The high road/The low road/All roads in-between (OUTLAST)
Sept 25, 2020 22:35:01 GMT -5
Eden Morgan and Duncan Ryder like this
Post by wwjbcd on Sept 25, 2020 22:35:01 GMT -5
Reunited and it feels so good! After the uncertainty revolving around "Deathwish" Hide Yamazaki and what decision he'd eventually make as to whose side he'd finally take, between ex-friend/cooperative partner and current UGWC World Heavyweight Champion Sebastian Everett-Bryce III and his manager The #1 Hit-Maker Johnny Bonecrusher, it appears the hands have been dealt and the chips taken away from the table. Hide and Johnny left Chicago together after The Strong Style Satanist annihilated his once-more partner this past Monday, effectively dissolving any future chances for a reunion. It also allowed Tempest to get the pin on the World Champion, ensuring him a future title shot.
Tactics, people, tactics.
But...
Is that REALLY the end? What about all that talk of purification and redemption from Hide? Surely that wasn't all talk, was it? No. Maybe if it were Johnny spouting it, but he's been fairly upfront about his position as it pertains to his former Uncommonwealth shareholder. There's still unfinished business to tend to at Outlast, but his decimation of Sebastian at Synergy was merely the proclamation of war; there can be no friends on the battlefield.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:45am CST === Johnny's apartment - Chicago - Illinois
"I've gotta say, I'm positively delighted that we're back on the same page!" the familiar voice said.
Johnny Bonecrusher was seated at his desk, looking up the reviews of the latest episode of Synergy online. Hide is out of camera-shot, but the water in the bathroom is running, so we're led to believe he's washing up, perhaps getting ready for a nice Chinese food dinner at Shanghai Terrace or Chengdu Impression Restaurant.
"Sebastian drops to pin the still laid-out Lucy Wylde and gets a 2.8 before he’s violently yanked from the pin and laid out with a Death Valley Driver..." Johnny chuckles. "From Hide. 'The Strong Style Satanist' pulls him up and says something right in his face, then hammers him with a punishing lariat, which he follows up with 'The Devil', leaving Seb a crumpled heap. Hide throws Lucy from the ring, then pulls Tempest over and lays him on top of Seb before departing the ring. Glenn freezes for the briefest of seconds before he drops to count the pin. Three seconds later, Tempest has a big victory and the World Champion’s plan to con his next challenger lays in ruins."
Johnny chuckles a bit more before closing his laptop. "You know, for a while there, I really thought you might have SERIOUSLY sided with Seballsack! Not that I'D have blamed you; Sebutthead's certainly gotta way with words, and unlike yours truly, you seem a lot more forgiving. But it's CRUCIAL that we put all that aside, because in under a week, we've got what might very well be out last chance to bring back the gold to our camp."
The water continued to run. Johnny looked over toward the bathroom, confused there was no response, not even a grunt from his client. "Hey, ah, so you know I pay the water bill, right?"
Still no response. Johnny shrugs, "Anyway, I don't want you focusing all your attention on Seblister, even though yes, ending him for good IS the ultimate plan. There's going to be like-"
Johnny pauses to count on his fingers. "A MAXIMUM of like... 17 people total in the main event! That's you, Se-blight, and three whole-ass teams' worth of challengers!"
He narrows his eyes and leans forward to look back toward the bathroom. His eyes dart back and forth in suspicion, but he just shakes his head and continues. "Sure, the, uh, the likelihood of that scenario panning out is pretty slim; last year there were only five people total. That's ALMOST the ideal number, really: one over the bare minimum that there can be. Maybe we luck out and it's three other people who hate Sebuzzard! We can all bum-rush him and then take them out in their fatigued state! Easy peasy, Sebastian's neck squeezy!"
Johnny pauses to hear for a response, but still nothing. He holds out his hands and looks a bit annoyed. "Hide? Hide??"
Johnny finally shoved his chair back and rose to his feet, stomping over to the bathroom. The water was running, that's for sure; Hide, however, was nowhere to be found! The window was fully swung open and even broken a bit as it was extended further than it could normally go. Johnny was agape, holding out his hands uncertain how he's supposed to react to all this.
Then, he notices a note.
Johnny pored over the note - which was in Japanese, of course, before crumpling it up and shutting off the water. Looking over the mess that was now his bathroom, he sighed, "I don't think I'm gonna get back my deposit now."
Wednesday, September 23rd, 10:30am CST === Alex Kiseragi - the set of the movie Fight or Flight at Cinespace Film Studios - Chicago - Illinois
Hide's first stop was close by; he had learned that the captain of Team Dragon would be indulging in his other passion - choreographing fight scenes for all sorts of productions. Today, among other things, he's teaching people how to roll with a punch to make it look as realistic as possible. Thankfully no one has to worry about things like that in professional wrestling. Anyway, observing how Alex interacted with the actors with patience and care, Hide couldn't help but admire The Dragon's demeanour. Teaching until the lesson's taught, not punishing those that weren't getting it at first, and doing all that with a smile. Everything Johnny Bonecrusher was not.
Later, he would get to see Alex training people to duck and weave around obstacles, finding hiding spots in the crampest of locations, and springing to action at a moment's notice. The elegance and flow of Alex's movements was more enjoyable to experience from afar and when one could appreciate the skill for what it was without the bias of active competition. Granted, he'd be a potential opponent at Outlast, but for now, he could just bask in the Dragon's grace and power.
Alex's team consisted of Carlson, Konrad, and Lucy, all former opponents as well. Carlson represented the potential for greatness but the lack of true testing would force him to be a question mark in regards to his role in Team Dragon. Konrad, going into Outlast still the Cross-Hemisphere Champion, represented that never-give-up mentality. Lucy represented revenge and determination; ideally she'd get yet another opportunity to avenge herself against JC, though he was part of another team, surely much to her chagrin. With a leader like Alex, Carlson will become more inspired, Konrad more confident, and Lucy more focused. They'll all have to be - this is a war some of them might not survive otherwise.
While Hide could remain entertained with Alex's presence and ability for much longer, he had a long road ahead of him, one that would surely not be all fun and games.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 5:10pm EST === Eden Morgan/Donovan Hastings - The Baal Estate - Scarsdale - New York
No. Calm down. Don't do it. You're here for a reason. Keep in control. Their time will come soon enough. Focus. FOCUS. Just keep out of sight. Don't be tempted.
Outside Gabriel's home, he spots Gabriel first, and anger washes over him. Control yourself. The urge to smash a window, jump on through, and slash him to ribbons with the shards was great, but he had to hold his feelings in. He needed to find the others, but there were so many windows, so many opportunities to be found out. No, not this window. Not this window either. No. No. No. Not yet. No. No. Aha! In the war room? Eden and Donovan were leaning over a table with a map, moving tiny figurines about it. Which one was Hide, he wondered. No, wait, they're certainly talking tactics against Team Dragon. They're not getting ahead of themselves. Oh! Donovan moves a figurine and moments later, Eden slapped it off the table. Donovan has a look of pseudo-shock on his face. Eden begins yelling at him. Donovan lights a cigar. Eden yells at him some more.
