| Eric Donavan and Tombstone | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 10 2013, 01:13 PM (126 Views) | |
| Bobbie Hearst | Feb 10 2013, 01:13 PM Post #1 |
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Administrator
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One Rp per team member. Tournament Deadline: Thursday, February 28th, 2013 |
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| Eric Donavan | Mar 1 2013, 09:22 PM Post #2 |
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Irish Dragon
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Mere days removed from a violent, bloody and in some ways disheartening Evolution pay-per-view in Los Angeles, Eric Donavan and Tombstone, the Irish Dragon and the Butcher of Berlin, are belly-up to a bar in the middle of Arlington, Texas. Sherlock's Baker Street Pub & Grill to be precise. The very city in which the Clash of the Titans pay-per-view will take place, a one-night tournament to decide the first-ever tag champions of Visionary Wrestling. Both men are nursing pints of dark ale in frosty glasses, a few bills and some change on the bar between them as they lift and tap their glasses together before taking long gulps from them and plunking the near-empty vessels back down. A chuckle passes through Eric as he wipes the back of one tattooed hand across his lips, smirking in the direction of his partner. Tombstone catches that look and despite himself shoots a half-grin back at Eric. Tombstone "Something ist amusing, little man?" Eric Donavan "Just picturing what happened last time you and I started the night with a brew." Tombstone "You vere on zee floor." Eric Donavan "As were you and Beest. As I remember it..." Eric downs the rest of his glass and signals for another, laying another couple of bills down on the pile as Tombstone raises a brow in his direction. Eric Donavan "...you landed first." Now we hear a clipped laugh out of the 6'11" monster, shaking his head as he finishes off his beer and, like his partner, requests a second. Eric keeps that charming-yet-infuriating Donavan smirk going full-bore as their drinks are set down before them. A few more notes on the stack and the two take long drinks before Tombstone speaks up again. Tombstone "Your memory ist failing, Erik. As zee story vas told to me, you vere zee first one karried out." Eric Donavan "And who told you that? Alexis?" Tombstone "Yes." Eric Donavan "Testimony denied due to a compromised witness." Tombstone "Bah..." Both men laugh at that comment, tapping their glasses together again before taking more ginger sips of their beverages. It's only as they have a few quiet seconds to ruminate that they take notice of the reactions they're getting just by being here. As different as night and day these were depending on whom the patrons glanced at. The men watched Eric warily as though they wanted to go up and say something, obviously recognizing both men from their exploits in NEW and elsewhere. The Irish Dragon was the more approachable of the two but only by a little. The women? They were content to swoon from a distance when it came to both men. Yes, some of them found Tombstone appealing, something that probably confused the giant given his past. Noting his friend and partner's slight trepidation, Eric comments smoothly, the brews already bringing out some of that natural brogue. Eric Donavan "Takes all kinds, Elias. Not everyone things you're a monster or someone to be avoided. You have fans and followers alike." Tombstone nods slowly and Eric nudges him with an elbow. Eric Donavan "Take it all in stride, my friend. After the last few weeks we've had, a little reveling in what we've earned is hardly a bad idea." Tombstone "Vhat ve have earned...zat vhich our respektive ladies are out spending right now, no?" There's no chuckle at that. They both bust out laughing at that comment, getting more looks from the patrons than before. No sooner do they put an end to their drinks than do the ladies in question come wandering in to the bar, giving people something else to stare at: a pair of queens to go with the pair of aces sitting at the bar. A hell of a hand no matter how you slice it. Alexis Jones and Aurelei Donavan, bags in hand, look around the bar, searching for their men. Both Eric and Tombstone raise a hand up, still grinning ear to ear. Both women see them, walking straight over and sitting down. Alexis Jones "Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes? Guess you're not bummed about losing your title anymore, huh?" Tombstone "Nein. Just bummed about losing my money." Both men chuckle as the ladies look at each other and shake their heads. Aurelei looks into her bag, then up at Eric, a sly smile on her face. Aurelei Donavan "I'm guessing you feel the same way too? That's fine. Then you can't see what I bought." Eric Donavan "Oh yeah? What if I don't share our gigantic friend's point of view here?" Tombstone "Kleiner feiger Mann." Alexis lets out a laugh, gently hitting