Post by Caleb Scott on Apr 5, 2024 12:51:07 GMT -6
The camera opens inside Agora Borealis, an art gallery in Shreveport. Sun shines through the front windows as crowds of people silently move through the gallery looking at paintings hanging on the wall and sculptures mounted on wooden stands in the middle of the floor. The featured artist, Whitney Warren, stands among her paintings talking to the handful of people gathering around. The atmosphere is light and cheery until the front door aggressively opens. A few footsteps echo throughout the gallery until the camera focuses on the newcomer. Someone that we rarely see out in the middle of the day has entered the gallery, Caleb Scott. Face painted, stringy black hair dangling nearly touching his leather jacket, Caleb stands and stares as everyone in the gallery stares back. The tension in the room is palpable as the gallery owner, Katy Larsen, slowly approaches Caleb.
“G-good afternoon, sir. Can I help you with anything?”
Caleb stands steadfast, not moving an inch. His eyes slowly move to his right towards Katy. He says nothing but nothing needs to be said, Katy begins to slowly back away as if his piercing gaze is pushing her back. He begins to meander through the gallery, the patrons continuing to nervously watch and avoid him as he walks up to a painting on the wall and focuses on it.
“Two straight losses and now I find myself coming face to face with one of the best in EWC. When the card came out for Brawl here in Shreveport and I saw my name matched up with Stitches, a certain feeling came over me. I'd usually begin to get worked up about the idea of hurting my opponent and showing them true pain. Normally, I would go on about how I'm going to take my opponent and make them experience the worst pain they've ever felt. Violence this, pain that, bloody mess here and standing alone as the victor there. But let's be honest, when the card shows our names together, all of that is already a foregone conclusion. The people know exactly what they'll get when we step in the ring together. They saw it when you nearly broke my jaw with those brass knuckles before taking my FX Championship. They saw it when I nearly broke your spine on the ramp in our Street Fight in the Tokyo Dome. Our match is even booked as a “Circus of Violence” because that's what we both do best. When I saw the card, I had a sense of calmness come over me because I know when I get in the ring with you, Stitches, I know you know what all of that pain feels like and that you can dish it out as well as you can take it. Because I know that you're someone with a comparable level of violence and even though I'm called the Sadist, I don't mind a little masochism as well.”
Caleb moves along the gallery and the people begin to move as well. They create a bubble around him like a school of fish when a shark swims through. He sees a painting that catches his eye and walks up to it. The painting shows a man's face, half of it in a state of chaotic pain and the other half with a simple smile.
“It's funny, people think we both paint our faces to hide our true selves from the world. That we cover our faces to prevent them from seeing our true selves. The truth is we're letting them into a more intimate part of ourselves, we're showing them our true selves. When we bring our intense violence to the world, we show them our true selves. The paint isn't something used to hide but to show what we really are. The paint allows me to express how I really feel and what I really am and we express that through our violent nature. We show them the deepest parts of us when we let our violence out. Our past, our traumas, the way we cope, what our experiences have turned us into. Our violence isn't just random acts or mindless attacks. Violence is our own form of art, our way of expressing ourselves. I must admit, I love the way you expressed yourself back in Atlanta when you attacked Tori. She cost me more than one match against JoJo but unfortunately, she went off after that and won the NextGen Championship. But like I was saying, it isn't random violence when you strike. You attacked Pablo as well knowing you'd be seeing him at Stranglemania. Our violence is calculated and you've been on a Rampage since you lost to Darkwater for the Heritage Championship in Brawl's opener. After we face off in Independence Stadium we'll both be on our own separate ways to Stranglemania. Who knows if we'll get a chance to face each other again.”
Caleb eventually makes his way to the corner where Whitney is set up with her art. She sits there trying not to move a muscle so Caleb doesn't even try to talk to her. She stares at the ground, occasionally glancing up at Caleb while he browses at her paintings.
