Post by Ratball Slade on Aug 19, 2021 9:52:53 GMT -5
Present Day in Detroit
The camera fades in on the view of Slade Castle with nothing lighting him but a single lamp. It’s the middle of night and he’s sitting in a small boat off the coast of Detroit on Lake St Clair with the city behind him. He has a hoodie on, but through it a smirk can be seen, and on his shoulder, the Ascension Championship. Slade scratches his chin and looks up to the sky before beginning to address the camera.
Slade Castle: Slayer of the Street... Get it yet? Maybe, maybe not. My point though, has been made. I am now your new Ascension Champion.
Slade pulls the strap off his shoulder and holds it in one hand whilst inspecting the belt.
Slade Castle: Why do all you care so much about a useless piece of overpriced vanity? Maybe it’s entitlement, perhaps it’s validation. Tell you what, I don’t need either of those…
Slade stands up slightly rocking the boat but he easily keeps his balance. He gives one last glance to the camera before tossing the belt to the water below, however, at the last second he stops barely keeping the belt in his grasp.
Slade Castle: But… maybe this is just what I need. You see this title, belt, whatever the hell you wanna call it, I might not need it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use it. For whatever reason, some of the punks on this roster seem to want the belt, so I’ll hold onto it for now. This might be just the motivation you need to come at me with everything you’ve got.
Slade throws the belt to the bottom of the boat. The metal plate makes a sudden clunk, then a scratchy hiss as it slides against the metal floor.
Slade Castle: I want you to make me bleed. Cause me suffering so that I can do the same to you. In this sick twist of fate where I have the prize I never asked for, and you gotta go through me to get it, you better be ready to fight like hell cause I’m the FUCKING DEVIL.
Slade’s breathing begins to quicken as his eyes become unsteady and look almost dead. A stern yet emotionless expression settles on his face while he takes a moment of silence. Slade sits back down and wipes the saliva from his mouth and shakes his head.
Slade Castle: Of course in a multiman match you don’t necessarily gotta beat me. If any one of you decides to stay down I swear I will beat the living shit out of you and I need no more reason than that.
4 Years ago in a rundown bar
Slade is sitting at a table surrounded by a few of his buddies from his squad. They’re all shooting the shit and drinking when Jester makes a remark about another of Slade’s mates, Jackie, known by the group as their resident pretty boy.
Jester: What would you do if anything were to mess up that pretty face of yours though, huh? Can’t be taking chances like you did in Sweden. Castle can’t be the pretty boy and team leader.
The group chuckles as Slade retorts
Slade Castle: Ah shut the fuck up Jester, at least I don’t got an ugly mug like yours.
Jester, feigning shock, holds his hand over his mouth.
Jester: How dare you, sir! My mother says I am very handsome, for your information.
Slade Castle: Well in order to get you she must not have high standards.
A wicked smirk crosses Slade’s face as Jester realizes he has been bested. Brickson gives Slade a nod then looks towards Jackie who usually has a much brighter demeanor but appears to be gloomy all of a sudden.
Slade Castle: What’s up Jack? Something on your mind?
Jackie: I know Jester didn’t mean nothing by it, but he got me thinking. That mission went south really fast. If it weren't for you getting those comms back on I’m not sure what would’ve happened to us.
Slade Castle: Don’t sweat it Jackie, it’s what I do. I always got your back. All you guys.
Everyone seems to immediately start feeling better as Jackie lifts his head with a slight smile now.
Jackie: You know, if anyone here gets a medal for what we are doin out here, you deserve it the most, Castle. I’m not sure we’d still be here otherwise.
Slade holds his hand up and shakes his head.
Slade Castle: Nah, I don’t need a medal. Never cared much for that kind of thing. Feels tacky.
Jester: No, Jackie's right. You deserve it man. You even saved my stupid ass.
Slade nods accepting of the warm feelings of his companions.
Slade Castle: Saving your ass is a sure fire way not to get one Jest.
The group laughs as Brickson gets up to get another round for them. Slade looks into his empty bottle and begins to zone out. The last few missions are clearly on his mind.
Slade Castle: What’s up with these missions anyways? Shouldn’t we be on the frontlines in the Middle East? Why did they have us all the way up in Sweden freezing our asses off?
The group all look around, seeming unsure as well. Brickson returns just in time to answer.
Brickson: Well, I’m guessin’ they just needed the best damn squad for the job, and we’re it.
The group raise their glasses to that and leave the topic alone as they continue on conversing.