Tombstone on the shoulder. Eric raises an eyebrow, turning in his seat toward his partner. The big man simply smirks, raising his glass and bringing it to his lips, easily drinking down half the glass. Eric Donavan "What did you just say?" Alexis Jones "It was nothing, don't worry about it." Eric Donavan "No, I want to know!" Tombstone lets out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. Aurelei couldn't help but to join in with the laughter, shrugging when Eric looks at her. Eric turns to Alexis, pointing at Tombstone. Eric Donavan "No, really, what did he say?" Alexis Jones "He said he's had a bit too much to drink, that's all." Tombstone "Lügner!" Alexis Jones "Ruhig, Sie." Eric sits back in his chair as Tombstone smirks at Alexis and finishes off his beer. Aurelei shakes her head, grabbing Eric's glass and taking a sip. She looks between the two men, as if trying to figure something out. And it doesn't take her long to make her thoughts known. Aurelei Donavan "I still don't understand how you guys are all buddy-buddy like this. After the way you guys started off... You'd think you'd be at each other's throats." Tombstone slams a fist on the table, a deadly serious look on his face. Tombstone "Who says ve're not? I hate zis man!" Eric shakes his head as Tombstone cracks a smile. He was obviously feeling good tonight. It wasn't often he cracked a joke. Eric gently takes his glass from Aurelei, leaning back in his chair. Eric Donavan "There was a level of respect from the beginning. It was like that old tired cliché. The unstoppable force versus the immovable object." Tombstone "I agree. But you did indeed get moved." Eric Donavan "Who said you were the unstoppable force?" Tombstone "My rekord against you." Eric Donavan "I beat you when it counted." Tombstone "Luck. Plain und simple." Eric Donavan "Luck?!? Is that what you're calling it now? I finally figure out how to beat you and you call it luck. Figures." Tombstone "You und I both know I vasn't a hundred percent zat night." Eric Donavan "You haven't been a hundred percent since our first meeting! And you won that one! And the one after! You lost, big man." Tombstone stares at him with a blank face, his eyes showing the smallest hint of amusement. He leans forward, slowly sliding the empty beer glass out of his way as Eric stares back at him. The smirk on Tombstone's face was barely noticeable if not for the tattooed teeth on his face curling up ever so slightly. Tombstone "Luck." Eric sits up, not knowing whether or not he was being toyed with. He waves a hand in the air, both Alexis and Aurelei watching them with wide eyes. Eric Donavan "Luck... You mean like you using your tag team partner, also known as Stall's sledgehammer, to pin me at Challenger Series?" Tombstone's smile finally surfaces fully, a bellowing chuckle rising from his gut. He nods his head, pointing his finger at Eric knowingly. Eric returns the smile, raising his glass and drinking some beer. Alexis clears her throat, turning to Tombstone. Alexis Jones "So if it was through luck that he beat you, then why did you ask him to be your partner for this tournament?" Tombstone sits back in his chair, still chuckling. Tombstone "Bekause he ist a man zat kan get zee job done. I have much respekt for him und I'm happy to kall him a good friend. Ve should be bitter enemies right now. Especially after zat first match. But he has as much honor as he does heart and that, my lovely, ist hard to kome by in zis business." Both Eric and Aurelei nod their heads in agreement as Alexis smiles. Tombstone waves for another beer, the waitress eyeing him from across the way. Alexis Jones "You never told me this one." Tombstone "Veren't you there?" Alexis Jones "No. When was this?" Tombstone "End of September I sink..." Alexis Jones "No, I wasn't." Tombstone smiles and nods. He looks across the table at Eric, his smile still prevalent. Tombstone "Vell, I had just gotten done kompletely dominating zis man in zee ring..." Eric Donavan "Hey, no embellishing. And I'm sure she saw the match." Alexis Jones "I did. I can separate truth from fiction with him." Tombstone "Do you vant to hear zis story or not?" Eric rolls his eyes, smiling as Alexis lets out a giggle. Alexis Jones "Go on." Tombstone "Okay. So I just dominated him to retain my championship..." ----- September 22nd, 2012 11:10pm NEWGen 19 Eric Donavan walks backstage in the USF Sun Dome in Tampa Bay, Florida, his head hanging a bit. He had just got done going toe to toe with the NEWera Television Champion, Tombstone, and came so close to defeating him. But in the end, it wasn't enough to overcome him. He couldn't understand it. He threw everything he had at the champion, yet every time, the man kept getting back up. It was mindboggling. His wife, Aurelei, walks by his side, talking to him, but he couldn't hear a word. All he could hear was his own thoughts as he tried to figure out where he went wrong. He was so lost in his own head that he didn't see Tombstone himself