Post by The Nihilists on Feb 19, 2019 22:30:53 GMT -5
~The Network feed cuts to static and fades to black. We open up in the arena in the XHF Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. A city that will soon host the AWF Prestige and two nights later in this very arena … Diamonds are Forever. The arena is of course empty but the camera stands at the bottom of the ramp as it would on any show day when an entrance was about to occur. And then:
The lights dim as if a show were on and “Saviour of Nothing” by Disturbed hits the arena speakers. As the lyrics hit two men step onto the stage where a single blue spotlight illuminates them in an otherworldly glow. They stand back to back with arms crossed. The music begins to fade as they both lift microphones and the lights brighten to normal.~
~The two men now begin to walk towards the ring slowly looking over the empty arena as they speak to nobody but the camera they slowly approach.~
~They reach the ring and nod to each other. They walk to the two corners facing the ramp and each climb the steps. They hurdle the ropes into the ring with a flourish and step to the center. The spotlight returns as they stand shoulder to shoulder in the middle of the ring.~
~They throw down the microphones and roll out of the ring as “Saviour of Nothing” hits. They stare out at the empty arena and take it all in before slowly marching up the ramp and out of the arena as we fade to black, then static, then the XHF Network feed cuts back in~
The lights dim as if a show were on and “Saviour of Nothing” by Disturbed hits the arena speakers. As the lyrics hit two men step onto the stage where a single blue spotlight illuminates them in an otherworldly glow. They stand back to back with arms crossed. The music begins to fade as they both lift microphones and the lights brighten to normal.~
“There is precious little time left Esmur.”
“Yes, Gebin, as is the way of things in life there is always so much to do and so little time. After all we do not know when the time will come for us to shed this mortal coil, so it only makes sense to make haste. Putting things off is never a good way to be.”
“Procrastination has never been our strong suit. Though I suppose delayed gratification might be. We have waited a long time for this. When we joined the XHF Network there was virtually no tag division. The GUNS were running roughshod over SSS and the Borgs but with little in the way of challenge. We could have instantly asked for a shot and as new recruits they likely would’ve assumed we were no threat. We could have been tag champs from the get go.”
“But we chose to do this the right way. Come in, cut our teeth on some opposition more “our level” as the bookers likely would say, and build a reputation. Let the fear, the respect, the doubts, and the admiration flow from all sides. Make a name for ourselves and get noticed for being worthy of those tag team titles. Honestly we wanted to prove to ourselves as much as anyone whether we were as good as we had seemed to become before arriving here. After a career of mediocrity, starts and stops, and failures … we had found our footing. We needed to be sure we were ready to deliver the message.
“Yes, Gebin, as is the way of things in life there is always so much to do and so little time. After all we do not know when the time will come for us to shed this mortal coil, so it only makes sense to make haste. Putting things off is never a good way to be.”
“Procrastination has never been our strong suit. Though I suppose delayed gratification might be. We have waited a long time for this. When we joined the XHF Network there was virtually no tag division. The GUNS were running roughshod over SSS and the Borgs but with little in the way of challenge. We could have instantly asked for a shot and as new recruits they likely would’ve assumed we were no threat. We could have been tag champs from the get go.”
“But we chose to do this the right way. Come in, cut our teeth on some opposition more “our level” as the bookers likely would say, and build a reputation. Let the fear, the respect, the doubts, and the admiration flow from all sides. Make a name for ourselves and get noticed for being worthy of those tag team titles. Honestly we wanted to prove to ourselves as much as anyone whether we were as good as we had seemed to become before arriving here. After a career of mediocrity, starts and stops, and failures … we had found our footing. We needed to be sure we were ready to deliver the message.
~The two men now begin to walk towards the ring slowly looking over the empty arena as they speak to nobody but the camera they slowly approach.~
“And yet we wanted to make haste. As soon as we felt there was no real competition in the AWF tag ranks we called for our match. But by that time the GUNS had a challenge from the Darkness. Then the Icons stepped in the way. And with their clout we had little chance of being seen. So the time to act came. We needed to be recognized as the true best tag team in the network. Those titles, and their bully pulpit, wouldn’t be ours if the teams at the top continued to ignore us. So we took on the Tag Team Annihilator. And we were immaculate … until we made ONE mistake. The first one we’d made in five months of competing. We didn’t take the time to consider how the other team worked, how they got success. We focused on the perceived failures. We wasted our time and theirs by focusing on only one of the people in the ring with us. We forgot the very thing we preach to other teams … do not … underestimate … anyone.”
