Revolution: demons: Before the Pale Horse Rides
Nov 11, 2013 21:56:53 GMT -5
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Post by Revvie® on Nov 11, 2013 21:56:53 GMT -5
The journey so far….
Jason was pulled back into the ring by an offer by Trace, which also tied the two together into a relationship. A business deal, put him on a leash, but Jadoa got what he wanted; violence. The call had been in him for weeks before, and drinking couldn’t drown it out anymore.
Problems reared their ugly head, and revealed that both Trist (his roommate from hell), and Laura (a college student neighbor, would be following him from city to city. The hunger in the Reverend is starting to put on a strain on his personal relationships, while his professional life soars to new heights because of it. Since his return, he hasn’t suffered a single loss, and doesn’t plan to either. With the animal guiding him by instinct, he has found power.
Power that is wielded by Trace like a hell hound; he blows his whistle, and the creature in Jason comes running; foaming at the mouth. Now the thing is pointed at friends daughter, Scarlett, and the Reverend is showing no signs of remorse for what he knows will happen. He can’t help is anymore, nothing can stop it now.
Before the Pale Horse Rides
by, Revvie
(Musing)
I can’t remember much anymore, and from what I hear, the majority isn’t worth hearing. Terrible things, brief flashes, and headaches. Stress induced, and Scarlett had my head in rapids. It wasn’t love; hell, it wasn’t even friendship. Emotions weren’t my thing nowadays, but I felt tied to Scarlett, and Laura.
My nightmare; my revelation, said as much. I had to choose; have to choose. The hunger doesn’t make decisions. It devours, any, all, everything; it scratches at the back of my eyes, until it claws its way out.
I become void, and it is a familiar taste of freedom.
Can’t,
Wont,
But why not?
<><><><><>
It was a Laura/Jason day; a day off from the federation. The next Revolution was followed by Scars and Stripes; he wouldn’t have much down time. Laura, and Jason, laid in the leaves; leaves that laid upon the ground, and ground that laid on the earth. An earth that rotates, a planet that changes, a species that evolves; the animal lurks. That is where Jason found himself, sitting near the animal.
Laura nudged him, “So, is your whole plan today, to just lay here?”
“Haven’t decided.”
“Ah, well, do you mind if I go to the bench?”
This questions prompted a gentle shrug from Jadoa, “I don’t dictate your fate.”
“Interesting phrase, you have a lot of different ‘phrases’ nowadays. Keeping in character a little much?” A worried voice echoed; sealed with a laugh.
Jason attempted to escape, “Something like that.”
“Being vague is part of the problem.”
Jadoa went silent, and let his lids fall shut. The dark behind his eyes was serene, but the sound of Laura didn’t waiver.
“Jason, talk to me, why else are we out here?”
“Maybe I just wanted to spend a moment away from Trist, with just the two of us.” Laura smiled, and Jason continued, “I am sorry, I just, it isn’t something worth discussing; that’s all.” Jason lied, of course he lied, what else could he do? Tell her about the thing eating at him, tell her about the need for the ring; the predator in him.
Laura gave into a smile, “Fine, but soon we are going to have to have a long talk. SOONER than later.”
“I have enough on my mind, I don’t need the extra.” Jason’s pressed a blunt tone, but tempered to a polite rhythm; it flowed through her…
…catching her curiosity, “Is it this match, with your friend’s daughter?”
“Trist tell you?”
“No, well, sort of, maybe,” Laura seemed abnormally fussy, but Jadoa was ready for recital.
“It is just, I tire of this feud with Trace that they are carrying on. It is a fruitless attempt at resistance. Resisting the flow of the river.”
“Maybe they don’t see it that?” Laura tiptoed round his words.
“Then they are foolish for not seeing what is plain. McGurk, and Scarlett are fighting in vain, and for what; a piece of gold?”
“I’ve heard of days, when you weren’t so different,” She was a voice of reason, in the clutter that was Jason; the demon scratched behind the lids.
Shadow growled from beneath Jason’s words, “And I was a fool, and look at me now, still a damn fool. They stack wrestlers, I knock them down, and it had earned me nothing.
Nothing, except more of Trace’s trash.”
Laura didn’t speak right away, because what she felt from her friend was different now. Jason wasnt home, but something dwelled there.
(Musing)
I didn’t want to make a choice, both were not worthy of my praise. The fangirl, with a degree, meant nothing to me. Nor do I care about McGurk’s Family.
The hunger decided everything, and I began to accept that I was nothing. I was a tool, and object of power to be wielded. That was ok, I wanted to be power; POWER that would grow beyond control. Laura and Scarlett weren’t a choice, they were a sacrifice. I will watch one suffer, and the other, I must make suffer at Revolution.
Then the Revelation will begin, with a bang it will bash through the doors of every locker in the WFWF. The rapture will sweep the floors, and make them gold.
<><><><>
“I’m sorry, this bullcrap just has me all riled up,” Jason resurfaced, to both their surprise, but Laura internally thanked God; she didn’t believe in gods. Jadoa stood as he spoke, and slowly resolved tothe bench. The old man hunched over, and let his head fall to his hands. No tears; just grief.
Laura let her gaze roam in space the spaces between the clouds, “I just wish you knew you could talk to me by now. I try to make it obvious.”
“I don’t talk to anyone.” Unless you count Trist, but Jason didn’t count Trist.
