A Tragic and Beautiful Descent Part 1: Genesis
Mar 8, 2018 1:51:00 GMT -5
Rick Majors, The Anarchist, and 2 more like this
Post by Joka on Mar 8, 2018 1:51:00 GMT -5
"Is the camera rolling?"
Yes Byron. We are recording. Does the camera make you uneasy?
"No, Dr. Corrigan. I've had hundreds of cameras filming my every move my entire adult life."
Byron... I've told you before, you can call me Phoebe.
"Phoebe. You know... I met Phoebe once upon a time?"
I don't understand... which Phoebe?
"THE Phoebe. The daughter of Uranus and Gaia."
Byron... you know I don't believe in Mythology...
"Yeah yeah... being a Psych doctor. I remember you tellin' me about yer beliefs. Yer an atheist. I used to be an atheist. I believed that we all were born from stardust and to stardust we would all one day return. That all changed the day I was killed in Deathcore Wrestling and was propelled into the afterlife. I know you don't believe my stories of going to Tartarus and traveling through to the gates of Hell."
I've read your autobiography, Byron. I just find it unbelievable that all those different mythos could coexist in the afterlife. I mean... seriously, Byron. You really believe that the Christian Heaven exists within the realm of Uranus and that the Christian Hell could exist in the underworld of Hades?
Joka sits up straight in his chair. His face is devoid of his face paint that has become his trademark over the years. His face showing his age as his brow furrows. The crows feet, although not prominent at all, seem accentuated by the expression on his face. He is not an old man by any standards but his face show subtle signs of age. Joka begins rubbing his temple and his fingers start to glide over to his forehead where several scars can be seen. One scar in particular seems to arouse more attention from his fingers than the rest.
Joka: Do you know where I got this scar? This one right here above my eye?
Dr. Corrigan: Yes, Byron. In one of our past sessions you explained to me that you received that scar after a hardcore match.
Joka: Yep. One of my first hardcore matches at that. One of the most brutal matches I had seen up to that point. It was Genocide Wrestling. The guy who invited me to try out for GW was my opponent. He hit me in the face with a folding chair from the audience and one of the bolts sliced me open. I wrestled for twenty-six minutes with blood pouring out of my forehead in what some consider one of the best hardcore matches to ever take place.
Dr. Corrigan: Interesting...
Joka: You want to hear the most interesting part about that little story? That's not what this scar reminds me of when I touch it. His name was The Phenom and I respected him. I had joined Genocide on HIS request because I considered him like a friend... like a brother. I wasn't the only one to bleed in that match. I lost control in that match and once our fight made its way out of the squared circle, I... I slammed him against the metal stairs leading up into the ring. I took his hair in my hands and I smashed his skull into the steel as hard as I could. The crowd cheered me on and so I did it again... and again... and again. I got lost in the moment but eventually I looked down and saw it. Blood... coming out of his ear.
Dr. Corrigan: That's the nature of the business, Byron.
Joka: Yes it is... but years later when me and him were employed in Pro Wrestling Revolution, he ended up retiring early on while I continued to climb the ladder of success. I had asked him years later if he was alright after that match and he told me everything was okay but after that match, he couldn't hear as well as he could when he was a young man. He would never say it now but I think he lost most of his hearing in that ear that day and that is what resulted in him retiring early.
Dr. Corrigan shifts in her seat a little and nods as Joka leans forward. His eyes fall to the floor and a look of sadness comes over his face as he thinks about his friend. Joka having a rare moment of reflection and contemplation of his actions.
Dr. Corrigan: So you feel guilty for crippling your friend in a way that you perceive resulted in a shortening of his career.
Joka: Guilt! Don't you know, Doc... I'm the Joka. I don't feel guilt. I'm just an uncontrollable berserker with no remorse...
Dr. Corrigan: But you don't believe that, do you Byron?
Joka: I wouldn't be here if I did...
An uncomfortable silence falls over the room as Joka leans back in his chair sitting opposite the good doctor. Joka is wearing a very worn pair of jeans with holes in the knees. Joka looks down and sweeps a few stray hairs from his Love and Rockets band shirt. He isn't wearing any of his usual flamboyant accessories and his long green and black hair is tucked behind his ears and lays over his shoulders.