“And that is how we defeated former world champions, current title holders, established legend tag teams … and lost to a man who crapped his pants and got electrocuted while hitting on his opponents. We lost to a potato gun, to a man who was just seen fingering a dolphin and … ugh … getting urinated on. Sidenote: XHF Network … are there really no standards and practices? Children … no no … people … have to watch this cretin.”
“Disgust and failure aside we took it in stride. We now had more time to bide until we could challenge again. The rules of the tournament were clear. So we sat back and watched. We built more credibility. We used our time wisely. We got better, more in tune with ourselves. We closed a chapter in our own personal story, and began writing another with my win that affords me a Phoenix title shot. And we reached out for a chance at the belts the minute the Annihilator’s stated purpose was served. We could not afford to dawdle. Though we saw ourselves as next in line, the Icons setting up their own show saw the title shot given to a team from another fed. And we saw the opportunity to take on a team from that fed and prove we were as good as advertised … and to lay claim to the winners of that title match. But lo and behold … our desire to avoid wasting time came back to give us a gift.”
“Chaos and Duke fell apart and vanished. And instead of another former world champ falling at our feet … we were given our due as the rightful competitors for those titles. Time is now on our side.”
“And that is how we defeated former world champions, current title holders, established legend tag teams … and lost to a man who crapped his pants and got electrocuted while hitting on his opponents. We lost to a potato gun, to a man who was just seen fingering a dolphin and … ugh … getting urinated on. Sidenote: XHF Network … are there really no standards and practices? Children … no no … people … have to watch this cretin.”
“Disgust and failure aside we took it in stride. We now had more time to bide until we could challenge again. The rules of the tournament were clear. So we sat back and watched. We built more credibility. We used our time wisely. We got better, more in tune with ourselves. We closed a chapter in our own personal story, and began writing another with my win that affords me a Phoenix title shot. And we reached out for a chance at the belts the minute the Annihilator’s stated purpose was served. We could not afford to dawdle. Though we saw ourselves as next in line, the Icons setting up their own show saw the title shot given to a team from another fed. And we saw the opportunity to take on a team from that fed and prove we were as good as advertised … and to lay claim to the winners of that title match. But lo and behold … our desire to avoid wasting time came back to give us a gift.”
“Chaos and Duke fell apart and vanished. And instead of another former world champ falling at our feet … we were given our due as the rightful competitors for those titles. Time is now on our side.”
~They reach the ring and nod to each other. They walk to the two corners facing the ramp and each climb the steps. They hurdle the ropes into the ring with a flourish and step to the center. The spotlight returns as they stand shoulder to shoulder in the middle of the ring.~
“And now time waits for no man. It calls us to take this opportunity, in this very ring. The void speaks to us. We cannot fail now. Not to this pair of teams, not in this arena that has held such storied memories. The perfect time and place to make a new memory. History shines on those who take opportunity by the throat and ring out all they can from it. We cannot leave this arena without our mission moving forward. This is the time we trained for, fought for, yearned for. This win is the vehicle the emptiness has chosen for us to show the wonder of its glory. The message is now to be seen on the world stage in front of the XHF faithful, broadcast around the world on the network, in the home of the originals, and the show of the Icons. The marquee writes itself. And two humble masked warriors of the void, two boys from the Midwest, two allies and friends, will write their names in the history books and write our messages on the hearts of the viewers.”
“When the dust settles, there will be those talking about the fate of Jack Diamond. Some will talk about the path of the prodigy, others on the fate of the Icons and their possible new recruit. Some will eschew the trite trappings of the show hosts and focus on the champion versus champion match. Fed warfare again. But many we wager, will be talking about the other global title being put up for grabs. Many mouths will be talking about those men from the void. And they will have to tell those not in the know about us and who we are. What we stand for. The Nihilists will be household names, on the XHF walls holding those belts, perusing the promos for new challengers, and gaining an audience to hear what fueled our success! What drove us? How did we get so good? Why do we keep fighting? They will look for meaning in the victory. Which is sad because all these little tiffs are meaningless when you get right down to it. But we will comfort them, educate them.”
“A heavy message relayed in a comforting tone in a soothing voice, explaining the realities of this world, this universe. What drives us, is not the need to feel superior like Dylan. It is not the need to get all the attention in the world like Jeffrey. It is not the need to outdo my best friend like the Icons. And it isn’t the need to prove my worth and suck up to my meal ticket like Dunne and Raymond. It is the desire to see more people come to peace with the inexorable truth of this plane of existence. To convince them to live their lives in the now and stop taking their comforts and virtues from voices in the sky, promises of a better tomorrow, and punishments eternal.”
