Post by Dean Harper on Jan 25, 2018 23:45:32 GMT
Dean is standing in a battered and dank looking cell wearing the Man of Steel belt.
“Metamorphosis.”
Dean blinks and his eyes glow.
“The show certainly looks exciting, doesn’t it? Brooklyn is going to fight Shea for the Diamond’s belt. Shea taking pity and having Fiona McFly in her corner does nothing. I’m so proud of Brooklyn. She’s going to do wonderful things.”
Dean smirks.
“Every belt has a match. There’s no doubt in my mind AJ’s reign will come to an end. I don’t doubt the Rayne and Astrid match will at least be fun to watch and mock. I look forward to watching Jayson battle the utterly unfocused Spike Kane. All over the card, I think there will be great matches.”
Dean nods in approval.
“For me it will be my third title defense.”
Dean traces one finger over the belt.
“It’s interesting there isn’t anyone who's been thirsting for my blood beyond Spike Kane. No one has made any grand gestures declaring they want me and me alone. Even at Survival of the Fittest, everyone else wanted to fight Jayson or AJ. Makes a guy feel unwanted.”
Dean does a mocking frown.
“I know why my dance card has been a tilt awhirl of tag team matches. No one wants to play with me one on one. I’m a weapon of mass destruction. I’m a monster. A Demon of Steel. I end careers. I left Mason bleeding in the middle of the ring. I beat Chris Card with a baseball bat. I attacked Spike Kane backstage. I kidnap people. I torture them. I bring nightmares to life. I threaten children. I break into people’s homes. I take your best and brightest and I tear them fucking down. I refuse to apologize. I embrace my darkest impulses. If it feels good, tastes good then I will do it. Because I want to.”
Dean laughs.
“Petty insults and allegations of me polluting the Man of Steel belt’s reputation continue but so does my winning streak.”
Dean points to his belt.
“It has never been treated so good. This belt is mine, we’ve bounded and it likes being where I keep it. Right on my waist. Others have held it before me. Brought it all kinds of attention but it’s at home with me. I bring it the blood and destruction it craves. If you look closely you can see the handprint I left on it from Mason’s blood. I plan to bring it so much more.”
Dean takes his hands away from the belt.
“There is a lack of people coming for my belt. No one wants to play with me. Maybe that’s because being the one to rip the belt from AJ’s pone body would be a good flower in your hat. Maybe it’s because you have a hard-on for fighting Spike Kane. Or more likely, coming toe to toe with me gives you all pause.”
Dean gets a determined look on his face.
“I am Rowan’s instrument in the Men’s division. I am her work personified. I am glory and rage. I am what happens when you give yourself fully to a cause. I am Dean fucking Harper and there is nothing anyone can do to take this belt from me. There is no way to take this belt from me other than knocking me the fuck out and leave me unconscious. I’m not tapping out.”
Dean smirks again.
“This belt I took from Dev is coming right back home with me. Regardless of whomever management throws into the ring I’ll beat their fucking head in and walk out victorious. That’s what I do. Even if through some way I get defeated don’t think for a minute I won’t come right back for it. Beating me once does not discourage me. It turns me on.”
Dean winks.
“So if you’re coming into this ring against me, you better be putting your goddamned all into it. Don’t be a tease. Deliver or I’m going to fucking break you.”
Dean gestures around the room.
“Which brings me to Cross. I’ve missed you, Doll. Really, I have. Thought it would be a good idea to record from your old room. Memories. It feels like ages since I’ve been able to play with you. You ready for this?”
Dean leaned on the door frame to Warren’s room. Warren was just sitting on his bed reading a book. Dean debated walking out and coming back later. Warren looked to be enjoying the book. Being bothered by Dean asking dumb questions likely was not in his idea of good times.
Coward.
“Hey, Warren?” Dean asked.
Warren glanced up slightly seeing him there and slammed the book shut. “Dean. Hi.”
