Post by dylanblack on Aug 5, 2023 14:30:44 GMT -6
Coffee was such a lovely thing.
The warm, thick texture added with a pleasant aroma. The bittersweet taste from the addition of sugar and creamer. Draven hadn't had a nice cup of it in a while, and he was currently enjoying every moment of it. Sure, it was a bit hot and gave his tongue a tingle from its temperature- Though this was fine.
The vampire sat inside of a rather a gothic café. A little, somewhat obscure but comfy place. Dimly lit lights and the pleasant smell of brewing drinks went through the air. It was night, of course, it was, after all- It was the only time of day Draven would decide to be a little more public. Very late, to be exact. With only a few people. Of course in a place like this, Draven did not really stick out due to his appearance. Which was what he found to be… intriguing.
He was honestly surprised to see a place open so late. Yet, out of curiosity, Draven had decided to stop by and have something to drink. Vampirism was not what it appeared to be in the movies, he could eat and drink just like a human could- But that wasn't enough for his body. No, blood- The life force of a mortal was his source of energy. To be fair, animals worked too- But Draven found human blood to be much more… well, delicious.
His crimson eyes briefly flickered to the other goths round, seemingly talking to each other and such, along with a young woman as the barista behind the counter- Then back to his cup of coffee. Originally, he would have settled for something like tea- But that was what he always had on these rare occasions, instead- Draven wanted to taste modern coffee. Something a little different, a little foreign to his old-fashioned tongue.
The vampire would never admit it, but he came to this place to well… observe. To observe people, who were fascinating to him. They were not too.. different, now that he thought about Not only did he enjoy observing the strangers around him in his nocturnal activities, but also his opponents. Anthony Caffrey and Rob Arnold gave him a different viewpoint to a more intricate side of humanity than he was used to seeing, two men who were viewed almost like idols but had skeletons in their closets. That said, it entertained him greatly.
"You know, people have habits," Draven said, taking another small sip of his drink. "When I look around, I see these individuals. These individuals that more than likely come here often, at the same time of night, ordering the same thing that they are used to having. Everyone has a pattern, whether they realize it or not. People find solace in repetitive actions and behavior because it's what they are accustomed to. Like Caffrey, for example- He hides his flaws, fears, and insecurities behind a God Complex. Or Arnold, who can't seem to let go and continues to lie to everyone around and himself that he's doing a noble deed." A black-hearted smirk crept upon his face, truly giving him the appearance of a devil.
"However, these two- They're some of the greatest, aren't they? Everything I've heard and seen whenever this final match is mentioned is mostly about those two. It made me realize something.. That I am the underdog. The one the audience thinks is least likely to win. After all, Caffrey is a man that has not been defeated in singles competition for a long, long time. Almost a year, even- And Arnold? Well, he's a returning legend! A man to not simply ignore. It is assumed that one of these two will leave the Legion with the Undisputed Championship by the majority, and I can see why. Of course I can see why Arnold is the fan-favorite- The hero that everyone needs to dethrone Caffrey. Even if it's very obvious that he isn't at his best any longer, that he won't be the same Rob Arnold they once knew in the ring and that he's piggybacking off of nostalgia. Not many have looked past Caffrey's abrasive nature to realize when he says he'll never be defeated, that he is merely trying to reassure himself. They had lost hope of finally seeing someone overcome him and forgot that he is just as vulnerable as anyone else, and like that- His long, impressive reign can end, and all it takes is to let him be defeated by his own fatal flaw: his hubris, which he continues to show- even in his retaliation."
"Why am I not surprised? Oh, Caffrey- You just further proved my point. You responded like a true narcissist, ignoring my words and denying them as 'my agenda'. Doubling down on that arrogance. Tsk, tsk. Chalking up the reason for the people hating you as them being envious of your success." Draven simply shook his head. "I never claimed I was a saint or even a person of high morals- All I did was point out the truth that you are still in denial of. Yet, that response was expected. You'll never change, and that is why you'll fail."
"You and the AVA were a band of brothers?" Draven scoffed harshly as if he had heard something ridiculous. "You must be referring to a different Dunne and Raymond. Surely not the same Dunne that left you to get beaten senseless by Maverick due to you treating him inferior, right? Or the Raymond that you kicked out of your group after he had been injured by Arnold, deeming him a 'loser'? The only two that were by your side, but you pushed away due to that ego of yours? That doesn't seem too much like a brotherhood. If you're going to keep bringing up what you think of Drago and me, please at least set a better example to not appear hypocritical, darling."
He paused, lifting his cup to drink some more. Tapping with a soft rhythm on the table he sat in front of quietly. He sighed softly, placing a hand to the side of his cheek.
"But I've said enough about you, and I've given you much more attention than Mr. Arnold. Who has decided to speak a little more about me." Draven shook his head, briefly sneering.
"The man who constantly talks about what he has done in the past. Who says I should do a little more research on him."
