Post by Lance "The Icon" Ryan on Mar 1, 2008 20:59:35 GMT -6
~*~*~Schizophrenia, they say that it is the most chronic and disabling of the severe mental disorders. Typically develops in the late teens or early twenties. The overt symptoms are hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing visions), delusions (false beliefs about commonly held views of reality) and bizarre thought patterns…It would seem to many people that the inner workings of my upcoming world heavyweight title match are ones of schizophrenia, lunacy and mental instability. In one corner I have Jack Manson, a man that by his own admission hears voices, a man that by his own admissions is being guided by a wayward spirit, a voice of some sort named Jack. In another corner, you have Spike Kane, a man that has more demons than the bible. Spike Kane has been through hell and back, it is obvious to everyone and anyone that knows the man, that much is blatantly clear. Spike Kane has perhaps finally thrown himself over the deep end with the latest circumstances within his life. With the loss of Nola, a side of Spike has arisen that I have not seen before, he seems confused, scared and lost…When I saw Milo Holland’s face when Spike started to speak to his “friend” I knew that indeed something was wrong with the man that we call champion. Spike Kane, much like Jack Manson is suffering at the hands of his personal demons, and the deck of cards that life has dealt him.~*~*~
~*~*~The scene opens and we see Lance Ryan is walking along a quiet and near deserted street that has recently been covered by a fresh dusting of snow. There is a light breeze blowing and Lance is walking with his hood up, protecting his cheeks from the likely piercing wind. Lance is walking at a brisk pace, and appears to be alone.~*~*~
~*~*~Spike Kane is indeed what I would call my kryptonite here in nCw. I was once the world Champion, when he did indeed knock me from my perch. It is not the fact that he defeated me and took the title that bothers me most. It is not even the fact that he cheated to win that really grinds my gears. In fact, the worst part of Spike Kane to me is the fact that he doesn’t even acknowledge that I am a great performer anymore. He sells me short, and the fact of the matter is that I paved the road for people like Spike Kane, as did Davey Ortega, and yet Spike Kane has no respect, he has never said thank you, he has never even shook my hand in the entire time that we have been in this company together. The biggest problem with Spike Kane is indeed his tunnel vision, the fact that he tries to be so incredibly perceptive, and yet he missed the point entirely.~*~*~
~*~*~Lance stops in front of a house that we recognize as being the home that Cassandra and Jamie Ryan have recently moved into. He stops and looks up the driveway.~*~*~
~*~*~Spike is completely right about something, and that is that blood is thicker than water. In all of my preaching, I have even spoke down about family, but the fact is that Jamie is the flesh of my flesh and the blood of my blood.~*~*~
Lance: Spike, you are right, I have not been a model father, I have not been a model ex husband, hell, I am far from an upstanding citizen, but I do look out for the people that look out for me. That leads me to your family Spike. You speak on how I am to blame for the divide between yourself and Reckless Jack, and that is simply farther from the truth than you could ever possibly know. Reckless Jack was the one that contacted me about becoming a member of his revolution, and sure, I have said things to him along the way about you, things that I believe to be truth, things that I believe to advice to a man that I consider to be even closer than blood. You see Spike, my words to you when the camera was last on me, were not simple words to an enemy, they were truthful words, and I know that they hit home. Spike Kane, you suck the life out of everything and everyone that gets involved in your pathetic life. I am not sure if you realize this, but you seem to carry the death of your son like a badge. Like you are truly missing him, but the reality is that you know deep down inside that he died because you were unable to be the man that you claim to be.
You stand there and judge me as a father, because I am set to step into war with my son on Sunday, but let’s be honest, at least both of my boys are alive. At least they see that sun come up every day and can breathe in air while they sleep. Your son is lying somewhere, six feet underground. His eye sockets are home to maggots, and his skin has been devoured by bugs that have been passing through. The box that you once laid him to rest in has been withered away by the years and is beaten down, waterlogged, and stagnant…actually a quite decent metaphor for your career. What was once vibrant and full of life has now withered away and lost all of its spark Spike. That leads me to your demons, you have to wake up every day and face your demons. However, there is a large difference between Lance Ryan and Spike Kane. My demons are in the physical, I can deal with my demons, I have some semblance of control over my problems Spike, my problems are two human beings that still walk amongst us, and I can choose to correct those problems at any point in my life. For you, death is final.
