Post by cyborg878 on Nov 7, 2019 19:42:13 GMT -5
"Where does this anger come from?"
This question rings through Damon Warrens' ears as he lays on a couch. Across from him sits a short man in horn rimmed glasses with a notebook and pen in hand. Damon has been paying the man no mind so far instead focusing intently on the ceiling looking for some sort of answer hidden in the textured finish as if it were an all white Rorschach test. As he ponders the question he turns his head to look at the man he mentally refers to as HRG (Horn Rimmed Glasses) finally acknowledging his existence in the room.
"I'm sorry.... who are you again?" asks the raven haired wrestler. HRG looks up from his notes with a hint of bewilderment.
"Mr Warrens I am Rupert Stine you came to my office seeking psychotherapy. You said something about having a great anger inside of you." HRG answers as Damon nods and returns to looking at the ceiling.
"You know Mr. Stine. I think that's a great question. It is a rather open ended one though." Warrens states, his tone noting confusion as the anger in question has more than just a simple source.
"Okay well maybe I should begin by asking what triggered you to come here today? Has there been significant change in your life as of late? Has there been a particularly stressful event occur that set this in motion?" As he says this HRG prepares to begin writing down Damon's reply.
"Well dear HRG I'm not sure if you've heard of something called Premium Championship Wrestling..." Damon begins only to be cut off.
" I have! A wrestling company that closed down years ago correct? It's having a reunion show near the end of the year I believe!" HRG says with some excitement in his voice.
"HRG I must inform you I believe it incredibly rude to interrupt and I won't tolerate further intrusions to the middle of my sentences. As you seem to have some knowledge of PCW you must have some idea of who I am beyond my patient file. Assuming this you might also know my history within the company was ... well we shall say rocky."
" I will say I do not have an extensive knowledge of it, but I have some idea of what happened. For the sake of my understanding the situation would you feel comfortable elaborating?"
"Of course I would. I came here to talk about myself and I shall grant you the honour of hearing me do just that." HRG noticeably rolls his eyes at Damon's words, but intently waits for Damon's story.
" Mine is a tale of truth people didn't want to recognize, battles the many were afraid to fight, and betrayals few could survive as I did. I joined PCW with a plucky eagerness to impress and improve. I found myself staring down a bully using his influence to get everything to fall into place for himself and his trusted few. Thankfully during those days I had many allies by my side to fight the good fight. Unfortunately for my that was not always the case. Seemingly as one power mad villain was vanquished another waited in the shadows, hoping to gain our trust for their benefit only. I was ever vigilant of these pretenders. I led the fight against these betrayers time and time again however despite the truth staring them in the eyes many of those that stood by my side began to stand by my enemies." At this point a faint hue of red begins to spread across Damon's face as the memories begin to unlock a deep anger within him.
"The people who once hailed me a protector now painted me as a poison. They dug the knife deep into my back and twisted the blade to make it very clear that I was not wanted. However as time passed they soon realized I was once again correct. I had spotted the evil far before they had. I had tried to save them, but they found out far too late that a wolf was among them. While they moved on I struggled to belong. The people who had been my friends, my family, had become that bully using influence to make things fall into place for themselves. My passion was stifled. The people close to me were suppressed. Even after the outside villains were removed, there still existed the evil within. The company nor myself could hold onto the faint memories of glory and pride that once were and both PCW and Damon Warrens eventually faded to black in the eyes of the world." As Damon elaborates it is as if his anger is slowly being taken over by a fog of depression. His voice begins to lose the highs and lows of his emotional rant becoming a monotonous and lifeless retelling as his minds subconscious defense mechanisms activate to protect himself from his own vulnerability.
"And now that there is a reunion all of these old wounds feel like they are being reopened?" Rupert asks with a much clearer understanding. He makes note of the attachment injuries in Damon's former professional and amicable relationships and that he believes they are the root of the anger.
"HRG if you will, imagine being the black sheep of the family. Not because you wanted to be, but because other people decided for you that was your destiny. Now imagine that the same family who gave you that label asks for you to come to their family reunion. That same family invites you to come belong with them knowing full well you never have, nor ever will be a truly welcomed member of their family. I think if that were you HRG you might feel the same way I do."