“We have so precious little time left before the coronation of new tag team champions. Time to prepare, to make ready what we will say and do. There is no need to rush but there is no time to dawdle. We cannot tarry here forever waiting for that recognition. The longer we go without that bullhorn afforded by the top spot on the network, the more people give up hope or turn to some pursuits less noble in character. We have the chance to improve the world and the people in it by spreading our message of the darkness. Because fear of the darkness and the end is unwise. It is unnecessary. And it can lead to people doing things and becoming people they would never be. Fear makes people do strange things. And fear makes people risk things they ought not, and make mistakes they cannot erase. Things like losing your last name … gaining a new daddy … losing your dignity and respect … pimping out your own mother … or losing a hand.”
“Fear of the end makes you impatient, fickle. It drives you to sacrifice your pride to just get a taste of that glory you once had because time is short! You might never be a champ again. So you whore yourself out to the new shiny thing. You follow around the man who is where you want to be and you become his toadie. Instead of embracing the darkness and letting it fuel you, you turned away and started running. And you keep moving, never settling, never letting the lessons you take in sink in, never letting yourself stop to improve and consider the things you could do instead of handing someone else the glory you seek and could have. And in turn you are unreliable.”
“This fear shows everyone that time is not limitless. And fear of running out makes you rush into things, take on challenges you are not ready for. Instead of using your time with champions like Caffrey and Raymond, you try to use their fame to push yourself into that conversation. You ride the coat tails of the greats for fear of being left behind, forgotten. And in the process you fail to improve, you fail to become what you could be. Talent, potential … squandered. Gifted to another man to use as his own weapon. Someone who has clearly embraced the life we lead and is using any means necessary to keep his fame and fortune. And before you even realize what you’ve wasted … time marches on … and the bell tolls for you … and you’re done … Dunne.”
“But more than all of that, blinding yourself to the message that we are all in this together, that we will all one again be together … turns you into the kind of self-serving, bloviating, blow-hard who would penetrate a sea creature on pay-per-view, spew racist misogynistic bile at your own in-ring opponents, and masturbate on camera. There is no redemption for someone like that. There is no reaching them or changing them. And just by holding that title you degrade it, make it dirty, and depreciate its value. And that, more than any other reason … is why time is short. The longer Jeffrey Viper is in possession of a global title, the more work from the Icons and GUNS to make those titles mean something he undoes. As time elapses, sands fall through the hourglass, the prestige of that title falls. And we need to make it right again. We need it at its peak to get the maximum value from our time with the titles. We will liberate the titles from the pure sewage it lies in now and return them … to the darkness, to the eternal emptiness.”
“This is a fight for the very heart of the tag team division. And it is up to us to deliver it to the abyss in one piece. The two of us have been teaming together for years. We are a finely tuned machine. A true tag team, a team that can adapt on the fly and plan for any occasion. A team that is more together than peanut butter and jelly. Raymond and Dunne are just working together out of convenience. There is no trust, there is no teamwork, no foundation. And Dylan … well Dylan hates his own “father” and his father hates everything. Dylan covers for the bag of hot air. If a team just stays focused, the distracting antics of Viper will have no effect. The reign of the Vipers is over before it even started. And at Diamonds are Forever, let’s just say that Dylan and Jeffrey … to steal a word you are so fond of and a saying from our friends in England … it’s time you got sacked.”
“At Diamonds are Forever there will be no more games, no more pity, no more distractions. Time is running out. Time is slipping through your fingers. And darkness encroaches on you all. Dunne, Raymond, Dylan, Jeffrey … it is our time now. You got unlucky having Duke and Chaos chicken out because all it did was hit the fast forward button on your downfall. The end is nigh. Embrace eternity. And pour another one out Jeffrey … in honor of your short time as champs. Because in just a few days time …”
“… it’s all over.”
“When the dust settles, there will be those talking about the fate of Jack Diamond. Some will talk about the path of the prodigy, others on the fate of the Icons and their possible new recruit. Some will eschew the trite trappings of the show hosts and focus on the champion versus champion match. Fed warfare again. But many we wager, will be talking about the other global title being put up for grabs. Many mouths will be talking about those men from the void. And they will have to tell those not in the know about us and who we are. What we stand for. The Nihilists will be household names, on the XHF walls holding those belts, perusing the promos for new challengers, and gaining an audience to hear what fueled our success! What drove us? How did we get so good? Why do we keep fighting? They will look for meaning in the victory. Which is sad because all these little tiffs are meaningless when you get right down to it. But we will comfort them, educate them.”
