Post by Ethan Monroe on Feb 4, 2018 9:26:49 GMT -5
***OFF-CAMERA***
Fresh off his win in a triple threat match for a rival company, Monroe is on the plane from Ottawa back to Vegas to pick up his truck, dreading the drive back to Wyoming. He pulls out his phone to book a hotel when he sees a message pop up on his screen.
‘Come home, Bear.’
Monroe sighs, and puts the phone down. A stewardess comes by to offer him a drink, and Monroe asks if he can simply have the bottle, which she obliges him. The perks of first-class travel. He opens the bottle of Jack and drinks a third of it in one breath, and puts it down beside him, picks up the phone again and stares at the message again.
‘Come home, Bear.’
He can recall vividly the day she asked him to leave. The cold calm that washed over him as he packed up the few things he had, throwing it all in his truck. Looking back at her as she crumpled to the floor in the doorway, her thinking he didn’t see her as just a few minutes earlier, was keeping a tough exterior. He can recall driving to the airport, debating just driving to Sheridan and tossing the phone out of the window and leaving it all behind.
His thoughts change to the day they met, not in person but on Twitter. How she was riding from Sturgis to Vegas. He had asked her to check in with him on her travels, concerned for her safety. He didn’t know her from Eve, and yet, she became his focus. He remembers their phone conversations wherever she stopped, and feeling he had to meet her, if only to know if she was the real deal. He recalls driving to Vegas, avoiding the roads he knew she’d be on, so he can surprise her when she got there. Seeing her get off the bike, he wanted her right then.
The most vivid feeling… this wasn’t like him at all.
When Monroe moved to Wyoming, he lived a hermit’s life. Clean from the grime of New York City, yet caked with mud dealing with his horses. He still trained, he still fought wherever they would have him, but didn’t socialize much, let alone with a woman. However there was something about Ember that intrigued him. Outside the exterior lied something he connected to. Something that woke a craving.
Then when he met her in Vegas, something changed. He fought it, it was foreign to him and yet around her, it felt safe to experience it. He… needed her somehow. He wanted her with him. It was like she was a key to a lock he didn’t realize was even there. He moved slowly during the beginning, and all the while she stayed, liking the fact he was opening up. He wouldn’t stay at her house. Then it was the couch, his legs dangling off it like a Great Dane on a chair. And then to her bed. That first night in her bed, she curled up with him, pulled his arm over him and laid his hand on her chest and he melted. It started to feel right. It was in that moment he became her protector, her Bear. And she became the Bear Tamer.
She became the one who he can let his guard down around.
* * * * *
The plane touched down in Vegas, and Monroe went to pick up his truck. He sat in the parking lot for a few minutes. He saw the signs for the I-15 North and knew if he got on that interstate, he was done. He started the truck and drove slowly out of the lot. A left turn led to Wyoming, as he steered the wheel to the right. He noticed the time, he suspected she’d be asleep, but he’d take his chance. He drove the half-hour trip and parked outside her door. He had hoped her car and bike were in the garage when he saw the empty driveway. He turned on his phone again, and hit Call.
Voicemail. He ends the call, and is about to start the engine again when his phone rings.
“Ethan?”
“Hi.”
“You saw my message.”
“And your tweets.”
He can hear her crying. He sighs under his breath.
“Bear, letting you leave was the worst mistake I ever made. Will you please come home?”
‘YES’ he felt both his head and heart scream. However, he stays calm, hesitant.
“Are you sure that is what you want, Tamer?”
“More than you will ever know.”
Monroe nods to himself. In his mind, he hears a voice say ‘if you only knew’.
“Baby, say something. Please?”
“Look out your window.”
He can see the light turn on in the living room and he steps out of the truck. He can see her look out her window and quickly run to the door. She runs out in short shorts and a tank top and no shoes, into his arms and kisses him. In the process she drops her phone.
“What were we thinking? I need you, Bear.”
He looks down at her, tears forming in her eyes. He strokes her hair, and wipes the tears from her eyes.
“I was giving you the space you needed. Hardest decision I had to make. If it helps, I won my match? I love you, Ember.”
If she could have crawled inside him to be closer, he thinks she would have. They share a kiss on the driveway.
“I love you too, Ethan. Come in, home awaits.”
* * * * *
The next morning, Ethan is sitting by the pool, his phone blings. He looks at the message.
‘It’s Kessler. Wanted to remind you you have a match coming up against Xander Salvitor at the pay-per-view. Just making sure you’ll make it’
He nods to himself, and writes back,
‘I’ll be there. Big man’s getting a big hurtin’
He puts the phone down as Ember comes out with a coffee for him and kisses his cheek, trailing her fingers over his shoulder.
“How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have over the last few days, that’s for sure. You?”
