The scene opens up with Steven Robinson sitting in a desk his room, reading the news paper. Since Ryan and Bella had gone out for the evening and took RJ with them, he had the house all to himself. He continues to read the paper, before he suddenly stops and looks towards the door. He didn’t know why, but for some odd reason, he could smell something coming from the kitchen.
Steven: Hmm.
He looked at the clock, and then frowned when he saw what time it was. While Bella and Ryan should be on their way home right about now, they couldn’t have gotten home this soon. Something wasn’t right. He slowly stood up and treaded lightly over to the door, before he slowly opened it and crept down the stairs, and into the living room. He peered around the corner, into the kitchen. He saw a few items on the counter, and something in the oven, but no one was there. He walked into the kitchen, but stopped, then frowned.
Steven: It doesn’t serve you well trying to sneak up on me…Syn.
He turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder, and saw a pair of icy green eyes staring back at him in dark amusement. Syn smirked slightly as he leaned against the wall, before he stood up and gazed at the older man.
Syn: Hmm. So, it seems as though Ryan has one more person in his company. One who bears a resemblance to him at that. (Syn looks at Steven curiously) You wouldn't be a, uh, relative, would you?
The two men stare at eachother in silence for a moment, silently analyzing one another, before Steven finally spoke.
Steven: I’m Steven Robinson…Ryan’s father.
Syn’s eyes light up in sinister delight at hearing that.
Syn: Ah, so you’re Ryan’s father. I see where he gets his air of mystery that intimidates most of the foes that stand before him.
Steven doesn’t say anything, so Syn decides to continue.
Syn: Now, it seems as though you know more about me than just my namesake, but I can't say the same. So...Steven, was it? (Steven nods) Enlighten me.
Steven looks away from Syn, apparently in deep thought.
Steven: Hmm?
Syn goes to say something, but is cut off by the timer on the oven. He gives a small smirk, before turning to Steven.
Syn: Could you excuse me for a second?
Steven: (Sighs) of course.
Syn walks over to the oven and opens it, checking on whatever it is he’s cooking inside. He grabs a spic e container off of the counter and sprinkles it on, before closing the oven back, before turning his attention back to Steven.
Syn: Now, back to the topic at hand. What time is Ryan expected to return home, hmm?
Steven looks up and closes his eyes for a moment, before taking a deep breath and speaking.
Steven: Soon.
Syn raised a brow at the vague answer, but otherwise doesn’t think much of it.
Syn: Ah, excellent. In that case, can you help me out a bit here?
Steven: What exactly is it you want from me, Syn?
Syn tosses something over to Steven, who raises a brow as Syn smirks at him.
Syn: I need you to chop this onion.
Steven nods slowly and walks over towards the counter and picked up a knife, before he began chopping the onion while Syn was periodically checking on his dish. The two suddenly looked up at the front door, Syn giving a dark smile.
Syn: Ah, it seems as though my guest of honor has arrived, and just minutes before my dish is complete.
At the moment he said this, the door opened and in came his longtime rival, Ryan “The Reaper†Robinson and his girlfriend, Bella, with Bella holding a small infant. They both froze when they saw Syn standing in the kitchen entranceway, and there was a heavy silence as the four all stared at eachother. Syn looked over at Bella, finally noticing the baby boy in her arms, and looked at him in curiosity, before gazing at both Reaper and Bella.
Syn:Why, hello Ryan. And Bella, you look as stunning as ever, but who might this little fellow be?
Reaper gave Syn a look, silently sending a message of pain if he harmed the child. The look he got in return was one of a person who had been insulted highly (Though it passed quickly). The two stared down longer, before he spoke.
Reaper: He’s my son, RJ.
Syn bends down to where he's face to face with the baby and gives it a smile. It was a false smile, but a smile none the less. RJ stared at Syn for a moment, before he shrank away, clutching to Bella for dear life. Syn frowned and a look of brief, but immense sadness flashed in his eyes (But only Reaper caught it), but it went as quickly as it came as he smiled again, before looking over at Reaper.
Syn: It seems as though he has your judge of character, Ryan. (Syn’s smile turns dark) You must be so proud.
Reaper gives Syn a suspicious look, before speaking.
Reaper: Yeah, he did. But apparently I haven’t been a good enough judge character as of late.
Syn gives Reaper a curious, wondering what he is talking about. Steven and Bella, sensing that things were going to become a bit more heated, quickly leave the room, Bella to put RJ to bed and Steven to check on the mysterious dish that Syn has prepared, leaving both Syn and Reaper in the front room alone. Reaper sighs, before he continues speaking.
Reaper: Look, I’ve seen what you’ve been doing , with the whole deal in attacking everyone who has issues with you. I thought you had changed for the better, but then you go and verbally abuse an announcer, of all things!?!What happened to you man? I thought you were gonna leave this whole “Persona†behind after WKF ended, only come to find out you’re lashing out at people who AREN’T EVEN WRESTLERS!!! Why!?!