“I am just worried,” Laura huffed.
His arm’s swung with frustration and fret, “Well don’t be, for Christ sakes, I am not some simpleton sucking on teet!”
The Reverend flared again, but this time the fire in his eyes didn’t wane. He was Shadow, and the demon had clawed its way from his mind. Laura looked up at what Jason had locked away, and she didn’t like what she saw, “Jason, Jason please talk to me.”
Shadow eyed her cautiously, but his presence gave only fright, “What is there to talk about exactly, your naïve crusade to save me?”
“No-it isn’t, I mean….Damnit Jason, that’s not my intention at all!”
Jason’s shoulders tensed, and each turn of his neck popped. This all perplexed Laura, who knew that somewhere in Jadoa, he was fighting a battle; he wasn’t winning, “Of course it is not your intention, it is never the intention of the lamb to upset the herder, and yet you stray!”
Laura’s mouth laid open, and her eyes followed, “You have lost your damn mind! You have lost it, and don’t even
ing realize! You don’t care…”
“About you? About Trist? And dear,” Jason was now just an echo, “Even if I do fail to care up to your standard, it doesn’t reflect the state of my mind. Also, for the sake of it, I will have you know that I have found myself again.” Reverend pressed his face into her pale expression, “You leapt down the wrong rabbit hole Laura.”
The fabled foe, stomped off. Laura kept on his heels, “Where the hell do you think you are going!? Jason!?”
Shadow ignored the lovely lady, and didn’t give a if she fell off the planet. He didn’t understand why she said it, and far from wanted excuses. The flood of unfair emotion was enough.
“Goddamnit JASON!”
She had his attention now, and Shadow spun around to meet his assailant, “What is it you want, you’re now trying my patience.”
The Reverend shook with anger, and Laura shook with fear, “Y-y-you weren’t like this back home, something is wrong with you.”
“Sometimes we arrive at our location, and we don’t realize how we got there. Sometimes we arrive, and then recall, that it was only a trick of the mind. The location we had been in, was always that location. That is where you stand, at that spot in my existence. THIS IS ME!”
(Musing)
People in life are always placing values on top of one another; expecting the best, expecting the worst. I suspect they know not the worst, nor best, of anyone. This is true for me, as well as any other. Everything I do in this life, is a direct response to a place value, but it wasn’t always that way.
No, there was a day when I was without repercussion.
A day where no human being told me no.
Jason whines, Jason cries, but the Reverend does not weep. Jason lies, Jason tries, but Shadow; the truth I seek.
McGurk is a friend to Jason, thus the quandary, do I owe the fool a favor in recompense for his love of Jason. Trivial, but it is unwise to make rash decisions. That said, Scarlett is WFWF Champion, and such a win would divine further treasure. Buying Power; an Advantage.
We shall see what Scarlett is worthy of; what everyone is worthy of.
<><><><>
The reborn Reverend removed himself from the lady in distress; or so how he saw her. Laura may not have agreed, but that didn’t change he left in her in the park. Still, distress was far from the word for what she felt, and in truth, no word existed. Her case studies had told her enough, and she knew that Jason couldn’t remain that way for long; he would need release. Luckily for her, and him, that meant he just was going to get high.
Laura worried about his state of mind though, and what might happen. She had lifted the numbers on his phone, and quickly found Penny’s name. If he was going anywhere, it would be there. She let her finger rip across the dial button, but the line was busy. Of course a dealer would have a busy line.
She rolled her eyes and left a message, “Penny, if you get this soon enough, Jason is on his way. I would suggest caution; he isn’t in his right mind. Please contact me if he shows up, I am going to try to get there.”
<><><><>
Cabbage and Penny were stoned out of their minds. The whole motel room had become a hotbox, and Cabbage giggled like a child. Penny, however, was checking a call she missed. The glazed look in her eyes matched Cabbage exactly, but she didn't say anything after hanging up. At least, not before Cabbage, "Who wuzzit?"
",” Penny hissed, and stormed up to her feet. She started going through what little was left of the stash, "."
Penny sat down on the floor and tried to clear her mind; she took a careless hit off the pipe. "Dude, I think we're out of weed,” Penny said, and noticed the smoke trail from the pipe. "Oh !"
Cabbage only met Penny about an hour earlier, but he liked her well enough. They had loosely discussed a mutual friend, mostly by accident; Cabbage made mention of looking for Jason. Cabbage giggled an interruption, "Wutswrong? You look all mad and stuff maan, chill, take another hit."
"Dude, you don't get it,” Penny shot out, "We're out of weed!"
Penny got on her knees, and raided the little fridge for anything the least bit intoxicating.
Penny held out a bottle of beer. "Nah,” Penny shrugged, tossing it away.
Then Penny held out a bottle of whiskey. "Nah,” Penny shrugged, tossing it away.
Then Penny held out a bottle of vodka. "Absolutely not,” Penny shouted out, hurling the bottle of vodka out the door.
"."
"Wutswrong?" Cabbage asked again.
"That message I got? It was from Laura- you know, the girl hanging around Reverend. Anyways, he's coming here and he's spazzing out."
Cabbage laughed a bit, "Dude, when isn't his ass spazzing out?"
The Reverend didn't talk about his past, and Cabbage was the only person he still knew from back then. Penny continued her assault on the room, trying to scrounge something.
Cabbage didn't help, he just kept talking, "Dudescot mental ishooz by da duzens."
