Post by Jet Somers on Dec 9, 2016 0:28:33 GMT -5
Jet watches, concerned, as Eden absently knocks back another tumbler full of eggnog and peppermint schnapps. Contrary to the other females at the party, and the men enjoying tankards of Highland Cold Mountain, Eden doesn't seem to be imbibing with any sort of holiday cheer. He makes his way over, pulling a stool up next to the Ice Queen.
Jet: You ok?
Eden looks up suddenly, tucking a stray hair ineffectually behind her left ear.
Eden: Just getting into the Christmas spirits, ya know?
She hiccups, trying to smile through a look that says "Help Me" more than "Happy Holiday."
Jet: That was pretty brave marching into the Engine of Chaos' locker room alone to declare hell on Gabriel Baal.
Eden looks up at him in surprise.
Eden: Really?
Jet: No.
Eden rolls her eyes and ladles another tumbler full out of the punch bowl.
Jet: I mean, I have no doubt you can hold your own against any of them. You've done it before. I'm just worried you're walking back into a guilt-driven downward spiral.
Eden: Lucky I have you, then.
Jet gapes, somewhat hurt. Eden shakes her head quickly.
Eden: I didn't mean that how it sounded, Jet, seriously. I meant I'm glad I still have you there doing things like what you did for me with Killian. I need a steady anchor, maybe now more than ever.
Jet: That's me.
Eden smiles, a shade of the worry leaving her face.
Eden: It was a knee jerk reaction, honestly. I hate Hugh for what he tried to do to me, and I hate Baal for what he did for Hugh, but most of the time I hate myself for feeling responsible for it. How do you remain so focused and not caught up in all the personal bullshit?
Jet hesitates, considering all the controversy between his former best friend and himself.
Jet: It's harder than it looks.
---------
Victoria Jensen: Jet? What are you doing here? I thought you were spending this week with your family?
Jet Somers stands in the doorway of Travis Roberts' opulent home, waiting to be invited in.
Jet: I was. I need you to talk to me.
Vix raises an eyebrow.
Vix: That was awkwardly worded.
Jet: Can I come in?
Vix considers her promise to Opie for a moment, and sighs. Throwing the door wide, she gestures for him to come in.
Vix: Fine, but you have to keep it down. They're sleeping.
Jet pauses mid stride.
Jet: They? Forewell and NBK?
Vix: Everyone. eD, Travis, Alan.
Jet: Wallace is still here?
Vix simply rolls her eyes.
----------
Vix: The den is this way.
She gestures insistently toward the stained glass doors, but Jet is peering down a darkened hallway.
Jet: What's down here?
Vix: Travis' sleeping quarters.
Jet: He has 'quarters??'
Vix: This is a pretty big place, Jet. Come on.
Ignoring her, Jet picks his way gingerly down the hallway. He opens a set of ornately carved cherry doors, and looks around quickly. He continues through a sitting area, coming eventually to a giant iron-bound slab of oak, on which a golden plaque proclaims it to be the portal leading into "The Head." He scratches his upper lip with his right thumb, then shakes his head, turning finally to an equally designed door on which a nearly identical plaque proclaims "The Headliner."
Jet shakes his head, then eases the door open to take a look.
A double king sized, four poster bed is a nest of decorative pillows, drapes, and duvets. At the headboard, the world champion sleeps deeply, his dark hair haloed around him as he spoons the UGWC World Championship. On needlessly fancy cot, which resembles a royal Egyptian hammock slung between what appears to be the prows of two ships, complete with the carved torsos of nude mermaids, lies Alan Wallace. From beneath his cocoon of pristine white comfortors, Vain's arm snakes out toward the bed, the fingers of his right hand gently brushing the faceplate of the title.
Shaking his head, Jet retreats into the sitting room, returning to the house's common area.
----------
Vix: So what's so important you had to fly all the way across the country to get me to talk to you?
She gestures toward a leather armchair, inviting Jet to take a seat
Jet: Do you remember why I asked you to be my personal interviewer?
Vix: I think it had something to do with not feeding you lines so you can grandstand?
Jet: No... I thought that was just something interviewers did naturally?
Vix: Screw you, Jet. Take a red-eye back to New Orleans for all I care.
She meets his level gaze, then smirks.
Jet: You make it hard to believe you were once my number one fan, you know that?
Vix: I still am, Jet. Promise.
He tries to read her face for any sarcasm, but he can't be sure if it's there or not. He decides to move on.
