#ethan why are you matching spears too?

[mxmoth]

RIDGE HOLLAND and ETHAN PAGE on WWE NXT | 11-6-24

[rallamajoop]

That time Heisenberg stabbed Ethan with a rusty fencepost

Thanks to this one fic project that needed a pornographically detailed list of Ethan’s most memorable injuries, I've spent some time trying to figure out exactly what Heisenberg stabs him with when they first met. Working mostly from a free-camera version from youtube, I settled on calling a metal pipe with a square profile.

Tumblr: I was wrong. The reality is so much worse.

Having cracked the game files and installed my own free-camera mod, I tracked down the original asset for this thing, and, well...

No, really, this is it! Check out those matching cross-bars if you doubt me.

FWIW, it isn’t actually a spear. Those semi-mangled crossbars flag it instead as a spear-headed fence-post. (This may not be a distinction that Ethan would find very comforting after being stabbed with the thing, but there it is, regardless.)

In fact, if you poke around the cemetery area just outside the castle gate, you can even find the fence it presumably came from.

Look in on the cemetery near the church from the lane leading up to the Duke's shop beside it, and this is what you'll see.

It's not a perfect match (in fact, it's even worse viewed from the opposite side, because someone has clearly stuffed up the textures on different sides of the same asset). I'll also note that if you go back to this fence again after meeting Heisenberg, you won’t find any suspicious gaps in it where a post was recently ripped out. So I’m going to just go ahead and assume this particular piece was lying in a pile of surplus scrap in the cellar somewhere, and Heisenberg did not, in fact, drag the thing all the way there from well outside the whole damn building. I mean, at that point, you’re just showing off.

The fence post is, admittedly, pretty hard to get a good look at in the actual game. Unlike all the other crap Heisenberg already has levitating around him in this scene, the fencepost doesn’t appear at all until Heisenberg stabs Ethan with it. It actually seems to emerge at speed from between a couple of barrels at the back. But if you’re enough of a lunatic to play around with the various slow motion/rewind settings that came with the free camera mod, you can get a decent shot of it in flight, cleaning up any remaining doubt that this is the same asset that was used in game.

It even freaking spins in the air as it moves. FTR, yes, it does go in pointy-end first. And the whole fucking spearhead ends up buried in poor Ethan. (Please feel free to insert your own dick-joke here.) Those paying really close attention might even note that the blood on Ethan's shirt is present even before the spear hits him, but that's just going to be virtual-stunt-coordination having a normal one.

I can offer you no similarly definitive insight into why Heisenberg would think stabbing Ethan with this thing was a good idea. I can’t even tell you if he knew for sure that it was Ethan Winters he was talking to at this point (maybe he's just playing dumb, pretending not to recognise him. Or maybe he legit didn't know that Ethan himself had made an appearance until Miranda told him. Sure, he's already got that whole conspiracy board, but finding real pictures of this Ethan-guy is surprisingly hard.) But whether Heis was already testing out Ethan’s ‘interesting body’, or whether he’d just generally assumed that anyone who could survive a full lycan assault on the village wouldn’t be too seriously inconvenienced by a little stabbing, hoo boy was this one way to make a first impression.

I’m not even sure which of these losers is the bigger idiot here: the one who imagined Ethan might still agree to work with him even after inserting a very convincing imitation-spearhead into his intestines, or the one who never thought to seriously question how he keeps shrugging off injuries just as exciting as this one.

They probably deserve each other.

[wrestlezon]

aew dynamite 11/23/22 liveblog containment zone

finally watched the dynamite from wednesday. now i can look at my dashboard again

in the ring with william regal

why u side with mjf my man... it keeps sounding like regal is calling him "mr freeman" which is immensely distracting to the rest of my brain maxwell friedman, in the flesh. or rather, with the championship belt oh its moxley time danielson coming out to defend regal please dont hurt him mox. hes got glass bones and paper skin SLAPPING HIM??????? LMFAOOO DANIELSON "IM SORRY IM SORRY I HIT U" (NOT) why are they gaslight gatekeep girlbossing moxley right now this is just reminding me of slap's hannibal au fic just kill them all, moxley!!! wow. moxley telling him to just walk away

backstage with keith lee

how u doin bud LMAO SWERVE'S HERE WHAT???????????? COVERING THE CAMERA MAKE UP SEX so bomb gets even keith lee to reconsider

orange cassidy vs jake hager

him and his stupid fucking hat oh rocky is here too! best vice. roppongi friends. taking his glasses??? hager's outfit just becoming a collection of items he's taken from other wrestlers he got nothing else going on. lack of personality PUT THE HAT ON orange is getting the crowd hype for him to put the hat on. love it the hat gets put on hager all wrestling needs to be like this so i dont need to settle with watching a match with hager in it commentary is being really good but i cant focus on them because im watching the match excaliburs response to "do you have a favorite article of clothing" was funny tho lmfao matt and angelo parker yelling at orange in stereo. 2point0 negging hours orange cassidy trust fall OH MY GOD HIS FLIP OFF THE APRON orange wins

oh chuck has cute shoes the factory is here!!! yaayyyyyy rematch with them i wouldnt mind watching best friends vs the factory over and over again lmao mic broke DARKNESS… is it danhausen aga-- HOUSE OF BLACK! im glad theyre back! im also glad malakai black is back!! look at julia hart looking stylish as hell in the fog and red. what an intro oh no if the best friends fight the house of black theyre gonna lose for sure. they would not do the house of black a disservice by having them lose to the best friends in any capacity please do not have them feud. thank u

video promo with jungle boy

is jungle boy's new gimmick going to be him covered in crusted blood from full gear im glad jungle boy got a W

ethan page vs ricky starks

the eliminator tournament! who is going on to fight mjf? ethan page :)c i know people hate on ethan page for getting a push but theyre wrong. he's very charismatic and cute and i like to hear him promo and also watch him wrestle. ricky starks……….. surely people have already made transmasc swag comments about this already ethan page is sooooo cute whoa stokley pulled ethan page and himself out of the way of a moving car (ricky starks' dive out of the ring) oooo EJECTED FROM DA MATCH for his INTERFERENCE whoa that superplex looked impromptu hmm who is going to win this match. i think they should throw ricky a bone but also ethan page has history with mjf which could work with the narrative did he just rip off his tit armor whoa! ethan page tossing him so high into the air three spears! my favorite mov-- OH! ricky won!!!

backstage video promo with wardlow

oh yeah i forgot he lost his title wardlow: i dont know how i lost my title. so i looked at the footage. and i see that i was knocked unconscious by samoe joe.

backstage with jade cargill

lmao what the. why is there a bow wow altercation here oh yeah i forgot jade won back her belt. i forgot because i was mad at this result whoa. kiera hogan officially fired by jade and mark sterling for not being a bad enough bitch

death triangle vs the elite

jeez 7 matches in a row look if there is one group that can do 7 rematches and make it interesting? its these six whoa they did wayward son again getting the big boos. i know theyre heels but dang wait the cm punk chants reminded me of all out. and theyre in chicago. that checks out sorry every day i try to erase the memory because it makes me SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cm punk!!! (wailing sobbing emojis) death triangle has the sickest intro ohhhh thats cute! penta giving football man a football helmet styled lucha mask… aww whoa what is up with pac oh broken nose. ok. i didnt see because i was too busy looking at pac and the football guy rey fenix stopping kenny's chargeup run move. and then sick flip wow fuck cm punk chants now? i mean yeah i too felt parasocially betrayed by cm punk leaving wrestling a second time. i feel you chicago colt cabana chants??? don't go where i can't follow, chicago crowd. im trying to order lunch and watch this match at the same time and doing neither properly. ok im good now lmao fucking up the buckshot lariat??? on purpose at that? the shade BITING???????? HELLO LMAO what a heel move, directly to me and also the audience taking his protective mask off!! lmao it getting caught in his spaghetti string hair oh no, pac's poor vulnerable nose!!! LMAO GTS???????????? ok guys come on youre laying it on so thick i like the elite but you cant keep reminding me of my broken heart 😭 youre hurting me. i know youre heels but this is too much!!! waahhhhhh matt jackson what the fuck are you doing with that hammer freak! weirdo!!!

renee paquette with an annoucement

whats up oh they're officially world championing the title. this makes sense. its been so long that i forgot it was an interim title poor toni storm tho. unless they retroactively apply it to her reign? but it really doesnt sound like they are doing that

anna jay + tay melo vs britt baker + jamie hayter vs willow nightingale + skye blue

oh wow tayjay got their own theme! nice they have matching outfits… i guess white black gold isnt totally unique a color combo but still i got distracted. im so sorry women i dont think willow is gonna win (cry) so why be invested in this match i say that and skye blue starts doing cool kicks and cazadora moves omg yes queen prove me wrong nooooo eats the pin immediately WHY DID I GET INVESTED JUST THEN the interim thing is too bad but i do think its interesting that now that the second its not a temp title britt baker goes OWO?