Penny hadn't heard that before, no one had a long time.
She raised her eyebrow as the door closed behind her; wafting her way back into the room. "Makes sense. The dude is already so out there as it is, could explain why he started wrestling the first place. Kinda contains him when you think about it."
Penny blinked as she took her seat across Cabbage on the floor. ". I'm not getting any more crap for another few hours! We're going to have deal with him, somehow."
Penny reached for the ashtray and started going through all the burnt-out bits, trying to find anything smokeable. Cabbage had an epiphany, "I gottit!"
Penny looked over him, "You got some weed?"
"No, I gots an idea; it is… Batman!" He was serious; his voice was serious.
Penny raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, almost as if her neck extended out as she gazed at him, hoping to whatever Godess was covering her pretty butt that Cabbage did actually know how to get a hold of Batman. "Don't crap with me boy, this better be real!"
"Wait Wut?" Cabbage was lost once again, "I think weshud jussmoke sumbud withim, dat would chill'em out." Then a pounding drew them away from Cabbage's stupidity, and to the door.
-Thump, thump, thump-
"Riite on, hope itsa pizza guy," but of course, they hadn't ordered a pizza.
"Yeah, you answer that", Penny said as she reached over for the pipes and started working them out with a bent paper-clip. "I'm going to try to scrape whatever I can!"
The pounding continued, but this time Reverend wailed through the door, "I can smell the crap, I just wanna smoke!"
Shadow tried to remain calm, but all his words came with a low growl. He couldn't help it, he was one edge, and Cabbage was about to only make it worse.
Reverend knocked again, and Cabbage replied, "Whose dere?"
"ing let me in! That is who!"
"Wait, wut?"
Shadow grew impatient with the person on the other end, still not aware it was his old friend. "For sake, open this goddamn door, or I will break it the down, do you hear me!"
Cabbage unlatched, unlocked, and opened the door, "Chill maan, no needta be rude."
"Cabbage? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Maan, I could askya da same question."
"Damnit, just move." Reverend marched past Cabbage, and up to Penny, who wasn't making much head way in getting resin. Mostly because in her haste, she managed to get most of it on her. A crazy man pounding at your door will do that to a person though; understandable. "I need to smoke," Rev looked directly at Penny, who could feel his stare, but didn't turn around right away.
Penny took one look at Reverend as she scraped the resin from her fingers and put it into the bowl. "... I ran out of weed!"
Then she waited for it.
It was calm; a pause. Both Penny and Cabbage could feel the vibrations building, but neither was sure what they were going to do.
Reverend just stood still, and his face looked funny. It came as a slight look of constipation, or maybe the look of a woman in labor. He was about to explode, and that tiny room didn't leave them much room to get the hell out of Shadow's way.
"What the, you're both ing dealers for christsake, and the room reeks of the crap, and YOU'RE ING OUT!" Shadow started with punching a hole in the wall, before cussing about his knuckles.
Penny twitched a little and held herself back as Reverend went on his tirade, squirming a little as the tone of his voice actually upset her, physically even.
"Chill out dude!" Penny shot out, grabbing Reverend before he completely flipped out, "I should be getting from my source in a couple of hours, so just try to hold on. Anyway, you could probably get high from all the crap in the air anyways. Please chill?"
He didn't mean to, but it happened. When Penny grabbed him, Reverend jerked and launched her against the wall. Just as she bounced off a stock photo of a farmhouse, Laura ran in.
She sprinted past Cabbage, whose only words were, "Damn, didn't knock or nuffin."
Shadow headed towards Penny, but Laura headed him off, "Jason, look at me. You need to just calm down."
Cabbage chimed in, "Yea maan, just re-in-lax dude."
The Reverends head twisted like a snake; glaring at Cabbage. Then it jerked back to Penny, and Laura in his way. "Move."
"I wont let you do this Jason, you're not acting like you, and I really need you to try to sit dow-" Reverend then pushed her to one side, knocking her down. This, oddly enough sent Cabbage into a tizzy.
However; Reverend released his old buddy with an elbow; leaving Cabbage on the ground with a bloody nose.
"The dude?!" Penny yelled, and ran right up to Shadow, and smacked him across the face. "You better calm down or I swear to God, I am sooo cutting you off when my crap arrives!"
Laura called out, "Penny, you have to be careful. He isn't himself right now, even if he wanted to be!" The news from her hit Penny, as she then stepped aside, and allowed the momentum Shadow gained to cause him to fall on the floor. With Rev laid out for a moment, Penny stepped over Rev and approached Laura "What's going on?"
Laura looked up at Penny with hesitance; she knew more than she was saying, "We were at the park, and he just kind of snapped."
Then came a number of a flailing sounds, and a rumble from Reverend. Penny looked over, "Now what the hell is going on?"
When both of them found the source, they found Shadow seizing on the ground. Laura ran to his side, trying to hold him as still as possible. She looked back at Penny, "I could really use some help here!"
Penny got on the ground and held Reverend down; pressing her weight over him to stop him from shaking. "What do we do now?" Penny asked, looking up at Laura.
"Hope to hell he stops sooner than later, these usually don't last that long though."
Cabbage then dropped his hand down, with a jay locked between the fingers. "Ha, it was in my pocket; I forgot I had pockets." Cabbage just laughed as Penny and Laura gave him a dirty look.
