Post by The Madness Menagerie on Aug 30, 2020 10:14:55 GMT -5
Collaboration with Lab Rat King - THANK YOU! You are an absolute blast to work with and we can't wait to do more!
- Takes place at WAR when Catalina kicks Zephyr into King's domain and gets locked in.
As the door slams shut behind her Zephyr looks into the eyes of one of the biggest men she has ever seen and ever imagined she’d share the ring with. Lab Rat King stood before her, chained to the wall and a set of keys just out of Zephyr’s reach, but would easily put her in harm’s reach should she react too rashly. LRK snarls in Zephyr’s direction and she takes a caution step forward, letting the man take a step closer to him. Her voice is hesitant but has a certain edge to it that she hoped would cause the man rumored to use people to bash other people with to think before he swatted her away with a flick of the wrist.
Zephyr Quinn: Easy there… I know I must look like Meals on Wheels or something like that… But promise, I’m nothing more than skin and bones.
She cautiously pokes and pinches her arms to prove that indeed, there is barely any meat there.
Zephyr Quinn: If nothing else, you eat me and I become a nuisance when I get stuck in your teeth. Hardly a decent meal for someone like yourself…
The over sized Lab Rat stares her down, his semi-laboured breathing making his bruised torso swell to its rhythm. He’s still raw with injuries and caked with congealing blood after his intense bout in the cage against Heart, and it looks as though the intrusion into the room itself woke him up from a dead sleep. His muzzle has been replaced, but his amber eyes are wild, bloodshot and angry.
Fortunately, his exhaustion means he isn’t actually prepared to attack anyone, let alone someone as capable as his former triple-threat opponent. He growls low in his throat, struggling to stay standing, one hand actually holding the chain attached to his collar to remain on his feet.
Lab Rat King: Hhhhhenh… I’m hhhhungry… but if I devour you, terrible toothpick, I can’t clash with you in the glory of war later. What a waste that would be, little mmmmonster.
An excuse, maybe, though the sentiment was honest. Zephyr nods, noting his wavering.
Zephyr Quinn: I can respect that and having a fight in the ring against you? That would be one for the record books…
She notes as King almost staggers in place, fighting to stay awake.
Zephyr Quinn: Look, I know for a fact that there’s more to any kind of science experiment than is let on… There’s more to YOU. Don’t get me wrong, anyone in their right mind would be and should be scared of you but… I don’t know, I just think you’re really friggin’ cool. One monster to another I mean…
She sighs and gestures to the keys hanging on the wall.
Zephyr Quinn: Guessing those are the keys to either let you out or let me out? That’s… Quite the deterrent.
The Lab Rat King cocks his head, regarding her now less with hostility and more with… curiosity. Has he ever been called anything but monstrous? Frightening? A wild, wrathful beast? From the look in his eyes, maybe he’s having difficulty understanding being referred to as anything but.
Something inside him quivers. In those eyes--for a fleeting moment--Zephyr can see something deeper. Something melancholy, reaching. Almost like a hand pressed against the ice from underneath in a frozen lake.
Still, it’s fleeting. When it passes--for now--he growls in his throat, the chain rattling with his half-step forward. His eyes flicker to the keys to the door and back just as quickly.
He has questions first.
Lab Rat King: Why deny your nnnnnnature, little monster? Don’t you ache to make them break?! Don’t you thirst for the chance to show them your wrath can’t be contained?
He rumbles, brow knotted with the effort to stay up.
Lab Rat King: You think my ferocious fury belongs to the hand that created me? I wear the crown of my victory--the King who clawed his way to the top! Who became a hurricane, a destroyer! Yesssss, I’m a weapon--but no slave. I WIELD THE BLADES OF MY OWN GNASHING TEETH!!
Zephyr sighs leaning up against the nearby wall and putting a foot on it to keep her balance. Sure, she had questions about her own existence, but it wasn’t anything she had questioned. Certainly not in front of a man chained to a wall. She sighs again and shrugs her shoulders.
Zephyr Quinn: Do I miss those days of being feared? Sure, I guess so.
She looks deep into the eyes of Lab Rat King. The man before her growls but she only shrugs again, nonplussed. She used to be the one doing the growling so it wasn’t really anything new.
Zephyr Quinn: But… There’s more to life than just being feared and I know that deep down, you might feel like there might be more to life than just being locked in this room. I mean, look at you… You’re probably the MOST feared roster member, you’re standing and having a conversation with someone after a match that would see most put into an ICU at a hospital; you sir, are a beast. But at the same time… Look around you!
