Post by Peter Vaughn on Feb 28, 2024 15:50:58 GMT -5
~The picture comes up on a dreary-looking day in East Texas. The skies are dark and cloudy, and the wind blows heavily through the grass, letting us know that a dust storm is always possible. The shot moves to the side, showing us a group of people clustered around a cemetery plot. As the camera moves in closer, we can hear the preacher speaking his final eulogy for the deceased.~
Preacher: As we lay Mrs. Angela Hill to rest, we remember all the good deeds she performed in her life. We recognize the benefits that she brought to everything in her life, not the least of which is shown in her family that is here today. Their contributions to our world can all be traced back to the hard work and dedication she brought to her life. She may be mourned, but her memories will always bring happiness to those who loved her.
~The picture shifts from the preacher to the individuals nearby. We see Thomas Hill sitting in his wheelchair, tears still rolling down his cheeks as his father leans over him, fighting his own emotions. Nearby, we see Sadie Anderson, dressed in black, rubbing the shoulder of her fiance, Peter Vaughn. He’s dressed in a suit for once, leaving his coveralls behind in order to show respect to his mother. But Vaughn’s face shows no emotion, no tears, and no sorrow. He is an expressionless mask. Inside his head, though, it’s a different story.~
You know that you have the power to change this outcome now, Vaughn.
~The sinister voice of the demon Amaymon drifts through Vaughn’s consciousness. It’s part of him now, thanks to the amulet he wears under his suit.~
With my energy behind you, you could easily restore Angela Hill to life. You could stop your half-brother’s misery.
~We see Vaughn glance over at Thomas, as we hear his internal voice echo out.~
Vaughn: You still seek to trick me, but I know better, Amaymon. Reversing my mother’s death means reversing your entrapment. That… will never happen.
You think I am powerless here? I will be free eventually.
Vaughn: Your power is mine to use. Your followers are scattered.
Those useless peons failed me. I care not about them.
Vaughn: Then tell me where to find them. The amulet commands you.
~Amaymon’s snarling can briefly be heard, before fading away, as we leave Vaughn’s mind to return to the funeral. As the ceremony wraps up, the coffin begins to be lowered into the cemetery plot, and the crowd disperses. Vaughn steps over to Thomas, staring at him.~
Vaughn: Are you okay, Thomas?
Thomas: I’ll make it, Peter. Thank you. I just wish I knew why she was up on that cliff in the first place.
Vaughn: All I know is that she took me there as a kid. Maybe it meant something to her. I don’t know.
Thomas: You’re holding together well.
Vaughn: I guess it’s different for me. But I feel for you, Thomas. Truly.
~Thomas nods, as he’s wheeled away. Mr. Hill doesn’t even want to look at Vaughn. He watches them go, then looks back at Sadie.~
Vaughn: I’ve got some things to take care of, Sadie. Are you okay driving home?
Sadie: Of course. But will you be okay alone?
Vaughn: Well, that’s the thing…
JMont: Yo Vaughn!!
~Both turn to see Joe Montuori walking over to them. He rather stands out, wearing a Shawn Merriman jersey and Hector Malvados mask. A few people nearby react, insulted at him showing up to a funeral like this, but JMont ignores them.~
JMont: La última vez que fui a un lugar de enterramiento, oriné sobre la tumba de la ex esposa de Goth. Cuando debes ir, debes ir.
~Vaughn shakes his head and cannot believe what JMont just said. Both men brushed up on their Spanish when they took on The Malvados so they were not at a disadvantage during the match.~
Vaughn: You know I’m still friends with Goth, right? So do you feel more ‘evil’ with that mask on?
JMont: I think I am going to keep this mask on for our next round in the S.E.X. Cup. You can refer to me as JVADO!
~Vaughn knows it's time to go because JMont or shall we say JVado is getting in that zone.~
Vaughn: Gotta go, Sadie. I’ll be back later.
~With that, Vaughn walks away with JVado, as Sadie watches him go. She looks concerned, but there’s nothing more for her to do. They get to the parking lot, where the Cadillac Eldorado Convertible that was ‘borrowed’ from Elvis’ estate is waiting. Vaughn goes around the side in front of JVado..~
Vaughn: I’m driving.