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“No. No, it’s fine.” Warren set the book aside and slide off the bed. “What’s up?”
“It’s movie night.” Dean explained with a shrug.
“Little early.”
“Yeah, I have to get the food and stuff together too, but I thought you might want to help?”
Warren blinked, considering. “Doesn’t Brooklyn help you in the kitchen most of the time?”
“And she will. But I wouldn’t mind the extra set of hands.” Dean grinned. “Besides, we can pick the movie ahead of time.”
Warren stood up and walked over to Dean. “Just you and me?”
“Just you and me.” Dean nodded.
“I’d like that.”
“I thought you might.” Dean motioned, “Follow me.”
Walking down the hallway to the extra room where the DVDs were stored wasn’t too long a walk. Some of them had come from the Thralls. Some had been brought from others. Some Dean had been buying just for the fun of being able to afford things.
“Curious how the movie night tradition got started.” Warren said as the door closed behind them.
“I like movies. I also brought video games.” Dean shrugged. “Max and I got bored sometimes at night.”
“I can see that.”
“For a while of time after we got here, the comes-with-the-place TV was so shitty that the best thing, and pretty much only thing it could do, was play DVDs. So, Max and I stocked up on DVDs,” Dean explained as he watched Warren begin to look through different DVD cases.
“I guess you really did stock up,” Warren mused, obviously taking in just how many different DVDs Dean had brought together.
“Yeah, I feel like we shouldn’t watch the same movie repeatedly,” Dean told Warren, waving a hand as though to seem nonchalant.
“‘Slither’?” Warren questioned, picking up the DVD and looking over at Dean with slight amusement.
“It’s not as bad as the trailers made it look.”
Warren shook his head with a little smile.
“You seem to have a pension for bad horror movies here.” Warren sighed, setting the case back down atop some others.
“They are normally pretty cheap. I still battle that cheapskate impulse when it comes to buying things for myself.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “Obviously we could still pick something on Netflix but I mean, if you wanted to-”
“You have the entire Star Trek box set?” Warren seemed to be looking closer. “Hang on, are these signed?”
“Um, well.” Dean grimaced slightly. “Yes? There was a con I went to and it’s only Shatner but…”
Warren shook his head and huffed a breath of laughter.
“You’re kind of a nerd.”
“In a good way I hope?” Dean hoped he gave an overconfident smile.
Warren nodded. “Just surprised.”
“Assumed I’ve been an edgy meme lord my whole life?”
“People mention you used to be mild mannered.” Warren gave him a smirk. “Something about glasses?”
“Oh yeah. That used to be a thing.” Dean made a face. “If you ever found my old Instagram there’s lots of very terrible selfies with those glasses.”
“I bet they weren’t terrible.”
“You want to see them?” Dean laughed.
“Give me your old handle and I’ll look them up.” Warren picked up another dvd. “But we stick to horror movies mostly.”
“A little,” Dean replied with a shrug. “That bother you?”
“No.” Warren paused, then picked up a case and held it up for Dean to see. “What about this one?”
“Stephan King movie?” Dean asked looking at it.
“Yeah. That a problem?”
Dean still remembered from when he was young. When that would have terrified him. Now he felt nothing.
“Not really. Likely fits right in with the terrible movie trend.”
“You have a really nice collection of movies here.” Warren mused quietly, and Dean smiled happily.
“It took a while to collect it.”
“I bet.” Warren grinned.
“Well, they’re all available. Your choice what we watch.”
Warren’ head poked up. “Really?”
“Totes. I’m sure I’ll like—We’ll like-- whatever you pick anyways. If we can agree on what kind of pizza we want, I’m sure the movie won’t be a problem.”
Warren smiled a little before going back to looking at all the different movies.