"I can imagine how uncomfortable and frustrating that must feel. So when these feelings of anger flare up they can be caused by other sometimes more prevalent themes in someone's life instead of one particular incident."
" And what would these themes be?"
"Well there's death or loss. Losing a loved one can be a big trigger especially if one feels responsible. That sort of feeling can haunt someone and cause a lot of loathing. I'll be honest and say from what I've heard so far... I don't think that is the case here. Then there is lack of self confidence, feeling inadequate, but again I don't feel that applies to you."
"No I'm amazing and I was the first one to notice it. It's taken the rest of the world far too long to catch up to my revelation. At this HRG gives a clearly forced smile and nod as he jots down words like "narcissistic" and "inflated ego".
" Relationship problems, especially in the case of romance can be a major issue. How is your love and family life?
" Oh fantastic HRG. My husband is the most wonderfully supportive human being. He and I have obviously had disagreements as every couple does, but we are an incredibly strong and dedicated pair. Our son is also absolutely perfect. I'm so proud of the man he's becoming. So honestly family and love are non-issues in my life. I have been blessed.
"So that brings me to what I feel is the culprit in terms of being the spark that sets off this anger. The theme that is jumping out to me from what you have said is 'betrayal'. You feel betrayed by people close to you. Would you agree with this statement?" As HRG says the word betrayal fury takes over Damon's visage. For the first time in the session Damon sits up to face HRG with an inferno of angst and hatred raging in his eyes.
"Betrayal... I have been stabbed in the back to a greater degree than Caesar. I have been used and abused by so-called friends. I have had my closest allies turn their backs on me, degrade me, try to HUMILIATE ME! Yeah. I think betrayal is the bulls-eye here HRG. As Damon speaks his voice fails to hide his emotions, hitting a crescendo before he levels out to a more calm tone. He cradles his face in his hands for a second to try and regain composure before returning his gaze to HRG who sees true pain and hurt in the eyes of his patient.
" I guess I may do as Lewis Carroll said ' begin at the beginning and go on til you come to the end.' The first major betrayal in regards to this business that has ever been a double edged sword to me was from someone I once considered not just a friend, but a mentor...James Baker. As Damon begins to relay his experience it is as if he is on auto-pilot, the story flowing seemingly without conscious thought as the Nitemare's mind drifts back to the day he found out he had been fired for standing up for himself.
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Damon Warrens storms out of the office of Terrell Ryder, having just had an intense meeting with him and James Baker....his so called mentor. Outside the office waits Generation Next who look stressed with anticipation.
Let's go. We are done here. Damon walks angrily towards his friends and family. When his husband reaches out to him Damon pushes past and continues to the locker room. GeNext follows behind as their concern builds for the Nitemare.
"What happened Damon? Please tell me they didn't take Thunder's side!" Nathan inquires as they follow Damon into his locker room. The raven haired male ignores him at first, beginning to pack up all his stuff. As Nathan walks up and puts a hand on his husband's shoulder and Damon turns to face his partner.
"I've been fired. I no longer have a job here so I need to leave the building. So if you don't min... I need to get all of my stuff." Damon turns back to the job at hand. As he does this Nathan turns back to the rest of GeNext as a mix of confusion and anger takes over his visage. The group leaves Damon and heads back towards Ryder's office. Nathan whips open the door and the entirety of GeNext files in to confront their boss.
About ten minutes pass as Damon finishes up the last of his packing. He stops and punches his former locker, cringing from the pain and anger. Damon shakes it off and heads for the door, which opens as he gets there to reveal his friends and family once more, this time with a much different expression on their faces. When Damon looks at them he sees no concern, solely a fury mirroring his own.
" Let's go sweetheart. We're going home." Nathan reaches out to help Damon with his stuff. Damon pauses with confusion. Seeing this Nathan answers the question Damon has yet to ask. "We all quit in protest. It isn't right what's being done. We won't stand for it." Damon looks in disbelief and without a word just hugs his husband as a tear falls from his eye. The Nitemare nods and everyone except for Talia, who demanded time to go say goodbye to the fans before ending her contract, walks away from PCW and their so called friends. In his rage Damon fails to notice a certain Brit listening in with intrigue and concern.
