Post by Sentinel on Feb 21, 2014 23:18:37 GMT -6
- SCENE ONE -
LOCATION: Reno Events Center, Reno, NV
TIME: Friday, February 21st, 2014, 12:35pm
PLAYERS: Sentinel, Talon, Zachariah Blood, Lady Rayne
Though set to host UWA's first pay-per-view, Tragic Engagement, in just a few days' time, right now the Reno Events Center is home to a rather impressive meet-and-greet event for the fans of the fledgling promotion. The main floor of the arena's interior is set up with various stands selling merch, others where one can meet their favorite wrestlers for pictures, conversation and what-have-you and, of course, in the ring itself under glass was the UWA World Heavyweight Championship belt. Just about every star on the roster is present, and each of them have a steady throng of fans and visitors at their tables. Even the Unforgiven have a crowd which, considering the group as a whole is comprised of an anti-social masochist, a silent mauler, a crimson-haired tower of a woman and a cane-swinging lady in leather...
...yeah, that's kind of a surprise.
But then, Sentinel has never NOT had his fans. There's just something about a guy who's utterly no-bullshit that people enjoy even when he's putting their favorites down for the count. He's just as silent here as he is in the ring or in front of the camera, yet he still interacts with those to come to the table, standing for pictures with the rest of the group or sometimes alone, signging whatever is put his way. Zachariah often passes glances his way as though he doesn't know how the guy does it. Rayne shoots similar stares at the Silence Behind the Violence while her sister, sitting between herself and Sentinel, gets on about as well with the fans as her man does. Except, y'know, she actually chats with them. The ring bell sounds moments later and UWA's ring announcer calls those the gathered fans to the ring for one of the events-within-the-event.
It is here, now that they have a little respite, that The Unforgiven rise and leave the table for a while. Into the backstage area they go, moving on to the catering area where they stop to partake. Sentinel hangs back against the wall, hands in his jeans pockets as he gazes toward the hallway leading to the stage. The others mingle about the table, stealing looks at the Silent Destroyer as they converse amongst themselves.
Talon: "No pressure whatsoever. His biggest match since the two of you claimed the tag titles in a Japanese Death Match against two game teams, Zachariah...and he's so damn relaxed. It's almost unnerving."
With any other tone those comments could have sounded negative. Instead, there's admiration in Talon's voice. Zachariah has a bit of it in his, too, which is a rarity coming from the Masochist.
Zachariah Blood: "Nick Daniels and his nightmares, Pauly's business woes and Aerynn confusing the ring for a back-alley cage brawl..."
Lady Rayne: "No saving that one."
Talon smirks at their comments, delivered deadpan in Zachariah's case around Rayne's commentary.
Zachariah Blood: "...not a one of them gets it. They come out with the same shit every time, bad accents and all, trying to convince the rest of this company that they're gonna be the next World Heavyweight Champion. But really? They're mostly trying to convince themselves. It's all about validation."
Talon: "Aerynn and Paul are nowhere close to legit and all their talking isn't going to change that. Yeah, she's two-and-oh and if that were just for the UWA with some previous experience elsewhere to fall back on she might be allowed leeway. But that's her first two matches. That's called beginner's luck. Paul might have improved but his head's not in it. And who the hell knows where Nicholas is mentally. He, at least, has some tenure in the business. He's Sentinel's main challenge in this match...not those two micks."
Lady Rayne: "You're Irish too, you know."
Talon: "And proud of it. But I'm not a walking stereotype."
Zachariah Blood: "That's for damn sure."
It isn't until they turn his way, almost in unison, that they see the Silent Destroyer watching them, listening to their conversation. They look amongst each other, then back to him.
Talon: "Something on your mind, baby?"
Sentinel's response is a shrug and a small smile, turning his attention back to the hallway. If he were any more relaxed he'd probably fall asleep where he leaned. Talon turned and sauntered over to where he stood, her hand rising to run down his stubble-laden cheek. Behind her, Rayne and Zachariah watch in silence, something lurking behind their eyes.
Lady Rayne: "I don't think I'll ever understand those two."
Zachariah Blood: "They're devoted to one another and the cause. How is that any different than what we have?"
