==========
Mason Van Stanton
On Camera
==========
Change is inevitable. It is a scientific fact
that those who cannot adapt or just outright refuse to adapt to change will
inevitably become extinct. That was the fate of the terrible lizards
known as the dinosaurs. That was the fate of the Neanderthal. And
that is the fate of anyone and everyone who refuses to accept the fact that
change has arrived on the doorsteps of Supreme Championship Wrestling.
You have Xander Valentine, a lukewarm, watered down
version of himself. A neutered monster accepting his new role as a
nostalgia act who gets drug out of the woodshed, dusted off for an appearance
every now and then, only to be put back on the shelf with the other forgotten
children’s toys. You also have Ace Marshall, a comedy act who quits and
makes a comeback every six months or so in a vain attempt to maintain his
relevancy.
Men like Ace and Xander are fighting against
fate. They are fighting against scientific fact. Science says that
men like them are doomed to extinction anyway. My monster, my client
Clyde Sutter, just wants to speed up the process. The Assassin merely
wants to put them and the SCW fans who are forced to watch their pathetic act
out of their misery.
And once they are gone, you may all bask in the
glory of a new era. You may all begin to accept that SCW has a new
Executioner. And that new executioner is none other than my client, “The
Assassin” Clyde Sutter.
==========
June 24th, 2020
Little Rock, Arkansas
Off Camera
==========
Anger and hate can eat away at someone, damaging
oneself or those around them in the process. This can be dealt with if a
suitable outlet can be found. “The Assassin” Clyde Sutter has been full of
anger and hate for as long as he can remember. He has always been a
monster, some would use the term bully or thug to describe his strong arm
tactics he uses to get his way. Unfortunately for Sutter, he has never
been able to fully focus his rage in a positive way. He has never found a
good outlet for his anger and hate. The one outlet he had, professional
wrestling, was nearly taken from him because of his uncontrollable
nature. First Glory Braddock kicked him out of wrestling school due to
his violent tendencies and then his agent, Mason Van Stanton, threatened to
keep him sidelined until he got psychological help. But what kind of help
does a monster like Sutter need? What could any psychiatrist offer Sutter
that would help control his violent outbursts? In this case the answer
was found in The Assassin’s background; or rather, lack of a background.
Sutter’s psychiatrist was convinced that his
violent outbursts and uncontrollable rage may due in large part to his lack of
any true family history. Sutter’s earliest memories were of an
orphanage. He never knew his parents, he never knew how he got to the
orphanage. All he knew was that he was abandoned at birth and never truly
knew why. So perhaps learning the truth as to why he was abandoned at
birth could help him to deal with his violence? It was a reasonable
request considering nothing else had worked to control Sutter. The threat
of losing his career and ending up in prison never bothered The Assassin.
So why not this? Nothing else has worked.
To say that Sutter was skeptical would be an
understatement. Mason had to continue with the threats to convince Sutter
to take the psychiatrist’s advice and seek answers. His quest for answers
took him back to his home in Southampton. And those answers he found has
drastically changed The Assassin. Whether this was a change for the
better remains to be seen.
The real question is, has Sutter learned to control
himself? From a certain point of view you could argue that he did learn
some control. Tonight on Breakdown he did not physically provoke Xander
Valentine. He attempted to manipulate and talk trash to Xander, knowing
that The Executioner could not do anything unless physically provoked.
The old Sutter would have thrown the first punch without hesitation.
Tonight, however, Sutter held back. But then Ace Marshall inserted
himself into the volatile situation. Some deception from Ace led to a
brawl between Sutter and Xander.
Did The Assassin get into another brawl?
Yes. But progress has been made. You can tell that Mason Van
Stanton, Sutter’s agent, is thrilled with the progress as he walks with a
confident stride towards the trainer’s room. Van Stanton is wearing all
black including a black leather jacket. A smug smirk is etched across his
face. He sees dollar signs and the potential for a big future in the
making for his client. This is the perfect time, because Mason Van
Stanton has already lost his other three clients due to what can mildly be
described as a “difference of opinion” and The Assassin is the only client he
has left. Van Stanton can now dedicate his entire efforts, time, and
energy to making Clyde Sutter a star in Supreme Championship Wrestling.
And that is exactly what he intends to do as he
enters the trainer’s room. “Knock, knock, anyone home?” Van
Stanton says in a sing song tone as he scans the room for his client. He
eventually spots The Assassin sitting in a corner by himself, on a stool.
Van Stanton grins from ear to ear as he approaches Clyde.