The other member of Team Morstings bursts into the room, looking annoyed that his machinations, most certainly sinister in origin, have been interrupted due to their squabbling. Eden's voice softens as she explains the situation, but something Donovan says, followed by laughter, returns her to an agitated state anew. While
Eden and Donovan were co-captains, it was clear Gabriel's presence would be the glue to keep them as a unified force, and as a unified force, they'd be at their most dangerous. This would not be a cakewalk or a movement using any other pastry for that matter, should any one of them make it past Team Cooperation. On a righteous level, Hide of course hoped that team would prevail, but on a more primal level, he wished to see Eden, Donovan, and Gabriel proceed so he could kill four birds with one stone. Then Tempest's curiosity at the still-dug graves would be quenched.
But besides those three villains, there was the anomaly, someone named Montague Cervantes. All he knows is from what he's seen of him at WrestleStock; as a performer, he was quite entertaining, but would that translate well inside a wrestling ring? He was the final choice of the night, and Donovan himself chose him; does this mean it was a silly choice? An arbitrary choice? Perhaps yet another choice he WANTS others to think is silly and arbitrary? Only time will tell.
Anyway, Hide tried observing the trio for longer, but the smug, arrogant, insufferable, evil scowls and smirks that they wore upon their faces disgusted him to no end. Besides, his journey was far from over, and it was already the afternoon.
Thursday, September 24th, 1:25am EST === Tempest - The Farmhouse - The Outskirts of Gnaw Bone - Indiana
The energy in the air here was unnatural and unnerving. This would be the sort of place that, if Hide had to exterminate all three Astro Creeps, he could do it, leave them where they laid, and the police wouldn't even show up until they were in the presence of three mostly-skeletal remains. But no. This was wrong. Maybe right in some way, but mostly wrong. Their sort of villainy was unorthodox. Subtle. Did they enter Sloane's head? Did they enter JC's head? Did they merely tap into negative emotions that were already there, just fracking the psyche in order to allow the darkness to flow freely? Sloane seemed to have resisted the pull, but JC embraced it... or did he?
Anyway, Hide came across a sight he hadn't expected: the trio appeared to be hosting an outdoor film screening of some sort of movie. Movies. It was a marathon of horror movies. Hide felt more confident to travel freely on the grounds; it was dark, there were many moviegoers, and Daedalus, Ny-Otep and Tempest were occupied anyway. There was not much he could make of the three, especially the captain of The Astro Creeps. He deduced that even during the day, it would be hard to truly comprehend them. Much like how he began his journey in the UGWC early last year, they swirled around the promotion as chaos made flesh. Unlike his former self, their goals were apparent... weren't they? Wreaking havoc? Hmm. Maybe. Maybe it's deeper than that. Deeper? Maybe more enigmatic. Like a trio of tricksters. So truly evil? Consorting with evil, should their alliance with Baal still be on. That's good enough for him. He should take them out now before they can contort the UGWC into a gibbering insane pretzel.
Wait. What's this? The other movies were your usual horror fare; this one... this one seems... off. Wait. Was that... Daedalus? In the movie? Ny-Otep?? TEMPEST??? This made no sense, but it was fitting. It's as if they were pulled out of a horror film anyway; turns out, it was the other way around all along? Hmm. They spectators are enthralled. Almost hypnotized. Barely alive. Alive, but engrossed. Dangerously so. Ny-Otep could crush them all if he so chose. But he just stands there, arms crossed, looking on. Daedalus is into the movie, but Tempest appears disinterested. Oh. Daedalus has scolded him. He seems to favour Ny-Otep; why not have HIM wrestle in Tempest's stead if the Human of the bunch was such a disappointment to him? Hmm.
Maybe he's the captain solely to see how he can wrangle Dave, JC, and that Natural Born Killer? Dave is an obsessed beast, so it's logical he'd gladly align himself with The Astro Creeps. JC is in many ways similar to Dave, even with the whole betrayal angle. Turning on who he was closest to. Treachery. Cowardice. Hide hated Dave and JC, because he knew, he truly knew how Angelica and Lucy respectively felt. Scum. And as far as The NBK was concerned, he was a strange addition to the group, but as he comes and goes as he pleases, not unlike Fear, he may not be such a strange addition to the seedy cast of characters after all.
Hide had enjoyed all the movies up till this one, but seeing the three in person AND on the screen was too much for his tired mind to bear, and so, he left before finding out how the movie ended.
Ny-Otep turned to Daedalus, "Wasn't that Hide back there?"
Daedalus looked behind him and smiled, "Huh! Looks like!"
He then focused back on the big screen. "Oh well!"
Thursday, September 24th, 1:00pm PST === Adelaide Ainsworth - Muscle Beach - Santa Monica - California
Having only a couple hours of sleep, Hide was back on the road, now at one of the most popular beaches in all of the US. The heat, combined with his lack of sleep, was doing a number even on the otherwise seemingly unwavering tiger-man. He was fortunate enough to come upon a beach-bound vendor that sold Gatorade and Red Bulls, which he gladly accepted as tributes once the seller recognized the popular UGWC wrestler. Now fully hydrated and caffeinated, he hoped he'd soon come across a fan selling many hot-dogs.
As he partook in people watching, his ears perked up as a familiar voice was calling out. He locked onto the location of the voice; it was Adelaide and she was further down the beach, trying to chat up any buff guy that dared come too close to her. Before she could spot him, he decided to hide near a lifeguard tower. Sufficiently obfuscated, he observed her behaviour and realized he was bearing witness to an amazing piece of human nature in progress: the mating call of the wild Ainsworth! True, it was in actuality catcalling borderlining on sexual harassment, but Hide didn't see it that way. He admired her confidence, her unwillingness to give up, and her technique. Hide wondered if he'd ever return to the dating scene after losing his wife prior to becoming a wrestler. Perhaps in that way, he and Adelaide had much in common; both have loved and lost. The only difference is, she's trying to fill the void to balance out her mind; Hide is much too scared to move on. Moving on means having to let go. Having to let go is not an option for him. Not yet. For now, he'd live vicariously through her.
Though he wondered how that forthcoming attitude would translate into leading a team of two masked superstars from another promotion and the returning Randy. Madman and Madwoman Szalinski, he knew they were a pair of serious threats; if Adelaide had ferried them into the UGWC for this event, there was a purpose to it, and it was not to lose. Add Randy to the equation, almost a kindred spirit to Adelaide, at least in the debauchery department, and yet another team seemingly tossed together was in fact perfectly planned. Collectively, they'd be known as The Four Seamen, but Hide didn't get it.
Anyway, he came upon some elotes, happily eating the spicy, buttery treat as he looked on, witnessing many rejections, some maybes, and oh! Looks like we got a winner! She leads the lucky gentleman away from the beach, quite possibly in time to avoid the ire of the beach police, if such a thing truly exists.
This was Hide's cue to move on.
Maybe another nap, and THEN move on.