JVADO: Who made you Daisy? We all know I have the better driving record since I grew up in New York City. Been driving since i was 12 years old. I remember when I stole my first Taxi Cab.
Vaughn: I don’t care how long you’ve been driving, I’m the one who knows where we need to go, and this car is too damn old to have GPS.
~Vaughn starts up the engine, getting it running. He then grabs the black mask laying on the floor, picking it up and staring at it for a few moments before putting it to the side. It’s just a little too dangerous to drive with it on. They drive off, heading down the highway. JVado hangs an arm out the convertible, seeing it as a good time to talk about the future.~
JVADO: Darth Vader. Iron Man. Zorro. Batman. None of them have anything on JVADO here. If any of them want to try me, it will be NIGHT NIGHT for them.
~Vaughn still cannot get over the fact that JVado showed up to a funeral wearing a Merriman jersey and Hector’s mask. But if you know JVado, he will do anything to get under your skin and make sure that he is the center of attention.~
JVADO: It would be a true embarrassment to lose to a team that I weigh more than combined. I'm 275 alone and they are 255 combined. I mean, even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while and that is what Ava Arthur is. She is a blind squirrel that got lucky at the Bohemian Bash but that luck won't happen again. There is a better chance of finding a 5 leaf clover than Ava getting a victory over me again. And with the International Champion by my side, there is no chance in hell of that happening.
~Vaughn grins, reliving his triumph over Matthew Knox at the DPI.~
Vaughn: As the only three-time International Champion in history, I can guarantee we’ll be destroying Lights Out. Ava has tried her luck against me a few times in the past, and every time, she’s come up short. She was unable to turn her Bash win into success, failing again and again to stand against me at the top of the ladder. I’ve beaten her in singles, I’ve beaten her in War Games, and now I’ll humiliate her in her own specialty, the tag match. Because between us, JVado, we have the force of a thousand champions to bring down upon them. They have absolutely no shot against us.
JVADO: Ava Arthur and Alessia Angelo. I find it cute that you both have the initials AA. You are already halfway there to the Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings because after myself and Vaughn beat you that bad, you are going to want to drink your lives away. But don't get too drunk because I want you to witness Vaughn and myself winning the S.E.X. Cup. At least you can say that you lost to the winners.
Vaughn: Small comfort to them, but they’ll need something to hold onto after we slaughter them. We’re making it a point to destroy every former Duos Championship team in this tournament, because we want there to be no denying the greatness of the team of JVado and Vaughn.
~Both Vaughn and JVado laugh, even as Vaughn cuts around another slow driver, continuing on the highway.~
JVADO: Everyone was doubting that myself and Vaughn could work together. 2 of the biggest egos in the industry as a team seems like a recipe for disaster. Most teams YES, but we both have the same agenda when it comes to the S.E.X. Cup. Win the whole fuckin thing and shove it down everyone’s throats. Right now, we are the team that no one wants to run into. Vaughn is coming off a HUGE win over Knox to regain the International Title. I just went 50 minutes inside a Hell in a Cell and defeated Chris Page for a second time in a row. The momentum is on our side right now. The Malvado’s felt it first hand when we were just getting started and now the engine is roaring at top speeds which spells the end for Lights Out.
~The top speed comment gave Vaughn an adrenaline rush as he stepped on the gas..~
JVADO:We took the mask of Hector Malvado in the first round. And after we beat Lights Out, we are going to take a piece of them as well as we enter the finals. When it's all said and done, not only will we have the S.E.X. Cup, we will have a piece of everyone that we faced and defeated.
Vaughn: Maybe we can hang onto a clump of hair that got yanked out ‘accidentally’. Or maybe a fingernail or two will come loose from their glossy hands, and we can hang them on a necklace to show off. Hell, really, all we need is a bloody handkerchief in the end to represent the downfall of Lights Out.
~Vaughn’s new bloodlust is rather disturbing, but it doesn’t bother JVado at all, as he continues to talk.~
JVADO: Everyone thinks I am solely focused on Junko right now because of what I did to her at Uncivil War. How I attack her heritage every Fury. The social media attacks. But let's get one thing straight right now. I am not taking my eyes off the prize. Unlike Junko, my eyes are wide open and all I can see is the S.E.X. Cup. Everyone can have their doubts about my focus, but as long as Vaughn knows my head is in the game, that's what matters. And to be honest, speaking of head game, I heard Ava and Alessia have some of the worst. And, I'm no rat, so my sources won't be leaked.
