Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2013 17:08:28 GMT -6
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Kelly Fox’s Office, NCW Headquarters
January 1st 2013
The light creeps through the blinds in Kelly’s office, which is adorned with empty bottles of champagne and a array of party streamers and balloons from the office party the night before. The CEO sits looking out of her window, using her finger to tease open one of the blinds as she gazes across the parking lot which is mostly empty, many of her employees taking the day off. Suddenly, she hears the buzzer on her desk go off, prompting her to swivel around and press the large red button.
Yes?
Mr Verona is here to see you Miss Fox.
Send him in Nadine.
Kelly sits up in her chair, her hands formed into a pyramid as she awaits the imminent arrival of the NCW World Champion. As Verona opens the door she suddenly wraps a big smile across her face as he closes the door and takes a seat opposite her.
Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favourite colleague.
Happy New Year. I trust you and Adam had a good time.
Kelly smiles, losing herself in memories of her weekend as she reminisces the pleasant experiences of the night before.
It was wonderful, though I don’t think I can remember too much of it…
It must have been good then.
So what can I do for you, Roberto?
Roberto takes a deep breath, sighing a little.
We need to talk about Lex.
Kelly rolls her eyes.
Again? What is this, déjà vu?
Yes, again, the guy is dangerous, Kelly, and you’re acting as if all you need do is flutter your eyelashes at him and flash him a little ankle and he’ll just do as he is told.
He’s a useful weapon to have.
Therein lies the problem, you think he is some inanimate object you can bend to your will to smite our enemies, but he has a mind of his own. Hell, he probably has several.
Kelly tries her best not to laugh, choking down a little giggle.
Oh come on, he’s been nothing but good for you since he kicked Mike’s face down his throat.
Oh, yes, he’s roughed up a glorified jobber with a Tetris beard for a few weeks so I can kick back and enjoy the view but every time I’ve asked him to do something, he’s acted like I just spat in his face.
Don’t take it personally, he just prefers to answer to me.
Perhaps, but we’re meant to be partners, if we’re using this guy to further our own ambitions then he needs to learn to step into line and do as he is told.
Kelly cocks an inquisitive eyebrow.
And are you going to make him?
If it comes to it.
It won’t.
Can you promise me that? This isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation, Kelly.
Just, leave him to me.
I did that last time, yet here we are.
Kelly suddenly furrows her brows, feeling like she is on the defensive.
Don’t you trust me?
It isn’t you I don’t trust, Kelly. Lex is not going to just play the doting friendly giant who does your laundry forever, I know what he wants and it is around my waist, what’s stopping him screwing me and putting it on Laszlo for an easy kill?
You’re getting paranoid, not everything is a conspiracy. Lex is simple, he likes to keep me sweet so he will do as he is told.
You underestimate him, Kelly. There’s more to Lex Sense than an infatuation with you and if you don’t honour our agreement, I will have to take steps to solve this problem.
Excuse me? May I remind you who the CEO of this company is.
Kelly’s eyes burn with rage and her nostrils flare as Roberto doesn’t move an inch.
May I remind you of the contract you signed and the agreements within? We had a deal, Kelly, and I have no desire to fall out and break this union because this hand grenade called Lex blew up in our faces. But I must protect my interests, you of all people must understand this.
Kelly takes a deep breath, calming herself before responding.
Look… Lex won’t be a problem, and if he is, do what you have to do to make sure he doesn’t interfere with your interests, just don’t expect me to clean up a mess I didn’t make. If you two could just get along, this wouldn’t be a problem.
So be it.
The pair pause, before Kelly breaks the silence.
I think we’re done here.
Very well.
Roberto stands up and makes his way to the door, but as he goes to leaves he turns and looks at Kelly.
Good luck on Sunday.
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Kelly Fox’s Office, NCW Headquarters
January 1st 2013
The light creeps through the blinds in Kelly’s office, which is adorned with empty bottles of champagne and a array of party streamers and balloons from the office party the night before. The CEO sits looking out of her window, using her finger to tease open one of the blinds as she gazes across the parking lot which is mostly empty, many of her employees taking the day off. Suddenly, she hears the buzzer on her desk go off, prompting her to swivel around and press the large red button.
Yes?
Mr Verona is here to see you Miss Fox.
Send him in Nadine.
Kelly sits up in her chair, her hands formed into a pyramid as she awaits the imminent arrival of the NCW World Champion. As Verona opens the door she suddenly wraps a big smile across her face as he closes the door and takes a seat opposite her.
Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favourite colleague.
