[R A D I C A L]

RADICAL || MORETHANWORDS || XWF#017 ☆ WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARFARE ☆ VERSUS THADDEUS DUKE ☆ #2 T H E | N E W | X W F | E N I G M A ☆ Ladies and gentleman, it is my pleasure to announce the recipient of tonight's honor from Jaguar... and author of the upcoming Radical Memoirs, Mr.Gabriel Reno! A large crowd inside an auditorium begin to clap, whistle, stand and cheer with Arsenio Hall type fist "Woo's". Gabe in a black and white tuxedo with bow tie comes to the podium to that his publisher, and accept the award. Wow... I am so honored to be here tonight... first... The scene of him speaking fade to champagne bottles popping, reality turns to dust particles... moving swiftly before reforming. Gabe's eyes open... ☆ When the moon eclipses itself and the planets align in a once in forever instant in the sun; gravity will balance and the universe will calm for all but one. The sequence will be poetic within a tour de force of magic in the cloud rich palette sky; every person on this Earth will stand in awe of the annihilating wonder that makes them reach further into space and time. Absolute brightness will caress the lithosphere upon which each one of them stands; some will see it as a new beginning, while holding each other's hands. Retraction of light will signal when the seconds have expired; all the while the sun still shining, never worn or tired. Fading beyond a horizon never to be viewed again; telescoping a catalog in memory to terrestrial stories that can be relived. This once, even a star can amaze another; when interplanetary matter stops interstellar dust from its druthers. And still as the jaws return from the ground; this event was only a prelude to the meteorite behind that is Earth bound. Delight pauses to move over for the smell of methane; on track to a course that will eliminate even the bluest galactic plain. Speeding in an unstoppable velocity like a volcano erupting; careless to consider the history soon it may be destructing. A beauty remains, even in it's approach; evolution is the nucleus of power, majesty, and an abundance of radical hope. More than words layer our cosmic nebula; a crater of life far deeper than the defects in Sebastian Duke's pitiful replica. ☆ A highlight reel of Thaddeus Duke's greatest moments spins onto the XWF screen. People at home yawn, grabbing the remote prepared to change the channel. "Old news is old, no matter how it is repackaged" they think to themselves, taking a sip of something while popping open a leftover present they had been waiting to open from Christmas morning; stretching the joyful feeling the season brings, just a little bit longer. Realizing that sometimes words are not enough to describe that exuberance, they open the package. Instant gratification in a smile from a longed after material possession that reminds them of a person, place, or time. Then it happens; the screen flickers with a scene of shimmering stars across the expanse of the night's sky. Duke's hits interrupted by something captivating, something... new. Shuttering eyelids get hooked with shots varying from meteors smashing old crusty space rocks, to a beam of sunlight illuminating the jagged remains. Each ray brighter than the last, until arriving at 'The Radical' in a black hood, animated in black, white, and shimmering silver. Walking through an imaginary city, shadows of cats run by the alleyway next to him, fake rain drips from eaves above storefront doorways. Down the damp empty road he raises his head, seeing a whistling old vagrant huddled next to a dying smoky barrel fire; shivering as he tears up cardboard attempting to stoke the flames back into life. Gabe walks over and throws the man a book of matches. Here, old timer. The man looks up gleeful at the unexpected kindness of a stranger in these hard dirty imaginary streets. Reno tears up some cardboard, and shields lit match for the match, taking is from his shaking fingers, then shielding the fire from the rain with cardboard from above. The two sit under a teepee of trash, and shoot the shit. The universe can be a cold place. You're tellin' me... I went to the drugstore and asked for a band aid, you know they keep first aid kits under the counter for employee's, and they looked at me like I was invading Fort Knox. I cut my hand collecting all the stuff for the fire so I don't freeze to death at night... and all I wanted was a band aid... Tears well up in his eyes, then stream down his face from overfilled ducts; a familiar shine catches Reno's eyes on the adjacent rooftop. Is someone up there? Yeah, damn kids, they spray paint and vandalize during the night, then people looks at us like we do it... I am just tryin' to live, why would I shit where I eat? Life has been hard on you, hasn't it old man? How did you end up here? Ya know, like this... cold... and alone? The old man reaching into the trash heap behind him, and pulls out a small torn leather wallet barely held together with string and tape. He opens it, and pulls out a black and white photo of a small boy with a taller man. Well... my father was a famous man, who paved the way for me. I was very lucky, he was well respected, as was my mother in many circles around this city. He trained me, taught me wrong from right... made me see the light in people even when they didn't. It was his gift. One day in his later years, he decided to retire, and pass the torch to me to runs things for the business... and I did okay for a while. I had my ups and downs. Then, one day, I ran into a Doc that gave me a bad