standing in the middle of the hallway just ahead of him. The champion watches him intently, a blank expression on his face. Aurelei grabs Eric by the arm, tugging on it as her eyes grow wide. Eric looks up, finally see the big man, a scowl crossing his face. Tombstone walks up to him, staring into his eyes coldly. Then... he extends his hand. Tombstone "I just vanted to shake your hand again." Eric felt like he was being pulled in two directions. One the one hand, he wanted to throw down with the champion right here just to prove a point. On the other...he couldn't help but have some respect for the warrior before him. The tumult within his mind only lasts for a moment in the real world and Eric extends his hand as well, shaking Tombstone's. Powerfully. Maintaining his grip as he takes another step forward. Eric Donavan "It was a hell of a match, Tombstone. But it won't be our last. Not now that I know what you're capable of." Tombstone nods his head, never blinking once as he firmly grips Eric's hand. Tombstone "Same to you, little man. I look forward to our next meeting. No one has given me a match like zat ever. I need more of zat. I kame here for a challenge... und I see it before me. May I ask you something?" Seemed as though Eric felt the same way, nodding in agreement...but pausing as his eyebrows raise at the unasked question. Another brief pause, then... Eric Donavan "...go ahead." Tombstone "Vhy do you not strike me now? I see it in your eyes. Many men in your position vould not hesitate. But you... you fight to hold it back. Vhy ist that?" Tombstone slowly takes his hand back, wearing a small look of curiosity. There's little hesitation before Eric responds in a calm voice despite the adrenaline and rage inside him. Eric Donavan "Because as angry as I am at myself for losing and at you for getting the better of me, you did it like a man...like a champion. You fought clean, you won clean. No excuses or lingering questions. I have to respect that." Silence fills the hallway as Tombstone continues to stare Eric dead in the eyes. Aurelei stands slightly behind her husband, the images of the battle that just happened between the two of them still very fresh in her mind. Tombstone finally nods, his face still expressionless, his eyes still cold as ice. Tombstone "Spoken like a true honorable varrior." He takes a step back, a small smile surfacing on his lips. He narrows his eyes slightly, a bead of sweat slowly making its way down the side of his tattooed face. Tombstone "Not many people like zat left... not many people like us anymore... our mold vas broken long ago. Und I thought I vould never find anyone like zat again... You surprise me, Erik Donavan." A small smile plays at the thin lips of the Irish Dragon. Eric Donavan "A lost breed I suppose you'd call us. You can hear it even back here. The fans want more of you and I in that ring. And so do I. I want another chance to prove I can go the distance with you, Tombstone." It's brave talk and he means every word, but the tremor in his posture shows that he's putting all his energy into standing upright at this point. Tombstone sees the conviction in Eric's eyes, nodding in return. He couldn't help but smile though. It wasn't often he met someone else that was much like him, let alone someone else that wanted to get back in the ring with him. Tombstone "So eager to prove yourself... Do you know vhat you have to do to beat me, Dragon?" His eyes remain narrowed, studying Eric for a hint of doubt, but unable to find it. Eric Donavan "No, but that's part of the challenge...and part of the fun." It was an answer he wasn't expecting. Tombstone looks Eric up and down, thinking it was a joke. Seeing he was serious, he smiles, patting Eric on the shoulder. Tombstone "Kouldn't have said it better myself. I like your attitude. See you next time... little man." He nods at both Eric and Aurelei in respect, slowly turning around and walking away silently. Eric looks after the massive champion and once he's out of sight puts a hand on the wall to steady himself. Aurelei comes around with a concerned look, staring after Tombstone for a moment before putting a hand on Eric's chest, seeking his eyes. Aurelei Donavan "You seriously want to fight him again?" Eric Donavan "I do." She shakes her head, betraying both fear and frustration. Aurelei Donavan "He almost broke you in half out there!" Eric takes his hand from the wall with some effort and cups his wife's cheek with a semi-smile. Eric Donavan "He gets it, baby. He's the kind of opponent who can make me better...the kind I need to face. Don't worry." ----- Tombstone lets out an overly loud laugh as the waitress drops off his beer. He thanks her between breaths, nodding his head as he looks over at Eric. He wipes his eye, gaining some composure as Alexis leans closer to him and puts her shoulder to his. Tombstone raises his glass, pointing his index finger at Eric as he fights back more laughter. Tombstone "Did you really have to hold yourself