Post by Silence on Feb 12, 2011 22:25:22 GMT -5
Silence crouched down in his room, watching the small cat eat. Over the weeks, the cat had undergone many changes. Gone was the scruffy, ill fed animal that Silence had taken in and in its place now sat a well groomed and well fed cat. Over a month had passed since Silence first found the kitten, a month of hiding it from The Voice. Silence still had not worked out how to ask permission to keep the cat, but he would. Silence continued to watch the cat, their parallels playing out in his mind. Both orphans, both reliant on the kindness of strangers. The difference being that this little creature would not grow up to be a weapon. Silence had no illusions about what he was to the voice. He was nothing more than a tool, a weapon to be wielded in defense of The Voice’s warped ideas.
The latest idea from his mentor was an implied insult perpetuated by Dustin Douglas and Morgan Jones. Two Evangelists at each other’s throats about whose view of God was right. Silence knew little of religion; indeed he knew little of life in general outside of the ring and these walls. But The Voice had chosen these two to make an example of and like a dog obeying its master, Silence had set that example. This time though a bystander had taken offense to Silence’s work and decided to do something about it. That man was Paul Sant. The comparatively small man had thrown caution to the wind where Silence was concerned.
Last week had been a prime example. In Silence’s experience, most people simply tried to flee. But Sant had rushed head long into danger, vaulting the ropes and attacking Silence on the outside. He couldn’t understand what would make a person act so foolishly but despite himself, he’d enjoyed it. For the first time in his life, Silence had discovered someone besides The Voice whom he could respect.
-------------
Samuel and The Voice sat in the latter’s office, going through files. The last time they’d met discussed how to best discipline the brutish beast that The Voice cared for and Samuel had come up with the perfect plan. This time Samuel had arrived with a stack of manila envelopes. Together the two men had painstakingly gone through each candidate, discussing the pros and cons of each.
“What about this one? She’s young and she’s certainly pretty enough.” Samuel asked.
The Voice reached for the dossier, the lighting causing his shadow to stretch across the table. He looked over the young girl, paying the closest attention to her background. Like all of the women they’d assembled files on, this one too had a criminal background. “No, she’d be too unpredictable. She certainly looks the part though doesn’t she?”
Samuel nodded in agreement. “That she does.”
The two men continued their study in silence, each looking at several different folders. It was Samuel that spoke up first. “You know old friend, I’m very taken in your enthusiasm for this little venture, but I think perhaps you’re getting too wrapped up in it.”
The Voice looked up from his documents. “What do you mean? This was your idea Samuel, don’t tell me you’re going soft?”
“Hardly,” said Samuel pointedly, “but have you given any consideration to your weekly duties?”
“My what? Speak plainly Samuel,” replied The Voice.
Samuel rolled his eyes, “Really I do admire your enthusiasm, but you’ve been focused on this with no regard for anything else this week. Do you even know who the boy faces this week in your silly little wrestling game?”
A cruel smile split The Voice’s lips, “Samuel you wound me. Of course I do. And I’m beginning to consider you a good luck charm, for it seems that every time you come calling Silence faces off against another of their worthless champions. Last time he faced, and defeated I might add, the Valiant Champion. This week he faces the Syndicate Champion, Kid Flanagan, a worthless bit of rodent bait if ever there was one.”
Samuel smiled. He’d known Lyle, The Voice, all of his life. And all of his life he’d constantly underestimated everyone around him, convinced so highly of his own superiority. “Oh I don’t know, this Flanagan character seems to have done all right for himself. After all he was skilled enough to win one of their titles and successfully hold it for the better part of six months, don’t you think maybe your opinion of him is slightly undeserved?”
“No,” said The Voice with a disdainful shake of his head. “he’s a joke and an insult to his superiors. What I don’t understand is why they don’t just strip him of the blasted thing and get rid of him. The business would be better off.”
Samuel, looking rather amused asked, “Why do you care about what happens there? I wonder if you wouldn’t truly be happier in your little wrestling fantasy. Have you forgotten that Kingdom of Pride is supposed to be a means to the end and nothing more? Have you forgotten what it is we’re trying to do?
“Of course I haven’t you fool,” The Voice yelled. “I know that this little game is a means to an end, and I know that sooner or later, it will end. The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned, I grow weary of it. The one bit of pleasure I do get from it is watching Silence destroy those around him. He destroyed John Parker, he destroyed Christian Kane, and this week he will destroy Kid Flanagan. You should come and watch Samuel; the boy is an artist in the ring.”
Samuel, his face hidden by a manila folder, rolled his eyes. He would not be caught dead at one of those slack jawed events. These modern day gladiatorial events were just another opiate for the masses, and Samuel McCaffrey was not part of the unwashed mob, he was among those destined to lead it. “Thank you Voice, but I’ll pass. Tennessee does offend the senses so.”
