Baltimore: Titan Title- Jenn Drew vs Cyrus Riddle

[Jana Rikar]

1 RP / 1750 Words
Deadline is 8/29 Noon EDT
Thanks!

[impalerriddle]

“Titans, a second generation born from the first gods and goddesses. Massive beings, instilled with great strength and a seemingly undefeatable presence.”

A suited Cyrus Riddle appears from the end of a city block as the picture begins to roll. Next to them, and closing the distance as Riddle approaches with every calculated step, is a wrought iron gate installed within the base of brickwork. The upkeep was still pristine, indicative that the grounds next to him were indeed maintained.

Not one to wear a tie, he kept the top button of his dress shirt undone underneath, with the all black ensemble seeing itself a quick straightening while the Englishman bore holes into the camera with an intense gaze.

“They, however, were not undefeatable, were they? No, for the educated will have learned that these titans were defeated by significantly smaller, yet more powerful, deities. Zeus, Hades, Poseidon… yes, the traditional Greek gods laid waste and claimed their respective places in legend and in power. They fought for domain, just as I will when I enter the ring in Baltimore.”

“Jenn Drew, the victor of the gauntlet, and crowned Titan Championship holder. Apologies for the impression I may have left in my last outing. It's not like me to get beat by a pale, teenage goth with serious attachment issues, or anyone else for that matter. But you, oh you walked out with it all, yeah? The hard fought win, the payday, the title. But, you and I are more than aware that the difficulty is now at your front door, as it's time to defend.”

Cyrus progresses forward some more until he arrives at a gated entrance.

“And that's where it all goes belly up for you, love. Because no sooner than you had won that title, I was being asked if I wanted another shot at it. And who would I be to refuse? No, see, I'm undefeated when it comes to singles championship attempts in a one on one situation. I never lose. The last thing you would want is my sole focus to be on you, but alas, here we are. And at TNT, the roles aren't as they seem. Normally, I would be kicking your door down. But in this instance, you're opening the gate to the land of souls. Because to defeat the Titan, you need a God, and Hades is here… and I'm taking the prize.”

An evil smirk formed on the face of the man dubbed “The Impaler.” Slowly, he opened the gate and crossed the threshold, now standing amidst tombstones and erected monuments to the dead inside of a churchyard between two large, but unidentified, buildings.

“This, Jenn, is a place of solace. It's forever peaceful, it's insightful, and it's reality. There's nothing more pure than cemetery grounds. The pure quiet that fills the air as all remains still. The pure cycle of life paid tribute to by pieces of concrete block, some chiseled. And in that, you can feel the essence of pure lives that were lived and subsequently laid to rest upon their demise, right beneath my feet.”

“Your championship reign is quite the same. A championship that brought pure competition, led to a pure victory, now will have its pure end. It's always sad when it's the young ones, but when it comes to that Titan title, whether you're in your infancy as champion or not, I don't mind being the reaper.”

Cyrus takes a seat on a lonely bench in the courtyard, the moon peeking through the intermittent clouds that loom.

“Understand, I had to do some soul searching for this match. That gauntlet… bloody hell… talk about noble intentions and failed executions. I should have made it to the end. I could feel it inside. But time is an enemy when you step away from the ring. After that, it was abundantly clear to me that I needed to adjust once again. I've began to train everyday in some form, I rediscovered my acumen as it pertains to ring work, and I was able to figure out my purpose.”

“When reflecting, I found that I lost the essence of who I was. I needed to find and manifest what it was that brought me to the dance and allowed me to punch a ticket to multiple world titles, secondary titles, and two hall of fame honors. Then… oh, then… it hit me, like a knife to chest, I realized that I care more than I should about practically everything. I need to stop attempting to conform, caring about the irrelevant opinions of others, and go about my way as I desire. Admittedly, it's been a huge flaw of mine in recent history. Honestly, it's cost me a lot.”

A laugh escaped the Englishman as he looked to the ground and ran his hand over his head.

“Not anymore! I was built to inflict pain, to overcome, and to revel in the downfall of others simply because I can. Love few, hate the rest, that's truthfully the most sound advice I've ever heard. Think about how it's all coming together like a puzzle, Miss Drew. I get this opportunity and the winds begin to shift for me. All of a sudden, the sparks are beginning to ignite and glimpse of what you saw before will now be the main attraction. Fuckinell, you couldn't even match up with Carlisle. Once I saw how Aidan exposed you for what you are, I knew the dissection would be easier than a high school Biology class.”

“This business runs through my veins, and it always has. There was just a point and time where I couldn't remember. Just like the needle you used to stick in your arm, this business gives me a high. That euphoria when I have someone's life in my hands and I maim to the extent that it only comes down to whether I drop you on your head or put you to sleep… ahhh, that's a rush. And once I'm hooked, I have to have more.”

After a few moments of still silence, Cyrus stands up and begins to walk to the far end of the courtyard. Unable to see the name etched into the stone, he stands before a monument, pulling three roses from inside his suit, laying them down, followed by a half consumed bottle of cognac, which he takes one shot out of before recapping.

“We all have our vices. Sometimes they kill us, other times they allow us to push just enough to get us what we desire. Jenn, it's all in how we embrace. Are you ready to contend with me? Are you prepared to step into the ring with man that becomes anything but human once the bell rings? Because as I see it, you're already on my table, and the pendulum wielding the blade is swinging directly above your midsection, lowering inch by inch until it rips into you with surgical precision.”

