Post by Mr.Ego on Dec 4, 2013 17:50:13 GMT -5
Synergy – December 2, 2013 – Post Match
[Vain slides out of the ring and grabs a microphone from off of the announcers table. As he begins to make his way to the back, he speaks.
Vain: "Mr. Somers…Mr. Pierce…Vain has one request: HORIZONS…’The Money Maker’ versus Ichabod…TOURNAMENTAL.”
Vain drops the mic and continues up the ramp, disappearing behind the curtain, as >\/< and Jezebel Saint lie in the center of the ring.]
Synergy – December 2, 2013 - Backstage
Vain slowly walks through the back, the shit-eating grin that normally resides on his face nowhere in sight. Deeply entrenched in whatever thoughts are dominating his mind, he doesn’t hear his name being yelled until the person is right beside him. As the man taps him on the shoulder, Vain’s trance is broken, and he wheels around with a closed fist, coming mere inches away from putting UGWC Backstage Interviewer Grey Coppi down for a nap.
Coppi does his best to cover up and jump back, closing his eyes as he fully expected to see stars and then hit the floor. When neither come, he slowly opens his eyes, and sees Vain staring down at him. Coppi’s eyes dart from Vain’s face, to Vain’s still-clinched right fist. Time seems to stand still for Grey Coppi, as he still is unsure if Vain is going to deck him or not. He finally breathes a sigh of relief as Vain relaxes his hand, straightening it out.
“That’s a good way to weasel your way into some Short Term Disability, Coppi, though depending on whom you sneak up on in the future, that could very easily turn into Long Term Disability.”
Coppi nervously chuckles at Vain’s comment, as he still glances down at Vain’s hand. Slowly regaining his composure, he speaks.
“Vain, judging from the reaction of the fans here tonight, as well as Twitter blowing up over what was just witnessed, there is only one question on everyone’s mind: Why?”
Vain’s eyes narrow, as he looks down at the reporter. Showing no emotion, he speaks.
“Why? Tell ‘The Vain One’ one thing, Coppi…why not?”
Unsure how to respond, Coppi is silent for a few seconds. Shaking his head from side to side, he responds.
“Why not? Vain, pardon me for saying this, but your actions haven’t made a lick of sense lately. You issue an open challenge, and then disappear for multiple weeks…your challenge is pseudo-accepted with a contingency, which you ignore…you profess your admiration for someone that you call a friend, and then turn on him…and then you yell out the name of the man that you have gone out of your way to avoid mentioning. How do you explain any of that?”
Vain stares at Coppi for many silent moments, causing the esteemed interviewer to take a step back, out of fear that he may indeed meet ‘The Money Maker’s’ fist after all. Out of nowhere, Vain slaps him on the shoulder, and then lets out a thunderous laugh, causing a few of the backstage technicians to turn and look at him. He pays them no mind, because quite honestly, why would he? Once his laugh fades to a series of light giggles, he replies.
“Coppi, Coppi, Coppi…life is full questions that people yearn to have answered. And more times than not, if a person digs deep enough, he will that find that which he so excitedly seeks. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times, Coppi. Vain would much rather read your next series of tweets, as he is sure if you think long enough and hard enough, you won’t need ‘The Vain One’s’ response, in order to find the words that you are looking for.”
“Now…if you would be so kind, Vain must excuse himself. It seems that Vain’s dressing room is in dire need of a good cleaning.”
With that, Vain turns and walks away, leaving Grey Coppi alone with his thoughts.
Synergy – December 2, 2013 – A few moments after the show
Normally, this would be a time when Vain and Candi would be gathering their belongings, and getting ready to fly back to Miami. But with HORIZONS looming, Vain had taken no chances this week. He knows the derogatory manner in which he can come off towards people, and he knows that there are many Entertainment Professionals within the UGWC locker room that would love nothing more than to shut him up. Permanently. As such, Vain had made the decision to have Candi stay home this week. Sure, she wasn’t happy about it, but Vain gave her no choice. And judging from what happened, it looks like that was the right decision.
Vain stands in the doorway of the area that used to be his dressing room. The pitter-patter of water is heard dripping in various spots of the dressing room, the result of the raging inferno that had burned a few hours ago being put out by the fire department. Vain enters the room, gaining a full view of the carnage that raged.
