Promo - Right Into The Bliss

[Guest Crowe]

I know this feeling. I remember this feeling. I loathe this feeling.

 

Crow lies still in his apartment, lazing back on his bed. Smoke surrounds the one candle that brings his light to his bedroom; Crow brings his lit cigarette to his lips and inhales deeply, much more deeply than usual. Tar condenses in his lungs and he exhales; a familiar feeling comes across Crow’s body.

 

Sweet, sweet nicotine... though, maybe I should quit smoking cigarettes. Cigars would be a good trade.

 

He motions up, placing more of his weight on the pillows behind him. Crow cringes, he slows down and softly lays himself down on the pillows. He rubs his neck and the back of his head.

 

Ugh... I’m so sore, a concussion and my neck hasn’t been this sore since... since I won the ICW Tag Team titles with Adam.

 

He turns to his right and picks up the remote control for his television; he turns it on and another source of light pulses out of the set. A news broadcast comes up on screen, and Crow – disliking any news programs he begins to flick through the channels.

 

What the fuck is all this shit? Is there nothing good on television tonight?

 

Disgusted at the lack of entertaining programs being on the box, Crow shuts off the television. He opens his bedside table draw and pulls out a box. The word...

 

“MARIJUANA”

 

...Written on the top of the box. Crow opens it up and, yes, you guessed it, it’s completely filled with mulled marijuana.

 

Might as well get stoned and have some fun tonight... it’ll also help with my stiff neck.

 

Crow looks down to his left onto his table... watching the one candle’s flame flicker, a focus point as his mind ticks over and his hands work their magic with rolling papers.

 

What a fucked up time it has been... honestly, I am hurting. I am hurting a lot. The revelation of Natasha sleeping with Dace Night has not gone unnoticed... she denies this, but I know her better than that. First of all, we’re talking about a gothic sadomasochistic promiscuous female... that really does not help her cause in any way.

 

Crow licks the rolling paper, successfully rolling the perfect joint. Years and years of stoner experience shown in the precise rolling. Crow slowly and carefully stands up; he walks over to his stereo that rests silently on his drawer. He opens the CD holder up and removes the CD in there... “Tonight’s Decision” by Katatonia... he places the CD back in its case and closes the stereo.

 

Secondly, she’s lied to me before on a matter that I need not bring up again. Thirdly and finally, I do not trust her. I can’t bring myself to trust another woman, my teenage years of rejection, hate and backstabbing have made me this way.

 

Many trains of though rush through Crow’s head as he walks across his bedroom to his wardrobe, pulling out a black button up shirt.

 

I’ve got to get on with this... it’s decision for tonight, all this pain is murdering my mind.

 

He removes his t-shirt and puts on the button up shirt; discarding his t-shirt to the floor. Ignoring the certain cold outside, Crow neglects to grab his trenchcoat and storms out of his bedroom. Crow though, stops and grabs the reefer he laid on his bedside table and his deck of cigarettes.

 

It has to be done... no more fucking around.

 

He storms out of his bedroom and through his pitch dark living area. He steps outside his front door and closes it. Crow stops and lights up his joint with his new zippo lighter. He sucks back on the joint, the marijuana aroma delighting Crow’s anger-ridden face... he calms almost instantly. But... he still is going where he is going and walks off.

 

I usually start babbling all philosophical like when I get stoned, but I’m going to try and avoid that. There are so many important things happening now... so many problems... so much pain.

 

Looking down on the snow-laden sidewalk on which he walks, Crow continues smoking his joint... and gently begins to sing to himself.

 

“By a black road...giving a brief smile...something's on the way...forgotten for a while...and you try to speak this...without a voice down by a black road... we try to forget and try to make it through...”

 

Crow looks to his side... there is the black road, a small wind hustling through the bushes beside it. A brief smile is positioned on Crow’s face... something is on the way and it has been forgotten for a while...

 

For months I’ve been trying to bottle up my emotions, and I’ve had some success at doing so... at least around other people. I try to act happy... forgiving... and above all friendly, but how can one man continue to act like this when everyone around him enters the gates of betrayal.

 

Crow tries to speak this without a thought, down by this black road...

 

I have been betrayed by those who I thought were closest to me, my first love in years Natasha... and my first friend since the death of Adam, Janus...

 

Janus... a name that strikes fear into the hearts of men, women and children everywhere. A name that is a cover up of the man... the man behind the perfect mask.

 

Terrence is behind the perfect mask, but I see through the mask and recognise his heart is there. When I was with him, he was full of charm, laughter and damn, I have never met a person who can handle their alcohol that well.

 

Crow closes his eyes, and he imagines... he sees images of things that were. He and Janus drinking together at a local pub in their home country Australia... teaching Janus how to play cricket.

 

But the mask seems to be taking over the man. Terrence is lost in the mask he's created for himself...

 

Crow’s mind now sees images of himself... being driven into the cold, hard concrete floor. Unforgiving, unrelenting and unavoidable. Crow sees his own body, wrecked and dormant, scrawled across the concrete...

 

But my mind tells me that he cannot be saved... .

 

Crow stops walking along the footpath, and looks to his left. He has reached his destination and finished his reefer; he looks at the stairs leading up to path of doors bemused with his thoughts.

 

I will have my revenge on Janus, and those who torment me. Through violent terms or through non-violent terms... it does not matter.

 

Crow walks up the wooden stairs, kicking snow off the stairs as he walks along; he steps off the stairs and scans the path of doors. Crow begins to gently sing again...

 

“They keep pushing me... so far from every chance... it makes it so much harder... for me to carry on... so I try to speak this...without a thought down by a black road... we try to forget and try to make it through...”

 

My first love in so long, why does she feel the need to betray me!? Why do people have to make it so hard for me!? I’m being pushed away from every chance of happiness, and I can’t carry on... I know I can’t carry on, I need to speak this... but not down by a black road...

 

Crow knocks on one of the doors. He waits, and lights a cigarette... staring directly at the closed door, not moving his eyes. Natasha opens the door...

 

...

 

"We need to talk."

 

Someday we’ll go... further from this right into the bliss... someday we’ll try... to leave this place for another... right into the bliss...

[janusd 0]

Enjoy that feeling of being driven on your head! I'll do that again! Huh! Huh! How you like that!?

 

....

 

Seriously, though. Nice promoage. Showing Crow is a philsophical thinker when he's stoned...and love the contemplations of Janus. Prepare for counter-promoage. (Y)

[Guest realitycheck]

Oh my.

 

I know you said he's influenced your writing before, but damn. You've almost got that same movie scene style that Muzz was able to create with his promos down. Great shit.

 

"Interesting" choice of atmosphere, too. Expected, but still. Hey, it beats all those openings with beating up on a punching bag. Also, Natasha adds a lot of spice to Crow's storyline and his character, which is very cool... although I find it kinda funny the way she evolved into one of the most interesting characters in the league. Look what Card had to go and do, heh. Finally, that song rocks bells, but I'm pretty sure you already knew that. (Y)

 

-Z

[Guest Dace59]

Like I said:

 

Drugs and Doom Metal.

 

Rulage.