Dr. Corrigan: So you changed the subject. We were talking about your visit to the underworld.
Joka: I didn't change the subject. That's the story of one scar. I could tell you a story for every scar on my body. The scar on the bridge of my nose... that was the first time my nose was broken and it was my stepfather who did it. The scar on my chest underneath the grenade tattoo... that was me landing chest first through a table after getting thrown over the top rope. The deep scars that run all the way down my legs... those were made when I was little. I was exploring an old abandoned house in Oklahoma City and fell through the floor into the basement. Those scars are the reason I chose to wear wrestling pants my entire career instead of shorts or trunks.
Dr. Corrigan: Go on...
Joka: But one scar stands out amongst the rest. Most have seen it when I wrestle with no shirt on and thought nothing of it.
Joka grabs the bottom of his shirt and lifts it over his head. He folds the shirt as the doctor looks away for a second. Joka is still very much in shape and it would seem his brazen act has made the doctor uncomfortable. Joka's usual behavior would be to capitalize on this weakness but he hasn't shown any affection toward his doctor. He hasn't shown any feelings of animosity either. In a rare instance, Joka has come into this situation devoid of any and all emotion. Phoebe doesn't seem like the kind of person who would be put off by this show at first glance but it would seem this petite woman can't hide her emotions by Byrons lack of modesty. Dr. Corrigan is in her early thirties and assumes that Byron is around her same age. One has to assume as Joka's true age is unknown, even to him. Byron stands up out of his chair and walks over to her and this calls her attention back to him as he kneels in front of her and bends his head down. He pulls a hair tie from his wrist and very quickly ties his long hair up into a top knot on his head. He rests on his knees in front of Dr. Corrigan and moves his left shoulder in to give her a better look. Her eyes grow wide as she sees a hidden scar on his trapezius muscle between his neck and shoulder blade, just a little above where his collarbone is.
Dr. Corrigan: At first glance I could see where one could assume that is just a small tattoo. You have many...
Joka: But this isn't a tattoo and the look on yer face says you know what it is.
Dr. Corrigan: It... looks like a burn scar. It looks like a brand.
Joka: You could say it is a brand... and you are right that it is a scar. It's the worst scar on my body.
Dr. Corrigan: What is it?
Joka: What does it look like to you?
Dr. Corrigan: It looks like a sword... and something else... inside of a hand print
Joka: It's a sword and an inverted torch. A torch symbolizes hope. A torch raised to the sky means life, and hope, and enlightenment. An upside torch symbolizes darkness. When a torch is turned upside down, the light has been put out... snuffed out even. An inverted torch symbolizes death in Greek mythology. The sword and inverted torch is the symbol of Thanatos, the God of Death.
Phoebe touches the scar gently and recoils in terror as Joka's emotionless face turns into a look of despair.
Dr. Corrigan: So you branded yourself with the mark of a Greek God because you hallucinated a trip into the Underworld.
Joka: No ma'am. All of the marks on my skin have all been made by me, or with my consent, either directly or indirectly. No... this scar was neither made by my hand or with my consent. You've read my autobiography. You remember the chapter where I talked at length about my trip through the Underworld? When I appeared in Hades, outside of Hell, I found myself in Tartarus. I didn't go to the paradise of Elysium, where the souls of the mortally distinguished reside. I didn't land in the Mourning Fields where people went who wasted their lives on unrequited love. I didn't even go to the Asphodel Meadows, where the souls of ordinary and unassuming people ended up. No! I was instantly transported to Tartarus where the Titans were imprisoned. A realm so sad and dark that it is said to actually exist underneath the underworld. I later found out that I had landed right outside the cave where Thanatos and his twin brother, Hypnos, called home. While Hypnos was unaware of my visit to the underworld, his brother was all too aware. Once Thanatos learned that I wasn't afraid of that place and that I was headed straight for the Judges, he realized that I wasn't suppose to be there. That's when he grabbed me with his cold hand on the shoulder yer looking at at this very moment and stopped me from going further. That's the point where him and I had our conversation and played a friendly game of chess.
Dr. Corrigan: So by touching you... he marked you for death.