He sighs as he takes notice of the many full length mirrors that had resided here, all of them blackened from the bellowing smoke and raging fire that had consumed them. Many of them had cracked due to the immense heat. They had served well, but were casualties of ‘The Vain One’s very own attitude and demeanor. ‘Mr. Ego’, indeed.
He bristles at the darkened clumps of burnt and frayed fabric, that he once called clothing. Had this vile fiend no couth? Did he not know how expensive these designer items were? Just because they weren’t the customary Wal*Mart specials that Ichabod wore on any and all occasions, they deserved to be cremated in such an inhumane way? Jealousy…such an ignorant, fiery, green-eyed monster.
His eyes finally come to rest on the heap of splintered glass that sits where the bureau once stood. Using his foot, Vain sweeps some of the glass to the side, to reveal the melted piece of metal that Vain lovingly referred to as his ‘Championship de Vanity’. Vain kneels down, picking the belt up with a handkerchief that he pulls from his pocket. He looks at it in silence, before finally breaking into a large grin.
“Vain is glad that you decided to come out and play, Ichy. ‘Mr. Ego’ surely had to wait long enough.”
Holding onto the belt, Vain stands and turns, quickly walking out of the locker room, and disappearing around the corner.
Somewhere in Florida – December 4, 2013 – 03:00
Complete darkness. It’s pretty much what you’d expect at this hour on a Wednesday morning. As the sound of intermittent vehicles – more than likely most of them being truck drivers making overnight runs - pass by on the nearby highway, the sound of broken twigs and leaves rustling is heard off to the right. A dark figure is seen passing by the lens of the camera, but no features are visible, due to the late hour. As the rustling stops, a voice is heard.
Vain’s voice.
“Vain loves when a plan comes together.”
The engulfing darkness is interrupted by the flick of a lighter, and we see that Vain is seated on the ground, with a large duffel bag off to his right. As the slight passing breeze causes the flame to dance lazily off of the top of the Zippo that Vain holds in his left hand, we see him bring his other hand up into view. With his right hand being visible now, we see that he holds a pack of Newport cigarettes. As he looks down at them, he allows his thoughts to wander aloud, speaking to nothing at all…and yet everything at once.
“Vain is glad to see you again, Ichy. You’ve been out of Vain’s life for far too long. Ever since we both competed in Headstrong Wrestling, we were destined to square off with one another, to see who the better man was. For whatever reason, ‘The Furbinator’ decided that keeping the two best wrestlers in his company as far away from each other as possible was the best route to take. Such a decision ultimately led to that company closing, without us being able to determine who was top dog. Wrestling fans worldwide kept asking the same thing; Vain, or Ichabod. Which one truly deserved to be called ‘The Best’? Yet, the best questions are always the ones that seem to go unanswered, aren’t they?”
Vain tosses the pack of cigarettes onto the ground in front of him. Reaching over, he pulls an item out of the duffel bag that rests beside him. He holds the item up within view of the flame. It is a picture of Ichabod, taken after the resurrection of HSW. A resurrection that he helped bring about. Vain scoffs.
“Yet that question could have easily been answered when you and Jesse Banks rebranded HSW, effectively bringing that company back from the dead. Vain was still around. All you had to do was make the decision that Furby was too scared to make. Vain versus Ichabod, for the World Title. It would have been very easy to do, seeing as how Vain was your World Champion. Instead, you hid behind your newfound position, preferring to spit in the faces of the same fans that helped you get to where you were to begin with. Why not give them what they want, Ichy? What did you have to lose, besides your pride and dignity? Would it have really been that bad, to finally know for a fact that ‘The Vain One’ was just plain better than you?”
Vain begins to laugh, as he tears the picture in half, tossing the pieces to the ground in front of him.
“The answer to that question lies in what you allowed to happen, Ichy. As the chants of the crowd grew louder with each passing show, you realized that you couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room for much longer. Vain and Ichabod HAD to come to fruition…it was something that the wrestling world NEEDED to see. And being one of the men that was then running the company, there was no reason for it not to come to fruition. No reason outside of your own insecurities, anyway. And instead of doing the right thing, and stepping into the ring with ‘The Money Maker’ and making history, you instead allowed ‘The Furbinator’ to weasel his way back into the company, and take total control once more. And we know how that turned out, don’t we, Ichy? You know…it was fitting that you decided to burn down ‘Mr. Ego’s’ dressing room at Synergy, Ichy. It was a representation of what you and Jesse allowed to happen to the company that the two of you stated that you loved so much. The entire thing burned down all around us, and you never lifted a finger to try and stop it. And then you were gone.”
