Post by Ratball Slade on Sept 10, 2021 22:32:56 GMT -5
Somewhere on the streets of Tokyo, Japan
The video feed shows Slade Castle walking down the neon lit streets of Tokyo, walking past the various nightlife until eventually making his way down a secret little alley where no lights can be found. He kicks open a rusty door and steps into a large empty room with various stains across the dusty concrete floors. In the center of the room is a chair facing away from the door. Around the room are multiple hanging punching bags. Castle steps toward the chair and sits in it backwards so he is facing the camera. Castle crosses his arms over the back of the chair and addresses the camera.
Slade Castle: Lesly Adora, you may not see it this way, but I did you a favor when I broke Bianca’s face and pinned her to take that title off your hands. Just like how Valkyrie did me a favor by doin’ the same. You see, if it wasn't for me, you’d still be stuck in the Ascension division, but now look at us. One of us will be challenging for the Noble Championship. Now the championship I couldn’t care less about, but the higher up on the card I go, the fiercer the competition gets. So if winning more belts is what I gotta do to get there, then you bet your ass that’s what I’m gonna do.
Slade stands up and walks towards the first punching bag. He stances up before unloading a flurry of strong blows on the bag until eventually it tears at the seams and all the sand begins to spill out. Slade reaches into the bag and pulls out a handful of sand.
Slade Castle: You see, most people view life as nothing more than a set of goals to accomplish, accolades to collect, morals to live by. How do you view life, Adora? You see, I view life like sand. It used to be something more, but now it’s slowly corroded and washed away. There’s so little left of what it used to be that… it becomes an irritant that you start to wish would just go away. I live day by day looking for the purpose I lost. That same purpose that I used to have. The only time I ever seem to feel that purpose, the only time I feel ALIVE… is when I’m putting knuckles to faces. When I’m breaking bones. When I’m choking people out.
3 Years Ago in a Military Hospital
Slade Castle begins to stir in his hospital bed as doctors rush around him. Slade’s face is awash in pain as his senses begin to awaken as well. The doctors are frantically checking on Slade as he tries to sit up but the doctors lightly push him back down into his bed. As Slade begins trying to make sense of what is happening, he begins to remember where he was but before he can do anything more he loses consciousness again.
One day later
Slade wakes up again, however now his surroundings are much more calm. Slade’s look of pain washes back over his face as he slightly adjusts his position. As he lays his head back down, Slade stares blankly at the ceiling, the strong pain medication still flowing through his body. Even with the medication Slade feels sharp sensations in his side and back, as well as along his legs. A doctor enters the sterile room and begins to check on Slade.
Doctor: Good morning Mr. Castle...just going to run a few quick checks to see how you’re recovering and I’ll be on my way.
Castle tries to speak but initially struggles to open his jaw before finally being able to spit out a few words.
Slade Castle: What… happened…
The doctor continues his checks while he speaks.
Doctor: You were in an accident, Mr. Castle. Don’t worry, you’re going to be alright. I can tell you more later but for now you need to get some rest.
Slade lays silently for a few more minutes, watching the doctor until he leaves before eventually losing consciousness again.
A Few Hours later
Slade wakes up again this time very suddenly and breathing rapidly. He’s sweating profusely as he’s just woken up from a nightmare. He continues trying to remember how he got into the hospital. He lays there, lost in thought, while his body aches in pain. He begins to sit up so he can speak.
Slade Castle: Doc… Doc... … DOC…
Slade starts trying to roll off the bed before the doctor rushes into the room stopping Slade and pushing him back onto the bed.
Doctor: Woah, easy there. You’re going to hurt yourself again.
Slade adjusts, before speaking to the Doctor.
Slade Castle: My team doc… Where’s my team? Are they alright?
The doctor looks down before looking at Slade solemnly, and then begins breaking the news to him.
Doctor: I’m afraid they haven’t found most of them yet. We’re still making sure…
The doctor hesitates. Slade starts pushing the doctor for more information as his expression begins to warp into disbelief.
Slade Castle: You’re killing me doc. What is it?
Doctor: They found Brickson with you. He didn’t make it.
Slade lays his head back and closes his eyes. A single tear begins to form and trickles down his cheek.
Doctor: They’re not certain, but we believe the other members of your squad may be the unidentified bodies at the crash site.
Slade suddenly rolls out of the bed on the opposite side of the doctor. The doctor scrambles to contain Castle but is too late. Slade begins to throw the medical supplies around the room as he yells to let the world know his rage. The doctor tries to grab him but Slade grabs him by his collar and throws him to the side before falling to the ground. This is when Slade notices his exposed leg. The burns and cuts all along his calf and thigh. His voice starts to soften as he begins to mentally shut down before once again falling unconscious.