The Voice began to laugh, sharing his friend’s low opinion of the state when suddenly he stopped. Here in his hands was the answer, the answer he’d been looking for. “I’ve found her Samuel, she’s perfect,” He passed the folder and its contents across the table.
Samuel looked them over, “This is the one? This is the one you think can control him?”
The Voice leaned back in his chair with a smile. “As I said, she’s perfect.”
The latest idea from his mentor was an implied insult perpetuated by Dustin Douglas and Morgan Jones. Two Evangelists at each other’s throats about whose view of God was right. Silence knew little of religion; indeed he knew little of life in general outside of the ring and these walls. But The Voice had chosen these two to make an example of and like a dog obeying its master, Silence had set that example. This time though a bystander had taken offense to Silence’s work and decided to do something about it. That man was Paul Sant. The comparatively small man had thrown caution to the wind where Silence was concerned.
Last week had been a prime example. In Silence’s experience, most people simply tried to flee. But Sant had rushed head long into danger, vaulting the ropes and attacking Silence on the outside. He couldn’t understand what would make a person act so foolishly but despite himself, he’d enjoyed it. For the first time in his life, Silence had discovered someone besides The Voice whom he could respect.
-------------
Samuel and The Voice sat in the latter’s office, going through files. The last time they’d met discussed how to best discipline the brutish beast that The Voice cared for and Samuel had come up with the perfect plan. This time Samuel had arrived with a stack of manila envelopes. Together the two men had painstakingly gone through each candidate, discussing the pros and cons of each.
“What about this one? She’s young and she’s certainly pretty enough.” Samuel asked.
The Voice reached for the dossier, the lighting causing his shadow to stretch across the table. He looked over the young girl, paying the closest attention to her background. Like all of the women they’d assembled files on, this one too had a criminal background. “No, she’d be too unpredictable. She certainly looks the part though doesn’t she?”
Samuel nodded in agreement. “That she does.”
The two men continued their study in silence, each looking at several different folders. It was Samuel that spoke up first. “You know old friend, I’m very taken in your enthusiasm for this little venture, but I think perhaps you’re getting too wrapped up in it.”
The Voice looked up from his documents. “What do you mean? This was your idea Samuel, don’t tell me you’re going soft?”
“Hardly,” said Samuel pointedly, “but have you given any consideration to your weekly duties?”
“My what? Speak plainly Samuel,” replied The Voice.
Samuel rolled his eyes, “Really I do admire your enthusiasm, but you’ve been focused on this with no regard for anything else this week. Do you even know who the boy faces this week in your silly little wrestling game?”
A cruel smile split The Voice’s lips, “Samuel you wound me. Of course I do. And I’m beginning to consider you a good luck charm, for it seems that every time you come calling Silence faces off against another of their worthless champions. Last time he faced, and defeated I might add, the Valiant Champion. This week he faces the Syndicate Champion, Kid Flanagan, a worthless bit of rodent bait if ever there was one.”
Samuel smiled. He’d known Lyle, The Voice, all of his life. And all of his life he’d constantly underestimated everyone around him, convinced so highly of his own superiority. “Oh I don’t know, this Flanagan character seems to have done all right for himself. After all he was skilled enough to win one of their titles and successfully hold it for the better part of six months, don’t you think maybe your opinion of him is slightly undeserved?”
“No,” said The Voice with a disdainful shake of his head. “he’s a joke and an insult to his superiors. What I don’t understand is why they don’t just strip him of the blasted thing and get rid of him. The business would be better off.”
Samuel, looking rather amused asked, “Why do you care about what happens there? I wonder if you wouldn’t truly be happier in your little wrestling fantasy. Have you forgotten that Kingdom of Pride is supposed to be a means to the end and nothing more? Have you forgotten what it is we’re trying to do?
“Of course I haven’t you fool,” The Voice yelled. “I know that this little game is a means to an end, and I know that sooner or later, it will end. The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned, I grow weary of it. The one bit of pleasure I do get from it is watching Silence destroy those around him. He destroyed John Parker, he destroyed Christian Kane, and this week he will destroy Kid Flanagan. You should come and watch Samuel; the boy is an artist in the ring.”
Samuel, his face hidden by a manila folder, rolled his eyes. He would not be caught dead at one of those slack jawed events. These modern day gladiatorial events were just another opiate for the masses, and Samuel McCaffrey was not part of the unwashed mob, he was among those destined to lead it. “Thank you Voice, but I’ll pass. Tennessee does offend the senses so.”
The Voice began to laugh, sharing his friend’s low opinion of the state when suddenly he stopped. Here in his hands was the answer, the answer he’d been looking for. “I’ve found her Samuel, she’s perfect,” He passed the folder and its contents across the table.
Samuel looked them over, “This is the one? This is the one you think can control him?”
The Voice leaned back in his chair with a smile. “As I said, she’s perfect.”
