scoffs and looks at her with mock awe.*
"Well, bully for me. Let me take that to the bank. He’s so used to peons cowering before him, and people playing along with his games … he’s forgotten what it looks like when someone stands up for themselves and reacts NORMALLY to a threat. He’s already forgotten what Erin did to him week 1. What happened the last time someone just talked right back to him? I believe he got pinned and now STILL focuses on that one blip on his radar. You could say it was an act of RANDOM circumstance, but the man didn’t get someone to buy into his whole Prophet schtick and now they live in his noggin mortgage free."
"Well he did call you a hypocrite for your marionette remarks, then selling out to the highest bidder…"
*Aiden raises an eyebrow. He leans on one arm on the podium and looks into the crowd at Helen. He beckons her to come closer.*
"Hey, sweet cheeks. Come here. I wanna make this clear. Come on, don’t be shy. I don’t bite. … Not people anyway … In close? Good now listen up. It’s called … work. It’s called … a job. If you do something well, never do it free toots. I ain’t never hid the main reason I do things. Point 1 is glory and trophies, point 2 is money, point 3 is sick thrills. I get my rocks off on the challenge and the wild. He gets his from … little girls and assault and battery. And probably Kool-aid. He’s a puppet, dancing for his God. I take money to perform a task. I get to do things however I want. I CHOOSE to take the money or skip the job. When’s the last time he was able to turn down his … God?"
"Wait, are you implying he’s some kind of servant to a God?"
*Aiden points at her and yells*
"NO! He’s a slave to his own obsessions and compulsions. He has no ability to control himself. His God is a fraud he uses to make what he’s doing seem not as bad. I say OWN YOUR flaws and mistakes and bad deeds. Now let me tell you all this. I’m a BAD man. I’m as close to a monster as you get without becoming a fairy tale. But this drongo? He ain’t got a code. Abduction, assaulting the helpless or those weaker than you. Tearing apart families. He ain’t a man. He’s a menace. I maybe a monster but I got a code. And I draw the line at letting him profit … and prophet … through his acts. This isn’t just a title match. I’m gonna put the fear of Aiden in him and his “God”. See, this match? This ain’t a hunt. This ain’t a sporting contest for me. No … this is a God-forsaken, GOD-DAMNED … ASSASSINATION! Of his “God” and all he holds sacred. Let’s see how HE reacts when someone breaks what HE holds dear. And dances over HIS prone form with MY title."
*She waves a fan in her face*
"That’s some real heat there. 8/10! I feel the fire. What are you doing after this?"
*At this a person in the crowd wearing a hoodie, pulled low over their face, perks up. We see the unmistakable wisps of dirty blonde hair and a no-nonsense scowl on her face. Aiden leans in with a smirk.*
"See, the old me would be overjoyed. But see, there’s someone you’d need to talk to about that."
*The hooded figure smirks and walks off. Aiden sees this and straightens up, letting out a laugh.*
"Now if you be pardoning me, I have an appointment to keep."
*Aiden follows the hooded figure out the side door and lets it slam hard on the crowd trying to follow him for a follow-up.*
"I’m calling that progress."
"You know Tucker? You might be right."
*Aiden runs up to find his best friend and dog’s body. He slaps him hard on the back with a smile. The hooded figure lowers the hood now that the crowd is gone. Erin Gordon stands there with a self-satisfied smirk.*
"It almost sounds like you really do care."
"What can I say? I’m just a big softie at heart. Well … my pa would disagree, and so will Poena when I’m done with him. I’m gonna beat him at his own game. He is used to pain, seeks it out as penance. I’m gonna show him who pain really works for."
*Erin’s smirk slowly sinks back to a thin line. She crosses her arms and looks at Aiden seriously in his eyes,*
"Aiden, maybe ya outta think about the people you care about."
"Erin and Ma can take care of themselves. Not like I’m built to be a hero anyway. I’m simply the blunt instrument aimed at this bastard’s head. Let’s uncover some LAYERS of trauma in that skull of his."
"…Ya goddamned bastard."
"I think he feels left out."
"Tuck, why don’t you go find that lady reporter, she was so into me she may jump your bones out of association. When IS the last time you had a naughty?"
*Tucker storms off … back to the press conference to try his luck and get far from Poena.*
"… … There is no honor in that beastie. I meant it when I said he had my indifference. But his so called God? Oh that voice in his head is on my shit list. Abducting and brainwashing a child. Probably an orphan. What burns me up more is he’s making me out to be the hero here. I owe it to myself and my promise to myself when I was 12 to stop this freak. And I want his title. Bad. But he’s making me do a good deed."
"Look at you, bein’ a model citizen like you volunteer for the Methodist rotary club. Next thing you know, you’ll be stitchin’n’ bitchin’ with the minister’s wife and her flock of hens.."