"When he is settled, we will give him a minute, then I am probably going to need your help again."
"Why?" Penny grunted as she continued to hold down the Reverend. She then looked up at Cabbage as he held out the joint, starry-eyed with glee that he was actually helping. Penny had to roll her eyes as she looked at Cabbage and said, "Now you find weed?!-"
Shadow's tremors were too much for Penny and he inadvertently threw Penny off him. She hit the wall, but was quick on her feet. Penny took to Reverend's side, and continued holding him down. "Some extra help would be really nice right now."
The Reverend stopped shaking, and Laura took his pulse.
Cabbage jumped in, "He dead?"
"No, just passed out. I need some help getting him into the car though."
"Where're you taking him?" Penny asked, rolling off the Reverend for a moment as she gave herself some breathing room. Hmm, from this angle, she could start to see why Reverend hung out with Laura a lot... Lucky bastard.
"Back to his motel, and putting him to bed. He will be fine, there isn't anything they can do for him anyways." Laura had certainty, and command in her voice, "So will you give me a hand?"
Penny nodded and grabbed Shadow by the shoulders, supporting most of his weight as she waited for Cabbage to do the same.
“Wait, am I supposed to do sumpin?” Cabbage was doe eyed, but Penny gave a certified glare, “Riite, riite, helpcha with him.”
Finally, with Cabbage's help, Penny lifted her legs off the ground, and held the weight of Reverend Shadow; turned out a lot heavier than she imagined.
Laura rushed for the door, opening it for them as Penny and Cabbage proceeded to bring the Reverend back to her car.
They got him in, and just stood there as Laura drove off. Cabbage lit the final joint, took his hit, and then passed it, "Toldja dater is batcrap."
Penny sighed, "This is gonna happen again when we're finished with this joint."
(Musing)
I was wrong, so very very wrong.
There were no options for Scarlett.
No potential for me not to inflict the wrath on her once again.
I have walked through fire, and been unharmed. I fear not the flames, but instead fear the depth of my fury.
Forgive me Brother Wayne, for I know not what I do.
<><><><>
The Reverend woke; he couldn’t remember what happened after the park, and even that memory was a bit fuzzy. Shadow was in his bed, covered in a cold sweat; nightmares? He couldn’t shake the feeling only part of them were, and part of them weren’t.
Then a familiar voice broke his mental spasm, “You’re ok!”
Laura squealed and ran up, “Woah woah, what happened?” It was too late, she already had her arms laced around his neck. Rev. squirmed, “I am fine, please, can you tell me what the hell happened?”
“I can tell you that I owe this bruise on my elbow to you, and you might want to make a few apologies to your friend Cabbage, and Penny.”
Shadow just glared groggily.
“You kind of, well, you kind of got really angry.” Laura didn’t want to bombard him with the truth, and honestly didn’t know if he would care. The words he spoke sounded like Jason, but his eyes were of the Reverend; she knew dead stare all too well now.
“Well, I am not angry, so you can go.”
“But Jason, you just had a serious episode!” Laura was emotional; protective.
Reverend didn’t care, “I am fine, will be fine, and am too tired to entertain your company. Will you please leave?” Shadow rolled the covers back, and removed himself from the bed. He towered over the presumed temptress; his eyes tainted by her sweet smile.
Laura didn’t move, and instead attempted to put her foot down. Though this time, she did it with fear, “I can’t ok! I promised myself I would make sure you got better, and I am damn sure going to do that!” Tears streamed with sailing syllables.
The Reverend let out a softened smile, and his eyes humbled. It was alluring, but it wasn’t Jason. That didn’t matter to Laura, who fell for it. She wasn’t first in his gaze, and his manipulation was nondiscriminatory, “My dear, and you have taken wonderful care of me, and I am doing much, much better.”
Shadow gripped her in a warm embrace.
“I just need some time to myself, it is nothing you did. Just been a long day, and my rest didn’t exactly feel like rest.” He only pressed with a bit of his effort, and her stubbornness ceased. Laura nodded softly, and then exited the room.
That didn’t stop the noise, “And the Dark Dumbass strikes again, the caped dupsader valiantly is saved by the damsel, and then manipulates her to top off his night. You are a true winner my good man.”
“Goddamnit Trist; why can’t you end up committing suicide or something?” Most times, Shadow might have been joking, but not this time.
“From what I heard, it would mostly likely be due to being murdered by you.”
Reverend roamed over to the bathroom, and started up the shower. This was all followed by a door slam, and a mumble of, “I don’t need this crap.”
(Musing)
Pandora’s box is open; the truth laid bare for me.
McGurk won’t understand, and Scarlett may resent the reaping that must come. However; I cannot turn my back on what I truly am anymore. I am the savior of this federation, and always have been. I was crucified, fallen, but now I return. The prophecies, the change, and each victory is amounting to total peace; I can see the Promised Land over the horizon now.
They will call me insane, call me prophet, and soon they will call me Shepherd.
-FIN-
PREVIEW FOR SCARS AND STRIPES ROLEPLAY
The nightmare was a haze at best, but something felt vivid about it. Something more than just the average dream. Reverend could hear Laura talking to someone else, but it didn’t sound like anyone he knew; definitely not Trist.
“It is up to you, he is stable now, but there is a chance of relapse. He is your father, do you want to continue?” The foreign voice was dry, raspy, and came in spurts, but then came Laura’s voice.