backstage with renee paquette and top flight and FTR

ohhh theyre fighting for the ROH tag titles on friday. cute. a nice honorable fightmatch

the acclaimed come out to the ring

pretty good rap this time boys i wonder if theyre gonna start up the next feud for them. who is gonna tussle with the acclaimed? unfortunately i think the best friends are kinda busy so there goes my hopes and dreams NOOOOO NOT LETHAL'S SQUAD LMAOOOOOOOO were they chanting "cm punk" or "jarrett sucks" i couldnt tell ok we have to pause and rewind and slowmo a bit there when max caster was scissor because he handed something to a lady in the front row and we think he literally just handed someone a hotel keycard LMAO??? PICKUP MOVES?? AT THE SHOW?????? ON CAMERA?????????????????? it looked a little bit too thick to be a business card… insane behavior if true

jericho vs ishii

my friends really didnt want to watch this match but i managed to convince them to at least let me fast forward to a random part of the match and they were immediately curious about why jericho is bleeding from the chest so: mission accomplished face slap fight taz apologizing and excalibur being like "tony khan scold you in your ear lol?" i love the aew commentary chop fight ah heres the chest bleedy. kind of a goofy blade job but ok this match is just making me think about the eddie vs ishii match that was on the… forbidden door zero hour? it was on one of the ppv zero hours and guess what: that match ruled this match is ok i guess. its living in the shadow of a superior eddie vs ishii match maybe jericho shouldve bladed later omg ishii covered in lil blood splatters. crazy ok jericho is getting too beat up for too long so hes probably going to end up winning this match which is lame and cringe whoa that apron move trading suplexes wait i forgot this is a title match. of course hes gonna win ok excalibur that was not a 2.99 ad infinitum come on flip him off. final act of resistance IAN RICCABONI LOOK OUT!! RUN!!! why does he just sit there and wait to get beaten up every time claudio 2 da rescue

[dreamwritesimagines]

Bad Habit 12- Snap Out Of It [Billy Russo x Reader]

A.N: Your feedback is amazing, thank you so so much! 

Tags are at the end! 

Characters: Billy Russo x Reader, Karen Page x Frank Castle

Summary: Double dates never go as planned. 

Click here for: Bad Habit 1, Bad Habit 2, Bad Habit 3  Bad Habit 4 Bad Habit 5 Bad Habit 6 Bad Habit 7 Bad Habit 8 Bad Habit 9 Bad Habit 10 Bad Habit 11 

Click here to see the playlist for the first 4 parts!

Click here to see the playlist for 5-8 made by the amazing itsjustmylifeconfessions

Click here to see the beautiful moodboard by itsjustmylifeconfessions

Click here to see the beautiful moodboard by whoareumancek

Warning: Explicit language, cussing.

Word Count: 3461

Please tell me what you think

Gif’s not mine!

“Oh fuck.”  You opened your eyes as the pain in your head pounded against your skull in-

Not your bed.

You sat up straight and looked around, now realizing it was Billy’s room and there was a note for you along with two pills on the nightstand. You grabbed the note and tried to see through the headache.

Not bailing, something came up at Anvil. Call me when you wake up.

Billy.

Ps: You’re romantic when you’re drunk.

Your jaw dropped as you skimmed the lines once again.

“What did I do?” You whispered before reaching out to get your phone and found his name from the contacts, then hit call.

He answered in two seconds.

“Morning sunshine.”

“The hell you mean romantic?” You croaked out, making him chuckle.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Hit me, Russo.”

“Well, you…” Billy cleared his throat, “You got wasted with Foggy and Karen…”

“I remember that.”

“Then I drove you to my place. You…serenaded me.”

“Oh God…”

“You started with that Britney Spears song…”

“Which one?”

“You’re toxic I’m slipping under?”

“Jesus Christ…” You fell back to the bed, hoping it would swallow you.

“Yeah and that was while I was opening the door. Woke up all my neighbors, then at the house you started singing I wanna hold your hand-“

“Beatles?! I skipped from Britney to Beatles?!”

“I wouldn’t call it Beatles because towards the end of it you turned the song into a rap.”

You groaned, “This is a joke, right? You’re messing with me.”

“No, I have a video.”

“Which you will delete?”

“Nah, not a chance.” He stated and you ran a hand over your burning face.

“And that was the end of the night, right?”

“Nope.”

“No.” You nodded to yourself, “Of course it wasn’t.”

“You’re very creative when you’re drunk, did anyone tell you that?”

“Did I fucking paint your portrait or something?” You whined and he made a noise of disagreement.

“More romantic.”

“Fuck no.”

“If anything it was a good poem.” He said, “I’m sure you came up with it because I’m not sure there are many poems about someone’s facial hair.”

“Please stop.”

“I told you the same thing last night. Didn’t seem to work.”

“I’m never drinking again…”

“Well, that wasn’t so bad, but then-“

“There’s more!?”

“You wanted to go out to find your brother, then proceeded to shout out of my window, something along the lines Come and get me, dickhead.”

You massaged your eyes. “Billy?”

“Hm?”

“We need to stop seeing each other.”

He snorted, “Does it mean you take your proposal back?”

You could swear you felt the blood freeze in your veins.

“Please don’t tell me I actually proposed, because my heart can’t take it.”

“I wouldn’t call it a proposal really. You just said “Sex is good, wanna do it until I’m dry and you have erectile dysfunction problems in old age?”

“We’re definitely breaking up.” You groaned as you popped the pills in your mouth “It was nice knowing you Russo. Thanks for the orgasms.”

“My pleasure. So are you free tonight?”

“Yeah. We can drink holy water and talk about anything that’s not romantic. Guns and wrestling?”

“Guns are romantic.”

You made a face, “No they’re not. So I’ll steal all your valuable things and run away then. Since you left me alone in your place…” You paused, “Dude, it’d be like a roleplay! We never talked about our kinks!”

“Y/N-“

“Cops and robbers, come on, a classic!”

“Why do your all interesting ideas have to come to you when I’m about to go into a meeting?” If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was whining. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Yeah, and text me your fantasies, bye!”

You hung up and pushed the covers off your body, still holding onto your head with a groan and slowly, very slowly walked to the front door and opened it. As you expected, Isaac and Simon were already there, waiting for you.

“Morning ma’am.”

You tried to focus, then nodded,

“Morning guys. Isaac, before I forget, are you single?”

Isaac’s eyes widened as he looked at you, and opened his mouth to stammer.

“I- ma’am-what?”

“Are you single? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Ma’am, I’m flattered but…um-“

“Not for me, idiot!” You said, “My friend! She thinks you’re cute, do you think she’s cute?”

“What-what friend?”

“Vicky. From the coffee shop.”

“She thinks I’m cute?” Isaac’s head shot up as hope shone in his eyes, making you smile despite the headache.

“Jesus, you two are hopeless. Drive me to work please, and I’ll introduce you, properly.”

As soon as you walked in, you grabbed Isaac’s wrist and pulled him towards the counter behind which Vicky was preparing coffee with Liz.

“Vicky!” You said, making her turn her head to you and her eyes wandered to Isaac, who shot her a shy smile and looked elsewhere. You tried not to aww at them, and cleared your throat.

“I’m taking over the coffee stuff for a while, you go take a break. Preferably with Isaac, who thinks you’re cute.”

Vicky raised her brows as Isaac cleared his throat, still not looking her in the eye while Liz let out a laugh.

“Right Isaac?”

“I’d- It’d make me very happy if you would drink a cup of coffee with me.”

“She’d be delighted!” You answered on behalf of Vicky and she bit on her lip, trying to hide her smile before nodded.

“You wild kids go and sit there, me and Liz got this covered.” You said and Vicky put the cup in her hands down, then she made her way to a table with Isaac following her. Liz giggled.

“Match maker skills over the top.”

“Come on, they’d be cute together. If you ever get bored of that boyfriend of yours, I can hook you up with people too.” You wiggled your brows and she picked up the cup Vicky had left behind.

“I take it things are good between you and Mr Fancy.”

You bit on your lip, then nodded, trying to ignore the blush creeping up on your cheeks as what Billy had said flashed in your eyes.

“I’m gonna take out the pies, you got this?”

“Yeah.” You nodded, and Liz walked to the kitchen while you made yourself busy with changing the roll of receipt paper, oblivious to customer who approached the counter before he cleared his throat.

“Oh sorry, how can I-“ You raised your head but as soon as you did, you felt like someone just sucker punched you square in the face. He looked exactly like how he looked all these years ago, as if he didn’t change one bit. He shot you a small smile as you gawked at him.

