Post by Mac Bane on Oct 22, 2021 21:31:32 GMT -5
Monster Hunter
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.” – Albert Einstein
[“Monster Hunter” - The Bane Home - Las Vegas, Nevada]
The crispness of the fall air was refreshing, cool enough to be neither warm nor cold. It was my favorite time of year. The feeling in the air made me smile as I stoked the fire pit on the back patio of the home that I shared with Amber. We were coming up on one year as a married couple and that caused my smile to broaden as she stepped out onto the patio with our coffee. I stepped away from the pit and accepted the proffered cup of coffee. Taking a sip, I allow the caffeine to kiss my soul and I smile again. With a smirk, she asked me, “Someone is in a good mood this morning. Why would that be?” I gave her a smirk of my own and replied, “My debut and you, sweet girl.” She rolled her eyes, “You know good and damn well that there’s nothing sweet about me.” It was an age-old “argument” between us. “And facing Suma in your debut?”, she paused for a moment before continuing. “That didn’t take long, was the ink on the contract even dry when he challenged you?”, the smirk returned as she said it.
“Barely” was my response to her question, “I’m glad he did, saved me time from having to hunt his big ugly ass down.” “The world has enough monsters, love.” She nodded along without comment, mostly because she knows me well. I’m not the type of person to allow a debt to go unpaid. I Owed him a receipt of sorts, and I damn sure planned to make sure that was paid in full. “Is that “Betty” I saw by the door with your bags?”, she asked with only slightly contained amusement. “Betty” was the fifteen-pound sledgehammer that I only took out of storage for special occasions. I nodded to her as I took another sip. “Yeah, she needed some air and a stretch of the legs will do her some good.”, I said with a smile and a light chuckle.
“Would you like me to give Queenie your regards while I’m there?”, I said with a coy smile. She shook her head in disgust, “Only if it’s from the end of that sledgehammer.”, she replied in a very blunt force trauma kind of way. That was one of the truly amazing things about my wife. She was always straight to the point, she hated Queenie, that hadn’t changed. They had fought once before and Amber had destroyed her in the ring. Of course, that was the fate of many of the people she had faced over the years.
“So, you’re going monster hunting without me?”, she asked with a coy smile. I returned the smile in kind, “Well, with your schedule, I know you wouldn’t have time for this trip.” She rolled her eyes in response. “I mean, you have that world title to defend, and Bombshell’s to destroy.” A more genuine smile from Amber this time causes me to chuckle a bit. She knew I was right but we are still in the newlywed phase of our marriage and I hoped it stayed that way for a long time to come. “Do they even know what you are bringing to the table when they signed you?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure they do, my history there wasn’t terribly long but it’s history all the same.” She nodded at my statement. “I guess”, she said as another thought occurred to her. Then a slightly evil smile played across her face. “If they don’t get it, make sure you make them understand, darl”. I returned that smile, “Oh, I have every intention of doing that whether they know it yet or not.” With that, I excused myself and started to head inside.
Looking over my shoulder I said to her, “I best get to work.” I said with a smile, “I owe them a promotional video for this one and I don’t want to keep them waiting too long.”. She smiled and nodded, “Duty calls, then.” I finished the last sip of my coffee and took it with me as I walked into the house. I had a real issue with other people cleaning up after me. A little too OCD I supposed. I set the cup in the sink, running water into it, and then it went into the dishwasher that was already partially opened.
Fade
[“Violence is a language I understand well” - In-Studio]
I entered the studio of our home, I have to smile every time I come in here. The primary reason is that it’s one of the things that Amber and I have built together. I shut the door and hesitate for a moment, I snap my fingers and the sound is gone almost as quickly as it was made. “That’s a thing of beauty, right there.”, I mused to myself. The noise-canceling foam is a light color, I’ve always felt the brighter the better. The reason being is that many of these so-called monsters, like to cut their promo’s in dark rooms as if we are all scared of the dark or something. I take my hat off and set it on a table as I dig my bandanna out of my back pocket. I shake it out, looking at the design, an old one, skull, and crossbones on a Texas colors field, the red and blue always warms my heart. I smile at the memories in that piece of headgear that I used mostly for riding. I wrap it around my head, tying it in the back. I press the record button on the remote and the red light comes on indicating that it’s recording. I allow my Texas accent to come through heavy as I begin.
