Post by Ulf Hednir on Jul 29, 2017 15:40:07 GMT
“Two are adversaries: the tongue is the bane of the head:
under every cloak I expect a sword.”
-The Havamal
under every cloak I expect a sword.”
-The Havamal
The road twisted, and curved throughout the landscape of Switzerland; light, white, fluffy clouds overhung in the sky that allowed the approaching midday sun to shine through and brighten up the terrain below. The clouds provided a shelter from the heat of the sun, which made this day particularly nice. The SUV that The Council members found themselves driving to Germany for Lineage passed along the road that hardly had any opposing traffic in the country area of Switzerland; there were a few places to stop and take in the scenery, and the occasional sign written in German. Some of the logos familiar to Americans were present on the sign to give them an idea of what they were saying. One of the logos present on the sign was Shell, which caught the eye of one of the passengers; Jason Sandman leans forward bumping into Ulf Hednir who was seated between him and Xavier Cross.
“Can we stop?” asked Jason Sandman, placing a hand to his own stomach to feel the slight growl, “I’m getting the munchies.”
The disturbance Jason Sandman caused to Ulf Hednir’s sleep caused him to to grumble angrily, as he opens his eyes narrowly with his gaze meeting Jason Sandman looking as if he would kill him on the spot. Jason Sandman glances back at Ulf with a look of innocence, while Kole Kaos looks ahead to the orange light that just flickered on from the dashboard.
“Yeah,” Kole Kaos said, his eyes glancing back and forth from the road to the dashboard, “We need to get gas anyway.”
Both Xavier Cross and Jason Sandman cheer loudly, while Ulf Hednir grumbles even more angrily as his sleep has been further disturbed. In the front seat, Rowan just glances forward to let the sound of the two cheering fade away before turning her attention back to the music she was listening to through her earphones. The drive continues for another half mile until the group pulls into the Shell station, with Kole Kaos driving to the pump closest to the station, and then turning the vehicle off. All of them, except Ulf because of him still trying to keep his eyes closed to sleep a little longer.
Jason Sandman is the first one to get out of the vehicle from one side of the car, followed by Kole Kaos from the driver side, Xavier Cross from the opposite side of Sandman, and then Rowan. Xavier Cross stretches out his legs and arms, getting some comfort back in his limbs after being scrunched together in the backseat with Ulf, and Jason. Kole, and Jason both head to the inside of the station, while Xavier goes around the side to try to see where the restroom is. He spots the separate door located outside of the main station that houses the restrooms and hurries toward it. Rowan goes inside of the station to browse for a few things of her own.
Back at the vehicle, Ulf Hednir finally manages to drag himself out from the SUV, then stretches all of his muscles out and blinks a few times to adjust his eyes to the sunlight. Rather than joining the Council inside the station, or making a run for the restroom much like Xavier Cross, he goes around the opposite side of the station where there is a small pathway that leads out for the tourists to be able to enjoy the scenery of the green hills in the summer, and the mountains that are only a couple miles out; there is even a dirt path from the cemented path that allows the visitors to participate in a hiking trail. Upon seeing the scenery, Ulf cannot keep his smile contained as he remembers visiting Switzerland as a child, even venturing further into Germany, which was the destination they were heading for Lineage. It was a pleasant break for Ulf Hednir to have some quiet, with how loud Jason Sandman and Xavier Cross both can be, and him being forced to sit in the middle as he was that “baby” of the group. Although the group was relatively new together, Ulf could not shake the feeling: they were family. But he needed to be lost within the confines of his own mind for a few minutes.
Jeg felt rather uneasy walking into this match with Jayson Matthews. No fear in my mind. Det was not the issue; the issue that came to min mind was more about whether he deserved the threats that he received from me… whether he deserved to have me rip him apart, og ta the championship that he held for an unmatched three reigns. Min mind was not torn as it was several weeks ago.
Jeg had a goal.