diagnosis... nothing helped. I was a mess, then I spiraled out of control. I reached out to find my footing, even to get his help... but a Radical set of circumstances hit me hard. After that, it became a story that really wrote itself. Everyone lost faith in me, even my own family couldn't look me in the face for destroying the name my father spent so much blood, sweat, and tears to build. I don't blame them... he left it to me, and what did I do with it? Gabe takes a deeps breath, and comforting puts a hand on the mans filthy back. So why didn't you turn it around, restart, with your own name... changes the tide of momentum back in your favor? Weeping and unable to look Gabe in the face, the man finally collects himself to an answer in a whisper. Reno leans in to hear what he says. I tried... but I didn't have any talent. Gabe pats the man on the back again and let's him keep the matches. The old timer nods as Gabe walks out and further down the street, the animated background fading to black behind him and each new step revealing more new landscape in front of him. He eventually gets to a malfunctioning stoplight, looking up, wondering where all the cars are. A small silver particle of dust floats in front of his face. It twirls up and down, then turns into a series of particles and tiny dust butterflies. They fly up, then through the air in a new direction, revealing small lights along a path. Reno follows the particle down the way. Up a hill and beyond the fading background, he stops at the last light... then the particles and butterflies disintegrate. An enchanting voice can be heard singing. Reno walks closer to the sound, slowly seeing the outline of a house, and a woman dancing about outside hanging clothes on a clothesline. Inching closer, the woman spots him, and walks in his direction. He-Hello? Oh, helloooo there... are you lost out there in the middle of the night... you must be exhausted, can I get you something to drink, or a phone to you? I only have the rotary, or I can make up a bedding and we can telegram in the morning? He face comes into view, resembling the other half of Thaddeus Duke's face not named Sebastian. Gabe hesitates, then eventually accepts the courtesy of being invited in. The home has literal sketches for walls, and a picture on a mantle above the outline of a fireplace. She walks over and lights an imaginary fire. See, isn't that better? Out of that cold realm of nothing and into a warm cozy home! Yes, thank you for being so inviting. Of course, dear! Gesturing toward the imaginary picture on the imaginary wall. So, who is that? If I may ask? Oh! That is my husband, Sebastian... Duke? She gather for a moment, then smiles, and lowers he head while knitting an imaginary sweater out of imaginary yarn. Who is that with him there, your son? Yes, young Thaddeus, what a boy he was. Was... what happened to him? She puts down the imaginary needles, and grabs some imaginary tissue. Well, he was a good boy, got good grades, and was always very popular in school. Then, eventually Sebastian got old, as we all do... and needed to retire. Naturally, he trained and left all he worked so tirelessly to build to our own kin, Thaddy. So it didn't go well... Thaddy always tried hard, but he just... didn't... Recalling his previous conversation. Any talent? Exactly... you either have it, or you don't, ya know? We still love him. But after that, Sebastian couldn't bare the sight of him... and banished him to the city streets to wonder alone for eternity and always have a fire that won't fully light. Broke my heart. Brutal. So you never reached out to him to find him, or check on him? She begins knitting furiously, and avoiding the topic altogether. So that's enough about us... please excuse my manners, when I get talking to someone knew I can be a real cotton-mouthed nilly muggings. Tell me about you, where are you from? I understand... me? Well, I guess.. I am from the future, see I took this acid my buddy handed me at a party to celebrate my new sponsorship with Jaguar, because they just made the first ever "Radical 4.5" jet engine... then we went to a party after the ceremony to celebrate. One thing led to another... and I dropped some acid. And, here I am. Truth be told, I actually have a match with your son on XWF Warfare next week. She gets up confrontational. The future!? Acid!? Match with my son!? What is your name, sir!? He gets up, and stands in her rude face. Gabe... Reno... BITCH. She begins to screams loudly as the walls around them fall and Gabe goes spiraling into an endless abyss until the particles and butterflies return to guide him delicately back into his subconscious. Reno yawns with a gigantic stretch, then opens his eyes, realizing he is home from the party, unharmed with his tuxedo on the floor next to the bed. He gets up, and looking in the mirror to make sure this is all real. His phone begins to vibrate, he picks it up and answers while still examining himself in the mirror. Reno, what's up? Gabe!? Thank God! I have been trying to call you all night bro, what happened? I... honestly, have no idea... I remember the party, and dropping that shit then I tripped hard, and woke up back home again... where did you end up? That publisher you invited, he asked me for a tablet, and traded me this black grease in a baggy. Gabe's eyes widen, he turns and looks shocked into the camera. What did you do with that!? No stress, bro. I gave it to this hooker, who snorted some, then fucked my BRAINS OUT! She was foaming at the mouth a bit, but you know me... not super picky... Oh, fuck. ☆