Jet: It's because I enjoyed watching your interviews of Roberts. You didn't just feed him lines, but more than that, you called him out on his flaws. I think Travis Roberts made the transformation he did largely thanks to you forcing him to deal with the things he pretended to be oblivious to.
Vix blushes.
Vix: That's pretty high praise.
Jet: That's exactly what I'm hoping you'll do for me. I've lost focus lately, Vix. I've let too much drama and personal hang ups cloud my vision, when what I should have is a clear priority toward that prize being double-cuddled by those egomaniacs.
Vix: Are you worried about your opponents?
Jet: I'm worried that, given the amount of potential personal commotion invested in that match, I'll wind up getting caught up trying to prove something other than that I deserve to challenge one of the sleeping beauties in there.
Victoria nods.
Vix: Alright, how can I help?
Jet: Help me get the nonsense out there on the table. Let's talk about the white elephants, hash them out, so I can forget them and walk into Horizons one hundred percent pinpointed on getting back to the main event at Infinity, and becoming 2017's biggest star.
Vix: Okay, let's begin with Alex Stein.
Jet: Fair enough, go ahead.
Vix takes a breath before launching into the attack.
Vix: Don't you feel like you owe Alex Stein something?
Jet: What?!
He's taken completely off-guard--which is what he wanted.
Vix: The guy's had nothing like the impact he did the first time he was here. He came back in with sound and fury, even managed to capture the Chaos Championship, but since then? Das Uberbeast might as well be starring in Total Ashley for as much as his career lately centers around his romantic life.
Jet nods.
Jet: It's cruel how often I'm reminded how far our mistakes reverberated out to poison the lives of so many. We courted the devil himself, and he brought death in his wake. It's a burden I carry daily. How much of Alex Stein's life do I owe him?
He swallows hard.
Jet: He shouldn't be faulted for seeking the peace of mundane life. Romance, family, success following hard honest work. He has every right to avoid the exotic nightmares and drama that some of us purposely surround ourselves with. As much as I'm sure he's haunted by what he'st lost, Stein at least seems to have been given a chance to escape from the horror, and he seems to be embracing it. Let him move on then. I'm tired of apologizing for what I've done. I've learned to live with it, and he seems to have come to terms as well.
The Wild Card shrugs.
Jet: As for using the company's most historic show to propel himself into a place of power to start off 2017? No, his journey back to the light, inspiring as it is, has hardly just begun. His physical recovery took a slow, arduous time, and the repair of his mental and emotional faculties will be no less protracted. A dedicated commitment will bring Stein to greatness once more, perhaps even within the next twelve months. Haste will spoil the sureness of his trek. It will be a favor to him to keep him from prematurely challenging for the World Championship at Infinity next year.
Vix nods.
Vix: Then let's move on. The Engine of Chaos threatens your assumed mantle of innovation. A niche you've self appointed along with Travis Pierce and Moss Edwards; for years you've considered yourself a pioneer. Now comes a group with revolutionary ideas for the future of the business. Are you worried about being usurped?
Jet smiles.
Jet: I applaud the Engine for for it's mission statement. To alter this business irrevocably is a noble cause. Even if the prime impact of those groups have passed, no one will ever forget the powerful presence of the Devil's Most Wanted or the ecompassing control of the Piercing Media Network. Even the Engine's Rogan MacLean draws inspiration from the work of what you're calling a 'self appointed niche.' Our contributions to this business are well documented; even if you dispute their worth, you cannot argue that we shaped the landscape during our heyday.
Jet: The Engine of Chaos has given us a mighty proclamation, but so far, it hasn't bore any fruit. I mean, ok, the mix and match title challenges and defenses are interesting, to say the least. It certainly has the champions and their number one contenders talking. It means that anyone wishing to defend or challenge for a championship has to prepare for all four members. Subconsciously, you start to question which one of them you'd prefer to see come down the ramp, and which one you'd rather not. You start putting together scenarios in your head, trying to figure out who might interfere, who's going to do his best to distract you from the match? Who might clobber you with a weapon from behind? Essentially, what I'm saying, is that they're just another bad guy faction with good booking stroke. When do we start seeing something new?
Vix: Do you have someone from the Engine you'd rather compete against at Horizons, and someone you'd rather not?
Jet: Rather not? My choices are a megalomaniac, a wannabe messiah, a medical malpractice, and their mascot? I'd rather not waste my time on any of them, but I'm happy to give them a refresher of the lesson Travis Roberts taught them. Their mental guerilla warfare isn't going to fly against real UGWC legends.