~*~*~The definition of demon is a persistently tormenting person, force, or passion. That is the one thing that the three of us have in common going into Sunday. We have all faced our fair share of demons. I can’t understand the ways in which the other two are dealing with those demons. Having imaginary friends, and creating alter egos all seems so childish to me, and yet here I am, fighting for a cause that I know will prove to be fruitless, that I know falls upon deaf ears. I have demons of my own, an ex wife that has stolen all of my possessions, a son that clearly wants nothing less than my body on a stretcher, and let’s not hold back any punches any longer, a thirst for the nCw world title that has encompassed my entire being. I don’t think that I can fool anyone any longer. For all of the fighting, for all of the suffering, for all of the vehement disagreement, I want that world title back over my shoulder. I need to tell the world that I want my world title back.~*~*~
Lance: I WANT BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!
Matthew Ryan: I am glad that you have finally come to terms with that.
~*~*~Lance nearly jumps out of his shoes as he is jolted by the voice of his brother and long time friend. He looks over at Matt though with a piercing stare that could kill.
Lance: What the hell are you doing here?
Matthew: I was told that you were on your way over here, and I came to make sure that you were not going to do anything stupid prior to your big night tomorrow. I haven’t the faintest idea why you are on the property of your ex and your son, but what I do know is that I owe you an apology. My job as your brother and as your manager is to back you with whatever decisions that you choose to make. If that means Age of the Revolution, that is fine. If that means hating the fans, that is fine, and most of all, if that means winning back the world title, I will do whatever I can within my power to ensure that it is done.
~*~*~Matthew extends his hand for Lance to shake it, Lance smirks at Matthew and Matthew realizes that he should renig on the shake, as this will in fact be the best that he gets. ~*~*~
Lance: Now, you need to understand why I am here then. It is not to get one up on Jamie, and it is not to cause trouble. Much like my last go around with Spike Kane, I have come to some realizations, I hate to admit it but Spike Kane has once again taught me a life lesson. That lesson is that I need to be a better man to my family. I may not love Cassandra anymore, hell I don’t even like her. But she is indeed the mother of Zell, and that is something that can never be changed. And Spike is right about Jamie, he is one hell of a warrior, and he got those genes from me. He and I need to make some attempt at being father and son, and even though I have no idea where to start, I have to admit that I am ready to try.
I want to be the man that Spike Kane can never be, a man that faces his demons head on, a man that doesn’t make up stories, or make up friends to get him through but a man with a mission in life, with a goal in mind at all times. For me that goal is…
Matthew: Winning the nCw World Title.
Lance: No. I was going to say re-establishing some semblance of a family.
Matthew: Cut the bull****, I know that your only motive for trying to clear things up with Jamie is because you want to focus solely on your match with Spike and Manson. If we are going to be on the same team Lance, you need to call them like you see them, not candy coat things and keep me out of the loop. I know that you have a lust for that World Title that is like no other. That title to you means that you are the best at what you do, and that feeds the competitive nature that you seep. That title also means the highest pedestal in nCw from which you can, and will, preach the word of the Revolution. This has nothing to do with family, I don’t buy this epiphany of yours, in fact, and I think you are quite full of ****. If you wanted to really be a daddy to Jamie, you wouldn’t have simply mailed a check for the past twenty years, you would have called him, visited him, and been the daddy that you now say you want to be. This has nothing to do with family, and everything to do with claiming that top spot. I know that, you know that.
~*~*~Yes, but they don’t need to know that.~*~*~
Lance: Ir-regardless of what you think, I need to do this for my own reasons. I can either face my demons as they are now, or I can wait. I can wait until I close off contact with everyone but the voices in my head, like Manson, or I can wait until everything I hold dear is ****ing dead and cold in the ground, like Spike Kane. Now, let’s see what can be done.
~*~*~The two men start walking up the driveway to the house, and carry on small talk as they approach.~*~*~
Matthew: So, why do you suppose that Spike Kane has an imaginary friend? I mean, by the look on Milo’s face when this all went down, this is not the first appearance for this friend of his.
