King Nothing

Cody Rhodes had been somewhat hesitant about adopting his new gimmick. He hadn't really done anything terribly cerebral during his time in the company. The Second Generation star had either been a 'Dashing' heel or a fairly straight forward babyface. But he was finally getting something resembling a push for the first time in months. At one point he thought he was more than likely on the verge of being released. So, with that in mind, he took on the new alter-ego. Admittedly, he was enjoying the new schtick and was working hard to make the gimmick his own. He stood backstage while preparations were beginning to get Warfare ready to air. It was only the early afternoon so there was still plenty of work to be done. With his back pressed against a wall, he stared down at his smart phone and sent a few texts. Stephanie McMahon, EBWF's Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, began to approach him.

| Stephanie McMahon |  Cody?

| Cody Rhodes | What's up, Steph? What can I do for you?

Rhodes slid his phone into his pocket to give Stephanie his full attention. He had nothing but respect for her.

| Stephanie McMahon | You have Taka tonight and I know you two can put on a good show.

Cody had feuded with Taka extensively over the IC title some time ago. Even if the Japanese Superstar was pushing fourty, he could still completely go in the ring. That and he didn't look to have aged a day in the past decade. He found his gimmick to be a little silly but it was necessary in America where cutting promo's seemed to be just as important as being able to wrestle.

| Cody Rhodes | Cool. I like working with Michinoku. It's easy and he bumps around like a mad man. Almost like a night off.

The last time he had a match with Taka, the roles were reversed. Rhodes played the role of the face and Taka was the heel. But now he could send him sailing all around the ring and look amazing doing it. He assumed Taka had gotten so far in the tournament because of his knack for making his opponents look like a million bucks. Not to mention that it was difficult to have a bad match with him.

| Stephanie McMahon | Good. We know you two know how to tear it up out there so steal the show. Creative would like you to really push the whole "tortured" thing. Lurch around. Nothing comical, make it look serious.

| Cody Rhodes | Not a problem, Steph.

Cody was almost always calm and collected. A real "go with the flow" type. But he had been trying to change that. He felt he was too talented to get "jobbed out", as he had been prior to his new masked look and had recently been doing what he could to really take control of his career. A win over Ted Jr seemed like a huge step in the right direction for him. Stephanie cleared her throat and began to speak once more.

| Stephanie McMahon | And..creative still would like you to try something with the paper bags.

 
Cody began to rub his fingers along the corners of his eyes. This suggestion just seemed painfully stupid to him.

| Cody Rhodes | Stephanie..no disrespect because I know it isn't your idea..but it's fucking stupid. Why would I go pass out paper bags to the crowd? I'm a heel. If I give away something, even a paper bag, they're going to wear it. They aren't going to be booing me. They are going to want the bags because it's from a wrestler. It's going to water this gimmick down. 

| Stephanie McMahon | The reasoning behind it is that your character would call the audience the truly ugly ones. Hence the bags.

It didn't make any sense to him. But he would be damned if he lost a spot because of some stupid ass paper bags. 

| Cody Rhodes | Steph. It's cartoonish. I want to go for disturbing here. The voice over thing works for Taka and Funaki because they're supposed to be goofy and comical. I..

He paused suddenly.

| Cody Rhodes | I can make it work if I can tweak the idea. I can incorporate them but it has to be in another way. 

| Stephanie McMahon | They're defintely open to suggestions.

| Cody Rhodes | Alright, alright. I'll work it into the promo I'm about to shoot. I can think of a couple of different ways. You won't be disappointed. Show stealing match with Taka and..

He quickly rolled his eyes.

| Cody Rhodes | ..stupid, stupid paper bags. 

| Stephanie McMahon | Thank you, Cody. And thank you meeting with them halfway. I know how seriously you're taking all of this.

| Cody Rhodes | You have no idea.

After a quick nod, Cody excused himself. A few ideas were already bouncing around in his head. He didn't want to slip back down the card so he had to try something a little more drastic..

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| Cody Rhodes | ..Despite my disfigurement..

