PROMO: "The Dark Is Rising."

[Guest Kibagami]

PROMO: “The Dark Is Rising.”

 

To defeat your enemy, attack where he is not.

This is the way of the Tao.

 

-The Sun Tzu, or The Art Of War

 

He sits alone in the showers as the water cascades down his back. Steam clouds the room, and sweat drips down his face. He brushes a stray lock of black and silver hair from his eyes, wincing as he moves his neck. He nurses his wounds the same way he has always done…in silence.

 

He should not have lost that match. The Demonstar Driver- even the watered-down version he’d been using in the JL- should have been enough to put Renegade away. He’d broken men in Japan, ended entire careers with that move. And a low blow? He should have seen that coming from a brawler like Renegade. He fights the same in the ring or in a bar. There was no excuse for his loss.

 

He’s getting soft. He’s losing focus. Every minute he sits here alone, he grows softer. Weaker. Less able to accomplish his goal.

 

Well, then, perhaps he needs to be reminded why he’s here. Time to pay his old friend a visit, in the flesh. He wonders if his friend has changed very much in the time they’ve been apart. Six years is a very long time. He could be a different man by now.

 

But probably not.

=====================================================

 

SJL Commish and style consultant extraordinaire, Edwin MacPhisto, is disturbed by an abrupt rapping at his office door. “Yessah! Enter!” hollers the commissioner, not bothering to look up…until someone begins tapping a familiar black cane against the side of his desk. The crown prince of flash and panache looks up from his papers to see the Silent One gazing down at him expectantly, a sickening grin plastered across his face.

 

“Well, look who it is. Mr. I-am-such-an-evil-death-defying-badass himself.” Edwin rises from his chair, his brow furrowed with anger as he begins to berate the Clan’s JL representative. “You’ve damn near crippled at least three of my admittedly tiny roster in as many weeks. You no-showed for your match against Ced Ordonez. You just got your Clannite behind handed to you by Renegade, and I’ll be DAMNED if I’m going to give you a title shot after the finals. So what, exactly, do you want from me?”

 

Silent removes his trenchcoat lazily, revealing a faded “APW” t-shirt underneath. The shirt is white, but stained with red across the chest…eerily reminescint of the scars Silent already bears. The Silent One removes his glasses and looks Edwin MacPhisto in the eyes for the first time in almost six year.s

 

“Now, Edwin, is that really how you greet your old friends?”

 

The commissioner stumbles back, a look of shock evident on his face. He hesitantly sits back down in his chair, his eyes wide and staring, as if Silent were some sort of ghost.

 

“Jesus…Nathan…is it really you underneath all of that?”

 

”The one, the only. I see you’ve made quite the well-respected name for yourself here. They even let you run the minor leagues, huh? Shades of the old federation, don’t you think?”

 

”Well, yes, a little…no, God, no, this has nothing to do with Phoenix, Nathan. We talked about this before. What happened to you? Where the hell did you go? What have you done to yourself? Look at you, man!”

 

“Shut up, Edwin. Talk is cheap, as you used to be so fond of pointing out. There’s a tape you should see sometime, you know. One of those indie federations. They do some crazy things there, Edwin. Somebody could get hurt out there one of these days.”

 

The import of Silent’s words hits the commissioner like a ton of bricks. “No…that’s not true. There’s no tape, Nathan. THERE’S NO FUCKING TAPE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? Let it go, will you? It’s been SIX YEARS! I am a different person. YOU are a different person! There’s no going back, Nathan! It’s over, it’s done, there’s no way to change it! Just let it go…let it go.”

 

Silent pauses, as if he’s considering Edwin’s suggestion…and decides against it.

 

“You’re wrong, friend. You’re no different than you ever were. It’s just a show to you. That’s all right. I expected nothing else. Jessica would have been disappointed, though. She died in December.”

 

”WHAT? How? You didn’t…”

 

”It was an aneurysm, Edwin. She died in her sleep. There was nothing to be done, except attend the funeral. Funny. I didn’t see you there.”

 

”We’re not going to have this conversation again, Nathan.”

 

In a flash, the Silent One’s cane is eye-level with the commissioner of the SJL. Silent’s eyes burn madly in his skull as he shoves MacPhisto back against the wall with one hand. “Don’t call me that again. Nathan isn’t with us anymore. You certainly helped to get rid of him, so get used to using my name. And that name is Silent…right, James? Or would you rather I call you Jimmy from now on?”