“You don’t really fit in with the Watch Dogs. We both know that. Spike pitied you and felt guilty about how your life had turned out. Does Astrid treat you like a friend or she as ice cold as always? Pandora’s kind to everyone so her kindness must ring a little hallow. Do you and Bob share stories or ignore each other? When Spike has to pick a person to be in his corner does he even ask you?”
Dean pauses.
“Doll, you’ve gone from being a loud brash asshole who was going to be the Usurper to hiding behind the rest of The Watch Dogs. You’ve been utterly silent on social media beyond one tweet about the Diamonds are Forever Battle Royal. Is this the life you pictured for yourself? Living in Spike Kane’s house while you’ve been healing up hiding like a child?”
Dean shrugs.
“That has to hurt the ego. Maybe you and Spike have made friendship bracelets. Have you played truth or dare yet? Maybe you’ve buried the hatchet. Warren offered you a place in our home and you didn’t answer that request. You’re not the first and likely not the last to reject the offer out of hand.”
Dean steps closer to the camera.
“But wasn’t it easier for you, Xavier? Being broken down to your very basic form. No bullshit. No lies. Just looking your mistakes in the face as the pain worked its way through your body. Being so near death, low key wanting to just give into that sweet night but keep getting pulled back from it. You didn’t bargain. You didn’t offer me empty promises if it all stopped. You didn’t beg. You kept your head high. You were so close to breaking but fighting it with every step of the way.”
Dean gets a small almost proud smile.
“It was a low point for you and you haven’t recovered fully from that. I know. That’s why I am so pleased to have you just where you are. Across the ring from me. There’s so much work left to do, isn’t there?”
Dean winks.
“My coming into Rowan’s service was the beginning of your end. From the moment my face went from being a useless backstage hand to being an actual person your life started to unravel. I can’t take credit for being the architect of all your pain but I do take a sick pleasure out of the fact.”
Dean licks his teeth.
“I was the one who grabbed you and strapped you into the Friendship Smuggler. I was the one in charge of your pain schedule. Me. It was on Rowan’s orders but I carried that schedule out to the letter. I wanted to hurt you. I had always wanted to hurt you.”
Dean blinks and the glow is gone.
“Xavier, baby, we were so close to having an understanding. You were so close to where I had been when I accepted what Rowan had to offer.”
Dean puts a hand to his heart.
“See, I was one of the last to go through a pain, the torture and still be a person. That habit of recruitment has been more or less abandoned since I’ve taken my place as her right-hand man but I thought I’d give it a try. See what happens. Wondered if I could turn you.”
Dean gives the camera a firm stare.
“But, as they say, best laid plans… We could always start again, couldn’t we, Doll?”
Dean wiggles his eyebrows slightly.
“I’ve seen you at a low point. I put you there. I went from being a shit talking rookie with an ego that pissed you off to being one of the top guys here. I took the place you wanted. I’m in the place you envisioned for yourself. You’re boy Ulf has returned, making a tear through the lower end of the company but has he reached out to you? I get the feeling he hasn’t.”
Deans tsks.
“You don’t just want to beat me. You need to beat me, Cross. Not like the others. Not like Dev who wanted it because I keep pushing him. Not like Spike who doesn’t like my smart mouth and I recruited his son. Not like Mason or Card, who wanted to beat me to prove that they could. No, no. You need to beat me.”
Dean smiles wide.
“Beating me would fill that empty pit inside you. Make you feel a little more whole. Because winning would do that, right? Make you feel like you can go back to who you were before. Spoiler, cupcake, you can never go back to you were before. You can never go back so stop trying. The plate is broken and no amount of nice words thrown about makes it magically piece itself back together.”
Dean opens his arms in invitation.
“Ride high with that smile, babe. Come and try to break this dick holster I call a mouth. Try to make me pay for all the shit I put you through. Come at me with your best shot. I want you to come play with me. Use all that spite and bullshit everyone has been whispering about you to prove them wrong. Give into all that rage and darkness and put me the fuck down. You’ll fail but god won't that be a rush to see?”
