Post by JMav/JGold/RNorth/MKarloff on Nov 9, 2017 21:44:27 GMT -5
MARTIN KARLOFF
The First Sermon
"So they just handed you back the keys to your company when you came back from the dead?" Martin says.
"I was never actually dead. Just like you I had to spend some time away for 'mental health' reasons. Fortunately I left the company in the hand of James. He did well." Danny says.
"Then why isn't he in line to be your heir? He is your blood isn't he?" Martin asks.
"He and his brother are both lacking. Johnathan is a warrior but is unable to take a single thing seriously. James has that ability but he is a coward. James handed the company back to me as soon as I was back. He could have fought me on that. Hell, if he had I may have let him keep running it but no. Spineless. Between the two of them there's maybe a suitable heir but no. Fortunately I found you. A savage warrior and a cunning ruthless strategist." Danny says. Martin tosses the Rubix cube aside.
"The Destroyers." Martin says.
"What about them? There's always some form of them floating around. They eventually bite off more than they can chew and implode from internal jealousy or a series of inconvenient losses. Groups like thirs are not made to thrive. They are made to service the interests of one or two individuals in the group while all the others are convinced it also services their interests. Were you looking to make new friends?" Danny asks with a dismissive eyeroll. Martin grunts disapprovingly.
"You are right Father. I apologize. I only wish there were those who could rise above that... epistemological solipsism. Those who really wished only to destroy. It... only wants to destroy and it wishes it was part of a pack." Martin says. Danny chuckles as he hears the shift in Martin's voice.
"Manticore, these certainly aren't your environs. May I continue speaking to the Phantom?" Danny asks.
"Oh don't be like that. You will have your fun." Danny says like he's talking to a dog.
"Now then, Martin. Are you ready to give your sermon? The congregation is waiting." Danny asks before finishing his drink. Martin nods. Danny motions for him to stand and they head to an elevator. Danny presses a button and the elevator begins to descend. Once the levator doors open Martin wearing ghoulish skull face paint and the attire of a preacher. He steps out from behind a curtain to find himself in front of a large congregation of 'Followers' (The former 'Hoodie Ninjas' now wearing blank white facemasks).
Martin approaches his pulpit and adjusts his jacket before opening his book which causes every follower to simultaneously sit at their pews.
Martin looks back at Danny who nods approvingly. Martin seems emboldened by this.
"Followers! Welcome to Salvation. I was once like you. I was lost and believed I needed to be found but what I needed was to be more lost. I am an Orphan and I knew nothing of having a Father. Now I realize that so many who DO have a father take him for granted. Your former leader took his father for granted and his Father gave him everything. But the Father, in his wisdom, learned from the lesson of his failed heir. He found a new son... and he took everything from him. He did not allow him to see his family. He put him through rigorous training and then? He gave his new son everything when he felt he had EARNED it just as you will all work to earn your lives back. We have taken your identities, your faces...what made you YOU and if you persevere you will become so much more. You will earn your faces. The Father was so pleased with my progress he gave me two of them. " Martin says.
"And it is with His Grace I was allowed to carry out the destruction of Johnathan Kennedy Fitzsimmons. And it is by His Generosity that I am here today a man of means and ability. And it is by His Will that in one night the name Martin Karloff meant more than it ever did when I was holding the New Gen Title. I am a man changed for the better by Him. My Father. Our Father. The All-Father. Father Daemon who has made you Nothing so you have the chance to be Everything. My younger brothers, THIS is my Sermon." Martin says.
The Followers stand and start to clap and cheer.
"Jack Tillman who for all of his claims of superiority allowed an attack by a 150-pound muppet pretending to be a person to lose him a match at the last show. Perhaps it is time for Chris Constantine to take a good look at who he has chosen as his pupil. Chris Constatine's chosen one against the one chosen by the Father... In my second night back I will show them they were wrong and with His blessing I will make Jack Tillman and Chris Constantine second-guess everything they thought they knew about what makes the perfect warrior. Perhaps Chris will have a new batch of excuses for Tillman's failings. I will not nor will I EVER need such an excuse." Martin says, every word drenched with poison.
"You will all gather and you will see what the Father has done for me. I have not been honest with you, my followers. These are just words. What happens after that bell rings. THAT is when you will witness the truth in these words. That is when you will see all that He has done for me. THAT will be my Sermon. And my Homily will be as my hand is raised in victory as I stand over the fallen Non-Believer. I will offer him my hand and if he refuses to take it I will pray for him and Jack Tillman will serve only as another example just as the False Heir did." Martin says. He slams the book closed and looks out to the crowd.
"Amen." He says. The followers repeat it back. Somewhere behind him, Danny Daemon smiles.
The First Sermon
"I like them." Martin says as he pauses the show on a shot of The Destroyers.