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As Damon ends his story it is as if he comes out of a flashback fog, feeling the reality of his current situation take hold instead of the memory of his past. He turns to HRG wordlessly communicating how distraught he feels. HRG takes notice immediately and begins to feel genuine sympathy for a patient who not even fifteen minutes ago he felt was a narcissist. HRG feels like he's starting to put together the worn down and damaged puzzle that is Damon Warrens, but he feels there are a few more pieces he needs to complete it.
"I can see why you would feel that rejection and hurt. You were trying to protect them. You wanted your mentor....more importantly your friend to believe you and support you... and he didn't.
"No.... no he didn't..." As Damon says this his voice fades away to a whisper and his gaze falls to his chest as he takes a moment more to process.
"But eventually it turned out that you were correct about the situation and you got your job back and you got re-inducted. Did you feel then that the betrayal was behind you?"
" Not at all. James was still the same person. He was still the same guy who found some new shiny project and tossed me aside. You know... he didn't apologize to me...really apologize to me after I came back? He hated having to admit he was wrong. He held back myself and my partner at the time Liam Reilly. He convinced his bosses to keep us out of the spotlight. To limit our TV time. Even when I was re-inducted... that whole segment of us making up only happened because his BOSS told him to out of fear that I sue for wrongful termination and defamation of character."
As Damon rants on tears of pure hatred and pain trickle out of his eyes like water just beginning to break through the crack of a dam.
" So you really haven't had a chance to get real closure because you don't feel any sort of genuine remorse from James. Was this the only .. I guess back-stabbing sort of incident between the two of you? It sounds like there is much more to this whole situation.
"James and I had a fling I guess you could say. So there was a little feeling of rejection based around that, but honestly what pissed me off the most was when he decided he would try to infiltrate my family." Any tears that were streaking Damon's cheeks seemingly evaporated as Damon's temper flared.
" He tried to infiltrate your family? How so?"
Damon begins to drift back into his own thoughts while words begin to pour out of his mouth as if his speech was on a trauma driven autopilot. His mind takes him specifically back to the day he found out his brother-in-law was in a relationship with James Baker.
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Damon Warrens sits on the back porch of his stunning San Diego home, specifically relaxing by the pool on a poolside lounge chair soaking in the beautiful California sun. All of his cares seemingly wash away as the light and heat bathes his body. Damon hears the patio door open and out comes his husband who is dressed not quite formal, but much more decorous than his everyday attire. As Damon looks at the love of his life he notices a sort of anxiety etched ever so faintly on Nathan's face causing a mix of concern and intrigue in the raven haired man.
" Hi sweetheart! I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be heading out. I'm meeting my brother for dinner! Won't be back until much later." Nathan kisses his husband on the forehead before trying to leave as quickly and inconspicuously as he can, but he is stopped by Damon's hand grabbing his own.
"Why the rush? If you give me a minute to get ready I'll come with."
"Honestly I don't think it will be your sorta night out. I'm going to meet Aaron's new partner.
" Oh? We could make it a double date."
" Trust me... you won't want to go... just please trust me and I'll see you later."
Nathan again tries to leave, but this time Damon's hand catches Nathan's wrist with a little force. Nathan looks back knowing Damon's suspicious as his eyes try to silently communicate to the raven that it's better off he not know.
"You're hiding something from me..... who is Aaron seeing?
Nathan stays silent as he feels the grip tighten on his wrist.
" Who. Is. He. Seeing."
" .... he's seeing James.
Despite being outside for a moment it as if all air leaves the area and simultaneously as if all of the colour leaves Damon's face. Within moments however the colour returns in spades as a furious red hue spreads like wildfire across the normally pale skin of the "Nitemare". His grip gets even tighter on Nathan's wrist, but Nathan is able to pull free before beginning to leave to avoid what is sure to be an explosion of conflicting emotions that he isn't currently capable of dealing with.
" Nathan...