Lance: Think about it. Everyone that ever gets close to Spike seems to die….
Matthew: And?
Lance: You can’t kill what doesn’t exist Matthew. It’s sad really, Spike realizes that he may in fact be death himself, and the only way that he can keep a friend is to create one.
~*~*~Lance walks up to the front door of the house and rings the doorbell. There is no answer at the door, and Lance rings the doorbell again. Finally the door opens and we see Jamie Ryan. He is dressed in a pair of blue jeans and no shirt. He takes one look at Lance.~*~*~
Jamie: get the hell of off my property.
Lance: Jamie, come on. I came here to talk things out, I want to fix things between the two of us, you know? The last thing that I want to do is step foot into an nCw ring with my son and fight with him in a hardcore match.
Jamie: You have made your bed, and now you need to lie in it dad, and I use that term loosely. I am going to knock you around tomorrow night, and then I will take pleasure in watching you lose in your rematch for the World Title. You may think that the tables have turned in your favor dad, but look at me. I have your wife, this house, paid for by your money. Cassandra has now deposited the bulk of your money into my account for safe keeping so that you can’t get at it like you have gotten at Zell. Believe me, we will get him back too father. You are in a losing battle and although you feel like you have found some solid ground, that will all come crashing down around you tomorrow night. You will lose our match, you will lose to Spike Kane, and you will soon lose your baby boy for once and for all. You may think that trash talking Spike Kane is the way to go, saying that he kills everyone he loves…but I would have rather had him for a father then a deadbeat like yourself. You can see the love in his eyes when he speaks of Zell, but you never have love in your eyes when it comes to me, you only have contempt. Contempt because you know that I have your number.
Lance: I may lose to you tomorrow, and I may lose that title match as well, but rest assured that I will never lose Zell to you and that bitch again. Zell is my son, and I will raise him up with love and attention. I will teach him to respect and I will teach him the ways of the Revolution. I will teach him to show respect his father…something your bitch of a mother should have taught you.
~*~*~Lance reaches out and grabs Jamie by the throat, and Cassandra comes running to the door as well.~*~*~
Lance: Now both of you listen, and listen well. I don’t care about your relationship, I don’t care about either one of you. What I care about is Zell, he is my lifeline, my second chance at being a father. It is clear to everyone that I failed with you Jamie, but Zell will be the true showing of what I can do as a parent. Let’s make it interesting right now. When we fight on Sunday Night, here are the guidelines. If I win, I get sole custody of my son, and that goes uncontested. If you win Jamie, you two can have Zell, and I will leave you alone for the rest of your lives.
~*~*~It is clear that Jamie cannot speak as Lance still has a firm grip on Jamie’s throat and his face is beat red. Cassandra nods at Lance and Lance releases the choke hold.~*~*~
Lance: I will see you tomorrow….son….
~*~*~Hook. Line. And sinker. Never make a deal with the devil, especially when the devil is me.~*~*~
~*~*~Lance walks away from the house and Matthew follows closely behind.~*~*~
Matthew: What did you do that for? You already have won custody of Zell, she has little to no chance of proving that she is more fit than you as a parent. Now you have two matches on Sunday where you have to put it all on the line…
Lance: Like I said. I know how to deal with my demons…I know how to rid my world of my demons, and this Sunday, I have now secured the death of one demon. That will leave me with only one to deal with, the demon known as Spike.
Spike Kane, you need to never underestimate the powers of my mind and the control that I have. Even in times when it seems that I have no control, I am the leader. That is something that you are largely familiar with Spike, being a leader. People always seem to look to you for advice, for help, for leadership…it baffles the mind really…when have you ever made one good decision? Your attack on Ortega so many months ago is going against you in this match, your belief that Jack Manson is to be under-estimated is going against you in this match, your belief that I am past my prime is going against you in this match, and finally I have done what I always set out to do…I have gotten inside your head. You have tried fruitlessly to get inside mine. I could care less about your family squabble. Brad is indeed the best Kane, I have trained him well. Spike, the drums are beating…they are beating softly for you, but the band is sounding up. Sunday night those drums will be beating loudly for you. After I finish you off, they may want to start digging a third grave alongside your beloved Nola, and your baby boy Zell…for, judging by your state of mind, I doubt severely that you can handle another loss...the loss of your precious title…perhaps it is time for the angel of death to take more life…his own.
