Post by J on Jan 6, 2021 14:39:29 GMT -5
//Off Camera//
*tap tap tap*
Esmeralda Thunder’s fingers rapped against the table, independent of any conscious thought as she trawled through the belligerent blithering that had been clogging up her timeline mentions the past few days, much like a particularly massive turd clogs a u-bend. So much drivel. So much nonsense. Was this was modern wrestling in 2021 was all about? A Finnish drunk and a stupid pink fucking dragon squeaking about inane, meaningless crap for hour after insufferable hour?
It was only a few days ago now that Tirri had started it up with her. Trying to taunt Luther’s manhood into leaving her backstage. Like Luther was stupid enough to fall for that shit. And when he didn’t, Tirri brushed her off, insulted her, made her out as an irrelevance... and yet.
*tap tap tap*
The tweets, the mentions, the never ending splurge of verbal bile continued. And this irrelevance she supposedly was was tagged in every last bastard one of these tweets. So even if by some sun shining out of a dog’s ass, once in a pale green moon miracle Esme Thunder had felt like staying out of things... with the drunk and the dragon subjecting her to their childish dumbfuckery for this long, she sure as shit wasn’t staying out of this match or any other match involving these clowns. Luther may not have needed her to win matches, but this wasn’t even about Luther so much anymore. These people had insulted HER. Targeted HER. And when Esme called out Tirri to a match, nhe’d cowered like the little chickenshit he is.
*tap tap tap*
No, Don Tirri, no Kalinda Icelanddragon, you’ve poked this bear one too many times. Esme was a patient woman, she tried to keep her feelings in check, but with these people relentlessly insulting her, mocking her, belittling her... she wasn’t going to abide that, not for a damn second. Tirri’s scared I’m gonna interfere huh?
He’ll be lucky if he makes it to Coronation if I get my hands on him.
A snug sly shot maybe at first. A warning. Maybe stamp on Kalinda’s tail. Let them know you’re there. Like a stupid pink lizard and a drunken fuck could play mind games with her & Luther. She would get those shots in. She would get right in their stupid fucking heads... where they wouldn’t apply a damn headlock on Luther without checking behind every corner, every rope, every greasy wet hair on the official’s fucking head. For Esme. You made this bed, you insufferable buffoons. Now you’re gonna lie in it.
*tap tap tap*
She looked across to Luther, sat back, reading some book about something or other. He didn’t know what was going through her head. As much as she wanted to tell him, what if Tirri really had made him think she was in danger? What if he wanted her to step back?
No, Esme had to go about this herself. Besides, if she didn’t tell him, how could he stop her? This was right for Luther, for HER... those morons wanted to play mind games. Come Cornation, Tirri wouldn’t be able to breathe a breath without fear of Esme Omega.
And while he was freaking out with that... the Sword of Damocles would be hanging over his head. And from the blindside, Luther would drop it, putting him down, and that referee’s hand would hit that mat three times.
*tap... tap... tap...*
AND NEW.
----
The steam coming off of the iron had since replaced the steam coming out of Esme Thunder’s ears. Whatever those people said, whatever they thought, they didn’t know her. They didn’t know the first damn thing about her.
As she ironed away at one of Luther’s ties, her thoughts came together. The way her husband looked on camera, the pressed suits, the immaculate presentation... she did that> Because that allowed Luther to focus on the things that mattered.
To call such things menial did them a disservice, truthfully, they were an equally important part of the whole Package that was the Dutch Destroyer, Luther Thunder. But they were menial in the sense that Luther never had to waste a second thought on such things. When he went out in public, it was taken care of. The suit pressed, the tie starched, the shoes polished to mirror like reflection. For all Esme knew, Luther may not even realize or appreciate how much work went into all this, but truthfully, things were better that way. Because every aspect that made up the public image of Luther Thunder, not just the whole presentation, but the fact that she could say things he could not. Organizing the private hotel space, with the fake names that changed from week to week so nobody could track them, nobody could disturb his mental preparations for these headline matches. So much went into it. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
These fools, making out like she was a glorified piece of eye candy, a hanger on, a mooch off of Luther’s success... she was every much as big a factor in Luther’s rise to the top as he was. Sure, he cracked the skulls, he did the heavy lifting in the ring. But the fact that that was his focus, that was the extent of his tribulations was down to her own meticulous work, They were a team, and her role was to make Luther’s role as simple and nuisance-free as possible.
She could let her emotions get the best of her though, and Tirri & Kalinda had really made her angry. She still intended to get in their heads. Hurt them. Make them pay. Just more work done from in the shadows, anything to make Luther’s life easier... even though cracking those fools was a lot more pleasurable a job than the ironing...