“A heavy message relayed in a comforting tone in a soothing voice, explaining the realities of this world, this universe. What drives us, is not the need to feel superior like Dylan. It is not the need to get all the attention in the world like Jeffrey. It is not the need to outdo my best friend like the Icons. And it isn’t the need to prove my worth and suck up to my meal ticket like Dunne and Raymond. It is the desire to see more people come to peace with the inexorable truth of this plane of existence. To convince them to live their lives in the now and stop taking their comforts and virtues from voices in the sky, promises of a better tomorrow, and punishments eternal.”
“We have so precious little time left before the coronation of new tag team champions. Time to prepare, to make ready what we will say and do. There is no need to rush but there is no time to dawdle. We cannot tarry here forever waiting for that recognition. The longer we go without that bullhorn afforded by the top spot on the network, the more people give up hope or turn to some pursuits less noble in character. We have the chance to improve the world and the people in it by spreading our message of the darkness. Because fear of the darkness and the end is unwise. It is unnecessary. And it can lead to people doing things and becoming people they would never be. Fear makes people do strange things. And fear makes people risk things they ought not, and make mistakes they cannot erase. Things like losing your last name … gaining a new daddy … losing your dignity and respect … pimping out your own mother … or losing a hand.”
“Fear of the end makes you impatient, fickle. It drives you to sacrifice your pride to just get a taste of that glory you once had because time is short! You might never be a champ again. So you whore yourself out to the new shiny thing. You follow around the man who is where you want to be and you become his toadie. Instead of embracing the darkness and letting it fuel you, you turned away and started running. And you keep moving, never settling, never letting the lessons you take in sink in, never letting yourself stop to improve and consider the things you could do instead of handing someone else the glory you seek and could have. And in turn you are unreliable.”
“This fear shows everyone that time is not limitless. And fear of running out makes you rush into things, take on challenges you are not ready for. Instead of using your time with champions like Caffrey and Raymond, you try to use their fame to push yourself into that conversation. You ride the coat tails of the greats for fear of being left behind, forgotten. And in the process you fail to improve, you fail to become what you could be. Talent, potential … squandered. Gifted to another man to use as his own weapon. Someone who has clearly embraced the life we lead and is using any means necessary to keep his fame and fortune. And before you even realize what you’ve wasted … time marches on … and the bell tolls for you … and you’re done … Dunne.”
“But more than all of that, blinding yourself to the message that we are all in this together, that we will all one again be together … turns you into the kind of self-serving, bloviating, blow-hard who would penetrate a sea creature on pay-per-view, spew racist misogynistic bile at your own in-ring opponents, and masturbate on camera. There is no redemption for someone like that. There is no reaching them or changing them. And just by holding that title you degrade it, make it dirty, and depreciate its value. And that, more than any other reason … is why time is short. The longer Jeffrey Viper is in possession of a global title, the more work from the Icons and GUNS to make those titles mean something he undoes. As time elapses, sands fall through the hourglass, the prestige of that title falls. And we need to make it right again. We need it at its peak to get the maximum value from our time with the titles. We will liberate the titles from the pure sewage it lies in now and return them … to the darkness, to the eternal emptiness.”
“This is a fight for the very heart of the tag team division. And it is up to us to deliver it to the abyss in one piece. The two of us have been teaming together for years. We are a finely tuned machine. A true tag team, a team that can adapt on the fly and plan for any occasion. A team that is more together than peanut butter and jelly. Raymond and Dunne are just working together out of convenience. There is no trust, there is no teamwork, no foundation. And Dylan … well Dylan hates his own “father” and his father hates everything. Dylan covers for the bag of hot air. If a team just stays focused, the distracting antics of Viper will have no effect. The reign of the Vipers is over before it even started. And at Diamonds are Forever, let’s just say that Dylan and Jeffrey … to steal a word you are so fond of and a saying from our friends in England … it’s time you got sacked.”
“At Diamonds are Forever there will be no more games, no more pity, no more distractions. Time is running out. Time is slipping through your fingers. And darkness encroaches on you all. Dunne, Raymond, Dylan, Jeffrey … it is our time now. You got unlucky having Duke and Chaos chicken out because all it did was hit the fast forward button on your downfall. The end is nigh. Embrace eternity. And pour another one out Jeffrey … in honor of your short time as champs. Because in just a few days time …”
“… it’s all over.”
~They throw down the microphones and roll out of the ring as “Saviour of Nothing” hits. They stare out at the empty arena and take it all in before slowly marching up the ramp and out of the arena as we fade to black, then static, then the XHF Network feed cuts back in~