There is a clear and biting venom as Damon calls his husband's name prompting the blonde to turn around as he reaches the door.
" Your brother..... is dead to me.
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For the last time Damon fades back into reality as he finds himself again staring at the walls of HRG's office. Without a word he stands up and walks out of the therapy session. HRG goes to stop him politely, but the raven haired man has already left. As Damon exits the front door of the building a sense of clarity seems to wash over him and with it a smirk that can only be described as murderous creeps onto the Nitemare's face.
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I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately. To find out what I am missing... and what I need to gain from this so-called family reunion. What is it that once again is bringing me in between the ropes of a company that never appreciated me and in the home of a family that never wanted me. Is it greed for the spotlight... is it a thirst for vengeance... an unavoidable drive to project my pain onto those that inflicted it unto me? I realized in this soul search that it was all of those things... but also so much more. For when I searched my soul I discovered I had not one to find. Had it wasted away because of all of the continued injustice and mistreatment? No no no ...that had forged my soul in steel. See it wasn't there because many moons ago I walked out the doors of PCW one last time and as I looked into the night sky contemplating all of my hatred of one James "Chloe Savage" Baker... as as I spoke aloud my desire to ruin my tormentor's life at all costs I decided to make a deal with the devil. I offered up my soul to any wicked being that would have it with the promise that one day I would get to exact every second of revenge I felt entitled to upon one James Baker.
I tell you this to show you that while you have spent the last seven years making an attempt to reinvent yourself to be a better person.. I have remained unchanged. I have for seven years continued to be the one person who relentlessly sees through your lies and deceit. I have been the one person who champions against your false heroism. You have managed to charm the fans in this industry into believing you are some poor victim rising against the odds, but you cannot trap me in that web of lies as you once did. I am the harbinger of truth that the world doesn't understand it needs so desperately.
These fans don't know the real you, but Chloe...I know the real you.
You are a manipulator. You use all the people around you for your own gain, but convince them of your selflessness.
You are a terrible parent. Your son wanted nothing more than to make you proud, but you were far too busy chasing the dimming spotlight that you couldn't even give him the time of day. Then you act with surprise and pain when your son stands by my side as one more person enlightened to your misdeeds.
You are a tyrant. You spent every second of your time in charge abusing your power behind the scenes.. holding down anyone you didn't like. You blocked people like the New Era from speaking out. You put up red tape so those that deserved it couldn't get title shots.... but then handed them out to the undeserving.
You call yourself Savage, but you are merely a tired, worn down reinvention of your old self. You have forgotten your viciousness. You have forgotten how to eviscerate your foes mentally and physically. You have forgotten how to play mental chess and win the match before it has even started. You have become the Old Yeller of this industry. Your usefulness and abilities having long faded away.. and it's time that someone takes you behind the barn and pulls the trigger. I promise to be that person.
Miss Savage you act as your own herald, singing what you feel are impressive feats of your own as if to intimidate me before our final battle. You managed a championship reign to hold on to whatever remnants existed of your relevance. I meanwhile did everything you said I couldn't. You said the New Era just wasn't quite good enough to hold the tag titles....we did it. You said that I just wasn't World Championship material and could never have a "legit reign"... I did it. You said I was good, but not quite on your level, that I'd never be able to beat you... I did it.
When we meet at PCW's Reunion Show we meet under circumstances you never thought that we would...we meet on MY terms. No longer are we doing things your way Chloe. We may be ending this in the castle you built, but it is my one man army that will burn it to the ground. I am finally the one in control.
With this in mind I give you one final fair warning. You think you know the man you step into the ring with. You think our matches in CCP will tell you everything to expect from me. You are inherently incorrect. As I said dear Chloe I am a man with no soul and only one way to gain it back. I have only one way to walk away from this battle and be able to live my life without a demon eating away at me and that is to make sure you do not leave that arena on your own power. You seek to put a feud to rest. I seek so much more. I seek to prove to the PCW faithful that I was always their unsung hero. I seek to prove to you that your time is over. I seek to prove to myself that I am unstoppable. I seek vengeance and all of the rewards that come with it.