There was no mistaking her voice, “We go forward, I can tell, we are close to something right now. Just a little longer.”
Jason was pulled back into the ring by an offer by Trace, which also tied the two together into a relationship. A business deal, put him on a leash, but Jadoa got what he wanted; violence. The call had been in him for weeks before, and drinking couldn’t drown it out anymore.
Problems reared their ugly head, and revealed that both Trist (his roommate from hell), and Laura (a college student neighbor, would be following him from city to city. The hunger in the Reverend is starting to put on a strain on his personal relationships, while his professional life soars to new heights because of it. Since his return, he hasn’t suffered a single loss, and doesn’t plan to either. With the animal guiding him by instinct, he has found power.
Power that is wielded by Trace like a hell hound; he blows his whistle, and the creature in Jason comes running; foaming at the mouth. Now the thing is pointed at friends daughter, Scarlett, and the Reverend is showing no signs of remorse for what he knows will happen. He can’t help is anymore, nothing can stop it now.
Before the Pale Horse Rides
by, Revvie
(Musing)
I can’t remember much anymore, and from what I hear, the majority isn’t worth hearing. Terrible things, brief flashes, and headaches. Stress induced, and Scarlett had my head in rapids. It wasn’t love; hell, it wasn’t even friendship. Emotions weren’t my thing nowadays, but I felt tied to Scarlett, and Laura.
My nightmare; my revelation, said as much. I had to choose; have to choose. The hunger doesn’t make decisions. It devours, any, all, everything; it scratches at the back of my eyes, until it claws its way out.
I become void, and it is a familiar taste of freedom.
Can’t,
Wont,
But why not?
<><><><><>
It was a Laura/Jason day; a day off from the federation. The next Revolution was followed by Scars and Stripes; he wouldn’t have much down time. Laura, and Jason, laid in the leaves; leaves that laid upon the ground, and ground that laid on the earth. An earth that rotates, a planet that changes, a species that evolves; the animal lurks. That is where Jason found himself, sitting near the animal.
Laura nudged him, “So, is your whole plan today, to just lay here?”
“Haven’t decided.”
“Ah, well, do you mind if I go to the bench?”
This questions prompted a gentle shrug from Jadoa, “I don’t dictate your fate.”
“Interesting phrase, you have a lot of different ‘phrases’ nowadays. Keeping in character a little much?” A worried voice echoed; sealed with a laugh.
Jason attempted to escape, “Something like that.”
“Being vague is part of the problem.”
Jadoa went silent, and let his lids fall shut. The dark behind his eyes was serene, but the sound of Laura didn’t waiver.
“Jason, talk to me, why else are we out here?”
“Maybe I just wanted to spend a moment away from Trist, with just the two of us.” Laura smiled, and Jason continued, “I am sorry, I just, it isn’t something worth discussing; that’s all.” Jason lied, of course he lied, what else could he do? Tell her about the thing eating at him, tell her about the need for the ring; the predator in him.
Laura gave into a smile, “Fine, but soon we are going to have to have a long talk. SOONER than later.”
“I have enough on my mind, I don’t need the extra.” Jason’s pressed a blunt tone, but tempered to a polite rhythm; it flowed through her…
…catching her curiosity, “Is it this match, with your friend’s daughter?”
“Trist tell you?”
“No, well, sort of, maybe,” Laura seemed abnormally fussy, but Jadoa was ready for recital.
“It is just, I tire of this feud with Trace that they are carrying on. It is a fruitless attempt at resistance. Resisting the flow of the river.”
“Maybe they don’t see it that?” Laura tiptoed round his words.
“Then they are foolish for not seeing what is plain. McGurk, and Scarlett are fighting in vain, and for what; a piece of gold?”
“I’ve heard of days, when you weren’t so different,” She was a voice of reason, in the clutter that was Jason; the demon scratched behind the lids.
Shadow growled from beneath Jason’s words, “And I was a fool, and look at me now, still a damn fool. They stack wrestlers, I knock them down, and it had earned me nothing.
Nothing, except more of Trace’s trash.”
Laura didn’t speak right away, because what she felt from her friend was different now. Jason wasnt home, but something dwelled there.
(Musing)
I didn’t want to make a choice, both were not worthy of my praise. The fangirl, with a degree, meant nothing to me. Nor do I care about McGurk’s Family.
The hunger decided everything, and I began to accept that I was nothing. I was a tool, and object of power to be wielded. That was ok, I wanted to be power; POWER that would grow beyond control. Laura and Scarlett weren’t a choice, they were a sacrifice. I will watch one suffer, and the other, I must make suffer at Revolution.
Then the Revelation will begin, with a bang it will bash through the doors of every locker in the WFWF. The rapture will sweep the floors, and make them gold.
<><><><>
“I’m sorry, this bullcrap just has me all riled up,” Jason resurfaced, to both their surprise, but Laura internally thanked God; she didn’t believe in gods. Jadoa stood as he spoke, and slowly resolved tothe bench. The old man hunched over, and let his head fall to his hands. No tears; just grief.
Laura let her gaze roam in space the spaces between the clouds, “I just wish you knew you could talk to me by now. I try to make it obvious.”
“I don’t talk to anyone.” Unless you count Trist, but Jason didn’t count Trist.
“I am just worried,” Laura huffed.
His arm’s swung with frustration and fret, “Well don’t be, for Christ sakes, I am not some simpleton sucking on teet!”