up after I left you there?" Aurelei is smirking at Eric too but the Irish Dragon is just smiling that annoying little smile of his as he sips from his freshly-poured glass. He savors the beverage for a moment, swallows and then retorts evenly. Eric Donavan "Yep. I mean, have you ever taken one of your Graveyard Shifts? Oh, wait...you did. I gave it to you. Not such a picnic trying to stand after that, big fella, is it?" Tombstone's laughter slowly fades away as he stares coldly at Eric. He is unable to hold it for long though, his smile soon reappearing along with his laughter. He nods his head, holding up his glass over the middle of the table. Tombstone "You have me there, friend! Cheers!" The two men clink their glasses together as the waitress brings by two more glasses of beer for Alexis and Aurelei. They join in on the good times as they raise their glasses and all four clink together. A moment of silence fills the table as they all take a drink. Tombstone lets out a monstrous burp, making Aurelei jump from clear across the table. Alexis shakes her head in amused disgust, grabbing Tombstone by his face and scrunching it together. He looks at her with drooping happy eyes as he begins to laugh again. She turns to Eric, letting out a laugh of her own. Alexis Jones "Don't let him fool you, Eric. He's not indestructible like everyone makes him out to be." Eric Donavan "He doesn't have to be. The man has my respect for his wrestling AND his drinking. I'm proud to be able to call him my friend. But that doesn't mean I won't still lay into him when I get the chance." He doesn't have the size to back him up, but Eric manages a window-rattling belch of his own that has Aurelei putting down her glass with a clink and putting a hand to her face. Both Tombstone and Eric are laughing this time as Alexis leans over to pat Aurelei's hand gently with a grin. Alexis Jones "Boys will be boys, eh?" Aurelei Donavan "Because they sure aren't acting like men!" Of course, that only makes them laugh harder, with the ladies joining in. The laughter soon begins to fade as the men take another drink. Alexis looks back and forth between the two of them, still smiling, a question burning in her mind. Alexis Jones "Seeing the two of you like this today... Just a few days ago, you both had some pretty big losses. I'm just amazed that you guys are acting like nothing happened or it doesn't change much. How can you do that? I think I'd be devastated." Tombstone slowly lowers his glass, taking in a deep breath. He glances over at his lover, taking her by the hand. Tombstone "Vell... Beer helps." Both he and Eric burst into laughter again. He quickly waves his hands in the air, trying to be serious for a moment. Tombstone "But Alexis, let me tell you... Zis man here takes a loss like I've never seen. He doesn't let it get to him. He just learns from it und komes back harder zee next time around. Me? I vas champion for 189 days. I set a rekord. I am happy vif my run. But zat ist in zee past. Und now, ve look to zee future! I have a chance to bekome champion again, zis time vif Erik at my side. My first loss kame in ViW. Und zee first one alvays hurts zee most. Isn't zat right, Erik?" He chuckles, raising his glass again and taking a drink. Eric lifts his glass in response, tapping it to Tombstone's before adding with a laugh. Eric Donavan "It does, but I learned from it. Besides...I didn't lose my match. It was a draw." Eric grins for a moment, but then gets serious...though a small smile remains. Eric Donavan "It's all in how you look at it, Alexis. I could cry in my beer, here, that I'm not the World Heavyweight Champion, just like I could have the first two times Tombstone kicked my ass. I could complain that every breath I take hurts or bitch about still tasting blood almost a week after my match, because both are indeed the case. But I don't. Because through those losses to Elias here, I made a good friend. Because despite the blood and the busted ribs, I walked away from my match with Stall and he was carried out. Positive thinking. And I'm just as positive that the Dark Choir will be the first-ever Visionary Tag Team Champions." Tombstone sets down his glass, grimacing at the mention of Stall's name. It was a person he still wanted to get his hands on after what happened at Challenger Series where Stall tried to end his career. It left him in the hospital for over a week and really, he had never been the same since. Wanting to change the subject, he forces a smile, looking up at everyone. Tombstone "You know... The sekond time Erik and I faced off, I knew zat he vas klose. Even though I had told him how to beat me, he vas determined to do it his own vay. I kept telling him to embrace his fear and he kept insisting zat he had none." Eric clears his throat, everyone's eyes going over to him. ----- October 21st, 2012 8:59pm Fear Itself Backstage at Fear Itself, Eric Donavan had just stepped into Gorilla, drenched with sweat and having Aurelei following closely