Post by Dylan Thomas on Dec 9, 2022 18:49:51 GMT -5
Coming off of the win with Frankie Larossia at Dystopia 27, Dylan Thomas should have been happy. He was back to his winning ways after all. No thanks in any small part to the behemoth of the A-List Family, of course but nonetheless. A win is a win. But he isn’t happy. He sits at a bar - somewhere, looking deep into his bottle of beer. His face dishevelled. He has about four days worth of stubble on him. This Dylan Thomas is not the ‘Perfection, Personified’ looking Dylan Thomas that we are all used to. On the bar, his phone is set to vibrate but he either ignores it or doesn’t hear it. The bartender behind the bar periodically looks over at our boy, checking that Dylan is OK whilst cleaning a glass or two. The bartender notices Dylan’s phone and he walks over to Dylan to get his attention.
Bartender: Hey, buddy.
Dylan looks up at the bartender but says nothing. His phone continues to buzz.
Bartender: Buddy… you gonna get that?
Dylan: Huh?
Bartender: Your phone has been going off for the past forty-five minutes, friend. You’re either extremely popular, or you got someone worryin’ ‘bout ya.
Dylan: Gimme another beer.
The bartender nods, taking Dylan’s money as Dylan checks his phone. He notices who it is and switches it off, putting it into his pocket. Dylan sighs a heavy sigh accepting the beer once the bartender brings it over.
Bartender: Tough week, huh?
Dylan nods, sipping the beer bottle but says no more than that.
Bartender: You ain’t much of a talker, huh?
Dylan shakes his head.
Dylan: Not at the moment, man. No.
Dylan stands up, sliding the beer glass to the bartender in thanks and walks out of the bar.
================================================================
Meanwhile, Lissandra Thomas is with Lord Allton at a Hollywood Police Station frantic with worry. Lord Allton meanwhile is doing his best to keep a level head, despite the fact that one of his oldest friends has gone AWOL.
Police officer: ….And Mrs Thomas when was the last time that you saw your husband?
Lissandra takes a moment to compose herself and sighs.
Lissandra: Well to be honest with you, it's about a week or so.
Police officer: It's been a week and you're only just letting us know now?
Lissandra: I know, OK?!
Police officer: Does your husband make a habit of going AWOL?
Lissandra: No, of course he doesn’t! It-it’s just…
Lissandra begins to cry, putting her head on Lord Allton’s shoulder. This conversation goes on for a while.
================================================================
It’s about an hour since Dylan left the bar. He walks down a street, still not entirely sure where he is. But as he wanders down the street he bumps into some men in weird costumes. They greet him and Dylan readies himself for a fight.
Man#1: Woah there, friend. We are disciples of peace! We do not wish to fight you. Are you lost, friend? You look lost.
Dylan: Well… yeah, I must say, I’m not entirely sure where I am right now.
Man#2: Brother Ichabod did not mean that my friend. He meant in your eyes. We can see it in your eyes. You have lost your way brother. We can see it. We can help you. I am Brother Jeremiah. We represent the Children of The Vard. We ARE the Children of the Vard. And we can help you brother….
Ichabod: What’s your name, brother?
Dylan: Dylan. Isn’t ‘vard’ Swedish for ‘Wolf’?
Jeremiah: Yes, Brother Dylan! And we welcome you into our Pack, just as wolves adopt pups that are not their own.
Dylan: Er….I’m not interested in joining some weird cult. I’m sorry.
Dylan begins to walk away but Ichabod and Jeremiah stop him. They calmly but tightly put their arms around his shoulders, securing him.
Jeremiah: Before you say anything Brother Dylan…. We’re not some ‘weird cult’. Cults are evil. We’re just a group of very like-minded individuals who believe in and are devoted to something higher than us.
Dylan: You have literally just described the definition of the word ‘cult’.
Both Jeremiah and Ichabod calmly shake their heads as they slowly walk Dylan towards the tall building that the two of them emerged from.
Ichabod: Brother Dylan, before you make any rash decisions, at least take the time to meet our leader?