Happy New Year. I trust you and Adam had a good time.
Kelly smiles, losing herself in memories of her weekend as she reminisces the pleasant experiences of the night before.
It was wonderful, though I don’t think I can remember too much of it…
It must have been good then.
So what can I do for you, Roberto?
Roberto takes a deep breath, sighing a little.
We need to talk about Lex.
Kelly rolls her eyes.
Again? What is this, déjà vu?
Yes, again, the guy is dangerous, Kelly, and you’re acting as if all you need do is flutter your eyelashes at him and flash him a little ankle and he’ll just do as he is told.
He’s a useful weapon to have.
Therein lies the problem, you think he is some inanimate object you can bend to your will to smite our enemies, but he has a mind of his own. Hell, he probably has several.
Kelly tries her best not to laugh, choking down a little giggle.
Oh come on, he’s been nothing but good for you since he kicked Mike’s face down his throat.
Oh, yes, he’s roughed up a glorified jobber with a Tetris beard for a few weeks so I can kick back and enjoy the view but every time I’ve asked him to do something, he’s acted like I just spat in his face.
Don’t take it personally, he just prefers to answer to me.
Perhaps, but we’re meant to be partners, if we’re using this guy to further our own ambitions then he needs to learn to step into line and do as he is told.
Kelly cocks an inquisitive eyebrow.
And are you going to make him?
If it comes to it.
It won’t.
Can you promise me that? This isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation, Kelly.
Just, leave him to me.
I did that last time, yet here we are.
Kelly suddenly furrows her brows, feeling like she is on the defensive.
Don’t you trust me?
It isn’t you I don’t trust, Kelly. Lex is not going to just play the doting friendly giant who does your laundry forever, I know what he wants and it is around my waist, what’s stopping him screwing me and putting it on Laszlo for an easy kill?
You’re getting paranoid, not everything is a conspiracy. Lex is simple, he likes to keep me sweet so he will do as he is told.
You underestimate him, Kelly. There’s more to Lex Sense than an infatuation with you and if you don’t honour our agreement, I will have to take steps to solve this problem.
Excuse me? May I remind you who the CEO of this company is.
Kelly’s eyes burn with rage and her nostrils flare as Roberto doesn’t move an inch.
May I remind you of the contract you signed and the agreements within? We had a deal, Kelly, and I have no desire to fall out and break this union because this hand grenade called Lex blew up in our faces. But I must protect my interests, you of all people must understand this.
Kelly takes a deep breath, calming herself before responding.
Look… Lex won’t be a problem, and if he is, do what you have to do to make sure he doesn’t interfere with your interests, just don’t expect me to clean up a mess I didn’t make. If you two could just get along, this wouldn’t be a problem.
So be it.
The pair pause, before Kelly breaks the silence.
I think we’re done here.
Very well.
Roberto stands up and makes his way to the door, but as he goes to leaves he turns and looks at Kelly.
Good luck on Sunday.
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The better man?
That’s an interesting conclusion for you to make Michael, I mean you’re a slimy, no good, backstabbing little snake whose only playing the part of the anti-hero because I’m flat out better at being hateable than you are and I could literally be wrestling the devil and still get booed over him.
Yet, whilst I may be a despicable cad whose nefarious deeds have infuriated the fan base, at least the reason I am such an odious little cockroach is because I am working towards improving the federation for everybody through my title reign and subsequent allegiance with Kelly Fox.
You’re just out to make a name for yourself.
How quaint.
Remind me why that makes you the better man? You’re not even the better wrestler because the several pounds of gold around my waist demonstrate that rather candidly, and will continue to do so after Sunday too.
You’re right, you’re not going anywhere, you’re static, but only because you’ll exit Mind Games with the same as you entered it. Absolutely nothing. You seem to have this mistaken belief that I am trying to get rid of you. Far from it.
We need men like you to lay down for the big guns like me.
No Mike, in my quest to shut you up it was merely to show you for what you really are, a loud mouth whose all talk, no trousers. Last month I did that, you boldly declared that I would lose and I didn’t. I won fair and square within the boundaries of the rules and you left a perennial loser. Sure, you’re still yapping away, but the self-proclaimed invincibility was tarnished, your colleagues realised that you’re doing nothing but peddling your insecurities as superiority.
I know that I can’t literally shut you up, I mean hell I could walk down to the ring, punch you square in the face, pin you with my foot and leave with my belt but you’d still keep droning on about some tedious nonsense anyway. Short of amputating your voicebox, Laszlo, I know I can’t literally shut you up. It is merely symbolic.