Vix remains silent as Jet finishes his spiel against the Engine of Chaos. He waits patiently.
Jet: Go ahead.
Vix: I don't even know what to ask about Travis Pierce, except maybe where does it end?
Jet: Look, here's the truth when it comes to Travis Pierce and I: it can never be over.
Vix: Why? You're no longer friends, he's not interested in a rivalry. What's the point?
Jet: You think I want to keep wearing the same suit to the party? It seems like everytime the lines are drawn to see if one of us can measure up in worth to challenge for the World Championship, the other is right there in the running. I accept it, because it makes sense to me. He blames me for it.
Vix: You can't sit there and honestly deny being in his way every step of the way.
Jet: Travis Pierce is in his own way. Frankly, damn him for pretending like The Piercing Weapons wasn't the best thing that ever happened to him, that the Piercing Media Network wasn't the best thing to happen to this company. Damn him for acting like I used him as a stepping stone, when I've wasted more breath than he's worth thanking him and praising him for helping bring me to the next level. Damn him for eating sour grapes over Eden and throwing our friendship in my face as if I didn't suffer alongside him. And damn him for throwing shade at me because I've done nothing but continue to do the very thing I've done since I came here, and that's continue to be a top competitor for the top prize in the business. Damn him for calling me a chameleon. Sure, I've changed my colors more time than anyone can keep up with, but I've always come the hardest and fought the longest for my legacy, no matter which shield I took up. At no time did I give up my damn name and have to fight just to call myself Jet Somers. Never have I turned my back on a friend just because I felt that's what it would take to finally legitimize my career. I would never choose to stop being the Living Weapon, but he was quick to stop being the Icon of Entertainment. I'm still Jet fucking Somers. Can he honestly say he's still Travis Pierce?
Vix: You're going to wake them up.
Jet: Good. They should both be losing sleep knowing that Jet Somers is still fighting to get back to the top. It's something Travis Pierce needs to wake up and realize: he'll never shake me. As long as he has aspirations of one day getting his hands on the UGWC World Championship, he'll always have Jet Somers to contend with. That goes for any son of a bitch on the roster who might have forgotten, I'm the toughest obstacle you have to overcome on the way to the top!
Vix: So you've finally accepted it?
Jet's voice calms.
Jet: Maybe it's not so bad being the standard to which every single world champion in our history has to be compared to. Maybe there's a reason there's been a Jet Somers at the last eight of the ten Horizons, and will continue to be at every Horizons from here on out.
Jet: You ok?
Eden looks up suddenly, tucking a stray hair ineffectually behind her left ear.
Eden: Just getting into the Christmas spirits, ya know?
She hiccups, trying to smile through a look that says "Help Me" more than "Happy Holiday."
Jet: That was pretty brave marching into the Engine of Chaos' locker room alone to declare hell on Gabriel Baal.
Eden looks up at him in surprise.
Eden: Really?
Jet: No.
Eden rolls her eyes and ladles another tumbler full out of the punch bowl.
Jet: I mean, I have no doubt you can hold your own against any of them. You've done it before. I'm just worried you're walking back into a guilt-driven downward spiral.
Eden: Lucky I have you, then.
Jet gapes, somewhat hurt. Eden shakes her head quickly.
Eden: I didn't mean that how it sounded, Jet, seriously. I meant I'm glad I still have you there doing things like what you did for me with Killian. I need a steady anchor, maybe now more than ever.
Jet: That's me.
Eden smiles, a shade of the worry leaving her face.
Eden: It was a knee jerk reaction, honestly. I hate Hugh for what he tried to do to me, and I hate Baal for what he did for Hugh, but most of the time I hate myself for feeling responsible for it. How do you remain so focused and not caught up in all the personal bullshit?
Jet hesitates, considering all the controversy between his former best friend and himself.
Jet: It's harder than it looks.
---------
Victoria Jensen: Jet? What are you doing here? I thought you were spending this week with your family?
Jet Somers stands in the doorway of Travis Roberts' opulent home, waiting to be invited in.
Jet: I was. I need you to talk to me.
Vix raises an eyebrow.
Vix: That was awkwardly worded.
Jet: Can I come in?
Vix considers her promise to Opie for a moment, and sighs. Throwing the door wide, she gestures for him to come in.
Vix: Fine, but you have to keep it down. They're sleeping.
Jet pauses mid stride.
Jet: They? Forewell and NBK?
Vix: Everyone. eD, Travis, Alan.
Jet: Wallace is still here?
Vix simply rolls her eyes.