~*~*~The scene fades back and we see the side of Jamie Ryan’s house is covered in graffiti. Lance has written both “Jamie Ryan” and “Spike Kane” in a dark red blood-ish color and put a checkmark beside each name. Will this Sunday be a successful evening for the former champion? Has he driven Spike Kane to the brink of insanity? And if so, has he taken Spike off of his game?~*~*~
~*~*~The scene opens and we see Lance Ryan is walking along a quiet and near deserted street that has recently been covered by a fresh dusting of snow. There is a light breeze blowing and Lance is walking with his hood up, protecting his cheeks from the likely piercing wind. Lance is walking at a brisk pace, and appears to be alone.~*~*~
~*~*~Spike Kane is indeed what I would call my kryptonite here in nCw. I was once the world Champion, when he did indeed knock me from my perch. It is not the fact that he defeated me and took the title that bothers me most. It is not even the fact that he cheated to win that really grinds my gears. In fact, the worst part of Spike Kane to me is the fact that he doesn’t even acknowledge that I am a great performer anymore. He sells me short, and the fact of the matter is that I paved the road for people like Spike Kane, as did Davey Ortega, and yet Spike Kane has no respect, he has never said thank you, he has never even shook my hand in the entire time that we have been in this company together. The biggest problem with Spike Kane is indeed his tunnel vision, the fact that he tries to be so incredibly perceptive, and yet he missed the point entirely.~*~*~
~*~*~Lance stops in front of a house that we recognize as being the home that Cassandra and Jamie Ryan have recently moved into. He stops and looks up the driveway.~*~*~
~*~*~Spike is completely right about something, and that is that blood is thicker than water. In all of my preaching, I have even spoke down about family, but the fact is that Jamie is the flesh of my flesh and the blood of my blood.~*~*~
Lance: Spike, you are right, I have not been a model father, I have not been a model ex husband, hell, I am far from an upstanding citizen, but I do look out for the people that look out for me. That leads me to your family Spike. You speak on how I am to blame for the divide between yourself and Reckless Jack, and that is simply farther from the truth than you could ever possibly know. Reckless Jack was the one that contacted me about becoming a member of his revolution, and sure, I have said things to him along the way about you, things that I believe to be truth, things that I believe to advice to a man that I consider to be even closer than blood. You see Spike, my words to you when the camera was last on me, were not simple words to an enemy, they were truthful words, and I know that they hit home. Spike Kane, you suck the life out of everything and everyone that gets involved in your pathetic life. I am not sure if you realize this, but you seem to carry the death of your son like a badge. Like you are truly missing him, but the reality is that you know deep down inside that he died because you were unable to be the man that you claim to be.
You stand there and judge me as a father, because I am set to step into war with my son on Sunday, but let’s be honest, at least both of my boys are alive. At least they see that sun come up every day and can breathe in air while they sleep. Your son is lying somewhere, six feet underground. His eye sockets are home to maggots, and his skin has been devoured by bugs that have been passing through. The box that you once laid him to rest in has been withered away by the years and is beaten down, waterlogged, and stagnant…actually a quite decent metaphor for your career. What was once vibrant and full of life has now withered away and lost all of its spark Spike. That leads me to your demons, you have to wake up every day and face your demons. However, there is a large difference between Lance Ryan and Spike Kane. My demons are in the physical, I can deal with my demons, I have some semblance of control over my problems Spike, my problems are two human beings that still walk amongst us, and I can choose to correct those problems at any point in my life. For you, death is final.
~*~*~The definition of demon is a persistently tormenting person, force, or passion. That is the one thing that the three of us have in common going into Sunday. We have all faced our fair share of demons. I can’t understand the ways in which the other two are dealing with those demons. Having imaginary friends, and creating alter egos all seems so childish to me, and yet here I am, fighting for a cause that I know will prove to be fruitless, that I know falls upon deaf ears. I have demons of my own, an ex wife that has stolen all of my possessions, a son that clearly wants nothing less than my body on a stretcher, and let’s not hold back any punches any longer, a thirst for the nCw world title that has encompassed my entire being. I don’t think that I can fool anyone any longer. For all of the fighting, for all of the suffering, for all of the vehement disagreement, I want that world title back over my shoulder. I need to tell the world that I want my world title back.~*~*~
Lance: I WANT BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!
