|♡|e C@n 0nly F00l H1m$elf F0r S0 |0ng
Apr 16, 2024 10:14:56 GMT -6
Cosmo Goldworthy, Amis FN Shelton, and 3 more like this
Post by JoJo Rush on Apr 16, 2024 10:14:56 GMT -6
JoJo sits alone in a cabin in the London Eye. It slowly spins counter-clockwise to raise JoJo’s cabin to overlook the river. The Hardcore and International Champion clips both his titles together and hangs them off his broad shoulders. Sitting across the man dressed in white silk is the mask of The Beast. It sits quietly but the eyeholes stare directly into JoJo’s soul, but JoJo returns the look with malice and contempt.
The Beast spoke with a guttural growl that shook the cabin, like it was always on the verge of ripping out JoJo’s throat, but it was empty posturing. The Beast is stuck within JoJo’s body.
“Ah know that– but Ah still need your power.”
Rush remains silent while the monster prattles on.
“AND LIKE THE FLAMES! THE MORE I BURN, THE MORE I GROW! AND THE MORE I GROW, THE MORE I BURN!”
The shouting of the spirit animal driven mad by JoJo’s soul summons a black cloud that forms over the river. Thunder cracks in the distance, signaling the arrival of lightning. Yet, Rush does not move, he does not react, he sits stoically glaring at the mask.
“Maybe you’re right–”
The cabin JoJo is in reaches the top of the London Eye. Lightning from the storm strikes the ground and the London Eye itself, not only causing the carousel to stop, but shatter the glass of every cabin in the Eye. The high-winds and storm shakes JoJo’s cabin precariously, but Rush remains cool and composed. JoJo takes hold of the mask and rests the front of the mask against his own forehead.
“But Ah need your power for the Triple-Threat, Jason Anderson will demand too much of me to do this on my own.”
Rush releases a sigh and closes his eyes.
“YOU FOOL, I WILL DESTROY YOU, I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND I WILL REMOVE YOUR FOUL SP–”
Before The Beast could respond, Rush drops the mask into his bag and closes it. The once terrifying and booming voice is muffled behind nothing more than the canvas from JoJo’s duffel-bag.
“-Spirit. Wait, how am I getting quieter? I’m a voice inside your head, not in your mask. Let me out it smells like feet.”
However, despite silencing the voice in his mind, the now smiling JoJo opened his arms to the black cloud that he was just about level with.
“You cannot kill me.”
Rush overlooks the storm and decides it was best to climb out of the cabin and stand on its roof. The view allows JoJo a perfect view of the storm overtaking the city of London.
“Ah am the savior of those lost in the darkness. Ah am the righteous slayer of monsters! Ah am the LIGHT! of Monday NIGHTS!”
With JoJo’s proclamation, a ray of light breaks through the darkness and shines solely upon the mad man on top of the London Eye.
“But even men as virtuous as myself, a man motivated by a noble cause can get dragged back into the vicious cycle of revenge. Believe me, even Ah still need to make the rest of Team Rampage pay for what happened to Tori at War Games– but thankfully for me, an already-injured Jason Anderson is going to be waiting for me in a Hardcore match at Stranglemania. All because he’s still seeking revenge."
Almost as quickly as the ray of light shined upon JoJo, the dark clouds consume the light, leaving us in the stormy darkness. JoJo’s smile fades, and in its stead is a look of remorse and even a tinge of guilt if you look close enough.
“Revenge is a cycle, a cycle that can continue for generations like the Hatfields and McCoys. Before Ah even stepped foot in the ring with Ruthann, Ah knew that her son would eventually come to darken my doorstep for a pound of flesh. Or in this case? The Hardcore Championship.”
JoJo looks over his shoulder to the Hardcore Title. He places a finger on one of the teeth on the buzzsaw plate. The jagged edge is so sharp, it breaks the skin on JoJo’s thumb.
“Ah used to think that Ruthann doomed her family to this cycle of revenge. Ah took pity on Jason– but Jason’s made it quite clear that he chose this. He chose to enter this cycle of revenge, knowing full well what happens for folks that try to go after me and the House. Who am Ah to deny the fate someone wants for themselves?”
Thunder cracks once again, then rain falls from the sky. Drenching the double-champion. The cold rain doesn’t appear to bother JoJo who continues monologuing.
“Ah wanted to free Jason from this cycle. Ah don’t hold any hate in my heart for that pathetic family, but despite all the pain Jason wakes up to, despite all the doctors that told Jason he’s putting his life at risk entering this fight with me? Jason only continues to get back up to keep standing up against The House. Ah thought my victory against Anderson in Ireland would’ve humbled him. Ah thought at Brawl after the House beat him and Melinda Rhodes down would’ve scared him away from this match, but Jason refuses to give up. With all his strength, Jason is still trying to fight against his fate. Hell, the Beast nearly broke Jason’s neck with a Piledriver, but yet he’s still here. All because Ruthann wouldn’t tell her petulant child no.”