She smiles wide and kisses him again.
“I had my Bear wrapped around me, it was paradise.”
His phone blings again.
‘Good. See you then’
“Who was that?”
“Kaden, got a match against Salvitor.”
Ember thinks for a minute.
“Caliee’s boyfriend?”
He shrugs.
“I guess so? I met a few people last show. I know who Xander is, kinda hard to not notice a burly bearded guy in the room. I’m guessing Caliee was the blonde with him. Mine’s better-looking anyway but I could be biased.”
“You’re cute when you try to be silly.”
“Try to be, huh?”
“Mmhmm. So, I know when I was training, they would talk about doing promos for your match. How are you going to do yours?”
He didn’t think of that. Two days before the Immortals pay-per-view, and he was here in Vegas by a swimming pool.
“Guess I’ll have to film it here.”
“Can I be in it?”
“Baby, this is the time when the Bear shouldn’t be tamed.”
She pouts, batting his eyes at him.
“I can be your manager. I’m tough, I’m cute, and we can travel together.”
He smirks and nods his head, thinking of other perks to having his girlfriend on the road with him.
“Patch me up when I get busted up?”
“Yep.”
“Help me calm down after a match, win or lose?”
“I’m the Tamer for a reason, remember?”
He thinks about it for a few minutes.
“Alright, you’re in. However, I have to warn you, I’m a bad, bad man when I’m in that ring.”
She sits on his lap, her arms draped around his neck.
“I know. I watched your matches.”
***ON-CAMERA***
*The following promo was filmed on camera phone*
We see Ethan Monroe out in the Nevada desert. A tent in the background, roaring fire, two motorcycles parked by the tent. Monroe is in full gear sitting on a log; his girlfriend and manager, Ember, tending to the steaks on the fire behind him.
“Alexander Salvitor, seems you now have a BIG problem on your hands. The world watched last show as you and your girl were in a match, fairly hard-hitting, I’ll give Caliee the respect she deserves, but I noticed something I’m sure many didn’t.
You held back.
You took a beating, took a pounding, and while you threw hands of your own, I can tell in that ring, in that match, it was the last place you wanted to be. Now, I’m sure if you had been asked that question, you’d say it was out of love. You didn’t want to hurt her. Proud man, I’m sure, you would look. And yet it would have been an insult to her, actually if I’ve seen how you two have been lately, I’d say she knows. She knew you held back, she knew you didn’t fully believe in her potential… until she almost beat you. That was the only moment in that match that ANYBODY saw you give a damn, was when your game was played a little too well, and you almost lost.
And then the world saw you for what you really were, when you picked up Caliee in the air and slammed her through that table. There was no ‘love’ in you in that moment, was there? That was disgust, that was anger, that was hate. HATE put your girlfriend through that table, Alexander. And no amount of groveling is going to get you out of the dog house for that one.”
Ember walks over and hands Ethan a steak on a plate, and a glass of whiskey.
“Do you know what we call people like you where I’m from? Bullies. They act tough, and when they called on it, they back off until they get an opportunity and strike with much-repressed rage. What bothered me the most about that whole incident was when the boss came out to check on his employee, and you got in his face. Your girlfriend was unconscious under a pile of table rubble, and you were more concerned about the boss doing his job, then doing your OWN job as her protector and checking to see if she was okay. You may have the beard and the tattoos and the shiny bikes, but you are NOT a man.
And what about this new ex who has suddenly appeared, with a child you abandoned years ago. And again, you tried to impose your will on HER by trying to tell her who and who not to associate with. Thankfully she saw your bullshit for what it is and made her own decisions.
You are not a man, Alexander. You are nothing but a child, who wants things his way. You cry and pout online when Caliee would rather not be around you so she can go train, probably have some original thoughts, probably needed an opportunity to breathe without you telling her how much oxygen she can inhale. You suddenly have an interest in your kid, but we all know the only reason you do is because you’re in the public eye. You’re trying to show a softer side so your girl will forgive you, so the world will forget your actions, so the fans will cheer you once again.
You’re a fraud.
At Immortals, I will show you what a man does. A man stands up for honor, a man stands up to defend those are hurting. A man does not turn his focus away from what he loves to smite an enemy. Last show didn’t go as I planned because I made a rookie mistake, one I owned up to. I came in unprepared and paid the price for it. You? Haven’t paid a dime for yours yet. And that’s alright, because I’ll make sure you do.
I will come to take what is owed, and I will leave you laying, exposed for the world, and Caliee, to see. Funny thing is, I know when she sees this promo, Caliee will have a few choice words for me. See, she might defend YOU, despite YOU not defending HER. That makes Caliee more of a man than you are, Alexander.”
Ember walks over and puts her hand on Ethan’s shoulder, and rubs his back a little. Ethan stops to eat his steak, and still gets into it with his hands.