“Hi.”

You tried to pull yourself together as you gritted your teeth, forcing yourself to stand your ground “What the fuck are you doing here, Ethan?”

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“Well then don’t.” You averted your eyes as you walked to the coffee machine, “We broke up-“

“You dumped me. With a letter.”

“Yeah so…get the clue.”

“Y/N-“

“And tell my brother it is way below the belt, even for him.” You said coldly as you turned to look at him, in hopes to catch something, anything, but all you could see on his face was the confusion.

“Your brother? He left the city after he…” He gulped, “Beat the fuck out of me. I thought you knew. I-I thought you left the city together.”

“Cool story, came up with it by yourself?”

“Y/N.” he insisted, “I- I tried to find you. I still have the letter-“ he took a piece of paper out of his pocket and you shook your head fervently.

“I don’t wanna see it.” You said, digging your fingernails into your palms “You should leave.”

“Y/N-“

“Ethan.” You cut him off, “Trust me. You need to leave. I left the city for a reason-“

“Not to hurt me anymore. I know, I’ve read it.” He held up the folded paper “I’ve memorized it by now. Can’t we just talk? Please?”

You knew it was gonna hurt him, but if it would also make him leave, you figured you would manage it once more. Just like you had before.

“I’m seeing someone.”

The expression on his face was so painful that it broke your heart for a second, before he tried to smile again, then nodded.

“I don’t expect anything,” he said quietly, “I just want to talk.”

“I’m not coming anywhere with you.”

“We could talk here? Tomorrow?” his voice was way too hopeful and you couldn’t find it in your heart to hurt him again. So, even if you knew this was a mistake, you nodded, making him smile.

He wrote his number to the back of the paper, then put it on the counter.

“Just in case you deleted it.” He said “See you tomorrow.”

He walked out of the café the same time Liz walked out of the kitchen with pies.

“Hey, you okay?”

You shut your eyes tightly, and took a deep breath before opening them again, scrunching up the letter in your hand.

“Y/N?”

“Yeah.” You nodded, “Yeah, I am.”

For the whole day, you felt like the letter in your pocket would burn a hole through it. You were on the edge the whole day, not being able to focus on anything, and many customers had to repeat their order for you to get it right, even if you tried your hardest to concentrate. Before you knew it, the darkness of the evening fell over New York City, and customers started to leave one by one, slowly. Before you knew it, it was time for you all to go home and Billy walked into the café, busy with his phone.

“Hey.”

“Hi there.” You pecked him on the lips and his long fingers went to the back of your head, massaging there gently.

“How’s the hangover?”

“It’s better, thanks for the meds.” You pursed your lips, “And sorry about the… well whole last night.”

That seemed to make him chuckle as Isaac made his way to him.

“Mr Russo?”

“Yeah?”

“I was wondering if I could be excused for the night.”

Your eyes found Vicky over his shoulder before you turned to him, with a huge smile on your face,

“Yes you can!”

“Can he, Mr Russo?” Billy asked you, his brows raised and you elbowed him,

“Come on, you’re here! No need for bodyguards, or wouldn’t you protect me if something happened? Hm? Ex Special Forces?”

Billy shot you a look, then turned to Isaac, “Sure. Tell Simon he can leave as well.”

“Thank you Mr Russo. Ma’am.”

“Stop calling me ma’am!” You called out after him as he and Vicky walked out of the café and Simon followed them suit.

“Y/N, do you mind if you locked it tonight?” Liz asked you, holding up her phone, “I got this thing-“

“Oh no problem.” You told her, and she grabbed her coat and bag before she walked out as well. You turned to Billy,

“I’m taking that proposal back.”

“Play with my heart, why don’t you?” Billy said “Hey, could I get some coffee while we’re here?”

You nodded and quickly prepared his black coffee with no sugar, then handed him the foam cup before the small paper sticking out of your pocket caught your attention. You pressed a hand over your pocket, then took a deep breath.

“We need to talk.”

“That’s never good.” Billy said, pulling his brows together slightly, “Everything okay?”

“Um… no, I wouldn’t call it okay…” You mumbled and cleared your throat, “Okay, so you remember I said I trusted you?”

“Yeah?”

“This is me at the top of my trust.” You muttered and pulled the paper out of your pocket before you placed it on the counter.

“What is this?”

“This is the letter I wrote to Ethan before I left Chicago. Before I left him.” You tried to smile, “I… um, he dropped by today.”

This seemed to be one of the many moments you had no idea what Billy was thinking, as usual. His façade was calm, but his dark eyes narrowed a little as his eyes fell on the letter.

“You don’t wanna read it?”

Billy paused only for a second before he shook his head and pushed the letter in your direction “You can tell me, I’m sure.”

“It’s very dramatic.” You tried to laugh, “Anyway, um… Since we’re- well…. Since we’re seeing each other, I figured I could be honest with you. I’m gonna see him tomorrow.”

Billy fell into silence for a couple of seconds before he cleared his throat.

“Didn’t you say your brother was behind it? The whole thing?”

“I still have that doubt. I just…” You let out a shaky breath, “It’s all fucked up, but…” You shrugged, “What do you think?”

“Since when you care about what I think?”

“Oh come on,” You shot him a look, “Don’t be like that. My mind is all fucked up, I wanna hear what you think. Do you think I should see him?”

“Well, I think…it depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether you still love him or not.”

You let out a small, bitter laugh, “Billy…”

“No, really. Do you?”

“If I still loved him, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you.” You stated, “I feel… I feel guilty. It’s not love, it’s guilt.”

“Over what?” Billy asked, and you shrugged,

“I left him. With a letter. I never answered his calls, mails, nothing. And he deserved more than that.”

“Who cares what he deserves?”

“I care!” You snapped, “Anyone would.”

“You don’t owe him shit.”

“So you don’t think I should talk to him.”

He shrugged, “Like I said. You don’t care what I think, but for what it’s worth I think it’s a bad idea. What if you’re right and your brother is behind this whole thing? It makes it way easier for him to get to you, while you’re all vulnerable-“

“I’m not vulnerable!”

“Y/N…”

“I’m not!” You insisted, “I’m not this love-struck girl you think I am, okay? I’m just… he’s someone from my past that I hurt. That’s it.” You ran your hand through your hair “Like I said… I want to be honest with you. I’m being honest with you, so believe me when I say there’s no love going on anymore.”

Billy nodded slowly, looking deep into your eyes “Okay.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Simon and Isaac will still be with you.”

“Yeah, I told him I’d meet him here. I’m not that naïve, you know?” You smiled softly before wrapping your arms around his neck, standing on your tiptoes, “Now, Russo, let me just fix this place and we can go to my place.”

That seemed to make him smile and he nodded before he smacked your butt, “Go on then. Hurry up.”

“I’m just gonna take out the trash, do you mind coming with me?” You asked him and he nodded,

“I could carry that.”

“Nope, I got it. Just open the door?” You asked as you walked to the backdoor and he rushed to open the door, then both of you walked outside but as soon as the two figures caught your eye in the dark, you gasped and stopped dead on your tracks.

“Karen?” You whispered, way too low for the kissing couple to hear you. Billy frowned.

“Is that Frank?” he whispered and you narrowed your eyes to see them better under the streetlight,

“That’s Pete.” You were confused now and Billy shook his head,

“Nope, I’m pretty sure that’s Frank.”

Suddenly it dawned on you and your jaw dropped, now realizing why Pete had seem so familiar to you back then.

“Motherfucker…” You mumbled, shaking your head, “That fuckhead gave me his fake name.” You leaned on your hip, “Well, it was about time.”

“How come I didn’t know about this?” Billy nodded at the couple and you scoffed.

“I did see it coming, to be honest.” You said and bumped your shoulder with his, “Hey, wanna ruin it for them?”

“Oh yeah.” Billy grinned “On three?”

“You got it.”

“One, two- There you go, Frankie!”

“Karen! Karen do you need condoms Karen?!”

“Nice one brother!”

“So much for no special other isn’t it?!” You both shouted, making them separate from each other’s embrace and Karen covered her face while Frank raised his brows, flipping Billy. You grinned as they walked towards you and Billy and Frank clapped each other on the shoulder as they hugged each other.

“I’m shocked.” You grinned at Karen who tried to purse her lips to hide her smile.

“You two are horrible.”

“Jesus, what happened to you two?” Billy asked and now you could notice Karen’s messed up hair along with Frank’s bruised face. Frank waved a hand in the air.

“Not important.”

“Like fuck it’s not important, you look like you’re about to drop dead from exhaustion.” You frowned, “Let me get you some coffee, huh?”

“That actually doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Come on.” You said after you threw the trash in the dumpster and all four of you walked into the café. Billy and Frank went to sit to two of the chairs around a table and Karen hugged you from behind.