Jeremiah: It is the least you can do? Trust us….we mean you no harm, Brother Dylan. The Children of the Vard look after our own.
Dylan sighs and reluctantly, he agrees. Inside the building, on the ground floor it is very corporate. A fountain is in the middle of the room running tranquilly. There are leather chairs all over the room and in the far end of the room there is an elevator. Jeremiah and Ichabod walk Dylan towards the elevator and Ichabod presses the button. Inside the lift, Dylan looks at Jeremiah and Ichabod. The two of them smile at him, earnestly.
Dylan: So…Ichabod? Jeremiah?
Jeremiah: Yes, Brother Dylan.
Dylan: Your Leader? What is their name?
Ichabod: You’ll see soon enough.
The three get out of the elevator and walk down a corridor passing a large room with other Children doing a weird dance and meditation. Briefly Dylan looks through the doorway and is confused. Eventually they stop at a large mahogany door with a picture of a Golden Wolf on it. They knock and wait.
A few seconds pass and then they hear ‘enter!’ and so do as requested. Inside the room is an elegant, tall, blonde woman facing away from them. Without turning to face them, she speaks.
Woman: Brothers Ichabod and Jeremiah. You have done well. Leave us.
Jeremiah and Ichabod nod and bow their heads down* as the woman asks and they shut the door.
Woman: You are welcome here. I am the She-Wolf of the Pack. I am Lopa. Dylan Thomas, know that we as the Children of the Vard mean you no harm. We wish in fact to celebrate you. Please, sit.
Lopa gestures to her desk where there is a chair on either side. Dylan sits on a chair, looking up at the still standing Lopa.
Dylan: You know who I am?
Lopa: Oh yes.
Dylan: Your cronies downstairs had no idea.
Lopa: Brothers Ichabod and Jeremiah aren’t the brightest in my pack, but they are very good at bringing to me who I need to bring to me. You see, Dylan… I have been watching you for some time. I have been watching you flounder like a dying fish ever since Djibouti and I want to show you a real Family to which you could belong. Not like that fake A-List Family over in your little wrestling federation. With the Children of the Vard behind you, there is NOTHING that you could not accomplish.
Dylan: Er… Listen, I’m sure that my wife is looking for me. I better check in and tell her that I’m OK.
Lopa: You had the chance to do so earlier this evening did you not? But you chose not to.
Dylan: How on Earth did you know that?!
Lopa gestures to an until now hidden figure in the corner of the room. The figure walks forward revealing himself to be none other than the bartender at the bar!
Lopa: As you can see, Dylan, we are EVERYWHERE. And all we want to do is help you grow stronger. You, Dylan are the one to stand by my side and lead the pack with me. SHE has shown me.
Dylan: SHE who?
Lopa: Why, our Goddess of course. Ulv. Our Golden Goddess.
Lopa gestures to the pictures adorning the room of the Golden Wolf that Dylan saw earlier.
Lopa: And Ulv has shown me that facing Shane Donovan next week at your wrestling show is the first step in the right direction. Ulv wants you to take your rightful place as the Alpha-Male of the Pack. Your rightful place is leading the Pack as the Alpha, next to me as She-Wolf. Am I not correct Brother Cedric?
Dylan turns to the bartender who nods.
Cedric: Oh yes, guiding She-Wolf. The words of our Golden Goddess come to you directly of course.
Lopa: You may leave.
Cedric nods and Dylan grows increasingly more confused by the minute.
Lopa: And after you soundly defeat Shane Donovan next week, not only will you take your rightful place as Alpha of the Pack and become a fellow Child of the Vard but you will also fulfil Ulv’s second prophecy which will no doubt help you….
Dylan: Oh?
Lopa: Our Golden Goddess has prophesied that you will not only become the Alpha within the Children of the Vard, but you will become the Alpha in OCW as well. And we as a Pack stick together. All you have to do, is say yes and things can begin. You are at the moment, down on your luck and we can dig you out of it. Like a real Family should. Your wife doesn’t really love you. Your A-List Family don’t care for you. WE are the only ones to matter to you.
Lopa lifts a tea cup and offers Dylan a drink which he accepts.