"I've heard it all before. How I am not what I obviously am, because someone is too ignorant to realize that there's a little more to the world than meets the eye. Is the mutant that is currently the X*Crown Champion also not real? Not to mention, of course, that threat that I will wish I was dead. You've said nothing new. I believe nearly everyone I have fought has said just about the same thing. I wish I could say that had at least shaken me up a little bit, but alas, it did not."
"Don't get me wrong, I haven't underestimated you, Arnold. I know of all the things you have accomplished and I do, indeed, know how much they matter. You've done a lot for this place, I can recognize that."
"It matters, but it's in the past. A past you seemed to be more focused on than the present. You haven't been in the ring for almost a year, how have you prepared? What do you have left in the tank to go? You're a man out of his time and out of his peak, and yet you still placed yourself into this match... And you know what? I think I understand why now. You just can't let it go, can you? This isn't really about you making sure whoever leaves with the Undisputed Championship deserves it. No, no, no- You can say that as much as like, but it is just a lie. This isn't about AXW. This is about you. You and your desire to have one last hoorah. Let's face it, you left your own family once. You're coming out of retirement again. A part-timer looking just for one more match, because he wants to feel that rush of excitement. Don't act like your intentions are noble, they're selfish."
"Especially when you were the enforcer, the one supposed to keep things in line and steer the place into a positive direction. If I'm right and please do correct me if I am wrong- The only notable thing you really ever did in that position was hurt Caffrey's 'brother', Raymond. Now seeing you act sad over it when there was more than likely a chance for you to have helped save this place. Sure- Caffrey is a narcissistic person who made a narcissistic champion. Though you were also in a place, if not a better one, to help save AXW. Instead, all it really seemed like was a title for you to inflate your ego and make you feel a little more important."
"And the more I think about it, while Caffrey wasn't dealing with people with briefcases- Watching behind his back, and struggling to find a challenger. Where were you then? You could have had a shot against Caffrey at any time, and at any place- Especially considering how ridiculously large his pride is, he would have happily obliged and accepted your challenge. You know that's true."
"I know why you never challenged him, though- The reason you're taking your chances now is certainly not the show your appreciation- You didn't do that when you sat on the sidelines, watching the place slowly die. The reason you've chosen to now is that it's a match between three- You see the name Vincent Draven, and you think you can beat me."
"You're afraid of Caffrey, to face him one and one. Yet now, where it doesn't take you to pin the champion to win… You think you have more of a chance. You see me and think you can reuse the same insults that Liam Bradley had before I beat him so badly he vanished off of television until now. You see me and you think you can say the same overdone, stereotypical jokes that almost everyone that I've gone past have said. I'm sorry to inform you that won't be the case."
"You look at me and you hope that I'm just as talentless as the people you had defended the X*Crown against so you can steal a win and not have to directly face Caffrey. You see my pale skin, my smaller frame, and you can think you can overwhelm me. I don't appear as much of a threat, correct?" Draven briefly wore a vicious grin, but it quickly went away- Replaced with quiet anger in his eyes, it was subtle but there nonetheless.
"You see a smaller bloke who doesn't appear as intimidating as the Undisputed Champion to you and hasn't been at AXW as long, and you just can't look past it. You ignore the years of experience I've had to hurt men twice my size with my bare hands. You ignore the plenty of times I've used these teeth-" Draven bared his fangs ever so slightly with a hateful glare. "To drain the essence of the people who had once thought just like you."
"You are a relic of the past. No matter how many accolades, prestigious championships, or wins you show- Those were then. This is now. You aren't the same man you were once then, instead, you're softer. You don't display the same dominance and will to win, no matter the cost as you had. A shell of your former self, who just cannot keep up any longer. You used to be on top, along with many other names- But time moves on. No matter what you do, and it seems that you're just unable to accept that your moment is over. For good."
Draven finished his drink. Downing the rest of its caffeinated contents down the hatch, then sitting the cup down. He stared down at the cup for a few moments, and then simply ran his gloved hand through his dark hair with a small laugh at the situation. Seemingly finding humor in the upcoming match.
"There's only a few more days left until that final match. These two amazing, spectacular, men that have great feats under their belts- Yet who are they really? An egotist hat's treading a thin line of what's left of his sanity because holding a championship apparently was too much responsibility for him and his childish mental state. Then, there's the legend who's lost his touch and defirst...o exploit AXW's final show to feel relevant once more. At first... I seethed at the thought of being seen as the one who had no chance. I felt insulted, compared to the likes of these two. But now..?" That same, insidious smirk from earlier reappeared on the pale prince's lips. He took a small moment to finish the rest of his coffee, placing the empty cup back down on the table.
"I'm fine with that."
"I'm fine with being seen as the weakest, the underdog now. Because when I defeat the longest-reigning AXW Undisputed Champion and a Hall of Famer, there will not be any excuses for either of them. They will have to deal with the fact that they had been defeated by me- The Prince of all Vampires, Vincent Draven."
"And if you two are listening, which I know you are- And don't like that inevitable outcome? .."
"Bite me."