“Hey.”

“Hey there, pretty. You okay?” You turned your head to kiss her on the cheek. “What happened to you? Bloody date?”

“Something like that.” Karen heaved a sigh, “How about you? How is everything going on with you two?”

You shrugged slightly, “Ethan dropped by today.”

Karen pulled back, “Again?”

“Yeah. We’re gonna…talk tomorrow.”

“You think it’s a good idea?”

“Do you think it’s a bad idea?” You asked back and Karen bit on her lip, deep in thought.

“Well you know him pretty well. It could help you to understand if he’s hiding something.” She stated, “It could help you to gain upper hand on your brother.”

“You’re a genius.”

“I know.” Karen laughed as you filled the cups and she grabbed two cups, then walked towards the table the same time Frank stood up to walk towards the counter.

“Could I get a pie too? I’m starving and those things look good.” He took out his wallet and you waved a hand in the air.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous,” You went to take out one of the pies and sliced it, your eyes finding Billy’s momentarily as he turned his head to look at you. You winked at him, making him smile before he turned to say something to Karen.

“So, Pete not Pete.” You said as you put the pie to the microwave and set the time, “Just so you know, Punisher or not, I’ll kill you in a really painful way if you ever hurt her.”

That seemed to make him chuckle and he nodded, running a hand over his buzz cut hair,

“Fair enough.” He said, “You and my boy Billy, huh?”

You bit inside your cheek to keep a straight face, then leaned towards to counter,

“Yep. Have any warning that could come handy?”

“Oh man… I’d say run for the hills if it was before,” he shrugged, “But didn’t he give you a gun?”

Your head shot up as you remembered the talk you had with him before “Wait, yeah! The gun!” You lowered your voice “He doesn’t tell me shit, what does the gun mean?”

Frank smiled slightly, “I uh… There was this one time I was going away, so I gave Maria- my…wife- I gave her a gun, just in case. I wanted her and the children to be safe. And I told Billy about it later on when we were away, and man, he…” he chuckled, “I never heard the end of it, and soon it became an inside joke with the others, every time we had to go away, we’d ask each other “Did you give a gun to your old lady?” and every time Billy made fun of us, nonstop. But now….” He trailed off and you gawked at him, your stomach doing happy flips in your body. “Good to know he’s choosing quality over quantity now.”

“I’m not… quality.” You managed to say, “I’m the farthest thing away from quality.”

Frank scoffed, “Even so,” he shrugged, “For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen him with anyone like this.”

You smiled slightly, but then Frank’s eyes widened as they fell on your chest. You slowly followed his gaze to see a red dot blinking there.

Sniper.

“Get down!” You heard Billy’s voice and Frank jumped over the counter to push you down to the ground.

Then the shooting started.

Part 13 is up! 

[dumbledearme]

chapter thirty-eight—strength in the sea

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act V — Walking On Water

Part I — Taming the tides, swarming the sea. Defending our friends and enemies as big as a whale.

Andy and Rachel were gazing at the sea. Well, Andy was. Rachel was waiting for an answer. She had asked Andy to her family's vacation house on St Thomas for three days. But in a few days Andy would be eighteen and it was probable that bad things were coming. The half-bloods had spent the entire year getting ready for the war against the Titan Lord and now there just weren't any more time.

"I know the timing is bad," Rachel said. "But it's always bad for you, isn't it?"

Now there she had a point. "I'd like to go," Andy promised. "I would! It's just-"

"The war," she nodded. "Just think about it, okay? It'd be so much better if you were with us. Besides, there's something I want to talk-" she stopped abruptly. "Let's just pretend we're a couple of normal people for a few days. That's all I want."

Andy could tell something was bothering Rachel. They had spent a lot of time together this last year. But when she opened her mouth to ask, Rachel leaned over and kissed her.

"I'm sorry," the red-headed pulled away as if she'd been electrocuted. "Oh, Andy, I'm so, so sorry. That was not right. I mean, Anthony..." she trailed off.

Andy gave her an awkward pat on the back. "It's okay. I doubt he'll ever ask..." The whole situation was so strange Andy felt the urge to laugh. Her year was getting weirder and weirder.

Then Blackjack appeared with Charles Beckendorf on his back. Beckendorf was dressed for combat. His explosives bag was slung over his shoulder. "Hey, Andy," he said. "It's time."

A clump formed in her throat. She'd almost forgot they had a mission tonight, even though they had been planning it for weeks. Part of her hoped it would never happen.

"Good luck," Rachel said. She was blushing, still embarrassed by what she'd done, but tried to put on a brave face. "Go kill some monsters for me."

Beckendorf offered his hand and pulled Andy behind him. Then Blackjack soared over the Atlantic.

It was almost dark by the time they spotted their target. The Princess Andromeda glowed on the horizon, heading straight for New York.

"You know what to do?" asked Beckendorf. Andy nodded grimly.

Blackjack set them down on the lowest stern deck. "Don't wait for us," Andy ordered. The winged-horse wished them luck and flew off into the night. Andy uncapped Riptide.

"Please, gods, keep her safe," Beckendorf whispered to the night sky. Andy knew he meant Silena Beauregard. The two of them had started going out. That made her thoughts travel to her own romance... No. She wouldn't think of Anthony. Not now.

"We'll make it back, Chuck," she told him with fake certainty.

There was worry in his eyes, but Beckendorf managed a smile. "Let's go blow Kronos back into a million pieces."

He led the way. They descended downstairs as quietly as they could. Finally, they found the engine room. A telkhine was hunched over a console. Andy turned him into dust before he even noticed them.

Beckendorf tossed her a jar of thick green liquid – Greek fire –, and a roll of duct tape. "Slap that one on the console, Andy," he said. "I'll get the turbines."

After attaching a second jar to the control panels, Andy heard footsteps.

"I need more time," Beckendorf said. "I still have to wire the receiver and prime the charges. Ten more minutes at least."

Andy nodded. "I'll distract them," she offered. "Meet you at the rendezvous point."

"Andy-"

But she charged out the door. A half dozen telkhines were tromping down the stairs. Andy cut through them with Riptide faster than they could yelp. She kept climbing, making as much noise as she could so the others would go after her. She burst through a door onto deck six and kept running.

She stopped cold when she saw in the middle of a courtyard a fountain where squatted a giant crab. The monster rose ten feet out of the water. Its shell was mottled blue and green, its pincers longer than Andy's entire body.

It hissed. Alarms blared. The crab scuttled out of the fountain and came straight at her. Andy ran. The monster followed. Andy concentrated on the water, and the fountain exploded. Water sprayed everywhere, three stories high. The crab didn't care. It came at her sideways, snapping and hissing, and Andy ran straight at it. Just before they collided, she hit the ground and slid on the wet marble floor straight under the creature. She jabbed Riptide into its belly and opened its entire body up. As the monster evaporated, she kept running.

Up a stairwell, she ran into a dracaenae that tried to attacked her. Andy stepped inside her strike and grabbed her wrist, slamming it against the wall. The demon's sword clattered out of her hand. Andy shoved her down the stairs and sent her tumbling to the next floor.

Andy kept running toward the front of the ship. She could hear shouting behind her. Hell-hounds bayed. An arrow whizzed past her face. She burst outside onto the main deck. A swimming pool glowed between two glass towers. She was halfway across the deck when the sound of a voice made her freeze.

"You're late, Andy." Luke stood on the balcony above her, a smile on his scarred face. His eyes were solid gold. "We've been expecting you for days. Bow before me."

"It's like you never met me..." she muttered.

Laistrygonian giants filed in on either side of the swimming pool. Two hell-hounds leaped down from the opposite balcony and snarled at her. They knew she was coming... It was a trap. Now she was surrounded.

"Come forward," Kronos said. "If you dare."

The crowd of monsters parted and Andy moved up the stairs. Kronos's weapon appeared in his hands – a six-foot-long scythe. Andy charged. Time slowed down. Her arms were so heavy, she could barely raise her sword. Kronos smiled, swirling his scythe at normal speed.

Once more she found strength in the sea. She was much better at it now. Her powers had grown. She could control almost any source of water. There was a wrenching pain in her gut. The entire boat lurched sideways, throwing monsters off their feet. The water surged out of the swimming pool, dousing everyone on the deck. It revitalized her, breaking the time spell. Andy lunged forward. She was ready to strike Kronos when she made the mistake of looking at him, at his face, where she saw the ghost of the boy he used to be.

Andy wavered. Kronos sliced downward with his scythe. Andy leaped back. She kicked Kronos in the chest and he stumbled backward. He swung his scythe again and she intercepted with Riptide, but his strike was too powerful. The edge of the scythe shaved off her shirtsleeve and grazed her arm. The cut wasn't serious, but the entire side of her body exploded with pain.

