Post by Xavier Cross on Jul 17, 2018 3:20:15 GMT
(my bad on the missed deadline, no excuse, but here is what I wanted to finish)
“A few years ago, I got a call from an ambitious man. A man I had the chance to square off with twice in nCw, history recalls that we went one and one in that didn’t we Verona, but let’s be real. The first one you walked the ropes on me, and made me look like a child, that second match your head or heart wasn’t in it. But that phone call came from your secretary, the old guard was ending, and a new guard was rising to take its place. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit, I didn’t believe in this place...at first, I’ve seen federations ran by retired, or semi-retired wrestlers. It turns into a jerk off fest, burns out in maybe a year, three if they’re lucky. But I took that call, and I flew down to Castle de Verona, we had a few drinks. It wasn’t the words, it was the same old business you hear. But there was something, maybe a spark in your eye, the tone of your voice. I bought into it. I bought into Imperial Wrestling. I bought into Roberto Verona. You are a successful man outside of the ropes, inside the ropes, and now, in the office maintaining those ropes. The same ropes, on a ring, that...well a year ago, I wanted to burn down. Because I stopped believing in your dream, because I stopped seeing your vision, because Imperial just wasn’t...it anymore.”
I stand up from an office chair, the bright white light of a computer screen behind me. A simple smile on my face as I stretch my arms out, a few pops of an old battered body. You can clearly see the bruising around my abdomen, a bad gash healing decently across my forehead. The joys of being Xavier Cross, the joys of a psychotic former friend, hopped on on gods know what kind of ghetto cough medicine.
“That was my mistake, I gathered a brute who’s no longer welcomed here, I manipulated a young up and coming star, and I somehow managed to drag in a man who should have done us all a favor and overdosed years ago. I wanted to burn down that ring, and this company. It represented every burden I carried, every time I was ever drowning in my own self doubt, my own pity, my own failures. This was the ring where Spike Kane crucified me, where Ryan Blade turned on me. Where I failed….but I forgot the good things about that ring, and this last go round has been pretty great, y’know minus the Psycho Sandman. I really feel, like this is going to be a run in my career, that is going to define it all, that it’s really going to be the best.”
Crossing my arms, a sly smile pondering on my lips, a brow raising slightly.
“I’ll cut to the chase, Berto. I asked for this match, I called whatever favors I had, begged, and pleaded with your suits, the moment at Bloody Assizes when I saw the list of challengers for the Heir to the Throne, I saw my name, and I saw your name, and I knew that I needed to face you. I knew that I needed to test myself. I wanted this match because, if I want to become an heir, I need to prove I can beat a King…”
Looking down a bit, I let out an exhausted sigh. Shaking my head.
“Simply put, you have been a titan of this industry in and out of the ring. If I want to accomplish anything in the latter stage of my career, I need to be able to take down, or at least be able to compete with a man of your caliber, if I want to move into a main event stage. I don’t want to be a write off, or a one shot, flavor of the month main event. I don’t want to be that anymore, I want to be a staple of this industry, and that path has to be forged with you. I don’t know if I can win, I think I can...I want to, but I’m going to give you everything I got. It took me long enough to come to respect you as my boss, and I’ve always respected you as an in-ring competitor. But I have to show you a reason to respect me, this isn’t the same Xavier Cross who throws tantrums or leads rebellions. This is a Xavier Cross who wants to put in as much into this business that he gets out of it. This may be the best Xavier Cross yet….”
A quick wink to the camera, we fade to black.
******
July 4th, 2018
{We open to the Cross Compound, late afternoon, early evening as the sun is starting that beautiful set over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Panning down we see the Cross children rushing around the backyard, sparklers in hand, their teenage friends writing their names in the air. We slide over, as we see Xavier Cross leaning on his deck, a glass of bourbon in his hand. Whistling behind him, poking at hot dogs on the grill is the always lovely Vivienne Rodgers.}
Xavier Cross: “heh...heh… “
Vivienne Rodgers: “What's so funny love?”
Xavier Cross: “You're playing with weiners.”
{We focus on Xavier's face, as he chuckles softly. Until a hotdog flies into screen, hitting Xavier in the side of the face.}
Xavier Cross: “Vivienne!”
{He turns as she playfully points the hotdog fork at him, which is actually a tiny Poseidon trident. Shaking his head he can't help but smile, glancing down watching his kids hanging out with their friends. Glancing over seeing his little paradise alone with the cutest chef this side of anywhere.}
Xavier Cross: “You...know...I like you, and I love you!”
{Vivienne looks up, kissing Xavier's nose.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “I like you and I love you too. What's on your mind?”
Xavier Cross: “Pack...AoG...Sandman..your butt.”
Vivienne Rodgers: “Cari?”
{Cross sighs a bit as he sits atop of a picnic table, looking down at his drink.}
Xavier Cross: “Yeah, I...I know Sandman has this connection with Death, the whole Vessel thing. I don’t know if this is legit or not, I mean...I lived through the horrors of The Pack compound. We have God and his band of merry soldiers running around. The idea that the soul of my dead wife, and whatever Jason Sandman’s twisted mind is up to...The heir to the throne tournament. Everything is crashing around me at once, and I feel like I’m going under…”
{Vivienne goes to respond, but Xavier looks up.}
Xavier Cross: “And when the darkness is swallowing me whole, you’re the light that guides me through. You keep me afloat when I feel the tide pulling me under. Vivienne, I don’t think I could do any of this without...you.”