Always remember the words that echoed throughout my time in PCW Chloe..
Life is paiN.
This question rings through Damon Warrens' ears as he lays on a couch. Across from him sits a short man in horn rimmed glasses with a notebook and pen in hand. Damon has been paying the man no mind so far instead focusing intently on the ceiling looking for some sort of answer hidden in the textured finish as if it were an all white Rorschach test. As he ponders the question he turns his head to look at the man he mentally refers to as HRG (Horn Rimmed Glasses) finally acknowledging his existence in the room.
"I'm sorry.... who are you again?" asks the raven haired wrestler. HRG looks up from his notes with a hint of bewilderment.
"Mr Warrens I am Rupert Stine you came to my office seeking psychotherapy. You said something about having a great anger inside of you." HRG answers as Damon nods and returns to looking at the ceiling.
"You know Mr. Stine. I think that's a great question. It is a rather open ended one though." Warrens states, his tone noting confusion as the anger in question has more than just a simple source.
"Okay well maybe I should begin by asking what triggered you to come here today? Has there been significant change in your life as of late? Has there been a particularly stressful event occur that set this in motion?" As he says this HRG prepares to begin writing down Damon's reply.
"Well dear HRG I'm not sure if you've heard of something called Premium Championship Wrestling..." Damon begins only to be cut off.
" I have! A wrestling company that closed down years ago correct? It's having a reunion show near the end of the year I believe!" HRG says with some excitement in his voice.
"HRG I must inform you I believe it incredibly rude to interrupt and I won't tolerate further intrusions to the middle of my sentences. As you seem to have some knowledge of PCW you must have some idea of who I am beyond my patient file. Assuming this you might also know my history within the company was ... well we shall say rocky."
" I will say I do not have an extensive knowledge of it, but I have some idea of what happened. For the sake of my understanding the situation would you feel comfortable elaborating?"
"Of course I would. I came here to talk about myself and I shall grant you the honour of hearing me do just that." HRG noticeably rolls his eyes at Damon's words, but intently waits for Damon's story.
" Mine is a tale of truth people didn't want to recognize, battles the many were afraid to fight, and betrayals few could survive as I did. I joined PCW with a plucky eagerness to impress and improve. I found myself staring down a bully using his influence to get everything to fall into place for himself and his trusted few. Thankfully during those days I had many allies by my side to fight the good fight. Unfortunately for my that was not always the case. Seemingly as one power mad villain was vanquished another waited in the shadows, hoping to gain our trust for their benefit only. I was ever vigilant of these pretenders. I led the fight against these betrayers time and time again however despite the truth staring them in the eyes many of those that stood by my side began to stand by my enemies." At this point a faint hue of red begins to spread across Damon's face as the memories begin to unlock a deep anger within him.
"The people who once hailed me a protector now painted me as a poison. They dug the knife deep into my back and twisted the blade to make it very clear that I was not wanted. However as time passed they soon realized I was once again correct. I had spotted the evil far before they had. I had tried to save them, but they found out far too late that a wolf was among them. While they moved on I struggled to belong. The people who had been my friends, my family, had become that bully using influence to make things fall into place for themselves. My passion was stifled. The people close to me were suppressed. Even after the outside villains were removed, there still existed the evil within. The company nor myself could hold onto the faint memories of glory and pride that once were and both PCW and Damon Warrens eventually faded to black in the eyes of the world." As Damon elaborates it is as if his anger is slowly being taken over by a fog of depression. His voice begins to lose the highs and lows of his emotional rant becoming a monotonous and lifeless retelling as his minds subconscious defense mechanisms activate to protect himself from his own vulnerability.
"And now that there is a reunion all of these old wounds feel like they are being reopened?" Rupert asks with a much clearer understanding. He makes note of the attachment injuries in Damon's former professional and amicable relationships and that he believes they are the root of the anger.
"HRG if you will, imagine being the black sheep of the family. Not because you wanted to be, but because other people decided for you that was your destiny. Now imagine that the same family who gave you that label asks for you to come to their family reunion. That same family invites you to come belong with them knowing full well you never have, nor ever will be a truly welcomed member of their family. I think if that were you HRG you might feel the same way I do."