Zephyr pushes herself against the wall and stands up, her gaze never leaving King’s exhausted features.
Zephyr Quinn: You are trapped inside a dark room, locked to a wall, and you think that this is all life holds for you? Bloodlust and… You might not THINK you're being held captive, but you being chained to a wall inside a dark room kept locked, leads me to believe otherwise.
Zephyr has reached within King’s grasp but she doesn’t seem to care as she tears her gaze from his features and turns her back, heading back to her spot on the wall.
Zephyr Quinn: Being a monster was fun King, don’t get me wrong. I miss being on top of that pyramid and watching as everyone quaked when my name was called. But… I’ve also learned that outside of that locked door, outside of this prison, those chains, and the bloodlust, there’s a world outside. A world filled with everything that you thought that you’d never be able to feel or experience. I found…
Zephyr smiles and blushes, her gaze unfocusing a bit before returning to King.
Zephyr Quinn: I found love big guy. A feeling that was nothing more than a fable whenever I heard it, it FOUND me King and for every feeling of rage, every bit of bloodlust I have, and for every bit of being that monster I was that I miss SO much; I now have something in my life that trumps all of that.
Zephyr shrugs before sinking to the floor and looking up at King.
Zephyr Quinn: I know you’re a quote, unquote monster King. You’re among the most feared that I’ve ever seen, witnessed, fought against briefly, and I’d love to have a chance to tango with you once again. There’s more to life though, existence even, than just being the nightmare under the bed. Sometimes? It’s worth it just to have a chance to sleep in that bed…
She looks up at Lab Rat King and dusts herself off after standing.
As Zephyr speaks, the beast of a man rumbles almost continuously in his throat, every nerve in his exhausted body taut and singing for violence. A closer examination of his eyes tells a different story, however.
If the monster himself isn’t listening, something behind him is. Something deeper… but whatever or whoever that something is, it can’t seem to battle the way out to the surface. Not now. Not yet.
Lab Rat King: THE SYMPHONY OF WAR IS THE ONLY SONG I UNDERSTAND.
There’s almost a desperation in his voice; something that quivers.
Lab Rat King: The life of the Little Man isn’t mine! TAKE AWAY MY TEETH AND WHAT IS THIS BEAST LEFT WITH? A SHELL. CRACKED AND CRRRRUNCHY. I AM THE FIGHT. I AM THE ULTRAVIOLENCE. I WILL CONQUER.
It seems as though the monster is… speaking literally. There’s no lilt to his tone. No prose here. He is the fight. He is war. Without it… would he be nothing? Is the beast she knows only a shield guarding something much more delicate? Does he… lack the capacity to feel anything but wrath?
Lab Rat King: Savour your sweets, little monster. But know that I can never sip that saccharine song. Love is nothing but a sound of teeth and lips and tongue to me. If you want to scream in harmony with me, you had better learn to sing to my tune.
Zephyr raises an eyebrow, stepping forward.
Zephyr Quinn: Violence, like love, is universal. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll be more than happy to learn your tune and together we’ll make music like the world has yet to see. In return tall, dark, and scary, you need to learn to trust, and I happen to be in the market for new friends. I’ll be more than happy to help you see that there is more to this life than dark rooms and chains. Deal?
With no fear, Zephyr holds her hand out, offering a handshake to the beast known as Lab Rat King.
King's wild eyes remain locked on; for a long, frightening moment it's not clear what he's thinking, if at all. However, something in her words seems to reach the more bestial part of him. His massive shoulders gradually relax, giving in to his exhaustion and to the idea that perhaps, there are people here who understand him in a way that only the fight-bred could.
Lab Rat King: … Little monster has a deal. You'll join me in making music of malice in the theatre of ropes and violence… Not today, but soon, sanguine siren.
He accepts her handshake, his hand twice the size of hers--almost hot to the touch and rough with wear. His grip is like iron, and he holds eye contact with just as much ferocity.
Lab Rat King: Prrrrrrrooomisssssssssssse.
The grin in his voice is audible as he abruptly lets go, retrieving the keys and tossing them to her with a jingle.
Zephyr Quinn: Cross my heart. I appreciate the help, truly. I look forward to our duet.
I'd say a "symphony of destruction" but I believe someone already beat us to that one...
She winks at Lab Rat King and unlocks the door, propping it open and sliding the keys to the man who has already started to slump against the wall to slumber. At least that is what she assumed after the man went through the equivalent of three world wars in one night. For now though, it was time to go win those tag titles. Closing the door gently behind her, Zephyr runs off down the hall toward the noise of Trent battling Catalina and Kit.
