Post by Mr. PerpetuaLynch Motion on May 29, 2016 16:34:10 GMT -5
The Wreckers Part 13: Stretched Thin
I’m maintaining a very tenuous grasp on control but things are teetering very close to the cliff. Things could go south very quickly and it’s all because I haven’t been very careful lately. But in case you haven’t been following along let me sum things up. Justin Tyme is my primary benefactor, he’s been bankrolling this ride since the beginning. But lately I’ve attempted to grab hold of the reins all on my own. In doing so I’ve had to split my focus three separate ways. And when you do that you get sloppy. That’s why I’ve decided to make this meeting. Because even though I came out the better end of my proposition with William Steelheart, he still has me dead to rights if he decides to implode this business relationship by selling me out to Justin before I’m ready to tell him myself. And right now I would say The Wreckers are people I prefer to have on my side. So again I’ve arranged a meeting without the knowledge of Justin Tyme, something I’ve been doing more and more over the last few weeks.
Steelheart and I agreed to meet in this empty lot a stone’s throw from Ford Field and Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit. As I wait for Steelheart I take a moment to absorb my surroundings. Leading up to Superbrawl, Justin is going to want me more focused than ever on that particular match. So it could be a while before I have a chance to come here and catch a Tigers game or just generally enjoy the rundown charm of this city I called home for so much of my life. I don’t get much of a chance to reminisce though as a car peels into the parking lot. I see the fruits of my success have started to extend to The Wreckers, Justin increasing their rate of pay for the work they’ve put in the last few weeks, as Steelheart is driving a brand new 2016 Ford F250 Super Duty. He hops out of the truck with a smile on his face. Always a little disconcerting seeing someone so close to Justin Tyme, or the man himself, smiling.
You seem to be in a good mood William.
You like truck? I figure since I’m still new to America I want to live the American life. You’re from the Motor City after all, they make nice truck here see?
Yes it is a very nice truck Steelheart.
But you didn’t invite me out to discuss new truck.
Well considering I didn’t really know you had it until you pulled up here, no I didn’t invite you out to discuss new truck.
You wanted to discuss the outcome of proposition?
Nope, provided you are a man of your word there’s not really a need to discuss that with you either.
Come now, I am Russian. We are all man of our words.
I’m probably going to fact check that. No William, the reason I asked you here is because I want to discuss our future business relationship.
Everything seems to be running smooth sailing though.
Post-Justin Tyme.
He goes silent. Like for an uncomfortably long period of time. Just standing their staring at me blankly. Can’t tell if he’s processing what I just said or if he’s convinced I just sprouted a second head.
What do you mean by “post-Justin Tyme”
C’mon Steelheart, you’re smart enough to see how this all plays out. I’m sure he’s even mentioned it to you a time or two. What happens to all this the day I don’t hold those championships anymore?
Then you win more championships?
I don’t think that’s what’s on his agenda. I’m pretty sure he just crossed off the last item on his list after I beat Cameron Stone. Now it has to be setting in that I just did something he was never capable of doing. The student is outgrowing the teacher.
What are you talking about? Justin is former International Champion as well.
None of this has anything to do with championship titles. It has everything to do with Justin drone piloting his way through a more successful career than the one he himself had.
I do not know where all this is coming from.
From
ing everyone! Literally every person I’ve talked to since they found out Justin Tyme was the quote-unquote hustle behind the muscle they’ve been telling me this kind of stuff. He’s a snake oil salesman, he’s only using my success to further his time in the spotlight.Look Lucas, Justin Tyme is good man and he’s been very good to me. He sought me out just like he did you. I was promising athlete in Russia that was falling on hard times and he found me somehow and brought me out to America for chance at better life and all I had to do was help him help you. He has paid me handsomely, I can afford life I never could have dreamed about back home. And now I stand in front of you and hear you spew nothing but venom at a man that has gave you a life that you never could have dreamed of living here. I will not tell Justin of your meeting with ex-girlfriend last week as promised by proposition. But if you called me here and expected me to be on your side against Justin Tyme then I think maybe you might have, how you say, misjudged my character comrade.
Steelheart turns on his heel, walks to his truck, gets in and drives away. All I can do was mutter “
” to myself under my breath. Justin may have been right about one thing, I am awful at navigating the minefield still on my own. I get into my car and just sit there thinking. Thinking about how much my life changed since I met Justin Tyme, thinking about whether it’s all been for the better. I’ve gained worldwide notoriety and a whole bunch of money but at the same time I’ve lost most of my friends. I’m lost in deep thought when all of a sudden…That meeting didn’t go as planned eh champ?
When did I start working with
ing ninja spies?Speedwagon, what the hell are you doing here?!
Well quite frankly I was insulted that you wanted to meet with Steelhead and not yours truly.