"I can imagine how uncomfortable and frustrating that must feel. So when these feelings of anger flare up they can be caused by other sometimes more prevalent themes in someone's life instead of one particular incident."
" And what would these themes be?"
"Well there's death or loss. Losing a loved one can be a big trigger especially if one feels responsible. That sort of feeling can haunt someone and cause a lot of loathing. I'll be honest and say from what I've heard so far... I don't think that is the case here. Then there is lack of self confidence, feeling inadequate, but again I don't feel that applies to you."
"No I'm amazing and I was the first one to notice it. It's taken the rest of the world far too long to catch up to my revelation. At this HRG gives a clearly forced smile and nod as he jots down words like "narcissistic" and "inflated ego".
" Relationship problems, especially in the case of romance can be a major issue. How is your love and family life?
" Oh fantastic HRG. My husband is the most wonderfully supportive human being. He and I have obviously had disagreements as every couple does, but we are an incredibly strong and dedicated pair. Our son is also absolutely perfect. I'm so proud of the man he's becoming. So honestly family and love are non-issues in my life. I have been blessed.
"So that brings me to what I feel is the culprit in terms of being the spark that sets off this anger. The theme that is jumping out to me from what you have said is 'betrayal'. You feel betrayed by people close to you. Would you agree with this statement?" As HRG says the word betrayal fury takes over Damon's visage. For the first time in the session Damon sits up to face HRG with an inferno of angst and hatred raging in his eyes.
"Betrayal... I have been stabbed in the back to a greater degree than Caesar. I have been used and abused by so-called friends. I have had my closest allies turn their backs on me, degrade me, try to HUMILIATE ME! Yeah. I think betrayal is the bulls-eye here HRG. As Damon speaks his voice fails to hide his emotions, hitting a crescendo before he levels out to a more calm tone. He cradles his face in his hands for a second to try and regain composure before returning his gaze to HRG who sees true pain and hurt in the eyes of his patient.
" I guess I may do as Lewis Carroll said ' begin at the beginning and go on til you come to the end.' The first major betrayal in regards to this business that has ever been a double edged sword to me was from someone I once considered not just a friend, but a mentor...James Baker. As Damon begins to relay his experience it is as if he is on auto-pilot, the story flowing seemingly without conscious thought as the Nitemare's mind drifts back to the day he found out he had been fired for standing up for himself.
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Damon Warrens storms out of the office of Terrell Ryder, having just had an intense meeting with him and James Baker....his so called mentor. Outside the office waits Generation Next who look stressed with anticipation.
Let's go. We are done here. Damon walks angrily towards his friends and family. When his husband reaches out to him Damon pushes past and continues to the locker room. GeNext follows behind as their concern builds for the Nitemare.
"What happened Damon? Please tell me they didn't take Thunder's side!" Nathan inquires as they follow Damon into his locker room. The raven haired male ignores him at first, beginning to pack up all his stuff. As Nathan walks up and puts a hand on his husband's shoulder and Damon turns to face his partner.
"I've been fired. I no longer have a job here so I need to leave the building. So if you don't min... I need to get all of my stuff." Damon turns back to the job at hand. As he does this Nathan turns back to the rest of GeNext as a mix of confusion and anger takes over his visage. The group leaves Damon and heads back towards Ryder's office. Nathan whips open the door and the entirety of GeNext files in to confront their boss.
About ten minutes pass as Damon finishes up the last of his packing. He stops and punches his former locker, cringing from the pain and anger. Damon shakes it off and heads for the door, which opens as he gets there to reveal his friends and family once more, this time with a much different expression on their faces. When Damon looks at them he sees no concern, solely a fury mirroring his own.
" Let's go sweetheart. We're going home." Nathan reaches out to help Damon with his stuff. Damon pauses with confusion. Seeing this Nathan answers the question Damon has yet to ask. "We all quit in protest. It isn't right what's being done. We won't stand for it." Damon looks in disbelief and without a word just hugs his husband as a tear falls from his eye. The Nitemare nods and everyone except for Talia, who demanded time to go say goodbye to the fans before ending her contract, walks away from PCW and their so called friends. In his rage Damon fails to notice a certain Brit listening in with intrigue and concern.
