Post by CJ Phoenix on Nov 8, 2020 0:35:23 GMT -5
Daybreak. Thursday. CJ Phoenix is sitting on the roof of his home, glaring at the camera crew that had just arrived. One of them casually steps into the yard while preparing his camera. CJ suddenly takes offense to this and speaks in a cold, threatening tone.
Phoenix: Do you wanna die?
The cameraman looks up at him confused, figuring that he was just rehearsing or something.
Cameraman: The camera's almo-
CJ leans forward slightly as if he were getting ready to get up and attack.
Phoenix: Do. You. Want. To. Die?
The man steps back and looks at the rest of the crew who are nervously trying not to freak out.
Cameraman: ....we'll uhhh come back another day.
The crew members get back in their car and drive off. CJ ventures from the roof of his house down to the basement. The only light source comes from the flames of several burning candles. There are books, symbols on the floor, a small cage made from pipes like the one he was holding last week, and a camera on a tripod that he had put there the previous night. He turns on the camera in the dimly lit area.
Phoenix: Fate...our brightest hope and our darkest despair. This week, it has delivered me an intriguing challenge. Though my ally, Reo Raijin, is going through his own journey, he and I see eye to eye in our objectives for this match. I shall capitalize on his strengths and learn from his skills as a masked fighter in order to ensure our victory.
He points to his own face.
Phoenix: Underneath Reo's mask is an intense fury. One strong enough to earn him the name "San FranPsycho". Under this so-called "Captain Action's"? Fear and despair. He's afraid of the truth. He fools the masses into supporting him by playing the role of lovable idiot, but I see right through him. When we break his blind optimism, he'll try to stay smiling, but his soul will be crushed. This week isn't like El Tigre where it's "hero vs villain, hero wins and everyone's happy" story. This is one of those times when the hero DIES, and those are the best stories!
CJ looks at the symbols on the ground behind him.
Phoenix: I'm gonna make you a real hero, Cappie. Sara's hero. I've been...practicing setting up a séance this week so that I can give you both what you desire most.....by brutalizing Cap to the verge of death in the ring and using his decimated body as a medium to contact Sara's late husband. I will give you the chance to look him in the eyes, spirit to spirit, and speak to him one more time.
His gaze turns toward the stairs.
Phoenix: My wife is upstairs. She's sound asleep. I...I can't imagine what it would be like if I lost her. I don't even want to think about it. I know you're hurting. We all see it in the way you carry yourself. He wouldn't want you like this. I don't either. That's why I'm gonna help you. That's why FATE brought the San FranPsycho as my cohort and Captain Action as our sacrificial lamb! You and Cap will THANK US when we defeat you. Not just because we're flat out better than you two and your mindsets are so far apart that you couldn't accomplish anything together except losing. It's also because you losing is the BEST AND ONLY outcome for all of you cruise missiles. Reo gets the joy of increasing confidence. Captain Action gets to do the most heroic thing a man can do. Sacrifice himself for the sake of someone else. And you, Sara, get to reunite with the man that you tragically lost...even if it's only for a moment, you'll get to see him again. I hope you understand, but I know that you won't. They never do. You'll hate me, and so will Cappie, but you'll look back on your loss to us and thank me for what I did for you....
He looks back at the camera with a soulless stare.
Phoenix: ....just like they did.
The camera blacks out.