Matthew Ryan: I am glad that you have finally come to terms with that.
~*~*~Lance nearly jumps out of his shoes as he is jolted by the voice of his brother and long time friend. He looks over at Matt though with a piercing stare that could kill.
Lance: What the hell are you doing here?
Matthew: I was told that you were on your way over here, and I came to make sure that you were not going to do anything stupid prior to your big night tomorrow. I haven’t the faintest idea why you are on the property of your ex and your son, but what I do know is that I owe you an apology. My job as your brother and as your manager is to back you with whatever decisions that you choose to make. If that means Age of the Revolution, that is fine. If that means hating the fans, that is fine, and most of all, if that means winning back the world title, I will do whatever I can within my power to ensure that it is done.
~*~*~Matthew extends his hand for Lance to shake it, Lance smirks at Matthew and Matthew realizes that he should renig on the shake, as this will in fact be the best that he gets. ~*~*~
Lance: Now, you need to understand why I am here then. It is not to get one up on Jamie, and it is not to cause trouble. Much like my last go around with Spike Kane, I have come to some realizations, I hate to admit it but Spike Kane has once again taught me a life lesson. That lesson is that I need to be a better man to my family. I may not love Cassandra anymore, hell I don’t even like her. But she is indeed the mother of Zell, and that is something that can never be changed. And Spike is right about Jamie, he is one hell of a warrior, and he got those genes from me. He and I need to make some attempt at being father and son, and even though I have no idea where to start, I have to admit that I am ready to try.
I want to be the man that Spike Kane can never be, a man that faces his demons head on, a man that doesn’t make up stories, or make up friends to get him through but a man with a mission in life, with a goal in mind at all times. For me that goal is…
Matthew: Winning the nCw World Title.
Lance: No. I was going to say re-establishing some semblance of a family.
Matthew: Cut the bull****, I know that your only motive for trying to clear things up with Jamie is because you want to focus solely on your match with Spike and Manson. If we are going to be on the same team Lance, you need to call them like you see them, not candy coat things and keep me out of the loop. I know that you have a lust for that World Title that is like no other. That title to you means that you are the best at what you do, and that feeds the competitive nature that you seep. That title also means the highest pedestal in nCw from which you can, and will, preach the word of the Revolution. This has nothing to do with family, I don’t buy this epiphany of yours, in fact, and I think you are quite full of ****. If you wanted to really be a daddy to Jamie, you wouldn’t have simply mailed a check for the past twenty years, you would have called him, visited him, and been the daddy that you now say you want to be. This has nothing to do with family, and everything to do with claiming that top spot. I know that, you know that.
~*~*~Yes, but they don’t need to know that.~*~*~
Lance: Ir-regardless of what you think, I need to do this for my own reasons. I can either face my demons as they are now, or I can wait. I can wait until I close off contact with everyone but the voices in my head, like Manson, or I can wait until everything I hold dear is ****ing dead and cold in the ground, like Spike Kane. Now, let’s see what can be done.
~*~*~The two men start walking up the driveway to the house, and carry on small talk as they approach.~*~*~
Matthew: So, why do you suppose that Spike Kane has an imaginary friend? I mean, by the look on Milo’s face when this all went down, this is not the first appearance for this friend of his.
Lance: Think about it. Everyone that ever gets close to Spike seems to die….
Matthew: And?
Lance: You can’t kill what doesn’t exist Matthew. It’s sad really, Spike realizes that he may in fact be death himself, and the only way that he can keep a friend is to create one.
~*~*~Lance walks up to the front door of the house and rings the doorbell. There is no answer at the door, and Lance rings the doorbell again. Finally the door opens and we see Jamie Ryan. He is dressed in a pair of blue jeans and no shirt. He takes one look at Lance.~*~*~
Jamie: get the hell of off my property.
