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Supreme Saturday definitely showed the world that, while Jake Starr may have had plans of getting back his United States Championship, Silas Mason had plans of distracting him at all costs. When Silas's crew got involved, by attacking Syren, Jake knew he couldn't be a bystander, but unfortunately by involving himself, the numbers game continued to grow against he and Zoe. The two were beaten down, and Jake, for what little he could see, was forced to watch Ravyn Taylor reap the benefits, and pin Merrick Wiseman, for the United States Championship.
Going forward, Jake and Syren have the daunting task of trying to face the onsluaght that they will, inevitably, continue to face from Silas and his group, while also trying to mentally prepare themselves for the war of a fatal four-way, for the biggest prize in the business. Their alliance puts them at a position where they could weather the storm, and possibly even dish out a little hurt as well. The problem will be if Silas continues to unleash person after person at the pair, which could ultimately prove difficult to withstand. The two will have a chance to exact some revenge at Breakdown, when the rival alliances will be put to the test, and be forced to face off against one another in a tag team match. For Kelcey and Shaun, they know they have the advantage, with their support group behind them, but the team of Jake Starr and Syren has proven to be one of the better "thrown together" pairings in SCW. The two have never been on the losing side of a tag match together, and most notably, were able to run the gauntlet of the Trios Tournament, which ultimately lead to their respective inclusions at Rise to Greatness. While their record is pristine, their healt is obviously not so much. With the beatdowns they endured, one has to wonder how healthy they will be, walking into such an important match. Will they be able to go in, and actually compete, or will the bumps and bruises be too much to overcome? Right now, the bumps and bruises definitely have Jake reeling, as he is gingerly walking out of his hotel room, with Brandon Evans rolling his bags for him. Being mere hours since the attack at Supreme Saturday, Jake still feels the effects of everything that happened. The pair slowly make their way toward the elevator. As they get in, Jake tells Brandon that he can run the bags to the car, as he has some "business" that he needs to tend to, before leaving. Knowing Jake as well as Brandon does, this isn't a weird request from Jake. Brandon just assumes that this is something to do with SCW, and/or Jake's newphew. As they reach the lobby, Brandon turns to walk toward the parking garage, while Jake turns to head for the hotel coffee shop. As Jake enters the coffee shop, he is immediately seen by the barista, and greeted. Barista: Good morning, sir! What can I get started for you, today? Jake slowly approaches the register, which is immediately noticed by the barista.
Barista: ... Have a rought night, last night? Jake smirks.
Jake Starr: Trust me... You have no idea! Unbeknownst to Jake, the barista is actually an avid SCW fan, who saw everything that happened. Instead of completely flipping out at seeing Jake, she simply smiles coyly.
Jake proceeds to order his drink, and she immediately shifts behind the bar to begin making it. She keeps glancing up at Jake, who just keeps looking around, and investigating some of the souvenirs that the hotel created for its coffee shop. After the barista finishes Jake's drink, she hands it over to him, and smiles as he graciously accepts it, and drops a good tip into their tip jar. She watches as Jake slowly walks over to a table, and gently sits down. Jake contiues to scour his surroundings, obviously awaiting someone else to join him. He notices, yet again, that the person he's looking for is not there, so he simply tries to lean back and relax, while staring out the window. After a couple more minutes of waiting, Jake sees movement out of his periphery, which he definitely recognizes. He looks over to see Zoe Sperling, AKA Syren, walking into the coffee shop. She looks around, and immediately notices him lounging at a table. She turns toward Jake, and carefully walks in his direction. Jake, after being facing the window, slowly begins to turn his body to face her, as she slowly sits down. Jake Starr: ... Thanks for coming to meet up with me... Zoe Sperling: Eh... No problem... I figured that we would need to actually have a chat at some point, anyway. Jake nods.
Jake Starr: Yeah... I figured we should sit down and make sure we're on the same page, going forward because we can't take too many beatings like we did last night. Zoe sighs.