Thursday, September 24th, 10:00pm CST === Angelica Vaughn - The STA Ranch - Near San Antonio - Texas
The nap had to be reserved for his time at LAX as well as on the short flight; time was running out, and he needed to reach this destination before the day's end. Luckily, he had previously been a visitor to Angie's farm, and as such, that cut down on the time it took to both reach it and know where to hide and sneak at maximum efficiency. Luckily, Angie was here and still out and about, toting a few of the smaller of her roaming critters - among them of course a husky boy named Carl the pig. They seemed to resist; it was nighttime, after all, but she was trying to convince them that this was the only time she could make to do this. This? What is this anyway?
She lined up the various barnyard beasties as best as she could: a duck, a goat, and Carl. Intriguing. She stood in front of them, thinking long and hard. Examining each one thoroughly, she finally pointed at the duck and declared it Kenzi, one of Hide's earliest enemies turned team associate. Next, she pointed at the goat and announced they would be Phrixus Deimos. Finally, she turned apologetically to Carl and stated he had to be Centurion by default. What was this about?
As far as each member of Team 'All Kitten, No Flerkens' was concerned, perhaps he understood Kenzi's role as the duck. Ducks swim, never sink. No matter how many times you dunk Kenzi, she always rises to the top. How Johnny spoke so highly of someone who hadn't been seen since her traumatic defeat at the hands of Tempest truly revealed her value. Maybe after Monday night, Johnny would see him on the same level as Kenzi. Anyway, Fear as a goat might have been more literally symbolic: calling someone an old goat was solely reserved for gruff venerable sorts. But also, as goats traditionally consume all that's put before them, so too does Phrixus consume information. Knowledge. Wisdom.
And then there was Centurion as a big ol' pig. Hmm. This was certainly a head-scratcher. Well. Pigs are considered very intelligent creatures. Centurion's endurance in this sport didn't come about from foolishness. Or maybe he was chosen as the pig because that was the only sleepy animal left to represent a teammate. Because besides all that, Centurion was a wise choice for a partner, along the same lines of a Lucy Wylde - someone with all this hype and ability to back it up.
So here was Angie, reciting a speech in front of her makeshift teammates, trying not to get frustrated as they almost dozed off. This was serious as far as she was concerned: she needed to practice what to say when she was actually in front of the real Kenzi, Phrixus, and Centurion. Even in front of these barnyard facsimiles, she was having a hard time figuring out exactly what to say. It was cute how seriously she was taking this, but in a significantly less condescending way, it was admirable. Angie was an incredibly hard-worker, taking any and all jobs put in front of her with a smile on her face and a determination virtually incontestable in the UGWC. And while she had tripped over a few snags on her return after losing at WrestleStock, Hide knew. Hide knew that it wouldn't be long before she had a return to prominence. Even Johnny, reserving his praise for a precious few, knew this.
But, once Angie got into the groove of things, she frowned as one by one, "Kenzi", "Phrixus", and "Centurion" conked out. She sighed, but her sigh made way for a yawn; it had been a long day for her, and her little buddies may have had the right idea after all. After wrangling them up and returning them to their proper areas, she too disappeared back into her homestead.
Come to think of it, that barn sure looked like a nice place to rest one's head, be they beast OR man-beast!
Saturday, September 25th, 12:10pm EST === Blessed Vanity - not too far from The Philips Arena in Atlanta - Georgia
Driving a luxury tour bus for the first time was a bit of a challenge for Hide; before this he only knew how to drive a car, and this larger vehicle offered its own challenges. Nevertheless, all he needed was to remain cool, calm, and collected. Blessed Vanity would never know he was there. The vast expanses of the bus, alongside the lack of desire for neither Alan nor Travis to interact with a mere driver, allowed The Strong Style Satanist the privilege to be both up close and personal, all the while hiding in plain sight.
Kismet allowed Hide to come across the tour bus as it was on the outskirts of San Antonio, and fortunately the itinerary stated they were Georgia-bound. Perfect. Now, all he needed was to observe the unique relationship between Wallace and Roberts.
Mostly, it was bickering and whining, but unlike the relationship between Eden and Donovan, there was a definite platonic love to be found between the two. Unlike other teams slapped together and getting lucky breaks, these two were inseparable on a molecular level. This... was actually quite the admirable quality that many surely would overlook when talking about Blessed Vanity. Besides the argumentative banter, there was business talk pertaining to the Pierce Media Network, talk about the upcoming Outlast show, talk about their hopes and dreams. Someone, most likely Travis, ruining the moment. Alan scoffing, but in a different way from how Holden Orson scoffed. And what happened to Holden Orson anyway? He was one of if not the first-ever opponent for Hide last year.
Anyway, the animosity never lasted. That's how friendships should be; no backstabbing when the going got tough. No dissolving of friendships due to a lack of communication. This was the ideal: this is what Hide wanted for Sebastian and himself! This is surely the sort of unbreakable union that would inspire Travis #2, ruler of the PMN and UGWC Chaos Champion Duncan to work as the perfect unit. It would be unfortunate that, once they won, if they in fact would, that they'd have to take all that unity and obliterate it, all for a chance at that belt. That accursed belt! The very thing that turned Sebastian into the greedy, hateful monster that rules over the UGWC at this time.
Hide was convinced that Travis Pierce would be an integral cog in the Team Cooperation machine: his influence and experience and knowledge of Blessed Vanity so perfect that anyone else in that role would be unconvincing. Add Duncan to the mix, the group's only current title-holder, no stranger to cooperative action himself, and you'd be right to believe this team quite possibly has the best chances to advance than any other.
It's the last stop now. We're in the present time at last. Signs close by reveal that a... State Farm Arena was a good walk away? Is this the right locale for Outlast? Wasn't it the Philips Arena? All the same, this nice truck stop was the perfect place to covertly skedaddle into the city. Travis #1 refused to use a rest stop bathroom, but when he opened up the one inside the bus, he was shocked to see that their driver was tied up all this time! Why didn't they use the bathroom more often throughout the 14+ hour trip?! Anyway, Travis brings this discovery to Alan's attention, Alan is perplexed as he rushed to the driver's seat. He's beside himself. He and Travis #1 can be seen arguing as to how the bus drove itself, but a massive bite taken out of the seat's headrest answers all questions. The tandem frantically look all around their bus, equipped with whatever weaponry they could find lying around, but thankfully, if it was in fact Hide driving the bus, he's now long gone, and hey, he got them to Atlanta in one piece! And because the driver didn't actually work, they don't have to pay him! Bonus!
Saturday, September 25th, 1:10pm CST === Johnny's apartment - Chicago - Illinois
Johnny had acquired the aid of Maxine "Max" Pellegrini once more in order to hunt down Hide. After speaking to several people, they had said he's been spotted here in Illinois, New York, Indiana, California, Texas, and Georgia. Max made it clear that she was outright refusing to drive to all ends of the US this time around. Johnny wondered how people had footage of Hide all over the place, yet no reputable wrestling website had reported on it. He would have to deal with those dirt-sheets himself later!
Anyway, and fortunately for the two, Johnny's phone rings, and sure enough, it's a Georgia area code! No, it wouldn't be this easy... would it?
"I'm at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center." the voice said Japanese-ily.
"HIDE!!" Johnny scolded. "How did you manage to get from one part of the States to another in just a couple days?!"
"I borrowed your credit card." Hide casually responded.
Johnny's eyes widened, "That better not have been the words 'credit' and 'card' I heard in that sentence!"
