[Objective]

Symetrik - I feel like this quote fits here (paraphrasing): "Live long enough and you'll see yourself become the villain". Loved the imagery you put forward. Only thing I might have enjoyed more personally is either a more discerning intro instead of saying "forget that, here's what comes next" with "to set the scene" after the intro. Idk, that kind of messed with the flow of reading for me although it's FAR and FAR away from being a biggie.

Thought you stayed on topic really well and created a dark af atmosphere and story that fits, the plot in fashion with the abstract image given. The readers flow could be improved by better punctuation as some felt a bit "stretched", or I had to re-read to properly get it, but that's about it. Some interesting internals here and there, great vocab and execution as a whole. Solid showing.

Mike Wrecka - Truly enjoy the scene you're setting, characters and so on. Interesting how you can write an entire piece without names or descriptions, but you know who it is from the way you describe them and what roles they have in the play in front or behind the sceme. Only exception is the agent which is more of a side piece to the story which helps bringing the importance of their relationship together. Like in earlier AOWLs etc. I'm one of the weird punctuation guys, and why is coming up pretty strongly with this sentence in particular:

I'm unpacking these themes, while wearing black in this scene, it's difficult to breath I'm about to collapse from the heat,
^You're unpacking the themes while wearing black in the scene, or is it difficult breathe while wearing black. If so, in terms of the latter point, then why? A period inbetween here would help the reader with that. The flow and multis are dope tho

I defo love the direction it's taking. That the protagonist is an actor in the theater world trying to move up. Didn't make sense, or even register to me, that this could be a way to flip it. Loving that and shows how creative you can be with an image I would have struggled with myself.

The story progression and pace is great, also the introduction to new themes/situations, and what's going on like the epiphany of the theater world they were part of until the accident. Also enjoy how you're dragging the reader in one sentence and everything changes in the next like the directors son being a sociopathic cunt.

That said tho, I loved the concept and progression, but feel like the execution and final progression is at the very least 1-2 levels below what I've usually seen from you in the past. Inconsistencies like in the closure you're a giraffe but earlier in the piece you were wearing all black? Or did the main character get a different role and set to be a giraffe instead? I'm a bit confused with this one.
Concept and all that is dope tho, just fell a bit short vs. a behemoth of a verse Symetrik put up for me this time around. Thanks for the read and work put into what you presented because it was far from bad, just not the usual quality I've seen from you in the past. I was entertained throughout and enjoyed it overall, good shit.

Vote - Symetrik, thought he had a more "complete" verse in terms of polishing, and a more interesting/abstract take on the story. I feel like if Mike Wrecka had put in an hour or two more to edit/polish, focused more on punctuation to make it clearer here and there, reworded some sentencing which I know he's good at and delved deeper on character development and/or worked on it a bit more so it didn't get choppy while reading, he probably would have snapped my vote.

All in all a super dope battle, makes me sad it's soon all over cus I for sure want to read more from both in this type of format (in a topical and competitive environment).