I will just prove to the world that you’re not as good as you claim, that despite all of your yapping you just don’t have what it takes to hang with me because whether you want to admit it or not, you really are not in my league.
I am a NCW World Champion, a former NCW National Champion and X-Champion, the 2012 Road to the Gold winner, a multiple-time award winner and a joint record holder in the Riot despite only entering once.
You’re a former X-Champion and Honour Champion. Granted, the longest reigning dual champion in history and I guess you have a stylish beard but that really is pushing it.
What else have you accomplished to seriously suggest you are in my league?
Nothing.
If you beat me this weekend, perhaps I will admit you’ve finally joined me here up at the top, because you’ll actually have something to form the argument from, but right now? Not a chance.
I will give you credit for one thing though, Mike, it has been entertaining. You’re right, people are tuning in to see which way I will screw you next and just how you will respond and whether or not you’ll finally get your hands on the man everyone wants to see get his ass kicked. Ratings are up and buy rates are improving and maybe it is partly because you’re in the main event, but as far as I am concerned it is indicative of the work I am doing for all of you. I’ve provided you an opportunity to showcase your talents and credit where it is due.
You’re really doing your best to shine in your moment in the spotlight.
People may remember our rivalry Mike, I have no doubt we’ll face one another again and perhaps one day you will be on my level, it’s possible, but right now you’ve got some way to go, because regardless of how easy you think beating me will be, you know deep down that I have more than enough to finish you off once and for all.
It’s good that you can rest on the comforts of knowing one day you’ll get another shot, it’s what the best of us have had to do on our darker days. It should console you when I leave the ring with that belt again after beating you for the third time in a row.
Just promise me something, Mike, when I beat you, don’t make any excuses.
Just have some humility and accept that I am the better man, stop looking for outs to explain away your defeat and genuinely move on instead of constantly calling foul, it isn’t very becoming and you really don’t want to end up being a Mini-Webb, skulking in my shadows cursing my name at every opportunity.
Even I will admit you’re much, much better than that.
As for your stipulation? Please, feel free to surprise me, it is of no consequence to me what you decide to pick, I’d not be stupid enough to break the no contact clause and give you that right if I was genuinely afraid, if anything.
I am intrigued.
I want to see just how smart you really are Mike, you have so many endless opportunities to give yourself a little bit of an advantage, I would love to see just how desperate you are to beat me. Or maybe you’ll be incredibly honourable and go all Jacobsen on me. Who knows, but for once you’re doing something that makes you interesting, although granted once again everyone can thank me for that but I’m getting used to carrying you by now.
So pick wisely, Mike.
This is your chance to influence your future, even if your future will still be to be beneath me, but you can at least catch the eye and keep your name in the running for future honours. At the end of the day, that is worth something.
Don’t pass it up.
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Roberto Verona’s Home, Chicago
Two Weeks Ago
Roberto Verona and Jake Conway enter a study, the wall richly adorned with literature which stretches around the whole room only stopping to make room for a doorway. Verona walks in, leading Jake around, who stares at the fine décor which is strewn across the room, Verona’s wealth subtly flaunted throughout as the host finally reaches a grand desk, which he sites behind, retrieving two glasses and a bottle of red wine from the rack behind him. Before Jake can say a word Roberto pours two glasses, sliding one across the table gently.
Have a seat, Jake.
Don’t mind if I do.
Jake pulls one of the fine oak chairs out from under Roberto’s desk, sitting down opposite his host.
How are your girls? They must be growing so fast.
Time flies when you’re having fun, truth be told I don’t enjoy anything more than being home with them and Kathy and just putting the Ace up on a hook for the week.
Ah yes, the beautiful embrace of the life away from the ring. It feels like I get to live it less and less these days.
Ace takes a tentative sip of wine, almost questioning whether he should or not.
You’ve got learn to leave as much time aside as you can for those you care about. At the end of the day, that is the life you’ll be left with when you’re body tells you it is time to quit, you don’t want to ruin it before it has truly begun.
Roberto smiles.
There are more layers to you then people give you credit for, Jake. Including me.
Of course, but who takes the time to notice? People are too eager to use me as a stepping stone to make their name, one which they never give credit for. They just run my name into the dirt as a matter of course, almost as if it is a default setting.
Tell me about it, all of my accomplishments have been rapidly forgotten for cheap sound bites these days. Every week it is Roberto this, scumbag that.
You get used to it.
Verona nods in agreement, before Jake suddenly interjects.
So is that what is bothering you?
Pardon?
I know people don’t think I have a mind of my own, but I can tell something is eating away at you. So, what is it?