Rush bangs on the front plate of the hardcore belt, rainwater splashes with each open-palmed smack.
“Anderson is a man who’s been told his entire life that the whole world is in the palm of his hand. Anderson believes that if he works hard enough, he can be a champion. Hell, he believes so much in his own hidden potential, folks actually think Jason has a chance in hell in a Hardcore match against me.”
JoJo pauses speaking and takes a few steps closer to the ledge of the cabin roof. One false step and JoJo could fall right into the river. The Texan looks down to the river for a moment before facing us once more.
“Why? Because he was able to beat that yellow-bellied, rat-bastard Morgan Darkwater? Because he almost beat our Undisputed Champion, Sally in a non-title match? Or maybe the world actually hates Jason. They hate him so much, they cheer him on as Ito, Rebel Rhodes, n’ Mercenary take their turns trying to break Ito’s neck. The same neck The Beast nearly broke. This sick, disgusting world wants to continue this cycle: This cycle where Jason builds up all the confidence he needs to compete for a title, only to have it all smashed away by me. The most virtuous man in EWC. The Righteous harbinger of the Storm. Ah’ll use chairs, sticks, and barbed wired bats to wear down Jason’s defense– soften him up so Ah can put ‘em out of his misery with a G90. The same move that broke Steve Bennett’s neck. ”
Rush trails off as he stares down to the river. With JoJo’s eyes, we can see a whirlpool forming in the river, crashing and smashing into the town, the eye of the storm appears more like the maw of a beast than a natural storm. The horrific hallucination brought no reaction to the Light of Monday Nights. Instead, he idly teeters on the edge of the Cabin. One mistep and our hero can go tumbling right off into the river.
“Jason might be a stubborn man, but he ain’t foolish. Maybe he knows he can’t win this fight, and he’s only here so he can pull what Caleb Scott pulled against me and hurt me enough for Pablo and Stitches to exploit later in the night.”
JoJo cackles and laughs, but the laughter fades as the 2023 EWC Man of the Year turns from the storm and the gaping maw to look towards us, the readers.
“Truth is, it don’t matter what Jason’s strategy might be, Ah don’t intend on givin’ Jason that openin’. In fact, for once in my career? Ah’ll practice prudence. The Boss is the one with somethin’ to prove, and with his temper, it’s only a matter of poking and prodding at Jason until he gives me an opening to attack his neck, and with all the weapons Ah can get my hands on? Ah can keep Jason at a distance and pepper the Momma’s Boi with weapons until he can’t feel his legs.”
Much to our surprise, Rush slowly goes down to his knees. JoJo spreads his arms out wide and tilts his head up to look at the storm that is drenching his all-white attire, and shaking the cabin precariously. In that moment, another ray of light shines on JoJo, the heat of that light dried JoJo of the rain. Rush laughs to himself once more, and even began to cry from the beauty he saw within the light.
“And when Jason can’t feel his legs? When The Boss is too tired, too hurt to stand on his own n’ left at my mercy? That’s when Ah snap his neck like a glow-stick with a G90. Then? And only then, Ah’ll present him the Hardcore belt, and Ah’ll use the sawblade on this title to make Jason bleed. That will be my final gift to Anderson’s family. That will be the closest anyone can ever get to any of my titles. Ah haven't lost a title yet, n' Ah refuse to lose 'em at Stranglemania.”
To demonstrate that power, Rush closes his eyes and slows his breathing. The storm behind JoJo begins to settle. The dark clouds begin to break apart, revealing the sun hidden by the storm. The river itself calms and now longer resembles a monstrous face seeking to consume everything. Rush looks away from the clouds and looks towards us with a twisted smile.
“His blood staining my title belt will be the closest him, or his bloodline will ever get to this championship.”
The Texan laughs off his sinister grin before his face curled into a scowl.
“Ah won’t allow this cycle of violence to get in the way of me and my destiny. Not anymore. Jason will feel my wrath, he will feel my fire, and he will finally see what Ah can see in the glory of the lights! Jason Anderson will finally know peace, he will finally see what Ah can see! He will be able to finally see!-
In the blink of an eye, the violent storm returns with a bolt of lightning striking the Cabin JoJo is currently kneeling on top of. The cabin erupts into flames with the smoke billowing underneath JoJo.