She let out a slight chuckle.Revolution 4 was coming up so fast. And whilst Kalinda, Tirri and possibly even Luther himself could never really know the lengths she went to for her man, to build up the monster that was Luther Thunder...
For once, this Saturday... they would know she was there all to damn well, if she had any say in the matter.
//On Camera//
We open up to a dimly lit rather upscale place of lodgings, not the style of what most members of the UPRISING roster choose to settle for. What we got instead was more than a little above the class and pay grade of those places, the eerie silence in the room was so thick you could have probably sliced it with a knife if you wanted to, which proved one thing: There were no disturbances.
Alone under a lamp sits Luther Thunder dressed in black, his face free of expression or emotion as he looks at the camera.
Luther: Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen to all of you watching. I humbly thank you for taking time to watch this and hope that my message finds you all in good health and in high spirits for the return of Revolution. Past three shows have set quite the stage for the fourth one and what started as a tournament full of hope and promise has now concluded, well at least to the level that everyone knows who the two finalists are and both of them are competing in the main event of Saturday’s show. Just in case you haven’t been paying attention to recaps, been on social media or this being your first touch to the world of UPRISING I am Luther Thunder, one of those two finalists competing in the main event triple threat. The other one is a man who needs very little introductions yet finds so many ways to make them for himself the verbal shrapnel grenade, the Finnish foulmouth, Helsinki Hellraiser..I’m sure I could sit here all night long listing nicknames and monikers but to cut it to the chase the other finalist is “Big Daddy” Don Tirri the old school cool I suppose..and as if this wasn’t enough the match features a third opponent Kalinda, a resident dragon whose existence and reality still draws arguments to this day and will probably keep doing it for a long time to come.
He leans back in the comfortable armchair, placing his palms on the armrests.
Luther: Now to say that I am going to be facing opponents unlike any of which I’ve faced before would be a fair statement and quite frankly if you want to believe the rumblings in the social media from our fans and peers alike: I am clearly not the handpicked favourite to come out on top at this match, which suites me just fine since I am not in this industry to be popular, my existence does not hang at the balance or whether I am loved or loathed. I know who I truly am and those closest to me, those who can see through the smoke and mirrors and the slanderous insinuations and blatant lies know the truth. I am a modest man, you don’t see me out there beating my chest running down a laundry list of accolades and accomplishments to make myself feel like a big deal. I don’t need to do that, just like I don’t need to rundown and insult my opponents to make myself feel worth more. I’ve been on both ends of the proverbial stick, I have won matches and lost them. Not sure which tallies up more but I am sure I don’t care because after years in this industry, after so many claimed to end me, threatened to rid the business of me..I am still here and they? Who knows where they are and more of it, who even cares?
He flashes a little smirk just a hint of it before forcing his face back to expressionless.
Luther: Now before anyone starts huffing and puffing about my past remarks, while I wholeheartedly agree that I am not a man known of my sense of humour or hilarity, it does not mean that I can’t take a joke or understand them. I am capable of even laughing at myself if the humor is just right for my tastes. I leave the comedy for those who excel on it and if you enjoy it, then it does not matter to me what level of humor it is low brow, high brow or no brow at all as long as it tickles your funny bone and gets a chuckle it’s all good, right? So while for the several weeks I have been subject of some rather witty banter, humor of varied degrees and outright ludicrous out thought processes of pure fabrication..that is nothing new to me. Since I started my career I have been a joke in one form or another to my opponents, they have resorted to insults and jokes to cope with the fact they have to get in the ring with me and if I happened to lose they would use it as a source of new jokes or in some cases an excuse to dig it up years on later and beat it like the unlike dead horse, even if in some cases the dearly departed steed had already rotted and grounded. So I do apologize if my reactions and responses to even the funniest jokes and quips are not up to what you might be expecting. I ever so humbly apologize if my silence has been misinterpreted as being insulted or getting aggravated. Such has never been my intention let me assure you.
He puts one foot over the other and tilts his head a bit.