The Reverend flared again, but this time the fire in his eyes didn’t wane. He was Shadow, and the demon had clawed its way from his mind. Laura looked up at what Jason had locked away, and she didn’t like what she saw, “Jason, Jason please talk to me.”
Shadow eyed her cautiously, but his presence gave only fright, “What is there to talk about exactly, your naïve crusade to save me?”
“No-it isn’t, I mean….Damnit Jason, that’s not my intention at all!”
Jason’s shoulders tensed, and each turn of his neck popped. This all perplexed Laura, who knew that somewhere in Jadoa, he was fighting a battle; he wasn’t winning, “Of course it is not your intention, it is never the intention of the lamb to upset the herder, and yet you stray!”
Laura’s mouth laid open, and her eyes followed, “You have lost your damn mind! You have lost it, and don’t even
ing realize! You don’t care…”“About you? About Trist? And dear,” Jason was now just an echo, “Even if I do fail to care up to your standard, it doesn’t reflect the state of my mind. Also, for the sake of it, I will have you know that I have found myself again.” Reverend pressed his face into her pale expression, “You leapt down the wrong rabbit hole Laura.”
The fabled foe, stomped off. Laura kept on his heels, “Where the hell do you think you are going!? Jason!?”
Shadow ignored the lovely lady, and didn’t give a
if she fell off the planet. He didn’t understand why she said it, and far from wanted excuses. The flood of unfair emotion was enough. “Goddamnit JASON!”
She had his attention now, and Shadow spun around to meet his assailant, “What is it you want, you’re now trying my patience.”
The Reverend shook with anger, and Laura shook with fear, “Y-y-you weren’t like this back home, something is wrong with you.”
“Sometimes we arrive at our location, and we don’t realize how we got there. Sometimes we arrive, and then recall, that it was only a trick of the mind. The location we had been in, was always that location. That is where you stand, at that spot in my existence. THIS IS ME!”
(Musing)
People in life are always placing values on top of one another; expecting the best, expecting the worst. I suspect they know not the worst, nor best, of anyone. This is true for me, as well as any other. Everything I do in this life, is a direct response to a place value, but it wasn’t always that way.
No, there was a day when I was without repercussion.
A day where no human being told me no.
Jason whines, Jason cries, but the Reverend does not weep. Jason lies, Jason tries, but Shadow; the truth I seek.
McGurk is a friend to Jason, thus the quandary, do I owe the fool a favor in recompense for his love of Jason. Trivial, but it is unwise to make rash decisions. That said, Scarlett is WFWF Champion, and such a win would divine further treasure. Buying Power; an Advantage.
We shall see what Scarlett is worthy of; what everyone is worthy of.
<><><><>
The reborn Reverend removed himself from the lady in distress; or so how he saw her. Laura may not have agreed, but that didn’t change he left in her in the park. Still, distress was far from the word for what she felt, and in truth, no word existed. Her case studies had told her enough, and she knew that Jason couldn’t remain that way for long; he would need release. Luckily for her, and him, that meant he just was going to get high.
Laura worried about his state of mind though, and what might happen. She had lifted the numbers on his phone, and quickly found Penny’s name. If he was going anywhere, it would be there. She let her finger rip across the dial button, but the line was busy. Of course a dealer would have a busy line.
She rolled her eyes and left a message, “Penny, if you get this soon enough, Jason is on his way. I would suggest caution; he isn’t in his right mind. Please contact me if he shows up, I am going to try to get there.”
<><><><>
Cabbage and Penny were stoned out of their minds. The whole motel room had become a hotbox, and Cabbage giggled like a child. Penny, however, was checking a call she missed. The glazed look in her eyes matched Cabbage exactly, but she didn't say anything after hanging up. At least, not before Cabbage, "Who wuzzit?"
"
,” Penny hissed, and stormed up to her feet. She started going through what little was left of the stash, "."Penny sat down on the floor and tried to clear her mind; she took a careless hit off the pipe. "Dude, I think we're out of weed,” Penny said, and noticed the smoke trail from the pipe. "Oh !"
Cabbage only met Penny about an hour earlier, but he liked her well enough. They had loosely discussed a mutual friend, mostly by accident; Cabbage made mention of looking for Jason. Cabbage giggled an interruption, "Wutswrong? You look all mad and stuff maan, chill, take another hit."
"Dude, you don't get it,” Penny shot out, "We're out of weed!"
Penny got on her knees, and raided the little fridge for anything the least bit intoxicating.
Penny held out a bottle of beer. "Nah,” Penny shrugged, tossing it away.
Then Penny held out a bottle of whiskey. "Nah,” Penny shrugged, tossing it away.
Then Penny held out a bottle of vodka. "Absolutely not,” Penny shouted out, hurling the bottle of vodka out the door.
"
.""Wutswrong?" Cabbage asked again.
"That message I got? It was from Laura- you know, the girl hanging around Reverend. Anyways, he's coming here and he's spazzing out."
Cabbage laughed a bit, "Dude, when isn't his ass spazzing out?"
The Reverend didn't talk about his past, and Cabbage was the only person he still knew from back then. Penny continued her assault on the room, trying to scrounge something.
Cabbage didn't help, he just kept talking, "Dudescot mental ishooz by da duzens."
Penny hadn't heard that before, no one had a long time.
