2014.07.18: PWN - LEGACY - Basking in your Hate
"Let me ask you a question Robert-- why do superheroes wear masks?"
Break on Through was a day away and things couldn't have gotten any more heated between the two already bitter rivals. Christian Othniel and Bobby Langford had turned personal way before the first shots was fired for this match but many expected the situation to escalate, as it has. Christian's continued mocking of Bobby's values and principles was beginning to grow thin with The Steel City Dream-- that was as Othniel expected. Christian would continue to pull that string though, not because he wanted to irritate Bobby, instead because Christian wanted to unravel the whole situation. Did Christian believe that Bobby Langford's approach was genuine? Indeed he did, but does it mean Christian's verbal crusade against Bobby and attempting to paint him as a fraud would stop? Of course not, that's not a winning approach. In order to stop a guy like Bobby Langford, the fastest way to get to him was to attack the things he held dearest-- his beliefs. By Christian ridiculing Langford for what he believed and preached it'd begin to get Bobby into that rage-filled state of mind which would easily lead to mistakes-- and that's what Christian was counting on the most. Physically, The Ultra was no match to The Steel City Dream, but psychologically? It was a totally different story then. Christian needed to take the mental approach to once again rattle Bobby's psyche and only then would he be able to find a glimmer of hope for victory.
"If you're not sure where this is going- let me make it clear to you; it's because superheros are hiding who they are. By Peter Parker putting on the costume and mask, he's throwing away everything he is and cloaks his identity to become something he believes is stronger. That's cowardly, very cowardly. If you're not able to face problems that plague you as a man-- as your true self, then that puts you in the same category. You think by slapping your chest and raising your voice.. you're fooling me? Do you honestly believe that I'll let those cheap little tricks make me see a different Bobby Langford?! You harp on YOUR belief that I don't have 'heart' and I don't 'accept my flaws' when that's a lie. I do have heart, it's just not pumping blood like yours is. See these veins!?"
Clenching his fist and turning his arm so the camera was able to to catch his hand with his palm facing up-- Christian tapped at it with his free hand.
"Ice.. Nothing but ice runs through here. I'm not an ordinary warm-blooded person- I'm a cold-blooded assassin- I'm The Purge Master General for a reason! Not because it's a fancy title but because there's no-one out there that's willing on going to the extremes I am to PURGE both this company and the entire industry of the scum that engulfs it! You're continuing to question 'my' heart, Robert? I've got heart, it's just in the same approach YOU'RE taking. I'm as focused as you are on achieving my goals, it's just I'm not wasting my precious time, signing autographs and taking pictures with people I could care less about. But it's all a mask Robert, I see it now.. it's all a mask. You're nothing but a scared little boy who needs to put on this act of being Mister Righteous to gain acceptance because you never had it. You admitted it yourself, your father never loved you- he never cared about you. He looked at you like an slave! You're nothing but a slave Robert! And you're STILL a slave- not because of the color of your skin but because of how weak and simple-minded you are. You're a slave to the system, you don't evolve you ADAPT. You're a slave to the people because you're doing EXACTLY what they want you to do! How can I look at you and take you seriously? How can I for a second look at Robert Langford and see a man when in reality he's.. just a.. mindless slave."
That word.. it would draw controversy just because of Bobby's heritage, and that's what Christian wanted. He knew that despite the fact he explained his stance, he would be painted as a villain for his perspective and he welcomed the hate, he'd bask in it and hug it tight like a long lost relative. The expression across his face also put that across, there wasn't a line Christian wouldn't cross-- a mountain he wouldn't move to ensure himself a psychological edge, especially with someone he detested like Bobby Langford.