2 Years ago at the Mental Garden Institute
Sarah Green: So! How is the promotion treating you? It must feel nice being recognized for all your hard work!
Slade slumps in his chair looking incredibly uncomfortable and not wanting to talk.
Slade Castle: I quit.
Sarah’s expression immediately changes from an excited smile into a look of confusion.
Sarah Green: What do you mean you quit? I thought you liked this job? That it seemed like it might be going somewhere.
An annoyed Slade rolls his eyes before sitting up.
Slade Castle: Yeah, bein’ a fry cook is just where I thought I’d be at this point in my life. Like I’d care about a stupid promotion or recognition. Give me a fuckin break.
Sarah quickly interjects.
Sarah Green: Language please, Mister Castle.
Sarah had only had 3 sessions with Slade at this point, as Slade was being forced into therapy by court order after being discharged from the military.
Sarah Green: I know it’s not perfect but I think some stability could reall…
Slade cuts her off as he leans forward, raising his hand gesturing to himself.
Slade Castle: I know what I need. You don’t know shit. You don’t know about me, you don’t know what I need.
Sarah Green: Well I may not know much about you Mr. Castle but I’d like to know more.
Slade leans back in his chair and looks up at the ceiling. He begins to blow air out of his mouth then looks back to Sarah.
Slade Castle: You want to know more about me? Fine, I’ll tell you. You know what I really wanna do in my free time? I wanna hurt people. I wanna fight. I want to find someone as sick and crazy as me and we can just brawl until we got nothin left. That’s what I want.
Sarah begins to write notes on her clipboard while Slade leans back in his chair.
Sarah Green: Have you ever thought about taking up a sport? Like Boxing or MMA?
Slade, now with a very confused look, thinks for a moment.
Slade Castle: Really? After I tell you all that, you’re really going to encourage me to go out and find activities for me to hurt people?
Sarah lets out a sigh and clicks her pen against her board.
Sarah Green: Well, you said it yourself. You know yourself better than I do. Does that sound more up your alley?
Slade looks down to his fists and clenches them up tight.
Slade Castle: You know what? It really does doc. It really does.
Present
Slade Castle: So let’s go down the list and let me address each of you personally.
Slade pulls a small notepad from his back pocket and begins to inspect it.
Slade Castle: Let’s see here, first off we got Savannah Sunshine. Now little Savannah seems distracted lately. Well, when it comes time for our match you shouldn’t be thinking about much other than what’s going on in front of you. I don’t care about whatever bullshit is goin’ on between you, Jason, Redd, it doesn’t matter. Keep on pretending you’re the underdog but I’m not gonna underestimate anyone that gets put in my way, especially not after how you handled Levi on the last show. I will dispatch you without even a second thought.
Slade looks up to the camera and flips to the next page of his notebook then looks back to what he has written.
Slade Castle: Bianca McBride, it appears you get to try again. Is your face still swollen from where my knee caved it in? Maybe this time you’ll know who to look out for. I want you to come back at me with a vengeance. Let me know what you really got stored in there. Let me see the beast you're keeping tucked inside or the result ain’t gonna look much different.
Slade quickly flips to his last page.
Slade Castle: Lastly we got Valkyrie. Now Valkyrie has some damn strange delusions, but that’s alright cause you got to be pretty delusional to end up in a place like this. So there’s just another freak for the freakshow. You had some fight in you at Fallout XI. Looked like you were feral or somethin’. I want that same kinda fight, got it? I sure hope you don’t let me down cause you’ll regret it if you do.
Slade closes the notebook and tosses it to the water while maintaining eye contact with the camera.
Slade Castle: Now I don’t know what in the hell kinda fight a Baseball Diamond match is, but I’m sure you three won’t disappoint me. Let’s let fists fly and the blood stain the field we stand in. Give me everything you got cause I will put all of you down and move on to the next challenge without a thought if you don’t. If just a fight isn’t enough motivation then maybe you’ll do it for this.
Slade stands up and kicks the belt across the boat, completely callous toward his prize.
Slade Castle: Should I lose the belt cause one of you fuckwits happens to get pinned or submit, then there’s gonna be hell to pay. I don’t mind the three to one odds though. I thrive on odds like that. Forces me to get crafty. Maybe, one of you will really hurt me, really make me feel it. I know the three of you will try at the very least.
Slade walks across the boat getting closer to the camera.
Slade Castle: So how about we tear the place down at Fallout XII, and I’ll enjoy every damn second of it.