“The End”
JoJo approaches the ledge once more and looks once more into the river. He can see The Beast take shape as a whirlpool in the River. It consumed the sailing ships, the pier nearby, and the buildings. Everything. The Beast roars and shouts, shaking the Earth itself so violently, it felt as if the ground was splitting apart underneath the London Eye. The double-champion then takes a step off the London Eye and freely tosses himself into the maw of The Beast. We follow him into the maw, into the dark abyss, leaving us and the scene in complete darkness.
“You cannot contain me in your mortal body forever, Stormbringer.”
“Ah know that– but Ah still need your power.”
“I am not a tool to be used, I am a force far beyond your comprehension. Men like you are nothing but kindling. You will burn in my flames!”
“AND LIKE THE FLAMES! THE MORE I BURN, THE MORE I GROW! AND THE MORE I GROW, THE MORE I BURN!”
The shouting of the spirit animal driven mad by JoJo’s soul summons a black cloud that forms over the river. Thunder cracks in the distance, signaling the arrival of lightning. Yet, Rush does not move, he does not react, he sits stoically glaring at the mask.
“Maybe you’re right–”
The cabin JoJo is in reaches the top of the London Eye. Lightning from the storm strikes the ground and the London Eye itself, not only causing the carousel to stop, but shatter the glass of every cabin in the Eye. The high-winds and storm shakes JoJo’s cabin precariously, but Rush remains cool and composed. JoJo takes hold of the mask and rests the front of the mask against his own forehead.
“But Ah need your power for the Triple-Threat, Jason Anderson will demand too much of me to do this on my own.”
Rush releases a sigh and closes his eyes.
“YOU FOOL, I WILL DESTROY YOU, I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND I WILL REMOVE YOUR FOUL SP–”
Before The Beast could respond, Rush drops the mask into his bag and closes it. The once terrifying and booming voice is muffled behind nothing more than the canvas from JoJo’s duffel-bag.
“-Spirit. Wait, how am I getting quieter? I’m a voice inside your head, not in your mask. Let me out it smells like feet.”
However, despite silencing the voice in his mind, the now smiling JoJo opened his arms to the black cloud that he was just about level with.
“You cannot kill me.”
Rush overlooks the storm and decides it was best to climb out of the cabin and stand on its roof. The view allows JoJo a perfect view of the storm overtaking the city of London.
“Ah am the savior of those lost in the darkness. Ah am the righteous slayer of monsters! Ah am the LIGHT! of Monday NIGHTS!”
With JoJo’s proclamation, a ray of light breaks through the darkness and shines solely upon the mad man on top of the London Eye.
“But even men as virtuous as myself, a man motivated by a noble cause can get dragged back into the vicious cycle of revenge. Believe me, even Ah still need to make the rest of Team Rampage pay for what happened to Tori at War Games– but thankfully for me, an already-injured Jason Anderson is going to be waiting for me in a Hardcore match at Stranglemania. All because he’s still seeking revenge."
Almost as quickly as the ray of light shined upon JoJo, the dark clouds consume the light, leaving us in the stormy darkness. JoJo’s smile fades, and in its stead is a look of remorse and even a tinge of guilt if you look close enough.
“Revenge is a cycle, a cycle that can continue for generations like the Hatfields and McCoys. Before Ah even stepped foot in the ring with Ruthann, Ah knew that her son would eventually come to darken my doorstep for a pound of flesh. Or in this case? The Hardcore Championship.”
JoJo looks over his shoulder to the Hardcore Title. He places a finger on one of the teeth on the buzzsaw plate. The jagged edge is so sharp, it breaks the skin on JoJo’s thumb.
“Ah used to think that Ruthann doomed her family to this cycle of revenge. Ah took pity on Jason– but Jason’s made it quite clear that he chose this. He chose to enter this cycle of revenge, knowing full well what happens for folks that try to go after me and the House. Who am Ah to deny the fate someone wants for themselves?”
Thunder cracks once again, then rain falls from the sky. Drenching the double-champion. The cold rain doesn’t appear to bother JoJo who continues monologuing.
“Ah wanted to free Jason from this cycle. Ah don’t hold any hate in my heart for that pathetic family, but despite all the pain Jason wakes up to, despite all the doctors that told Jason he’s putting his life at risk entering this fight with me? Jason only continues to get back up to keep standing up against The House. Ah thought my victory against Anderson in Ireland would’ve humbled him. Ah thought at Brawl after the House beat him and Melinda Rhodes down would’ve scared him away from this match, but Jason refuses to give up. With all his strength, Jason is still trying to fight against his fate. Hell, the Beast nearly broke Jason’s neck with a Piledriver, but yet he’s still here. All because Ruthann wouldn’t tell her petulant child no.”
Rush bangs on the front plate of the hardcore belt, rainwater splashes with each open-palmed smack.