Vain reaches into his duffel bag and takes out the charred and half-melted title belt that represented the rise – and fall – of the company where both men became aware of each other’s presence.
“And then lo and behold, our paths seemed destined to finally cross in the squared circle, right here in UGWC. And Vain relished the idea of finally proving to you what he has been saying all along: that nobody can hold Vain’s jock in that ring. And when you disappeared after your scrap with the B-Rated Movie Star whose name escapes me at the moment, the sheer amount of disappointment that Vain felt was immeasurable. But Vain knew of a way to finally get you to show yourself again.”
“Vain’s ego…and the belt that you hated seeing ‘The Vain One’ wear, all those years ago.”
“You question the prestige of this title, claiming in effect that it means nothing, due to you having never held it. Maybe there was a reason for that, Ichy. Maybe you just weren’t championship material. At least not in the ‘Big Leagues’. And ultimately…that’s what gets under your skin more than anything, isn’t it, Ichy? All the years that you struggled to make a name for yourself…all the blood, sweat, and tears that you spilled in your attempt to be the best…and someone like Vain comes in and turns the wrestling industry upside down, becoming the standard bearer of the company in record time, and making all of your efforts meaningless.”
“You know…you are right about one thing. This title belt is meaningless now, because everything it represented was reduced to nothingness. Just like your career, when compared to ‘Yours Truly’.”
Vain tosses the belt into the small pile of items that is forming on the ground in front of him. He reaches into the bag, pulling out the dingo fur robe that he gave to Jordan King many months ago. He tosses it into the pile as he speaks.
“Vain tries to do a nice thing, and it is thrown in his face. You just can’t be nice to some people. Jordan King could have learned a lot from ‘The Vain One’, if only he would have pulled his head out of his rectum long enough to realize it. Alas, maybe he will get the chance to learn from greatness at HORIZONS. Then again, maybe ‘The Cyclone’ is happy being a less-than-average wrestler, whose career is going nowhere.”
“How does it feel, Jordan, to know that as soon as she stepped through the ring ropes, Erika Langford had already surpassed you in terms of wrestling ability and personality? And that’s not to say that she is a beacon of hope and light, when it comes to carving out a legacy in this business…because let’s face it, she’s about as entertaining as getting kicked in the crotch. And yet she STILL is thought of more highly amongst the boys in the back than you.”
“A fifteen year old…a girl that should be focusing on 9th grade Homecoming dances, and which boy will be the first to French kiss her…and not only has she joined our business, but she already means more to the business than her teacher.”
“The good news is, as long as she is around, you will have someone’s coattails to ride in this business, so that you can remain somewhat relevant amongst your three fans that attend our events. So at least you’ll have that to hang your hat on.
Vain reaches back into the bag, running his hand around inside, obviously looking for something that is not there. He sighs.
“Looks like Vain is short one item for his roast. Apparently ‘Mr. Ego’ forgot about Cedric Hayes.”
Vain shrugs his shoulders, and then reaches back into the bag. He pulls out a t-shirt. On the front of the shirt is a picture of Vain and>\/<, with the words ‘Enemies of Reality’ emblazoned underneath of their likenesses. He looks down at the image for quite a while, the flickering of the lighter showcases a look of almost sadness in Vain’s eyes. He finally speaks, low, and almost inaudible.
“We were a great team at one time, Klaus. A team that nobody could touch. And teamed with Dez, we were a stable that couldn’t be brought down. We did anything and everything that we wanted, and we ruled the wrestling industry with an iron fist. And our rule would have continued indefinitely, until that fateful day when you and Dez abandoned your stable, your team, and most importantly…your friend.”
“Vain was never one to get close with anyone, Klaus. Outside of Candi, Vain has never been one to keep a lot of friends. It’s easier that way, because you don’t have to worry about someone eventually stabbing you in the back, or breaking your heart. But we clicked, Klaus, and could have gone down as the best in history. Instead, you and Dez did the exact thing that Vain always worried would happen, if he allowed people to get to close. You broke ‘The Vain One’s’ heart, when the two of you thought only of yourselves, as you rode off into the sunset…leaving Vain to be the one to atone for the sins that the two of you committed.”