Joka: Yes. He had to though. If he hadn't stopped me I might have done something... hasty. Don't confuse him for something evil though. His is the personification of peaceful death. However... I had thoroughly pissed off both sides when I traveled to Hell to save my friend Johnny Nailz. I wasn't allowed into Hell after I destroyed a General of Hell and his entire regiment of demons.
Dr. Corrigan: I don't understand why you wouldn't be allowed into Heaven though. If what you say in your autobiography is true and you did actually succeed in killing actual demons from Hell... wouldn't God be glad to welcome you into Heaven.
Joka: It's a two sided sword and both sides are sharp. God, Heaven and all of his angels, even the ancient Gods that reside outside of Heaven, they all resented me for succeeding alone in something they've tried for eons to accomplish with far greater numbers. Thanatos explained to me that I was banned from both Heaven and Hell.
At this point, Phoebe is lost in the conversation and staring deep into Byrons eyes. Byron reaches up one last time and touches the Mark of Death as he stands up quickly and walks slowly back to his seat. He unfolds his shirt and puts it back on as his doctor clears her throat and composes herself accordingly. Joka's blue eyes focus on other things in the room as he composes himself. He leans back in his chair and rests his head on his hand as his eyes slowly focus back on his doctor. The look on her face is puzzled: a little nonbelief and skepticism mixed with a strange tinge of curiosity.
Dr. Corrigan: I understand that you were hooked up to a lie detector when you were being interviewed for your autobiography and that you passed. You and I both know though, there are people who are trained to pass lie detectors.
Joka: Do you think I'm lying?
Dr. Corrigan: It's an unbelievable tale and it's only one of a number of unbelievable tales from your book. I mean... you and your fellow wrestlers in Deathcore Wrestling fighting off a horde of zombie cheerleaders. You and your friend, Juggalo Xtreme, travelling to an alternate reality where The United States is a nuclear wasteland and wrestling has become a blood sport. You being possessed by a demon during your years in TEW and NEW. It's a little...
Joka: Unbelievable...
Dr. Corrigan: Yeah! But you will be hooked up to a brain scan when you take part in our VR Exposure therapy. When you relive these terrible memories, the brain scan will not only help us to monitor your stress, give us insight into the brain activity of someone going through such experimental therapy, but it will also tell us if you actually experienced the memories or if it is the first time for you to be experiencing such things.
Joka: But I'll also be hooked to an EKG and my vitals will be monitored. Kind of hard to dupe a lie detector when I'm reliving one of the most stressful moments of my life.
Dr. Corrigan: Alright Byron... tomorrow at nine sharp we will start the therapy. This therapy session will help the development of Morpheus VR Exposure Therapy for years to come. You are doing a great thing by letting us perform this experimental therapy on you.
Joka stands up and him and the doctor both walk to the door of her office. They shake hands and Dr. Corrigan smiles at Byron as she says her goodbyes. Joka smirks a little and lets out a bit of a chuckle.
Dr. Corrigan: What's so funny?
Joka: Ah... well... I just find it ironic that ya'll called yer little toy Morpheus...
Dr. Corrigan: Ha, yeah most people do. They think it's ironic that we named a Virtual Reality Exposure program after a character from The Matrix.
Joka: That is pretty funny but that's not why I find it ironic.
Dr. Corrigan: Why is it ironic to you?
Joka: Morpheus was the Greek God of Dreams and the son of Hypnos and Nephew of Thanatos...
Joka reaches into his pocket and places earbuds into his ears as he pushes play on his MP3 player. Teardrop by Massive Attack begins playing in his ear as he walks through the lobby of the doctors office and he shoots a smile at the receptionist as she gives him a friendly wave. Dr. Corrigan stands in amazement with her mouth agape as Joka pushes open the office doors, puts his sunglasses on, and strolls over to his motorcycle parked in the parking lot. Phoebe walks back into her office and stands staring at the video recorder sitting on a tripod next to her seat. She walks over and shuts it off as she inquisitively looks to her bookcase. She rushes over to it and quickly find what she is looking for. After a few seconds of admiring the cover she takes the book to her desk and opens it as she sips her coffee. After flipping through the pages for a couple of seconds she lands on it. A page which bears the sword and inverted torch: the symbol of the primordial God Thanatos, Greek God of Death. She shakes her head as she giggles a little to herself.