Lance: Jamie, come on. I came here to talk things out, I want to fix things between the two of us, you know? The last thing that I want to do is step foot into an nCw ring with my son and fight with him in a hardcore match.
Jamie: You have made your bed, and now you need to lie in it dad, and I use that term loosely. I am going to knock you around tomorrow night, and then I will take pleasure in watching you lose in your rematch for the World Title. You may think that the tables have turned in your favor dad, but look at me. I have your wife, this house, paid for by your money. Cassandra has now deposited the bulk of your money into my account for safe keeping so that you can’t get at it like you have gotten at Zell. Believe me, we will get him back too father. You are in a losing battle and although you feel like you have found some solid ground, that will all come crashing down around you tomorrow night. You will lose our match, you will lose to Spike Kane, and you will soon lose your baby boy for once and for all. You may think that trash talking Spike Kane is the way to go, saying that he kills everyone he loves…but I would have rather had him for a father then a deadbeat like yourself. You can see the love in his eyes when he speaks of Zell, but you never have love in your eyes when it comes to me, you only have contempt. Contempt because you know that I have your number.
Lance: I may lose to you tomorrow, and I may lose that title match as well, but rest assured that I will never lose Zell to you and that bitch again. Zell is my son, and I will raise him up with love and attention. I will teach him to respect and I will teach him the ways of the Revolution. I will teach him to show respect his father…something your bitch of a mother should have taught you.
~*~*~Lance reaches out and grabs Jamie by the throat, and Cassandra comes running to the door as well.~*~*~
Lance: Now both of you listen, and listen well. I don’t care about your relationship, I don’t care about either one of you. What I care about is Zell, he is my lifeline, my second chance at being a father. It is clear to everyone that I failed with you Jamie, but Zell will be the true showing of what I can do as a parent. Let’s make it interesting right now. When we fight on Sunday Night, here are the guidelines. If I win, I get sole custody of my son, and that goes uncontested. If you win Jamie, you two can have Zell, and I will leave you alone for the rest of your lives.
~*~*~It is clear that Jamie cannot speak as Lance still has a firm grip on Jamie’s throat and his face is beat red. Cassandra nods at Lance and Lance releases the choke hold.~*~*~
Lance: I will see you tomorrow….son….
~*~*~Hook. Line. And sinker. Never make a deal with the devil, especially when the devil is me.~*~*~
~*~*~Lance walks away from the house and Matthew follows closely behind.~*~*~
Matthew: What did you do that for? You already have won custody of Zell, she has little to no chance of proving that she is more fit than you as a parent. Now you have two matches on Sunday where you have to put it all on the line…
Lance: Like I said. I know how to deal with my demons…I know how to rid my world of my demons, and this Sunday, I have now secured the death of one demon. That will leave me with only one to deal with, the demon known as Spike.
Spike Kane, you need to never underestimate the powers of my mind and the control that I have. Even in times when it seems that I have no control, I am the leader. That is something that you are largely familiar with Spike, being a leader. People always seem to look to you for advice, for help, for leadership…it baffles the mind really…when have you ever made one good decision? Your attack on Ortega so many months ago is going against you in this match, your belief that Jack Manson is to be under-estimated is going against you in this match, your belief that I am past my prime is going against you in this match, and finally I have done what I always set out to do…I have gotten inside your head. You have tried fruitlessly to get inside mine. I could care less about your family squabble. Brad is indeed the best Kane, I have trained him well. Spike, the drums are beating…they are beating softly for you, but the band is sounding up. Sunday night those drums will be beating loudly for you. After I finish you off, they may want to start digging a third grave alongside your beloved Nola, and your baby boy Zell…for, judging by your state of mind, I doubt severely that you can handle another loss...the loss of your precious title…perhaps it is time for the angel of death to take more life…his own.
~*~*~The scene fades back and we see the side of Jamie Ryan’s house is covered in graffiti. Lance has written both “Jamie Ryan” and “Spike Kane” in a dark red blood-ish color and put a checkmark beside each name. Will this Sunday be a successful evening for the former champion? Has he driven Spike Kane to the brink of insanity? And if so, has he taken Spike off of his game?~*~*~