Jeg would become the yngste Imperial Champion in IWF history by being entered into Heir to the Throne, winning de tournament, og så winning the Imperial Championship from whomever happened to be holding it. Disse was much like the pitstop vi made here: a pitstop. Jeg would enter the Heir to the Throne as the new Invictus Champion. And jeg would not lose it. Jeg would also hold the Imperial Championship. Jeg would create my own history!
Jeg felt my face scrunch with every word, min teeth gritting together as jeg thought of min egen goals. Min egen ambisjon. Jeg felt min own fire og desire to accomplish everything jeg sought out to do. Jeg knew that The Council had de same desire as jeg. Jeg would not get in their way; so long as they did not get in mine.
Footsteps approached from behind Ulf Hednir, as he continued to think to himself… as the camera panned out, it was revealed to be Xavier Cross, who cleared his throat to get the attention of the young Ulf. Startled by the intrusion, Ulf turned around to see Xavier Cross standing there with a distorted smile on his face as he took several steps forward, and allowed his eyes to gaze upon the mountains in the distance and enjoying the scenery much like Ulf had done in his lonesome.
“Ah, it has been a while since I have seen these mountains. En veldig lang tid.” Xavier said as he inhaled a deep breath, and he crossed his arms behind his back and continued forward until he was standing side by side with Ulf, a sly smirk on his face.
Ulf had looked absolutely confused, and astonished, that Xavier Cross had spoken a phrase in Norwegian but it caused him to laugh whole heartedly while he replied, “Du snakker Norsk? Du aldri fortalte meg!”
The smirk wiped away from Cross’ face, and he shook his head rapidly. He chuckled slightly and appeared slightly nervous, “I have only picked up on a few words I have overheard you saying!” the smirk slowly made its way back to his face, but the response from Xavier did not discourage Ulf in the least as he was still excited that Xavier had even said the few words he did in Norwegian; moreso, he recited them perfectly. “You appear to be lost, Ulf Hednir,” Cross continued with a mischievous tone, “Is everything alright? Are you concerned about Jayson Matthews? Are you concerned about winning this… this… Invictus Championship?”
Jeg considered the questions from my friend and mentor, and shrugged my shoulders. Jeg felt his gaze burning through me, his eyes were unfaltering, but de had something about them.
“De truth is, Xavier, det jeg er ikke sure det Jayson Matthews deserves to be beaten as jeg intend to… Even with de other Council members, jeg know det they. Respect him.” jeg said with a smile, knowing that Jayson Matthews had earned the respect from min colleagues, and from meg selv. “Og han has earned it.”
“But does he not have something you want? Something you need?” jeg heard Xavier Cross ask me, his tone sounding very different than what jeg was used to hearing from him, “This Invictus Championship… is this now how we measure glory?” this time Xavier Cross finished the question with a chuckle.
Jeg shrugged my shoulders again, “Jeg don’t back out of challenges. Det is the only reason jeg made it… and he got his nose into our business. Ja, he fought bravely to do hvat he deemed was the right thing--”
“No. This man got his nose into your-- into our business, and the only way that you can make things right is by making him suffer! I have been around for a long time, my dear Ulf… I have seen the wretchedness of the Midgardians.” Xavier Cross’ face sneered at the mentioning of Midgardians, or humans, but the word had caused Ulf to be further confused, and Xavier Cross hesitated, “Humans, Ulf. You know the history of your people better than I, I am sure! Anyways, this man has gotten his nose into our business… he has stopped us from sending a clear, distinct message to everybody else for them to know that you simply do not get in our way… and those that do… will suffer. They will suffer greatly.” Xavier stepped forward and patted Ulf on the back a couple times, as Ulf leaned over and just was not sure what to think of the words that escaped Xavier Cross.