She raised her eyebrow as the door closed behind her; wafting her way back into the room. "Makes sense. The dude is already so out there as it is, could explain why he started wrestling the first place. Kinda contains him when you think about it."
Penny blinked as she took her seat across Cabbage on the floor. "
. I'm not getting any more crap for another few hours! We're going to have deal with him, somehow."Penny reached for the ashtray and started going through all the burnt-out bits, trying to find anything smokeable. Cabbage had an epiphany, "I gottit!"
Penny looked over him, "You got some weed?"
"No, I gots an idea; it is… Batman!" He was serious; his voice was serious.
Penny raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, almost as if her neck extended out as she gazed at him, hoping to whatever Godess was covering her pretty butt that Cabbage did actually know how to get a hold of Batman. "Don't crap with me boy, this better be real!"
"Wait Wut?" Cabbage was lost once again, "I think weshud jussmoke sumbud withim, dat would chill'em out." Then a pounding drew them away from Cabbage's stupidity, and to the door.
-Thump, thump, thump-
"Riite on, hope itsa pizza guy," but of course, they hadn't ordered a pizza.
"Yeah, you answer that", Penny said as she reached over for the pipes and started working them out with a bent paper-clip. "I'm going to try to scrape whatever I can!"
The pounding continued, but this time Reverend wailed through the door, "I can smell the crap, I just wanna smoke!"
Shadow tried to remain calm, but all his words came with a low growl. He couldn't help it, he was one edge, and Cabbage was about to only make it worse.
Reverend knocked again, and Cabbage replied, "Whose dere?"
"
ing let me in! That is who!""Wait, wut?"
Shadow grew impatient with the person on the other end, still not aware it was his old friend. "For
sake, open this goddamn door, or I will break it the down, do you hear me!"Cabbage unlatched, unlocked, and opened the door, "Chill maan, no needta be rude."
"Cabbage? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Maan, I could askya da same question."
"Damnit, just move." Reverend marched past Cabbage, and up to Penny, who wasn't making much head way in getting resin. Mostly because in her haste, she managed to get most of it on her. A crazy man pounding at your door will do that to a person though; understandable. "I need to smoke," Rev looked directly at Penny, who could feel his stare, but didn't turn around right away.
Penny took one look at Reverend as she scraped the resin from her fingers and put it into the bowl. "... I ran out of weed!"
Then she waited for it.
It was calm; a pause. Both Penny and Cabbage could feel the vibrations building, but neither was sure what they were going to do.
Reverend just stood still, and his face looked funny. It came as a slight look of constipation, or maybe the look of a woman in labor. He was about to explode, and that tiny room didn't leave them much room to get the hell out of Shadow's way.
"What the
, you're both ing dealers for christsake, and the room reeks of the crap, and YOU'RE ING OUT!" Shadow started with punching a hole in the wall, before cussing about his knuckles.Penny twitched a little and held herself back as Reverend went on his tirade, squirming a little as the tone of his voice actually upset her, physically even.
"Chill out dude!" Penny shot out, grabbing Reverend before he completely flipped out, "I should be getting from my source in a couple of hours, so just try to hold on. Anyway, you could probably get high from all the crap in the air anyways. Please chill?"
He didn't mean to, but it happened. When Penny grabbed him, Reverend jerked and launched her against the wall. Just as she bounced off a stock photo of a farmhouse, Laura ran in.
She sprinted past Cabbage, whose only words were, "Damn, didn't knock or nuffin."
Shadow headed towards Penny, but Laura headed him off, "Jason, look at me. You need to just calm down."
Cabbage chimed in, "Yea maan, just re-
in-lax dude."The Reverends head twisted like a snake; glaring at Cabbage. Then it jerked back to Penny, and Laura in his way. "Move."
"I wont let you do this Jason, you're not acting like you, and I really need you to try to sit dow-" Reverend then pushed her to one side, knocking her down. This, oddly enough sent Cabbage into a tizzy.
However; Reverend released his old buddy with an elbow; leaving Cabbage on the ground with a bloody nose.
"The
dude?!" Penny yelled, and ran right up to Shadow, and smacked him across the face. "You better calm down or I swear to God, I am sooo cutting you off when my crap arrives!"Laura called out, "Penny, you have to be careful. He isn't himself right now, even if he wanted to be!" The news from her hit Penny, as she then stepped aside, and allowed the momentum Shadow gained to cause him to fall on the floor. With Rev laid out for a moment, Penny stepped over Rev and approached Laura "What's going on?"
Laura looked up at Penny with hesitance; she knew more than she was saying, "We were at the park, and he just kind of snapped."
Then came a number of a flailing sounds, and a rumble from Reverend. Penny looked over, "Now what the hell is going on?"
When both of them found the source, they found Shadow seizing on the ground. Laura ran to his side, trying to hold him as still as possible. She looked back at Penny, "I could really use some help here!"
Penny got on the ground and held Reverend down; pressing her weight over him to stop him from shaking. "What do we do now?" Penny asked, looking up at Laura.
"Hope to hell he stops sooner than later, these usually don't last that long though."
Cabbage then dropped his hand down, with a jay locked between the fingers. "Ha, it was in my pocket; I forgot I had pockets." Cabbage just laughed as Penny and Laura gave him a dirty look.
"When he is settled, we will give him a minute, then I am probably going to need your help again."