"As much as I believe you to be nothing more than a slave, the mask you wear.. on Saturday, I'm going to rip it off of your face and expose the REAL you. There's no mask on my face Bobby, there's no cape across my back and no cowl on my head. I'm a villain, you can see exactly who I am.. but you, no. You've got some nerve talking about facades when you- a slave, a mask wearing coward- can't bring the TRUE man out. Instead of being a MAN, you do all you're good at and that's doing what you're told. If it's not your daddy, it's the people-- if it's not the people, now it's Frank Washington.. when does it stop? When do you break out of this puppet fascination you have, clip the strings and become a REAL person-- you're not Bobby Langford, you're Pinocchio. I'm trying to be Jiminy Cricket and show you the real way of the world but you refuse- you fight, you battle me.. and why? Because I don't hide who I am and I don't let people control my mind and body? Because I don't adhere to the 'way' and I don't go WITH the grain?"
A smirk crossed CO's face, all as he crossed his heavily tattooed arms across his chest. He had his hair brushed back, the sides was recently shaved and he didn't bother to shave as that stumble was visible. Standing in an open lot, set up with several different pieces of corroded wood and rusty steel, CO placed his foot up on one of the beams that ran across his current location. Taking a moment to sigh, the hooded silhouette moved across the background- pausing for a second and turning his head to the right <towards the camera> the man was none other than 'The Effin' Beast' Con Escobar. With that miserable looking scowl etched firing in the camera's direction, Christian nodded his head a few times all as Esco continued to move in the background, kicking at broken pieces of wood and allowing his feet to crunch over the glass of broken bottles.
"Take a good look at my surroundings Robert, take a mental picture if you want. About fifteen years ago this an up and coming business, a family friendly establishment that went the extra mile for it's people. Yeah, sounds nice right? Indeed it was, until word made way around that there was an illegal backroom and the establishment was nothing more than a money laundering scheme. People were paying FRAUDS and those same frauds were using that cash to clean there own illegal gains. Now I'm a lot of things Robert, but a criminal isn't one- unless you consider telling a little white lie here and there a crime.. of course.."
Of course CO was making clear mention to the acting job he put on at Independence Day where he feigned retirement all in a ploy to get one over on Bobby Langford which.. seemed to have worked at first, but Langford recovered too quickly from the cheap-shot.
"... But one night-- a citizen, someone who had lived in the community long enough to want to make a difference decided that they've had enough of it and burnt it to the ground, it never recovered. It never was rebuilt-- despite moving through different owners in the past, no-one has decided to commit to making this place relevant again, all faith was lost-- all hopes were crushed. Does it.. Does it ring a bell? It is beginning to make sense, Robert? No matter how 'good' you are, no matter how much you go the extra mile-- there's ALWAYS an ulterior motive to the good deeds.. and despite wearing that flesh colored mask, I know it. I know that you're hiding something-- I know that this smile and say cheese personality you're broadcasting to the world is FAKE. Sooner or later the REAL Bobby Langford is going to show it's ugly head and when that happens-- I'm going to take credit in being the man that's responsible for it. You live by a fictional code, one that demands YOU hiding your insecurities behind that mask so you can be a self-righteous jackass and call other people out on what you perceive to be 'flaws' and 'downfalls'. When you finally decide to be a man, cut the puppet strings Washington has you attached to and 'fess up for the lies and fraudulent behavior you continue to put across.. I'll be able to say you're worthy enough to be removed from The Purge List. But until that day Robert, you'll remain on the list-- you'll remain priority number one as once I cut the head off of the snake-- the rest of the body dies. I've gave you the chance to own up to what you are and what you're doing, but it seems to me like you're not going to learn your lesson- not until I BEAT it out of you at Break on Through. First-- the unmasking, then? The Downfall of Bobby Langford. And it'll be fitting that your knees will buckle from the unmeasurable weight that guilt make you feel.. All as the last thing you see before you FINALLY realize I speak nothing but the truth-- it the only code I live by-- the only way I've EVER known to do things-- criticized by you, embraced by me.."
Wrapping it all up as usual-- Christian clenched both fists and extended them out towards the camera-- Esco's footsteps over glass was heard behind CO, all as the camera zoomed in on Christian's tattooed hands-- the eight letters, two words that FULLY defined the man Christian Othniel was--
".. the ONLY way that matters in life.."