Because I didn’t need to meet with you, I had business I needed to talk to him about.
So now you’re making business deals with that guy. I thought I was your best friend champ.
Why is he acting like a jealous girlfriend? This is decidedly un-Speedwagon
Look Reo, you are my best friend.
He smiles. This is like some kind of bizarre fever dream.
But I know that you’re on my side of the fence. He’s been harder to read since Tyme brought you guys into the fold so I needed to see him separately from you and Tyme to see where his allegiances lay.
I take it you didn’t get the answer you hoped for then?
Not exactly. So from now on you need to be careful what information you’re relaying to him. You spend the most time around him so keep a watchful eye on him for me will you? I feel like this whole thing is on the cusp of exploding.
Got it champ. Hey can I ask a favor?
Sure, what is it?
Can I crash at your place tonight? I’m too pretty to walk the streets of Detroit at this hour.
I just roll my eyes, turn the ignition and peel out of the parking lot before I get pirate jumped by any more of my ghosts of Christmas Present.
Lucas Crowe Chapter 26: No Threat
I’ve been in so many of these Triple Threat matches in my career it’s borderline criminal. It’s also helped me to realize that no matter who they put into these matches it’s never really going to be a threat. In this iteration we have, on one hand, we have an individual that just won a chance to meet me one on one for my brand new Unified interNational Championship. He stupidly stamped his name on his own death warrant in a triple threat match of his own. Set himself up for more future failure. He could’ve just walked away and let someone else have it. After all, Mr. Brennan has already carved a neat little legacy of his own in this company. A sordid legacy riddled with debauchery and other assorted poor decision making but a legacy nonetheless. But I suppose we can chalk your unwillingness to walk away to another poor decision to add to that legacy. Not that I’m in any position to judge, poor decision making is a criticism that has been lobbed at me frequently these past few weeks so in that vein I suppose we’re in a similar boat. But I would like to believe that this is where the similarities between us begin and end. I say “would like to believe” because I’ve never been a fan of lying to myself.
And the other third of this triumphant triumvirate is another individual that one could say is on a hot streak. A one win hot streak but hey streaks are still meant to be broken. That’s taking nothing away from your triumphant return to action Mr. Nitta. Congratulations on beating that guy who hasn’t won a match yet since his own return to action. Oops, did I just make an attempt to take everything away from your triumphant return? My apologies. But you know it just burns me up when there’s so many people in this company that have come back expecting a big hero’s welcome of sorts while ignoring the fact that no matter how brief or how long their time away from the ring may have been things have changed. The bar has been raised about seven feet.
There is not a person in this company’s history that can lay claim to having a better rookie year than Lucas Crowe. Inside of one year I am a two time National Champion, that is to say the last WFWF National Champion and a one time International Champion. I put the finishing touches on Cameron Stone’s career, Ante Whitner hasn’t been quite the same since his encounter with me, I’m sure this is something you can attest to Brennan. The only thing a person could argue is missing from that resume is the World Heavyweight championship. But you have to leave something for year two. Besides, right now I’m happy in my place at the right hand of the King. A trio most foul, forget all about that New Epoch garbage of yesteryear.
The last few times I’ve had to endure my way through these triple threat matches I’ve talked openly about how important strategy is. Isolate the weaker link, keep the stronger competitor out of the equation. Whatever. That’s out the window. New strategy, complete domination. Absolute destruction. Beast mode. Lucas Crowe enters that arena, he ragdolls Cam Nitta, he puts down David Brennan in advance of our match at Superbrawl. Then he goes on vacation for a few weeks while Miss Sleater realizes her monstrous misstep and scrambles to find another poor soul on short notice to throw to the wolves because Mr. Brennan might not make it to that particular destined clash. This might be his chance, and he’s going to fail. Some are arguing that Cam Nitta is a dark horse in this because they think I can’t focus on more than one task and that all of my attention is going to be focused on the future Number One contender for my championship. We’ll see what they have to say about my lack of focus after I take their dark horse to the glue factory.
Justin Tyme Chapter 4: Mona Lisa Grins
It’s a god damned party boys!
Justin pops the top off a bottle of champagne and pours four glasses of the golden, bubbly liquid. Say what you will about Steelheart but he’s learned how to put on a pretty solid Mona Lisa grin in the short time he’s been in this country.
Hey champ, give us a speech.
I was caught off guard by Reo’s request.
Ha, ah you guys already pretty much know what I would say.
But this is a big deal champ. I’m with Reo, I want to hear a speech. C’mon Speech!
Speech!
Speech!
Speech!
Alright, alright you vultures.
The three guys give a cheer. My level of comfort is through the floor right now. Doesn’t help that I’ve been drinking. For the benefit of all in attendance, I put the glass of champagne down so as to not be tempted any further.