[Gator]

RADICAL || MORETHANWORDS || XWF#017 ☆ WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARFARE ☆ VERSUS THADDEUS DUKE ☆ #2 T H E | N E W | X W F | E N I G M A ☆ Ladies and gentleman, it is my pleasure to announce the recipient of tonight's honor from Jaguar... and author of the upcoming Radical Memoirs, Mr.Gabriel Reno! A large crowd inside an auditorium begin to clap, whistle, stand and cheer with Arsenio Hall type fist "Woo's". Gabe in a black and white tuxedo with bow tie comes to the podium to that his publisher, and accept the award. Wow... I am so honored to be here tonight... first... The scene of him speaking fade to champagne bottles popping, reality turns to dust particles... moving swiftly before reforming. Gabe's eyes open... ☆ When the moon eclipses itself and the planets align in a once in forever instant in the sun; gravity will balance and the universe will calm for all but one. The sequence will be poetic within a tour de force of magic in the cloud rich palette sky; every person on this Earth will stand in awe of the annihilating wonder that makes them reach further into space and time. Absolute brightness will caress the lithosphere upon which each one of them stands; some will see it as a new beginning, while holding each other's hands. Retraction of light will signal when the seconds have expired; all the while the sun still shining, never worn or tired. Fading beyond a horizon never to be viewed again; telescoping a catalog in memory to terrestrial stories that can be relived. This once, even a star can amaze another; when interplanetary matter stops interstellar dust from its druthers. And still as the jaws return from the ground; this event was only a prelude to the meteorite behind that is Earth bound. Delight pauses to move over for the smell of methane; on track to a course that will eliminate even the bluest galactic plain. Speeding in an unstoppable velocity like a volcano erupting; careless to consider the history soon it may be destructing. A beauty remains, even in it's approach; evolution is the nucleus of power, majesty, and an abundance of radical hope. More than words layer our cosmic nebula; a crater of life far deeper than the defects in Sebastian Duke's pitiful replica. ☆ A highlight reel of Thaddeus Duke's greatest moments spins onto the XWF screen. People at home yawn, grabbing the remote prepared to change the channel. "Old news is old, no matter how it is repackaged" they think to themselves, taking a sip of something while popping open a leftover present they had been waiting to open from Christmas morning; stretching the joyful feeling the season brings, just a little bit longer. Realizing that sometimes words are not enough to describe that exuberance, they open the package. Instant gratification in a smile from a longed after material possession that reminds them of a person, place, or time. Then it happens; the screen flickers with a scene of shimmering stars across the expanse of the night's sky. Duke's hits interrupted by something captivating, something... new. Shuttering eyelids get hooked with shots varying from meteors smashing old crusty space rocks, to a beam of sunlight illuminating the jagged remains. Each ray brighter than the last, until arriving at 'The Radical' in a black hood, animated in black, white, and shimmering silver. Walking through an imaginary city, shadows of cats run by the alleyway next to him, fake rain drips from eaves above storefront doorways. Down the damp empty road he raises his head, seeing a whistling old vagrant huddled next to a dying smoky barrel fire; shivering as he tears up cardboard attempting to stoke the flames back into life. Gabe walks over and throws the man a book of matches. Here, old timer. The man looks up gleeful at the unexpected kindness of a stranger in these hard dirty imaginary streets. Reno tears up some cardboard, and shields lit match for the match, taking is from his shaking fingers, then shielding the fire from the rain with cardboard from above. The two sit under a teepee of trash, and shoot the shit. The universe can be a cold place. You're tellin' me... I went to the drugstore and asked for a band aid, you know they keep first aid kits under the counter for employee's, and they looked at me like I was invading Fort Knox. I cut my hand collecting all the stuff for the fire so I don't freeze to death at night... and all I wanted was a band aid... Tears well up in his eyes, then stream down his face from overfilled ducts; a familiar shine catches Reno's eyes on the adjacent rooftop. Is someone up there? Yeah, damn kids, they spray paint and vandalize during the night, then people looks at us like we do it... I am just tryin' to live, why would I shit where I eat? Life has been hard on you, hasn't it old man? How did you end up here? Ya know, like this... cold... and alone? The old man reaching into the trash heap behind him, and pulls out a small torn leather wallet barely held together with string and tape. He opens it, and pulls out a black and white photo of a small boy with a taller man. Well... my father was a famous man, who paved the way for me. I was very lucky, he was well respected, as was my mother in many circles around this city. He trained me, taught me wrong from right... made me see the light in people even when they didn't. It was his gift. One day in his later years, he decided to retire, and pass the torch to me to runs things for the business... and I did okay for a while. I had my ups and downs. Then, one day, I ran into a Doc that gave me a bad