“Being the man that he is though, Vain was willing to let bygones be bygones, and forget the past…in an attempt to create a new future of domination. That is why Vain got in touch with you, and tried talking you into coming to UGWC. ‘Yours Truly’ saw the lack of talent in the Cooperative division, and he KNEW that if Vain and >\/< were to align once more, that they would dominate like never before. And Vain assumed that’s what would happen, when you finally made your debut here. Instead…all you’ve done is play Robin to Jezebel Saint’s Batman, while letting everyone know that you are a sadistic schizophrenic, with multiple personality disorder.”
“The biker whore? Really, Klaus? The Morgan’s are nothing but users, and they will keep you around only while you are able to serve a purpose. Once your usefulness fades, they will cast you aside like a leper from Jerusalem. Hell, look how they have treated her own brother! Cypress used him long enough to help in their war with the Dragon…he was good enough to bleed for them…and then they cast him aside like he was nothing, and started a war that they have no hopes of ever winning. If they will do that to a person that her mother raised…what will they do to you, Klaus?”
With a huff, Vain tosses the shirt into the file in front of him, and then reaches back into the bag. Pulling out a container of lighter fluid, he empties the contents of the bottle onto the items strewn about in front of him. Looking down at it, he tosses the lighter into the pile…
The pack of Newport cigarettes…
The picture of Ichabod…
The ‘Championship de Vanity’…
The dingo fur robe…
The ‘Enemies of Reality’ t-shirt.
Each item instantly engulfed in flame, as Vain stands watching it. The reflection of the flames flickers within his eyes…his empty, and emotionless, eyes. He speaks.
“All everyone has talked about is Vain’s run to this point in UGWC. How he should have never came out of retirement…how he cannot win when it matters most…how he has been nothing but a disappointment. And maybe they’re right. Maybe they all have a point.”
“Vain has wondered himself as to what is in his future in UGWC. Vain has worried about what might be on his horizon in this industry.”
“HORIZONS is now, and each of you will find out firsthand what Vain has left in his tank, and why he has decided to stay around, even though the wrestling world looks like it might have passed him by.”
“TOURNAMENTAL…just like >\/< did to a friendship, and just like Ichabod did to a dressing room…we’re going to burn that sonofabitch to the ground at Madison Square Garden. And in the end…”
Vain turns and begins walking away…his last sentence hanging in the air, along with the smoke that bellows from the flame he created.
“I will be the only one that rises from the ashes.”
Fade.
[Vain slides out of the ring and grabs a microphone from off of the announcers table. As he begins to make his way to the back, he speaks.
Vain: "Mr. Somers…Mr. Pierce…Vain has one request: HORIZONS…’The Money Maker’ versus Ichabod…TOURNAMENTAL.”
Vain drops the mic and continues up the ramp, disappearing behind the curtain, as >\/< and Jezebel Saint lie in the center of the ring.]
Synergy – December 2, 2013 - Backstage
Vain slowly walks through the back, the shit-eating grin that normally resides on his face nowhere in sight. Deeply entrenched in whatever thoughts are dominating his mind, he doesn’t hear his name being yelled until the person is right beside him. As the man taps him on the shoulder, Vain’s trance is broken, and he wheels around with a closed fist, coming mere inches away from putting UGWC Backstage Interviewer Grey Coppi down for a nap.
Coppi does his best to cover up and jump back, closing his eyes as he fully expected to see stars and then hit the floor. When neither come, he slowly opens his eyes, and sees Vain staring down at him. Coppi’s eyes dart from Vain’s face, to Vain’s still-clinched right fist. Time seems to stand still for Grey Coppi, as he still is unsure if Vain is going to deck him or not. He finally breathes a sigh of relief as Vain relaxes his hand, straightening it out.
“That’s a good way to weasel your way into some Short Term Disability, Coppi, though depending on whom you sneak up on in the future, that could very easily turn into Long Term Disability.”
Coppi nervously chuckles at Vain’s comment, as he still glances down at Vain’s hand. Slowly regaining his composure, he speaks.
“Vain, judging from the reaction of the fans here tonight, as well as Twitter blowing up over what was just witnessed, there is only one question on everyone’s mind: Why?”
Vain’s eyes narrow, as he looks down at the reporter. Showing no emotion, he speaks.
“Why? Tell ‘The Vain One’ one thing, Coppi…why not?”
Unsure how to respond, Coppi is silent for a few seconds. Shaking his head from side to side, he responds.
“Why not? Vain, pardon me for saying this, but your actions haven’t made a lick of sense lately. You issue an open challenge, and then disappear for multiple weeks…your challenge is pseudo-accepted with a contingency, which you ignore…you profess your admiration for someone that you call a friend, and then turn on him…and then you yell out the name of the man that you have gone out of your way to avoid mentioning. How do you explain any of that?”