She stumbled backward and switched the sword to her left hand.

"A good performance, Andy Jackson," he said. "Luke tells me you were never his match at swordplay, but you've gotten much better."

Her vision started to blur. "You will never get this boat to Manhattan," she told him.

"And why would that be?" Kronos asked. "Perhaps you are counting on your friend with the explosives? Nakamura," he called.

Ethan pushed through the crowd. "Success, my lord," he said. "We found him just as we were told." He clapped his hands and two giants lumbered forward, dragging Beckendorf between them. Charles had a swollen eye and cuts all over his face and arms. He met her eyes and glanced at his own hand. They hadn't taken his watch and that was the detonator.

"We found him amidships," one of the giants said, "trying to sneak to the engine room. Can we eat him now?"

"Are you sure he didn't set the explosives?" Kronos asked Ethan.

"He was going toward the engine room, my lord."

"How do you know that?"

Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "He was heading in that direction. And he told us. His bag is still full of explosives."

Andy almost smiled. But then Kronos said, "Open his bag."

Beckendorf locked eyes with Andy and mouthed one word: Go. She shook her head. Next thing, Charles closed his eyes and brought his hand up to his watch.

Andy gasped. Without a choice, she pushed through the crowd of monsters and jumped off the side of the ship toward the water a hundred feet below. She heard a rumbling deep in the ship. Monsters yelled. A spear sailed past her ear. An arrow pierced her thigh. She plunged into the ocean and willed the currents to take her far away.

Everything happened so fast.

The explosion shook the world. The Princess Andromeda blew up from both sides, the fire consuming everything.

She thought of Charles Beckendorf before she blacked out.

They were waiting for her at the beach. Andy stumbled out of the ocean and sat on the sand. She pulled the arrow from her thigh and watched the wound heal.

Chiron galloped forward. "Thank the gods, Andy. But where...?" Anthony almost pushed the centaur out of the way. He helped her get up. The stormy gray eyes made her heart beat all wrong.

Then Silena pushed through the crowd. "Where's Chuck?" she demanded. She met Andy's eyes. "No," she muttered. "No. No." She tried to back away, but Andy put and arm around her. Silena's head fell on Andy's shoulder and her body shook with sobs.

"I'm so sorry," Andy told her.

Clarisse came to their side and pulled Silena with her. "Come," she said. "I'll make you some hot chocolate." Both of them walked away. Everyone else followed. No one wanted to hear about the ship. One more death seemed to be too much for them.

Only Chiron and Anthony stayed behind. "I'm sure you did everything you could, Andy," Chiron said kindly. "Will you tell us what happened?"

Andy put her hands on her waist. "Yeah... But now I have a condition."

Chiron and Anthony exchanged a look.

"I want to hear the prophecy. Tonight."

Chiron's shoulders sagged, but he didn't look surprised. "I've dreaded this day. Tony and I will show you the truth. Let's go to the attic."

When they faced the Oracle Andy almost shuddered. "Why is she a mummy?" she complained.

"It wasn't before," Anthony said. "For thousands of years the spirit of the Oracle lived inside a beautiful maiden. The spirit would be passed on from generation to generation. This one was the last one. I'm sure she was beautiful when she started..." he shrugged.

"What happened? Why was she the last one?"

Anthony didn't answer her. He raised his arms and said, "O Oracle, the time is at hand. I ask for the Great Prophecy." Andy braced herself but the mummy said nothing. Anthony approached and unclasped one of its necklaces where he found a piece of paper. "Come on, Seaweed Brain," he said.

Andy followed him downstairs. Chiron had called for a war council. The senior counselors had gathered around the table: the Stoll brothers from Hermes, Pollux from Dionysus, Katie Gardner from Demeter, Silena from Aphrodite and even Jake Mason for Hephaestus, who was replacing Beckendorf. Clarisse from Ares was standing and yelling at Michael Yew from Apollo.

"It's our loot!" he yelled back at her. "If you don't like it, you can kiss my quiver!"

Silena's eyes were red and puffy. Still they were arguing around her about a loot.

"Enough!" Andy walked in shutting them up. "What the hell is this?"

Clarisse turned to Chiron. "Does my cabin get what we want or not?"

Chiron shuffled his hooves. "Apollo's cabin has the best claim, my dear. Besides, we have more important matters to-"

"Sure," Clarisse snapped. "Always more important matters than what Ares needs. We're just supposed to show up and fight when you need us and not complain!"

"That would be nice," Connor Stoll muttered.

Clarisse gripped her knife. "Maybe I should ask Mr D-"

"Dionysus is busy with the war," Chiron interrupted. "He can't be bothered with this."

"I see. And the senior counselors? Are any of you going to side with me?" she asked. Nobody met her eyes. "Fine." She turned to Silena. "I'm sorry for this. Now the rest of you clowns can fight this war without Ares. Until I get satisfaction, no one in my cabin is lifting a finger to help. Have fun dying." And she stormed out of the room.

"This is a disaster," Katie said.

"She can't do this," Travis said. "Can she?"

Chiron sighed. "Her pride has been wounded. She'll calm down eventually. Now, counselors, if you please, Andy is going to read the Great Prophecy."

"She can read?" Connor feigned shock and Travis gave him a high-five. Andy tried to set them on fire with her eyes.

Anthony handed her the piece of paper. Andy uncurled it and cleared her throat. "Okay. So it goes like this: A half-blood of the eldest gods shall reach eighteen against all odds..." Andy chuckled. "You know, I once read a fortune cookie that sounded strangely like this-"

"Andy," Anthony called. "Focus."

"Right." She glanced back at the paper. "And see the world in endless sleep. The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. A singe choice shall... end his days. Olympus to preserve or raze."

"Raise is good, isn't it?" asked Connor.

"Raze with a z," Andy said.

"It means destroy," Silena said, her voice hollow.

"Obliterate," Anthony added. "Annihilate. Turn to rubble."

"Yeah, I think we got it," Andy said. "Thank you."

Everyone was staring at her. "You see now why I didn't want you to know the prophecy?" Chiron said. "You've had enough on your shoulders-"

"Without realizing I was going to die in the end, anyway?" she finished for him. "Gee, thanks."

"Andy, you know prophecies always have double meanings," Anthony said. "It might not literally mean you die."

"Sure. It sounded lovely. I can't wait to find out what it really means."

"Maybe we can stop it," Jake Mason offered.

"No. We're not stopping anything," Andy said getting up. "I chose the prophecy. It's going to come true. If... If I need to die to save all of you clowns then... I can't believe I'm saying this, but... Bring it on."

Michael Yew whistled and the twins cheered.

"Except..." Andy continued. "We've got a spy. And when I find out who it is, this person will get a spanking."

Jake Mason frowned. "A spy?"

Andy told them about what happened on the Princess Andromeda and Silena started crying again. Katie held her.

"Well," Connor said uncomfortably, "we've suspected there might be a spy for years, right? Somebody kept passing information to Luke – like the location of the Golden Fleece a couple of years ago. It must be somebody who knew him well."

Automatically, they all glanced at Anthony.

"Oh, my bad," Connor realized what he'd said. "I didn't mean you, dude."

Anthony kept his eyes on the table.

"It could be anyone," Katie said. "Like one of Luke's siblings," and she looked meaningfully at the Stoll brothers.

Travis and Connor started to protest.

"Stop!" Silena banged the table. "Chuck's dead! He is dead and you are all arguing like little kids!"

"She's right," Pollux said. "Accusing each other won't help."

Michael grunted, "We need to find the spy before we plan our next operation. Blowing up the Princess Andromeda won't stop Kronos forever."

"No, indeed," Chiron agreed. "In fact, his next assault is already on the way."

"What do you mean?" Andy asked.

Chiron and Anthony exchanged yet another look. Andy was starting to hate that.

"We didn't want to tell you," the centaur said. "We wanted you to enjoy your time with your mortal friend."

"And I enjoyed plenty, thank you," she crossed her arms. "Now, the next one who keeps important things from me will get hurt."

Anthony had one word for her: "Typhon."

It felt like a stab on the back.

"The most horrible monster of all," Chiron said, "the biggest single threat the gods ever faced. He has been freed from under the mountain at last. The gods are fighting him for days now, trying to slow him down. But he is marching forward – toward New York. Toward Olympus."

Andy bit her lip until she tasted blood. What had she done? "How long until he gets here?"

"Unless the gods stop him? Perhaps five days. Most of the Olympians are there... except your father, who has a war of his own to fight."

Andy recalled her winter break when she went under water to Poseidon's realm. Her father had looked terrible. He was having a hard time fighting Oceanus.

"Then who's guarding Olympus?" she asked.

Connor shook his head. "If Typhon gets to New York, it won't matter who's guarding Olympus."