“You see this, Alexander? This, what I have, that’s love. Ember ever gets injured by somebody’s hand, you can bet they’ll pay dearly for their actions. We’ve fought, and we’ve talked, and we accepted what happened and owned our share of the blame. I also never put her through a table because I was angry. I’m supposed to be coming into this match as the bad guy, but the fans couldn’t hate me if I tried to make them because they know I’m coming to right your wrongs. I’m coming into this match to give you what you deserve, and that’s a solid ass-kicking.
You’re gutless, you’re a fraud, you’re a human Ken doll… and after Immortals, you’ll be just another fallen.”
Ethan finishes his steak and downs the glass of whisky, and smiles at the camera.
“And Caliee, darling, you can do a WHOLE lot better. Think about it. He gets to fight while you’re forced off the card? Think that was coincidence? Alexander isn’t with you to be the protective boyfriend, he’s trying to own you. Keep you in line while he goes off to do whatever he wants to. He’s smothering you because he’d be even less than the man he thinks he is if you weren’t around. Save yourself, those kind of relationships are never healthy. Next it will be us seeing you with a bruise on your face, and you having to make excuses about falling and hitting the coffee table or other such lies. And then it’s you cutting yourself off from your friends and family at his insistence. Then it’s you quitting wrestling and disappearing from social media. No, Caliee, you are better than the abusive fuck you’re with.
Alexander, you’re about to get whipped, son. Onyx… Out.”
Post by Xander Salvitor on Feb 4, 2018 22:58:45 GMT -5
“The Bear Hunter”
Date: Sunday January 28th Place: Mikey Likes It Ice Cream Parlor
***Off - Camera***
The small ice cream shop is pretty empty but at a small table we see Xander sitting across from a girl about 5 years old. She smiles as she digs into the large ice cream in front of her and Xander just beems wide at her. She looks up at him the eyes of innocent staring into her father's eyes.
Marlow: Dad are you mad at mommy still?
Concern crosses Xanders face, he was just getting to know his daughter and they really had just made small talk. He reaches over taking her small hand in his large rough hand.
Xander: Oh Marlow honey I am not mad at your Mommy at all, I was sad that I missed so much when you were born.I wasn't there and now I have a chance to make up that time.
He lets her hand go as she goes back to eating the ice cream and Xander thinks how lucky he is to have such a smart beautiful wonderful little girl in his world. Things had been weird the last few days but he knew Caliee was tough she still loved him no matter what had happened in that ring. He also knew that even with the news of Marlow she was standing behind him through thick and thin. Marlow looks at him again her smile grows bigger.
Marlow: I like Caliee she is funny but she seems sad sometimes is she upset with you about what happened at your workplace?
Xander: Oh no Little one Caliee is a strong, brave woman and she knows that what happened out there was what we do for a living. If it had gone the other way I know I wouldn't blame her.
The two sit talking about other things as Marlow finishes her ice cream. Then Xander helps her get her jacket and hat on as they leave the shop.
Time: A few moments later
Xander’s truck pulls up outside his old Brownstone and he jumps out and walks around helping Marlow out and carrying her up the steps as his Ex Ashlee opens the door.
Ashlee: How was she ?
Xander: She was good we went to a jump park and then had Ice Cream she had some interesting questions for me but nothing I couldn't handle.
He walks inside with Ashlee and lays Marlow on the couch since she had fallen asleep on the ride home. He turns looking at his Ex as she stood leaning against the arch way.
Ashlee: Yeah she has been asking a lot of questions since we moved back here, she has always been curious about things. She ask alot about you and what you do, not just your music which she loves by the way but about wrestling. She also asked if she will ever get to watch you.
Xander: Maybe after she gets a little older and can better understand everything Ash, she just isn't ready yet.
Xander goes to walk by and Ash grabs his arm stopping him.
Ashlee: You know Xander I get that we have our Issues but I just want you to be happy and I don’t trust Caliee not even a little. I'll let you take Marlow there because I don't think she would hurt her but she loves Kaden and he well I don’t know what he thinks of her but I know he doesn't like you.
Xander gently moves her hand and walks to the door before he stops.
Xander: Seems a lot of people have issues with not only me but Caliee as well lately. Many people want to think they know any and everything about our relationship. They are wrong and I am getting really tired of everyone thinking they know me.
He opens the door to step out.
Xander: Ash thanks for your concerns really but I know what I am doing trust me, I have never given you reason not to.
He closes the door and the sound of the truck leaving can be heard.
***On - Camera***
(Filmed with a Webcam)
We see Xander sitting in a brown leather desk chair, his hair pulled back from his face. He looks tired but when you look deep into his eyes you see a focus, and determination. He runs his hands through his beard before leaning in a little closer to the camera.