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As Damon ends his story it is as if he comes out of a flashback fog, feeling the reality of his current situation take hold instead of the memory of his past. He turns to HRG wordlessly communicating how distraught he feels. HRG takes notice immediately and begins to feel genuine sympathy for a patient who not even fifteen minutes ago he felt was a narcissist. HRG feels like he's starting to put together the worn down and damaged puzzle that is Damon Warrens, but he feels there are a few more pieces he needs to complete it.
"I can see why you would feel that rejection and hurt. You were trying to protect them. You wanted your mentor....more importantly your friend to believe you and support you... and he didn't.
"No.... no he didn't..." As Damon says this his voice fades away to a whisper and his gaze falls to his chest as he takes a moment more to process.
"But eventually it turned out that you were correct about the situation and you got your job back and you got re-inducted. Did you feel then that the betrayal was behind you?"
" Not at all. James was still the same person. He was still the same guy who found some new shiny project and tossed me aside. You know... he didn't apologize to me...really apologize to me after I came back? He hated having to admit he was wrong. He held back myself and my partner at the time Liam Reilly. He convinced his bosses to keep us out of the spotlight. To limit our TV time. Even when I was re-inducted... that whole segment of us making up only happened because his BOSS told him to out of fear that I sue for wrongful termination and defamation of character."
As Damon rants on tears of pure hatred and pain trickle out of his eyes like water just beginning to break through the crack of a dam.
" So you really haven't had a chance to get real closure because you don't feel any sort of genuine remorse from James. Was this the only .. I guess back-stabbing sort of incident between the two of you? It sounds like there is much more to this whole situation.
"James and I had a fling I guess you could say. So there was a little feeling of rejection based around that, but honestly what pissed me off the most was when he decided he would try to infiltrate my family." Any tears that were streaking Damon's cheeks seemingly evaporated as Damon's temper flared.
" He tried to infiltrate your family? How so?"
Damon begins to drift back into his own thoughts while words begin to pour out of his mouth as if his speech was on a trauma driven autopilot. His mind takes him specifically back to the day he found out his brother-in-law was in a relationship with James Baker.
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Damon Warrens sits on the back porch of his stunning San Diego home, specifically relaxing by the pool on a poolside lounge chair soaking in the beautiful California sun. All of his cares seemingly wash away as the light and heat bathes his body. Damon hears the patio door open and out comes his husband who is dressed not quite formal, but much more decorous than his everyday attire. As Damon looks at the love of his life he notices a sort of anxiety etched ever so faintly on Nathan's face causing a mix of concern and intrigue in the raven haired man.
" Hi sweetheart! I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be heading out. I'm meeting my brother for dinner! Won't be back until much later." Nathan kisses his husband on the forehead before trying to leave as quickly and inconspicuously as he can, but he is stopped by Damon's hand grabbing his own.
"Why the rush? If you give me a minute to get ready I'll come with."
"Honestly I don't think it will be your sorta night out. I'm going to meet Aaron's new partner.
" Oh? We could make it a double date."
" Trust me... you won't want to go... just please trust me and I'll see you later."
Nathan again tries to leave, but this time Damon's hand catches Nathan's wrist with a little force. Nathan looks back knowing Damon's suspicious as his eyes try to silently communicate to the raven that it's better off he not know.
"You're hiding something from me..... who is Aaron seeing?
Nathan stays silent as he feels the grip tighten on his wrist.
" Who. Is. He. Seeing."
" .... he's seeing James.
Despite being outside for a moment it as if all air leaves the area and simultaneously as if all of the colour leaves Damon's face. Within moments however the colour returns in spades as a furious red hue spreads like wildfire across the normally pale skin of the "Nitemare". His grip gets even tighter on Nathan's wrist, but Nathan is able to pull free before beginning to leave to avoid what is sure to be an explosion of conflicting emotions that he isn't currently capable of dealing with.
" Nathan...
There is a clear and biting venom as Damon calls his husband's name prompting the blonde to turn around as he reaches the door.