“You just turned 47 this year, Stitches. You're getting older, you aren't getting into as many matches as you used to but I have had the pleasure of sharing the ring with you a handful of times before. Don't think I forgot that the last time we faced each other, you took my FX Broadcast Championship from me. Preventing me from being the final champion. I will make that right and even though you've never had a losing record in EWC, I'm going to do my best to make sure I put a mark in your loss column come Monday. I've been on every Brawl since #586 in Green Bay. I've spent the last two-plus years spilling the blood of others while I've spilled countless amounts of my own blood for Brawl. I might not have the impressive win/loss record that you do but I always show up and even if I don't win, I always show everyone why I'm the Granite City Sadist and why Brawl is my show. It'll be the same with you because I know I'll have to step up the violence against someone like you.”
With the camera facing Caleb from his right, he backs out of the frame. When the camera comes back into focus as it shoots toward the front window, we see Luke standing out staring into the gallery. The camera refocuses on Caleb as he moves to the other side of the building and continues looking at various art until he sees another painting. This one catches his eye because, on the card that displays the artist's name, he sees that this one says “Luke Mason.” Caleb looks at the painting which is a chaotic mess of colors with contrasting colors in the middle that form the number two.
“Hmm really? Ok. A four back in Atlanta, a two here in Shreveport. Looks like you're counting down. Unless it's counting down to you getting another devastating beat down from me, I don't know what you're counting down to. Clearly, the countdown is in weeks and wouldn't you know it, Stranglemania is in two weeks. So whatever you're planning, Luke, I can't wait to see what you have planned.”
Caleb reaches out and slowly takes the painting off the wall. He stares at it for a few seconds before grabbing it on each end and breaking it over his knee. The broken wood and canvas fall to the floor as the group of people let out a worried gasp while they continue to stare at Caleb from the opposite side of the gallery. Caleb slightly glances back at them before walking along the final wall of art, making it back to Katy at the front. She knows she shouldn't say anything again so she walks past Caleb towards the back. Caleb looks behind him, looking directly into the camera.
“We might be in the middle of the card but our match is main event worthy. Our levels of violence are unmatched. Just beating you in a No DQ match is enough to add to my list of accomplishments and before Brawl even goes off the air, everyone will know what match will earn Match of the Night honors. Stitches, some of the greatest art in the world wouldn't exist without the pain and suffering the artist went through. That misery pushes them to release how they feel through their own art form. If that's the case then when we step into the ring together inside Independence Stadium, we're going to create a masterpiece.”
Caleb turns and walks out the front door of the gallery and disappears down the sidewalk. The group of people inside slowly creeps towards the window to get one last glance of Caleb as the screen fades to black.
“G-good afternoon, sir. Can I help you with anything?”
Caleb stands steadfast, not moving an inch. His eyes slowly move to his right towards Katy. He says nothing but nothing needs to be said, Katy begins to slowly back away as if his piercing gaze is pushing her back. He begins to meander through the gallery, the patrons continuing to nervously watch and avoid him as he walks up to a painting on the wall and focuses on it.
“Two straight losses and now I find myself coming face to face with one of the best in EWC. When the card came out for Brawl here in Shreveport and I saw my name matched up with Stitches, a certain feeling came over me. I'd usually begin to get worked up about the idea of hurting my opponent and showing them true pain. Normally, I would go on about how I'm going to take my opponent and make them experience the worst pain they've ever felt. Violence this, pain that, bloody mess here and standing alone as the victor there. But let's be honest, when the card shows our names together, all of that is already a foregone conclusion. The people know exactly what they'll get when we step in the ring together. They saw it when you nearly broke my jaw with those brass knuckles before taking my FX Championship. They saw it when I nearly broke your spine on the ramp in our Street Fight in the Tokyo Dome. Our match is even booked as a “Circus of Violence” because that's what we both do best. When I saw the card, I had a sense of calmness come over me because I know when I get in the ring with you, Stitches, I know you know what all of that pain feels like and that you can dish it out as well as you can take it. Because I know that you're someone with a comparable level of violence and even though I'm called the Sadist, I don't mind a little masochism as well.”
Caleb moves along the gallery and the people begin to move as well. They create a bubble around him like a school of fish when a shark swims through. He sees a painting that catches his eye and walks up to it. The painting shows a man's face, half of it in a state of chaotic pain and the other half with a simple smile.