Lopa: But before we continue, I want to see you do one of those message things.
Dylan: A promo?
Lopa: Yes! A promo yes!
Dylan shrugs his shoulders.
================================================================
Dylan: Shane Donovan….well now don’t I feel awkward? You seem to know everything about me, but I don’t know the first thing about you. I have seen you around the back in OCW but we’ve never really had the pleasure. Well…actually that’s a lie. I do know one thing about you. You’re a former member of the GCWA roster. GCWA is where I made my return to the wrestling business! And yes, you’re right - I am a former Savage and Craze Champion but I am also GCWA’s FIRST EVER North American Champion! And I beat the longest reigning X-Division Champion in Crazy Chris. A feat which, everyone and their grandmother said couldn’t be done. A feat which Crazy Chris is still rather salty about to this day.
Now, it’s true that as of late, I’m rather in a rut. Things haven’t really gone right since returning from Djibouti. But a man is far more dangerous when he has nothing left to lose don’t you think? As I said I’ve seen you around, but we haven’t spoken. However one thing that I have done, as I always do is done my in-ring homework on you. I’ve seen you in a few matches.
I’ll give you credit, Donavan. You are as every bit as good as you claim to be. You’re a former GCWA Champion in your own right, after all.
So I’ll do you the same courtesy that you’re apparently going to give to me and not overlook you. A wise choice indeed. But I don’t care about any offers you have for me. The only thing that matters, Shane is a win for me in the W column. Right now, Shane-o nothing else matters to me! Nothing!
The Rumble, you’re right. I fucked up but I have to be honest… I’m bored now Shane. I’m bored of every single nay-sayer saying exactly the same thing that you have been saying. Including the Massacre Faithful. So… to prove you all wrong on Monday, I’ll be doing what I can do best and that’s laying you out with the Perfect Finisher.
So I’ll tell you what OCW, throw me to the wolves if you think that you can, because I swear I’ll come back leading the Pack. And Shane? That isn’t a threat, it’s a goddamn promise.
I don’t want to know if you’re ‘coming’ for me though. What you do in your free time is your business buddy. Just don’t expect me to be flattered. On Monday though, I expect you to be flattened when my win is nothing short of Perfection Personified!
================================================================
With that, Lopa smiles a coy smile. The screen fades as she continues to talk. Dylan drinks more tea but blacks out as the screen fades out!
The end? Not by a long shot
—------------------------
Word Count: 20,36
Bartender: Hey, buddy.
Dylan looks up at the bartender but says nothing. His phone continues to buzz.
Bartender: Buddy… you gonna get that?
Dylan: Huh?
Bartender: Your phone has been going off for the past forty-five minutes, friend. You’re either extremely popular, or you got someone worryin’ ‘bout ya.
Dylan: Gimme another beer.
The bartender nods, taking Dylan’s money as Dylan checks his phone. He notices who it is and switches it off, putting it into his pocket. Dylan sighs a heavy sigh accepting the beer once the bartender brings it over.
Bartender: Tough week, huh?
Dylan nods, sipping the beer bottle but says no more than that.
Bartender: You ain’t much of a talker, huh?
Dylan shakes his head.
Dylan: Not at the moment, man. No.
Dylan stands up, sliding the beer glass to the bartender in thanks and walks out of the bar.
================================================================
Meanwhile, Lissandra Thomas is with Lord Allton at a Hollywood Police Station frantic with worry. Lord Allton meanwhile is doing his best to keep a level head, despite the fact that one of his oldest friends has gone AWOL.
Police officer: ….And Mrs Thomas when was the last time that you saw your husband?
Lissandra takes a moment to compose herself and sighs.
Lissandra: Well to be honest with you, it's about a week or so.
Police officer: It's been a week and you're only just letting us know now?
Lissandra: I know, OK?!
Police officer: Does your husband make a habit of going AWOL?
Lissandra: No, of course he doesn’t! It-it’s just…
Lissandra begins to cry, putting her head on Lord Allton’s shoulder. This conversation goes on for a while.