Slade Castle: God dammit why…
3 days ago at Mental Garden Institute
Slade is deep in thought while Sarah is doing some light research on what Slade has been up to.
Sarah Green: You’re going to be on Pay-Per-View!? This is so exciting! I’m so happy for you, you’ve made it such a long way since we first met.
Slade Castle: Yeah…
Sarah Green: I mean, I never thought you’d be making a name for yourself in such a way.
Slade stands up and checks his watch.
Slade Castle: Alright, I think that’s thirty minutes. I’m outta here.
Sarah Green: But we barely got to talk about what you’ve been doing.
Slade let’s out a chuckle as he smirks.
Slade Castle: I know, right? Lucky me. You were so focused on reading about me you forgot I was right here.
Now panicking since she forgot her job, Sarah begins trying her best to stop Slade.
Sarah Green: We really need to…
Slade holds up his hand to stop Sarah before turning to look at her.
Slade Castle: Don’t worry. You can read all about how I’m doin’ after the show. Hell, you can always watch the show and see how I am first hand.
Slade exits the room leaving Sarah in shock.
Somewhere in an abandoned warehouse of Tokyo, Japan
Slade inhales deeply and wipes his face with both hands, leaving traces of sand all across his face. Slade then exhales before moving from punching bag to punching bag breaking every single one as he lets out an endless stream of anger. After finishing, Slade returns to the chair and sits in it the same way and looks back to the camera
Slade Castle: I never run out, Adora. It’s always there. The anger. The will to injure and maim. When I close my eyes, it’s all I see. Fire, blood, bodies... and I’m left with the realization that I’m still here. I’m the one still standing. So if I’m forced to be here then I will make every mother fucker I stand face-to-face with in that ring feel the same way I do every single day. That’s why I want the best. The better they are, the more damage I can do before I break them. The more damage they can do to me before the inevitable end of the match. Not a single person has proven to me they can take the same punishment I’ve lived. Will you be the first Adora? Or will you continue to live your life preaching about something that was never truly there. Let’s face it, your life may be just as meaningless as mine. At least I’ll admit it.
Slade lets out a sigh, stands up, folds the chair, and tosses it to the side before he begins walking towards the door past the camera. With one hand on the handle, Slade turns his head slightly towards the camera, yet not completely facing it.
Slade Castle: There’s just a little too much sand in the world, so come Night of Honor, I’ll wash a little more away.
The video feed shows Slade Castle walking down the neon lit streets of Tokyo, walking past the various nightlife until eventually making his way down a secret little alley where no lights can be found. He kicks open a rusty door and steps into a large empty room with various stains across the dusty concrete floors. In the center of the room is a chair facing away from the door. Around the room are multiple hanging punching bags. Castle steps toward the chair and sits in it backwards so he is facing the camera. Castle crosses his arms over the back of the chair and addresses the camera.
Slade Castle: Lesly Adora, you may not see it this way, but I did you a favor when I broke Bianca’s face and pinned her to take that title off your hands. Just like how Valkyrie did me a favor by doin’ the same. You see, if it wasn't for me, you’d still be stuck in the Ascension division, but now look at us. One of us will be challenging for the Noble Championship. Now the championship I couldn’t care less about, but the higher up on the card I go, the fiercer the competition gets. So if winning more belts is what I gotta do to get there, then you bet your ass that’s what I’m gonna do.
Slade stands up and walks towards the first punching bag. He stances up before unloading a flurry of strong blows on the bag until eventually it tears at the seams and all the sand begins to spill out. Slade reaches into the bag and pulls out a handful of sand.
Slade Castle: You see, most people view life as nothing more than a set of goals to accomplish, accolades to collect, morals to live by. How do you view life, Adora? You see, I view life like sand. It used to be something more, but now it’s slowly corroded and washed away. There’s so little left of what it used to be that… it becomes an irritant that you start to wish would just go away. I live day by day looking for the purpose I lost. That same purpose that I used to have. The only time I ever seem to feel that purpose, the only time I feel ALIVE… is when I’m putting knuckles to faces. When I’m breaking bones. When I’m choking people out.
3 Years Ago in a Military Hospital
Slade Castle begins to stir in his hospital bed as doctors rush around him. Slade’s face is awash in pain as his senses begin to awaken as well. The doctors are frantically checking on Slade as he tries to sit up but the doctors lightly push him back down into his bed. As Slade begins trying to make sense of what is happening, he begins to remember where he was but before he can do anything more he loses consciousness again.
One day later
Slade wakes up again, however now his surroundings are much more calm. Slade’s look of pain washes back over his face as he slightly adjusts his position. As he lays his head back down, Slade stares blankly at the ceiling, the strong pain medication still flowing through his body. Even with the medication Slade feels sharp sensations in his side and back, as well as along his legs. A doctor enters the sterile room and begins to check on Slade.