" Your brother..... is dead to me.
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For the last time Damon fades back into reality as he finds himself again staring at the walls of HRG's office. Without a word he stands up and walks out of the therapy session. HRG goes to stop him politely, but the raven haired man has already left. As Damon exits the front door of the building a sense of clarity seems to wash over him and with it a smirk that can only be described as murderous creeps onto the Nitemare's face.
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I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately. To find out what I am missing... and what I need to gain from this so-called family reunion. What is it that once again is bringing me in between the ropes of a company that never appreciated me and in the home of a family that never wanted me. Is it greed for the spotlight... is it a thirst for vengeance... an unavoidable drive to project my pain onto those that inflicted it unto me? I realized in this soul search that it was all of those things... but also so much more. For when I searched my soul I discovered I had not one to find. Had it wasted away because of all of the continued injustice and mistreatment? No no no ...that had forged my soul in steel. See it wasn't there because many moons ago I walked out the doors of PCW one last time and as I looked into the night sky contemplating all of my hatred of one James "Chloe Savage" Baker... as as I spoke aloud my desire to ruin my tormentor's life at all costs I decided to make a deal with the devil. I offered up my soul to any wicked being that would have it with the promise that one day I would get to exact every second of revenge I felt entitled to upon one James Baker.
I tell you this to show you that while you have spent the last seven years making an attempt to reinvent yourself to be a better person.. I have remained unchanged. I have for seven years continued to be the one person who relentlessly sees through your lies and deceit. I have been the one person who champions against your false heroism. You have managed to charm the fans in this industry into believing you are some poor victim rising against the odds, but you cannot trap me in that web of lies as you once did. I am the harbinger of truth that the world doesn't understand it needs so desperately.
These fans don't know the real you, but Chloe...I know the real you.
You are a manipulator. You use all the people around you for your own gain, but convince them of your selflessness.
You are a terrible parent. Your son wanted nothing more than to make you proud, but you were far too busy chasing the dimming spotlight that you couldn't even give him the time of day. Then you act with surprise and pain when your son stands by my side as one more person enlightened to your misdeeds.
You are a tyrant. You spent every second of your time in charge abusing your power behind the scenes.. holding down anyone you didn't like. You blocked people like the New Era from speaking out. You put up red tape so those that deserved it couldn't get title shots.... but then handed them out to the undeserving.
You call yourself Savage, but you are merely a tired, worn down reinvention of your old self. You have forgotten your viciousness. You have forgotten how to eviscerate your foes mentally and physically. You have forgotten how to play mental chess and win the match before it has even started. You have become the Old Yeller of this industry. Your usefulness and abilities having long faded away.. and it's time that someone takes you behind the barn and pulls the trigger. I promise to be that person.
Miss Savage you act as your own herald, singing what you feel are impressive feats of your own as if to intimidate me before our final battle. You managed a championship reign to hold on to whatever remnants existed of your relevance. I meanwhile did everything you said I couldn't. You said the New Era just wasn't quite good enough to hold the tag titles....we did it. You said that I just wasn't World Championship material and could never have a "legit reign"... I did it. You said I was good, but not quite on your level, that I'd never be able to beat you... I did it.
When we meet at PCW's Reunion Show we meet under circumstances you never thought that we would...we meet on MY terms. No longer are we doing things your way Chloe. We may be ending this in the castle you built, but it is my one man army that will burn it to the ground. I am finally the one in control.
With this in mind I give you one final fair warning. You think you know the man you step into the ring with. You think our matches in CCP will tell you everything to expect from me. You are inherently incorrect. As I said dear Chloe I am a man with no soul and only one way to gain it back. I have only one way to walk away from this battle and be able to live my life without a demon eating away at me and that is to make sure you do not leave that arena on your own power. You seek to put a feud to rest. I seek so much more. I seek to prove to the PCW faithful that I was always their unsung hero. I seek to prove to you that your time is over. I seek to prove to myself that I am unstoppable. I seek vengeance and all of the rewards that come with it.
Always remember the words that echoed throughout my time in PCW Chloe..
Life is paiN.