- Takes place at WAR when Catalina kicks Zephyr into King's domain and gets locked in.
As the door slams shut behind her Zephyr looks into the eyes of one of the biggest men she has ever seen and ever imagined she’d share the ring with. Lab Rat King stood before her, chained to the wall and a set of keys just out of Zephyr’s reach, but would easily put her in harm’s reach should she react too rashly. LRK snarls in Zephyr’s direction and she takes a caution step forward, letting the man take a step closer to him. Her voice is hesitant but has a certain edge to it that she hoped would cause the man rumored to use people to bash other people with to think before he swatted her away with a flick of the wrist.
Zephyr Quinn: Easy there… I know I must look like Meals on Wheels or something like that… But promise, I’m nothing more than skin and bones.
She cautiously pokes and pinches her arms to prove that indeed, there is barely any meat there.
Zephyr Quinn: If nothing else, you eat me and I become a nuisance when I get stuck in your teeth. Hardly a decent meal for someone like yourself…
The over sized Lab Rat stares her down, his semi-laboured breathing making his bruised torso swell to its rhythm. He’s still raw with injuries and caked with congealing blood after his intense bout in the cage against Heart, and it looks as though the intrusion into the room itself woke him up from a dead sleep. His muzzle has been replaced, but his amber eyes are wild, bloodshot and angry.
Fortunately, his exhaustion means he isn’t actually prepared to attack anyone, let alone someone as capable as his former triple-threat opponent. He growls low in his throat, struggling to stay standing, one hand actually holding the chain attached to his collar to remain on his feet.
Lab Rat King: Hhhhhenh… I’m hhhhungry… but if I devour you, terrible toothpick, I can’t clash with you in the glory of war later. What a waste that would be, little mmmmonster.
An excuse, maybe, though the sentiment was honest. Zephyr nods, noting his wavering.
Zephyr Quinn: I can respect that and having a fight in the ring against you? That would be one for the record books…
She notes as King almost staggers in place, fighting to stay awake.
Zephyr Quinn: Look, I know for a fact that there’s more to any kind of science experiment than is let on… There’s more to YOU. Don’t get me wrong, anyone in their right mind would be and should be scared of you but… I don’t know, I just think you’re really friggin’ cool. One monster to another I mean…
She sighs and gestures to the keys hanging on the wall.
Zephyr Quinn: Guessing those are the keys to either let you out or let me out? That’s… Quite the deterrent.
The Lab Rat King cocks his head, regarding her now less with hostility and more with… curiosity. Has he ever been called anything but monstrous? Frightening? A wild, wrathful beast? From the look in his eyes, maybe he’s having difficulty understanding being referred to as anything but.
Something inside him quivers. In those eyes--for a fleeting moment--Zephyr can see something deeper. Something melancholy, reaching. Almost like a hand pressed against the ice from underneath in a frozen lake.
Still, it’s fleeting. When it passes--for now--he growls in his throat, the chain rattling with his half-step forward. His eyes flicker to the keys to the door and back just as quickly.
He has questions first.
Lab Rat King: Why deny your nnnnnnature, little monster? Don’t you ache to make them break?! Don’t you thirst for the chance to show them your wrath can’t be contained?
He rumbles, brow knotted with the effort to stay up.
Lab Rat King: You think my ferocious fury belongs to the hand that created me? I wear the crown of my victory--the King who clawed his way to the top! Who became a hurricane, a destroyer! Yesssss, I’m a weapon--but no slave. I WIELD THE BLADES OF MY OWN GNASHING TEETH!!
Zephyr sighs leaning up against the nearby wall and putting a foot on it to keep her balance. Sure, she had questions about her own existence, but it wasn’t anything she had questioned. Certainly not in front of a man chained to a wall. She sighs again and shrugs her shoulders.
Zephyr Quinn: Do I miss those days of being feared? Sure, I guess so.
She looks deep into the eyes of Lab Rat King. The man before her growls but she only shrugs again, nonplussed. She used to be the one doing the growling so it wasn’t really anything new.
Zephyr Quinn: But… There’s more to life than just being feared and I know that deep down, you might feel like there might be more to life than just being locked in this room. I mean, look at you… You’re probably the MOST feared roster member, you’re standing and having a conversation with someone after a match that would see most put into an ICU at a hospital; you sir, are a beast. But at the same time… Look around you!
Zephyr pushes herself against the wall and stands up, her gaze never leaving King’s exhausted features.