Honestly? Kelly.
Jake smiles.
Ah, she’s a tough one alright. Trust me, I’ve dealt with enough Fox’s and Knite’s to know that.[/ color]
Oh, believe me, I know. I just can’t get my head around this obsession with using Lex to keep Laszlo in his place. It’s not like the guy is such a big issue that I can’t deal with him myself, yet she insists on throwing this volatile giant into the mix.
Maybe she is just trying to help, a little misguidedly but help nonetheless.
Whatever she’s doing, I need to be prepared to defend everything I’ve worked so hard to gain.
Jake cocks his eyebrow inquisitively, leaning forward with interest.
How do you plan to do that?
By creating my own insurance policy, to make sure I stay on top. I will not be sent plummeting back to the wolves because she has changed her mind and chosen a new champion.
Sounds interesting, and what exactly does that entail?
Right now, I am not sure, but sooner or later Lex will erupt and when he does, there will be few who can stop him. I know I can beat him, but this isn’t about defending a belt or bragging rights, this is about stopping him tearing apart everything I’ve built and everything that I will build.
Damage limitation then.
Exactly, I can’t afford too much collateral because Sense decides to go rogue and he will, eventually, no matter how much the lady doth protest.
Then perhaps, I have an idea you may be interested in.
Roberto looks at Jake, his interest piqued.
Go on…
Well, if you want to keep power then…
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Roberto Verona’s Home, Chicago
Two Weeks Ago
Roberto Verona and Jake Conway enter a study, the wall richly adorned with literature which stretches around the whole room only stopping to make room for a doorway. Verona walks in, leading Jake around, who stares at the fine décor which is strewn across the room, Verona’s wealth subtly flaunted throughout as the host finally reaches a grand desk, which he sites behind, retrieving two glasses and a bottle of red wine from the rack behind him. Before Jake can say a word Roberto pours two glasses, sliding one across the table gently.
Have a seat, Jake.
Don’t mind if I do.
Jake pulls one of the fine oak chairs out from under Roberto’s desk, sitting down opposite his host.
How are your girls? They must be growing so fast.
Time flies when you’re having fun, truth be told I don’t enjoy anything more than being home with them and Kathy and just putting the Ace up on a hook for the week.
Ah yes, the beautiful embrace of the life away from the ring. It feels like I get to live it less and less these days.
Ace takes a tentative sip of wine, almost questioning whether he should or not.
You’ve got learn to leave as much time aside as you can for those you care about. At the end of the day, that is the life you’ll be left with when you’re body tells you it is time to quit, you don’t want to ruin it before it has truly begun.
Roberto smiles.
There are more layers to you then people give you credit for, Jake. Including me.
Of course, but who takes the time to notice? People are too eager to use me as a stepping stone to make their name, one which they never give credit for. They just run my name into the dirt as a matter of course, almost as if it is a default setting.
Tell me about it, all of my accomplishments have been rapidly forgotten for cheap sound bites these days. Every week it is Roberto this, scumbag that.
You get used to it.
Verona nods in agreement, before Jake suddenly interjects.
So is that what is bothering you?
Pardon?
I know people don’t think I have a mind of my own, but I can tell something is eating away at you. So, what is it?
Honestly? Kelly.
Jake smiles.
Ah, she’s a tough one alright. Trust me, I’ve dealt with enough Fox’s and Knite’s to know that.[/ color]
Oh, believe me, I know. I just can’t get my head around this obsession with using Lex to keep Laszlo in his place. It’s not like the guy is such a big issue that I can’t deal with him myself, yet she insists on throwing this volatile giant into the mix.
Maybe she is just trying to help, a little misguidedly but help nonetheless.
Whatever she’s doing, I need to be prepared to defend everything I’ve worked so hard to gain.
Jake cocks his eyebrow inquisitively, leaning forward with interest.
How do you plan to do that?
By creating my own insurance policy, to make sure I stay on top. I will not be sent plummeting back to the wolves because she has changed her mind and chosen a new champion.
Sounds interesting, and what exactly does that entail?
Right now, I am not sure, but sooner or later Lex will erupt and when he does, there will be few who can stop him. I know I can beat him, but this isn’t about defending a belt or bragging rights, this is about stopping him tearing apart everything I’ve built and everything that I will build.
Damage limitation then.
Exactly, I can’t afford too much collateral because Sense decides to go rogue and he will, eventually, no matter how much the lady doth protest.
Then perhaps, I have an idea you may be interested in.
Roberto looks at Jake, his interest piqued.