"No!" Andy argued. "Don't you see? It's a trick! We have to warn the gods. Something else is going to happen!"

"Something worse than Typhon?" Chiron asked grimly. "I hope not."

"We need to defend Olympus," Andy insisted. "I am so sorry that I freed Typhon, but... Kronos has another attack planned."

"He did," Travis reminded her. "But you sunk his ship."

"What if that was a ploy? What if Kronos let us blow up his ship so we'd lower our guard?" she said. "He was waiting for me! I told you, it was a trap."

"Please, don't say that," Silena whispered. "Don't you dare say Chuck died for nothing."

Andy glanced at her apologetically.

"I think it's enough for tonight," Chiron said and he sent everyone to bed.

[xpwewarchive]

XPWEW Friday Night Pyro (4-17-2020)

XPWEW Friday Night Pyro #422 April 17th, 2020 Los Angeles, California The Barracks

Opening Segment:

Leonard McGraw enters “On April 26th I see 29 others. I see 29 pathetic sodomites pissing their damn pants at the idea they gotta fight me. Well I’ve been in fights before and I ain’t scared to fight again and if any sorry son of a Bitch think they got the guts to tell me I’m done then they need a god damn reality check. Golden Bryce.... Golden Bryce? What exactly makes you golden boy? Cause all I smelled last week was a trail a piss running down your damn leg. I sensed fear. I smelled fear. Then you opened your damn lips and said “I’m the world champion” Turns out I was just smelling bullshit -Golden Bryce enters Spills typical babyface rhetoric Leonard: You got that pretty piece of hardware up in your shoulder there. Lot of gold. What kinda wood is that Cherry? Oak? Pine? Bamboo? Did I say something funny? Cause like I said from the beginning next Sundey I will win the rumble match. I will look you in them beety little eyes and as far as I’m considered son. . .

The Set enters Siaka gives Ruckus a epic entrance on the mic Ruckus: McGriddle you must new around here nigga. If you wanna call your spots you better call them shits early. But homie last week I said I was winning the rumble and I’m gonna SET my claim and main event Lockdown 7

Garrett Thompson enters with Ethan Bedlam Garrett Thompson: You blokes must’ve bumped ya bloody heads together. If anyone is gonna main event Lockdown it’s me. See in 2013 I did just that at Lockdown 5 and now I’m making my way back but Leonard McGraw I’m gonna do it over your dead boy smiles Bryce: You wanna back that up? Ethan Bedlam: You wanna fight? Leonard McGraw: Can y’all just shut your damn traps. Ruckus I respect what you do in this ring and I.... Garrett Thompson: Hey! Hey! Hey! Don’t overlook me? That’s a sign of weakness McGraw... Leonard McGraw: Bryce give me a beat (Golden Bryce smiling shaking his head) snaps ^fangers Ethan Bedlam and GT. fingers in they ass - Crumpets and Tea. Get in this ring and you’ll see. Hit you with my buckshot D-E-A-D Hahahahahaha well that was rap wouldn’t it? Jordan Oliver you silly sum bitch you look like Ellen Degeneres put a god damn shirt on boy Siaka Lexoni? Lexoni? What is that tired? You’ve been around a while ain’t ya boy? I can tell I see the tread marks on your damn face. Look at ya Butch Reed? What exactly Natural about you son? Myron: it’s Myron..It’s Myron Reed Leonard: Oh my bad my bad. Butch must be Jordan cause he looks like he’s on Queer Street and liking it. Calm down Kotto B. Ware [[[SEGMENT OF THE FUCKIN YEAR RIGHT HERE]]]]

Kaitlyn Khaos & Nick Simmonds on commentary inform us tonight’s main event!

Golden Bryce will team up with Leonard McGraw to take on Ethan Bedlam & Garrett Thompson

Alveno La Flare enters

Jacques Dudley enters *They shake hands before they begin 1 on 1 M1: Jacques Dudley defeats Alveno La Flare

PROMO! All Man will enact his XPWEW world title rematch against Golden Bryce at the Xtreme Rumble. All Man:

Backstage: James Westerbeck tries to get an interview with Kiera Hogan and cant get around her security guard 911 Brian Lee Eventually Kiera opens the door and says that Priscilla is a bitch for messing with her hair last week but that’s fine because she’s challenging her to a hair vs hair match at Xtreme Rumble. “This isn’t about my title, you’ve made it personal. Period”

Joe Gacy on commentary (((Commentary recaps what’s transpired between Gacy trying to find Croyle’s replacement as tag team champion and we take a look at the last 2 weeks of try-hard Solomon Nasty)))

Solomon Nasty enters

Slayer, Rosemary & Lotus enters

M2: 1 on 1 XPWEW International Title (not on the line) Slayer w/ Lotus & Rosemary defeats Solomon Nasty

Joe Gacy challenges Solomon Nasty to a tables match at Xtreme Rumble shoves mic onto him. Cause I got a partner and I’m gonna reveal that partner after I make an example out of you next Sunday.

XPWEW Women’s Title (not on the line) 1 on 1 M3: Kiera Hogan (c) w/ Brian Lee defeats [[Jobber]] Melanie Weister

After the match: Prisiclla Kelly with some hair clippers starts wildly and manically shaving the head of this jobber talent Melanie Weister as a warning to Women’s Champion Kiera Hogan ahead of their HAIR vs HAIR match next Sunday at the 2020 Xtreme Rumble

Backstage: Golden Bryce putting on his knee pads and adjusting ring gear; Leonard McGraw approaches him. Leonard: I know out there it was all jokes, Hey I can be a funny guy. But when the cards are down and the chips are in I’m here for one reason and that’s to be the world heavyweight champion...inhales cause a great man once said if you don’t wanna be world champion then why the fuck are you here. I say piss on everyone else and get what you want. Tonight we’re a team but not really. slaps his bicep

*Winner will get the “best” number in the Xtreme Rumble 1 on 1 M4: Champagne Clausen defeats Jake “The Boy Scout” Manning

slow applause Troy Clausen and Freight Train (holding Lockdown 7 contract) Troy: Bravo Curtis. You’ve won the”best” number in the Rumble. But you should really call it the best AVAILABLE number because son ive hired someone and I myself have purchased #30...

Mandy Leon enters Mandy: Troy kisses her hand My client is a Marauder. A raider. A highwayman and the road to Lockdown be damned. Champagne consider yourself warned ;) -Mandy Leon exits Troy: She’s pretty huh and Curtis your fiancé is beautiful as well. Hell Tonight I was suppose to be interviewed by Mrs. Khaos (((Camera shows Kaitlyn Khaos hiding her face looking a bit embarrassed)) Troy: Hey Kaitlyn you’re welcome for your job. Glad to see you are two faced for seeing what he did to me for the past 6 months yet you remained silent. I know you knew about it you snake in the grass Kaitlyn Khaos: He’s out of line, this isn’t my business. Nick Simmonds comforts her a bit to ease the tension Champagne: Dad Shut you mouth and eat you mush. If you keep pushing me, now you’ve pushed my fiancé. I don’t care what vanilla midget she’s behind but he’s gonna have one hell of a lackluster debut. And as for Troy Clausen. You are an attention seeker. You are a clout chaser and I’m not gonna let you use your Memphis-ass promo on my family. My new family. If you so much as mention her again I’ll do more than put you to sleep Troy: You wanna play hardball. Then I’ll play. Just don’t injure your hand in the rumble. I want you to be able to sign this contract after :)....

Ethan Bedlam enters

Garrett Thompson enters

Leonard McGraw enters

Golden Bryce enters

Main Event Tag Team Match 2 on 2 M5: Leonard McGraw & Golden Bryce defeat Garrett Thompson & Ethan Bedlam

. Bryce is in position lying in wait to hit Bedlam with his 6 Rings spear but out of camera view McGraw blind tags Bryce jumps over the rope does a spin and basically hits a “Tornado”. version of the Buckshot clothesline for the 1-2-3

Bryce and McGraw celebrate the win in their own ways separately. McGraw then extends his right hand for Golden Bryce to shake but then hits a classic “too slow” and then rolls out the ring and walks up the ramp without looking back with a sly grin on his face. Bryce then looks down knowing he “got, got”. Leonard talking to camera: I didn’t come hear to make friends (incoherent dialogue) ((Bryce pounds his chest and screams with the title above his head)) Show ends

[grapsandclaps]

GRAPS AND CLAPS REVIEWS - FUTURESHOCK WRESTLING'S 14TH ANNIVERSARY

The decision from PCW and FutureShock to hold anniversary shows on the same night gave your regular correspondent, Andrew Ogden, a decision to make. With his massive hands deciding to head to Preston, he needed someone to report from Manchester as we needed to make sure both shows got their deserved place in the spotlight.