“It's funny, people think we both paint our faces to hide our true selves from the world. That we cover our faces to prevent them from seeing our true selves. The truth is we're letting them into a more intimate part of ourselves, we're showing them our true selves. When we bring our intense violence to the world, we show them our true selves. The paint isn't something used to hide but to show what we really are. The paint allows me to express how I really feel and what I really am and we express that through our violent nature. We show them the deepest parts of us when we let our violence out. Our past, our traumas, the way we cope, what our experiences have turned us into. Our violence isn't just random acts or mindless attacks. Violence is our own form of art, our way of expressing ourselves. I must admit, I love the way you expressed yourself back in Atlanta when you attacked Tori. She cost me more than one match against JoJo but unfortunately, she went off after that and won the NextGen Championship. But like I was saying, it isn't random violence when you strike. You attacked Pablo as well knowing you'd be seeing him at Stranglemania. Our violence is calculated and you've been on a Rampage since you lost to Darkwater for the Heritage Championship in Brawl's opener. After we face off in Independence Stadium we'll both be on our own separate ways to Stranglemania. Who knows if we'll get a chance to face each other again.”
Caleb eventually makes his way to the corner where Whitney is set up with her art. She sits there trying not to move a muscle so Caleb doesn't even try to talk to her. She stares at the ground, occasionally glancing up at Caleb while he browses at her paintings.
“You just turned 47 this year, Stitches. You're getting older, you aren't getting into as many matches as you used to but I have had the pleasure of sharing the ring with you a handful of times before. Don't think I forgot that the last time we faced each other, you took my FX Broadcast Championship from me. Preventing me from being the final champion. I will make that right and even though you've never had a losing record in EWC, I'm going to do my best to make sure I put a mark in your loss column come Monday. I've been on every Brawl since #586 in Green Bay. I've spent the last two-plus years spilling the blood of others while I've spilled countless amounts of my own blood for Brawl. I might not have the impressive win/loss record that you do but I always show up and even if I don't win, I always show everyone why I'm the Granite City Sadist and why Brawl is my show. It'll be the same with you because I know I'll have to step up the violence against someone like you.”
With the camera facing Caleb from his right, he backs out of the frame. When the camera comes back into focus as it shoots toward the front window, we see Luke standing out staring into the gallery. The camera refocuses on Caleb as he moves to the other side of the building and continues looking at various art until he sees another painting. This one catches his eye because, on the card that displays the artist's name, he sees that this one says “Luke Mason.” Caleb looks at the painting which is a chaotic mess of colors with contrasting colors in the middle that form the number two.
“Hmm really? Ok. A four back in Atlanta, a two here in Shreveport. Looks like you're counting down. Unless it's counting down to you getting another devastating beat down from me, I don't know what you're counting down to. Clearly, the countdown is in weeks and wouldn't you know it, Stranglemania is in two weeks. So whatever you're planning, Luke, I can't wait to see what you have planned.”
Caleb reaches out and slowly takes the painting off the wall. He stares at it for a few seconds before grabbing it on each end and breaking it over his knee. The broken wood and canvas fall to the floor as the group of people let out a worried gasp while they continue to stare at Caleb from the opposite side of the gallery. Caleb slightly glances back at them before walking along the final wall of art, making it back to Katy at the front. She knows she shouldn't say anything again so she walks past Caleb towards the back. Caleb looks behind him, looking directly into the camera.
“We might be in the middle of the card but our match is main event worthy. Our levels of violence are unmatched. Just beating you in a No DQ match is enough to add to my list of accomplishments and before Brawl even goes off the air, everyone will know what match will earn Match of the Night honors. Stitches, some of the greatest art in the world wouldn't exist without the pain and suffering the artist went through. That misery pushes them to release how they feel through their own art form. If that's the case then when we step into the ring together inside Independence Stadium, we're going to create a masterpiece.”
Caleb turns and walks out the front door of the gallery and disappears down the sidewalk. The group of people inside slowly creeps towards the window to get one last glance of Caleb as the screen fades to black.
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