at his side. She snatched up an offered towel and caught a tossed bottle of water, passing both to him. While he mopped his brow she fussed about checking him for injury. Perhaps it's not fair to say he 'stepped'...more like he was 'helped' in by a pair of EMTs, their compatriots also assisting the retaining Television Champion in as well. The moment they were both backstage the tension level rose considerably and the EMTs backed off. Aurelei backed off. Everyone not named Eric Donavan or Tombstone took a few steps back from the pair. But instead of coming to blows, the two shook hands and briefly embraced...gingerly, of course. Tombstone had taken multiple Dragon Fangs and it required a Graveyard Shift from the top rope to put the Irish Dragon down for the count. It was the smiling, though. That's what unnerved everyone. These two warriors, covered in sweat and trickles of blood, their bodies wracked...were smiling. Eric Donavan "That...was one of the best matches of my career, man. I...I almost don't even care that I lost. It was that good." Tombstone goes to pat Eric on the shoulder, but sees how Eric is holding his neck. He settles with a firm nod, clutching at his leg as his chest heaves with every breath. Tombstone "Ja. Sorry about having to drop you from zee top rope. You just vouldn't stay down, you bastard." He lets out a laugh, wincing a little bit as he shifts weight to his other leg, not finding much comfort there. He backs up a little bit, leaning against the wall, his eyes wide open from the adrenaline and the pain that was beginning to rapidly settle in. Eric Donavan "Where we go from here, I don't know...but just listen to those fans, man. They're roaring. Music to my ears. You know, when I can hear it over the ringing." Both chuckle at that one while Aurelei looks...well...aghast. She doesn't seem to get how these two broken down sonofabitches can be so jolly after nearly killing each other in the ring. Eric notes the pain that Tombstone's having in his leg and despite the pain in his neck, he moves over to the champion and takes one of those thick arms around his shoulders, motioning for Aurelei to do the same on the other side. With some trepidation, she complies and the three start to head toward the trainer's room, speaking in low tones as they go. Eric Donavan "But yeah...I owe you a receipt for that piledriver." Tombstone looks straight over at Eric, his usual cold blank expression littered with grogginess. Tombstone "I sink one of you owes me some teeth." Eric looks up at Tombstone as the big man begins to laugh wholeheartedly. Tombstone's head begins to hang as they walk, his laughter moving to a silenced wincing. People stand by, watching the three of them move through the backstage area like a snail enjoying the scenery. Tombstone looks back up at Eric, nodding his head as he continues to hobble like an old man. Tombstone "How bad ist your neck?" Eric Donavan "My fingertips are tingling a little. Injury's a few years old, though. What about your leg?" He sounded a bit nervous about it and didn't bother hiding that fact. Tombstone smiles, looking down at his legs, both of which were buckling at the knee with every step. Tombstone "I guess someone like me isn't meant to jump off zee top like zat. I'm just surprised zee ring held. Although us crashing through would have been most fitting, yes?" He lets out a small chuckle, looking at Eric, then at Aurelei. Aurelei Donavan "If you two could stop talking about half-killing each other until I get to a safe distance, please? I'm too young for a heart attack..." Eric looks from her to Tombstone, then laughs at his wife's comment. Eric Donavan "Yes, ma'am. I think we can do that." Tombstone "I promise, Mrs. Donavan... I'll finish zee job next time." Eric and Tombstone both begin to laugh as Aurelei simply shakes her head, staring straight ahead and wishing the walk back to the locker rooms wasn't so long... ----- Eric and Tombstone laugh as they remember that night, touching glasses and finishing off their beer. Tombstone slams his glass down, raising his hand for the waitress, but Alexis quickly pulls it down. Alexis Jones "Whoa, big fella, I think we've had enough tonight." Tombstone "Maybe you have, but I'm just getting started." Alexis Jones "Tell that to the dishwasher. He probably thinks this place is packed." Tombstone "It ist. I'm here." Alexis looks over at Eric, giving him a look that says 'TELL HIM'. Now it's Aurelei's turn to lean over and console Alexis, smiling in her own predatory way. Aurelei Donavan "There's no such thing as enough until they pass out, honey. Don't worry, though...I brought my truck." The comment hearkened back to the night when Eric, Tombstone and Wildebeest got smashed and smashed up a bar in the process, requiring Priest to call Aurelei and have the three monsters hauled into her truck to be carried off to Eric's place to sleep it off. Eric and Tombstone apparently remembered that, giving each other conspiratorial looks as the