Vain stares at Coppi for many silent moments, causing the esteemed interviewer to take a step back, out of fear that he may indeed meet ‘The Money Maker’s’ fist after all. Out of nowhere, Vain slaps him on the shoulder, and then lets out a thunderous laugh, causing a few of the backstage technicians to turn and look at him. He pays them no mind, because quite honestly, why would he? Once his laugh fades to a series of light giggles, he replies.
“Coppi, Coppi, Coppi…life is full questions that people yearn to have answered. And more times than not, if a person digs deep enough, he will that find that which he so excitedly seeks. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times, Coppi. Vain would much rather read your next series of tweets, as he is sure if you think long enough and hard enough, you won’t need ‘The Vain One’s’ response, in order to find the words that you are looking for.”
“Now…if you would be so kind, Vain must excuse himself. It seems that Vain’s dressing room is in dire need of a good cleaning.”
With that, Vain turns and walks away, leaving Grey Coppi alone with his thoughts.
Synergy – December 2, 2013 – A few moments after the show
Normally, this would be a time when Vain and Candi would be gathering their belongings, and getting ready to fly back to Miami. But with HORIZONS looming, Vain had taken no chances this week. He knows the derogatory manner in which he can come off towards people, and he knows that there are many Entertainment Professionals within the UGWC locker room that would love nothing more than to shut him up. Permanently. As such, Vain had made the decision to have Candi stay home this week. Sure, she wasn’t happy about it, but Vain gave her no choice. And judging from what happened, it looks like that was the right decision.
Vain stands in the doorway of the area that used to be his dressing room. The pitter-patter of water is heard dripping in various spots of the dressing room, the result of the raging inferno that had burned a few hours ago being put out by the fire department. Vain enters the room, gaining a full view of the carnage that raged.
He sighs as he takes notice of the many full length mirrors that had resided here, all of them blackened from the bellowing smoke and raging fire that had consumed them. Many of them had cracked due to the immense heat. They had served well, but were casualties of ‘The Vain One’s very own attitude and demeanor. ‘Mr. Ego’, indeed.
He bristles at the darkened clumps of burnt and frayed fabric, that he once called clothing. Had this vile fiend no couth? Did he not know how expensive these designer items were? Just because they weren’t the customary Wal*Mart specials that Ichabod wore on any and all occasions, they deserved to be cremated in such an inhumane way? Jealousy…such an ignorant, fiery, green-eyed monster.
His eyes finally come to rest on the heap of splintered glass that sits where the bureau once stood. Using his foot, Vain sweeps some of the glass to the side, to reveal the melted piece of metal that Vain lovingly referred to as his ‘Championship de Vanity’. Vain kneels down, picking the belt up with a handkerchief that he pulls from his pocket. He looks at it in silence, before finally breaking into a large grin.
“Vain is glad that you decided to come out and play, Ichy. ‘Mr. Ego’ surely had to wait long enough.”
Holding onto the belt, Vain stands and turns, quickly walking out of the locker room, and disappearing around the corner.
Somewhere in Florida – December 4, 2013 – 03:00
Complete darkness. It’s pretty much what you’d expect at this hour on a Wednesday morning. As the sound of intermittent vehicles – more than likely most of them being truck drivers making overnight runs - pass by on the nearby highway, the sound of broken twigs and leaves rustling is heard off to the right. A dark figure is seen passing by the lens of the camera, but no features are visible, due to the late hour. As the rustling stops, a voice is heard.
Vain’s voice.
“Vain loves when a plan comes together.”
The engulfing darkness is interrupted by the flick of a lighter, and we see that Vain is seated on the ground, with a large duffel bag off to his right. As the slight passing breeze causes the flame to dance lazily off of the top of the Zippo that Vain holds in his left hand, we see him bring his other hand up into view. With his right hand being visible now, we see that he holds a pack of Newport cigarettes. As he looks down at them, he allows his thoughts to wander aloud, speaking to nothing at all…and yet everything at once.