“Listen to me, Ulf. You must make an example out of Jayson Matthews… For all the years that I have been around, I have one friend in particular that was very much like you! He did not back down from any challenge that came his way, and he was incredibly gifted with brute strength… it was amazing the strength he possessed. Granted, he was a bit of a dimwit.” Cross grinned, as Ulf lifted his head to see if he had thought of him as a dimwit, “Not like you, Ulf. You are no dimwit. But you are lacking something that this friend of mine did not. Conviction. When someone challenged him, he ensured that that was the single biggest mistake that person could have ever done! When he stepped up to a challenge, he did not aim just to defeat his challenger… he aimed to kill… That, Ulf. That is what you must aim to do! Otherwise this pesky Jayson Matthews will be like a fly, like a mosquito,” Cross laughed at the thought of a mosquito, “Always a bother to you! Always a bother to us! Now, times have changed… but I think this calls for a little old school justice. Just. Make him pay.”
Xavier Cross had a wicked grin on his face, but Ulf still looked uneasy. Ulf looked toward his friend who just nodded his head, continuing with his own grin, but Ulf eventually did not his head.
“Perhaps du er correct,” Ulf started, “Jeg will make an example out of Jayson Matthews. Jeg will--”
“Make sure… he never… enters… another ring.”
Ulf Hednir continued to contemplate the words that Xavier Cross had said…
“Ever since Heir to de Throne was announced, jeg had one thing,” jeg said while extending my index finger, “on my mind. Det one thing was to become the Imperial Champion-- to become de yngste Imperial Champion in IWF history! Jeg did not consider de Invictus Championship; jeg did not consider de Man of Steel Championship. Jeg only considered the Imperial Championship.”
Jeg licked my lips as jeg considered hvat jeg would have to do to put myself back ahead of the rest of the pack to be entered in Heir to the Throne.
“But der is a funny thing about life. Life is not always hvat du expected; life is about giving du det… det mystery. Giving du hvat du did not expect. Jeg did not expect to be given a shot at the Invictus Championship! Jeg only saw Heir to de Throne as min chance! Disse is hvat du may call a ‘detour’. A pitstop. Du see, Jayson Matthews, our meeting was mere chance. Jeg vil admit det there was something about you det jeg felt vi could be friends… jeg felt det jeg had an opportunity to learn from you much like du learned from the people before du. Du were part of the people before meg! Og, clearly, du have done something spectacular. Du have done something det no other man in the IWF has ever done.
Du ha become the first and only three-time Invictus Champion. Disse is a feat det no other man can claim; det no other man has done! Der is so much more det jeg can say about du… these fans, they adore du. They cheer for du. They support du. And why? Det is a question det does not need much of an explanation. They cheer for du because they are du.
They are de underdog.
They are de loser.
They are de unexpected.
Det is something det is another part of life that people have grown accustomed to. They ha grown accustomed to accepting a defeat, de ha become accustomed to always being in second place. But du, Jayson, du give them det hope! Jeg can completely understand why they support du.”
Jeg nodded my head in appreciation, because it was true that jeg, too, respected Jayson Matthews for hvat he had accomplished, and for hvat he was capable of doing. De ability to continue fighting no matter hvat the odds were that were stacked against him. He continued to fight. Det was why he had become a three-time Invictus Champion. Despite my current feelings, jeg did respect him.
“But jeg am not them, Jayson. Jeg am not The Council; jeg am not the fans! Jeg am de man, de monster, det is going to stand on the opposite end of the ring as you to battle you for the Invictus Championship! Jeg am going to be de third man that is going to take that title away from du! Because, let us be completely honest about du: du may ha won the Invictus Championship for an unprecedented three times, but there are a few details that vi cannot overlook about each of your reigns.”
“One,” with one hand held out, jeg press my index finger against my other to count the first issue, “du ha a combined total reign of thirty-six days. Now, jeg am not going to completely demolish you as a competitor because it took courage to continue to step into de ring, and it took knowledge and skill to win it de three times det du did; however, they were not exactly successful runs.”