~JVado is enjoying himself, as Vaughn makes another turn, this time taking them off the highway and onto a dirt road. The convertible doesn’t handle it well, but they keep moving forward.~
JVADO:And what really irks me is that thanks to Lights Out, Me and Peter are not in the Main Event for this Fury. How do you not have a team of JVado and Vaughn in the Main Event? The reason is because no one wants to see Lights Out and everyone knows who is going to win the match before it even happens. And everyone knows how big my ego is. Just like in NBA JAM where you need to hold up and press turbo/pass to get the big head, the Main Event is what makes JVado’s EGO even bigger. But, now you are going to get the sadistic, deranged, unhinged, crazed lunatic version because of where we are placed on the card because of you. You are going to learn first hand why you are out of your league. There are reasons why some players never make it above AA level while others zoom up the ranks and become stars. You are looking at 2 of the biggest stars in the industry today. Peter Vaughn and JVado. If TPW made a video game for the PS5, we would have 99 ratings, while Ava Arthur would be a 45 and Alessia Angelo would be a 44. You will ask why the 1 rating difference. Ava gets the 1 rating nod cause you got lucky at the Bash. But once me and Vaughn win the S.E.X. Cup, we will have 100 ratings.
Vaughn: Oh, hell, they’ll have to increase the ratings score for us, JMont. We’ll be the only players anyone ever wants to fight with, because nobody else is an instant win. Ava & Alessia will just have to settle for fighting over something else, like who gets the first ice bath to nurse their full-body bruises once we’re done with them. JVado and The Mechanic are going to leave them black and blue for a month, hiding in the darkness from what we do to them. Ava, Alessia, you’re both taking the JKO Plunge.
~With that, Vaughn pulls the car over to the side, kicking up a cloud of dust as he parks the convertible. He then points to the right, where we can see what appears to be a cave entrance of some kind. There are a few vehicles nearby, but nothing that looks too suspicious..~
Vaughn: This is where they are.
JVADO: Time Out! And Yes, this is a legit Time Out, not like the one Chris Webber called back in 1993 versus North Carolina. Who is THEY?
Vaughn: All you need to know is that the people hidden here will keep hunting me if they get the chance. I… have something of theirs. They won’t stop until they… get it back. So I intend to give them no opportunity at all. This ends here. Tonight.
JVADO: Why do I have a feeling that you knew all along that we were coming here? We are supposed to be a team, Vaughn. No hidden secrets or agenda’s.
Vaughn: We are a team. That’s why you’re here to back me up. As for knowing about this place, let’s just say I have a very strong source working for me now.
~Vaughn’s hand briefly goes up around his neck, where we can see a faint red glow emanating from underneath his suit. He steps out of the vehicle, taking the suit coat off, and grabbing a large barbed-wire bat from the back, along with his favorite rifle.~
JVADO: Is that the same Barbed Wire Bat named Barbie that I used to not only beat Chris Page Once, but TWICE? Poop, give me that bat. I have been hitting more Homeruns than Shoheo Ohtani lately. Time to show the Japanese what is up because Junko is going to get knocked out of the park, courtesy of me. But right now, Junko is on deck. Who do you need me to hit right now?
~Vaughn hands over the barbed-wire bat without hesitation, then reaches into the back of the convertible again. It has amazing storage capacity for its time, as Vaughn pulls out a heavy-duty sledgehammer.~
Vaughn: I’m fine with this. I’ve always been better with tools, and I’ve broken a few kneecaps along the way. We’re going to need to do more than that here, though. Follow me.
~Vaughn leads the way, heading into the cavern, with JVado swinging the bat a few times before following. We cut from them to inside the cave, where you can tell they’re going old-school by having torches burning on the walls. This is a true cultist lair. We find ourselves inside one of the larger ‘rooms’, where several Amaymon cultists are working on brewing a mystical potion of some sort. They’re using a hot plate, so they’re not completely traditional. The leader stirs it once, bringing up the spoon, which appears to be dissolving.~
Leader: This will work perfectly. Our savior will be freed. He will not suffer the torture of ensnarement much longer. This potion from the ancient texts will destroy the Amulet of Lovec once and for all!