----------
Vix: The den is this way.
She gestures insistently toward the stained glass doors, but Jet is peering down a darkened hallway.
Jet: What's down here?
Vix: Travis' sleeping quarters.
Jet: He has 'quarters??'
Vix: This is a pretty big place, Jet. Come on.
Ignoring her, Jet picks his way gingerly down the hallway. He opens a set of ornately carved cherry doors, and looks around quickly. He continues through a sitting area, coming eventually to a giant iron-bound slab of oak, on which a golden plaque proclaims it to be the portal leading into "The Head." He scratches his upper lip with his right thumb, then shakes his head, turning finally to an equally designed door on which a nearly identical plaque proclaims "The Headliner."
Jet shakes his head, then eases the door open to take a look.
A double king sized, four poster bed is a nest of decorative pillows, drapes, and duvets. At the headboard, the world champion sleeps deeply, his dark hair haloed around him as he spoons the UGWC World Championship. On needlessly fancy cot, which resembles a royal Egyptian hammock slung between what appears to be the prows of two ships, complete with the carved torsos of nude mermaids, lies Alan Wallace. From beneath his cocoon of pristine white comfortors, Vain's arm snakes out toward the bed, the fingers of his right hand gently brushing the faceplate of the title.
Shaking his head, Jet retreats into the sitting room, returning to the house's common area.
----------
Vix: So what's so important you had to fly all the way across the country to get me to talk to you?
She gestures toward a leather armchair, inviting Jet to take a seat
Jet: Do you remember why I asked you to be my personal interviewer?
Vix: I think it had something to do with not feeding you lines so you can grandstand?
Jet: No... I thought that was just something interviewers did naturally?
Vix: Screw you, Jet. Take a red-eye back to New Orleans for all I care.
She meets his level gaze, then smirks.
Jet: You make it hard to believe you were once my number one fan, you know that?
Vix: I still am, Jet. Promise.
He tries to read her face for any sarcasm, but he can't be sure if it's there or not. He decides to move on.
Jet: It's because I enjoyed watching your interviews of Roberts. You didn't just feed him lines, but more than that, you called him out on his flaws. I think Travis Roberts made the transformation he did largely thanks to you forcing him to deal with the things he pretended to be oblivious to.
Vix blushes.
Vix: That's pretty high praise.
Jet: That's exactly what I'm hoping you'll do for me. I've lost focus lately, Vix. I've let too much drama and personal hang ups cloud my vision, when what I should have is a clear priority toward that prize being double-cuddled by those egomaniacs.
Vix: Are you worried about your opponents?
Jet: I'm worried that, given the amount of potential personal commotion invested in that match, I'll wind up getting caught up trying to prove something other than that I deserve to challenge one of the sleeping beauties in there.
Victoria nods.
Vix: Alright, how can I help?
Jet: Help me get the nonsense out there on the table. Let's talk about the white elephants, hash them out, so I can forget them and walk into Horizons one hundred percent pinpointed on getting back to the main event at Infinity, and becoming 2017's biggest star.
Vix: Okay, let's begin with Alex Stein.
Jet: Fair enough, go ahead.
Vix takes a breath before launching into the attack.
Vix: Don't you feel like you owe Alex Stein something?
Jet: What?!
He's taken completely off-guard--which is what he wanted.
Vix: The guy's had nothing like the impact he did the first time he was here. He came back in with sound and fury, even managed to capture the Chaos Championship, but since then? Das Uberbeast might as well be starring in Total Ashley for as much as his career lately centers around his romantic life.
Jet nods.
Jet: It's cruel how often I'm reminded how far our mistakes reverberated out to poison the lives of so many. We courted the devil himself, and he brought death in his wake. It's a burden I carry daily. How much of Alex Stein's life do I owe him?
He swallows hard.
Jet: He shouldn't be faulted for seeking the peace of mundane life. Romance, family, success following hard honest work. He has every right to avoid the exotic nightmares and drama that some of us purposely surround ourselves with. As much as I'm sure he's haunted by what he'st lost, Stein at least seems to have been given a chance to escape from the horror, and he seems to be embracing it. Let him move on then. I'm tired of apologizing for what I've done. I've learned to live with it, and he seems to have come to terms as well.
The Wild Card shrugs.
Jet: As for using the company's most historic show to propel himself into a place of power to start off 2017? No, his journey back to the light, inspiring as it is, has hardly just begun. His physical recovery took a slow, arduous time, and the repair of his mental and emotional faculties will be no less protracted. A dedicated commitment will bring Stein to greatness once more, perhaps even within the next twelve months. Haste will spoil the sureness of his trek. It will be a favor to him to keep him from prematurely challenging for the World Championship at Infinity next year.