“Vain is glad to see you again, Ichy. You’ve been out of Vain’s life for far too long. Ever since we both competed in Headstrong Wrestling, we were destined to square off with one another, to see who the better man was. For whatever reason, ‘The Furbinator’ decided that keeping the two best wrestlers in his company as far away from each other as possible was the best route to take. Such a decision ultimately led to that company closing, without us being able to determine who was top dog. Wrestling fans worldwide kept asking the same thing; Vain, or Ichabod. Which one truly deserved to be called ‘The Best’? Yet, the best questions are always the ones that seem to go unanswered, aren’t they?”
Vain tosses the pack of cigarettes onto the ground in front of him. Reaching over, he pulls an item out of the duffel bag that rests beside him. He holds the item up within view of the flame. It is a picture of Ichabod, taken after the resurrection of HSW. A resurrection that he helped bring about. Vain scoffs.
“Yet that question could have easily been answered when you and Jesse Banks rebranded HSW, effectively bringing that company back from the dead. Vain was still around. All you had to do was make the decision that Furby was too scared to make. Vain versus Ichabod, for the World Title. It would have been very easy to do, seeing as how Vain was your World Champion. Instead, you hid behind your newfound position, preferring to spit in the faces of the same fans that helped you get to where you were to begin with. Why not give them what they want, Ichy? What did you have to lose, besides your pride and dignity? Would it have really been that bad, to finally know for a fact that ‘The Vain One’ was just plain better than you?”
Vain begins to laugh, as he tears the picture in half, tossing the pieces to the ground in front of him.
“The answer to that question lies in what you allowed to happen, Ichy. As the chants of the crowd grew louder with each passing show, you realized that you couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room for much longer. Vain and Ichabod HAD to come to fruition…it was something that the wrestling world NEEDED to see. And being one of the men that was then running the company, there was no reason for it not to come to fruition. No reason outside of your own insecurities, anyway. And instead of doing the right thing, and stepping into the ring with ‘The Money Maker’ and making history, you instead allowed ‘The Furbinator’ to weasel his way back into the company, and take total control once more. And we know how that turned out, don’t we, Ichy? You know…it was fitting that you decided to burn down ‘Mr. Ego’s’ dressing room at Synergy, Ichy. It was a representation of what you and Jesse allowed to happen to the company that the two of you stated that you loved so much. The entire thing burned down all around us, and you never lifted a finger to try and stop it. And then you were gone.”
Vain reaches into his duffel bag and takes out the charred and half-melted title belt that represented the rise – and fall – of the company where both men became aware of each other’s presence.
“And then lo and behold, our paths seemed destined to finally cross in the squared circle, right here in UGWC. And Vain relished the idea of finally proving to you what he has been saying all along: that nobody can hold Vain’s jock in that ring. And when you disappeared after your scrap with the B-Rated Movie Star whose name escapes me at the moment, the sheer amount of disappointment that Vain felt was immeasurable. But Vain knew of a way to finally get you to show yourself again.”
“Vain’s ego…and the belt that you hated seeing ‘The Vain One’ wear, all those years ago.”
“You question the prestige of this title, claiming in effect that it means nothing, due to you having never held it. Maybe there was a reason for that, Ichy. Maybe you just weren’t championship material. At least not in the ‘Big Leagues’. And ultimately…that’s what gets under your skin more than anything, isn’t it, Ichy? All the years that you struggled to make a name for yourself…all the blood, sweat, and tears that you spilled in your attempt to be the best…and someone like Vain comes in and turns the wrestling industry upside down, becoming the standard bearer of the company in record time, and making all of your efforts meaningless.”
“You know…you are right about one thing. This title belt is meaningless now, because everything it represented was reduced to nothingness. Just like your career, when compared to ‘Yours Truly’.”
Vain tosses the belt into the small pile of items that is forming on the ground in front of him. He reaches into the bag, pulling out the dingo fur robe that he gave to Jordan King many months ago. He tosses it into the pile as he speaks.
“Vain tries to do a nice thing, and it is thrown in his face. You just can’t be nice to some people. Jordan King could have learned a lot from ‘The Vain One’, if only he would have pulled his head out of his rectum long enough to realize it. Alas, maybe he will get the chance to learn from greatness at HORIZONS. Then again, maybe ‘The Cyclone’ is happy being a less-than-average wrestler, whose career is going nowhere.”
“How does it feel, Jordan, to know that as soon as she stepped through the ring ropes, Erika Langford had already surpassed you in terms of wrestling ability and personality? And that’s not to say that she is a beacon of hope and light, when it comes to carving out a legacy in this business…because let’s face it, she’s about as entertaining as getting kicked in the crotch. And yet she STILL is thought of more highly amongst the boys in the back than you.”
