Post by zybala on Jul 9, 2021 10:33:04 GMT -5
: The scene opens up and we see crystal clear waters crashing against a sandy beach. A jungle can be seen further inland. Once again, we ask you to join us on Exile Island. It's been awhile since we've joined Mike Zybala here. Speaking of the devil, we see Zybala looking at a piece of paper in his hand. Further inspection shows that it's a photograph of him and Peter Vaughn. Both look happy with drinks in their hands. Zybala sighs as he stares at what were happier times. With a heavy heart, he takes the picture and tosses it in a nearby metal drum. He pulls a box of matches from his pocket, plucks out a match, and lights it. With another sigh, he tosses the match into the drum. Flames spring to life as Zybala takes a step back. He mournfully looks at the place. With the sounds of the ocean gently crashing against the beach, loud, bizarre animal noises coming from the jungle and the fire, this is a pretty serene moment for Zybala.
The moment is ruined by someone yelling Zybala's name. Zybala grabs his gaze away from the fire and looks towards the person calling him. It's a young man in an Exile Island Hotel uniform. He's running towards the future Craze Champion. The man looks absolutely horrified. He comes to a stop in front of Zybala and pants as he tries to catch his breath. We can see that his name tag reads "Aaron." Zybala patiently waits for his employee to compose himself. When the young man does, he looks at Zybala with fear. :
Aaron: Mr. Zybala! What the actual fuck are you doing? What is this?!
Zybala: This? This is me going through the five stages of grief over Peter's betrayal. Though I think I'm doing it out of order. I hit the depression stage first after Quarantine when I saw the genuine hatred in Pete's eyes. It was truly heartbreaking seeing that look on the face of a man I considered my brother. Then I tried to deny it. I tried to talk myself into believing that Pete was just caught up in the moment. That he wanted to win a championship that bad. I couldn't fault the guy for wanting to be a champion.
Aaron: But that doesn't explain the fire. Seriously, it's very disturbing!
Zybala: I was getting to that. My denial stage went right into anger after Dystopia. Just watching Pete and Pyrde destroy The Yard like that broke me. To watch Vaughn attack the very thing that we had made popular together was too much! I went from denial to acceptance at that moment. My friend Pete was gone; replaced by this warped Pryde-mask wearing asshole. Which looped me around to anger. Hence the fire. I'm burning every picture of Vaughn and I as a reminder that the friendship is over. He has no plans to reconcile, and I've made peace with that.
Aaron: I'm not talking about this little fire. I'm asking about that big ass inferno over there! Are you trying to burn down the whole jungle?!
: Aaron points behind Zybala, who turns to look. We see a huge pile of something on fire. The strange noises from earlier seem to be emanating from it. Upon further inspection, the noises sounds a lot like cries of anguish and pain. A log rolls from the pile and Zybala walks towards it. The log suddenly uses an arm to start crawling away from the fire! Zybala picks up a nearby rake and starts trying to push the "log" back into the pyre. :
"Log": Pl...plee….pleeeease kill meee...it huuurts sooo mm...mu….much….
Zybala: That's the whole point. This will teach you a lesson. Now, back in the fire with you.
: Ignoring the protests of what we now know is a person, Zybala shoves them back into the fire. Aaron audibly gasped as he witnessed this callous act. He nervously walks next to Zybala and points at the "log". :
Aaron: Please tell me that I imagined that. That was a log, right? Logs don't talk. Please tell me that wasn't what I think it was!
Zybala: Nope. That was in fact a person. One of the homeless people that once resided in the OCW arena.
Aaron: Why are you setting the homeless on fire!?!
Zybala: It's not just the homeless. I also tossed in the group of orangutans that challenged my status as the pack Alpha a few months back as well. The homeless were the ones who attacked me last month. I buy them pizza and that's how they repay me? I'm tired of people and animals that I help betraying me all the time, so I did something about it. A bit extreme, but it teaches a valuable lesson to those who live. You betray me and you get tossed in the pyre.
: Aaron looks dumbfounded as he stares at Zybala. It takes him a few moments to collect himself before yelling at Zybala. :
Aaron: What the actual fuck, Mr. Zybala!! You can't burn people, homeless or not!