Phoebe: I hope he isn't lying...
Yes Byron. We are recording. Does the camera make you uneasy?
"No, Dr. Corrigan. I've had hundreds of cameras filming my every move my entire adult life."
Byron... I've told you before, you can call me Phoebe.
"Phoebe. You know... I met Phoebe once upon a time?"
I don't understand... which Phoebe?
"THE Phoebe. The daughter of Uranus and Gaia."
Byron... you know I don't believe in Mythology...
"Yeah yeah... being a Psych doctor. I remember you tellin' me about yer beliefs. Yer an atheist. I used to be an atheist. I believed that we all were born from stardust and to stardust we would all one day return. That all changed the day I was killed in Deathcore Wrestling and was propelled into the afterlife. I know you don't believe my stories of going to Tartarus and traveling through to the gates of Hell."
I've read your autobiography, Byron. I just find it unbelievable that all those different mythos could coexist in the afterlife. I mean... seriously, Byron. You really believe that the Christian Heaven exists within the realm of Uranus and that the Christian Hell could exist in the underworld of Hades?
Joka sits up straight in his chair. His face is devoid of his face paint that has become his trademark over the years. His face showing his age as his brow furrows. The crows feet, although not prominent at all, seem accentuated by the expression on his face. He is not an old man by any standards but his face show subtle signs of age. Joka begins rubbing his temple and his fingers start to glide over to his forehead where several scars can be seen. One scar in particular seems to arouse more attention from his fingers than the rest.
Joka: Do you know where I got this scar? This one right here above my eye?
Dr. Corrigan: Yes, Byron. In one of our past sessions you explained to me that you received that scar after a hardcore match.
Joka: Yep. One of my first hardcore matches at that. One of the most brutal matches I had seen up to that point. It was Genocide Wrestling. The guy who invited me to try out for GW was my opponent. He hit me in the face with a folding chair from the audience and one of the bolts sliced me open. I wrestled for twenty-six minutes with blood pouring out of my forehead in what some consider one of the best hardcore matches to ever take place.
Dr. Corrigan: Interesting...
Joka: You want to hear the most interesting part about that little story? That's not what this scar reminds me of when I touch it. His name was The Phenom and I respected him. I had joined Genocide on HIS request because I considered him like a friend... like a brother. I wasn't the only one to bleed in that match. I lost control in that match and once our fight made its way out of the squared circle, I... I slammed him against the metal stairs leading up into the ring. I took his hair in my hands and I smashed his skull into the steel as hard as I could. The crowd cheered me on and so I did it again... and again... and again. I got lost in the moment but eventually I looked down and saw it. Blood... coming out of his ear.
Dr. Corrigan: That's the nature of the business, Byron.
Joka: Yes it is... but years later when me and him were employed in Pro Wrestling Revolution, he ended up retiring early on while I continued to climb the ladder of success. I had asked him years later if he was alright after that match and he told me everything was okay but after that match, he couldn't hear as well as he could when he was a young man. He would never say it now but I think he lost most of his hearing in that ear that day and that is what resulted in him retiring early.
Dr. Corrigan shifts in her seat a little and nods as Joka leans forward. His eyes fall to the floor and a look of sadness comes over his face as he thinks about his friend. Joka having a rare moment of reflection and contemplation of his actions.
Dr. Corrigan: So you feel guilty for crippling your friend in a way that you perceive resulted in a shortening of his career.
Joka: Guilt! Don't you know, Doc... I'm the Joka. I don't feel guilt. I'm just an uncontrollable berserker with no remorse...
Dr. Corrigan: But you don't believe that, do you Byron?
Joka: I wouldn't be here if I did...
An uncomfortable silence falls over the room as Joka leans back in his chair sitting opposite the good doctor. Joka is wearing a very worn pair of jeans with holes in the knees. Joka looks down and sweeps a few stray hairs from his Love and Rockets band shirt. He isn't wearing any of his usual flamboyant accessories and his long green and black hair is tucked behind his ears and lays over his shoulders.
Dr. Corrigan: So you changed the subject. We were talking about your visit to the underworld.
