Post by Alex Kincaid on Jan 1, 2019 13:04:41 GMT -5
“I fought a lot of men. A year and a half or so into my career, I ended up fighting my first woman. Maybe a year after that…maybe a year after that I fought my first monster. I guess there are a lot more monsters now.”
The moon is high overhead in the northern Alberta forest, shining down on Alex Kincaid bright enough that all it takes to light him for the shot is a battery operated light slung sloppily over the branches of a tree. The ground is covered in snow. As Alex walks over to a log to take a seat, his boots crunch heavily against the powder. He shrugs and looks dead into the camera.
“I’m not comfortable with that.
I’m not comfortable with how easy it is for some of my coworkers to be comfortable with ripping each other apart. I’m not comfortable with the way Graves just needs to give people the gentlest push to drive the world mad, and I’m really not comfortable with the look in Elena DeDraca’s eyes when she talked about what she planned to do to Cyrus. I’m even less comfortable with the way she looked before she finally, mercifully ended the whole thing at Relapse. Understand, I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve been down some dark roads. That was still hard to watch. .
Now, look, I don’t know the story. Not sure what exactly the damage you two did to each other. I don’t know how he hurt you. But I know…I know what it’s like to be wounded by someone you care about. I know the bond that’s created from doing unspeakable things to the world around you, and I know what it’s like when the bond gets snapped. Maybe the reason you worry me so much is that I see a lot of myself in you. Maybe.”
He takes a deep breath and watches it steam up into the air before he continues.
“But, you know, if there is any chunk of Alex Kincaid that looks anything like the black, black heart of Elena DeDraca it’s an old part. Because since I came to Union Battleground, I’ve been changing. I’ve been finding for the first time in my life that there’s a whole heck of a lot about myself I actually like. Maybe I got a big head about it, and maybe I concentrated on the wrong things for a little while but you know…what Union Battleground has shown me is that I’m damn good from bell to bell. That I don’t need to prove my worth, that I don’t need to do damage to make an impact because just having me here doing my thing is impact enough.
Which is why the first time that belt you’ve got around your waist was on the line? They let me have a shot at it. I stood in there with Axton Pearce, with Viduus Morta and with the woman who would be the first champion in Kimitsu Zombie and I put everything I had out there. And, if not for a little interference from MURAMASA-Kokka, there’s a good chance that it would have been me cashing that shot in and not Kay-Zee. But who knows? Maybe I’d have lost it. Maybe I could have won it in a rematch, except, I never did get another shot at that thing did I? No. Because I was a little too busy ripping my way through Kira for having the gall to cost me what was mine. I nearly drowned that man when we finally had our showdown. Because that’s how far it had gone. I thought he had threatened my family, I knew he had threatened my livelihood. See, there’s a lot of my career that I look back on with a great deal of shame because of what I did. But that? When I’m lying in bed at night, and I think about that? I sleep like a baby.
Because he’d made himself a monster. And someone had to put the monster down.”
He rests his hands in lap, steepling his fingers between his legs and sighs.
“I’m not underestimating you. I know what are. I know what you can do. I had the good fortune of knowing the title match against the winner of the Relapse main event was coming, and so my wife and I sat down to scout my opponent. I’m not much of a tactical thinker. I’m a go with the flow kind of guy. She’s got the mind for this thing. And so when it becomes clear you’re going to win, I’m waiting for her to tell me that she’s thought up some way for me to catch you. Some counter I don’t know. Some move that will absolutely break you. But instead, she looks at me and she goes ‘…Are you going to be okay?’ because she’s spooked. Because you put the fear in her. But you didn’t put the fear in me. No, I’m feeling something else.
I’m feeling lucky.
At Relapse I told the truth about who I am. About what’s going on in my head, and why I’m lucky this company gave me another shot. And you know, I said I didn’t deserve a shot at the War Horse Championship. Still don’t think I do. When I look at you though, when I look at the horror show you put on in that main event I get to thinking…you let something like this fly and who knows how bad things get. Maybe that upsets you. There’s all that history between you and Riddle, who am I to judge how you sort that out? I’m Alex Kincaid. Bullet King. Ghost of the Battleground. Future face of this company if I have anything to say about it. If you don’t like that, maybe you should ask yourself what it says that even after all you’ve done you’re worth as much as a guy who just walked his way back in the door.