Lady Rayne: "We came together out of need and molded that into something dangerous beautiful, pet. We feed off of and restore one another in ways most people don't want to hear about much less understand. And that in and of itself is a beautiful thing."
Zachariah watches Rayne as he listens, biting the head off a piece of broccoli as he gestured for her to continue. She finishes her sip of bottled tea and motions toward Talon and Sentinel with the bottle.
Lady Rayne: "He chose to be that devoted to her, to basically live his life for her. She didn't compel him directly or even know who he was the first time she saw him. They just...attracted one another and the rest was history. Sometimes I envy them."
Blood's stare narrows slightly, eyes darting from the other couple to his Mistress. This was one of her rare vulnerable moments, something she usually didn't allow of herself in public. It troubled him, a feeling which readily turned to anger but not at Rayne.
Zachariah Blood: "I don't. That path can only lead to suffering. We both know that."
Lady Rayne: "Maybe..."
Focus shifts to Talon and Sentinel, the former's voice quiet as she leans in against the Silent Destroyer. His response is to put a heavily-muscled arm around her athletic frame.
Talon: "Ready for the interview this evening?"
The Destroyer's response is a slight nod. Talon lifts her head from his chest and meets his stone-colored eyes.
Talon: "...and what about the match?"
In answer to that he gives her an odd smile. It brings an expression of curiosity to her face, prompting her hand to again rise to rest against his jawline.
Talon: "I know that look. Don't tell me..."
Sentinel puts a finger to Talon's red-painted lips and shakes his head. Nodding toward the other half of their group, Talon turns their way and then back to the Destroyer with a small nod.
Talon: "...all right."
Joining Blood and Rayne, The Unforgiven leaves the catering area shortly afterward and we fade to black.
- SCENE TWO -
LOCATION: Reno Events Center, Reno, NV - Interview Studio
TIME: Friday, February 21st, 2014, 4:21pm
PLAYERS: Sentinel, Talon, Trenton Phase
Cut to the interview studio set up backstage at the Reno Events Center several hours later. Already seated on the leather sofa are Sentinel and Talon, both with microphones clipped in place though int he former's case that seems pretty...silly. All the requisite decorations are in place, from the fake flowers on the table to the posters on the 'wall' behind the set...including a framed piece for Tragic Engagement with the Silent Destroyer himself featured imposingly on the front. And in the armchair next to the sofa is Trenton Phase, the unabashed heel apologist and would-be ladies' man who has the task of questioning, such as it is, the Silent Destroyer.
The intimidation comes through pretty well where Trenton is concerned. It isn't that Talon doesn't catch his eye in that form-fitting clothing of hers, but the woman is an inch above six feet flat-footed and looks like she'd stomp someone's face in at the slightest provocation. And we all know Sentinel's bonafides...so perhaps Phase is just playing it safe this time. In his case, playing it safe means schmoozing.
Trenton Phase: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here today with one of the participants in the Fatal Four-Way at Tragic Engagement, Sentinel, and his lovely manager, Talon!"
Both nod in Trenton's direction and his expression clearly says that the first hurdle has been cleared: he's still breathing.
Trenton Phase: "So, let's get down to it then. Since you've come here Sentinel, you've torn through everyone in your path. Apparently, you've made such an impression that you're even on the poster for the pay-per-view! Guess that kinda shuts down Nick Daniels and his talk about being the alpha dog, eh?"
Talon: "Nicholas proved his insecurities when he attacked Sentinel, Zachariah, Aerynn Donnelly and Broderick Montgomery after Mayhem last week. If he were as good as he says and thinks he is, why would he have to stoop to that level? The simple answer is because he's running scared. And he damn well should be. My Destroyer is not named such because of his size, demeanor or appearance. It's because destroying is what he does. Paul O'Conner and Broderick can attest to that. Nicholas may very well be a survivor and, as we've seen, his little harlot at ringside is more than willing to impose her will also if need be. But let me put this question to you, Trenton:"
Talon leans in close and the angle is just right for Trenton to sneak a look down her corset-like top a bit. He's actually sweating slightly from his efforts to not do so with Sentinel staring at him.