“There he is! My favorite client!”
“Your only client.” Sutter
growls.
“Details!” Van
Stanton slaps Clyde on the back. “I saw you got into a fight with Xander
Valentine tonight. You doing ok?”
“Yeah…” Sutter
scoffs “...what’s it to ya?”
“I am your agent, Mr. Sutter. I do care.”
“You only care because I make you money.” Sutter
scoffs as those sarcastic words drop from his voice. “So what are ya here
for, Mason? You gonna lecture me on losing my cool?”
“Quite the contrary, Mr. Sutter. I am
actually proud of you.” Van Stanton finds a nearby stool
and pulls it up next Sutter. Mason sits down on the stool and stares into
his client’s eyes. “You maintained control. And that was evident to me
and everyone else watching. You didn’t intend to pick a fight with
Valentine. Ace Marshall stirred that up.”
“Yeah and the next time I get a chance to wrap my
hands around his scrawny neck I’m gonna snap him in half!”
Sutter exclaims loudly and angrily. Van Stanton grins from ear to
ear. He is loving every second of this.
“Good, keep that intensity. Keep that rage
and focus it because you get your wish. Next week on Breakdown you face
Ace Marshall one on one.”
“Seriously?” The
Assassin arches his brow, for even he is surprised by this. He
anticipated a fine or some sort of disciplinary action taken due to the fight
he was involved with tonight. Instead he gets a match he wanted? He
looks at his agent for confirmation and Van Stanton responds with a nod of his
head.
“I was concerned that SCW officials might overreact
to your brawl earlier tonight so I went to do what any good advocate does and
speak on your behalf. While I was there I learned of the match between
you and Ace.”
A devilish grin forms across The Assassin’s
face. “Good. You want me to focus my anger? I’ll focus it
by tearing Ace Marshall apart.”
“You take out Ace next week and then, after
tonight’s debacle involving Xander, maybe we can capitalize on this? I
can see a great way we can market you as The New Executioner of SCW! Or
maybe The One True Executioner! Which do you think sounds best?”
Sutter never once in his life has cared about money
or fame. He has always enjoyed the simple fun of beating up another human
being. Inflicting pain upon another makes him happy. But despite
this, he does seem drawn to Mason Van Stanton’s ideas. What could a
little fame and fortune hurt, especially if it is at someone else’s
expense? This is a surprising twist of fate for Sutter who, not long ago,
was questioning whether or not he would ever be allowed to wrestle again.
Now he is back in the limelight, back in SCW, and back in the heat of the
action on the road to Rise To Greatness, the most exciting time of the
year. This sudden realization causes Sutter to tilt his head to one side
and stare deep into his agent’s soul...assuming Mason even has a soul…
“So wait a sec, this whole fight tonight...me and
Xander...you’re not worried?”
“Why should I be worried?”
“Well ya seemed pretty damn concerned last time we
talked. You were ready to keep me sidelined until I could control
myself.”
Van Stanton sighs and nods his head. “Yes, and
you showed progress. You were willing to cooperate and do what the
psychiatrist asked of you. Despite your skepticism on the matter you went
to learn about your history, you went to find out where you came from.
And whatever it is you found out, it helped you focus and maintain control of
yourself.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever ya say…”
Sutter remarks, his voice trailing off as he still isn’t sure what to make of
what he found out. Van Stanton just stares curiously at his client as he
prepares to ask the one question still on his mind.
“What did you find out when you were overseas in
Southampton? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.”
“You really wanna know?”
Sutter asks with a smirk on his face.
“If you don’t want to it’s fine...it is your
private affairs after all…”
“Damn right it’s my private affairs. But I’ll
make an exception with you.” The
Assassin winks at Van Stanton. “Turns out my lineage goes back to a well
off, filthy fucking rich pair of twats.”
“Your parents were wealthy?”
Mason asks curiously. Sutter shakes his head.
“Nah, my grandparents were the rich ones.
Their kid, my old man Ethan Sutter, hated the lap of luxury just as much as I
do. He ran off and started doing his own thing.” The
Assassin chuckles at the irony he detects. “Heh, the apple don’t fall far
from the tree, am I right?”
“In a way.”
“Do you know much about what happened to your
father after he ran away?”
Sutter pauses to consider his next words.
Should he tell the truth and tell Van Stanton that his father became a cult
leader? He considers it but instead decides against it. Besides,
like Mason just said, it is Clyde’s private affairs after all. Though The
Assassin does know a way he can answer without technically lying…
“No, not much is known about what happened after
that.”