*Aiden raises an eyebrow and acts offended … but it’s clear from the rest of his body language he enjoys the pushback he gets from the Oncoming Storm.*
"Alright alright. I can’t promise I won’t get hurt. I can’t promise I’ll stop him if he comes for you. And I can’t promise I won’t do something to him that we all will regret … for a few seconds. But I need that title. I ain’t never had a belt higher than that damn undercard Phoenix."
*Erin smirks.*
"Oh, I know. Last time you came for one that wasn’t the crown you almost got pumped full of lead."
"Worth it. But in all seriousness, you’ve fought him twice. Beat him once soundly and shoulda had him the second time. I need you to show me what you know. I will not allow him to walk out of this feeling superior, like he bested me. I said this was an assassination. I intend to live up to that."
*Erin nods solemnly and leads him back to the mobile hunter’s lodge to do some serious prep.*
Credit and mucho appreciation for Kris for Erin's parts!
"G’day blokes and sheilas. What can the Wonder From Down Under do fer you today?"
"Ted Jensen, Sportskeeda. Mr. Merric…"
"Oh no no, please. I’m not a formal man. Aiden is fine. Mr. Merric was my good for nothing deadbeat father."
"Er, right … Aiden. You are heading into this event with a chance to win a world title for the first time in your career. How do you prepare for something like this?"
"Mate, let me clue you in to something. I am not the type to get nerves before the big performance. I am in my forties. Ain’t nothing new or exciting about this, it’s another match … and another trophy hunt. I have now got experience with both. I have to treat this like any other mtch. What else is there?"
"Given Mr. Poena’s … well … proclivities for … um…"
"Breaking bones, threats, home invasion, violence? Teddy, look at me. I am not Jack Diamond. I am not a good man trying to preserve the sanctity of my sport or my family. There’s but one woman I would put on that level of being in his sights … well … ok maybe two now. And both of them? They won’t just let shit happen. Have you seen what my associate can do? If I recall, she beat him on the very first night of this here company! And momma? Well … let’s just say if Erin will make him wish he were dead, momma will make him wish he were never born. Point is … I can only treat this like a match, because that’s what it is. It’s a World Title match and I’m more concerned with claiming my trophy and rectifying my losses in my two chance at the network’s big prize."
"Jim Saronis, ESPN.com, Aiden are you saying you don’t think Poena is a threat?"
*Aiden laughs and pinches the bridge of his nose.*
"Listen you cheeky dingo, stop trying to inspire the insane psychopath to filet the upstanding Aussie heartthrob, savvy?"
*The crowd lets out a laugh. Aiden’s face shows a bit of reticence but he decides to go in.*
"Jimmy, let me explain how this … entity … works. Right now? I’m a nuisance he knows from stopping his fun, and then failing to stop his fun. Hell if ya ask him, he thinks I caused him to hurt Erin, as if he was gonna stop. Yeah I buy that as much as I buy Teddy over there having a REAL tan and not a cheap spray job."
*More laughs, Aiden is unusually jovial for this interview.*
"Fact is, if he beats me … I go back down the card to earn my way back to my title. And I take it then. He has nothing to worry about. If I beat him? Well then I become a problem … but by the nature of having that title … he ALSO has to earn his way back to me. That gives me time to get things in order and make sure his attention stays right here. *points between his own eyes* As for in the match? Of course he’s a bloody threat. You saw what he’s done to Erin, NOMAD, Jack, and Jason. This is not a man who is lacking in the fighting arts. He seems to be unwilling to change his strategy to avoid pain. He is a master manipulator. He is the bloody Openweight Champion who took down a 2x X*Crown champ. If you think that puts the fear of God in me? …. Heheheh. Well let’s just say I can respect the skill without respecting or fearing the man."
"Helen Temperature, Wrestletalk. Poena praised you for having the will to speak to him…"
*Aiden scoffs and looks at her with mock awe.*
"Well, bully for me. Let me take that to the bank. He’s so used to peons cowering before him, and people playing along with his games … he’s forgotten what it looks like when someone stands up for themselves and reacts NORMALLY to a threat. He’s already forgotten what Erin did to him week 1. What happened the last time someone just talked right back to him? I believe he got pinned and now STILL focuses on that one blip on his radar. You could say it was an act of RANDOM circumstance, but the man didn’t get someone to buy into his whole Prophet schtick and now they live in his noggin mortgage free."