Go on…
Well, if you want to keep power then…
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I don’t think I will make the match.
My sides appear to have split. That one about how I talk too much? It just pushed me over the edge. I think my favourite was the part where you claimed that I needed corporate backing to become NCW World Champion.
Remind me again Mike, when did Kelly Fox pin you to advance in the Road to the Gold? I must have missed when Xander took Andrew out for me too. Or that time Adam just laid down for me. Oh, and Lex too.
Obviously.
You know Mike, when you try to claim that I categorically must be the world champion and that to claim that anybody could possibly live without the belt is just a lie you really ought to not basically tell the world that if you don’t win you won’t need it and will happily just move on only minutes later.
It makes you look stupid.
Trust me, I wasn’t “spewing crap” and I most certainly do deserve to be in this business, certainly more so than you. No, I genuinely do not need to be world champion to be meaningful around here.
If I lose this belt I won’t collapse from power, nothing will change. The fact is, you don’t really know anything about my relationship with Kelly Fox, nor do you actually have any idea about the agreement we made after I became NCW World Champion. Come on, engage you brain for a moment, I sleep with a lawyer, do you honestly think I am stupid enough to not make damn sure Kelly can’t just renege on her obligations because I’m not the champ?
My power isn’t bound to this belt, ultimately it is nothing but a prop in that respect. It symbolises to everyone that I am the best wrestler in the company, sure, but my position inside the corporate structure is not effected by whether I retain it or not.
Roberto and Kelly is a long term fixture guys, sorry to disappoint you.
Not that you really care though, right Mike? You probably stopped listening several minutes ago anyway.
When I entered an agreement with Kelly, I made damn sure my ass was covered in the case of losing my championship in case some sort of freak fluke occurred. I never sold my soul for this belt; if I sold it at all I sold it for a permanent spot at the top of the table. A spot that is legally protected, regardless of whether Kelly loses interest in me for some new flavour of the month.
She knew what she was getting into and she made a long term investment. The world championship has no bearing on that.
What it does have a bearing on; however, is the legacy I leave with my first title reign. Plenty of guys have dropped it after a month, a few more have managed to last two months, but ultimately I have no interest in being a middle of the road champion who makes no impact on the history of this belt beyond saving it from crushing mediocrity.
For that reason, and that reason alone, I plan to walk out on Sunday as the world champion. Well, other than really, really, just wanting to see the look on your face when you fail.
Again.
So keep on believing my world will come crashing down, buy into the fallacy that I will be discarded by Kelly Fox should I lose my belt to you, back in the real world I’ll continue making more of an impact on everything important going on around here than you ever could. Champion, or not.
The fact is that I am here for the long haul because sometimes, things matter more than just stroking my own ego and satisfying my lust for gold. I know people will choose to not believe me, but everything I do, I do it for this company and ultimately for guys like you. When I arrived, somebody like me, a man with talent but no stupid catchphrases about penises or my name, would never have reached the heights I have.
This company was run for the Steve Awesome’s of this world and nobody else.
Yet I have risen to make sure that when guys showcase their talent, inside and outside that ring, they will be rewarded for it. Even though I will beat you this week, if you work your ass of some more one day you’ll get another shot because I blazed the trail that opened the pathway to men like you. Men who don’t have friends in high places.
I have no intention of stopping until this place is run properly and thankfully, Kelly Fox shares my vision.
We want to watch you all excel, even if we don’t personally care for you because it is good for business. Ultimately, I need cocky upstarts like you shoving your bravado in my face and pushing yourselves to new limits in an attempt to dethrone me, even if it is an exercise in futility. Nobody is interested in the wrestling dinosaurs anymore, unless of course they indulge in homoeroticism with young men under the old stars and stripes.
I know I will never get a thank you, people hate admitting I am at all right, but when I hang up my boots and watch people grab the brass rings I left hanging I can at least feel a sense of accomplishment, unlike all of the other icons who feel nothing but sadness when the limelight isn’t on them anymore.
This Sunday I will simply solidify my spot amongst the best this company has ever produced by prolonging my title reign, taking another step toward surpassing the records set by the men whose names are written in the stars.
I will be remembered, no matter what you do.
So bring your fight, bring your stipulation and hell, even bring that giant freak of yours, none of it will matter because I will prove that class is permanent. I may lie, I may cheat and hell I may be the slimiest little bastard in this company today but when it is all said and done, I am also the best wrestler in NCW.
And I will prove it again this weekend.
When Mind Games closes, I will still be the NCW World Champion. No matter what it takes.
