Jaded
07-05-2008, 08:40 AM
(OOC: Have scrapped my other dynasty, partly because I sucked at the game and partly because I wasn’t happy with the writing… I’m aiming to make it more in depth here, focusing on the backstage aspects. As always, feedback hugely welcome.)
“So, Mr Avatar, what makes you think you can replace my daughter?” Dan Stone asked.
“Well, I’ve been a long time fan of NOTBPW since the mid 90’s – Jeremy, you and Steve and Rob Oxford were the first guys I ever really ‘marked out’ for.” I smile at Dan’s son, who smiles back at the compliment.
“And since I took more of an interest in the workrate in matches and the psychology guys like yourself, Dan and Sean use, I’ve come to realize there’s no other company in the world which can put on consistently good shows like this one.”
Jeremy nods. “Hey, dad, I like Jack already!”
Dan Sr smiled at him. “Well, he can talk a good game. I believe you’re interested in wrestling for us as well, if you get the job, Mr Avatar?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’d love to. I flatter myself to think I’ve built up a reasonable fan base in TCW and USPW. I’m certainly not on the level of anyone in this room, but I’d hope to slot myself onto the roster as a babyface.”
Dan Jr cut in. “I’m assuming you realize that the promotion has been built for several years, very successfully, around the three of us here as lead babyfaces?”
Gesturing apologetically, I turn the full force of the Avatar charm on Dan Jr. “Of course, I wouldn’t be thinking of myself as anywhere near your level, Dan. In fact, one of the only complaints I’ve heard from any of your – hopefully OUR – fans over the past few weeks when I’ve taken in some shows is how long it’s been since your fifth title reign. I appreciate you like long title reigns here and you’ve been building up Bloodstone, but a lot of your biggest fans feel that you’ve been unjustly overlooked, at least as an on-screen character, for the past 20 months. I’d be aiming to rectify that situation pretty quickly.”
I can see Sean McFly smiling to himself as if he’s less than convinced by my sincerity, but the 3 Stones here are lapping this up.
Dan Sr looked pleased by my response. “So you’d be aiming to push my sons as much as possible? And Sean, of course?”
“Hey, why change what works?”
“You’d be amazed,” Jeremy said snidely. “One of the previous candidates wanted to run a DAVE Invasion!”
They burst out laughing at the thought.
“Well, Mr Avatar, we still have another 3 candidates to interview…” Dan Sr shook my hand, “… but if I were in your shoes, I’d be starting to think about the card for the upcoming Big City Brawl!”
Less than 24 hours later, the job offer has been finalized, and I’ve signed on the dotted line. To get things off to a quick start, I call a meeting with Johnny Bloodstone, Harrison Hash, Harlem Haynes, the Can-Am Blondes, John Maverick, RK Hayes, Tim Westybrook and the Stone family. These are the guys on written contracts, and I have something to discuss with them.
“Hey, guys. Great to meet you all, have been a big fan of some of you for years. Tim, loved last week’s match against Dallas McWade, incredible! Best I’ve ever seen either of those two brothers look. Johnny, fantastic reign so far, champ. By the time you actually drop that strap, the fans will be ready to cheer anybody who beats you!
Anyway, I could go on, and on, about what a fantastic bunch of guys you all are.”
Sean McFly definitely has my number, there’s a half-smile on his face again here.
“I just wanted to call this meeting to inform you of an idea we’ll be trialling out. We’re going to run some house shows on Monday nights, alternating between the Prairies and right here in the Maritimes. We’ll be using them as ways to test new ideas out, and to keep our exposure up – and for us to have fun. Obviously, with the written contracts you’re under, it makes sense to give you all big roles in this company in the coming months, and we can see here the very best ways to use you all.”
For a bunch of guys who’ve just been told the amount of dates a month they work is practically doubling, they’re buying this surprisingly quickly – I just hope they carry on trusting in me.
A few minutes later, as I sat in my office, John Maverick knocked on my door. “John, come in.” I greeted the fed’s resident submissions expert. “Something to discuss?”
“Yeah… I got some information you may be interested in.”
“Oh?”
“I was talking to Sean Deeley a week or two back. He was telling me how much he’d love to work over here, and said Zeus Maxmillion feels the same way.”
I smile, “Good to know how popular we are, but it’s a no-go, unfortunately. As I’m sure you’re aware, Dan and George DeColt have got a non-aggression agreement.”
Maverick nodded. “I know that. But have you asked him what good it is yet? Because the way I see it, we have more fans than they do and we’re rising more quickly. Call me bitter for the way I was treated there, but it doesn’t seem like an equal agreement. And rumor has it you’re working on setting deals up with TCW and USPW, making it even less so.”