Hands up, I’ve only been going to independent wrestling shows since February, but the bug has bitten me bad and loving every second of being part of a wonderful community. Anyways… on with the show.

After a last minute change of plans, my wife, who two months ago called wrestling 'rubbish', asked if she could join me in Prestwich for FutureShock's 14th anniversary show in the Longfield Suite. She had come along to FS’s Tapped show in Manchester, mostly for the food and alcohol, but was won over by the awesome show. Declaring it “not as bad as I thought it would be” I knew she’d be back.

It goes to show the power and appeal of professional wrestling, changing someone's staunch opinion in just one show.

Normally your resident reporter would bring you opinions and prices of the local beer options, but sadly I'm off alcohol as I try to make myself ineligible for Progress’ Atlas division. However, we did enjoy a car picnic with a medley of goodies from M&S. I recommend bringing some hot sauce if you have the harissa chicken.

After meeting the rest of the graps gang, including Taff and Davie, fellow founder members of the #CyanideSection/#CraterMates we headed inside for the show.

First up was Delicious Danny Hope taking on Alex Boylin, joined by Rizwan Khan at ringside. After one shenanigan too many, Ref Pete had enough and sent him to the back. Danny used the distraction to his advantage and hit a tassel powered superkick to pick up the pin fall.

After stealing the show at Tapped last month and the unfortunate injury to Lykos ruling out CCK in the previously announced tag match, the impressive Young Guns were handed a No.1 contenders match against the Sexy Gents.

This was another wonderful back and forward match, but turned on its head when John McGregor tagged himself in just as Kev Lloyd had gained the upper hand. Not the first time the Gents have shown signs of discontent and they were made to pay.

Ethan Allen took Kev out of the game on the outside and just as Luke Jacobs managed to counter Kev’s guillotine choke his partner jumped from the top rope and hit a codebreaker/doomsday device double team. Fantastic finish from two excellent teams and the Young Guns will get a chance at Tyson T-Bone and Chris Ridgeway’s tag team titles.

Kev after the match said 'Him and John can't go on anymore' and walked off into the night with The Sexy Gents looking finished. Leaving ONLY JOHN in the ring 😭😭😭

Next, it was the match which has been building since JJ Webb first fought Deadly Damon Leigh in the same building back in February. After multiple encounters, it was brought to a head at Tapped when JJ had to save Chris Egan with DDL standing over him holding a steel chair.

This would be no ordinary singles match, oh no, this is a ‘loser wears a Chicken Suit match’. Built on the emergence of the Chicken Section following a ‘All Bins Are Legal’ tie which saw DDL dressed in KFC buckets.

DDL worked extremely hard to ignore the chicken chants, you could see the focus and the determination, the man from Stratford channeling his inner Colonel to stay calm. JJ should have had the three count after he planted DDL face first on the mat, but in the subsequent move, he had knocked out referee Fitzgerald into the corner.

Pete ran to the ring, but rather than start the count, he went to see to his colleague, giving DDL a chance to recover and hit Stockport’s finest with a low blow. Pete counted to three and the crowd were left disappointed… until Fitzgerald got back to his senses and informed our compere, Matt Taylor Richards, what he’d seen. The match would restart.

Both had their opportunities to finish it off, but JJ bounced off the ropes and hit a spinning clothesline to earn the 1, 2, 3, leaving DDL stunned and left to ponder his destiny, wearing the chicken suit.

The first of three title matches would take place before the interval, an eight-man scramble match for the Adrenaline title. Champion Sam Bailey would take on Wolfgang, Chris Ridgeway, Callum Corrie, Joey Hayes, Chris Egan, and Chris Brookes. The man holding the pin-fall after 15 minutes would leave Prestwich with the belt.

The first pin went to the exciting high-flying talents of Corrie, but like going 1-0 up after five minutes away from home, it was too early. Egan, after a couple of excellent spots, including when he avoided being drop-kicked by all six men at the same time, pinned Golfwang, sorry Wolfgang with eight minutes to go.

Everyone got their chance to lift the belt, Brookes made Ridgeway tap with a reverse figure four type move - apologies for not knowing names of moves, it looked very uncomfortable. Then, much to the disappointment of the crowd, Bailey put himself in the driving seat when he took advantage of the chaos to pin Brookes.

The clock ticked down and Hayes hit cutter after cutter, trying to find space to hit the winning blow, then with time winding down and the FutureShock faithful counting down from 10, the man who won the belt in Stockport Town Hall hit one last cutter - outta nowhere - on Bailey and the referees hand hit three with just 1 second on the clock.

AND NEW… a crazy, but fantastic match. Everyone hit their spots and Joey took full advantage at the perfect moment to regain the belt he lost from Bailey.

During the break, as he was contractually obliged, Damon Leigh came out to the ring wearing his chicken suit and the paying crowd were able to get their picture taken with DDL and Webb. An opportunity not to be missed.

Interval over, we were on to our second title match, an adrenaline rush rumble match for the woman’s title. Ten entrants, starting with two competitors in the ring, elimination only when both feet hit the floor and you go over the top rope.

Kasey Owens from the Queen Bees started in the ring with Alexis Falcon, but it became a numbers game when fellow QB member Jayla Dark joined next. The double team was too much for Alexis and she was thrown out. Taonga and FS favourite Lana Austin were next in, the former wasn’t able to make much of an impact before being eliminated.

Shax came and went, apart from a nice spot when she was caught by Gerald on the outside and he placed her back ring, she wasn’t able to offer much in the way of offence. Molly Spartan came in seventh, giving the Queen Bees the advantage. Newby Hollie came and went, with just enough time for one “Hollie, Hollie, Hollie, Oi, Oi, Oi” chant.

Viper entered the fray, taking over and supply each of the QBs with a cannonball in the corner, but the numbers game would come into play and it took all three ladies to lift the Megaton Barbie up onto Molly Spartan’s shoulders and deliver a devastating powerbomb.

I can’t condone this Scottish on Scottish crime, but after dumping Viper over the top rope, it was going to take a miracle to stop FutureShock’s power trio.

After Viper’s exit, Molly made the shook move to throw stablemate Jayla Dark over the top rope - still not sure why, more to come on that I think. Toni Storm entered last, but couldn’t stop Austin meeting her fate, leaving the Mae Young classic participant two on one against the Bees. However, quick thinking led her move out of Spartan’s way and the champion smashed into Kasey on the apron, eliminating her other comrade, this time by accident.

It would be Toni against Molly in a singles match for the belt, but Owens jumped back in, only to be met by Toni’s piledriver, but it gave Molly the gap she needed, hitting Toni with a devastating spear and picking up the hard-fought victory.

Overall a good match, but quite a few of the spots and decisions of when and how to eliminate people seemed strange. Great potential, but could have been better. There may be reasons behind it, but expected more from Viper and Lana. There seemed no point in having Taonga and Shax in the match at all.

Before the main event, and the raffle, Big Joe came out to the ring with Thomas Wolfe with something to get off his massive chest. After a typical warm welcome from the FS crowd and plenty of chants including the words ‘small’, ‘tiny’ and ‘how far away are you?’ Joe was able to issue his Little Man Challenge.

He wanted to challenge someone who had been a FutureShock staple since day one, a legend, a wrestling icon… he wanted MATT TAYLOR RICHARDS. The compere with no compare wasn’t keen, retired from in-ring competition, but the big man wouldn’t take no for an answer. Lifting MTR into the air, although he can bench over four times his own body-weight, it turns out that still isn’t much and he crumbled under the power of Richards and the prettiest man in the North West pinned Joe for the victory.

In an amazing turn of events I then won the raffle, two tickets to FutureShock’s show in Stockport on September 16th, two days before my birthday. What a result, make sure you check out their website for all future shows.

Time for the main event. Mask versus Title. Ashton Smith, the champ, against the Colossus, Cyanide. WWE v WoS. A match fitting for the anniversary.

Both men didn’t disappoint. Smith used speed and intelligence to try and gain the upper-hand, but the challenger had power on his side. But every time you thought the champ was down and out, he’d bounce back, eventually lifting all 36-stone of Cyanide on to his shoulders to deliver and earth-shattering samoan drop, the same move which saw him beat the big man in Stockport Town Hall.

This time Cyanide was smart and rolled out of the ring to escape the three-count, Ashton would get the crowd on their feet when he followed it up with a hurricanrana which sent his opponent into the ring post.

Just beating the 10-count with milliseconds to go, Cyanide was back in the ring and once on his feet he finally hit Smith with a chokeslam, razor’s edge and followed it up with a huge splash - the tremors reportedly felt as far away as Rochdale. Covering the champ, there was no response and Cyanide confirmed, monsters are real.

Belt in the air, FutureShock has a new champion and it is going to take something special to stop him.