Van Stanton can sense that his client is
withholding some information. It could be important information but that
information is not necessary for the long term. Van Stanton can cross
that bridge when he comes to it. For now he just smiles, pleasantly
surprised that his client seems to be taking all of this in good stride.
“Fair enough. I’m just glad to see that this
has helped you, Mr. Sutter.” Mason
says, patting Clyde on the shoulder and then getting up to walk away.
Sutter watches him intensely with a smirk etched across his vile face.
“You have no idea…”
“What was that?” Mason
heard that his client had said something. He wasn’t quite sure what it
was but he definitely said something. He stops and turns to face Sutter
who just shrugs his shoulders.
“Eh, it was nothing. Just, uh, do you know of
a good private investigator?”
“A PI?” Mason
furrows his brow in confusion as he wonders why Sutter would need or want a
private investigator for. “Why?”
“Private affairs, Mason. Let’s just leave it
at that.”
Van Stanton approaches Clyde slowly. “I
know of a guy who would get you any information you need. He’s good at
what he does. Hell, he did some damn good work for Glory Braddock
recently. But…”
“But what?”
“...he’s not exactly the most upstanding of
individuals. He doesn’t exactly have the cleanest of records if you catch
my drift.”
“So he’s a crook?”
Sutter asks. A smirk forms upon his face. “Sounds like my kinda
people.”
“I’m being serious, Mr. Sutter. You’ve made a
great deal of progress, I would hate to see you throw it away because of some
kind of dumb scheme. I will give you his name and contact information but
only if you promise this won’t damage you in any way?”
“Yeah, yeah, I promise…”
Sutter says, rolling his eyes.
“Fine. Just remember, you’re wrestling again
because of the progress you made. But what was given can be taken away.”
==========
June 26th, 2020
Raleigh, North Carolina
Off Camera
==========
The laughter of the children in the park as died
along with the light of the day. In darkness the black grass is left to
recover from the happy frenetic footfalls, soccer balls and picnics. The trees
sway, at first visible against a pale grey sky, then hidden by blackest night.
Leaves scurry along the path and the breeze becomes more keen. The park
grows ever more dark. Soon the shadows of the trees will blend into the blackness
and their silhouettes against the sky will grow less pronounced. As the view
disappears the sounds emerge as if the volume is being steadily turned upward.
The breaking of a simple leaves or twigs is the only sound heard from any
creature nearby. It is eerily silent.
The dark park suits the gloom kept inside of the
dark heart of “The Assassin” Clyde Sutter, who sits on a bench in this park,
waiting ever so patiently for the arrival of Seth Rogers. He is a private
investigator who, according to sources close to Mason Van Stanton, has done
work for Sutter’s arch rival Glory Braddock in the past. Rogers is the
sleaziest of private investigators, willing to take jobs most private
investigators won’t and willing to go to certain lengths most private investigators
are unwilling to go in order to achieve their ends. And this is what
makes Seth Rogers so appealing to Clyde Sutter. Seth and Clyde are alike
in that both will go to any length to achieve their goals. Sutter needs
someone like that in order to do a job for him. A job that could end up
dirty, a job that no ordinary private investigator would be willing to take
on. Sutter knows that someone unique, someone like Seth would have to
take on this job.
The sky of just an hour previously was too bright, garish
around the brilliant clouds. The coldness of the bench under the moonlight
feels right beneath worn denim, the remnants of a rain shower soaking in and
beading the fading green paint to either side. At last the shrill cries of the
daytime, the happiness present of faces, or even the ability to appear
indifferent has passed. Sutter has been waiting here for a long time
now. He has shown incredible patience as the person he was supposed to
meet is late. The Assassin checks the watch on his right wrist. He
looks up and growls lowly.
“Where is he?”
“Behind you, big guy.”
Sutter is startled by the voice, which he doesn’t recognize. He turns to
the direction of the voice and sees someone he doesn’t recognize.
Immediately he knows that this must be Seth Rogers.
Seth would have been white if it weren't for all
the freckles. There were so many his face was brown with small pale spaces here
and there, like the tips of grass struggling to show through the golden-brown
leaves of fall. His hair was a perfect mop of red, it would have been lion-like
had he not been so skinny. His old maroon t-shirt was a small, but on him it
was big, way too big; clinging where it shouldn't and hanging loose where it
shouldn't.
“Rogers?” Sutter
asks. Seth just smirks and nods his head.
“In the flesh. Gotta say, I’m glad you picked
Raleigh to meet. My last client wanted to do business in the dump known
as China. Or was it Japan? Eh, it’s all the same to me.”