================================================================
It’s about an hour since Dylan left the bar. He walks down a street, still not entirely sure where he is. But as he wanders down the street he bumps into some men in weird costumes. They greet him and Dylan readies himself for a fight.
Man#1: Woah there, friend. We are disciples of peace! We do not wish to fight you. Are you lost, friend? You look lost.
Dylan: Well… yeah, I must say, I’m not entirely sure where I am right now.
Man#2: Brother Ichabod did not mean that my friend. He meant in your eyes. We can see it in your eyes. You have lost your way brother. We can see it. We can help you. I am Brother Jeremiah. We represent the Children of The Vard. We ARE the Children of the Vard. And we can help you brother….
Ichabod: What’s your name, brother?
Dylan: Dylan. Isn’t ‘vard’ Swedish for ‘Wolf’?
Jeremiah: Yes, Brother Dylan! And we welcome you into our Pack, just as wolves adopt pups that are not their own.
Dylan: Er….I’m not interested in joining some weird cult. I’m sorry.
Dylan begins to walk away but Ichabod and Jeremiah stop him. They calmly but tightly put their arms around his shoulders, securing him.
Jeremiah: Before you say anything Brother Dylan…. We’re not some ‘weird cult’. Cults are evil. We’re just a group of very like-minded individuals who believe in and are devoted to something higher than us.
Dylan: You have literally just described the definition of the word ‘cult’.
Both Jeremiah and Ichabod calmly shake their heads as they slowly walk Dylan towards the tall building that the two of them emerged from.
Ichabod: Brother Dylan, before you make any rash decisions, at least take the time to meet our leader?
Jeremiah: It is the least you can do? Trust us….we mean you no harm, Brother Dylan. The Children of the Vard look after our own.
Dylan sighs and reluctantly, he agrees. Inside the building, on the ground floor it is very corporate. A fountain is in the middle of the room running tranquilly. There are leather chairs all over the room and in the far end of the room there is an elevator. Jeremiah and Ichabod walk Dylan towards the elevator and Ichabod presses the button. Inside the lift, Dylan looks at Jeremiah and Ichabod. The two of them smile at him, earnestly.
Dylan: So…Ichabod? Jeremiah?
Jeremiah: Yes, Brother Dylan.
Dylan: Your Leader? What is their name?
Ichabod: You’ll see soon enough.
The three get out of the elevator and walk down a corridor passing a large room with other Children doing a weird dance and meditation. Briefly Dylan looks through the doorway and is confused. Eventually they stop at a large mahogany door with a picture of a Golden Wolf on it. They knock and wait.
A few seconds pass and then they hear ‘enter!’ and so do as requested. Inside the room is an elegant, tall, blonde woman facing away from them. Without turning to face them, she speaks.
Woman: Brothers Ichabod and Jeremiah. You have done well. Leave us.
Jeremiah and Ichabod nod and bow their heads down* as the woman asks and they shut the door.
Woman: You are welcome here. I am the She-Wolf of the Pack. I am Lopa. Dylan Thomas, know that we as the Children of the Vard mean you no harm. We wish in fact to celebrate you. Please, sit.
Lopa gestures to her desk where there is a chair on either side. Dylan sits on a chair, looking up at the still standing Lopa.
Dylan: You know who I am?
Lopa: Oh yes.
Dylan: Your cronies downstairs had no idea.
Lopa: Brothers Ichabod and Jeremiah aren’t the brightest in my pack, but they are very good at bringing to me who I need to bring to me. You see, Dylan… I have been watching you for some time. I have been watching you flounder like a dying fish ever since Djibouti and I want to show you a real Family to which you could belong. Not like that fake A-List Family over in your little wrestling federation. With the Children of the Vard behind you, there is NOTHING that you could not accomplish.
Dylan: Er… Listen, I’m sure that my wife is looking for me. I better check in and tell her that I’m OK.
Lopa: You had the chance to do so earlier this evening did you not? But you chose not to.
Dylan: How on Earth did you know that?!
Lopa gestures to an until now hidden figure in the corner of the room. The figure walks forward revealing himself to be none other than the bartender at the bar!