Maxine snicked. Johnny glared at her.
"Anyway, I'll be here until Outlast." Hide said before yawning. "I still have much to do, but the allure of a good night's sleep in a proper bed is too much for me right now. Good night."
"But it's only 1pm-" Johnny blurted out as the call hung up. Johnny tossed his phone onto his couch and rested both hands on his face.
"So he really IS in Atlanta?" Max asked.
Johnny nodded, but otherwise retained his position.
"You goin there then?" she inquired.
"Ah, well, about that." Johnny said in a tone indication nothing good. "WE'RE going."
"We are?!" Max said, excited for a trip down south. "You buyin?"
"Ah, well, no, you see," Johnny responded as he chuckled. "If you recall correctly, HIDE HAS MY CREDIT CARD."
Max's eyes narrowed. "Then... WHO'S payin?"
Johnny grinned at his old friend. She, however, frowned back. "Oh no. Oh no no no no! Not again! Ya do this all th' time ta me! No! NO! A thousand times NO!!"
But it was yes, because they were soon on their way.
Saturday, September 25th, 9:30pm EST === The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel - The Buckhead Neighbourhood in Atlanta - Georgia
Fully refreshed and still waiting for Johnny and Max to fly in from Chicago, Hide headed toward the Buckhead neighbourhood, an affluent area where, if Sebastian were to already be in town, could most certainly be found. Reaching the area, its impersonal richness was immediately apparent; money can buy the best supplies, hire the best architects, draw in the "best" people, but it would all be done without soul. Poshness without humanity. But the comparisons between this locale and Sebastian ended with richness; Hide was certain that deep down inside, there was still some semblance of goodness. Something salvageable. He would dredge the deepest recesses of Sebastian's mind and spirit in order to resurface it. He would exorcise the demons, expel the evil voices, and extract the World Heavyweight Championship, and in these acts of platonic love - Blessed Vanity levels of love - purify the belt and bring about a golden age of professional wrestling in the UGWC.
Laughable ambitions, ludicrous desires, but perhaps admirable all the same. Ultimately, Hide would be satisfied with saving Sebastian from himself. That, surprisingly enough, would be the easy part; convincing Johnny Bonecrusher that Sebastian was worthy of forgiveness would be a tough sell. He'd sooner sell salt to a slug. But, he'd cross that bridge when he'd pass it.
Anyway, words travelling in the air quietly utter rumours that Sebastian was staying in the absolute very best luxury hotel in all of Atlanta. Hide needed to move quickly; it couldn't possibly be much longer before Johnny and Max would arrive, and his final chance before Outlast would escape his grasp. So, he makes haste to the hotel, and sure enough, it was a colossal testament to decadence. The French Baroque-inspired visuals daunted and disoriented. The extravagance was overwhelming. Security guards stalked Hide as Hide skulked around the property, but they dared not confront the imposing figure.
Unlike the others, there would be no way to narrow down where exactly Sebastian was staying. But he didn't need to. He knew Sebastian. How he moved, how he spoke, what he ate, what he drank, how he slept, everything. So this time, it was okay. Just knowing Sebastian was close by was enough.
Saturday, September 25th, 10:10pm EST === Poolside at The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel - The Buckhead Neighbourhood in Atlanta - Georgia
Paparazzi had soon after Hide's arrival recognized him as being a friend... former friend... whatever, it didn't matter to them. Any and all tea - no British joke intended - would be appreciated. But Hide knew. Hide knew they were vile parasites. The sight of them disgusted him. He wondered how quickly he could eviscerate them all. He'd be doing the world a favour. And it'd be so easy too. But... it might derail his train on the way to his final destiny. So instead, he'll have to rely on them not understanding him and lead them on.
Paparazzo One asks, "So what's Sebastian like when the cameras are off?"
The flashes from their cameras were almost unbearable. What he'd have to endure to have his thoughts broadcasted for all to witness. "Monday night is a very special night for me. It will be my final destination. I and I alone have the power to heal Sebastian. This is because I know him. I understand him on the deepest of levels. Sloane, while a benevolent soul, wouldn't know where to begin. She is satisfied with Sebastian because she can only see so far. She wants, more than anything, to see only the good, but it is in those thoughts that she has erred; there are outside forces that have molded him, whispered dangerous thoughts into his ears. So for Sloane's sake, I will retrieve her friend as a whole person anew."
That paparazzo turns to another. "It takes them longer to answer short questions in Japanese." He explained to his contemporary.
Paparazzo Two asks, "What does he like to eat when he's in town? I know a good steakhouse close by!"
Hide looked confused. "You are a vapid cockroach! But know this: soon enough, I will spirit Sebastian away from this insubstantial microcosm! I will return him to Earth, and we will rule with a gentle but firm set of fists! We will govern over the UGWC, not like Sarah Grey-Lacklan, whose desire to conquer came from a place of megalomaniacal despotism, rather, allowing all the freedom to do as they see fit... so long as they don't ever forget themselves."
The group clapped once Hide finished speaking, though they all looked at each other, as if uncertain as to what they were cheering for to begin with.
Paparazzo Three asks, "So what does Sebastian see in a woman?"
The others laugh as this paparazzo blushes a bit. Hide pointed accusedly at her. "If you truly knew Sebastian like I know him, you would know he indulges in both women AND men! Your question is shameful! It's thanks to people like you that the corruption within Sebastian could remain forever, only growing stronger with each passing week! Once I rip the World Championship from his white-knuckled hands, he will understand. He will understand all. And people like YOU will have little recourse but to flee back to the rocks they crawled out from under!"
Hide's disdain was lost on the third paparazzo.
Paparazzo Four asks, "Will we get to finally see Sebastians I and II show up to support the champ?"
Hide growled, leapt forward, and grabbed a hold of the question-asker. Thinking it was part of some sort of shtick, they merely chuckled as their coworkers did the same. "Don't piss me off! Your questions become more valueless as time progresses! So I have chosen to try to get through to someone out there... ANYONE out there... Hear my words: know who I am and who I will not become:
I will NOT become someone like Eden - hellbent on sewing the seeds of deceit and poisoning those in her wake with her cruelty.
I will NOT become someone like Gabriel - masterminding sinister plans behind the scenes, unable to face the Sun with a clean conscience.
I will NOT become someone like Donovan - comfortable playing the fool when I could be so much more.
I will NOT become someone like Tempest - stuck in a perpetual loop of conformity, forever stuck in a whirlpool of chaos.
I will NOT become someone like JC - believing paving one's path must begin with the betrayal of those closest to him.
I will NOT become someone like Dave - obsessed with a material object to the point he will stoop to any low to achieve it.
And it's from these influences and more that I will shield Sebastian from - no matter the cost. I will erase any and all obstacles and silence and and all dissent. I will show Sebastian the ultimate in mercy. I will come at him until I can no longer move, and then I will muster the strength to move nevertheless. I will not stop, I CAN not stop, until the demons are abated! Abated, crushed, and swept away. And yes, this will mean acquiring the UGWC World Heavyweight Championship again, but don't you see? This is the final rite to be implemented in the ceremony. When the last candle blows out, all will be well once more. Like Sebastian himself has said countless times before, we will stand together, not one behind the other, but side by side. As one. As it's to be."