Joka: I didn't change the subject. That's the story of one scar. I could tell you a story for every scar on my body. The scar on the bridge of my nose... that was the first time my nose was broken and it was my stepfather who did it. The scar on my chest underneath the grenade tattoo... that was me landing chest first through a table after getting thrown over the top rope. The deep scars that run all the way down my legs... those were made when I was little. I was exploring an old abandoned house in Oklahoma City and fell through the floor into the basement. Those scars are the reason I chose to wear wrestling pants my entire career instead of shorts or trunks.
Dr. Corrigan: Go on...
Joka: But one scar stands out amongst the rest. Most have seen it when I wrestle with no shirt on and thought nothing of it.
Joka grabs the bottom of his shirt and lifts it over his head. He folds the shirt as the doctor looks away for a second. Joka is still very much in shape and it would seem his brazen act has made the doctor uncomfortable. Joka's usual behavior would be to capitalize on this weakness but he hasn't shown any affection toward his doctor. He hasn't shown any feelings of animosity either. In a rare instance, Joka has come into this situation devoid of any and all emotion. Phoebe doesn't seem like the kind of person who would be put off by this show at first glance but it would seem this petite woman can't hide her emotions by Byrons lack of modesty. Dr. Corrigan is in her early thirties and assumes that Byron is around her same age. One has to assume as Joka's true age is unknown, even to him. Byron stands up out of his chair and walks over to her and this calls her attention back to him as he kneels in front of her and bends his head down. He pulls a hair tie from his wrist and very quickly ties his long hair up into a top knot on his head. He rests on his knees in front of Dr. Corrigan and moves his left shoulder in to give her a better look. Her eyes grow wide as she sees a hidden scar on his trapezius muscle between his neck and shoulder blade, just a little above where his collarbone is.
Dr. Corrigan: At first glance I could see where one could assume that is just a small tattoo. You have many...
Joka: But this isn't a tattoo and the look on yer face says you know what it is.
Dr. Corrigan: It... looks like a burn scar. It looks like a brand.
Joka: You could say it is a brand... and you are right that it is a scar. It's the worst scar on my body.
Dr. Corrigan: What is it?
Joka: What does it look like to you?
Dr. Corrigan: It looks like a sword... and something else... inside of a hand print
Joka: It's a sword and an inverted torch. A torch symbolizes hope. A torch raised to the sky means life, and hope, and enlightenment. An upside torch symbolizes darkness. When a torch is turned upside down, the light has been put out... snuffed out even. An inverted torch symbolizes death in Greek mythology. The sword and inverted torch is the symbol of Thanatos, the God of Death.
Phoebe touches the scar gently and recoils in terror as Joka's emotionless face turns into a look of despair.
Dr. Corrigan: So you branded yourself with the mark of a Greek God because you hallucinated a trip into the Underworld.
Joka: No ma'am. All of the marks on my skin have all been made by me, or with my consent, either directly or indirectly. No... this scar was neither made by my hand or with my consent. You've read my autobiography. You remember the chapter where I talked at length about my trip through the Underworld? When I appeared in Hades, outside of Hell, I found myself in Tartarus. I didn't go to the paradise of Elysium, where the souls of the mortally distinguished reside. I didn't land in the Mourning Fields where people went who wasted their lives on unrequited love. I didn't even go to the Asphodel Meadows, where the souls of ordinary and unassuming people ended up. No! I was instantly transported to Tartarus where the Titans were imprisoned. A realm so sad and dark that it is said to actually exist underneath the underworld. I later found out that I had landed right outside the cave where Thanatos and his twin brother, Hypnos, called home. While Hypnos was unaware of my visit to the underworld, his brother was all too aware. Once Thanatos learned that I wasn't afraid of that place and that I was headed straight for the Judges, he realized that I wasn't suppose to be there. That's when he grabbed me with his cold hand on the shoulder yer looking at at this very moment and stopped me from going further. That's the point where him and I had our conversation and played a friendly game of chess.
Dr. Corrigan: So by touching you... he marked you for death.
Joka: Yes. He had to though. If he hadn't stopped me I might have done something... hasty. Don't confuse him for something evil though. His is the personification of peaceful death. However... I had thoroughly pissed off both sides when I traveled to Hell to save my friend Johnny Nailz. I wasn't allowed into Hell after I destroyed a General of Hell and his entire regiment of demons.