“Hey, Y’all! The Oh cee dub faithful already know who I am and unless you’ve been living under a rock you already know my reputation as well.”
That wasn’t really the opening I had planned but it felt right. So I continued.
“The ink on my contract was barely dry when Suma decided to challenge me on social media. Now that, ladies and gentleman, made me smile more than a little bit.”
My smile blooms like a rose in the sun at the thought of that big monster challenging me.
“Many of you may not agree with what I’m about to say. Feel free to mute your volume...I’ll wait.”
I cock my head to the side, still smiling.
“When you are coming into a company, the best way to leave an impression is to take the baddest motherfucker on the roster and punch him in the mouth. I say you likely won’t agree because most of you don’t view him as the baddest motherfucker on the roster.”
Straightening my head back up I smirk.
“He’s not a technical wrestler, he’s a human fucking tank boys and girls. Why would the baddest dog in the yard challenge me?”
The smirk turns into a smile again.
“It’s not hard to figure out, fear.”
Still smiling I continue on.
“He sees me as a threat to his claim of being the baddest of the bad in oh see dub. He believes me to be an invader of his turf, little does he know that it’s quite the opposite. This company was a place I called home, long before I had even heard his name. He is only part of the reason that I accepted the contract offer from oh see dub. I saw what was going on with the rival company and felt like I could help. When you’re waging a war, you have to have warriors to do the dirty work. That’s who and what I am, I was born to this, I didn’t discover it by accident. I didn’t stumble into an opportunity because I was fucking bored!”
I can feel the heat coming to my face as I discuss one of the things that I am extremely passionate about. Exhaling slowly to calm my pulse, I continue.
“Supreme Machine; It’s not often that I get to share a ring with someone of equal size and brutality. Am I scared of him? Psssh...not hardly. There’s not a man or woman walking the face of this earth that I fear. If you knew my history or my story if you will, you’d understand why.”
Pausing for dramatic effect, my smile remains as I continue.
“When a man, has seen lives extinguished before his eyes…”
“Seen his own life flash before his eyes….”
“What exactly is there that’s left to fear?”
I look back to the wall where family pictures decorate the control room for our studio. Pictures of Amber and me on our wedding day, surrounded by friends and family. The pictures of my old company when I was in the navy and stationed in Puerto Rico. My children, who are now adults and making a way in the world for themselves. I look back at the camera.
“Nothing.”
My gaze hardens as I move this video towards its conclusion.
“At Massacre, we settle the score, Suma. Whether it’s a one-and-done scenario or just the beginning of a blood feud, doesn’t fucking matter to me. Let’s be honest though unless I put you out of wrestling, this cannot be a one-and-done situation can it?”
“No”
“I know you already know this about me big fella, but I feel it needs to be said. Every punch I throw is intended to knock you the fuck out. There are not a lot of men in this industry who can claim to hit harder than I do. Every move I execute is intended to injure you to the point where you cannot continue. My execution is second to none in this sport, I can say that because I have the trophies and the longevity to back that shit up. The last bit of knowledge I’ll impart upon you is this. I’ve made a career out of destabilizing factions and slaying so-called monsters. They all have a few things in common. They all believe that they are different than anyone I’ve ever faced before. They all think that they are a rare breed of competitors, and the last thing they all have in common? They are all just part of the body count, nothing more and nothing less. What was it you said? Survive if I let you? That’s cute and so nineteen-nineties, kid. I give you credit, at least you didn’t tell me you were going to be the bane of my existence. I haven’t used that in a long time. Shit, it’s better to leave some things buried. To be clear, my survival is not your call Suma. To think otherwise is the height of arrogance. Arrogance will get more than your feelings hurt, Chief.”
I grab the remote and kill the feed. Unknown to me at the time it continued recording.
“It’s a shame really, he and I could have been allies in another place and time. Too bad he is so presumptuous about his ability or my lack of it.”
I take a seat in the office chair with my back to the camera.