“I’ll speak to Dan about it.” I reply.
“So, Mr Avatar, what makes you think you can replace my daughter?” Dan Stone asked.
“Well, I’ve been a long time fan of NOTBPW since the mid 90’s – Jeremy, you and Steve and Rob Oxford were the first guys I ever really ‘marked out’ for.” I smile at Dan’s son, who smiles back at the compliment.
“And since I took more of an interest in the workrate in matches and the psychology guys like yourself, Dan and Sean use, I’ve come to realize there’s no other company in the world which can put on consistently good shows like this one.”
Jeremy nods. “Hey, dad, I like Jack already!”
Dan Sr smiled at him. “Well, he can talk a good game. I believe you’re interested in wrestling for us as well, if you get the job, Mr Avatar?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’d love to. I flatter myself to think I’ve built up a reasonable fan base in TCW and USPW. I’m certainly not on the level of anyone in this room, but I’d hope to slot myself onto the roster as a babyface.”
Dan Jr cut in. “I’m assuming you realize that the promotion has been built for several years, very successfully, around the three of us here as lead babyfaces?”
Gesturing apologetically, I turn the full force of the Avatar charm on Dan Jr. “Of course, I wouldn’t be thinking of myself as anywhere near your level, Dan. In fact, one of the only complaints I’ve heard from any of your – hopefully OUR – fans over the past few weeks when I’ve taken in some shows is how long it’s been since your fifth title reign. I appreciate you like long title reigns here and you’ve been building up Bloodstone, but a lot of your biggest fans feel that you’ve been unjustly overlooked, at least as an on-screen character, for the past 20 months. I’d be aiming to rectify that situation pretty quickly.”
I can see Sean McFly smiling to himself as if he’s less than convinced by my sincerity, but the 3 Stones here are lapping this up.
Dan Sr looked pleased by my response. “So you’d be aiming to push my sons as much as possible? And Sean, of course?”
“Hey, why change what works?”
“You’d be amazed,” Jeremy said snidely. “One of the previous candidates wanted to run a DAVE Invasion!”
They burst out laughing at the thought.
“Well, Mr Avatar, we still have another 3 candidates to interview…” Dan Sr shook my hand, “… but if I were in your shoes, I’d be starting to think about the card for the upcoming Big City Brawl!”
Less than 24 hours later, the job offer has been finalized, and I’ve signed on the dotted line. To get things off to a quick start, I call a meeting with Johnny Bloodstone, Harrison Hash, Harlem Haynes, the Can-Am Blondes, John Maverick, RK Hayes, Tim Westybrook and the Stone family. These are the guys on written contracts, and I have something to discuss with them.
“Hey, guys. Great to meet you all, have been a big fan of some of you for years. Tim, loved last week’s match against Dallas McWade, incredible! Best I’ve ever seen either of those two brothers look. Johnny, fantastic reign so far, champ. By the time you actually drop that strap, the fans will be ready to cheer anybody who beats you!
Anyway, I could go on, and on, about what a fantastic bunch of guys you all are.”
Sean McFly definitely has my number, there’s a half-smile on his face again here.
“I just wanted to call this meeting to inform you of an idea we’ll be trialling out. We’re going to run some house shows on Monday nights, alternating between the Prairies and right here in the Maritimes. We’ll be using them as ways to test new ideas out, and to keep our exposure up – and for us to have fun. Obviously, with the written contracts you’re under, it makes sense to give you all big roles in this company in the coming months, and we can see here the very best ways to use you all.”
For a bunch of guys who’ve just been told the amount of dates a month they work is practically doubling, they’re buying this surprisingly quickly – I just hope they carry on trusting in me.
A few minutes later, as I sat in my office, John Maverick knocked on my door. “John, come in.” I greeted the fed’s resident submissions expert. “Something to discuss?”
“Yeah… I got some information you may be interested in.”
“Oh?”
“I was talking to Sean Deeley a week or two back. He was telling me how much he’d love to work over here, and said Zeus Maxmillion feels the same way.”
I smile, “Good to know how popular we are, but it’s a no-go, unfortunately. As I’m sure you’re aware, Dan and George DeColt have got a non-aggression agreement.”
Maverick nodded. “I know that. But have you asked him what good it is yet? Because the way I see it, we have more fans than they do and we’re rising more quickly. Call me bitter for the way I was treated there, but it doesn’t seem like an equal agreement. And rumor has it you’re working on setting deals up with TCW and USPW, making it even less so.”
“I’ll speak to Dan about it.” I reply.