Zephyr Quinn: You are trapped inside a dark room, locked to a wall, and you think that this is all life holds for you? Bloodlust and… You might not THINK you're being held captive, but you being chained to a wall inside a dark room kept locked, leads me to believe otherwise.
Zephyr has reached within King’s grasp but she doesn’t seem to care as she tears her gaze from his features and turns her back, heading back to her spot on the wall.
Zephyr Quinn: Being a monster was fun King, don’t get me wrong. I miss being on top of that pyramid and watching as everyone quaked when my name was called. But… I’ve also learned that outside of that locked door, outside of this prison, those chains, and the bloodlust, there’s a world outside. A world filled with everything that you thought that you’d never be able to feel or experience. I found…
Zephyr smiles and blushes, her gaze unfocusing a bit before returning to King.
Zephyr Quinn: I found love big guy. A feeling that was nothing more than a fable whenever I heard it, it FOUND me King and for every feeling of rage, every bit of bloodlust I have, and for every bit of being that monster I was that I miss SO much; I now have something in my life that trumps all of that.
Zephyr shrugs before sinking to the floor and looking up at King.
Zephyr Quinn: I know you’re a quote, unquote monster King. You’re among the most feared that I’ve ever seen, witnessed, fought against briefly, and I’d love to have a chance to tango with you once again. There’s more to life though, existence even, than just being the nightmare under the bed. Sometimes? It’s worth it just to have a chance to sleep in that bed…
She looks up at Lab Rat King and dusts herself off after standing.
As Zephyr speaks, the beast of a man rumbles almost continuously in his throat, every nerve in his exhausted body taut and singing for violence. A closer examination of his eyes tells a different story, however.
If the monster himself isn’t listening, something behind him is. Something deeper… but whatever or whoever that something is, it can’t seem to battle the way out to the surface. Not now. Not yet.
Lab Rat King: THE SYMPHONY OF WAR IS THE ONLY SONG I UNDERSTAND.
There’s almost a desperation in his voice; something that quivers.
Lab Rat King: The life of the Little Man isn’t mine! TAKE AWAY MY TEETH AND WHAT IS THIS BEAST LEFT WITH? A SHELL. CRACKED AND CRRRRUNCHY. I AM THE FIGHT. I AM THE ULTRAVIOLENCE. I WILL CONQUER.
It seems as though the monster is… speaking literally. There’s no lilt to his tone. No prose here. He is the fight. He is war. Without it… would he be nothing? Is the beast she knows only a shield guarding something much more delicate? Does he… lack the capacity to feel anything but wrath?
Lab Rat King: Savour your sweets, little monster. But know that I can never sip that saccharine song. Love is nothing but a sound of teeth and lips and tongue to me. If you want to scream in harmony with me, you had better learn to sing to my tune.
Zephyr raises an eyebrow, stepping forward.
Zephyr Quinn: Violence, like love, is universal. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll be more than happy to learn your tune and together we’ll make music like the world has yet to see. In return tall, dark, and scary, you need to learn to trust, and I happen to be in the market for new friends. I’ll be more than happy to help you see that there is more to this life than dark rooms and chains. Deal?
With no fear, Zephyr holds her hand out, offering a handshake to the beast known as Lab Rat King.
King's wild eyes remain locked on; for a long, frightening moment it's not clear what he's thinking, if at all. However, something in her words seems to reach the more bestial part of him. His massive shoulders gradually relax, giving in to his exhaustion and to the idea that perhaps, there are people here who understand him in a way that only the fight-bred could.
Lab Rat King: … Little monster has a deal. You'll join me in making music of malice in the theatre of ropes and violence… Not today, but soon, sanguine siren.
He accepts her handshake, his hand twice the size of hers--almost hot to the touch and rough with wear. His grip is like iron, and he holds eye contact with just as much ferocity.
Lab Rat King: Prrrrrrrooomisssssssssssse.
The grin in his voice is audible as he abruptly lets go, retrieving the keys and tossing them to her with a jingle.
Zephyr Quinn: Cross my heart. I appreciate the help, truly. I look forward to our duet.
I'd say a "symphony of destruction" but I believe someone already beat us to that one...
She winks at Lab Rat King and unlocks the door, propping it open and sliding the keys to the man who has already started to slump against the wall to slumber. At least that is what she assumed after the man went through the equivalent of three world wars in one night. For now though, it was time to go win those tag titles. Closing the door gently behind her, Zephyr runs off down the hall toward the noise of Trent battling Catalina and Kit.