diagnosis... nothing helped. I was a mess, then I spiraled out of control. I reached out to find my footing, even to get his help... but a Radical set of circumstances hit me hard. After that, it became a story that really wrote itself. Everyone lost faith in me, even my own family couldn't look me in the face for destroying the name my father spent so much blood, sweat, and tears to build. I don't blame them... he left it to me, and what did I do with it? Gabe takes a deeps breath, and comforting puts a hand on the mans filthy back. So why didn't you turn it around, restart, with your own name... changes the tide of momentum back in your favor? Weeping and unable to look Gabe in the face, the man finally collects himself to an answer in a whisper. Reno leans in to hear what he says. I tried... but I didn't have any talent. Gabe pats the man on the back again and let's him keep the matches. The old timer nods as Gabe walks out and further down the street, the animated background fading to black behind him and each new step revealing more new landscape in front of him. He eventually gets to a malfunctioning stoplight, looking up, wondering where all the cars are. A small silver particle of dust floats in front of his face. It twirls up and down, then turns into a series of particles and tiny dust butterflies. They fly up, then through the air in a new direction, revealing small lights along a path. Reno follows the particle down the way. Up a hill and beyond the fading background, he stops at the last light... then the particles and butterflies disintegrate. An enchanting voice can be heard singing. Reno walks closer to the sound, slowly seeing the outline of a house, and a woman dancing about outside hanging clothes on a clothesline. Inching closer, the woman spots him, and walks in his direction. He-Hello? Oh, helloooo there... are you lost out there in the middle of the night... you must be exhausted, can I get you something to drink, or a phone to you? I only have the rotary, or I can make up a bedding and we can telegram in the morning? He face comes into view, resembling the other half of Thaddeus Duke's face not named Sebastian. Gabe hesitates, then eventually accepts the courtesy of being invited in. The home has literal sketches for walls, and a picture on a mantle above the outline of a fireplace. She walks over and lights an imaginary fire. See, isn't that better? Out of that cold realm of nothing and into a warm cozy home! Yes, thank you for being so inviting. Of course, dear! Gesturing toward the imaginary picture on the imaginary wall. So, who is that? If I may ask? Oh! That is my husband, Sebastian... Duke? She gather for a moment, then smiles, and lowers he head while knitting an imaginary sweater out of imaginary yarn. Who is that with him there, your son? Yes, young Thaddeus, what a boy he was. Was... what happened to him? She puts down the imaginary needles, and grabs some imaginary tissue. Well, he was a good boy, got good grades, and was always very popular in school. Then, eventually Sebastian got old, as we all do... and needed to retire. Naturally, he trained and left all he worked so tirelessly to build to our own kin, Thaddy. So it didn't go well... Thaddy always tried hard, but he just... didn't... Recalling his previous conversation. Any talent? Exactly... you either have it, or you don't, ya know? We still love him. But after that, Sebastian couldn't bare the sight of him... and banished him to the city streets to wonder alone for eternity and always have a fire that won't fully light. Broke my heart. Brutal. So you never reached out to him to find him, or check on him? She begins knitting furiously, and avoiding the topic altogether. So that's enough about us... please excuse my manners, when I get talking to someone knew I can be a real cotton-mouthed nilly muggings. Tell me about you, where are you from? I understand... me? Well, I guess.. I am from the future, see I took this acid my buddy handed me at a party to celebrate my new sponsorship with Jaguar, because they just made the first ever "Radical 4.5" jet engine... then we went to a party after the ceremony to celebrate. One thing led to another... and I dropped some acid. And, here I am. Truth be told, I actually have a match with your son on XWF Warfare next week. She gets up confrontational. The future!? Acid!? Match with my son!? What is your name, sir!? He gets up, and stands in her rude face. Gabe... Reno... BITCH. She begins to screams loudly as the walls around them fall and Gabe goes spiraling into an endless abyss until the particles and butterflies return to guide him delicately back into his subconscious. Reno yawns with a gigantic stretch, then opens his eyes, realizing he is home from the party, unharmed with his tuxedo on the floor next to the bed. He gets up, and looking in the mirror to make sure this is all real. His phone begins to vibrate, he picks it up and answers while still examining himself in the mirror. Reno, what's up? Gabe!? Thank God! I have been trying to call you all night bro, what happened? I... honestly, have no idea... I remember the party, and dropping that shit then I tripped hard, and woke up back home again... where did you end up? That publisher you invited, he asked me for a tablet, and traded me this black grease in a baggy. Gabe's eyes widen, he turns and looks shocked into the camera. What did you do with that!? No stress, bro. I gave it to this hooker, who snorted some, then fucked my BRAINS OUT! She was foaming at the mouth a bit, but you know me... not super picky... Oh, fuck. ☆