He finally releases his hold from the slimy interviewer. Everyone else is unsure how to act, how to proceed. But it hardly matters, as Hide begins to storm off, tired of being in the presence of parasites.
Tactics, people, tactics.
But...
Is that REALLY the end? What about all that talk of purification and redemption from Hide? Surely that wasn't all talk, was it? No. Maybe if it were Johnny spouting it, but he's been fairly upfront about his position as it pertains to his former Uncommonwealth shareholder. There's still unfinished business to tend to at Outlast, but his decimation of Sebastian at Synergy was merely the proclamation of war; there can be no friends on the battlefield.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:45am CST === Johnny's apartment - Chicago - Illinois
"I've gotta say, I'm positively delighted that we're back on the same page!" the familiar voice said.
Johnny Bonecrusher was seated at his desk, looking up the reviews of the latest episode of Synergy online. Hide is out of camera-shot, but the water in the bathroom is running, so we're led to believe he's washing up, perhaps getting ready for a nice Chinese food dinner at Shanghai Terrace or Chengdu Impression Restaurant.
"Sebastian drops to pin the still laid-out Lucy Wylde and gets a 2.8 before he’s violently yanked from the pin and laid out with a Death Valley Driver..." Johnny chuckles. "From Hide. 'The Strong Style Satanist' pulls him up and says something right in his face, then hammers him with a punishing lariat, which he follows up with 'The Devil', leaving Seb a crumpled heap. Hide throws Lucy from the ring, then pulls Tempest over and lays him on top of Seb before departing the ring. Glenn freezes for the briefest of seconds before he drops to count the pin. Three seconds later, Tempest has a big victory and the World Champion’s plan to con his next challenger lays in ruins."
Johnny chuckles a bit more before closing his laptop. "You know, for a while there, I really thought you might have SERIOUSLY sided with Seballsack! Not that I'D have blamed you; Sebutthead's certainly gotta way with words, and unlike yours truly, you seem a lot more forgiving. But it's CRUCIAL that we put all that aside, because in under a week, we've got what might very well be out last chance to bring back the gold to our camp."
The water continued to run. Johnny looked over toward the bathroom, confused there was no response, not even a grunt from his client. "Hey, ah, so you know I pay the water bill, right?"
Still no response. Johnny shrugs, "Anyway, I don't want you focusing all your attention on Seblister, even though yes, ending him for good IS the ultimate plan. There's going to be like-"
Johnny pauses to count on his fingers. "A MAXIMUM of like... 17 people total in the main event! That's you, Se-blight, and three whole-ass teams' worth of challengers!"
He narrows his eyes and leans forward to look back toward the bathroom. His eyes dart back and forth in suspicion, but he just shakes his head and continues. "Sure, the, uh, the likelihood of that scenario panning out is pretty slim; last year there were only five people total. That's ALMOST the ideal number, really: one over the bare minimum that there can be. Maybe we luck out and it's three other people who hate Sebuzzard! We can all bum-rush him and then take them out in their fatigued state! Easy peasy, Sebastian's neck squeezy!"
Johnny pauses to hear for a response, but still nothing. He holds out his hands and looks a bit annoyed. "Hide? Hide??"
Johnny finally shoved his chair back and rose to his feet, stomping over to the bathroom. The water was running, that's for sure; Hide, however, was nowhere to be found! The window was fully swung open and even broken a bit as it was extended further than it could normally go. Johnny was agape, holding out his hands uncertain how he's supposed to react to all this.
Then, he notices a note.
Dear Mr. Bonecrusher,
I know we've just reunited, but there's one last path I must walk before I'm prepared for my final destiny. Don't worry; I will return in time. This is of the utmost of importance. Please don't come looking for me.
Regards, Yamazaki, Hide
Johnny pored over the note - which was in Japanese, of course, before crumpling it up and shutting off the water. Looking over the mess that was now his bathroom, he sighed, "I don't think I'm gonna get back my deposit now."
Wednesday, September 23rd, 10:30am CST === Alex Kiseragi - the set of the movie Fight or Flight at Cinespace Film Studios - Chicago - Illinois
Hide's first stop was close by; he had learned that the captain of Team Dragon would be indulging in his other passion - choreographing fight scenes for all sorts of productions. Today, among other things, he's teaching people how to roll with a punch to make it look as realistic as possible. Thankfully no one has to worry about things like that in professional wrestling. Anyway, observing how Alex interacted with the actors with patience and care, Hide couldn't help but admire The Dragon's demeanour. Teaching until the lesson's taught, not punishing those that weren't getting it at first, and doing all that with a smile. Everything Johnny Bonecrusher was not.
Later, he would get to see Alex training people to duck and weave around obstacles, finding hiding spots in the crampest of locations, and springing to action at a moment's notice. The elegance and flow of Alex's movements was more enjoyable to experience from afar and when one could appreciate the skill for what it was without the bias of active competition. Granted, he'd be a potential opponent at Outlast, but for now, he could just bask in the Dragon's grace and power.
Alex's team consisted of Carlson, Konrad, and Lucy, all former opponents as well. Carlson represented the potential for greatness but the lack of true testing would force him to be a question mark in regards to his role in Team Dragon. Konrad, going into Outlast still the Cross-Hemisphere Champion, represented that never-give-up mentality. Lucy represented revenge and determination; ideally she'd get yet another opportunity to avenge herself against JC, though he was part of another team, surely much to her chagrin. With a leader like Alex, Carlson will become more inspired, Konrad more confident, and Lucy more focused. They'll all have to be - this is a war some of them might not survive otherwise.
While Hide could remain entertained with Alex's presence and ability for much longer, he had a long road ahead of him, one that would surely not be all fun and games.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 5:10pm EST === Eden Morgan/Donovan Hastings - The Baal Estate - Scarsdale - New York
No. Calm down. Don't do it. You're here for a reason. Keep in control. Their time will come soon enough. Focus. FOCUS. Just keep out of sight. Don't be tempted.
Outside Gabriel's home, he spots Gabriel first, and anger washes over him. Control yourself. The urge to smash a window, jump on through, and slash him to ribbons with the shards was great, but he had to hold his feelings in. He needed to find the others, but there were so many windows, so many opportunities to be found out. No, not this window. Not this window either. No. No. No. Not yet. No. No. Aha! In the war room? Eden and Donovan were leaning over a table with a map, moving tiny figurines about it. Which one was Hide, he wondered. No, wait, they're certainly talking tactics against Team Dragon. They're not getting ahead of themselves. Oh! Donovan moves a figurine and moments later, Eden slapped it off the table. Donovan has a look of pseudo-shock on his face. Eden begins yelling at him. Donovan lights a cigar. Eden yells at him some more.