Zybala: Oh sure. When Bifford murders the homeless and turns them into "chickens of sandwiches", everyone says it's delicious and he makes bank. But when I set them and a bunch of monkeys on fire, who BETRAYED me, everyone turns into a bleeding heart!
Aaron: You can't just murder people or animals who slight you! It's against the law!
Zybala: Oh, not on Exile. We're a sovereign nation with our own laws. We're not even part of the U.N. or obey the Geneva Convention laws. Shit, even P.E.T.A. stays away from us. Though that may be because the last representative they sent after I started training with the orangutans was sent back to their headquarters in several different packages….
: Aaron takes a few steps away from Zybala out of fear and in case he has to run away. A look of realization slowly spreads across Aaron's face. He looks at the pyre then back at Zybala. :
Aaron: Are you planning on setting people on fire at House of Cards? Because that's back in America and the law frowns upon that.
Zybala: What? No! Don't be crazy! I'm not going to set REAL people on fire. There would be so many lawsuits against me if I did. Homeless don't count because nobody cares about them. Well, maybe Alice, but I'm sure if I buy like ten crates of her mustard and she'll call it even. The closest I would come to setting someone on fire is smashing Outcast's face on a lit charcoal grill. I swear to God, that man was either born without taste buds, or he grew up eating literal garbage his whole life and doesn't know what good food or cooking is.
Aaron: I'm pretty sure Pete wouldn't mind setting you on fire if he got the chance.
This statement makes Zybala's shoulders sag a bit as he looks back towards the oil drum. The mournful look is once again back on his face as he recounts what Peter has recently said and done, especially to Outsiders. Zybala lets out a small sigh as he continues to watch the fire burn the memories of the good times. :
Zybala: I don't doubt that anymore. I truly believe that there is no way I can reach through to the Peter I once knew. This knew Pete has been completely warped by Pryde. All the joy and happiness inside of Vaughn is gone; replaced by only the desire to win at any cost. Thats no way to live life. Sure, everyone wants to win the big match, but that's in the ring. Getting rid of all attachments outside of the ring so you can have that extreme tunnel vision to focus on winning is stupid. That leaves you a lonely, miserable old person like Outcast. Thats a road that Pete is going down. Though going down is a feeling Pete better get used to.
: Aaron gives Zybala a quizzical look, and clears his throat. Zybala turns towards him and sees the look. Zybala realizes what he just said. :
Zybala: Not like that, you perv. I'm talking about falling down the ladder. Whether it's getting thrown off by me or stepping on a broken step on a Hazardous ladder, Pete is going down. Thats what I meant. The match is a good metifor for Pete's career right now. He's climbing the ladder of success. He managed to capture a title outsider of Outsiders, like I always knew he could. He's almost at the top of the ladder, but victory is just out of reach. I'm the broken step on his personal ladder. I'll be the one to pull him down, breaking the ladder and his dreams. I'll be the one to find the right ladder and get the Craze Title as Pete looks up at me from being buried under his broken ladders.
Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for Pete for his new found success. Normally, I wouldn't even dream of ruining his moment. But he wanted this. He wanted a match with me. He wanted his "revenge" on me. If I'm being honest, if it was a normal match with no stakes, I would take the dive. Let Pete get a win over me and find some closure. I would even make it look like I was putting up a fight so he would think he beat me at my best. Sadly for him, it's not a normal match. Its a pay-per-view match for his championship. Two things I have never won in OCW.
Can you believe it? I spent four years in the company and I've yet to win a championship or a pay-per-view match in that entire time. That is my white whale. I've won gold in every company that I've been a part of. It's inconceivable to me that I haven't won even a ppv match. That is my drive for House of Cards. I'm breaking that damnedable streak of mine one way or another. Sadly, I'll also have to break Peter to do it, but he made his decision. Now he has to deal with the consequences.
Aaron: Aren't you worried about someone interfering? Pete's been talking with a lot of people, and I'm pretty sure that Barrows has called I'm a few favors to help Pete. Plus, can you really trust Dylan Thomas to keep his word?
