Post by mystifyingoracle on May 29, 2021 23:06:04 GMT -5
OOC: To Super Smash Cat Inc , Webmistress Barbie , "Godly" Ken Davison
“Every chapter has its close.”
Silvio sits on top of his tattoo parlor’s counter top, a sketchbook beside him. The parlor behind him is empty; white walls, and some tattoo chairs that have yet to be packed up. He wears a sky blue button down with the sleeves rolled up, jeans, and glittering red Converse. He looked into the camera with a wistful expression.
“But that doesn’t mean this story has had its end.
“I’m leaving Baltimore, folks. And with the situation I find myself and those close to me in, sooner would be better than later.”
He smiles.
“Everything you’ve done? Everything Carnage, the Legion, and the roster have taught me? They’re lessons I’m never going to forget. I wouldn’t trade any of this for the world. I came in here not knowing what I was doing - shocker, I know. What I've learned about most things in life, though, is that you can't just wait until you feel you're absolutely ready to do them. All you can do is stay still or throw yourself off a cliff and build your wings on the way down. The truth I’ve realized that I couldn’t have seen without all of you is...this life suits me. You helped me understand a part of myself I didn’t even know was there. And don’t think this is the last you’ve seen of your Mystifying Oracle. As it happens, this spooky bitch got a very interesting letter.”
He briefly holds up an envelope, and on it is what appears to be a broken, golden wax seal.
“So, if you want more of me? Any viewer or any fighter in the back?”
Silvio grins, dark eyes glinting.
“Ken, you still want that rematch? Wanna prove you can beat me? I want to go head to head now that you’ve found your heart again. You reckoned with the fractures and you’re all the stronger for it. Just like I told Kyra: There's no part of us that isn't stronger for having been broken. I want to fight a god who has the courage to become a man. I want to learn what that match has to teach me. I want to tell that story, and I want to tell it with you. Speaking of courage, or, in this case, lack thereof...
"Hey, 'Fraidy Cat! I know you're petrified of me defeating you again, so I totally get you avoiding a final title defense with the only guy who ever pinned you in the company. After all, why take a chance on losing the belt to someone you know can get the better of you? I guess that's just you keeping with the Cortes family ethos, huh? Win no matter what? Thought you were trying get away from all that, but clearly you changed your mind. Your folks must be relieved you've decided to follow in their footsteps. I know you're trying to dress all of this up as something it isn't - I mean, you are a cosplayer. But, hunty, I'm a drag artist. You can contour yourself into a face all you want, but when that make-up comes off once you step off the stage, there's no hiding what you really are. You're not a face. And you're not a heel. You're a coward. The door's always open if you wanna prove me wrong and pick up this nifty gift I made you.” He pulls out a piece of art from the sketchbook sitting beside him: a shivering cartoon jellyfish sporting cat ears with, 'Cortes’ written beneath it in intricate scroll work. He winks with an impish little grin. “You walk into my parlor, you can get this one as big as you want free of charge. I'll even throw in a complimentary roll of Saniderm. You step into the ring with me again, though? Well, I think we could make an entirely different work of art together. Up to you, Cat. What canvas do you want to paint this picture on? Cuz I know which one I'd prefer to work with.
"And what about the Queen of Wands? You want to hold court again, Kyra? Fire and shadow without any Rat Kingly interruptions? A little demonstration of under-worldly conflagration to show anyone who ever doubted you they're barely a match flame in comparison? We're the coal fire that burns for a century. We know what it is to endure. We know what it is to overcome. So, you wanna give it another go?
“Well, then…
“How about you follow your friendly neighborhood cryptid down the Yellow Brick Road to his new digs in the Emerald City?”
Unsheathing the letter from its envelope, Silvio shows a header emblazoned with a winged logo and the words, 'Ascended Wrestling.'
“Looks like Seattle’s calling favorite son home. So...say it with me, Legion.”
He ‘clicks’ the heels of his glimmering red Converse together.
“There’s no place like home.”
He clicks them again.
“There’s no place like home.”
He hesitates, smiling and looking into the camera as if speaking to the viewer personally.