Luther: The saying goes that every action has a reaction but I don’t think that has to be true. I don’t subscribe to the mentality that every time someone tweets, lights up your device with a notification or even utters your name that you have to jump up like some sort of a sorry jack-in-the-box to respond, to react and to realtor to their clever insights. People have lives beyond social media, even us wrestlers have lives outside of the ring and the venues and I prefer to keep mine private. So most of the time when you see trending topics, picture posts and other important updates such as how many drinks are down, who went to the gym and how is the training going..I stay silent. It is frankly none of anyone else’s business. I am a professional and when I get paid to appear in an organization for a match, I show up, deliver the best I can and leave. If I stick around to sign some merch, take some photos with the fans that is my choice and my choice alone, unless previously agreed differently and aptly compensated for that time and while we are on the subject of that. When I am paid to be there, boo or cheer to your hearts content, voice your thoughts the best you can, loud as you can. That comes with the price of the admission, some of you are lucky to get some good pictures or video clips. Great, I salute your visionary skills. However once that event is done and I’m leaving the venue. I am not “on the clock” I don’t “owe” any of you a good goddamn thing. So if you want an autograph, a picture or just give me your feedback on my match, be respectable, approach with the common courtesy and decency and I shall respond in kind. I don’t know of a single solitary soul in this business who would welcome people harassing them 24/7 at the gym, at a coffee shop or at the grocery store..I don’t come to your homes uninvited or come hassle you at your places of employment. I would expect you to do the same, buy your tickets, get the shirts and merch, boo,cheer,have a beer or some snacks..all wonderful ideas and I hope that every single show I appear on is enjoyable and worth your no doubt hard earned money. However as a fan, as a peer as an employer..you all have your role, your position and if I am professional enough to stick to mine without causing issues, so should you.
He tries to lighten the mood with a little smile before going on.
Luther: Apologies if that seems going off the rails for you al. I just feel that at times it is good to remind people that while it is a new year and a lot of things are changing, that while we live in very strange times as of late, some basic rules and codes of conduct that are expected of us haven’t changed. Same goes for me of course and my matches, Don Tirri a veteran journeyman who’s reputation is as checkered as his employment history but without a doubt a contender. Do not misjudge his multiple places of employment or their varied lengths as a hindrance. I’ve “known” Tirri or known of him would probably more of a correct term for many a years and to say that we have not exactly been on each other’s christmas card lists is a valid statement however I never had a problem with Tirri, as an announcer or as a in ring competitor and contrary to what some forked tongues might whisper: I still don’t. If anything I am cautiously optimistic about our match at Coronation and quite sure that we can deliver fans of UPRISING a main event worth remembering and something that might just not be forgotten anytime soon, title on the line of course is a big deal but I am confident to say that even without it, me and Tirri could deliver a match that would hold it’s own against any of the main events in UPRSISING’s history. However there is still a while before we get to do that one so let’s not get ahead of ourselves, no sense in jumping the shark or the dragon in this case..
He chuckles ever so slightly.
Luther: So sorry, that was horrible folks, guess it explains why I am not known for my humour. While it may sound like a start to a horrible joke A Finn, A Dutchman and a Dragon get in the ring is very real and while Kalinda clearly is the first of their kind I have yet to face in the profession I am curious to see just what will happen, because it seems like whenever Kalinda is around, be it on twitter or in the ring things tend to get a bit weird or more than a little bit weird. I’ve seen her matches and quite honestly I could sit here and claim that had I been Carnivore or Ignis I would have done this or that and won, but let’s be honest: It is so much easier to sit back and watch someone do things than doing it yourself. I have no idea if I would have done any better than her opponents or could I have been even worse, so the expectation is in the air facing someone like Tirri I have at least tons of matches, promotional videos or just social media interactions to go through if I so choose, I could probably even ring up a couple of old ghosts from the past and ask them what he is really like in person, that is something I could prepare for, research for and to a degree make sense of, Kalinda however, you baffle me and before you ask, no it’s not about your tail, not that appendix everyone seems fixated about. It’s you as a whole, fire breathing, magical creature AND an evil overlord to boot? That is a whole lot to take in for anybody so I do not mean to insult you in any way when I say I don’t know what to make of you but I am sure that after our match, things will be a whole lot more clear to me and I might even make an assumption or two on just where I stand with someone like you.
He seems to be at peace with those words, his thoughts about the upcoming match, a soft smile on his face.
Luther: Facing you two will truly be a treat and somehow I have a feeling that if Chris Mosh is watching this match of ours, he will be regretting not being part of it, sooner rather than later. Saturday is mere days away but call it a hunch, I just have this inkling that the story between the three of us is not as cut and dry as it seems going into Revolution 4..
He gets up and walks to the camera with a smirk.
Luther: ..not even by a longshot.
As he walks away, the last thing we see is Esme Thunder, Luther’s wife standing behind the very chair Luther had sat on talking to the camera, arms across her chest, face like a very storm of it’s own before she clicks off the light and leaves us in the dark.