{Standing up, Xavier walks over to Vivienne, who turns to face him as he kisses her on the forehead, we notice she’s wearing a stereotypical ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron, Xavier immediately takes a knee looking up at her. Her jaw drops a bit, as fireworks start going off, as the kids started shooting them off.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “Xavier...what?”
Xavier Cross: “Vivienne...will you…”
*******
The landscape is blank, white running into endless white into the horizon. Slowly standing up is Xavier Cross, wearing a strange set of clothing, spandex across his torso, like underarmor, running down to across his legs. He rubs his eyes, like he has just awoken from a dream.
Xavier Cross: “...Where the hell am I?”
Voice: “You are here, in infinity. A realm outside of yours. Some could call it limbo.”
Xavier Cross: “Did...am I dead?”
Voice: “You will be granted that voice...but first, let me show you...a future…”
Xavier Cross: “How about you show me yourself, strange narrating voice.”
{A roar, that causes Xavier to fall to his knees, like a pressure, if someone turned the gravity up like it was a simple thermostat switch. In an instant, like a veil of emptiness was peeled back, a large crimson dragon, that would eclipse even the tallest of skyscrapers appears. Scales crimson, the inside of it’s massive wings a deep emerald, match the huge eyes as it lowers it’s head.}
Draigel: “I am your future, mortal….”
{It’s lips curled into what could only be described as a smile, as the kneeling Xavier, using all the power he has in his body, glances up, his eyes mixed of shock, horror, and excitement.}
Draigel: “Shall we begin?”
*******
Xavier Cross: “Will you hold my drink, while I tie my shoe?”
{Vivienne shakes her head, as she laughs, taking his drink before turning it over on his head. As Xavier looks up smiling.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “I love you, but you’re a jerk.”
{Xavier quickly pops up, looking to steal a kiss. But Vivienne is faster as she puts a hotdog in his mouth.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “Enjoy the couch tonight, and maybe I’ll buy you some velcro shoes.”
{She walks away, with a plate of grilled food, setting it down. As Xavier smiles, seemingly looking at us, as he reaches into his pocket a small black box in the palm of his hand as he whispers just low enough where only we can hear it.}
Xavier Cross: “Not yet….”
{And with a wink, he slides it back into his pocket, and joins the party as we are greeted to a large explosion in the sky.}
“A few years ago, I got a call from an ambitious man. A man I had the chance to square off with twice in nCw, history recalls that we went one and one in that didn’t we Verona, but let’s be real. The first one you walked the ropes on me, and made me look like a child, that second match your head or heart wasn’t in it. But that phone call came from your secretary, the old guard was ending, and a new guard was rising to take its place. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit, I didn’t believe in this place...at first, I’ve seen federations ran by retired, or semi-retired wrestlers. It turns into a jerk off fest, burns out in maybe a year, three if they’re lucky. But I took that call, and I flew down to Castle de Verona, we had a few drinks. It wasn’t the words, it was the same old business you hear. But there was something, maybe a spark in your eye, the tone of your voice. I bought into it. I bought into Imperial Wrestling. I bought into Roberto Verona. You are a successful man outside of the ropes, inside the ropes, and now, in the office maintaining those ropes. The same ropes, on a ring, that...well a year ago, I wanted to burn down. Because I stopped believing in your dream, because I stopped seeing your vision, because Imperial just wasn’t...it anymore.”
I stand up from an office chair, the bright white light of a computer screen behind me. A simple smile on my face as I stretch my arms out, a few pops of an old battered body. You can clearly see the bruising around my abdomen, a bad gash healing decently across my forehead. The joys of being Xavier Cross, the joys of a psychotic former friend, hopped on on gods know what kind of ghetto cough medicine.
“That was my mistake, I gathered a brute who’s no longer welcomed here, I manipulated a young up and coming star, and I somehow managed to drag in a man who should have done us all a favor and overdosed years ago. I wanted to burn down that ring, and this company. It represented every burden I carried, every time I was ever drowning in my own self doubt, my own pity, my own failures. This was the ring where Spike Kane crucified me, where Ryan Blade turned on me. Where I failed….but I forgot the good things about that ring, and this last go round has been pretty great, y’know minus the Psycho Sandman. I really feel, like this is going to be a run in my career, that is going to define it all, that it’s really going to be the best.”
Crossing my arms, a sly smile pondering on my lips, a brow raising slightly.
“I’ll cut to the chase, Berto. I asked for this match, I called whatever favors I had, begged, and pleaded with your suits, the moment at Bloody Assizes when I saw the list of challengers for the Heir to the Throne, I saw my name, and I saw your name, and I knew that I needed to face you. I knew that I needed to test myself. I wanted this match because, if I want to become an heir, I need to prove I can beat a King…”
Looking down a bit, I let out an exhausted sigh. Shaking my head.