“There’s no place like home.”
And with a last click of his Converse, the scene goes black.
“Thank you.”
“Every chapter has its close.”
Silvio sits on top of his tattoo parlor’s counter top, a sketchbook beside him. The parlor behind him is empty; white walls, and some tattoo chairs that have yet to be packed up. He wears a sky blue button down with the sleeves rolled up, jeans, and glittering red Converse. He looked into the camera with a wistful expression.
“But that doesn’t mean this story has had its end.
“I’m leaving Baltimore, folks. And with the situation I find myself and those close to me in, sooner would be better than later.”
He smiles.
“Everything you’ve done? Everything Carnage, the Legion, and the roster have taught me? They’re lessons I’m never going to forget. I wouldn’t trade any of this for the world. I came in here not knowing what I was doing - shocker, I know. What I've learned about most things in life, though, is that you can't just wait until you feel you're absolutely ready to do them. All you can do is stay still or throw yourself off a cliff and build your wings on the way down. The truth I’ve realized that I couldn’t have seen without all of you is...this life suits me. You helped me understand a part of myself I didn’t even know was there. And don’t think this is the last you’ve seen of your Mystifying Oracle. As it happens, this spooky bitch got a very interesting letter.”
He briefly holds up an envelope, and on it is what appears to be a broken, golden wax seal.
“So, if you want more of me? Any viewer or any fighter in the back?”
Silvio grins, dark eyes glinting.
“Ken, you still want that rematch? Wanna prove you can beat me? I want to go head to head now that you’ve found your heart again. You reckoned with the fractures and you’re all the stronger for it. Just like I told Kyra: There's no part of us that isn't stronger for having been broken. I want to fight a god who has the courage to become a man. I want to learn what that match has to teach me. I want to tell that story, and I want to tell it with you. Speaking of courage, or, in this case, lack thereof...
"Hey, 'Fraidy Cat! I know you're petrified of me defeating you again, so I totally get you avoiding a final title defense with the only guy who ever pinned you in the company. After all, why take a chance on losing the belt to someone you know can get the better of you? I guess that's just you keeping with the Cortes family ethos, huh? Win no matter what? Thought you were trying get away from all that, but clearly you changed your mind. Your folks must be relieved you've decided to follow in their footsteps. I know you're trying to dress all of this up as something it isn't - I mean, you are a cosplayer. But, hunty, I'm a drag artist. You can contour yourself into a face all you want, but when that make-up comes off once you step off the stage, there's no hiding what you really are. You're not a face. And you're not a heel. You're a coward. The door's always open if you wanna prove me wrong and pick up this nifty gift I made you.” He pulls out a piece of art from the sketchbook sitting beside him: a shivering cartoon jellyfish sporting cat ears with, 'Cortes’ written beneath it in intricate scroll work. He winks with an impish little grin. “You walk into my parlor, you can get this one as big as you want free of charge. I'll even throw in a complimentary roll of Saniderm. You step into the ring with me again, though? Well, I think we could make an entirely different work of art together. Up to you, Cat. What canvas do you want to paint this picture on? Cuz I know which one I'd prefer to work with.
"And what about the Queen of Wands? You want to hold court again, Kyra? Fire and shadow without any Rat Kingly interruptions? A little demonstration of under-worldly conflagration to show anyone who ever doubted you they're barely a match flame in comparison? We're the coal fire that burns for a century. We know what it is to endure. We know what it is to overcome. So, you wanna give it another go?
“Well, then…
“How about you follow your friendly neighborhood cryptid down the Yellow Brick Road to his new digs in the Emerald City?”
Unsheathing the letter from its envelope, Silvio shows a header emblazoned with a winged logo and the words, 'Ascended Wrestling.'
“Looks like Seattle’s calling favorite son home. So...say it with me, Legion.”
He ‘clicks’ the heels of his glimmering red Converse together.
“There’s no place like home.”
He clicks them again.
“There’s no place like home.”
He hesitates, smiling and looking into the camera as if speaking to the viewer personally.
“There’s no place like home.”
And with a last click of his Converse, the scene goes black.
“Thank you.”