former calls out to the waitress. Eric Donavan "Skip that last order of Guinness, sugar! It's time to settle our score once and for all! Bring on the Johnnie Walker Blue!" Alexis's eyes widen as Stone and Eric lock eyes and finally she puts her head down on the table, shaking it back and forth and muttering "Why me?" to herself as Aurelei laughs resignedly. Aurelei Donavan "You'll get used to it...and as for your comment, Elias? Until you outdrink him I don't see your 'job' being finished any time soon." Tombstone glances over at Aurelei, looking at her through narrowed eyes. A cruel smile slowly creeps out on his face, his arm raising up in the air. His voice booms as he calls out to the waitress, never taking his eyes off of Aurelei. Tombstone "Make zat TWO bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue! Und bring a bib! My friend here ist going to need it!" Fade to black. |
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| Tombstone | Mar 1 2013, 11:46 PM Post #3 |
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To say that time had forgotten this church would be putting it nicely. Decades have passed since it was left to the spiders and vermin that now make their home within the house of creaking floorboards and cloying clouds of dust. Once-beautiful stained-glass windows are cracked and broken, giving uneven light at times when the sun decides to shine down upon it. Half the pews are overturned while the others are broken and warped by the effects of time and temperature. Only one window, high up on the west wall, properly allows light in this evening and even that wanes as the seconds tick by. It seems at first as though the people sent to take in another message from one of the teams in the Clash of the Titans took the proverbial wrong turn at Albquerque. Then someone clears their throat in the darkness and one of the off-camera techs squeaks like a pre-teen girl seeing her first scary movie. Whispered epithets shame the tech into silence as a shadow steps from behind the time-tarnished effigy of the Lord. The light is not enough to illuminate him but from his hand there comes a flash of gold followed by a small, flickering flame from an engraved, ruby-encrusted Zippo. The well-dressed man, swathed in a charcoal gray Armani and silver-framed sunglasses, comes forth to the tattered pulpit. From behind him he absconds with a candle and puts the flame of his Zippo to it, setting it on the podium in such a way that it illuminates his face. The face of the Irish Dragon. Eric Donavan "Welcome to the sermon." Clicking the expensive lighter shut, Eric pockets it and sets his hands upon the flaking surface of the pulpit. Eric Donavan "After last week, I'm sure people were expecting another evening of fun and adventure. You know, watching Tombstone and I have a few...several..." He breaks off with a slight chuckle. Eric Donavan "...a whole fucking lot of booze. But there's a time for work and a time for play. This is the former. And before the idea settles into the heads of the other 36 people taking part in this rather impressive tournament that my partner and I are here for shits and giggles..." The smile fades away like dust in the wind...the same dust his every step to this point kicked up. Eric Donavan "...it's time to show all of them just how seriously The Dark Choir is taking the idea of becoming the first Visionary Tag Team Champions." The flapping of wings can be heard as the camera pans up, catching a raven landing on a broken window pane high up in the church. It stares down toward Donavan, the moonlight shining brightly behind it and casting the raven's shadow on the floor of the church. It throws its head back as it caws, flapping its wings. The dust begins to kick up around Donavan as he grins, the light dancing around his face. And then... Death arrived. The figure stood behind Donavan, silent as his head was bowed. He wears a long leather trench coat and a top hat, the light still dancing as the raven continued to flap its wings. The figure slowly looks up, revealing a tattooed skull on his face. He stares straight into the camera with a cold icy stare, looking as if he had never smiled a day in his life. Tombstone was here. Donavan looks over his shoulder at his partner as an eerie silence falls throughout the church. Tombstone nods, stepping forward, the dust slowly rising in a small cloud at his feet. He looks back toward the camera slowly, his eyes unblinking. It was the same cold stare that many of his opponents have faced before. The same cold stare that many opponents had fallen to before. He slowly removes his top hat, the moonlight washing over his bald tattooed head. He begins to speak slowly, just a hint of his German accent heard. Tombstone "Serious is not a good enough vord to describe how ve are approaching this. Determined vould be much more appropriate. The chance to become the first. The chance to become immortal. The chance to forever be remembered in the annals of this young company. This