Talon: "Do you think for one second that I would let Amber Valentine get one over on me without shoving my boot heel into her face? Does my Destroyer look the slighest bit concerned with her burned-out shell of a boyfriend? Scary faces and special effects might raise goosebumps on the flesh of rookies and the weak-willed, but Nicholas comes off as little more than a pretender as far as we're concerned. He thinks he's some kind of warrior saint because he lives in the fire-gutted shell of a forgotten city, because he survived the inferno that birthed it?
I call that luck. Let's see him survive Sentinel. Then we'll talk about whether he's impressive or not."
Trenton Phase: "Ah, well put, yes..."
It's with both relief and regret, as far as Trenton's concerned anyway, that he sees Talon lean back into the sofa with a calm smile on her face. Wiping some of the perspiration from his brow, Phase moves on to the next question.
Trenton Phase: "Let's move on to Aerynn Donnelly, then, who called all of Sentinel's previous accomplishments empty. She's also quoted as saying that no one's listening when you speak for him. What do you think of that? Sounds a little brash if you ask me."
Talon: "She called me a painted-up trollop too, didn't she?"
Trenton Phase: "Well, I wasn't gonna bring that up, but..."
Talon smiles sweetly and reaches over to lightly pat Trenton's hand.
Talon: "Oh, no...please...go on."
Trenton Phase: "Er, right..."
Clearing his throat and perusing his note cards a little more closely now, the hand she'd touched twitching, Trenton pushes through with further comments from Aerynn.
Trenton Phase: "She tried to cast aspersions on why you stopped competing as well as noting that she's only addressing you because...umm...you won't shut up."
Talon: "Dear Aerynn continues to miss the point. Once more, we see the effects of growing up in a cage with men pounding on her skull coming to the fore. What part...of my being Sentinel's voice for the time being...does this twat not understand? Apparently all of it."
Trenton's eyes widen a little at the epithet that Talon hurls in Aerynn's direction but the Angel of Sin just laughs, a musically-devious sound. Sentinel, even, cracks a smile when he hears it.
Talon: "What Sentinel's previous accomplishments mean, here, is evidenced by his decimation of Paul and Brody in separate matches to take his place in a match to determine the first champion. They are given justification by his face being all over the poster on the wall behind us. Do you really think that Oliver Georgio would just toss the first eight contracts from his desk into a match like this for his fledgling company? He's not that much of a fool, Trenton. Even you can see that. He came to The Unforgiven personally seeking to get both Sentinel's AND Zachariah's name on the dotted line. As my Destroyer's former partner is still recovering from a concussion however, he set his sights solely on Sentinel. You see the end result.
Aerynn literally limped into her match and came out with a win that earned her spot in this match. Now, tough as she is, that doesn't say as much about her fortitude as it does about Jeszika's lack thereof. We know what Miss Gautier is capable of and she was barely half-mast at Mayhem. Why? You'll have to ask her. But Aerynn loves to sell herself on the fact that after taking two beatdowns from Fabian Korentice that she's still rolling. A dumpster-diving monster of a man like that doesn't compare to a weaponized force of nature like my Destroyer. Had anyone ever heard of Fabian before the UWA? No. But Sentinel comes here and the internet explodes. So much for his accomplishments meaning. If she's so very tough then my Destroyer will force her to prove it at Tragic Engagement."
Trenton Phase: "And, ah...well, why DID you leave active competition?"
Talon lifts a brow in curious awe at Trenton. Her sharp-nailed hand clenches slightly but Sentinel's hand on her leg stills her. She turns to him and in response he takes his wallet out of his back pocket, flips through it and removes a picture. He places this in Talon's hand and she shows it to Phase without allowing the camera a look at it. The interviewer's eyes widen slightly before a genuine, if small, smile appears.
Trenton Phase: "Beautiful."
Talon: "Yes."
Passing the picture back to Sentinel, who replaces it carefully, Talon returns her attention to the interview.
Talon: "This, Trenton, is why people like Aerynn don't last long in our world, in the wrestling world. Because they don't think before they act or speak. How many more times can she survive beatings like she's gotten before her body breaks down? How much more verbal diarrhea can she spew before she starts choking on it? I think we're coming close to finding out those limits. Tragic Engagement may very well live up to its name where she's concerned. How she handles her first loss, her first taste of injury and true suffering, be it Sunday night or in the future, will tell us truly whether she's capable of being something in this business or if she's just another dreamer about to be crushed by reality."