The camera revealed the decidedly more vicious Cody Rhodes sitting in the corner of a dark hotel room. A lamp sitting on a dresser had been adjusted to it's dimmest setting. He was dressed in casual attire but his protective mask was still very much present. Even in a private location, he didn't feel comfortable enough to go without it.

| Cody Rhodes | ..I still have a desire to lead a normal life. That's fair, isn't it?

"Oh. Of course it is."

The voice was supplied by an unknown figure but it's tone was female. Cody lowered his head as his shoulders slumped forward. His head tilted like some kind of broken manniquen. 

| Cody Rhodes | I realize that I am never going to have that. But I still have carnal desires. I am still human..despite the way I look and despite the way I am treated.

He looked to his palms which he had lifted from the rickety floor. He had the money to stay in a nicer hotel as opposed to the sleazy, wore out spot he had chosen. But this way he wouldn't get so many stares cast in his direction.

| Cody Rhodes | I have a lot of my mind so I appreciate you being here. I'm facing someone in my work that I've..had a few confrontations with. Someone who made me look very foolish at one point. Someone who made me look like a joke. ..But I'm a very..very..different person now..

Cody's voice shook as he spoke. He truly despised the person he had become.

| Cody Rhodes | ..But this person..a foreigner..he is a truly a clown. He's the real joke. And I will not allow him to make me feel insignificant again. We have unfinished business, he and I. And I fully intend on causing him every bit of pain that he inflicted upon me. Except in a much briefer span of time. Not months. Not minutes.

"He sounds like an awful man. And you're a good person. I can tell."

The camera panned over to reveal a woman sitting on a wooden chair beside the small hotel bed. She was completely nude but the parts too graphic for television were concealed by well placed shadows. A blond. Beautiful with bright blue eyes and a vibrant smile. Very well endowed. A model, perhaps. Cody Rhodes was at one point a very desirable young man. So it wouldn't be out of the question that someone with a small grip on his profession would pursue this kind of activity. Since his disfigurement was a mental state she merely thought he was into some kind of weird fetishes.

| Cody Rhodes | I'm afraid that you don't know anything about me. So please don't patronize me and pretend that you do. 

Rhodes got himself to his feet and very slowly removed his shirt. His face might have been "mangled" but his body was still in tact.

| Cody Rhodes | I know what kind of monster I am. And we both know you're here because you want to be with a celebrity. Despite how horrific I am. You shallow beast. As beautiful as you are..so..ugly..on the inside. 

A remorseful sigh escaped his chest.

| Cody Rhodes | But I am still a human being. And I have desires, as I said. I want the ugliness of everyone I come across to shine through. Like my opponent. He tormented me for months. He made my life a living hell. When I thought I had rid him from my life..he returned. Even uglier than before. I want his outsides to match the inner. I want to disfigure him. I want him to return to his home country and I want people to scream at his remains of a face. He has two friends. Another like him and a woman. And I hope I get the opportunity to drag their gruesome true selves out for the world to see..

Cody drew himself closer to the woman until his hands were on her shoulders. His face was inches away from her own. 

| Cody Rhodes | This probably isn't a very..sexy topic, is it? But do you realize that if I can defeat him that I will be closer to becoming a king? An actual king. Me. Of all people. What a fitting way to take this esteemed contest and turn it into a nightmare. A horrible, superficial tournament designed by a handsome millionaire. And I will be it's winner.

"I..really hope you do well? That foreign guy sounds..just..terrible. And I wasn't patronizing you. You're..poetic. Deep. You know."

Cody's lips became closer to the models, quivering. But he stopped before embracing her in a kiss. He turned his back, retreated to a corner, and clutched his arms around his stomach, looking as though he were about to vomit. He dry heaved and coughed but, fortunately, for her, nothing came out. Regaining his breath, he wiped his mouth with one of his arms.

"Is something..err..wrong?"

| Cody Rhodes | ..You're just so..ugly..

Rhodes blindly reached for an object on the counter. Once he retrieved it he slipped it over the woman's head. A brown paper bag. A small, circular pair of eyes had been cut out, a similar nose and a expressionless mouth. Before she was able to consider protesting, Cody roughly tossed her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, as slender her arms wrapped around him and total darkness filled the room.