“Only thing left to do is to go show him how wrong he is about a great many things.”
Fade.
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.” – Albert Einstein
[“Monster Hunter” - The Bane Home - Las Vegas, Nevada]
The crispness of the fall air was refreshing, cool enough to be neither warm nor cold. It was my favorite time of year. The feeling in the air made me smile as I stoked the fire pit on the back patio of the home that I shared with Amber. We were coming up on one year as a married couple and that caused my smile to broaden as she stepped out onto the patio with our coffee. I stepped away from the pit and accepted the proffered cup of coffee. Taking a sip, I allow the caffeine to kiss my soul and I smile again. With a smirk, she asked me, “Someone is in a good mood this morning. Why would that be?” I gave her a smirk of my own and replied, “My debut and you, sweet girl.” She rolled her eyes, “You know good and damn well that there’s nothing sweet about me.” It was an age-old “argument” between us. “And facing Suma in your debut?”, she paused for a moment before continuing. “That didn’t take long, was the ink on the contract even dry when he challenged you?”, the smirk returned as she said it.
“Barely” was my response to her question, “I’m glad he did, saved me time from having to hunt his big ugly ass down.” “The world has enough monsters, love.” She nodded along without comment, mostly because she knows me well. I’m not the type of person to allow a debt to go unpaid. I Owed him a receipt of sorts, and I damn sure planned to make sure that was paid in full. “Is that “Betty” I saw by the door with your bags?”, she asked with only slightly contained amusement. “Betty” was the fifteen-pound sledgehammer that I only took out of storage for special occasions. I nodded to her as I took another sip. “Yeah, she needed some air and a stretch of the legs will do her some good.”, I said with a smile and a light chuckle.
“Would you like me to give Queenie your regards while I’m there?”, I said with a coy smile. She shook her head in disgust, “Only if it’s from the end of that sledgehammer.”, she replied in a very blunt force trauma kind of way. That was one of the truly amazing things about my wife. She was always straight to the point, she hated Queenie, that hadn’t changed. They had fought once before and Amber had destroyed her in the ring. Of course, that was the fate of many of the people she had faced over the years.
“So, you’re going monster hunting without me?”, she asked with a coy smile. I returned the smile in kind, “Well, with your schedule, I know you wouldn’t have time for this trip.” She rolled her eyes in response. “I mean, you have that world title to defend, and Bombshell’s to destroy.” A more genuine smile from Amber this time causes me to chuckle a bit. She knew I was right but we are still in the newlywed phase of our marriage and I hoped it stayed that way for a long time to come. “Do they even know what you are bringing to the table when they signed you?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure they do, my history there wasn’t terribly long but it’s history all the same.” She nodded at my statement. “I guess”, she said as another thought occurred to her. Then a slightly evil smile played across her face. “If they don’t get it, make sure you make them understand, darl”. I returned that smile, “Oh, I have every intention of doing that whether they know it yet or not.” With that, I excused myself and started to head inside.
Looking over my shoulder I said to her, “I best get to work.” I said with a smile, “I owe them a promotional video for this one and I don’t want to keep them waiting too long.”. She smiled and nodded, “Duty calls, then.” I finished the last sip of my coffee and took it with me as I walked into the house. I had a real issue with other people cleaning up after me. A little too OCD I supposed. I set the cup in the sink, running water into it, and then it went into the dishwasher that was already partially opened.
Fade
[“Violence is a language I understand well” - In-Studio]
I entered the studio of our home, I have to smile every time I come in here. The primary reason is that it’s one of the things that Amber and I have built together. I shut the door and hesitate for a moment, I snap my fingers and the sound is gone almost as quickly as it was made. “That’s a thing of beauty, right there.”, I mused to myself. The noise-canceling foam is a light color, I’ve always felt the brighter the better. The reason being is that many of these so-called monsters, like to cut their promo’s in dark rooms as if we are all scared of the dark or something. I take my hat off and set it on a table as I dig my bandanna out of my back pocket. I shake it out, looking at the design, an old one, skull, and crossbones on a Texas colors field, the red and blue always warms my heart. I smile at the memories in that piece of headgear that I used mostly for riding. I wrap it around my head, tying it in the back. I press the record button on the remote and the red light comes on indicating that it’s recording. I allow my Texas accent to come through heavy as I begin.