Dean blows the camera a kiss and the video ends.
“Metamorphosis.”
Dean blinks and his eyes glow.
“The show certainly looks exciting, doesn’t it? Brooklyn is going to fight Shea for the Diamond’s belt. Shea taking pity and having Fiona McFly in her corner does nothing. I’m so proud of Brooklyn. She’s going to do wonderful things.”
Dean smirks.
“Every belt has a match. There’s no doubt in my mind AJ’s reign will come to an end. I don’t doubt the Rayne and Astrid match will at least be fun to watch and mock. I look forward to watching Jayson battle the utterly unfocused Spike Kane. All over the card, I think there will be great matches.”
Dean nods in approval.
“For me it will be my third title defense.”
Dean traces one finger over the belt.
“It’s interesting there isn’t anyone who's been thirsting for my blood beyond Spike Kane. No one has made any grand gestures declaring they want me and me alone. Even at Survival of the Fittest, everyone else wanted to fight Jayson or AJ. Makes a guy feel unwanted.”
Dean does a mocking frown.
“I know why my dance card has been a tilt awhirl of tag team matches. No one wants to play with me one on one. I’m a weapon of mass destruction. I’m a monster. A Demon of Steel. I end careers. I left Mason bleeding in the middle of the ring. I beat Chris Card with a baseball bat. I attacked Spike Kane backstage. I kidnap people. I torture them. I bring nightmares to life. I threaten children. I break into people’s homes. I take your best and brightest and I tear them fucking down. I refuse to apologize. I embrace my darkest impulses. If it feels good, tastes good then I will do it. Because I want to.”
Dean laughs.
“Petty insults and allegations of me polluting the Man of Steel belt’s reputation continue but so does my winning streak.”
Dean points to his belt.
“It has never been treated so good. This belt is mine, we’ve bounded and it likes being where I keep it. Right on my waist. Others have held it before me. Brought it all kinds of attention but it’s at home with me. I bring it the blood and destruction it craves. If you look closely you can see the handprint I left on it from Mason’s blood. I plan to bring it so much more.”
Dean takes his hands away from the belt.
“There is a lack of people coming for my belt. No one wants to play with me. Maybe that’s because being the one to rip the belt from AJ’s pone body would be a good flower in your hat. Maybe it’s because you have a hard-on for fighting Spike Kane. Or more likely, coming toe to toe with me gives you all pause.”
Dean gets a determined look on his face.
“I am Rowan’s instrument in the Men’s division. I am her work personified. I am glory and rage. I am what happens when you give yourself fully to a cause. I am Dean fucking Harper and there is nothing anyone can do to take this belt from me. There is no way to take this belt from me other than knocking me the fuck out and leave me unconscious. I’m not tapping out.”
Dean smirks again.
“This belt I took from Dev is coming right back home with me. Regardless of whomever management throws into the ring I’ll beat their fucking head in and walk out victorious. That’s what I do. Even if through some way I get defeated don’t think for a minute I won’t come right back for it. Beating me once does not discourage me. It turns me on.”
Dean winks.
“So if you’re coming into this ring against me, you better be putting your goddamned all into it. Don’t be a tease. Deliver or I’m going to fucking break you.”
Dean gestures around the room.
“Which brings me to Cross. I’ve missed you, Doll. Really, I have. Thought it would be a good idea to record from your old room. Memories. It feels like ages since I’ve been able to play with you. You ready for this?”
Dean leaned on the door frame to Warren’s room. Warren was just sitting on his bed reading a book. Dean debated walking out and coming back later. Warren looked to be enjoying the book. Being bothered by Dean asking dumb questions likely was not in his idea of good times.
Coward.
“Hey, Warren?” Dean asked.
Warren glanced up slightly seeing him there and slammed the book shut. “Dean. Hi.”
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“No. No, it’s fine.” Warren set the book aside and slide off the bed. “What’s up?”