Dr. Corrigan: I don't understand why you wouldn't be allowed into Heaven though. If what you say in your autobiography is true and you did actually succeed in killing actual demons from Hell... wouldn't God be glad to welcome you into Heaven.
Joka: It's a two sided sword and both sides are sharp. God, Heaven and all of his angels, even the ancient Gods that reside outside of Heaven, they all resented me for succeeding alone in something they've tried for eons to accomplish with far greater numbers. Thanatos explained to me that I was banned from both Heaven and Hell.
At this point, Phoebe is lost in the conversation and staring deep into Byrons eyes. Byron reaches up one last time and touches the Mark of Death as he stands up quickly and walks slowly back to his seat. He unfolds his shirt and puts it back on as his doctor clears her throat and composes herself accordingly. Joka's blue eyes focus on other things in the room as he composes himself. He leans back in his chair and rests his head on his hand as his eyes slowly focus back on his doctor. The look on her face is puzzled: a little nonbelief and skepticism mixed with a strange tinge of curiosity.
Dr. Corrigan: I understand that you were hooked up to a lie detector when you were being interviewed for your autobiography and that you passed. You and I both know though, there are people who are trained to pass lie detectors.
Joka: Do you think I'm lying?
Dr. Corrigan: It's an unbelievable tale and it's only one of a number of unbelievable tales from your book. I mean... you and your fellow wrestlers in Deathcore Wrestling fighting off a horde of zombie cheerleaders. You and your friend, Juggalo Xtreme, travelling to an alternate reality where The United States is a nuclear wasteland and wrestling has become a blood sport. You being possessed by a demon during your years in TEW and NEW. It's a little...
Joka: Unbelievable...
Dr. Corrigan: Yeah! But you will be hooked up to a brain scan when you take part in our VR Exposure therapy. When you relive these terrible memories, the brain scan will not only help us to monitor your stress, give us insight into the brain activity of someone going through such experimental therapy, but it will also tell us if you actually experienced the memories or if it is the first time for you to be experiencing such things.
Joka: But I'll also be hooked to an EKG and my vitals will be monitored. Kind of hard to dupe a lie detector when I'm reliving one of the most stressful moments of my life.
Dr. Corrigan: Alright Byron... tomorrow at nine sharp we will start the therapy. This therapy session will help the development of Morpheus VR Exposure Therapy for years to come. You are doing a great thing by letting us perform this experimental therapy on you.
Joka stands up and him and the doctor both walk to the door of her office. They shake hands and Dr. Corrigan smiles at Byron as she says her goodbyes. Joka smirks a little and lets out a bit of a chuckle.
Dr. Corrigan: What's so funny?
Joka: Ah... well... I just find it ironic that ya'll called yer little toy Morpheus...
Dr. Corrigan: Ha, yeah most people do. They think it's ironic that we named a Virtual Reality Exposure program after a character from The Matrix.
Joka: That is pretty funny but that's not why I find it ironic.
Dr. Corrigan: Why is it ironic to you?
Joka: Morpheus was the Greek God of Dreams and the son of Hypnos and Nephew of Thanatos...
Joka reaches into his pocket and places earbuds into his ears as he pushes play on his MP3 player. Teardrop by Massive Attack begins playing in his ear as he walks through the lobby of the doctors office and he shoots a smile at the receptionist as she gives him a friendly wave. Dr. Corrigan stands in amazement with her mouth agape as Joka pushes open the office doors, puts his sunglasses on, and strolls over to his motorcycle parked in the parking lot. Phoebe walks back into her office and stands staring at the video recorder sitting on a tripod next to her seat. She walks over and shuts it off as she inquisitively looks to her bookcase. She rushes over to it and quickly find what she is looking for. After a few seconds of admiring the cover she takes the book to her desk and opens it as she sips her coffee. After flipping through the pages for a couple of seconds she lands on it. A page which bears the sword and inverted torch: the symbol of the primordial God Thanatos, Greek God of Death. She shakes her head as she giggles a little to herself.
Phoebe: I hope he isn't lying...