“Yeah? Well your last client was an overbearing
blonde bitch.” Sutter growls. Seth chuckles.
“I take it you know Glory Braddock.”
“Better than I’d prefer.”
Seth approaches Clyde and sits down on the park
bench next to him. “So you’re Clyde Sutter I presume?”
“That’s me. And I need your...unique
abilities.”
“Yeah, you told me you needed me for a special
job. You even said it might be quite challenging.”
“You don’t have a problem with a challenge, do ya?”
“Oh not at all. Braddock gave me one of my
toughest assignments to date when she told me to dig up dirt on some dirty
businessman named Matthew Alan. That dude I swear covers his tracks
better than La Cosa Nostra. So I got no problems with challenges.
In fact, I relish in beating challenges. But I gotta warn you, the more
difficult the job the more price you gotta pay.”
“Yeah, I got ya…”
“Also if this shit involves any damn travel the
price goes up. I hate traveling.”
“Don’t worry! Your damn bill be paid in full
whatever it is!” Sutter’s temper is beginning to flare
and Seth can detect this. Seth decides to back off ever so slightly on
the tone he is taking with The Assassin.
“Good. Then what’s the job?”
“I need to know where this guy is.”
The Assassin passes a picture over to Seth. This is the picture of
Clyde’s father, the same picture Clyde received last month.
“Rather ugly schmuck isn’t he?”
Seth chuckles. “Who is he anyway?”
“It’s my dad.”
“Oh...um...sorry, I guess he…”
“Don’t sweat it.” Sutter
smirks nastily. “I think he looks like an ugly fuck too. Anyway, his
name is Ethan Lawrence Sutter. Born to Raymond and Juliette Sutter.
They were a wealthy family living in Southampton. Ethan got tired of the
bullshit luxury lifestyle and ran away from home. Somehow he got involved
with a cult of militant Christians known as Christ Conquest Movement.
That’s where the trail went cold for me.”
“So that’s all you know?” Seth
asks. Clyde nods his head.
“That’s all the facts I got, yeah. There is
rumor he that took over the CCM and became its leader, renaming himself
Constantine. But that part is just rumor.”
The sleazy private investigator studies the picture
closely. He then turns and looks back at Sutter and sighs. “Do you
really wanna go digging into this? I mean, it sounds like you got all the
information you could want. What more can I do for ya?”
The Assassin begins to lose his temper. He
reaches over and grabs Seth by his shirt collar. “I’ll tell you what you can
do for me. You can find my old man and tell me where the fuck he is.”
“He may be dead. Have you considered that?”
“If he’s anything like me then he’s alive.” Sutter
releases his grip on on Seth and chuckles. “And me? I’m a
survivor. I’m sure dear old dad is still alive. Now can you find
him or not?”
“If he’s still alive then I know I can find
him. Going overseas to that hell hole is gonna cost ya some extra…”
“That ‘hell hole’ is my home, pal.”
“Whatever. Point is, it’ll cost ya some but I
can get the job done. But what if I find out he’s dead?”
“Then your job is done. I drop it.
Simple as that.”
“And what if I find out he’s alive and put you in
contact with him? What then?”
Sutter smirks devilishly. “I’m gonna pay my old
man a visit...I’m gonna find out why he abandoned me all those years
ago...because he made me into this, he created this monster, and it’s only fair
that he meet his creation…”
==========
On Camera
==========
The camera begins recording in what appears to be a
back alley. The lightning is poor, just good enough for this promo to air
and just good enough to see that this place is dirty, and not the kind of place
you want to hang around for too long. A few moments later Mason Van
Stanton emerges into view, flanked by his client, “The Assassin” Clyde
Sutter. The two individuals are a contrast to one another with Mason in a
black and white suit looking nice and crisp, very well done, whereas Sutter is
wearing denim jeans, black boots, no shirt, and a long black trenchcoat.
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days
of our lives. Surely in a matter of this kind we should endeavor to do
something, that we may say that we have not lived in vain, that we may leave
some impression of ourselves on the sands of time.”
Van Stanton chuckles lightly after the words escape his manipulative
lips. “It’s a little soap opera-ish for my taste but you get the
gist. Maybe...maybe not…”
Van Stanton smirks and then points a finger at the
camera. “...I’m speaking to you, Ace Marshall. You have definitely
made a lasting impression upon Supreme Championship Wrestling. That is
without question. What remains to be seen is how much time you have
left. The mere fact that you are facing my monster, The One True
Executioner of SCW, is evidence that your time in this company may be drawing
near, because after the cute little stunt you pulled on Breakdown, I cannot
promise that I can keep The Assassin from crippling you and putting you on a
permanent leave of absence from SCW.” Another chuckle escapes his lips.