Xander: I have to say over the last few weeks things have been, well topsy turvy to say the least. After first finding out that I had a daughter, facing my girlfriend in a falls count anywhere match, and then dealing with the man she use to care about walking out to get in the middle of things has been hard. I know the last person that I should even be concerned with is Kessler but to be honest the man is on my last nerve and all I want is to put him into place. Yet I can’t do that I can’t focus on him because I have a shot at the PPV to prove myself.
Leaning back in the chair he turns looking out a window at the cold wintery day a slight smile crosses his face.
Xander: Nope you see at Immortals on February 6th I walk into face a man who seems to have a very twisted view on this world, Ethan Monroe. I have to admit I was actually reluctantly kind of respectful of you and was thinking this match would be a challenge an opportunity to test my mettle against someone I thought had integrity and a beard almost as great as mine. (He chuckles at the joke) I mean that is what I thought until you opened that mouth of yours and spewed forth some of the most asinine accusations I have ever heard. I mean there was so much that you said and so much that was wrong it's hard to know where to even start.
Do I start with the accusations of abuse you think I will lay on Caliee, or wait wait even fucking better how about the claim that I walked out on Ashlee and Marlow when I supposedly found out she was pregnant. I mean which one of these highly inaccurate and just plan stupid things do I approach with first.
Turning back to face the camera a wicked smile on his face Xander just shakes his head.
Xander: I know we can start with how you first came on the scene and started working with a man who claims to Lucifer, I always wondered what an underling of a crazy man would look like and here you stand in front of me. Now I don’t know how much of your past your loving new girlfriend knows and to be honest it’s not my place to even bring her into this fight. See that right there is the start of why I am a better man than you Ethan and will always be one. I was ok keeping this professional and in that ring where it belongs but you want to drag family into this you want to run me through the mud. Claim I am abusive and a deadbeat dad that my friend is where you utterly and truly fucked up.
So let's start with a little show and tell just to set the record straight because the truth will set you free.
A video of the match between Xander and Caliee takes over the screen we see the two struggling on the top turnbuckle and as they do Xander leans back and Caliee also tips and falls back through the table. Xander quickly gets down and goes to check on Caliee. They whisper to each other and Xander pins her. As Paramedics come down to check on her Kaden strolls down to the ring and as Xander checks on Caliee Kaden gets into with the other man.
Xander: Oh now the truth is there for all to see and not the weirdly twisted version you try to speak, I am sure your time with the supposed father of lies has taught you much about twisting the truth. I didn't throw Caliee through that table or callously pin her. I also didn't start a fight with Kaden and ignore her. You think you know me and what my life is like you call me abusive and spit hateful lies from false lips. Yet here we are and the truth is out there for all to see now and you have been exposed before all to see.
Claiming I am not a man because my girl stands in a ring doing something she loves and the powers that be think it's a great way to make money by putting us in that ring together to face off. We talked about this all before hand she wanted to make sure I didn't go easy on her and by your own admission Ethan I held back so your argument is again mute because if I really didn't care why would I hold back why not tee off on her while I held a chair . Interesting I would say the least because it seems like your little story is getting weaker and weaker by the minute and the more holes I put through it the more petty and cowardly you look.
Standing up he adjust the camera so he is still visible.
Xander: So little Bear it seems that you try and put up a smoke screen to cover the fact that the big bad burly man is just a cowardly little bear cub trying to make himself look like a hero. You are nothing more than a frightened cowardy little man hiding behind lies and accusations you can't back up. Not only is there no leg for you to stand on regarding any part of mine and Caliee’s life or relationship but when it comes to my daughter that right there was your biggest mistake, you little fucking piece of shit if you wanted me pissed off and angry that was your in but dont think its going to cloud my mind or push me to make mistakes. Oh no Ethan you accusing me of walking out on that little girl and her mom not only when Ashlee has clearly stepped up to own the fact that she left before I knew about Marlow, but to even think I would be that kind of scumbag that right there was your last mistake.
Tuesday night when you step in that ring to face me you will be lucky to walk out on your own power so I hope you bring the love of your life with you and even though I regret that she will have to witness what will happen to you but at least someone will be there to carry the broken remains of your body from that ring and hopefully nurse you back into some semblance of a man or at least close enough to what you normally are.
Xander leans in close to the camera as he stares out into the world.
Xander: I am looking forward to this finally taking my place at Premier and stepping over the broken battered shell of Ethan Monroe is going to be the moment that everyone has been waiting to see from me because finally you won't see just the man Xander Salvitor of no you are finally going to see the Bearded Badass walk into that ring and crush a pathetic, cowardly, lying piece of Garbage and walk out with his hand held high proving just who is the man and who is a boy in man's clothing.