Slade pushes the camera into the water as camera feed ends showing Slade towering above the surface.
The camera fades in on the view of Slade Castle with nothing lighting him but a single lamp. It’s the middle of night and he’s sitting in a small boat off the coast of Detroit on Lake St Clair with the city behind him. He has a hoodie on, but through it a smirk can be seen, and on his shoulder, the Ascension Championship. Slade scratches his chin and looks up to the sky before beginning to address the camera.
Slade Castle: Slayer of the Street... Get it yet? Maybe, maybe not. My point though, has been made. I am now your new Ascension Champion.
Slade pulls the strap off his shoulder and holds it in one hand whilst inspecting the belt.
Slade Castle: Why do all you care so much about a useless piece of overpriced vanity? Maybe it’s entitlement, perhaps it’s validation. Tell you what, I don’t need either of those…
Slade stands up slightly rocking the boat but he easily keeps his balance. He gives one last glance to the camera before tossing the belt to the water below, however, at the last second he stops barely keeping the belt in his grasp.
Slade Castle: But… maybe this is just what I need. You see this title, belt, whatever the hell you wanna call it, I might not need it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use it. For whatever reason, some of the punks on this roster seem to want the belt, so I’ll hold onto it for now. This might be just the motivation you need to come at me with everything you’ve got.
Slade throws the belt to the bottom of the boat. The metal plate makes a sudden clunk, then a scratchy hiss as it slides against the metal floor.
Slade Castle: I want you to make me bleed. Cause me suffering so that I can do the same to you. In this sick twist of fate where I have the prize I never asked for, and you gotta go through me to get it, you better be ready to fight like hell cause I’m the FUCKING DEVIL.
Slade’s breathing begins to quicken as his eyes become unsteady and look almost dead. A stern yet emotionless expression settles on his face while he takes a moment of silence. Slade sits back down and wipes the saliva from his mouth and shakes his head.
Slade Castle: Of course in a multiman match you don’t necessarily gotta beat me. If any one of you decides to stay down I swear I will beat the living shit out of you and I need no more reason than that.
4 Years ago in a rundown bar
Slade is sitting at a table surrounded by a few of his buddies from his squad. They’re all shooting the shit and drinking when Jester makes a remark about another of Slade’s mates, Jackie, known by the group as their resident pretty boy.
Jester: What would you do if anything were to mess up that pretty face of yours though, huh? Can’t be taking chances like you did in Sweden. Castle can’t be the pretty boy and team leader.
The group chuckles as Slade retorts
Slade Castle: Ah shut the fuck up Jester, at least I don’t got an ugly mug like yours.
Jester, feigning shock, holds his hand over his mouth.
Jester: How dare you, sir! My mother says I am very handsome, for your information.
Slade Castle: Well in order to get you she must not have high standards.
A wicked smirk crosses Slade’s face as Jester realizes he has been bested. Brickson gives Slade a nod then looks towards Jackie who usually has a much brighter demeanor but appears to be gloomy all of a sudden.
Slade Castle: What’s up Jack? Something on your mind?
Jackie: I know Jester didn’t mean nothing by it, but he got me thinking. That mission went south really fast. If it weren't for you getting those comms back on I’m not sure what would’ve happened to us.
Slade Castle: Don’t sweat it Jackie, it’s what I do. I always got your back. All you guys.
Everyone seems to immediately start feeling better as Jackie lifts his head with a slight smile now.
Jackie: You know, if anyone here gets a medal for what we are doin out here, you deserve it the most, Castle. I’m not sure we’d still be here otherwise.
Slade holds his hand up and shakes his head.
Slade Castle: Nah, I don’t need a medal. Never cared much for that kind of thing. Feels tacky.
Jester: No, Jackie's right. You deserve it man. You even saved my stupid ass.
Slade nods accepting of the warm feelings of his companions.
Slade Castle: Saving your ass is a sure fire way not to get one Jest.
The group laughs as Brickson gets up to get another round for them. Slade looks into his empty bottle and begins to zone out. The last few missions are clearly on his mind.
Slade Castle: What’s up with these missions anyways? Shouldn’t we be on the frontlines in the Middle East? Why did they have us all the way up in Sweden freezing our asses off?
The group all look around, seeming unsure as well. Brickson returns just in time to answer.
Brickson: Well, I’m guessin’ they just needed the best damn squad for the job, and we’re it.
The group raise their glasses to that and leave the topic alone as they continue on conversing.