"Why?" Penny grunted as she continued to hold down the Reverend. She then looked up at Cabbage as he held out the joint, starry-eyed with glee that he was actually helping. Penny had to roll her eyes as she looked at Cabbage and said, "Now you find weed?!-"
Shadow's tremors were too much for Penny and he inadvertently threw Penny off him. She hit the wall, but was quick on her feet. Penny took to Reverend's side, and continued holding him down. "Some extra help would be really nice right now."
The Reverend stopped shaking, and Laura took his pulse.
Cabbage jumped in, "He dead?"
"No, just passed out. I need some help getting him into the car though."
"Where're you taking him?" Penny asked, rolling off the Reverend for a moment as she gave herself some breathing room. Hmm, from this angle, she could start to see why Reverend hung out with Laura a lot... Lucky bastard.
"Back to his motel, and putting him to bed. He will be fine, there isn't anything they can do for him anyways." Laura had certainty, and command in her voice, "So will you give me a hand?"
Penny nodded and grabbed Shadow by the shoulders, supporting most of his weight as she waited for Cabbage to do the same.
“Wait, am I supposed to do sumpin?” Cabbage was doe eyed, but Penny gave a certified glare, “Riite, riite, helpcha with him.”
Finally, with Cabbage's help, Penny lifted her legs off the ground, and held the weight of Reverend Shadow; turned out a lot heavier than she imagined.
Laura rushed for the door, opening it for them as Penny and Cabbage proceeded to bring the Reverend back to her car.
They got him in, and just stood there as Laura drove off. Cabbage lit the final joint, took his hit, and then passed it, "Toldja dat
er is batcrap."Penny sighed, "This is gonna happen again when we're finished with this joint."
(Musing)
I was wrong, so very very wrong.
There were no options for Scarlett.
No potential for me not to inflict the wrath on her once again.
I have walked through fire, and been unharmed. I fear not the flames, but instead fear the depth of my fury.
Forgive me Brother Wayne, for I know not what I do.
<><><><>
The Reverend woke; he couldn’t remember what happened after the park, and even that memory was a bit fuzzy. Shadow was in his bed, covered in a cold sweat; nightmares? He couldn’t shake the feeling only part of them were, and part of them weren’t.
Then a familiar voice broke his mental spasm, “You’re ok!”
Laura squealed and ran up, “Woah woah, what happened?” It was too late, she already had her arms laced around his neck. Rev. squirmed, “I am fine, please, can you tell me what the hell happened?”
“I can tell you that I owe this bruise on my elbow to you, and you might want to make a few apologies to your friend Cabbage, and Penny.”
Shadow just glared groggily.
“You kind of, well, you kind of got really angry.” Laura didn’t want to bombard him with the truth, and honestly didn’t know if he would care. The words he spoke sounded like Jason, but his eyes were of the Reverend; she knew dead stare all too well now.
“Well, I am not angry, so you can go.”
“But Jason, you just had a serious episode!” Laura was emotional; protective.
Reverend didn’t care, “I am fine, will be fine, and am too tired to entertain your company. Will you please leave?” Shadow rolled the covers back, and removed himself from the bed. He towered over the presumed temptress; his eyes tainted by her sweet smile.
Laura didn’t move, and instead attempted to put her foot down. Though this time, she did it with fear, “I can’t ok! I promised myself I would make sure you got better, and I am damn sure going to do that!” Tears streamed with sailing syllables.
The Reverend let out a softened smile, and his eyes humbled. It was alluring, but it wasn’t Jason. That didn’t matter to Laura, who fell for it. She wasn’t first in his gaze, and his manipulation was nondiscriminatory, “My dear, and you have taken wonderful care of me, and I am doing much, much better.”
Shadow gripped her in a warm embrace.
“I just need some time to myself, it is nothing you did. Just been a long day, and my rest didn’t exactly feel like rest.” He only pressed with a bit of his effort, and her stubbornness ceased. Laura nodded softly, and then exited the room.
That didn’t stop the noise, “And the Dark Dumbass strikes again, the caped dupsader valiantly is saved by the damsel, and then manipulates her to top off his night. You are a true winner my good man.”
“Goddamnit Trist; why can’t you end up committing suicide or something?” Most times, Shadow might have been joking, but not this time.
“From what I heard, it would mostly likely be due to being murdered by you.”
Reverend roamed over to the bathroom, and started up the shower. This was all followed by a door slam, and a mumble of, “I don’t need this crap.”
(Musing)
Pandora’s box is open; the truth laid bare for me.
McGurk won’t understand, and Scarlett may resent the reaping that must come. However; I cannot turn my back on what I truly am anymore. I am the savior of this federation, and always have been. I was crucified, fallen, but now I return. The prophecies, the change, and each victory is amounting to total peace; I can see the Promised Land over the horizon now.
They will call me insane, call me prophet, and soon they will call me Shepherd.
-FIN-
PREVIEW FOR SCARS AND STRIPES ROLEPLAY
The nightmare was a haze at best, but something felt vivid about it. Something more than just the average dream. Reverend could hear Laura talking to someone else, but it didn’t sound like anyone he knew; definitely not Trist.
“It is up to you, he is stable now, but there is a chance of relapse. He is your father, do you want to continue?” The foreign voice was dry, raspy, and came in spurts, but then came Laura’s voice.
There was no mistaking her voice, “We go forward, I can tell, we are close to something right now. Just a little longer.”