“Two,” jeg extended my middle finger out, and gripped my other hand around my two extended fingers, “You… do not… have a single title defense to your name. Du won de belt, og du lost de belt.” Jeg shrugged my shoulders, contemplating if there was anything else left to be said, “Det is it.”
“But this, to me, was never about the Invictus Championship… jeg ha said it before, and jeg vil say it again. This is not about the Invictus Championship! The Council has given me a home, Jayson, and det is something that du not seem to have a clue about because du elected to get into our business when vi were trying to let de administration know det vi are not going to be put down! Vi are not going to have them pushing their own people to the top, and keeping de newer, younger talent from reaching de heights det vi are reaching.
But since du decided to interfere, it is time to send the message to du. And how can jeg ultimately get to you? How can jeg ultimately do what The Council is set out to do? Well, The Council will be taking care of three of de people who have been a nuisance at burying the younger talent… which leaves me to take care of the person who has interfered with our message long enough.
Jeg vil take the Invictus Championship from you.
Jeg vil remind du det du are just a paper champion.
Jeg vil remind de world that the underdog does not win! Du have to become the top dog, and then… THEN du conquer the world.
This may have not been my first thought, to go after the Invictus Champion. It has not deterred me from my goal to win Heir to de Throne; it has not deterred me from going after the Imperial Championship. It vil simply be my pitstop, and jeg vil do something that the IWF has never seen before! Jeg vil create my own history, and make my own history, within de IWF!
Jeg vil be a double champion! Jeg vil be a conquering, double champion! The Invictus Championship vil be held in one hand, and the Imperial Championship vil be in my other. Den, Jayson… Den… administration. Du vil all come to the realization that jeg… vil not be silenced. Jeg vil not be stopped.
And du er just in my way. Du are just in The Council’s way. Vi vil not have another encounter like this, Jayson, because at Lineage: jeg am going to ensure that du know it is a mistake… or… ensure that du cannot physically get in our way, ever again.
Skål.”
Ulf Hednir tucked his hands into his pockets and walked back around the other side of the gas station, leaving Xavier Cross there to enjoy the scenery on his own and possibly mentally prepare himself for the match that he would partake in. Kole Kaos, and Rowan are back in the SUV as Ulf crawls into the backseat and since it’s empty, decides to relax by lying down… Kole Kaos pulls away from the gas station, and goes back onto the highway to continue their journey toward Germany.
Xavier Cross comes rushing out of the bathroom, some toilet paper trailing from his shoe! Jason Sandman comes out of the women’s bathroom, still zipping his pants back up-- he has a paper bag with his goodies inside, and he looks angrily at Xavier Cross who was waving to try to get Kole’s attention, but it was too late. In the background, a woman can be seen creeping out from the women's restroom, adjusting a skirt before walking to another nearby vehicle where she can be seen reuniting with her husband.
“You took so long, I had to go into the women’s restroom! What the fuck did you eat?!” shouted Jason Sandman, who has not noticed that the SUV drove away.
“I think that’s the least of our worries! And besides, I just saw the girl leave.” shouts Xavier Cross, and Jason Sandman lifts his head to see what he’s talking about only to see that the SUV is gone. His jaw drops as he is in disbelief that they missed their ride… both of the two start bickering back and forth to figure out what they are going to be able to do to get the rest of the way to Germany, and to Lineage. The scene goes out at this particular point.
Meanwhile, off the camera, back where Ulf Hednir had left Xavier Cross stands… Xavier Cross. A sly grin on his face still, and he speaks low, “It would appear that my work here is done. It has been too long since I have messed with anybody! Oh, how I have missed it!” this Xavier Cross takes a few steps forward before his whole body shifts, and he is now replaced now with exceptional facial features, and dark hair. He whistles a tune of his own as he walks back the same direction that Ulf Hednir had walked, and sees the two Council members bickering before he walks inside the Shell station.
Well howdy there pardner.