The other member of Team Morstings bursts into the room, looking annoyed that his machinations, most certainly sinister in origin, have been interrupted due to their squabbling. Eden's voice softens as she explains the situation, but something Donovan says, followed by laughter, returns her to an agitated state anew. While
Eden and Donovan were co-captains, it was clear Gabriel's presence would be the glue to keep them as a unified force, and as a unified force, they'd be at their most dangerous. This would not be a cakewalk or a movement using any other pastry for that matter, should any one of them make it past Team Cooperation. On a righteous level, Hide of course hoped that team would prevail, but on a more primal level, he wished to see Eden, Donovan, and Gabriel proceed so he could kill four birds with one stone. Then Tempest's curiosity at the still-dug graves would be quenched.
But besides those three villains, there was the anomaly, someone named Montague Cervantes. All he knows is from what he's seen of him at WrestleStock; as a performer, he was quite entertaining, but would that translate well inside a wrestling ring? He was the final choice of the night, and Donovan himself chose him; does this mean it was a silly choice? An arbitrary choice? Perhaps yet another choice he WANTS others to think is silly and arbitrary? Only time will tell.
Anyway, Hide tried observing the trio for longer, but the smug, arrogant, insufferable, evil scowls and smirks that they wore upon their faces disgusted him to no end. Besides, his journey was far from over, and it was already the afternoon.
Thursday, September 24th, 1:25am EST === Tempest - The Farmhouse - The Outskirts of Gnaw Bone - Indiana
The energy in the air here was unnatural and unnerving. This would be the sort of place that, if Hide had to exterminate all three Astro Creeps, he could do it, leave them where they laid, and the police wouldn't even show up until they were in the presence of three mostly-skeletal remains. But no. This was wrong. Maybe right in some way, but mostly wrong. Their sort of villainy was unorthodox. Subtle. Did they enter Sloane's head? Did they enter JC's head? Did they merely tap into negative emotions that were already there, just fracking the psyche in order to allow the darkness to flow freely? Sloane seemed to have resisted the pull, but JC embraced it... or did he?
Anyway, Hide came across a sight he hadn't expected: the trio appeared to be hosting an outdoor film screening of some sort of movie. Movies. It was a marathon of horror movies. Hide felt more confident to travel freely on the grounds; it was dark, there were many moviegoers, and Daedalus, Ny-Otep and Tempest were occupied anyway. There was not much he could make of the three, especially the captain of The Astro Creeps. He deduced that even during the day, it would be hard to truly comprehend them. Much like how he began his journey in the UGWC early last year, they swirled around the promotion as chaos made flesh. Unlike his former self, their goals were apparent... weren't they? Wreaking havoc? Hmm. Maybe. Maybe it's deeper than that. Deeper? Maybe more enigmatic. Like a trio of tricksters. So truly evil? Consorting with evil, should their alliance with Baal still be on. That's good enough for him. He should take them out now before they can contort the UGWC into a gibbering insane pretzel.
Wait. What's this? The other movies were your usual horror fare; this one... this one seems... off. Wait. Was that... Daedalus? In the movie? Ny-Otep?? TEMPEST??? This made no sense, but it was fitting. It's as if they were pulled out of a horror film anyway; turns out, it was the other way around all along? Hmm. They spectators are enthralled. Almost hypnotized. Barely alive. Alive, but engrossed. Dangerously so. Ny-Otep could crush them all if he so chose. But he just stands there, arms crossed, looking on. Daedalus is into the movie, but Tempest appears disinterested. Oh. Daedalus has scolded him. He seems to favour Ny-Otep; why not have HIM wrestle in Tempest's stead if the Human of the bunch was such a disappointment to him? Hmm.
Maybe he's the captain solely to see how he can wrangle Dave, JC, and that Natural Born Killer? Dave is an obsessed beast, so it's logical he'd gladly align himself with The Astro Creeps. JC is in many ways similar to Dave, even with the whole betrayal angle. Turning on who he was closest to. Treachery. Cowardice. Hide hated Dave and JC, because he knew, he truly knew how Angelica and Lucy respectively felt. Scum. And as far as The NBK was concerned, he was a strange addition to the group, but as he comes and goes as he pleases, not unlike Fear, he may not be such a strange addition to the seedy cast of characters after all.
Hide had enjoyed all the movies up till this one, but seeing the three in person AND on the screen was too much for his tired mind to bear, and so, he left before finding out how the movie ended.
Ny-Otep turned to Daedalus, "Wasn't that Hide back there?"
Daedalus looked behind him and smiled, "Huh! Looks like!"
He then focused back on the big screen. "Oh well!"
Thursday, September 24th, 1:00pm PST === Adelaide Ainsworth - Muscle Beach - Santa Monica - California
Having only a couple hours of sleep, Hide was back on the road, now at one of the most popular beaches in all of the US. The heat, combined with his lack of sleep, was doing a number even on the otherwise seemingly unwavering tiger-man. He was fortunate enough to come upon a beach-bound vendor that sold Gatorade and Red Bulls, which he gladly accepted as tributes once the seller recognized the popular UGWC wrestler. Now fully hydrated and caffeinated, he hoped he'd soon come across a fan selling many hot-dogs.
As he partook in people watching, his ears perked up as a familiar voice was calling out. He locked onto the location of the voice; it was Adelaide and she was further down the beach, trying to chat up any buff guy that dared come too close to her. Before she could spot him, he decided to hide near a lifeguard tower. Sufficiently obfuscated, he observed her behaviour and realized he was bearing witness to an amazing piece of human nature in progress: the mating call of the wild Ainsworth! True, it was in actuality catcalling borderlining on sexual harassment, but Hide didn't see it that way. He admired her confidence, her unwillingness to give up, and her technique. Hide wondered if he'd ever return to the dating scene after losing his wife prior to becoming a wrestler. Perhaps in that way, he and Adelaide had much in common; both have loved and lost. The only difference is, she's trying to fill the void to balance out her mind; Hide is much too scared to move on. Moving on means having to let go. Having to let go is not an option for him. Not yet. For now, he'd live vicariously through her.
Though he wondered how that forthcoming attitude would translate into leading a team of two masked superstars from another promotion and the returning Randy. Madman and Madwoman Szalinski, he knew they were a pair of serious threats; if Adelaide had ferried them into the UGWC for this event, there was a purpose to it, and it was not to lose. Add Randy to the equation, almost a kindred spirit to Adelaide, at least in the debauchery department, and yet another team seemingly tossed together was in fact perfectly planned. Collectively, they'd be known as The Four Seamen, but Hide didn't get it.
Anyway, he came upon some elotes, happily eating the spicy, buttery treat as he looked on, witnessing many rejections, some maybes, and oh! Looks like we got a winner! She leads the lucky gentleman away from the beach, quite possibly in time to avoid the ire of the beach police, if such a thing truly exists.
This was Hide's cue to move on.
Maybe another nap, and THEN move on.
Thursday, September 24th, 10:00pm CST === Angelica Vaughn - The STA Ranch - Near San Antonio - Texas
The nap had to be reserved for his time at LAX as well as on the short flight; time was running out, and he needed to reach this destination before the day's end. Luckily, he had previously been a visitor to Angie's farm, and as such, that cut down on the time it took to both reach it and know where to hide and sneak at maximum efficiency. Luckily, Angie was here and still out and about, toting a few of the smaller of her roaming critters - among them of course a husky boy named Carl the pig. They seemed to resist; it was nighttime, after all, but she was trying to convince them that this was the only time she could make to do this. This? What is this anyway?