: Zybala's eyes narrow aa turns his head to glare at Aaron. You done messed up A-Aron.:
Zybala: That sounds like you know something. Who have you been talking to? Are you working for Barrows?! (GASP) Are you spying on me for Pete?!!?! Answer me!!
: Zybala makes a wild grab at Aaron, who was expecting this. He dodges and starts running back to the hotel. Zybala is enraged by this tretchory, at least in his eyes. He yells for Aaron to come back as he gives chase while the scene fades to black. :
The moment is ruined by someone yelling Zybala's name. Zybala grabs his gaze away from the fire and looks towards the person calling him. It's a young man in an Exile Island Hotel uniform. He's running towards the future Craze Champion. The man looks absolutely horrified. He comes to a stop in front of Zybala and pants as he tries to catch his breath. We can see that his name tag reads "Aaron." Zybala patiently waits for his employee to compose himself. When the young man does, he looks at Zybala with fear. :
Aaron: Mr. Zybala! What the actual fuck are you doing? What is this?!
Zybala: This? This is me going through the five stages of grief over Peter's betrayal. Though I think I'm doing it out of order. I hit the depression stage first after Quarantine when I saw the genuine hatred in Pete's eyes. It was truly heartbreaking seeing that look on the face of a man I considered my brother. Then I tried to deny it. I tried to talk myself into believing that Pete was just caught up in the moment. That he wanted to win a championship that bad. I couldn't fault the guy for wanting to be a champion.
Aaron: But that doesn't explain the fire. Seriously, it's very disturbing!
Zybala: I was getting to that. My denial stage went right into anger after Dystopia. Just watching Pete and Pyrde destroy The Yard like that broke me. To watch Vaughn attack the very thing that we had made popular together was too much! I went from denial to acceptance at that moment. My friend Pete was gone; replaced by this warped Pryde-mask wearing asshole. Which looped me around to anger. Hence the fire. I'm burning every picture of Vaughn and I as a reminder that the friendship is over. He has no plans to reconcile, and I've made peace with that.
Aaron: I'm not talking about this little fire. I'm asking about that big ass inferno over there! Are you trying to burn down the whole jungle?!
: Aaron points behind Zybala, who turns to look. We see a huge pile of something on fire. The strange noises from earlier seem to be emanating from it. Upon further inspection, the noises sounds a lot like cries of anguish and pain. A log rolls from the pile and Zybala walks towards it. The log suddenly uses an arm to start crawling away from the fire! Zybala picks up a nearby rake and starts trying to push the "log" back into the pyre. :
"Log": Pl...plee….pleeeease kill meee...it huuurts sooo mm...mu….much….
Zybala: That's the whole point. This will teach you a lesson. Now, back in the fire with you.
: Ignoring the protests of what we now know is a person, Zybala shoves them back into the fire. Aaron audibly gasped as he witnessed this callous act. He nervously walks next to Zybala and points at the "log". :
Aaron: Please tell me that I imagined that. That was a log, right? Logs don't talk. Please tell me that wasn't what I think it was!
Zybala: Nope. That was in fact a person. One of the homeless people that once resided in the OCW arena.
Aaron: Why are you setting the homeless on fire!?!
Zybala: It's not just the homeless. I also tossed in the group of orangutans that challenged my status as the pack Alpha a few months back as well. The homeless were the ones who attacked me last month. I buy them pizza and that's how they repay me? I'm tired of people and animals that I help betraying me all the time, so I did something about it. A bit extreme, but it teaches a valuable lesson to those who live. You betray me and you get tossed in the pyre.
: Aaron looks dumbfounded as he stares at Zybala. It takes him a few moments to collect himself before yelling at Zybala. :
Aaron: What the actual fuck, Mr. Zybala!! You can't burn people, homeless or not!
Zybala: Oh sure. When Bifford murders the homeless and turns them into "chickens of sandwiches", everyone says it's delicious and he makes bank. But when I set them and a bunch of monkeys on fire, who BETRAYED me, everyone turns into a bleeding heart!
Aaron: You can't just murder people or animals who slight you! It's against the law!