“I'm tired of being a beacon of light when all I am is darkness. I'm ridding myself of anything that I perceive as a weakness, and when TNT begins, I'm going to implement my no tolerance, no mercy, no escape state of mind. Everyone will see that your ascent was short lived, and your Titan Title reign will be… nevermore.”

The final words spoken would be emphasized with a hard whisper, allowing the air to catch each syllable. Cyrus looks over his shoulder to gaze into the camera one more time before he steps aside. His footsteps heard becoming more distant as the last image seen is that of the name on the monument… Edgar Allan Poe.

[Jenn Drew]

Jenn is seen sitting in a room where only one singular light is shining right over her head. She has the Titan Championship slung over her shoulder. She has a confident look on her face as she glances over at the title she covets and holds with pride and giving it a tap.



Jenn: The time is soon upon me to defend my Titan Championship against someone I don’t feel deserved to have the first shot at it. I don’t know how Cyrus Riddle gets first crack at the title when a guy like James Raven had his opportunity end in controversy and a woman like Sarah Lacklan had her opportunity stolen from her by a jealous woman. I just simply don’t understand management in this instance. There were two people much more deserving of a shot at me just based off of the gauntlet match itself. Hell, there were people not in the gauntlet match that I’m sure would deserve a shot over Cyrus Riddle.



I don’t care what you’ve done in the past Cyrus, I don’t care if you’re a multiple time World Champion or not, you haven’t done anything in Defiant to earn this shot. You were defeated in the initial Gauntlet Match by Sarah Lacklan. Good for management to give you another shot at glory though after you squandered your first chance. I know that despite me being the champion going into this match, I’m more than likely the underdog like usual because I’m giving up so much height and size to the man standing in the ring opposite me. Again, I know where my shortcomings are going into a match, but nobody is faster, smarter, and more resilient than I am when I step into that ring and for me, that is all I need to succeed and defend this title.



Jenn smirks as she continues to sit there looking straight at the camera.



Cyrus, you probably think this is your chance at redemption and that you are going to come into TNT in Baltimore and that you’re going to take the one thing I hold dearest to me, but I will show you that I am going to do exactly what I said I was going to do for the Titan Title and that is hold it with pride and successfully defend it against anybody and everybody that is put in front of me. I don’t care if they’re multiple time world champions and hall of famers or newcomers to this business looking to make a name for themselves. The Titan Title deserves a woman like me holding it and I don’t plan on relinquishing it anytime soon.



Cyrus, I’m sure you know my history in this business and that you feel just as confident as I am heading in, but your confidence is a false one because lets face it, you aren’t ready for what I bring to the table. I know you’re cerebral and very calculating in the ring, but I’m always thinking five moves ahead, I’m always prepared for anything and that is what is going to make this match mine to win. I will keep you guessing what’s next from me. I will make you wonder what it will take to keep me down because every time you knock me down, I’ll simply get back up and keep on fighting.



Jenn gets up out of the chair and when she does, the room lights up fully to show pictures of Jenn reflecting her past.



Jenn: See Cyrus, everything from my past has been a lesson for me leading up to right now. I’m a survivor who probably should have died a long time ago, but life had other plans for me. Living on the streets when I was merely a teenager taught me that in order to survive I needed to learn how to fight and do what was necessary in order to see that next day. I’ve learned that you can’t look to the future because you never know what today will bring you. Today could be your final day on this planet and you need to ensure that you live it like it’s your last. So, I’m not looking past my match with you Cyrus, I’m looking forward to it. I look forward to the challenges each day bring me whether it be temptation to do something I’ve prided myself in never doing again in the form of drugs, or the challenge of stepping into the ring and fighting someone who probably should kick my ass, but failing to do so.



Cyrus, I’m sure you’re already thinking of what you plan on doing with this title if you successfully take it from me, but I’m simply planning on what I’m going to do in that ring with you opposite me in there. I don’t look to the future like most people. I’ve never had that luxury growing up because I never knew if I was going to wake up from the high I gave myself before falling asleep. I had to live each day like it could be my last because it very well could have been.



Cyrus, I have an addictive personality. One little thing could set that off and I could cling to it and make it a vice and now, my vice is competition, holding onto this Titan Championship because I’m addicted to the feeling of being a champion and the feeling of holding this gold over my shoulder is one I don’t want to go away. It’s a feeling of euphoria, a feeling of accomplishment and a feeling of pride that I proved everyone wrong and that despite it all, I fought through adversity and all of my detractors and proved them all wrong and have made something of my life despite some really shitty life choices early on in my life.



Cyrus, you can come in as confident as you want, as prepared as you want, but at the end of the day, you aren’t taking the Titan Championship away from me. You aren’t going to end this high that I’m on. Cyrus, try as you might, you are going to come up just short and I’m going to continue my goal of making the Titan Championship something everyone wants to come after and when I defeat you, I will continue to take on anyone and everyone that wants to step up and try and pry the possession I hold so dear to me. The Titan Championship is the one thing in my life that has meaning, makes me have a purpose to keep on fighting and I need that high that comes with stepping into that ring and defending it. It’s my opportunity to make something prestigious and make people covet it. I don’t care who you are or where you’re from, because at the end of the day, I hold the gold and I’m the one that you have to get through in order to be The Titan of Defiant Wrestling. I’m tiny, but my heart and fighting spirit is godlike and when I’m in that ring, I’ll showcase that everyone watching and Cyrus will learn first hand, you can’t kill those that aren’t ready to pass on yet.



Jenn grins as she holds the Titan Championship high in the air as the camera fades out.