She lined up the various barnyard beasties as best as she could: a duck, a goat, and Carl. Intriguing. She stood in front of them, thinking long and hard. Examining each one thoroughly, she finally pointed at the duck and declared it Kenzi, one of Hide's earliest enemies turned team associate. Next, she pointed at the goat and announced they would be Phrixus Deimos. Finally, she turned apologetically to Carl and stated he had to be Centurion by default. What was this about?
As far as each member of Team 'All Kitten, No Flerkens' was concerned, perhaps he understood Kenzi's role as the duck. Ducks swim, never sink. No matter how many times you dunk Kenzi, she always rises to the top. How Johnny spoke so highly of someone who hadn't been seen since her traumatic defeat at the hands of Tempest truly revealed her value. Maybe after Monday night, Johnny would see him on the same level as Kenzi. Anyway, Fear as a goat might have been more literally symbolic: calling someone an old goat was solely reserved for gruff venerable sorts. But also, as goats traditionally consume all that's put before them, so too does Phrixus consume information. Knowledge. Wisdom.
And then there was Centurion as a big ol' pig. Hmm. This was certainly a head-scratcher. Well. Pigs are considered very intelligent creatures. Centurion's endurance in this sport didn't come about from foolishness. Or maybe he was chosen as the pig because that was the only sleepy animal left to represent a teammate. Because besides all that, Centurion was a wise choice for a partner, along the same lines of a Lucy Wylde - someone with all this hype and ability to back it up.
So here was Angie, reciting a speech in front of her makeshift teammates, trying not to get frustrated as they almost dozed off. This was serious as far as she was concerned: she needed to practice what to say when she was actually in front of the real Kenzi, Phrixus, and Centurion. Even in front of these barnyard facsimiles, she was having a hard time figuring out exactly what to say. It was cute how seriously she was taking this, but in a significantly less condescending way, it was admirable. Angie was an incredibly hard-worker, taking any and all jobs put in front of her with a smile on her face and a determination virtually incontestable in the UGWC. And while she had tripped over a few snags on her return after losing at WrestleStock, Hide knew. Hide knew that it wouldn't be long before she had a return to prominence. Even Johnny, reserving his praise for a precious few, knew this.
But, once Angie got into the groove of things, she frowned as one by one, "Kenzi", "Phrixus", and "Centurion" conked out. She sighed, but her sigh made way for a yawn; it had been a long day for her, and her little buddies may have had the right idea after all. After wrangling them up and returning them to their proper areas, she too disappeared back into her homestead.
Come to think of it, that barn sure looked like a nice place to rest one's head, be they beast OR man-beast!
Saturday, September 25th, 12:10pm EST === Blessed Vanity - not too far from The Philips Arena in Atlanta - Georgia
Driving a luxury tour bus for the first time was a bit of a challenge for Hide; before this he only knew how to drive a car, and this larger vehicle offered its own challenges. Nevertheless, all he needed was to remain cool, calm, and collected. Blessed Vanity would never know he was there. The vast expanses of the bus, alongside the lack of desire for neither Alan nor Travis to interact with a mere driver, allowed The Strong Style Satanist the privilege to be both up close and personal, all the while hiding in plain sight.
Kismet allowed Hide to come across the tour bus as it was on the outskirts of San Antonio, and fortunately the itinerary stated they were Georgia-bound. Perfect. Now, all he needed was to observe the unique relationship between Wallace and Roberts.
Mostly, it was bickering and whining, but unlike the relationship between Eden and Donovan, there was a definite platonic love to be found between the two. Unlike other teams slapped together and getting lucky breaks, these two were inseparable on a molecular level. This... was actually quite the admirable quality that many surely would overlook when talking about Blessed Vanity. Besides the argumentative banter, there was business talk pertaining to the Pierce Media Network, talk about the upcoming Outlast show, talk about their hopes and dreams. Someone, most likely Travis, ruining the moment. Alan scoffing, but in a different way from how Holden Orson scoffed. And what happened to Holden Orson anyway? He was one of if not the first-ever opponent for Hide last year.
Anyway, the animosity never lasted. That's how friendships should be; no backstabbing when the going got tough. No dissolving of friendships due to a lack of communication. This was the ideal: this is what Hide wanted for Sebastian and himself! This is surely the sort of unbreakable union that would inspire Travis #2, ruler of the PMN and UGWC Chaos Champion Duncan to work as the perfect unit. It would be unfortunate that, once they won, if they in fact would, that they'd have to take all that unity and obliterate it, all for a chance at that belt. That accursed belt! The very thing that turned Sebastian into the greedy, hateful monster that rules over the UGWC at this time.
Hide was convinced that Travis Pierce would be an integral cog in the Team Cooperation machine: his influence and experience and knowledge of Blessed Vanity so perfect that anyone else in that role would be unconvincing. Add Duncan to the mix, the group's only current title-holder, no stranger to cooperative action himself, and you'd be right to believe this team quite possibly has the best chances to advance than any other.
It's the last stop now. We're in the present time at last. Signs close by reveal that a... State Farm Arena was a good walk away? Is this the right locale for Outlast? Wasn't it the Philips Arena? All the same, this nice truck stop was the perfect place to covertly skedaddle into the city. Travis #1 refused to use a rest stop bathroom, but when he opened up the one inside the bus, he was shocked to see that their driver was tied up all this time! Why didn't they use the bathroom more often throughout the 14+ hour trip?! Anyway, Travis brings this discovery to Alan's attention, Alan is perplexed as he rushed to the driver's seat. He's beside himself. He and Travis #1 can be seen arguing as to how the bus drove itself, but a massive bite taken out of the seat's headrest answers all questions. The tandem frantically look all around their bus, equipped with whatever weaponry they could find lying around, but thankfully, if it was in fact Hide driving the bus, he's now long gone, and hey, he got them to Atlanta in one piece! And because the driver didn't actually work, they don't have to pay him! Bonus!
Saturday, September 25th, 1:10pm CST === Johnny's apartment - Chicago - Illinois
Johnny had acquired the aid of Maxine "Max" Pellegrini once more in order to hunt down Hide. After speaking to several people, they had said he's been spotted here in Illinois, New York, Indiana, California, Texas, and Georgia. Max made it clear that she was outright refusing to drive to all ends of the US this time around. Johnny wondered how people had footage of Hide all over the place, yet no reputable wrestling website had reported on it. He would have to deal with those dirt-sheets himself later!
Anyway, and fortunately for the two, Johnny's phone rings, and sure enough, it's a Georgia area code! No, it wouldn't be this easy... would it?
"I'm at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center." the voice said Japanese-ily.
"HIDE!!" Johnny scolded. "How did you manage to get from one part of the States to another in just a couple days?!"
"I borrowed your credit card." Hide casually responded.
Johnny's eyes widened, "That better not have been the words 'credit' and 'card' I heard in that sentence!"
Maxine snicked. Johnny glared at her.
"Anyway, I'll be here until Outlast." Hide said before yawning. "I still have much to do, but the allure of a good night's sleep in a proper bed is too much for me right now. Good night."