“It’s movie night.” Dean explained with a shrug.
“Little early.”
“Yeah, I have to get the food and stuff together too, but I thought you might want to help?”
Warren blinked, considering. “Doesn’t Brooklyn help you in the kitchen most of the time?”
“And she will. But I wouldn’t mind the extra set of hands.” Dean grinned. “Besides, we can pick the movie ahead of time.”
Warren stood up and walked over to Dean. “Just you and me?”
“Just you and me.” Dean nodded.
“I’d like that.”
“I thought you might.” Dean motioned, “Follow me.”
Walking down the hallway to the extra room where the DVDs were stored wasn’t too long a walk. Some of them had come from the Thralls. Some had been brought from others. Some Dean had been buying just for the fun of being able to afford things.
“Curious how the movie night tradition got started.” Warren said as the door closed behind them.
“I like movies. I also brought video games.” Dean shrugged. “Max and I got bored sometimes at night.”
“I can see that.”
“For a while of time after we got here, the comes-with-the-place TV was so shitty that the best thing, and pretty much only thing it could do, was play DVDs. So, Max and I stocked up on DVDs,” Dean explained as he watched Warren begin to look through different DVD cases.
“I guess you really did stock up,” Warren mused, obviously taking in just how many different DVDs Dean had brought together.
“Yeah, I feel like we shouldn’t watch the same movie repeatedly,” Dean told Warren, waving a hand as though to seem nonchalant.
“‘Slither’?” Warren questioned, picking up the DVD and looking over at Dean with slight amusement.
“It’s not as bad as the trailers made it look.”
Warren shook his head with a little smile.
“You seem to have a pension for bad horror movies here.” Warren sighed, setting the case back down atop some others.
“They are normally pretty cheap. I still battle that cheapskate impulse when it comes to buying things for myself.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck. “Obviously we could still pick something on Netflix but I mean, if you wanted to-”
“You have the entire Star Trek box set?” Warren seemed to be looking closer. “Hang on, are these signed?”
“Um, well.” Dean grimaced slightly. “Yes? There was a con I went to and it’s only Shatner but…”
Warren shook his head and huffed a breath of laughter.
“You’re kind of a nerd.”
“In a good way I hope?” Dean hoped he gave an overconfident smile.
Warren nodded. “Just surprised.”
“Assumed I’ve been an edgy meme lord my whole life?”
“People mention you used to be mild mannered.” Warren gave him a smirk. “Something about glasses?”
“Oh yeah. That used to be a thing.” Dean made a face. “If you ever found my old Instagram there’s lots of very terrible selfies with those glasses.”
“I bet they weren’t terrible.”
“You want to see them?” Dean laughed.
“Give me your old handle and I’ll look them up.” Warren picked up another dvd. “But we stick to horror movies mostly.”
“A little,” Dean replied with a shrug. “That bother you?”
“No.” Warren paused, then picked up a case and held it up for Dean to see. “What about this one?”
“Stephan King movie?” Dean asked looking at it.
“Yeah. That a problem?”
Dean still remembered from when he was young. When that would have terrified him. Now he felt nothing.
“Not really. Likely fits right in with the terrible movie trend.”
“You have a really nice collection of movies here.” Warren mused quietly, and Dean smiled happily.
“It took a while to collect it.”
“I bet.” Warren grinned.
“Well, they’re all available. Your choice what we watch.”
Warren’ head poked up. “Really?”
“Totes. I’m sure I’ll like—We’ll like-- whatever you pick anyways. If we can agree on what kind of pizza we want, I’m sure the movie won’t be a problem.”
Warren smiled a little before going back to looking at all the different movies.
“You don’t really fit in with the Watch Dogs. We both know that. Spike pitied you and felt guilty about how your life had turned out. Does Astrid treat you like a friend or she as ice cold as always? Pandora’s kind to everyone so her kindness must ring a little hallow. Do you and Bob share stories or ignore each other? When Spike has to pick a person to be in his corner does he even ask you?”
