PROMO: Violator, part II

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

October 18, 1996.

 

It’s 2 AM, and he sits by her side for the 7th night this week.

 

This is becoming a bad habit. This is becoming an addiction. It will be the end of them.

 

He knows that his friend knows, at this point. How could he not? They were careful to cover their tracks the first time, the second time, but then they got complacent. She got too happy. They got too eager. People are starting to talk.

 

They got reckless.

 

A spilt bottle of wine lays on the carpet, red froth trickling out the brim. A half empty bottle of margarita mix and all manner of discarded liquors indicate a week of splendid illusion tempered with disregard. The cleaning bill will be high, but they are young, and they are riding high. He has a contract now, for the first time in his career. All-Pro has given him the opportunity of a lifetime: guaranteed pay, two shows a week, and a chance to make a name for himself.

 

But.

 

There’s always a but.

 

She is the icing on the cake. Just what he’s needed. Sought. Hoped for. Now, he really does have it all: guaranteed pay, two shows a week, and a chance to make a name for himself. And a wonderful woman in his life.

 

If he could spend one night in his trailer…then, this might end. Suspicions would fade. But he’s been here once, and now he’s stuck here forever.

 

He understands that there’s another man with this same dream out there, probably in his own trailer down in the park right now. A man he’d call friend…and yet someone he’d stab in the back, just like that.

 

No. It’s not backstabbing if it’s what she wants. That’s what he’ll tell himself. That’s what he’ll tell himself to the very end.

 

But word travels fast in Phoenix, and it travels faster through this small promotion. They go to work everyday, and they act like everything is normal. A cup of coffee, a grin at lunch. We’re both playing each other, he thinks. Neither of us knows for sure what the other knows. We play a dangerous game.

 

“Did you say something?” Her whisper warms him, and for a little while, he forgets about everything outside room 313.

 

“No, Jess…I didn’t say a thing. I was only daydreaming.”

 

“It’s night, silly.”

 

“Then…night-dreaming? That better?”

 

The last hint of light catches her smile. “Much…much, much better.” Radiant.

 

Her name is Jessica Matheson, and she might be worth it all.

 

---

 

Edwin MacPhisto stares out the window of his hotel room. The sirens fill the city streets tonight, and the spray of the hoses fights the fire, smoldering out the burning monogram on the façade of the building. Chris Wilson has done a number on the world tonight, and done plenty to his already racked mind. But at this point, a burning building is just the icing on the cake.

 

He is alone tonight, as usual.

 

He stands next to the bed, looking out the window. The flames. Looking at the wall.

 

Punching the wall.

 

Punching the wall.

 

Punching the wall.

 

Punching that face.

 

On the streets below, a twinkling rain patters against the sidewalk. After a few seconds, it ceases, and the perplexed doorman, brow furrowed, walks over to investigate. He bends over and touches one of the sparkling raindrops, and the fragment of glass opens up the tip of his thumb. With a gasp and a wince, he pulls back.

 

Upstairs, a man wraps a towel around his hand. In the morning, the white hotel towel will be traced with a dried amber. A fourth-floor breeze rolls in through what’s left of the window, and he settles in to bed.

 

He does not dream. Not even for a minute.

 

All he can do…is wait.

 

James sleeps alone tonight.

[Guest Kibagami]

The plot deepens, and it thickens, and does other plot-appropriate things.

 

Great stuff, as always, as ever.

 

S.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

As noted through AIM, the beginning of this confused the fuck out of me.

 

However, as always, it was written very effectively and now I'm curious what the hell Edwin has to do with Silent.

[Guest Thoth]

AHAHAHHAHAHAH!

[Guest realitycheck]

I second Thoth's notion. Edwin drops a couple hints in here enough to make the really, REALLY slow people finally start to think that just MAYBE Silent and Edwin's promos are connected. He also drops enough hints to make the moderately paced people (IE: Me) actually think they know where this is headed. Okay, so I swiped that from you on AIM. Bite me.

 

Still, great stuff. You've got me following it on a leash, Edwin. Feel proud.

 

-Z

[Guest kelloggs]

Jessica MATHESON eh? HMMMM....

 

I love it as I've read every one of these back and forth promos. And by george I think I'm like Z. Go moderately paced people. w00t!

 

M. "Thirdz Thoth's notion" Francis

[Guest chirs3]

I have absolutely NO idea where this is headed. Good thing it's written as well as it is, or I wouldn't care either.

 

But seriously, forks.

[Guest Rabbi_wilson13]

I'm thinking we're going to see a brother/sister/lover connection thing eventually, but who knows.

 

I'm like Raynor. Good thing its written with Edwin's usual excellence, or I wouldn't care and/or would be lost.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

I know it's vague, but stick with it, guys.

 

If you need some help, go read all of Silent's recent promos on the JL board. They will give you some more of the clues you need. I'm going to go find the most important one and bump it to the top. If you have the time to look, it's called "The Dark Is Rising."

 

Yeah, it's asking a lot, but everyone who's read these latest promos of mine seems interested. A little more background will help you immensely. Thanks. Expect a lot more clarity with each passing promo, also.

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

Losing the women he loved many moons ago, recently finding out she is dead!? The memories stick to you for ever... what if I never let her go?

 

 

Now... at the top, after all the sacrifices, he has achieved his dream... but was it worth it... was letting her go worth it? She's gone now... she ain't ever coming back, only in the memories...

 

He now takes out his anger on the one he hates most... the man who had nothing to do with this... Wilson... will he destroy him, or willhejobhistitletoLerrinBreggan will he be bested?

 

 

 

Or what if... he turns to the darkside? The side Wilson was talking about.

 

I have a tear in my eye.

[Guest Lerrin Breggan]

The story is going along very well. I do like how Edwin is not giving away too much, but just enough to keep everyone coming back for more. As I continue catching up on the latest promo's, and when i do Storm... I am realize the high quality of work coming from everyone involved!

 

Edwin, excellent promo good sir.

[Guest Drew_K]

Beautifully done, Edwin. The whole world comes crashing down, symbolically at least, and Edwin reacts accordingly. Really a great, if cryptic, look into the psyche of the character. I can't wait to see how it will play out.

 

One thing I might note. You wrote magnificently, and have me on the edge of my seat, as I stated, but I'm not the slowest guy, and I had to read really carefully to catch some of the subtle bits in here. Repetition is bad, but it's not like you'd be giving anything away, right?

 

Anyway, no matter what, Edwin, you continue to write matches like Edwin, Promo like Edwin, and help folks out like Edwin.

 

And that's why Edwin is the man.