2 Years ago at the Mental Garden Institute
Sarah Green: So! How is the promotion treating you? It must feel nice being recognized for all your hard work!
Slade slumps in his chair looking incredibly uncomfortable and not wanting to talk.
Slade Castle: I quit.
Sarah’s expression immediately changes from an excited smile into a look of confusion.
Sarah Green: What do you mean you quit? I thought you liked this job? That it seemed like it might be going somewhere.
An annoyed Slade rolls his eyes before sitting up.
Slade Castle: Yeah, bein’ a fry cook is just where I thought I’d be at this point in my life. Like I’d care about a stupid promotion or recognition. Give me a fuckin break.
Sarah quickly interjects.
Sarah Green: Language please, Mister Castle.
Sarah had only had 3 sessions with Slade at this point, as Slade was being forced into therapy by court order after being discharged from the military.
Sarah Green: I know it’s not perfect but I think some stability could reall…
Slade cuts her off as he leans forward, raising his hand gesturing to himself.
Slade Castle: I know what I need. You don’t know shit. You don’t know about me, you don’t know what I need.
Sarah Green: Well I may not know much about you Mr. Castle but I’d like to know more.
Slade leans back in his chair and looks up at the ceiling. He begins to blow air out of his mouth then looks back to Sarah.
Slade Castle: You want to know more about me? Fine, I’ll tell you. You know what I really wanna do in my free time? I wanna hurt people. I wanna fight. I want to find someone as sick and crazy as me and we can just brawl until we got nothin left. That’s what I want.
Sarah begins to write notes on her clipboard while Slade leans back in his chair.
Sarah Green: Have you ever thought about taking up a sport? Like Boxing or MMA?
Slade, now with a very confused look, thinks for a moment.
Slade Castle: Really? After I tell you all that, you’re really going to encourage me to go out and find activities for me to hurt people?
Sarah lets out a sigh and clicks her pen against her board.
Sarah Green: Well, you said it yourself. You know yourself better than I do. Does that sound more up your alley?
Slade looks down to his fists and clenches them up tight.
Slade Castle: You know what? It really does doc. It really does.
Present
Slade Castle: So let’s go down the list and let me address each of you personally.
Slade pulls a small notepad from his back pocket and begins to inspect it.
Slade Castle: Let’s see here, first off we got Savannah Sunshine. Now little Savannah seems distracted lately. Well, when it comes time for our match you shouldn’t be thinking about much other than what’s going on in front of you. I don’t care about whatever bullshit is goin’ on between you, Jason, Redd, it doesn’t matter. Keep on pretending you’re the underdog but I’m not gonna underestimate anyone that gets put in my way, especially not after how you handled Levi on the last show. I will dispatch you without even a second thought.
Slade looks up to the camera and flips to the next page of his notebook then looks back to what he has written.
Slade Castle: Bianca McBride, it appears you get to try again. Is your face still swollen from where my knee caved it in? Maybe this time you’ll know who to look out for. I want you to come back at me with a vengeance. Let me know what you really got stored in there. Let me see the beast you're keeping tucked inside or the result ain’t gonna look much different.
Slade quickly flips to his last page.
Slade Castle: Lastly we got Valkyrie. Now Valkyrie has some damn strange delusions, but that’s alright cause you got to be pretty delusional to end up in a place like this. So there’s just another freak for the freakshow. You had some fight in you at Fallout XI. Looked like you were feral or somethin’. I want that same kinda fight, got it? I sure hope you don’t let me down cause you’ll regret it if you do.
Slade closes the notebook and tosses it to the water while maintaining eye contact with the camera.
Slade Castle: Now I don’t know what in the hell kinda fight a Baseball Diamond match is, but I’m sure you three won’t disappoint me. Let’s let fists fly and the blood stain the field we stand in. Give me everything you got cause I will put all of you down and move on to the next challenge without a thought if you don’t. If just a fight isn’t enough motivation then maybe you’ll do it for this.
Slade stands up and kicks the belt across the boat, completely callous toward his prize.
Slade Castle: Should I lose the belt cause one of you fuckwits happens to get pinned or submit, then there’s gonna be hell to pay. I don’t mind the three to one odds though. I thrive on odds like that. Forces me to get crafty. Maybe, one of you will really hurt me, really make me feel it. I know the three of you will try at the very least.
Slade walks across the boat getting closer to the camera.
Slade Castle: So how about we tear the place down at Fallout XII, and I’ll enjoy every damn second of it.
Slade pushes the camera into the water as camera feed ends showing Slade towering above the surface.