~The leader laughs, even as another cultist steps forward.~
Cultist: Not to question you, but wouldn’t any acid work? Or what about just breaking the amulet itself? Throw it off a building or something?
Leader: That is not the ancient way, Steven.
Cultist: Because they didn’t have access to hydrofluoric acid back then.
Leader: We have talked about your attitude, Steven. Do we need to talk to the council again?
~As Steven shakes his head, we suddenly hear the sound of several gunshots taking place. The leader straightens up, shocked. A body flies by the cavern entrance, followed by JVado appearing. He smirks, swinging the bat again as he moves past the room. Vaughn then steps through, taking note of everyone in there.~
Vaughn: Hello, boys. Long time no see.
Leader: It is the blasphemer! He has our god!! Quickly, the potion!!
~The leader grabs hold of the black kettle and throws the liquid forward… with Vaughn quickly side-stepping the splash. It hits Steven, who yells out and begins running around the cave, smoking. Everyone stops and watches his mad dash all around, before he finally runs out into the tunnel, still screaming. The leader looks stunned as Vaughn turns back to him, raising up the sledgehammer in one hand and the rifle in the other.~
Leader: You… you won’t get away with this. Our forces are legion!
Vaughn: Amaymon has told me all about you and your ‘work’ for him. He is NOT pleased.
~The glow gets brighter from Vaughn’s chest, as the amulet shines a dark, sparkling red.~
Vaughn: He says your sacrifice… is accepted.
~With that, Vaughn points the rifle at the nearby torch, firing at it. The shot is perfect, causing the torch to fall apart from the blast. It becomes pitch black in the room… except for Vaughn’s glowing eyes, now the same red as the amulet~
Vaughn: Lights Out.
~There are more screams and shouting as the cultists try to fight back… to no avail. Several more gunshots are heard, followed by the crunching of a sledgehammer hitting home. We fade away from the scene.~
~The screen shifts back to outside the cave, where Vaughn and JVado are both leaning on the convertible. Both have some blood splatter on their outfits, showing the after-effects of what just happened. Vaughn reaches into the car and pulls out a package of Peanut M&Ms, shaking some out into his hand and munching on them. He then offers them to JVado, who turns them down. Vaughn shrugs, then looks towards the camera.~
Vaughn: You look back through the history of professional wrestling, and there’s never been a superior team put together than JVado and Vaughn. The wrestling world has been put on notice. You see, I’ve done almost everything I can do in Thunder Pro Wrestling. I have made this place my home base, annihilating everyone who has gotten into my path. But I still have one final goal left to me: The SEX Cup. I’ve been watching this trophy get handed out over the last few years, and I’ve wanted badly to get my hands on it. Now, with JVado in my corner, it’s virtually guaranteed to take place. There’s no possibility that we’re being stopped by two teenybopper lightweights.
JVADO: There is a better chance of Justin Bieber beating Connor McGregor in the Octagon than Lights Out taking us down. Everyone thinks that the former Duo’s Champs are one of the best Female Duo’s around, but I beg to differ. I would choose Romy and Michelle over them. Poop, I would go with Thelma and Louise, or even Cher and Dionne. Point is, myself and Vaughn are going to show the world that Lights Out only applies to Shawn Merriman, formerly of the San Diego Chargers. After this victory, which moves us to the finals, The Lights will be off for them. Maybe Vaughn can be an electrician and help them figure out how to get the Lights back ON!
“Sometimes you have to go through Darkness to get to the Light.”
JVADO: We see the light at the end of the tunnel. We see the S.E.X. Cup Trophy in our grasps. We will fight through all the demons and competition which is the darkness to get what we want. Lights On. Lights Off. It doesn't matter. JVado and Vaughn are going to shut this whole tournament down and walk away with the CUP that is missing from the hall of fame resumes. The LIGHTS will be shining bright on us after taking down another former DUO’S champ.
~The two men turn and get into the convertible, even as a small explosion is heard, coming from the cave. The car drives away, leaving the scene of destruction behind. Behind them, we see the cave entrance, where a single individual comes stumbling out of the smoke. The figure, barely recognizable, glares after the departing vehicle. He staggers away, as we fade out.~