That belt needs to be off you and it isn’t because of a lack of talent. You’re a hell of a wrestler. But you’re a lot of other things. A lot of other things that I don’t think should be champion in this place in 2019. And thankfully, after watching that Relapse main event? I have the peace of mind that no matter how much I question whether I deserve this opportunity this early on? This place will be better with me holding that belt than you. Because I’ve been where you are, I’ve been what you are, and I moved past it. You aren’t there yet.”
Alex gets up and walks over to the tree where he’s set up the light. He holds the power cord in his hand and shakes his head, offering some final words.
“I’m done asking myself if I’m doing the right thing. I’m picking the fights that I know need to be picked, and I’m looking people dead in the eye to tell them why I’m picking them. I’ve always felt a close connection to that belt, I’ve admired a lot of people who have held it…and I feel like you’ve corrupted it. Seeing you hold it, it just doesn’t feel right. But you’ve got a chance to prove me wrong. Prove to me that Elena DeDraca is the wrestler she believes herself to be. I’ll push you. I’ll hit you. I’ll rip, and I’ll tear, and if you give me half a second I’ll lock you in the Clutch and make you beg for it to stop. One way or another, Elena, I promise you that the champion who walks into the TD Arena is not going to be the same person who walks out. Either I take that belt, or you prove to me – because I am demanding you do it, and you’re not in a position to refuse – that I’m wrong about you. That you’re more than just some animal using the belt I dream of holding as an excuse to hurt people.
I want to wrestle you. I want to see you struggle. I want to know you in the way that only two people who have gone to war can really know each other. You’re the first opponent back, you’re one of the measuring sticks of this company and you might be something totally different than what I’ve seen before. But there’s only one way to find out. Because right now? I’m not truly sure I know what I’m dealing with, and all I see is something that could threaten everything I believe in my heart this place can be. I’m not going to stand here and play the fake humility game, I’m not going to pretend that I don’t have the right to say any of this to you because I went away for a while…no. The hell with that. I helped build this place in one of the best seasons it had, I had two of the greatest matches in this companies history and I have always been first in line to fly the Union Battleground flag. Even when it hurt. I’m telling you to step up, to push further than you think you can. And if you don’t, I will make you…and then I will take that championship.
See you in South Carolina.”
With that, he grabs the cord on the light. You know what happens next right? Of course you do. Lights Out.
Post by Elena DeDraca on Jan 1, 2019 15:12:39 GMT -5
BLOOD AND WATER on/off camera Relapse: II [Aftermath]
There was not a word in this world that could explain how Elena DeDraca felt after walking past the black curtain. The bruises and burns didn’t hurt an ounce as much as her heart hurt. Closure was good. Closure was needed. But no one ever said it was easy.
Several people congratulated her on the way back, half of them she had forgotten seconds later. The War Horse Title was hanging heavy over her shoulder, which was obviously dislocated. She stopped herself for a moment and put the title down on the floor. Elena took a deep breath and with force popped her shoulder back in. Feeling a sharp pain dim her senses briefly she bent over, picking up the gold. Her long black hair stuck to her head with a mixture of blood and sweat. And there was still this awful smell of burnt flesh tickling her nose.
Hell doesn’t smell like roses.
A halfhearted grin appeared on her face, one she regretted immediately. From afar she saw a well dressed man who held both his arms open. Frankie Morrison. He was hugging her in tightly for a moment, not bothered by her appearance.
“You did it, Elena. You finally did it.”
“Wasn't my first title defense, Frankie.”
She was well aware that he wasn't talking about this, but still wanted to push his buttons. He held her a little longer before stepping back, looking at her from head to toes.
“Look at you, champion. Nothing like the girl that I took under my wings back then. You grew so much in a short amount of time. I don’t have to say it, but I still will, I am proud of you Misses DeDraca.”
He had this proud smile on his face. Like a father seeing his daughter succeed in life.
“But there is one thing that I need to know. It is something that I don’t ask often enough, but the time seems right. Tonight was a rollercoaster in many ways. How are you feeling?”
Elena looked at him while taking a deep breath. She slung her arm around his waist and forced him to walk a few steps with her. Finally feeling the adrenaline wearing off.
“Sad. Broken. Dead.” She looked at him again. “But finally free."
THE HOWLINGon/off camera
There was a noise. A lot of noises, something that did sound like a party. For a moment the camera angle seemed diffused, leaving the viewer unable to find clarity in the scene. With a few moments passing, you got to see the outside of a typical restaurant you so often find in South Carolina. Some people seemed to celebrate, their plates filled with fresh BBQ and huge beer glasses filling the table. Everybody was happy, or at least they did pretend.