"But it's only 1pm-" Johnny blurted out as the call hung up. Johnny tossed his phone onto his couch and rested both hands on his face.
"So he really IS in Atlanta?" Max asked.
Johnny nodded, but otherwise retained his position.
"You goin there then?" she inquired.
"Ah, well, about that." Johnny said in a tone indication nothing good. "WE'RE going."
"We are?!" Max said, excited for a trip down south. "You buyin?"
"Ah, well, no, you see," Johnny responded as he chuckled. "If you recall correctly, HIDE HAS MY CREDIT CARD."
Max's eyes narrowed. "Then... WHO'S payin?"
Johnny grinned at his old friend. She, however, frowned back. "Oh no. Oh no no no no! Not again! Ya do this all th' time ta me! No! NO! A thousand times NO!!"
But it was yes, because they were soon on their way.
Saturday, September 25th, 9:30pm EST === The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel - The Buckhead Neighbourhood in Atlanta - Georgia
Fully refreshed and still waiting for Johnny and Max to fly in from Chicago, Hide headed toward the Buckhead neighbourhood, an affluent area where, if Sebastian were to already be in town, could most certainly be found. Reaching the area, its impersonal richness was immediately apparent; money can buy the best supplies, hire the best architects, draw in the "best" people, but it would all be done without soul. Poshness without humanity. But the comparisons between this locale and Sebastian ended with richness; Hide was certain that deep down inside, there was still some semblance of goodness. Something salvageable. He would dredge the deepest recesses of Sebastian's mind and spirit in order to resurface it. He would exorcise the demons, expel the evil voices, and extract the World Heavyweight Championship, and in these acts of platonic love - Blessed Vanity levels of love - purify the belt and bring about a golden age of professional wrestling in the UGWC.
Laughable ambitions, ludicrous desires, but perhaps admirable all the same. Ultimately, Hide would be satisfied with saving Sebastian from himself. That, surprisingly enough, would be the easy part; convincing Johnny Bonecrusher that Sebastian was worthy of forgiveness would be a tough sell. He'd sooner sell salt to a slug. But, he'd cross that bridge when he'd pass it.
Anyway, words travelling in the air quietly utter rumours that Sebastian was staying in the absolute very best luxury hotel in all of Atlanta. Hide needed to move quickly; it couldn't possibly be much longer before Johnny and Max would arrive, and his final chance before Outlast would escape his grasp. So, he makes haste to the hotel, and sure enough, it was a colossal testament to decadence. The French Baroque-inspired visuals daunted and disoriented. The extravagance was overwhelming. Security guards stalked Hide as Hide skulked around the property, but they dared not confront the imposing figure.
Unlike the others, there would be no way to narrow down where exactly Sebastian was staying. But he didn't need to. He knew Sebastian. How he moved, how he spoke, what he ate, what he drank, how he slept, everything. So this time, it was okay. Just knowing Sebastian was close by was enough.
Saturday, September 25th, 10:10pm EST === Poolside at The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel - The Buckhead Neighbourhood in Atlanta - Georgia
Paparazzi had soon after Hide's arrival recognized him as being a friend... former friend... whatever, it didn't matter to them. Any and all tea - no British joke intended - would be appreciated. But Hide knew. Hide knew they were vile parasites. The sight of them disgusted him. He wondered how quickly he could eviscerate them all. He'd be doing the world a favour. And it'd be so easy too. But... it might derail his train on the way to his final destiny. So instead, he'll have to rely on them not understanding him and lead them on.
Paparazzo One asks, "So what's Sebastian like when the cameras are off?"
The flashes from their cameras were almost unbearable. What he'd have to endure to have his thoughts broadcasted for all to witness. "Monday night is a very special night for me. It will be my final destination. I and I alone have the power to heal Sebastian. This is because I know him. I understand him on the deepest of levels. Sloane, while a benevolent soul, wouldn't know where to begin. She is satisfied with Sebastian because she can only see so far. She wants, more than anything, to see only the good, but it is in those thoughts that she has erred; there are outside forces that have molded him, whispered dangerous thoughts into his ears. So for Sloane's sake, I will retrieve her friend as a whole person anew."
That paparazzo turns to another. "It takes them longer to answer short questions in Japanese." He explained to his contemporary.
Paparazzo Two asks, "What does he like to eat when he's in town? I know a good steakhouse close by!"
Hide looked confused. "You are a vapid cockroach! But know this: soon enough, I will spirit Sebastian away from this insubstantial microcosm! I will return him to Earth, and we will rule with a gentle but firm set of fists! We will govern over the UGWC, not like Sarah Grey-Lacklan, whose desire to conquer came from a place of megalomaniacal despotism, rather, allowing all the freedom to do as they see fit... so long as they don't ever forget themselves."
The group clapped once Hide finished speaking, though they all looked at each other, as if uncertain as to what they were cheering for to begin with.
Paparazzo Three asks, "So what does Sebastian see in a woman?"
The others laugh as this paparazzo blushes a bit. Hide pointed accusedly at her. "If you truly knew Sebastian like I know him, you would know he indulges in both women AND men! Your question is shameful! It's thanks to people like you that the corruption within Sebastian could remain forever, only growing stronger with each passing week! Once I rip the World Championship from his white-knuckled hands, he will understand. He will understand all. And people like YOU will have little recourse but to flee back to the rocks they crawled out from under!"
Hide's disdain was lost on the third paparazzo.
Paparazzo Four asks, "Will we get to finally see Sebastians I and II show up to support the champ?"
Hide growled, leapt forward, and grabbed a hold of the question-asker. Thinking it was part of some sort of shtick, they merely chuckled as their coworkers did the same. "Don't piss me off! Your questions become more valueless as time progresses! So I have chosen to try to get through to someone out there... ANYONE out there... Hear my words: know who I am and who I will not become:
I will NOT become someone like Eden - hellbent on sewing the seeds of deceit and poisoning those in her wake with her cruelty.
I will NOT become someone like Gabriel - masterminding sinister plans behind the scenes, unable to face the Sun with a clean conscience.
I will NOT become someone like Donovan - comfortable playing the fool when I could be so much more.
I will NOT become someone like Tempest - stuck in a perpetual loop of conformity, forever stuck in a whirlpool of chaos.
I will NOT become someone like JC - believing paving one's path must begin with the betrayal of those closest to him.
I will NOT become someone like Dave - obsessed with a material object to the point he will stoop to any low to achieve it.
And it's from these influences and more that I will shield Sebastian from - no matter the cost. I will erase any and all obstacles and silence and and all dissent. I will show Sebastian the ultimate in mercy. I will come at him until I can no longer move, and then I will muster the strength to move nevertheless. I will not stop, I CAN not stop, until the demons are abated! Abated, crushed, and swept away. And yes, this will mean acquiring the UGWC World Heavyweight Championship again, but don't you see? This is the final rite to be implemented in the ceremony. When the last candle blows out, all will be well once more. Like Sebastian himself has said countless times before, we will stand together, not one behind the other, but side by side. As one. As it's to be."
He finally releases his hold from the slimy interviewer. Everyone else is unsure how to act, how to proceed. But it hardly matters, as Hide begins to storm off, tired of being in the presence of parasites.