Zoe Sperling: Yeah... Tell me about it! Jake Starr: ... And speaking of last night, how are you holding up? Zoe Sperling: Meh... I have a couple of bumps and bruises, but nothing too terrible. I am still ready to fight when it's time. In Jake's mind, there is a definite sense of worry about Zoe's health, seeing as how she was faced with multiple attacks the night before, neither of which was "minor."
Jake Starr: You sure you're alright? Zoe Sperling: Yeah, I'm positive. I'm no worse for the wear than you, when they decided to jump you... Jake Starr: Yeah, but I didn't have to endure multiple beatings, though. Zoe Sperling: Don't worry about my health, Jake. You need to remember that I have just as much riding on this as well. It means JUST as much to me, as it does to you, so I'll be ready when the time comes... Jake knows that arguing would do him no good, seeing as how their little co-op has to continue to work for a little while longer.
Jake Starr: ... Yeah, I know... After a brief pause, Jake has to get one more piece of clarification.
Jake Starr: ... So you sure you're ok? Zoe begins to get a sense of annoyance at Jake's continual and repeated prodding.
Zoe Sperling: Yes... I am fine... Stop worrying about it. Jake Starr: C'mon, Zoe... You know that's easier said that done. You know how badly I need you healthy, right now. And if the roles were reversed, you would have concerns, too. Zoe pauses to think about it briefly, before conceding.
Zoe Sperling: Yeah... You're probably right, there... Jake Starr: My worry isn't that you won't be able to hold up. I know how much punishment you can give AND take, during a war... But this, right here, is about a much bigger picture, though. Zoe rolls her eyes.
Zoe Sperling: ... And that means? Jake Starr: It means that the two times we have teamed before, the stakes have never been this high. Those two times, we were able to put our past she behind us, and take care of business. With the Trios, we had a lot to gain, and we gained it, but now, it's not about something out there that we get to gain. See, we have earned everything we can earn for this, so it's not like that. This time, it's about fucking survival. Now, it's about living. There has only been one other time in my life, where I can remember this sense of fighting to simply survive, and that was against Infamous... Zoe rolls her eyes again, and in her mind the thought of, "Oh here we go," begins to dance around. She assumes that Jake will soon be rehashing something, in order to prove his point. This reaction is also caught by Jake's eye, and he knows it needs to be addressed.
Jake Starr: ... And I'm not talking about that negatively, it's more of just a reference. It was just the last time, that I can remember, seriously worrying about the possibility that I might not even be able to walk out of the arena under my own power. This time, it's not just me in that boat, Zoe, you are too. With everything that Silas is willing to orchestrate against us, our very careers could be in jeopardy at any given moment. It's NOT about the wins or losses, anymore. Until Rise to Greatness, until that bell sounds for our match, it's about our LIVES being in the hands of one another. Zoe can definitely sense urgency in Jake's voice.
Jake Starr: ... I cannot fight these numbers on my own, and heh, even if I could, how would a beaten up World Champion look to the world, anyway? Zoe sighs, hearing Jake's cockiness shine through, even though the genuine sense of worry is there. She is quick to try and end the ego, and bring Jake back to reality.
Zoe Sperling: ... Honestly, you shouldn't even let that thought cross your mind, right now. If you're truly as urgent and worried as you seem to be, you can't even look past tomorrow. Hell, you can't even look past walking out of this coffee place. These attacks we have had to deal with show we're walking bullseyes, and Silas Mason has his crosshairs affixed on them. Thinking all the way past that opening bell means you already think you'll live that long, and you even said that if we can't put our lives in the hands of one another, that won't happen for EITHER of us. Jake nods, and feels that Zoe is exactly right. He can't let his ego take him to the Promised Land before he's even gotten to the point where he's looking at the facade of the Pearly Gates. It's a thought that truly brings Jake back down to Earth, from the high horse that he's always sat on. He looks down at the table and grunts, as if making a pseudo-laughing sound one time, before continuing.
Jake Starr: ... Heh... It's strange, you know? One year ago, I would have never considered that "Big Bad Syren" would EVER be someone who I would have to have unconditional trust in. A year ago, that would have been one of the most ludicrous things I could have ever imagined... Saying those words really helps everything sink in for Jake.