Like most humans.
In the back of the scene, they spotted a black haired female whose plate was untouched. Her pale fingers were wrapped around her beer, but not a drop was missing. She looked at the people surrounding her, her expression hard.
“Isn’t that what people live for? Getting together and having a good time. People like Alex Kincaid, right? I can’t really say he is impressing when it comes to being a wrestler, but there is one thing he is good at after all: Pretending. To himself and to the audience. But there is a huge problem with the UNION BATTLEGROUND audience, they don’t buy into shit, darling. They accept you no matter how shitty or fucked up you are, but they don’t tolerate whiny, boring bitches. One may forgive my language but I actually fought two important battles in the past fourteen days. This company is my home. It is my battleground as much as my playground. Can the same be said about you? What have you been doing in Season II? Whine and demand? Vanish? I really don’t know the answer, pal.”
Elena was taken a small break while closing her eyes. For a moment everything went quiet, the crowded place was forgotten.
“Please don’t think that I haven’t heard your long winded speech during Relapse II. We all did. Not that anyone, in particular, cared, we were busy doing our job. I have met a lot of people in my career, Alex, but you are part of the worst group. You throw out demands but have nothing to back them up with. If that ever worked for you, cheers, more power to you. Stuff like that doesn’t work with me though. I came to Union last season and guess what? I worked my ass off. I didn’t knock on office doors or lose my shit in front of the crowd. I fought. No matter who and no matter when. Wouldn’t you say that paid off for me? You think you have any idea of who I am? You seem like the type that thinks he has it all figured out, right? The kind of undereducated moron that judges a book by its cover. If I had a dime for every time someone came with the same three clichès, I would be effing rich at this point. But obviously, history didn’t teach you a damn thing.”
“I am the War Horse Champion. I am everything you wish you could be when it comes to being a professional athlete. I have never made any false promises or needed to act for the sake of getting over. But you my friend would do every trick if they throw you a bone. I don’t know how you got that title chance in the first place, but guess what? I don’t care. I will tell you a little something about dominance. I have been dominating everyone I faced in this company, including the person that I thought was the love of my life. And I regret nothing. Did you know that our talented current UNION BATTLEGROUND champion lost to me? Sure she got the big piece of the cake the same night, but she still lost to me. Never in my entire life did I need anyone to back me up. I don’t need a flock of followers, but people see me for what I truly am. A warrior. So no matter how much you whine and stomp your foot, I will come for whatever you think your career is or could be.”
She was interrupted when the waitress appeared at her table ready to open her mouth. Elena shot her a brief look before looking back into the camera.
“I don’t doubt that you are semi skilled inside the ring, otherwise you wouldn’t be signed to this illustrious company. But being mediocre doesn’t pay the rent, Alex. If you haven’t lived underneath a stone the past year, you are aware of what I have done. What I have achieved after what they called a career ending injury. And that was while I was still recovering. What is your excuse, buddy? After all, you call yourself a veteran. The years you wrestled don’t mean shit to me. There are so many people in this industry that call themselves gods greatest gift and fail to get the job done. How do you sleep at night? Tossing and turning while feeling sorry for yourself. But I am sure your wife is gonna pat you on the back and keeps telling you that you are the best. Someone has to. I could feel insulted by your verbal diarrhea about me, but that would mean that I value your opinion in the first place. And to reach that level you actually have to prove yourself.”
“I will not lecture you about all the things I have been through. The losses I had to take in my life to stand where I am today. But there is one thing we have to clear straight away. Are you ready? Sure? Good. I don’t seek your acceptance or your respect. Somewhere deep inside you know that this is a lost battle for you. I won’t play nice for the benefit of making you look better. You pretty much screwed yourself out of that. There won’t be any prisoners in our match. I made a promise to myself for 2019, not a resolution, I will do whatever is best for Elena DeDraca. I will not please everyone on the roster or Mister Graves. I have been standing in shadows for way too long, thinking I belong there. War Horse Champion. Fenris Champion. Diamond Champion. Television Champion. You can do the math, Alex. I am not a follower. I am a leader to the outcasts. And if no one sends you that memo yet, we are growing by numbers. So leave your false hopes at the entrance, I got no time for that. You will come off short, darling. And in the end there will be no one to blame but you. You’re welcome.”
A dangerous grin grew on her face as the scene slowly faded out.