"You would."Danny says, reclining in his seat. Danny sips from a tumbler of expensive scotch as Martin works on a rubix cube. The two of them were in Danny's office at Crimson Incorporated.
"So they just handed you back the keys to your company when you came back from the dead?" Martin says.
"I was never actually dead. Just like you I had to spend some time away for 'mental health' reasons. Fortunately I left the company in the hand of James. He did well." Danny says.
"Then why isn't he in line to be your heir? He is your blood isn't he?" Martin asks.
"He and his brother are both lacking. Johnathan is a warrior but is unable to take a single thing seriously. James has that ability but he is a coward. James handed the company back to me as soon as I was back. He could have fought me on that. Hell, if he had I may have let him keep running it but no. Spineless. Between the two of them there's maybe a suitable heir but no. Fortunately I found you. A savage warrior and a cunning ruthless strategist." Danny says. Martin tosses the Rubix cube aside.
"The Destroyers." Martin says.
"What about them? There's always some form of them floating around. They eventually bite off more than they can chew and implode from internal jealousy or a series of inconvenient losses. Groups like thirs are not made to thrive. They are made to service the interests of one or two individuals in the group while all the others are convinced it also services their interests. Were you looking to make new friends?" Danny asks with a dismissive eyeroll. Martin grunts disapprovingly.
"You are right Father. I apologize. I only wish there were those who could rise above that... epistemological solipsism. Those who really wished only to destroy. It... only wants to destroy and it wishes it was part of a pack." Martin says. Danny chuckles as he hears the shift in Martin's voice.
"Manticore, these certainly aren't your environs. May I continue speaking to the Phantom?" Danny asks.
Martin makes an unappreciated noise.
"Oh don't be like that. You will have your fun." Danny says like he's talking to a dog.
"Now then, Martin. Are you ready to give your sermon? The congregation is waiting." Danny asks before finishing his drink. Martin nods. Danny motions for him to stand and they head to an elevator. Danny presses a button and the elevator begins to descend. Once the levator doors open Martin wearing ghoulish skull face paint and the attire of a preacher. He steps out from behind a curtain to find himself in front of a large congregation of 'Followers' (The former 'Hoodie Ninjas' now wearing blank white facemasks).
Martin approaches his pulpit and adjusts his jacket before opening his book which causes every follower to simultaneously sit at their pews.
Martin looks back at Danny who nods approvingly. Martin seems emboldened by this.
"Followers! Welcome to Salvation. I was once like you. I was lost and believed I needed to be found but what I needed was to be more lost. I am an Orphan and I knew nothing of having a Father. Now I realize that so many who DO have a father take him for granted. Your former leader took his father for granted and his Father gave him everything. But the Father, in his wisdom, learned from the lesson of his failed heir. He found a new son... and he took everything from him. He did not allow him to see his family. He put him through rigorous training and then? He gave his new son everything when he felt he had EARNED it just as you will all work to earn your lives back. We have taken your identities, your faces...what made you YOU and if you persevere you will become so much more. You will earn your faces. The Father was so pleased with my progress he gave me two of them. " Martin says.
"And it is with His Grace I was allowed to carry out the destruction of Johnathan Kennedy Fitzsimmons. And it is by His Generosity that I am here today a man of means and ability. And it is by His Will that in one night the name Martin Karloff meant more than it ever did when I was holding the New Gen Title. I am a man changed for the better by Him. My Father. Our Father. The All-Father. Father Daemon who has made you Nothing so you have the chance to be Everything. My younger brothers, THIS is my Sermon." Martin says.
The Followers stand and start to clap and cheer.
"Jack Tillman who for all of his claims of superiority allowed an attack by a 150-pound muppet pretending to be a person to lose him a match at the last show. Perhaps it is time for Chris Constantine to take a good look at who he has chosen as his pupil. Chris Constatine's chosen one against the one chosen by the Father... In my second night back I will show them they were wrong and with His blessing I will make Jack Tillman and Chris Constantine second-guess everything they thought they knew about what makes the perfect warrior. Perhaps Chris will have a new batch of excuses for Tillman's failings. I will not nor will I EVER need such an excuse." Martin says, every word drenched with poison.
"You will all gather and you will see what the Father has done for me. I have not been honest with you, my followers. These are just words. What happens after that bell rings. THAT is when you will witness the truth in these words. That is when you will see all that He has done for me. THAT will be my Sermon. And my Homily will be as my hand is raised in victory as I stand over the fallen Non-Believer. I will offer him my hand and if he refuses to take it I will pray for him and Jack Tillman will serve only as another example just as the False Heir did." Martin says. He slams the book closed and looks out to the crowd.
"Amen." He says. The followers repeat it back. Somewhere behind him, Danny Daemon smiles.