“Hey, Y’all! The Oh cee dub faithful already know who I am and unless you’ve been living under a rock you already know my reputation as well.”
That wasn’t really the opening I had planned but it felt right. So I continued.
“The ink on my contract was barely dry when Suma decided to challenge me on social media. Now that, ladies and gentleman, made me smile more than a little bit.”
My smile blooms like a rose in the sun at the thought of that big monster challenging me.
“Many of you may not agree with what I’m about to say. Feel free to mute your volume...I’ll wait.”
I cock my head to the side, still smiling.
“When you are coming into a company, the best way to leave an impression is to take the baddest motherfucker on the roster and punch him in the mouth. I say you likely won’t agree because most of you don’t view him as the baddest motherfucker on the roster.”
Straightening my head back up I smirk.
“He’s not a technical wrestler, he’s a human fucking tank boys and girls. Why would the baddest dog in the yard challenge me?”
The smirk turns into a smile again.
“It’s not hard to figure out, fear.”
Still smiling I continue on.
“He sees me as a threat to his claim of being the baddest of the bad in oh see dub. He believes me to be an invader of his turf, little does he know that it’s quite the opposite. This company was a place I called home, long before I had even heard his name. He is only part of the reason that I accepted the contract offer from oh see dub. I saw what was going on with the rival company and felt like I could help. When you’re waging a war, you have to have warriors to do the dirty work. That’s who and what I am, I was born to this, I didn’t discover it by accident. I didn’t stumble into an opportunity because I was fucking bored!”
I can feel the heat coming to my face as I discuss one of the things that I am extremely passionate about. Exhaling slowly to calm my pulse, I continue.
“Supreme Machine; It’s not often that I get to share a ring with someone of equal size and brutality. Am I scared of him? Psssh...not hardly. There’s not a man or woman walking the face of this earth that I fear. If you knew my history or my story if you will, you’d understand why.”
Pausing for dramatic effect, my smile remains as I continue.
“When a man, has seen lives extinguished before his eyes…”
“Seen his own life flash before his eyes….”
“What exactly is there that’s left to fear?”
I look back to the wall where family pictures decorate the control room for our studio. Pictures of Amber and me on our wedding day, surrounded by friends and family. The pictures of my old company when I was in the navy and stationed in Puerto Rico. My children, who are now adults and making a way in the world for themselves. I look back at the camera.
“Nothing.”
My gaze hardens as I move this video towards its conclusion.
“At Massacre, we settle the score, Suma. Whether it’s a one-and-done scenario or just the beginning of a blood feud, doesn’t fucking matter to me. Let’s be honest though unless I put you out of wrestling, this cannot be a one-and-done situation can it?”
“No”
“I know you already know this about me big fella, but I feel it needs to be said. Every punch I throw is intended to knock you the fuck out. There are not a lot of men in this industry who can claim to hit harder than I do. Every move I execute is intended to injure you to the point where you cannot continue. My execution is second to none in this sport, I can say that because I have the trophies and the longevity to back that shit up. The last bit of knowledge I’ll impart upon you is this. I’ve made a career out of destabilizing factions and slaying so-called monsters. They all have a few things in common. They all believe that they are different than anyone I’ve ever faced before. They all think that they are a rare breed of competitors, and the last thing they all have in common? They are all just part of the body count, nothing more and nothing less. What was it you said? Survive if I let you? That’s cute and so nineteen-nineties, kid. I give you credit, at least you didn’t tell me you were going to be the bane of my existence. I haven’t used that in a long time. Shit, it’s better to leave some things buried. To be clear, my survival is not your call Suma. To think otherwise is the height of arrogance. Arrogance will get more than your feelings hurt, Chief.”
I grab the remote and kill the feed. Unknown to me at the time it continued recording.
“It’s a shame really, he and I could have been allies in another place and time. Too bad he is so presumptuous about his ability or my lack of it.”
I take a seat in the office chair with my back to the camera.
“Only thing left to do is to go show him how wrong he is about a great many things.”
Fade.