Jake Starr: ... For so long, I hated the thought of you even being in the same hotel as me... He looks back up at Zoe with with a very sincere look in his eye.
Jake Starr: ... How did we even get to this point? Zoe turns her body, which causes her to wince a bit.
Zoe Sperling: We got here because we went through this kind of shit together. We had ups and downs against one another, but now, we both understand one another a little better. We may never go out of our way to send Christmas cards to one another, but we understand each other. And now, we have a common goal, which is to keep this war as "even" and as "right" as possible. Like you said, this is about our own survival. With Infamous, I saw how the numbers game worked in our favor. Having seen that, I know exactly what can happen if it shifts against us. We can't let that happen to us. We have a chance to prove that we're on the RIGHT side of this numbers game, and ultimately that we're on the RIGHT side of history... Jake nods.
Jake Starr: Honestly, I've never had to trust someone this badly in my life, and it's simply surreal to think that... Jake looks back down.
Jake Starr: ... I just want his to be that moment that I have yearned for, for the past six years. It's not about the title, honestly. It is simply about being in THAT MATCH. It's about knowing that I am FINALLY in the main event of Rise to Greatness. It's about living my dream, and I don't want ANYONE to take that moment away from me! Zoe Sperling: Well, I can say that as long as I am breathing, nobody will, just like as long as you're breathing, nobody will take that moment from me. Jake nods again.
Zoe Sperling: It's not going to be easy, but we have to continue to always fight back. Jake nods, before polishing off the rest of his drink. As he does so, he looks back up and sees Brandon walking in. Brandon sees Jake as well, and is immediately stunned by the company Jake is in the presence of. Jake quickly notices the time, as well, and knows it's time for him to head out. He then looks over at Zoe, to inform her as well.
Jake Starr: ... Alright, I have a flight to catch... Jake stands up, and throws his cup in one of the trash cans. He walks by Zoe, and before leaving, puts his hand on Zoe's shoulder. He looks down at her, and offers one more piece of "advice" from one "partner" to another.
Jake Starr: ... Take care of yourself... With those final words, Jake approaches Brandon, and ultimately leaves the coffee shop. As Jake is walking through the hotel lobby, he sees Ravyn Taylor approaching the coffee shop, presumably to meet up with Zoe. Ravyn simply looks at Jake and smirks. Jake responds, in only a way Jake Starr can.
Jake Starr: ... Fuck off... Jake continues walking past Ravyn, and Brandon follows suit, glaring at Ravyn himself. The two head for the car, so that they can head back to Des Moines, before having to regroup for Breakdown. Jake knows he'll need some good R&R time time to heal the battle scars, and get ready to possibly endure more.
Will Zoe and Jake truly be able to coexist until Rise to Greatness, and not let their ultimate goals of respectively winning the World Championship get in the way? Will the two even be able to make it to Rise to Greatness safely? Ultimately these four competitors are setting up the biggest spectacle of the season to be one of the biggest moments in the sport's history, and if things continue down this path, nobody will know who will strike next. Jake Starr: I think it is suffice to say that Supreme Saturday didn't go as I had originally intended it to go. I had originally had this grand idea that I would be able to walk into the AT&T Center, there in San Antonio, beat down Ravyn Taylor and Merrick Wiseman, and ultimately walk out with the strap. Unfortunately, it didn't go like that. Sometimes in life, plans do change, and sometimes, you just don't get much say in it. In my case, I got little say in the matter. Having said all of that, having had the grandiose ideas and plans that I originally had, I have kind of resigned myself to the fact that never, not at one point during that entire build up, hype, or even opening of the match, did I ever stand a chance. Rarely do I feel that my outcomes, my destinies, my anything are really not in my hands, but this was one of those nights... Jake goes to continue, but realizes that a lot of the critics of him out there may already be jumping the shark, and assuming what he'll say next.