“Simply put, you have been a titan of this industry in and out of the ring. If I want to accomplish anything in the latter stage of my career, I need to be able to take down, or at least be able to compete with a man of your caliber, if I want to move into a main event stage. I don’t want to be a write off, or a one shot, flavor of the month main event. I don’t want to be that anymore, I want to be a staple of this industry, and that path has to be forged with you. I don’t know if I can win, I think I can...I want to, but I’m going to give you everything I got. It took me long enough to come to respect you as my boss, and I’ve always respected you as an in-ring competitor. But I have to show you a reason to respect me, this isn’t the same Xavier Cross who throws tantrums or leads rebellions. This is a Xavier Cross who wants to put in as much into this business that he gets out of it. This may be the best Xavier Cross yet….”
A quick wink to the camera, we fade to black.
******
July 4th, 2018
{We open to the Cross Compound, late afternoon, early evening as the sun is starting that beautiful set over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Panning down we see the Cross children rushing around the backyard, sparklers in hand, their teenage friends writing their names in the air. We slide over, as we see Xavier Cross leaning on his deck, a glass of bourbon in his hand. Whistling behind him, poking at hot dogs on the grill is the always lovely Vivienne Rodgers.}
Xavier Cross: “heh...heh… “
Vivienne Rodgers: “What's so funny love?”
Xavier Cross: “You're playing with weiners.”
{We focus on Xavier's face, as he chuckles softly. Until a hotdog flies into screen, hitting Xavier in the side of the face.}
Xavier Cross: “Vivienne!”
{He turns as she playfully points the hotdog fork at him, which is actually a tiny Poseidon trident. Shaking his head he can't help but smile, glancing down watching his kids hanging out with their friends. Glancing over seeing his little paradise alone with the cutest chef this side of anywhere.}
Xavier Cross: “You...know...I like you, and I love you!”
{Vivienne looks up, kissing Xavier's nose.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “I like you and I love you too. What's on your mind?”
Xavier Cross: “Pack...AoG...Sandman..your butt.”
Vivienne Rodgers: “Cari?”
{Cross sighs a bit as he sits atop of a picnic table, looking down at his drink.}
Xavier Cross: “Yeah, I...I know Sandman has this connection with Death, the whole Vessel thing. I don’t know if this is legit or not, I mean...I lived through the horrors of The Pack compound. We have God and his band of merry soldiers running around. The idea that the soul of my dead wife, and whatever Jason Sandman’s twisted mind is up to...The heir to the throne tournament. Everything is crashing around me at once, and I feel like I’m going under…”
{Vivienne goes to respond, but Xavier looks up.}
Xavier Cross: “And when the darkness is swallowing me whole, you’re the light that guides me through. You keep me afloat when I feel the tide pulling me under. Vivienne, I don’t think I could do any of this without...you.”
{Standing up, Xavier walks over to Vivienne, who turns to face him as he kisses her on the forehead, we notice she’s wearing a stereotypical ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron, Xavier immediately takes a knee looking up at her. Her jaw drops a bit, as fireworks start going off, as the kids started shooting them off.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “Xavier...what?”
Xavier Cross: “Vivienne...will you…”
*******
The landscape is blank, white running into endless white into the horizon. Slowly standing up is Xavier Cross, wearing a strange set of clothing, spandex across his torso, like underarmor, running down to across his legs. He rubs his eyes, like he has just awoken from a dream.
Xavier Cross: “...Where the hell am I?”
Voice: “You are here, in infinity. A realm outside of yours. Some could call it limbo.”
Xavier Cross: “Did...am I dead?”
Voice: “You will be granted that voice...but first, let me show you...a future…”
Xavier Cross: “How about you show me yourself, strange narrating voice.”
{A roar, that causes Xavier to fall to his knees, like a pressure, if someone turned the gravity up like it was a simple thermostat switch. In an instant, like a veil of emptiness was peeled back, a large crimson dragon, that would eclipse even the tallest of skyscrapers appears. Scales crimson, the inside of it’s massive wings a deep emerald, match the huge eyes as it lowers it’s head.}
Draigel: “I am your future, mortal….”
{It’s lips curled into what could only be described as a smile, as the kneeling Xavier, using all the power he has in his body, glances up, his eyes mixed of shock, horror, and excitement.}
Draigel: “Shall we begin?”
*******
Xavier Cross: “Will you hold my drink, while I tie my shoe?”
{Vivienne shakes her head, as she laughs, taking his drink before turning it over on his head. As Xavier looks up smiling.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “I love you, but you’re a jerk.”
{Xavier quickly pops up, looking to steal a kiss. But Vivienne is faster as she puts a hotdog in his mouth.}
Vivienne Rodgers: “Enjoy the couch tonight, and maybe I’ll buy you some velcro shoes.”
{She walks away, with a plate of grilled food, setting it down. As Xavier smiles, seemingly looking at us, as he reaches into his pocket a small black box in the palm of his hand as he whispers just low enough where only we can hear it.}
Xavier Cross: “Not yet….”
{And with a wink, he slides it back into his pocket, and joins the party as we are greeted to a large explosion in the sky.}
Well howdy there pardner.