Syn gives a frown, but doesn’t say anything at the moment. Reaper just continues to stare at Syn impatiently.
Reaper: Well man, I’m waiting for an answer. What’s your deal?
Syn continues to frown, while Reaper stares back defiantly, neither man noticing that Bella and Steven come back into the room. Syn just frowns a moment longer, before he gives Reaper a look Reaper has never seen before: a tired, worn look of a broken man. He gives a bitter chuckle, before he speaks.
Syn: You just can't let me fall, can you?
Reaper, Bella and Steven all give Syn confused looks as he continues to speak.
Syn: Let me ask you something Ryan: did it ever cross your mind that there is a reason why I do the things I do? Why I hold onto this "Persona", as if it was a life-jacket?
Reaper just glared back at Syn.
Reaper: Has it ever crossed your mind why I’m the way I am?
Syn just gives a disappointed shake of the head.
Syn: Trying to divert the question won't work here, Ryan. And we both know the answer to that question, which is why I did what I did in the cemetery during our wars.
Syn gave a grim smile as Bella paled, remembering what Ryan had told her about his battles with Syn, and Reaper growled menacingly at Syn, before sighing and attempting to calm down.
Reaper: Let’s drop this, and just tell me what the hell you’re doing in my house? And while we’re talking about that, how the hell did you get in here in the first place?
Syn shook his head again, his eerily cheerful expression back on his face as he reached into his pocket and pulled something out, before tossing it to Reaper. Reaper caught it, then looked at Syn in shock as he realized what it was: It was the home alarm system that Bella had had installed last week. The wires had been cut perfectly, and it was in very good condition. They all look at Syn, who gives them a somewhat sinister smile. Reaper takes a deep breath, before speaking.
Reaper: Just tell me what you want man?
Syn’s smile never left his face.
Syn: Would you like to know how I did it? It wasn’t really hard, once I put in the code Bella used (Syn clicks his teeth with his tongue, before he leers at Bella), by the way, nice choice of using Ryan’s birthday as the code, doll.
Bella gives Syn a shocked look.
Bella: H-how did you know that I used Ryan’s birthday as the code?
Syn gives a very sinister smile.
Syn: I know you better than you think, Bella. (He clasps his hands behind his back and leans in a bit closer) A LOT better.
Reaper suddenly gets in Syn’s face, glaring menacingly at Syn.
Reaper: I repeat: What. Do. You. Want. Syn?
Syn’s eyes never leave Reaper’s as the two stare down for a moment, before he looks over his shoulder and straight at Steven.
Syn: Could you get the, uh, dish out of the oven, please?
Steven quickly runs to the kitchen and takes the dish out of the oven, then bringing it back into the front room. Syn looks at it with a predatory smile, before looking at Reaper.
Syn: Care to try some, Ryan?
Reaper takes a long look at the dish, giving it a suspicious stare. While Syn wasn’t particularly known for resorting to poison to get rid of an enemy (He kept a small armory of sharp objects on his person for that), Reaper couldn’t help but be a bit weary of the mysterious, fleshy dish that was sitting on the table. He glanced over at Syn, who still had that eerie smile on his face.
Reaper: What is it?
Syn’s smile took a turn for the wicked as he looked at the dish for a moment, then back at Reaper, before shaking his head in amusement.
Syn: Now, if I told you that Ryan, I'm afraid that you wouldn't even try it.
Reaper continued to gaze at the dish in apprehension, before he slowly reached out, tore off a small piece, and ate it. He looks over at Syn, still chewing whatever it was.
Reaper: Not half bad. What is it?
Syn shook his head.
Syn: That will be for a later time, Ryan, as we have business to discuss at the moment.
Reaper raised a brow, and quickly realized he had almost forgotten that he had asked Syn why he was here.
Reaper: Ok, what is this business you speak of?
Syn calmly walked over to a chair and sat down, closing his eyes for a moment as he though. He opened them a few seconds later, and gave Reaper a curious look.
Syn: The little offer I extended to you in LW of a truce, as well as a temporary alliance of sorts. I don't recall you ever giving me an answer.
Reaper looked Syn right in the eyes, almost looking past them and searching for something, before he calmly started talking.
Reaper: Mi-(Syn cut him off with a piercing glare, causing him to sigh) Syn, I know that this isn’t the real you. I know that you’re in there somewhere. I’ll always respect you, hell, I think you might make it two for two and become the next ACW World Champion, but as long as you let yourself be controlled by that monster you’ve created, my answer will always be no.
Syn looked at Reaper for a long while, his blank expression not giving away any hint of emotion. He all but expected for Ryan to refuse his offer, and had only extended it as a way of getting this off of his mind so that he could focus on more pressing matters. But he was, however, extremely annoyed about the fact that Ryan couldn’t let this go. Syn slowly stood up, and gave Reaper a cold glare as he spoke.