... And before I get any further into it, let me say this. This wasn't a conspiracy. This wasn't some plan to try and screw Jake Starr out of the United States Championship, no, it was merely a plan that was set in place, and carried out to perfection. See, everyone who has been following SCW in recent weeks has seen the giant clusterfuck that has been unfolding. I'm being attacked by a horde of followers, who think they're somehow endearing themselves to their "master," then next thing you know, Syren is receiving the same treatment. Looking at the participants of these attacks, you see collusion between people, and you see those people trying to change the course of history, all because they feel like they're somehow entitled to do so. FUCK Y'ALL! When I saw EXACTLY how Silas Mason was going to try and orchestrate the removal of Syren and I from the World Title match at Rise to Greatness, I quickly realized that this wasn't going to be one of those matches where you hype it up, keep hyping, build and build, and get everyone so antsy they clamor for the match. I realized that Silas was going to try and take Syren and I out, all so he could have his little "Wondermatch" with Kelcey and Shaun. So... Syren and I decided that since the cock-suckers over there were going to pool resources in order to TAKE US OUT, we would have to pool resources to simply STAY THE FUCK ALIVE! Because of that pooling, because of that handshake, because of that agreement she and I made with one another. We had to be there, and support one another. We had to protect each other. Unlike some matches, where you want to try and soften your opponents up, Syren and I had to quickly realize that we couldn't go that route. We had to ensure the safety of one another. We had to make sure that we both understand that a fight for one of our lives, is a fight for both. So with that pact in place, and knowing thet Syren was, at the very least, at ringside, I should have known the fight would soon come our way. For all of his ability to convince people to do his bidding, and for the genius promoter he pretends to be, Silas Mason is an easily predictable bag of shit. I should have realized that Silas would try and isolate Syren, assuming that I would be more focused on the United States Championship, and honestly, on ANY FUCKING GIVEN DAY but then, I would have been. I would have gladly let Syren fight her own battles, and dealt with my own, but I had to make one of the most difficult choices of my career. Do I stay, and vie for the United States Championship? Or do I abandon my quest, and backup Syren? Jake sighs.
Everyone saw what I did. Everyone saw that I abandoned the match, and went to Syren's aide. A lot of people saw this as the DEFINITIVE PROOF they needed to say that Jake Starr cared more about the World Championship, than the United States Championship. The problem is, that logic is flawed because everyone who would be thinking that way would simply be looking at the absolute surface of the event, and not at the actual "meat and potatoes" of what was actually going down... ... So let me explain things, so all of the dumbasses of the world understand! Ok? Good! When the battle began, outside the ring, I realized that I had to put my United States Championship goals aside at that very moment, It was a quick decision that I had no option but to make. It wasn't because of the World Championship. I didn't make that decision because of Rise to Greatness. I made it because I made a fucking PROMISE to Zoe, and I was going to honor it. When I stood in that ring, and I shook her hand, I made an agreement with her to fight a cause together, by any means necessary. It wasn't an agreement where I agreed to fight when it benefitted me, or was convenient, it was at ANY point. So when she started to be attacked, I had to honor my commitment, not because of a championship, but because of a promise. In this business, people make promises all the time, and when they do, many of them NEVER think about honoring them. Many people simply look at them as relatively meaningless in the grand scheme of things, and they will honor them to a certain degree, but the minute it stops being a benefit, they quickly turn. Syren and I agreed to look out for one another, there was a finite time we agreed to do so. It wasn't this indefinite period of time, and we both knew that if one of us strayed away, we both would be permanently FUCKED. I don't want to be screwed over. I don't want to think that I have to always look over my shoulder or worry if I'm going to walk out of an arena, just because I don't have someone watching my back. So, yeah... I had to give up my plans, and get my hands a little dirty for a reason... And a justified reason at that. I know people will still attack and criticize me for it, but quite frankly, there's nothing I can do, or care to do to remedy that. All I care to do is show Zoe I'm looking out for OUR best interests here, and not just my own... Jake smirks, and chuckles a bit.