Trenton Phase: "Well put. And that brings us to Pauly O'Conner, someone Sentinel has already faced and beaten. Pretty badly, I might add! I thought you were gonna put him through the ring, big guy!"
Sentinel smirks slightly but, true to form, says nothing. Trenton relaxes...just a little. The more seconds that go by with him still having full motor control, the more emboldened he is. Thankfully it doesn't get to the point of him getting stupid.
Trenton Phase: "He's been doin' his share of talking too, though. Truth told he sounds a lot like his bosom buddy Aerynn the way he intones that the big man's accomplishments elsewhere are better left in the past tense."
Talon: "Well, it's hard to leave that kind of reputation and success in the past when everything Sentinel does in the ring lately hearkens back to it, don't you think?"
Trenton Phase: "Oh, I agree fully! But the guy's still a bit too big for his britches considering his first match was a loss to Sentinel. Sort of deserves a retort, doesn't it?"
Talon: "Why? Why should I glorify Paul O'Conner in my Destroyer's stead? A man who needs his 'Da' to come in and clean up his messes? Who thinks it's cute to smack around his subordinates? Paul claims to respect Sentinel for what he's doing and why he's here, but he'll have to forgive us if those words sound a little hollow. I mean, that's coming from a man who implied that he'd throw his dear friend Aerynn under the bus for his own success. What call is there for that, I ask you, whether you like them or not?"
Phase shrugs, looking between the two but not furthering his questioning...mostly because Talon wasn't done and stared him down and away from that idea.
Talon: "Make new history, claim new titles...yes, Paul, thank you ever so much for telling us what we already know, for reminding us of what we're here for. I stand by my feelings in that Sentinel is above and beyond everyone in this company at this point. Just when you think he's peaked, he creates a new plateau for the rest of the world to meet while he looks down from on high. And until one of them proves me wrong, I will stand by that assessment. Should Paul, or Aerynn or even Nicholas take the championship this Sunday instead of my Destroyer? I will have been proven mistaken and Sentinel will be all too happy to shake the winner's hand...because that's the kind of warrior he is."
Trenton Phase: "That's...well, mighty big of him. I wouldn't want to dirty my hands on those three."
Laughing again softly, Talon sits back, half-leaning against Sentinel.
Talon: "Well, I'm of the same mind as my dear brother in that. Respect isn't a word you just toss around like Paul does. You don't try to scare or beat people into it like Nicholas and you definitely don't get it by being lippy like Aerynn. You earn it. You get in the ring and put it all on the line for better or worse. Paul might have had it from Sentinel before his mouth opened up again without a brain to censor it. Broderick earned it by being what Pauly wishes he could be. While Paul and Aerynn make excuses and sling shit against the wall, Brody looks set to actually make his words become reality. And Sentinel knows first-hand that he can do it."
Trenton Phase: "And Nick Daniels?"
She shakes her head again.
Talon: "Forever a victim. A dictator is what he calls himself, but how many of those lived long enough to make their fascist dreams come true? Even Paul was bright enough to note that. And when that runt is capable of out-thinking you? It's time to step back and figure out where you went wrong."
Trenton Phase: "Anything else you want to say?"
Rising to her feet, Sentinel following suit, Talon turns to the camera right along with her Destroyer.
Talon: "I hope for all your sakes that you're capable of backing up at least half of what you say. That's all there is to BE said. Sentinel has lived up to his promises two times out of two walking into Tragic Engagement. But the oh-so-charming third time shall be the sweetest of all. All their arrogance and threats...it sounds like..."
Trenton Phase: "...like?"
Talon: "...like a reason. The only one my Destroyer needs to do what he does best: destroy. Conquer. Win."
Trenton Phase: "Then, ah, thank you for your time."
Talon gives a small smile to Trenton as she passes while Sentinel claps him on the shoulder so hard, in a good-natured way, that he almost goes flying out of the chair. It's a humorous way to end a serious message...and does little to lessen the thrust of Talon's word or the Silent Destroyer's intentions.
Fade to black.
- END -