“Although you probably wouldn’t mind that, would
you, Ace? Oh look, there I go again getting ahead of myself. I will
now step out of the spotlight and allow you to behold my client, the man who
will take it upon himself to eliminate two nostalgia acts from SCW once and for
all. Behold and bear witness to the NEW executioner, “The Assassin”
Clyde Sutter!”
Mason Van Stanton motions with a grandiose wave to
Sutter, who just stands there, staring stoically, almost glaring into the camera.
Mason Van Stanton winks as he steps aside. Clyde Sutter now takes center
stage. The Assassin’s cold, emotionless gaze into the camera is enough to
make any normal man shudder in fear.
“Y’know something, Ace, I could talk about how you
wasted your career away with you stupid little games. Truth is, you’ve
achieved a great deal in this company. Gotta respect that. What
pisses me off about you is that for every championship you’ve managed to win,
for every one of SCW’s brass rings you happened to claim, all of it was by
happenstance. You never went out actively seeking ‘em. You were
just goofing off like some dumbass freak show clown and they accolades fell
into your god damn lap. While you’ve been pissing around and playing clown
and getting rewarded for it, guys like me have been busting our asses just to
get a shot in this business. I’ve sacrificed every god damn thing in my
life just to get a shot in this business and yet all you gotta do is show your
ass in front of a live audience and this company gives you everything on a
silver platter without you having to work for it. And why is that?”
Sutter pauses to allow the viewer to contemplate
his question. The Assassin growls angrily under his breath and shakes his head
in utter disgust. “Because you’re entertaining. Every time you come
out with strippers, whores, or dressed in skimpy women’s lingerie yourself just
for a laugh, SCW’s ratings go up and for that reason alone a great many sins of
yours can be forgiven. You can throw a fucking temper tantrum and walk
off the job only to come back several months later and immediately be thrust
right back into the main event picture with no damn questions asked. Did
you earn that spot back? No. All you did was a flash a smile, make
the idiots out there laugh, and you get your spot back. Meanwhile I have
to work twice as hard as you because I refuse to lower myself to your
standards. And see, Ace, that’s why I am more of a man than you will ever
hope to be and that’s why I will always be more worthy of being here in Supreme
Championship Wrestling than you. I earned my place here and you didn’t
earn shit!” Sutter’s expression slowly changes from an angry glare to a
sadistic smirk.
“Though I gotta admit, your latest little game on
Breakdown, tricking me into punching Xander Valentine. Starting that
brawl. I applaud you for that one, pal.”
The Assassin claps, though it is clearly a sarcastic slow golf clap. “I
mean, in one swift stroke you helped Xander find his balls and you sealed your
own fate. Because now you have to face me on Breakdown. And I am
looking forward to rearranging your face. I look forward to breaking your
bones. I look forward to crippling your pathetic ass and ending your god
damn career in SCW!”
The Assassin pauses just momentarily and then
shrugs his shoulders. “Then again, I’m not even sure I’ll get a chance to
wrap my hands around your scrawny little neck. After all, your best move
isn’t the One Eye’d Royal. No, your favorite move is taking your ball and
going home. And perhaps that’s what’s gonna happen on Breakdown?
Maybe you just won’t show up? Maybe you’ll take your ball and go home,
just you always do. Don’t worry, though Ace, because if you do The
Assassin will still be here to carry this company. I will be here to
continue doing my job when you couldn’t hack it as a real man!”
Sutter points to the camera. “As for you,
Xander, you and Ace are alike in that both of you are duty old washed up
nostalgia acts. You’ve been around since the dawn of fucking time and
neither one of you know when to quit.” Mason Van Stanton hands Sutter an
hour glass with sand inside. The Assassin smirks devilishly. “But just
like the sands in this hour glass, just like time itself, you cannot stop the
inevitable. Your time is drawing near. So I invite you to watch
what I do to Ace on Breakdown, because when I’m done with that fucking clown
I’m coming for you. I’m not going to just assassinate you I’m going to
EXECUTE you because like Mason said, I am THE new Executioner of SCW.”
The Assassin throws the hour glass onto the ground,
causing it to shatter into pieces. Sutter looks up at the camera and smirks
devilishly. “Your time is drawing to an end, my time is now, and neither you
nor Ace will survive.”
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