... And funnily enough, this war, this battle, this agreement between sides, these proverbial "lines in the sand," they all lead us STRAIGHT to Breakdown, and the first time where Kelcey Wallace, Shaun Cruze, Syren, and Jake Starr will all be inside the ring together, and legitimately at one another's throats. Unlike at Rise to Greatness, however, it won't be everyone for themself. Instead, Syren and I will team up, and have an opportunity to put the hurt on the two "favorites." It'll also be the chance that Zoe and I have wanted to get our hands on them, and do so in a manner where we don't have to worry about them sneaking up behind us. Sure, we have Silas's other rubes to worry about, but the fact is, Cruze and Wallace will be inside that ring with us, and they won't be able to go anywhere... And if they try, they'll show how cowardly they are. If you ask me, that should be expected too. Silas isn't going to let his puppet go in there, and have the possibility of being completely embarrassed without some kind of "escape plan." I mean, really, this is his chance to have his marionette go on the biggest stage of them all, and become World Champion, and he realizes that in order to have a snowball's chance in hell of actually winning, she needs to be the freshest one. So while they had this little alliance of her and Cruze trying to take me out, I can promise that Silas is just biding his time for the chance when he can take out Cruze as well. And honestly, why wouldn't he wait for that opportunity? Why wouldn't he want to take out EVERYONE he could, to ensure his little pet won it all? Seriously... That's the type of person Silas Mason is! At some point, he's going to turn his minions loose on Cruze, and yes, he's going to ultimately do it for the reason of protecting his "investment." Will it be at Breakdown? Will it be after? I'm going to be honest and say that nobody knows but Silas. Nobody knows when he's going to continue to game the system, and take Cruze out, but mark my words, this whole chummy thing with Cruze, Silas will put the kibosh on when he feels it's "good for him." BUT YOU SEE... That is where things differ between the teams. In the eyes of Cruze and Wallace, it's all about gaining an upper hand. It's all about weeding people out. It's all about making their world easier. Syren and I don't have that mentality. We don't look at this as a "make our roads easy," because we had to fucking scratch and claw through that Trios Tournament to even have this chance to be in the match. We realize we're FORTUNATE to have the opportunity that we have in front of us, and we also realize that with cashing in those contracts, the world looks at us in a much different light than Kelcey Wallace. They look at us like we took an easy way out. So we have to prove ourselves... We don't get the benefit of having everyone look at us like we won Taking Hold of the Flame, and you know what, that's fine. I don't speak for Syren, but I think it's safe to say, we don't want this road to be easy. Anyone in the history of this business who has gone out there and won the World Championship easily didn't have the same respect as someone who had to fight through the tough grind. She and I both want that respect. We want to go out there and have people realize that we went the hard way... We want people to see that we went through the other three, at their best. WE WANT OUR BEST TO BEAT THEIR BEST! If that is going to happen, unlike them, we won't let our egos get in the way. We will be cohesive. We will prove to the world that we are just as much LEGITIMATE contenders as Kelcey. We will prove we have our rightful claims to this match, just like the champ and his Taking Hold of the Flame counterpart. Another thing people will see, at Breakdown, besides a complete lack of unity from Team Vagina Monologues, will be a team that is UNDEFEATED when teaming together. People forget that Jake Starr and Syren have never lost, when in tag competition together. We took care of Requiem back in December, and then there was obviously the aforementioned Trios Tournament. We've been able to prove we can put our past behind us. Have Cruze and Wallace ever done that? Truthfully I don't have a fucking clue, so I am going to presume not. We're going in, and we're going to beat some asses. Silas can bring whatever horde he wants to help his precious cargo, because Syren and I will be ready. We have fought better teams and we have won. It will happen again. We will foil their plan to rid us from the match, and when we do that, we will show the world that while we had a golden ticket into the main event, we're no less "right." They will not know what to do when they LOSE to us, and have to understand that the World Championship WILL come to one of us, and not be their fairy tale ending... In fact, the only ending they'll have will be an appropriate, two word description of their hopes and dreams... THE... END! Fin |
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