Syn: Ryan, you still don’t understand, do you? You still don’t understand that I don’t want to be saved. I don’t desire to be accepted by the masses who foolishly write me off as being another nickel and dime sociopath that only knows mindless destruction, nor do I care for it. I damned myself to THIS (Syn gestures to the grease-paint that covered his face) willingly, knowing what consequences awaited me. And even….anticipating those consequences.
Reaper looked shocked at Syn’s remarks. Not because he had said them, but because of what Syn had implied he desired at the end of his response. It was…chilling to the core. It was one thing to hear someone speak of wishing harm to an enemy, but it was another thing with what Syn had, for all intent, just wished upon himself. Syn, now seemingly coming out of his out-of-character like mood, breaks the silence.
Syn: I think it’s best if I leave.
Syn started to walk towards the door, but Reaper had stopped him.
Reaper: Syn, wait. (Syn stops and turns around, a brow raised as he looked at Reaper, who looks to be a bit uncomfortable) Good luck.
Syn pauses for a moment, and then smirked at Reaper.
Syn: Luck is for the weak Ryan, but I appreciate the thought.
Syn goes to leave again, but stops again and turns to look at the other three people in the room.
Syn: Oh, and before I forget Ryan, you should consider visiting Little Nicky, since he’s out of the hospital and all.
Reaper gave Syn a confused look. Where was this coming from?
Reaper: Why in the hell would I do something like that?
Syn’s smirk turned evil, which put Reaper on edge.
Syn: Not many people would give their appendix, especially when they don’t have a clue what it may be used for.
For a moment, everyone looked confused at what Syn meant. They all slowly turned to look at the dish that Syn had cooked, before it clicked. Steven paled as he continued to stare at what was once someone’s appendix, Bella looked on in shock and disgusted that someone could do this to another human being, but Reaper showed very little emotion. Aside from turning a slight shade of green, he looked as though he had seen far worse than what Syn had just admitted to doing. He slowly turns and looks at Syn, who is giving him an evil, sadistic smile, before sighing.
Reaper: I guess I was wrong about it being JUST a persona, wasn’t I?
Syn shakes his head in amusement, before grinning at Reaper.
Syn: Any thought to the contrary is foolish on your part, Ryan. But I don’t need to tell you that now, do I?
Syn gives a sinister chuckle as he opens the front door and walks out of the house, leaving the family behind as they all continue to stare at the cooked appendix that lay on the table as the scene ends.
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The scene opens up in Syn’s abandoned warehouse, in the office on the second floor. The camera pans around slightly, showing what look to be trophies taken from numerous battles. There was a bloody Luchador mask, as well as a cracked red and black mask sitting on a shelf. There was also a broken golf club sitting on the worn and beaten desk. But the most notable was sitting on a top shelf on the wall adjacent to the window and desk: a World Title belt, along with a black baseball bat and black golf club crossed in an “X†formation behind it. The scene suddenly changed to the first floor of the floor, and showed someone sitting in a chair, his arms bound in a straight-jacket. The persona raised his head slightly, and revealed himself. It was Syn, Joker-Esq facepaint and all, smiling in a sinister manner.
Syn: The beginning of The End is drawing near. In less than two weeks time at Breaking Ground, 4 men do battle for the honor, the privilege, the right to be called Champion. But I have all the time in the world to discuss the merits and faults of my three adversaries. For now, I’d like to discuss a man whom, while not directly involved in the match, has managed to stir up quite a bit of talk due to his actions as of late: John McHenry. (Syn shifts in his seat, adjusting the Straight-Jacket slightly) Now, I’ve seen a fair bit of you, and I have to say…I’m severely underwhelmed. It may be the bloodlust speaking, but from an objective standpoint, the, uh, small acts of violence you’ve committed so far are veeeeeeeeery (Syn clicks his teeth with his tongue, before smirking) tame. You’ve assaulted a pseudo-gang member and nearly crippled a defenseless woman, and attacked me from behind and left before finishing me off. (Syn shakes his head in amusement)Not very wise on your part.
Syn again shifts in his seat, now sitting upright, an evil gleam in his eyes
Syn: Now, John-boy, I can admit when I was one upped, and you and Flair did just that. For that, I applaud the two of you. But then again, it was a bit of a small victory on your part, because all you have succeeded in accomplishing is drawing my ire. (Syn gives a very chilling smile) And that, my dear boy, is not a very wise career move on your part. Why, you ask? Because when someone manages to gain my attention, it tends to end in a very violent manner. If this is something that you do not believe, then I give to you a small little project: Ask. Ask your new, uh, playmate, Cory Allen, exactly why he had 6 months taken off of his career last year. Ask Mr. Eric Snow how many careers have come to a gruesome end at my hands.
Syn stands up, his arms still bound by the jacket, a predatory smile on his face as he slowly walks towards the camera.
Syn: Welcome to The Age of Armageddon, John. There will BE no survivors.
Syn starts to laugh insanely as the camera fades to black, his laughter still being heard afterwards.