Alright well, uh. We did it guys, we’ve finished up one year of successes and highlights. I couldn’t have got to this point without you guys really. Justin, thanks for believing in me so strongly and pushing me so hard to be the best in ring competitor. You plucked me from obscurity and molded me into a person that the people in that locker room are legitimately afraid of. They either want me on their side or they want to get out of my way. That’s why you’re the best person to have on my side. You know this business like the back of your hand. And it is a business, you’ve made me a bunch of money in the past twelve months. So thank you boss.
I look down at the glass of champagne and think about taking just another sip but I’m already starting to feel buzzed. A guy my size that can’t handle his liquor. One of those “sometimes life isn’t fair” kind of things I guess. I look to Steelheart and Speedwagon.
And then there’s Steelheart and Speedwagon. You guys have been such an integral part of making this whole thing run like a well-oiled machine. Steelheart, even though Speedy and I like to bust your balls frequently for some of the crap you say I am glad to have you on the team because you’re athletic as hell and a real threat to anyone that wants to get close to the champ. So thank you for that.
Steelheart chuckles and looks away from my gaze so I turn it to Speedwagon.
And then there’s Reo, you’ve quickly became a really good friend to me. Going over strategies with you is always a blast because you’ve got an uncanny eye for this business. You see every part of a match in your mind’s eye and can envision scenarios most people couldn’t imagine. You and Steelheart are the perfect one-two punch that anyone in that locker room would kill to have. Thanks for always exploding with ideas and, uh. Here’s to another year of triumph and success I guess?
We all cheers to that.
Are you not forgetting to thank someone Champ?
I snap my gaze to Steelheart and attempt to stare a whole straight through his stupid head.
Not that I’m aware of Steelheart, did I forget someone?
Steelheart smirks, takes a sip of his champagne and then sets it on the table.
You forgot to thank Drakz and Mr. Demon.
I internalize a sigh of relief. I’m convinced he is going to be the one to hit the demolition button on this whole thing. The champagne is doing nothing to help set my mind at ease.
Ah, ha. Well yeah that goes without saying but I figured since they weren’t here it wasn’t necessary. Plus Justin and I are going to be seeing them later so I’ll have a chance to toast them for their help in getting me here then.
It’ll give us a chance to make Drakz toast us for our role in him retaining his championship as well.
I don’t need him to say it, I know he appreciates our help in the whole thing.
You still should get paid for your work. Even if the payment is a simple thank you.
I don’t work for thank yous. They already paid us, let’s not overstep our boundry here.
Are you kowtowing to the WFWF World Heavyweight Champion? You really haven’t learned anything in the past year have you?
All I'm saying is I don't need him as an enemy right now. I learned don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Boy, I am the hand that feeds you.
No, you are A hand that feeds me.
See? I Shouldn’t drink. Let this be a message to all. Just like water erodes the banks of a river, so too does alcohol erode the banks of all of my relationships.
Would you like to press the rewind button, Lucas?
Yes just… Hold please.
I force myself into a borderline Zen meditative state as I mentally rewind to the beginning of this exchange.
Ready?
I nod.
Alrighty then. *ahem* It’ll give us a chance to make Drakz toast us for our role in him retaining his championship as well.
Yup, I can’t wait to force inarguably the two most powerful people in this company to kiss my feet and thank me for doing the job they paid me to do… Nope, still sounds stupid.
I am going to chalk this one up to too much champagne there Champ. All for the best though, you’ve got plenty of work ahead of you in any event. It will be an early night for you for the next few months. I want you in peak condition heading into Superbrawl. I don’t want any outside distractions. Perhaps you should stay here in Florida and train with Speedwagon and Steelheart, I don’t think you really need to be attending that meeting with Trace and Drakz anyways. Just going over piddly crap really. I can handle that.
Justin pats me on the shoulder and leaves the room. Steelheart leaves the room after him, as is to be expected. He wouldn’t want to spend another moment in that room with me. Speedwagon lays down on the couch and drifts into a Champagne induced deep sleep. I sit in my chair staring at the floor, mentally rewinding that conversation with Justin. It still sounds stupid every time.
OOC: I'm not too sure how I feel about this. It's the most dialogue heavy piece I've done in quite some time and I'm not sure how that translates. I think I'm pretty satisfied with it really, not as much as I enjoyed the piece I wrote for my match with Stone but still quite enjoyable. I tried to plant some seeds that I can expand upon heading towards my future championship encounter with Brennan. I could have talked more about the match I guess but I covered all talking points I think especially since it's kinda just the beginning of a program with 2/3 of the participants. Can't really go too super crazy. Color coding for y'all though it's probably pretty easy to follow along with.
Reo Speedwagon
Justin Tyme
Lucas Crowe
William Steelheart