is vhat is before us. And we are determined to grab hold of this... and never let go." He stands next to Donavan as the raven flies down from the broken window pane, landing on the podium. Tombstone looks down at it as it softly caws, ruffling its feathers slightly. Tombstone nods to Donavan, the candle light dancing on both of their faces and lighting up the raven's eyes. Eric nods slowly in response to his partner's words, a leather-gloved hand lifting to remove the sunglasses from his eyes. He tucks them calmly within the inner breast pocket of his jacket and locks his nearly-black eyes on the camera. Eric Donavan "To stand and denigrate the other teams in this tournament is not our intention. There is fine talent standing in our way as we tear a path through them to the gold. Some we know well. Some we might remember from times long past. Others...we will be meeting and destroying for the first time. Have any of you stopped yet to ask yourself why you're here, though? Has the idea of seriously considering that question and giving a thoughtful answer instead of a knee-jerk response passed through your heads?" He tilts his head to the side just a little as the raven eyes him coolly. Tombstone is as a statue at the side of his partner as Eric continues to address the field. Eric Donavan "Some of you are here to promote your home federations and to you I say...congratulations on your selflessness. Every company needs a few good people who are willing to put themselves on the line to bring in more fans and young wrestlers looking for a break. Some of you are here on a whim, perhaps joining an old friend for a chance at reliving the glory days. I can think of one example in the form of AntiMatter since Voland has been at least semi-active in NEW while Brian Harris has been...doing the crazy shit that Harrises do. The rest of you? Some are here for the gold. Some probably don't even know why they're here. Money, notoriety...whatever. The reasons don't matter so much as the purity of the reasons. Do you understand what I'm getting at? Take Tombstone and I for example. Yes, same as most other teams here we want the championships. We are, as my partner said, determined. Not for our pleasure or for the winner's share of the purse. It is because we believe we can do honor to those championships and that through our prowess and mentality we can put an indelible mark upon them that every team after us will have to strain to achieve. Pure, ladies and gentlemen. No bullshit to be found." The raven throws its head back and caws three times, each time louder than the last, the sound bouncing off the peeling decayed walls. Tombstone sets his hat on the podium, then crosses his arms. Tombstone "To be the first in something is not alvays a luxury many of us have the benefit of experiencing. Money can be found anyvhere. Pleasure just as well. But standards are far and few between. To be the first is to set the standard. That is our goal. That is our belief. The standard is not for bragging rights. It is to set the kourse of this ship. The kourse that all of you will follow. Erik and I have proven in NEW that ve are more than kapable of setting standards. Honor. Respekt. Things that may sound foreign to many of you, but are planted firmly inside of us. These are vhat standards are made of. And that is vhat the standard of the ViW Tag Team Championship vill be vhen ve grab hold of those titles. The measuring stick that all vill be kompared to. Some of you know vhat it is like to hold a championship. But not all of you set a standard to follow. Instead, you defile vhat it means to be a champion. And by doing that, you not only degrade yourself, but you degrade the very title that you hold. Ve von't let that happen. Ve kan't let that happen. So ve vill set the standard. And if you kan't live up to it, one by one, team by team, you vill be eliminated until you there is no one left... but us." The light flowing in through the window is steadily dimming as the sun sets, the candlelight steadily becoming all that illuminates the dark pair standing before the pulpit. Eric nods with meaning to his partner's words, adding his own two cents. Eric Donavan "There's an old saying in this business. Sometimes, the champion gets the rub from the title. Sometimes, the title gets the rub from the champion. What my esteemed partner is saying is that a lot of you are in the former category." Eric smirks that infamous Donavan smirk, infuriating and chamring at the same time...and slams his fists down on the pulpit as his stare turns fierce. The raven does not flinch from the close-by impacts. Instead it flutters up to perch upon one of the arms of the effigy behind the Dark Choir. It caws again as Eric continues in a lower, darker tone. His Irish brogue starts to bleed into his words a little at this point. Eric Donavan "That will NOT be abided here. Those of you who have soiled the very gold and leather around your waists by fighting like cowards, assaulting your