“Anderson is a man who’s been told his entire life that the whole world is in the palm of his hand. Anderson believes that if he works hard enough, he can be a champion. Hell, he believes so much in his own hidden potential, folks actually think Jason has a chance in hell in a Hardcore match against me.”
JoJo pauses speaking and takes a few steps closer to the ledge of the cabin roof. One false step and JoJo could fall right into the river. The Texan looks down to the river for a moment before facing us once more.
“Why? Because he was able to beat that yellow-bellied, rat-bastard Morgan Darkwater? Because he almost beat our Undisputed Champion, Sally in a non-title match? Or maybe the world actually hates Jason. They hate him so much, they cheer him on as Ito, Rebel Rhodes, n’ Mercenary take their turns trying to break Ito’s neck. The same neck The Beast nearly broke. This sick, disgusting world wants to continue this cycle: This cycle where Jason builds up all the confidence he needs to compete for a title, only to have it all smashed away by me. The most virtuous man in EWC. The Righteous harbinger of the Storm. Ah’ll use chairs, sticks, and barbed wired bats to wear down Jason’s defense– soften him up so Ah can put ‘em out of his misery with a G90. The same move that broke Steve Bennett’s neck. ”
Rush trails off as he stares down to the river. With JoJo’s eyes, we can see a whirlpool forming in the river, crashing and smashing into the town, the eye of the storm appears more like the maw of a beast than a natural storm. The horrific hallucination brought no reaction to the Light of Monday Nights. Instead, he idly teeters on the edge of the Cabin. One mistep and our hero can go tumbling right off into the river.
“Jason might be a stubborn man, but he ain’t foolish. Maybe he knows he can’t win this fight, and he’s only here so he can pull what Caleb Scott pulled against me and hurt me enough for Pablo and Stitches to exploit later in the night.”
JoJo cackles and laughs, but the laughter fades as the 2023 EWC Man of the Year turns from the storm and the gaping maw to look towards us, the readers.
“Truth is, it don’t matter what Jason’s strategy might be, Ah don’t intend on givin’ Jason that openin’. In fact, for once in my career? Ah’ll practice prudence. The Boss is the one with somethin’ to prove, and with his temper, it’s only a matter of poking and prodding at Jason until he gives me an opening to attack his neck, and with all the weapons Ah can get my hands on? Ah can keep Jason at a distance and pepper the Momma’s Boi with weapons until he can’t feel his legs.”
Much to our surprise, Rush slowly goes down to his knees. JoJo spreads his arms out wide and tilts his head up to look at the storm that is drenching his all-white attire, and shaking the cabin precariously. In that moment, another ray of light shines on JoJo, the heat of that light dried JoJo of the rain. Rush laughs to himself once more, and even began to cry from the beauty he saw within the light.
“And when Jason can’t feel his legs? When The Boss is too tired, too hurt to stand on his own n’ left at my mercy? That’s when Ah snap his neck like a glow-stick with a G90. Then? And only then, Ah’ll present him the Hardcore belt, and Ah’ll use the sawblade on this title to make Jason bleed. That will be my final gift to Anderson’s family. That will be the closest anyone can ever get to any of my titles. Ah haven't lost a title yet, n' Ah refuse to lose 'em at Stranglemania.”
To demonstrate that power, Rush closes his eyes and slows his breathing. The storm behind JoJo begins to settle. The dark clouds begin to break apart, revealing the sun hidden by the storm. The river itself calms and now longer resembles a monstrous face seeking to consume everything. Rush looks away from the clouds and looks towards us with a twisted smile.
“His blood staining my title belt will be the closest him, or his bloodline will ever get to this championship.”
The Texan laughs off his sinister grin before his face curled into a scowl.
“Ah won’t allow this cycle of violence to get in the way of me and my destiny. Not anymore. Jason will feel my wrath, he will feel my fire, and he will finally see what Ah can see in the glory of the lights! Jason Anderson will finally know peace, he will finally see what Ah can see! He will be able to finally see!-
In the blink of an eye, the violent storm returns with a bolt of lightning striking the Cabin JoJo is currently kneeling on top of. The cabin erupts into flames with the smoke billowing underneath JoJo.
“The End”
JoJo approaches the ledge once more and looks once more into the river. He can see The Beast take shape as a whirlpool in the River. It consumed the sailing ships, the pier nearby, and the buildings. Everything. The Beast roars and shouts, shaking the Earth itself so violently, it felt as if the ground was splitting apart underneath the London Eye. The double-champion then takes a step off the London Eye and freely tosses himself into the maw of The Beast. We follow him into the maw, into the dark abyss, leaving us and the scene in complete darkness.
This story will continue in Part 2. Consider this the fade to black or whatever the fuck.