"Well he did call you a hypocrite for your marionette remarks, then selling out to the highest bidder…"
*Aiden raises an eyebrow. He leans on one arm on the podium and looks into the crowd at Helen. He beckons her to come closer.*
"Hey, sweet cheeks. Come here. I wanna make this clear. Come on, don’t be shy. I don’t bite. … Not people anyway … In close? Good now listen up. It’s called … work. It’s called … a job. If you do something well, never do it free toots. I ain’t never hid the main reason I do things. Point 1 is glory and trophies, point 2 is money, point 3 is sick thrills. I get my rocks off on the challenge and the wild. He gets his from … little girls and assault and battery. And probably Kool-aid. He’s a puppet, dancing for his God. I take money to perform a task. I get to do things however I want. I CHOOSE to take the money or skip the job. When’s the last time he was able to turn down his … God?"
"Wait, are you implying he’s some kind of servant to a God?"
*Aiden points at her and yells*
"NO! He’s a slave to his own obsessions and compulsions. He has no ability to control himself. His God is a fraud he uses to make what he’s doing seem not as bad. I say OWN YOUR flaws and mistakes and bad deeds. Now let me tell you all this. I’m a BAD man. I’m as close to a monster as you get without becoming a fairy tale. But this drongo? He ain’t got a code. Abduction, assaulting the helpless or those weaker than you. Tearing apart families. He ain’t a man. He’s a menace. I maybe a monster but I got a code. And I draw the line at letting him profit … and prophet … through his acts. This isn’t just a title match. I’m gonna put the fear of Aiden in him and his “God”. See, this match? This ain’t a hunt. This ain’t a sporting contest for me. No … this is a God-forsaken, GOD-DAMNED … ASSASSINATION! Of his “God” and all he holds sacred. Let’s see how HE reacts when someone breaks what HE holds dear. And dances over HIS prone form with MY title."
*She waves a fan in her face*
"That’s some real heat there. 8/10! I feel the fire. What are you doing after this?"
*At this a person in the crowd wearing a hoodie, pulled low over their face, perks up. We see the unmistakable wisps of dirty blonde hair and a no-nonsense scowl on her face. Aiden leans in with a smirk.*
"See, the old me would be overjoyed. But see, there’s someone you’d need to talk to about that."
*The hooded figure smirks and walks off. Aiden sees this and straightens up, letting out a laugh.*
"Now if you be pardoning me, I have an appointment to keep."
*Aiden follows the hooded figure out the side door and lets it slam hard on the crowd trying to follow him for a follow-up.*
"I’m calling that progress."
"You know Tucker? You might be right."
*Aiden runs up to find his best friend and dog’s body. He slaps him hard on the back with a smile. The hooded figure lowers the hood now that the crowd is gone. Erin Gordon stands there with a self-satisfied smirk.*
"It almost sounds like you really do care."
"What can I say? I’m just a big softie at heart. Well … my pa would disagree, and so will Poena when I’m done with him. I’m gonna beat him at his own game. He is used to pain, seeks it out as penance. I’m gonna show him who pain really works for."
*Erin’s smirk slowly sinks back to a thin line. She crosses her arms and looks at Aiden seriously in his eyes,*
"Aiden, maybe ya outta think about the people you care about."
"Erin and Ma can take care of themselves. Not like I’m built to be a hero anyway. I’m simply the blunt instrument aimed at this bastard’s head. Let’s uncover some LAYERS of trauma in that skull of his."
"…Ya goddamned bastard."
"I think he feels left out."
"Tuck, why don’t you go find that lady reporter, she was so into me she may jump your bones out of association. When IS the last time you had a naughty?"
*Tucker storms off … back to the press conference to try his luck and get far from Poena.*
"… … There is no honor in that beastie. I meant it when I said he had my indifference. But his so called God? Oh that voice in his head is on my shit list. Abducting and brainwashing a child. Probably an orphan. What burns me up more is he’s making me out to be the hero here. I owe it to myself and my promise to myself when I was 12 to stop this freak. And I want his title. Bad. But he’s making me do a good deed."
"Look at you, bein’ a model citizen like you volunteer for the Methodist rotary club. Next thing you know, you’ll be stitchin’n’ bitchin’ with the minister’s wife and her flock of hens.."
*Aiden raises an eyebrow and acts offended … but it’s clear from the rest of his body language he enjoys the pushback he gets from the Oncoming Storm.*
"Alright alright. I can’t promise I won’t get hurt. I can’t promise I’ll stop him if he comes for you. And I can’t promise I won’t do something to him that we all will regret … for a few seconds. But I need that title. I ain’t never had a belt higher than that damn undercard Phoenix."
*Erin smirks.*
"Oh, I know. Last time you came for one that wasn’t the crown you almost got pumped full of lead."
"Worth it. But in all seriousness, you’ve fought him twice. Beat him once soundly and shoulda had him the second time. I need you to show me what you know. I will not allow him to walk out of this feeling superior, like he bested me. I said this was an assassination. I intend to live up to that."
*Erin nods solemnly and leads him back to the mobile hunter’s lodge to do some serious prep.*
Credit and mucho appreciation for Kris for Erin's parts!