Doctor: Good morning Mr. Castle...just going to run a few quick checks to see how you’re recovering and I’ll be on my way.
Castle tries to speak but initially struggles to open his jaw before finally being able to spit out a few words.
Slade Castle: What… happened…
The doctor continues his checks while he speaks.
Doctor: You were in an accident, Mr. Castle. Don’t worry, you’re going to be alright. I can tell you more later but for now you need to get some rest.
Slade lays silently for a few more minutes, watching the doctor until he leaves before eventually losing consciousness again.
A Few Hours later
Slade wakes up again this time very suddenly and breathing rapidly. He’s sweating profusely as he’s just woken up from a nightmare. He continues trying to remember how he got into the hospital. He lays there, lost in thought, while his body aches in pain. He begins to sit up so he can speak.
Slade Castle: Doc… Doc... … DOC…
Slade starts trying to roll off the bed before the doctor rushes into the room stopping Slade and pushing him back onto the bed.
Doctor: Woah, easy there. You’re going to hurt yourself again.
Slade adjusts, before speaking to the Doctor.
Slade Castle: My team doc… Where’s my team? Are they alright?
The doctor looks down before looking at Slade solemnly, and then begins breaking the news to him.
Doctor: I’m afraid they haven’t found most of them yet. We’re still making sure…
The doctor hesitates. Slade starts pushing the doctor for more information as his expression begins to warp into disbelief.
Slade Castle: You’re killing me doc. What is it?
Doctor: They found Brickson with you. He didn’t make it.
Slade lays his head back and closes his eyes. A single tear begins to form and trickles down his cheek.
Doctor: They’re not certain, but we believe the other members of your squad may be the unidentified bodies at the crash site.
Slade suddenly rolls out of the bed on the opposite side of the doctor. The doctor scrambles to contain Castle but is too late. Slade begins to throw the medical supplies around the room as he yells to let the world know his rage. The doctor tries to grab him but Slade grabs him by his collar and throws him to the side before falling to the ground. This is when Slade notices his exposed leg. The burns and cuts all along his calf and thigh. His voice starts to soften as he begins to mentally shut down before once again falling unconscious.
Slade Castle: God dammit why…
3 days ago at Mental Garden Institute
Slade is deep in thought while Sarah is doing some light research on what Slade has been up to.
Sarah Green: You’re going to be on Pay-Per-View!? This is so exciting! I’m so happy for you, you’ve made it such a long way since we first met.
Slade Castle: Yeah…
Sarah Green: I mean, I never thought you’d be making a name for yourself in such a way.
Slade stands up and checks his watch.
Slade Castle: Alright, I think that’s thirty minutes. I’m outta here.
Sarah Green: But we barely got to talk about what you’ve been doing.
Slade let’s out a chuckle as he smirks.
Slade Castle: I know, right? Lucky me. You were so focused on reading about me you forgot I was right here.
Now panicking since she forgot her job, Sarah begins trying her best to stop Slade.
Sarah Green: We really need to…
Slade holds up his hand to stop Sarah before turning to look at her.
Slade Castle: Don’t worry. You can read all about how I’m doin’ after the show. Hell, you can always watch the show and see how I am first hand.
Slade exits the room leaving Sarah in shock.
Somewhere in an abandoned warehouse of Tokyo, Japan
Slade inhales deeply and wipes his face with both hands, leaving traces of sand all across his face. Slade then exhales before moving from punching bag to punching bag breaking every single one as he lets out an endless stream of anger. After finishing, Slade returns to the chair and sits in it the same way and looks back to the camera
Slade Castle: I never run out, Adora. It’s always there. The anger. The will to injure and maim. When I close my eyes, it’s all I see. Fire, blood, bodies... and I’m left with the realization that I’m still here. I’m the one still standing. So if I’m forced to be here then I will make every mother fucker I stand face-to-face with in that ring feel the same way I do every single day. That’s why I want the best. The better they are, the more damage I can do before I break them. The more damage they can do to me before the inevitable end of the match. Not a single person has proven to me they can take the same punishment I’ve lived. Will you be the first Adora? Or will you continue to live your life preaching about something that was never truly there. Let’s face it, your life may be just as meaningless as mine. At least I’ll admit it.
Slade lets out a sigh, stands up, folds the chair, and tosses it to the side before he begins walking towards the door past the camera. With one hand on the handle, Slade turns his head slightly towards the camera, yet not completely facing it.
Slade Castle: There’s just a little too much sand in the world, so come Night of Honor, I’ll wash a little more away.