Dean pauses.
“Doll, you’ve gone from being a loud brash asshole who was going to be the Usurper to hiding behind the rest of The Watch Dogs. You’ve been utterly silent on social media beyond one tweet about the Diamonds are Forever Battle Royal. Is this the life you pictured for yourself? Living in Spike Kane’s house while you’ve been healing up hiding like a child?”
Dean shrugs.
“That has to hurt the ego. Maybe you and Spike have made friendship bracelets. Have you played truth or dare yet? Maybe you’ve buried the hatchet. Warren offered you a place in our home and you didn’t answer that request. You’re not the first and likely not the last to reject the offer out of hand.”
Dean steps closer to the camera.
“But wasn’t it easier for you, Xavier? Being broken down to your very basic form. No bullshit. No lies. Just looking your mistakes in the face as the pain worked its way through your body. Being so near death, low key wanting to just give into that sweet night but keep getting pulled back from it. You didn’t bargain. You didn’t offer me empty promises if it all stopped. You didn’t beg. You kept your head high. You were so close to breaking but fighting it with every step of the way.”
Dean gets a small almost proud smile.
“It was a low point for you and you haven’t recovered fully from that. I know. That’s why I am so pleased to have you just where you are. Across the ring from me. There’s so much work left to do, isn’t there?”
Dean winks.
“My coming into Rowan’s service was the beginning of your end. From the moment my face went from being a useless backstage hand to being an actual person your life started to unravel. I can’t take credit for being the architect of all your pain but I do take a sick pleasure out of the fact.”
Dean licks his teeth.
“I was the one who grabbed you and strapped you into the Friendship Smuggler. I was the one in charge of your pain schedule. Me. It was on Rowan’s orders but I carried that schedule out to the letter. I wanted to hurt you. I had always wanted to hurt you.”
Dean blinks and the glow is gone.
“Xavier, baby, we were so close to having an understanding. You were so close to where I had been when I accepted what Rowan had to offer.”
Dean puts a hand to his heart.
“See, I was one of the last to go through a pain, the torture and still be a person. That habit of recruitment has been more or less abandoned since I’ve taken my place as her right-hand man but I thought I’d give it a try. See what happens. Wondered if I could turn you.”
Dean gives the camera a firm stare.
“But, as they say, best laid plans… We could always start again, couldn’t we, Doll?”
Dean wiggles his eyebrows slightly.
“I’ve seen you at a low point. I put you there. I went from being a shit talking rookie with an ego that pissed you off to being one of the top guys here. I took the place you wanted. I’m in the place you envisioned for yourself. You’re boy Ulf has returned, making a tear through the lower end of the company but has he reached out to you? I get the feeling he hasn’t.”
Deans tsks.
“You don’t just want to beat me. You need to beat me, Cross. Not like the others. Not like Dev who wanted it because I keep pushing him. Not like Spike who doesn’t like my smart mouth and I recruited his son. Not like Mason or Card, who wanted to beat me to prove that they could. No, no. You need to beat me.”
Dean smiles wide.
“Beating me would fill that empty pit inside you. Make you feel a little more whole. Because winning would do that, right? Make you feel like you can go back to who you were before. Spoiler, cupcake, you can never go back to you were before. You can never go back so stop trying. The plate is broken and no amount of nice words thrown about makes it magically piece itself back together.”
Dean opens his arms in invitation.
“Ride high with that smile, babe. Come and try to break this dick holster I call a mouth. Try to make me pay for all the shit I put you through. Come at me with your best shot. I want you to come play with me. Use all that spite and bullshit everyone has been whispering about you to prove them wrong. Give into all that rage and darkness and put me the fuck down. You’ll fail but god won't that be a rush to see?”
Dean blows the camera a kiss and the video ends.
Well howdy there pardner.