Flanked by Henry T Grodd and Noah through his reign of terror, it seems like the champion wants to go it alone, laying out Noah was a thunderous chokeslam. Grodd teased going into the ring, but saw sense, instead helping his tag-partner to the back.

Two new champions, new number one contenders and a show that will live long in the memory. There were few down points, every big match hit all right spots and everyone, except Damon Leigh, will have gone home happy.

Six months ago I watched my first independent show in the same building, and now I am truly hooked and even my wrestling hating wife has been converted. That is the power of the British wrestling scene and it feels like a privilege to be part of it.

FutureShock returns to Stockport on September 16th, and then to Fairfield Social Club on September 23rd, were Pete Dunne will put his WWE UK title on the line at Tapped 2. Buy tickets NOW and check out FutureShock on demand to watch this show when it’s up.

[xpwewarchive]

XPWEW Friday Night Pyro (4-10-2020)

Friday Night Pyro #421 April 10th, 2020 Los Angeles, California The Barracks

Opening Segment: Troy Clausen enters the ring with GM Romeo Roselli who is holding a contract for a “Lockdown 7 match between himself (Troy) vs Champagne Clausen Troy: Last week I rose from the dead! I told the world that my son would be nothing without me! I taught him everything he knows but I’m just a little bit quicker, smarter. I’m more violent. Curt was raised wealthy and privileged. He was like Richie Rich in upstate New York growing up. He had everything. Well I didn’t. A lot of people ask me how I gained my wealth. I hit the lottery when I was 34. I wanted to be a professional wrestler but instead with my new found fortune I funded this company in 2005 along with my constituents. I let business overtake. I wanted to be in the ring. I wanted to live vicariously through my son but my son isn’t a hero. My son is a villain. I’m a hero. I wouldn’t have mercifully beaten up The Freight Train. I LOVE FREIGHT TRAIN! I LOVE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! AND DAMN IT I LOVE THE FANS!

Champagne enters Champagne: Everything you just said. IRRELEVANT. You! IRRELEVANT! Even that silly clipboard with those empty words on that Lockdown 7 match contract between me and you? IRRELEVANT. I will be in the main event that night, cause in 2 weeks I’ll be winning the 2020 Xtreme Rumble match and I won’t BE in a match with you. Besides. I wrestle real competition. I wrestle real professional wrestlers. Troy: Well that’s quite the coincidence because in the several months I was out of action I was trained by a professional wrestler. That’s right an old grizzled veteran. In Greensboro, North Carolina I traveled and I was trained by the great

Freight Train enters to jubilation Freight Train: Troy Clausen is a trained professional wrestler! The same man who trained me down there in Greensboro Carolina the man himself George South

George South and son (also wrestler) Jake “The Boy Scout” Manning enters to “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey [[Geroge South wrestled for the NWA back in the 80’s pretty much a job guy but has wrestled Flair many times. He still wrestles today and is most known for his podcast “You don’t work Dad, You wrestle” with his son Jake “The Boy Scout” Manning.

Champagne: LMAOOOOOO The Boy Scout? George South? Is that your name? Lol. You were trained by these guys. Go back to your trailer in Greensboro and talk into some cheap podcast equipment and talk about the good days. Hey George have you ever won a match? Like, ever?

Champagne gets in George South’s face, Jake “The Boy Scout” Manning apprehends him to back up George South: Champagne in 2013 you attended my school with HIGHSPOTS and I distinctly remember afterwards you went off on a tangent saying you were the best, this and that, with your nose up in the air at the other fellas and gals trying to chase the same dream as you. You left the school when I said you were too sloppy and you needed to tighten up in the ring and you left. You told me I was a nobody and I don’t have the business training anybody. Well I’ve trained WWE Cedric Alexander that’s a Cruiserweight Champion. I’ve trained Tessa Blanchard Yep that’s the first ever women’s world wrestling champion over there making an IMPACT! I thought I was gonna train you but I’ve spent the past few months training your daddy so he can BEAT YOU Champagne: What’s that? Sorry George I don’t speak hick. Champagne: (looks at Train) I don’t speak retard either (groan dull poor taste) Champagne: (looks at Jake Manning) and the Boy Scout? That’s your thing? Boy Scout With that questionable mustache you look like someone who has the Tik Tok app on his phone and doesn’t have an account. Someone check this guy George South: What’s wrong with you? I’m gonna tell your boy. If you got a problem with my son and me then why don’t you say it Champagne: I do have a problem but now you do. You and me. Let’s go. George South: (looks at Romeo) Well if that’s okay with the General manager I’d challenge you to your own match! That’s right! A Clausen Cleaver match!

(Freight Train Pulls out a Magic Marker from his jacket and draws a poorly done squiggly line not even halfway in the middle of the canvas (George South side is much bigger) Champagne: huh huh I’m not even gonna complain at those odds.

Clausen Cleaver Match M1: Champagne Clausen defeats George South

During the match an attempt to interfere from Troy Clausen was thwarted when Troy shoved in a steel chair toward a downed George South and a standing Champagne stepped on the chair “Thanks” Champagne proceeded to whack South over the back with the steel chair several times until kicking him over his ill-equal line of the Cleaver and pinning South clean 1-2-3

Troy: That’s fine you wanna continue to be a brat, you wanna drag our business out into the mainstream. Well I can play dirty Pal in fact I do it better than anybody ever has in this industry. So Champagne Clausen next week I’m gonna invite people from your past, your present and your future and I’m gonna expose you and I’m gonna embarrass you and at Lockdown I’m gonna give you a beating your father should have given you before...... (intentional botch to enhance Troy’s babyface character)

James Westerbeck interviews The Set (mostly Jordan Oliver) on his current streak as he prepares to fight world champ Golden Bryce tonight. Jordan: I’m 8-0 never been defeated in the year 2020, never lost a match in this DECADE! The real champ is the Juniorweight title and remember that streak of Jacques Dudley’s back in 2012, well that’s nothing on me. I’m swimming with sharks and it’s blood in the water pimpin’. Golden Shower boy is gonna get a kick in the face courtesy of me Jordan Oliver so get that, got that? Good. Mark. (Ruckus is rubbing Oliver’s shoulders behind him) Ruckus: “My boy Jawdan. This my son right here. I f*** with this n**** the long way and new blood cap glock gang rag gang

VIGNETTE Mandy Leon hypes “Mid-evil Marauders” coming soon

1 on 1 M2: Priscilla Kelly defeats Doxy Deity

Post match promo Lotus goes on tangent on how Prisiclla is at her core the thing wrong with modern feminism, toxic and nasty. Doing the right cause the WRONG way. Prisiclla responds “Your whole family has this moral compass high horse how about you shut your mouth”

Lotus responds “Eat those words Prisiclla let it fester in the gristle of your guts :)

Soloman Nasty pleads Joe Gacy go give him ONE MORE CHANCE! Gacy says fine I respect a guy who doesn’t give up

M3: Myron Reed & Kotto Brazil defeat Joe Gacy & Soloman Nasty

Reed puns Nasty after a 450 splash from the 2nd rope

After the match Gacy helps Soloman Nasty up and just when he seems to let him be “The Plagueground” replacing Croyle during injury. Up the ramp Gacy hits Soloman with both tag titles and gorilla presses him onto the steel grate of the stage and leaves him in a whole heap of mess

Backstage: [[FUNNY] All Man is listening to Doja Cat “Say So” embarrassingly making a Tik Tok to it He talks to All Woman and says I’ve been going viral recently! Chainmail are back! Milkmen might be back to work country-wide. My title reign really resonated with people. All Woman: You did it :) You did it ALL by yourself :) All Man smiles corny-like in front of an American flag and chugs a chocolate Nesquik

Garrett Thompson & Ethan Bedlam join commentary and run down Leonard McGraw and Ryu

MATCH OF THE NIGHT RIGHT HERE 1 on 1 M4: Leonard McGraw w/ Ryu defeat Alveno La Flare

PROMO: Lockdown 7 is 40 days away

PROMO: Golden Bryce BANG! Energy commercial

1 on 1 Juniorweight vs World Heavyweight Golden Bryce DEFEATS (8-0) Jordan Oliver

back and forth match. At one point referee Kevin Madrox does a great “YOURE OUTTA HERE” to The Set at ringside (Myron, Kotto, Ruckus, Lexoni & Chrissy Rivera)

Jordan is going for the “Clout Cutter” and Bryce hits the 6 rings on Oliver’s BACK ((Total innovative way to spear someone to their back as Oliver flings off the top rope to the middle of the ring, reverse 6 rings. 1-2-3 and just like that Jordan Oliver takes his first L of the year

Bryce looks at the camera and breaks the 4th wall a bit gives a “hey why not” look Raises Jordan’s Juniorweight title as well as his own World Heavyweight Title both in the air as the show goes off the air!

VICE NETWORK 2020™️