Zybala: Oh, not on Exile. We're a sovereign nation with our own laws. We're not even part of the U.N. or obey the Geneva Convention laws. Shit, even P.E.T.A. stays away from us. Though that may be because the last representative they sent after I started training with the orangutans was sent back to their headquarters in several different packages….
: Aaron takes a few steps away from Zybala out of fear and in case he has to run away. A look of realization slowly spreads across Aaron's face. He looks at the pyre then back at Zybala. :
Aaron: Are you planning on setting people on fire at House of Cards? Because that's back in America and the law frowns upon that.
Zybala: What? No! Don't be crazy! I'm not going to set REAL people on fire. There would be so many lawsuits against me if I did. Homeless don't count because nobody cares about them. Well, maybe Alice, but I'm sure if I buy like ten crates of her mustard and she'll call it even. The closest I would come to setting someone on fire is smashing Outcast's face on a lit charcoal grill. I swear to God, that man was either born without taste buds, or he grew up eating literal garbage his whole life and doesn't know what good food or cooking is.
Aaron: I'm pretty sure Pete wouldn't mind setting you on fire if he got the chance.
This statement makes Zybala's shoulders sag a bit as he looks back towards the oil drum. The mournful look is once again back on his face as he recounts what Peter has recently said and done, especially to Outsiders. Zybala lets out a small sigh as he continues to watch the fire burn the memories of the good times. :
Zybala: I don't doubt that anymore. I truly believe that there is no way I can reach through to the Peter I once knew. This knew Pete has been completely warped by Pryde. All the joy and happiness inside of Vaughn is gone; replaced by only the desire to win at any cost. Thats no way to live life. Sure, everyone wants to win the big match, but that's in the ring. Getting rid of all attachments outside of the ring so you can have that extreme tunnel vision to focus on winning is stupid. That leaves you a lonely, miserable old person like Outcast. Thats a road that Pete is going down. Though going down is a feeling Pete better get used to.
: Aaron gives Zybala a quizzical look, and clears his throat. Zybala turns towards him and sees the look. Zybala realizes what he just said. :
Zybala: Not like that, you perv. I'm talking about falling down the ladder. Whether it's getting thrown off by me or stepping on a broken step on a Hazardous ladder, Pete is going down. Thats what I meant. The match is a good metifor for Pete's career right now. He's climbing the ladder of success. He managed to capture a title outsider of Outsiders, like I always knew he could. He's almost at the top of the ladder, but victory is just out of reach. I'm the broken step on his personal ladder. I'll be the one to pull him down, breaking the ladder and his dreams. I'll be the one to find the right ladder and get the Craze Title as Pete looks up at me from being buried under his broken ladders.
Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for Pete for his new found success. Normally, I wouldn't even dream of ruining his moment. But he wanted this. He wanted a match with me. He wanted his "revenge" on me. If I'm being honest, if it was a normal match with no stakes, I would take the dive. Let Pete get a win over me and find some closure. I would even make it look like I was putting up a fight so he would think he beat me at my best. Sadly for him, it's not a normal match. Its a pay-per-view match for his championship. Two things I have never won in OCW.
Can you believe it? I spent four years in the company and I've yet to win a championship or a pay-per-view match in that entire time. That is my white whale. I've won gold in every company that I've been a part of. It's inconceivable to me that I haven't won even a ppv match. That is my drive for House of Cards. I'm breaking that damnedable streak of mine one way or another. Sadly, I'll also have to break Peter to do it, but he made his decision. Now he has to deal with the consequences.
Aaron: Aren't you worried about someone interfering? Pete's been talking with a lot of people, and I'm pretty sure that Barrows has called I'm a few favors to help Pete. Plus, can you really trust Dylan Thomas to keep his word?
: Zybala's eyes narrow aa turns his head to glare at Aaron. You done messed up A-Aron.:
Zybala: That sounds like you know something. Who have you been talking to? Are you working for Barrows?! (GASP) Are you spying on me for Pete?!!?! Answer me!!
: Zybala makes a wild grab at Aaron, who was expecting this. He dodges and starts running back to the hotel. Zybala is enraged by this tretchory, at least in his eyes. He yells for Aaron to come back as he gives chase while the scene fades to black. :