Vix nods.
Vix: Then let's move on. The Engine of Chaos threatens your assumed mantle of innovation. A niche you've self appointed along with Travis Pierce and Moss Edwards; for years you've considered yourself a pioneer. Now comes a group with revolutionary ideas for the future of the business. Are you worried about being usurped?
Jet smiles.
Jet: I applaud the Engine for for it's mission statement. To alter this business irrevocably is a noble cause. Even if the prime impact of those groups have passed, no one will ever forget the powerful presence of the Devil's Most Wanted or the ecompassing control of the Piercing Media Network. Even the Engine's Rogan MacLean draws inspiration from the work of what you're calling a 'self appointed niche.' Our contributions to this business are well documented; even if you dispute their worth, you cannot argue that we shaped the landscape during our heyday.
Jet: The Engine of Chaos has given us a mighty proclamation, but so far, it hasn't bore any fruit. I mean, ok, the mix and match title challenges and defenses are interesting, to say the least. It certainly has the champions and their number one contenders talking. It means that anyone wishing to defend or challenge for a championship has to prepare for all four members. Subconsciously, you start to question which one of them you'd prefer to see come down the ramp, and which one you'd rather not. You start putting together scenarios in your head, trying to figure out who might interfere, who's going to do his best to distract you from the match? Who might clobber you with a weapon from behind? Essentially, what I'm saying, is that they're just another bad guy faction with good booking stroke. When do we start seeing something new?
Vix: Do you have someone from the Engine you'd rather compete against at Horizons, and someone you'd rather not?
Jet: Rather not? My choices are a megalomaniac, a wannabe messiah, a medical malpractice, and their mascot? I'd rather not waste my time on any of them, but I'm happy to give them a refresher of the lesson Travis Roberts taught them. Their mental guerilla warfare isn't going to fly against real UGWC legends.
Vix remains silent as Jet finishes his spiel against the Engine of Chaos. He waits patiently.
Jet: Go ahead.
Vix: I don't even know what to ask about Travis Pierce, except maybe where does it end?
Jet: Look, here's the truth when it comes to Travis Pierce and I: it can never be over.
Vix: Why? You're no longer friends, he's not interested in a rivalry. What's the point?
Jet: You think I want to keep wearing the same suit to the party? It seems like everytime the lines are drawn to see if one of us can measure up in worth to challenge for the World Championship, the other is right there in the running. I accept it, because it makes sense to me. He blames me for it.
Vix: You can't sit there and honestly deny being in his way every step of the way.
Jet: Travis Pierce is in his own way. Frankly, damn him for pretending like The Piercing Weapons wasn't the best thing that ever happened to him, that the Piercing Media Network wasn't the best thing to happen to this company. Damn him for acting like I used him as a stepping stone, when I've wasted more breath than he's worth thanking him and praising him for helping bring me to the next level. Damn him for eating sour grapes over Eden and throwing our friendship in my face as if I didn't suffer alongside him. And damn him for throwing shade at me because I've done nothing but continue to do the very thing I've done since I came here, and that's continue to be a top competitor for the top prize in the business. Damn him for calling me a chameleon. Sure, I've changed my colors more time than anyone can keep up with, but I've always come the hardest and fought the longest for my legacy, no matter which shield I took up. At no time did I give up my damn name and have to fight just to call myself Jet Somers. Never have I turned my back on a friend just because I felt that's what it would take to finally legitimize my career. I would never choose to stop being the Living Weapon, but he was quick to stop being the Icon of Entertainment. I'm still Jet fucking Somers. Can he honestly say he's still Travis Pierce?
Vix: You're going to wake them up.
Jet: Good. They should both be losing sleep knowing that Jet Somers is still fighting to get back to the top. It's something Travis Pierce needs to wake up and realize: he'll never shake me. As long as he has aspirations of one day getting his hands on the UGWC World Championship, he'll always have Jet Somers to contend with. That goes for any son of a bitch on the roster who might have forgotten, I'm the toughest obstacle you have to overcome on the way to the top!
Vix: So you've finally accepted it?
Jet's voice calms.
Jet: Maybe it's not so bad being the standard to which every single world champion in our history has to be compared to. Maybe there's a reason there's been a Jet Somers at the last eight of the ten Horizons, and will continue to be at every Horizons from here on out.