adversaries from behind and showing an utter lack of pride, sophistication or honor will not be allowed to sully these pure, untainted championships. And you know who you are." Tombstone nods once, his tattooed features every bit as fierce as those of his draconic partner. After a breath's worth of silence, Eric speaks again. Eric Donavan "Tombstone and I have been to war together, both as a team and on opposite sides of the ring. We have taken one another to hell and back and sent our opponents there without remorse. This man has nearly snapped my neck and driven metal into my skull without remorse. I've nearly torn his leg off and sent him to hell figuratively and literally. Some of you recall such stories from last time and laugh to yourselves, thinking two of our kind could not possibly be a cohesive team. That is a fool's hope. I have felt the upper limits of this demon's wrath and persevered. He has walked through my flame, scarred and still fighting. Respect born out of blood, friendship birthed out of pain. You could not forge a greater bond without sharing the same womb. It's true what they say: you cannot truly understand a man unless you've fought him." Tombstone "And you truly kannot fight a man unless you fear him. If you klaim you have no fear, than you do not have kourage. And if you don't have kourage... then you do not have the vill to fight. And ve vill have no problem eliminating those vifout the vill to fight." He holds up his arm and the raven swoops down, landing swiftly on his arm. It tilts its head, looking at the camera and cawing loudly. Tombstone steps forward, clouds of dust rising around him. Tombstone "Keine Bedauern, Keine Reue. No Regret, No Remorse. A kode anybody that steps in between those ropes should live by. A true champion's kode. One that so few kan follow. It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you inside of that ring. I know that I have fallen in that trap. But if you kan recognize it, you kan overkome it. And that is vhen the standards of honor and respekt kome in. As my partner said, these belts are untainted. They haven't been touched by greed of kowardice. And if ve have our vay, they vill remain that vay. And remain that vay for a very long time. Standards vill be set, eyes vill be opened. A true champion fights to the bitter end. And when he gets to the end, he fights some more. That is vhat ve are going to do. Not only to become champions... but to remain champions." He steps back behind Eric, the raven cawing loudly as it flies back up to the broken window pane. Tombstone crosses his arms once again, his icy stare unblinking as he looks on. Eric nods to his friend and partner's words, his fingers curled about the pulpit's edge as the sun has given up the ghost now. Tombstone is naught but a shadow at the Dragon's back with the gleam of the candle's light on his eyes and the plumage of the raven all that gives him away. Eric's own eyes close as he speaks again, his tone low and calm. Eric Donavan "Despite our harsh words, we are not arrogant fools. Some of the best teams, either longstanding or of the makeshift variety, are competing in this tournament. It will be grueling and violent...a true test of the bonds of a team and the execution of strategy. The fear from which my partner draws his strength will be abundant and one cold stare..." The Irish Dragon opens his eyes and looks forward. Eric Donavan "...could be your downfall." He lets those words hang unanswered for a moment before continuing. Eric Donavan "From Tombstone, you have to deal with a level unlike any you have before felt. Neither body nor mind or soul are safe from his power. He is as focused as a man can be and that equals pain for anyone in his path. And what he cannot pulverize...I will burn to ash. No matter what your plan is, ladies and gentlemen, I have an answer. You want to take it to the air? Throw down with a little chain wrestling? Trade power moves or just outright brawl with whatever isn't nailed down? No matter how you play the game, I'm a step ahead. As a unit, the Butcher of Berlin and the God of War are unstoppable. The dragon's flame herald's the demon's darkness and thus a new era, pun intended, shall overtake Visionary's tag team division for a long, LONG time." Out come the sunglasses, back over those already-shrouded eyes as the raven flaps away into the night and Tombstone melts into the darkness. Eric remains before the candle, head bowed, hands pressed together. Eric Donavan "Pray to your Gods, revere the spirits to whom you offer worship. Beseech them to give you the strength to survive us. Because there is no stopping us." Spreading his arms wide, Eric steps back into the darkness himself, blowing out the candle to take away the last of the light save for the thin plume of warm smoke. Eric Donavan "We, the Dark Choir, shall play a dirge for your hopes and dreams, starting our dark march to glory." Fade to black. |
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3:40 AM Jul 11