“A fifteen year old…a girl that should be focusing on 9th grade Homecoming dances, and which boy will be the first to French kiss her…and not only has she joined our business, but she already means more to the business than her teacher.”
“The good news is, as long as she is around, you will have someone’s coattails to ride in this business, so that you can remain somewhat relevant amongst your three fans that attend our events. So at least you’ll have that to hang your hat on.
Vain reaches back into the bag, running his hand around inside, obviously looking for something that is not there. He sighs.
“Looks like Vain is short one item for his roast. Apparently ‘Mr. Ego’ forgot about Cedric Hayes.”
Vain shrugs his shoulders, and then reaches back into the bag. He pulls out a t-shirt. On the front of the shirt is a picture of Vain and>\/<, with the words ‘Enemies of Reality’ emblazoned underneath of their likenesses. He looks down at the image for quite a while, the flickering of the lighter showcases a look of almost sadness in Vain’s eyes. He finally speaks, low, and almost inaudible.
“We were a great team at one time, Klaus. A team that nobody could touch. And teamed with Dez, we were a stable that couldn’t be brought down. We did anything and everything that we wanted, and we ruled the wrestling industry with an iron fist. And our rule would have continued indefinitely, until that fateful day when you and Dez abandoned your stable, your team, and most importantly…your friend.”
“Vain was never one to get close with anyone, Klaus. Outside of Candi, Vain has never been one to keep a lot of friends. It’s easier that way, because you don’t have to worry about someone eventually stabbing you in the back, or breaking your heart. But we clicked, Klaus, and could have gone down as the best in history. Instead, you and Dez did the exact thing that Vain always worried would happen, if he allowed people to get to close. You broke ‘The Vain One’s’ heart, when the two of you thought only of yourselves, as you rode off into the sunset…leaving Vain to be the one to atone for the sins that the two of you committed.”
“Being the man that he is though, Vain was willing to let bygones be bygones, and forget the past…in an attempt to create a new future of domination. That is why Vain got in touch with you, and tried talking you into coming to UGWC. ‘Yours Truly’ saw the lack of talent in the Cooperative division, and he KNEW that if Vain and >\/< were to align once more, that they would dominate like never before. And Vain assumed that’s what would happen, when you finally made your debut here. Instead…all you’ve done is play Robin to Jezebel Saint’s Batman, while letting everyone know that you are a sadistic schizophrenic, with multiple personality disorder.”
“The biker whore? Really, Klaus? The Morgan’s are nothing but users, and they will keep you around only while you are able to serve a purpose. Once your usefulness fades, they will cast you aside like a leper from Jerusalem. Hell, look how they have treated her own brother! Cypress used him long enough to help in their war with the Dragon…he was good enough to bleed for them…and then they cast him aside like he was nothing, and started a war that they have no hopes of ever winning. If they will do that to a person that her mother raised…what will they do to you, Klaus?”
With a huff, Vain tosses the shirt into the file in front of him, and then reaches back into the bag. Pulling out a container of lighter fluid, he empties the contents of the bottle onto the items strewn about in front of him. Looking down at it, he tosses the lighter into the pile…
The pack of Newport cigarettes…
The picture of Ichabod…
The ‘Championship de Vanity’…
The dingo fur robe…
The ‘Enemies of Reality’ t-shirt.
Each item instantly engulfed in flame, as Vain stands watching it. The reflection of the flames flickers within his eyes…his empty, and emotionless, eyes. He speaks.
“All everyone has talked about is Vain’s run to this point in UGWC. How he should have never came out of retirement…how he cannot win when it matters most…how he has been nothing but a disappointment. And maybe they’re right. Maybe they all have a point.”
“Vain has wondered himself as to what is in his future in UGWC. Vain has worried about what might be on his horizon in this industry.”
“HORIZONS is now, and each of you will find out firsthand what Vain has left in his tank, and why he has decided to stay around, even though the wrestling world looks like it might have passed him by.”
“TOURNAMENTAL…just like >\/< did to a friendship, and just like Ichabod did to a dressing room…we’re going to burn that sonofabitch to the ground at Madison Square Garden. And in the end…”
Vain turns and begins walking away…his last sentence hanging in the air, along with the smoke that bellows from the flame he created.
“I will be the only one that rises from the ashes.”
Fade.
- 1x
- 4x 
- 5x
- 6x
2013, '18, '23 
2013 