Lopa: As you can see, Dylan, we are EVERYWHERE. And all we want to do is help you grow stronger. You, Dylan are the one to stand by my side and lead the pack with me. SHE has shown me.
Dylan: SHE who?
Lopa: Why, our Goddess of course. Ulv. Our Golden Goddess.
Lopa gestures to the pictures adorning the room of the Golden Wolf that Dylan saw earlier.
Lopa: And Ulv has shown me that facing Shane Donovan next week at your wrestling show is the first step in the right direction. Ulv wants you to take your rightful place as the Alpha-Male of the Pack. Your rightful place is leading the Pack as the Alpha, next to me as She-Wolf. Am I not correct Brother Cedric?
Dylan turns to the bartender who nods.
Cedric: Oh yes, guiding She-Wolf. The words of our Golden Goddess come to you directly of course.
Lopa: You may leave.
Cedric nods and Dylan grows increasingly more confused by the minute.
Lopa: And after you soundly defeat Shane Donovan next week, not only will you take your rightful place as Alpha of the Pack and become a fellow Child of the Vard but you will also fulfil Ulv’s second prophecy which will no doubt help you….
Dylan: Oh?
Lopa: Our Golden Goddess has prophesied that you will not only become the Alpha within the Children of the Vard, but you will become the Alpha in OCW as well. And we as a Pack stick together. All you have to do, is say yes and things can begin. You are at the moment, down on your luck and we can dig you out of it. Like a real Family should. Your wife doesn’t really love you. Your A-List Family don’t care for you. WE are the only ones to matter to you.
Lopa lifts a tea cup and offers Dylan a drink which he accepts.
Lopa: But before we continue, I want to see you do one of those message things.
Dylan: A promo?
Lopa: Yes! A promo yes!
Dylan shrugs his shoulders.
================================================================
Dylan: Shane Donovan….well now don’t I feel awkward? You seem to know everything about me, but I don’t know the first thing about you. I have seen you around the back in OCW but we’ve never really had the pleasure. Well…actually that’s a lie. I do know one thing about you. You’re a former member of the GCWA roster. GCWA is where I made my return to the wrestling business! And yes, you’re right - I am a former Savage and Craze Champion but I am also GCWA’s FIRST EVER North American Champion! And I beat the longest reigning X-Division Champion in Crazy Chris. A feat which, everyone and their grandmother said couldn’t be done. A feat which Crazy Chris is still rather salty about to this day.
Now, it’s true that as of late, I’m rather in a rut. Things haven’t really gone right since returning from Djibouti. But a man is far more dangerous when he has nothing left to lose don’t you think? As I said I’ve seen you around, but we haven’t spoken. However one thing that I have done, as I always do is done my in-ring homework on you. I’ve seen you in a few matches.
I’ll give you credit, Donavan. You are as every bit as good as you claim to be. You’re a former GCWA Champion in your own right, after all.
So I’ll do you the same courtesy that you’re apparently going to give to me and not overlook you. A wise choice indeed. But I don’t care about any offers you have for me. The only thing that matters, Shane is a win for me in the W column. Right now, Shane-o nothing else matters to me! Nothing!
The Rumble, you’re right. I fucked up but I have to be honest… I’m bored now Shane. I’m bored of every single nay-sayer saying exactly the same thing that you have been saying. Including the Massacre Faithful. So… to prove you all wrong on Monday, I’ll be doing what I can do best and that’s laying you out with the Perfect Finisher.
So I’ll tell you what OCW, throw me to the wolves if you think that you can, because I swear I’ll come back leading the Pack. And Shane? That isn’t a threat, it’s a goddamn promise.
I don’t want to know if you’re ‘coming’ for me though. What you do in your free time is your business buddy. Just don’t expect me to be flattered. On Monday though, I expect you to be flattened when my win is nothing short of Perfection Personified!
================================================================
With that, Lopa smiles a coy smile. The screen fades as she continues to talk. Dylan drinks more tea but blacks out as the screen fades out!
The end? Not by a long shot
—------------------------
Word Count: 20,36