 

MacPhisto doesn’t move.

 

“Good. Don’t forget it again.”

 

Silent removes his cane from Edwin’s neck, and the commissioner wheels his chair slowly back to his desk. “I have not forgotten Jessica, I have not forgotten Phoenix, and I damn sure haven’t forgotten you. We will settle things between us, MacPhisto, one way or another. There’s a PPV coming up soon. I expect to be…present…for it. If not, there is the tape. And yes, there is a tape. I’d watch your copy closely, Edwin, very closely tonight. There’s a lot of history you’ll want to be familiar with, very soon.”

 

The Silent One turns to leave as Edwin MacPhisto tries to hide his slightly trembling hands. “You can’t threaten me, you psychopathic son of a bitch. In case you forgot, I AM in charge of this league, and I’ll be damned and damned again if you’re still in it tomorrow. You’re fired. As of now.”

 

Silent turns slowly, facing Edwin at his desk. “Come now, Edwin, you don’t really mean that. In fact, I’m sure you don’t. This is going to be the biggest show the SWF has ever seen, old friend. And if there’s one thing about you that never, ever changes, it’s that you love to be the center of attention.”

 

“And me, well, I’ll see what I can do to arrange that for you. Sweet dreams, MacPhisto.”

 

Edwin raises one hand to his forehead as the Clansman exits his office, coat trailing behind him. His head is pounding, his mind is racing, his heart has leaped up into his chest. Of all the demons that could’ve come back to haunt him, this is definitely the worst. Not because he is so frightening. No, the Carnival, and MacPhisto, have dealt with deranged minds before.

 

But not one who knew the truth of things so intimately.

 

Not one who knows the secret heart of the man called Edwin MacPhisto…

 

Perhaps he has been too hasty in revealing himself. No matter. After all, attack where your enemy is not, correct? Nekura had taught him that much before he returned to Japan to attend to…to some necessary business. The Clan has been useful, to an extent.

 

But now, the charades are coming to an end. The endgame approaches, and the masks are off. The dark, so to speak, is rising. And there is no telling what-or who- will be consumed…

 

END PROMO

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

::applause::

 

And that...is all I have to say about that.

[Guest Grand Slam]

Wow.

 

Really, that is all I can say...

 

This has a very tragic / mythic feel to it. Keep it up guys.

[Guest Drew_K]

I gave you an in depth analysis of this promo in the chat room, Silent, so I don't need to say anything here.

 

Except...

 

+1!

[Guest Suicide King]

When the dark comes rising, six shall turn it back.

Three from the circle, three from the track.

Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone.

Five shall return, and one go alone.

 

Man, I loved those books as a kid.

[Guest Kibagami]

And that's a bonus point for King.

 

See CIA for your cookie.

 

S.

[Guest ErekT2k]

Kudos, Silent.

 

IMO, this promo did a great job of reversing the status of the two characters. I was more on Silent's side than Edwin's because of when reading the promo, I felt like Silent was looking for revenge or something. Ionno, it's just me.

 

And I need my nap.

 

Kudos again Silent.

[Guest Thoth]

Very good. These promos remind me of days long past.

[Guest Drew_K]

I'm giving out cookies now? Cool.

 

*Sets up stand*

 

Get your cookies right here, all kinds! Chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, raisin, cinnamon, gingerbread, oatmeal, and more!

 

This worthless post brought to you by the number....

+1

[Guest kelloggs]

Silent that was a masterful promo. And I agree with Erek. It put me on your side. 3 dimensional characters and the beginning of something huge to occur in the SWF. I like the personal feel and I think more characters could use this style of promo. So Edwin is Jimbo...interesting...All I can say is that was nice.

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

Jeez Silent...

 

I really hope you keep this stuff up.

 

 

 

King... I never read those books, but that's a kickass quote.

[Guest SupaTaft]

Shivers up my spine reading it for the second time. I am looking forward to seeing what this "endgame" is going to be. Good stuff!

-Taft

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

Bump.

 

Egoizing, yes. But to everyone who's been asking and wondering where the hell any of this might be going, been being totally confused by my WF promos...this may help you.

 

This was the first promo written that had to do with this present tale. This will get you in on the ground floor.