Post by Rated R on Jun 27, 2016 10:12:45 GMT -5
Prologue
The Brass Knucks Nightclub
17th June 2016; 02:21
Emma Wesser: You are a bad man!
She laughs, as if there’s anything funny about stating the obvious. Of course you might be asking exactly what I’m doing right now, sitting in my own nightclub, flirting with some stupid blonde eighteen year old who shouldn’t even be here. You might be asking why right now I’m here, sober as a bloody judge (which makes no sense, because every judge I’ve ever met has been drunk out of his skull) instead of getting an easy, no-effort lay that doesn’t involve being around a horde of drunk, rich idiots.
You might also be asking why, in a few hours, I’ll take this girl back home and we’ll do unspeakable things while I take special care to take a few Polaroid’s.
You might not be asking any of this, because you don’t give a crap. That’s fine too.
But for those that are let me assure you things are about to get interesting around here.
So what exactly am I doing with this girl? Try and figure it out.
Man of Enterprise
A Trace Demon Roleplay
< *** >
BLD
19th June 2016; 9:31am
Trace Demon: Anders still isn’t returning my calls.
After a brief interval where I was forced to get my breakfast food of choice in Boston of all places I’m thankfully back at my home away from home, the safe table at BLD where I know my pancakes are being treated with the respect that they deserve. Life is good.
Elinor Nix: Well you did sleep with his daughter and then humiliate him, I can kind of see why.
Life was good, until buzzkill Nix here turned up for our morning meeting.
Trace Demon: I did not humiliate him, he humiliated himself by being a massive loser with no backbone. There’s a big difference. And so what, I slept with his daughter, what’s the big problem here? Did I sleep with his girlfriend? No! Because she doesn’t exist, but the point stands.
Elinor Nix: Trace, if somebody slept with your daughter what would you do?
Trace Demon: I’d cut them up into tiny little pieces, mainly because my daughter is three years old. God Elinor, you have a sick mind you know that? Talking about toddlers having sex, what’s wrong with you?
Elinor Nix: Who even looks after your kid? I swear your never at home anymore.
Trace Demon: I’m rich; I hired a nanny like rich people do. A young, flexible nanny who likes it when I-
Elinor Nix: Too much information Trace. I regret even asking the question.
Why does nobody ever let me finish my sentences? I was going to say she likes it when I treat her with respect. Anyone believe that? Anyone at all?
Elinor Nix: Let’s just get to business can we? I’ve had Justin Tyme on the phone all week trying to book a meeting, not sure what about exactly because all he does when I answer is shout obscenities about Cameron Stone.
Trace Demon: Tyme? Ugh! Let him bitch about it for another week, see if he burns himself out and gives up, he’s good at that. If not I’ll deal with it.
Elinor Nix: And how do you plan on doing that exactly?
Trace Demon: I don’t know, I’ll piss in his cereal or something.
Elinor Nix: He’s got a point though Trace, I think, not really sure what he’s saying. Either way you’re playing a dangerous game with this whole Cameron Stone thing, you do remember that technically you’re not allowed to be booking matches, right? The sponsors were very specific about that, I’ve already had two of their representatives calling to find out what you’re playing at doing Lila Sleater’s job for her.
Sponsors, the faceless enemy trying to tear down a good, hardworking and honest businessman. Well, hardworking at least.
Trace Demon: It’s in hand.
Elinor Nix: Is it Trace? I know the plan, I like the plan, it can work because you’re sick enough to pull it off.
Pancakes and compliments? What a day this is shaping up to be.
Elinor Nix: But if this is going to work we’ve got to be smart about it, you can’t be drawing attention to yourself with these twisty little mind games you like to play.
with people all you want but nothing that’s going to make the sponsors sit up and take notice. I mean Trace, Cameron Stone?
Trace Demon: What? Why not Cameron Stone?
Elinor Nix: Because he’s a nobody, he’s not a threat, not unless… oh god Trace.
It’s hard being the smartest guy in the room, always waiting for everyone else to catch up.
Elinor Nix: He’s not a threat unless you make him one. You actually think he’s going to do it don’t you. You’re not setting him up to fail, you’re setting him up to win.
Trace Demon: There’s too many pieces on the board right now, too many people between me and what I want. Now sure I could make a grab at any moment, but there’s half a dozen things that could get in the way and mess it all up. Like you said, we’ve got to play it smart, so that’s what I’m doing.
Elinor Nix: We can’t fight two wars on two different fronts. It doesn’t work, ask that Germans. Sooner or later something unexpected happens because you were watching the British instead of the Russians and it all comes tumbling down.
I did not know Elinor was so into her world history metaphors.
Trace Demon: Trust me; nothing unexpected is going to happen.
< *** >
The Office of Trace Demon
20th June 2016; 11:32am
Well this was unexpected.
Trace Demon: He’s what?
I cannot not tell Elinor about this, can’t have her thinking she was smarter than me about something, even something as insignificant as this, that’d throw the whole balance off whack.
Alice Devine: In your office sir, I said you weren’t here but he just said he’d wait.
Alice Devine, my secretary for the uninitiated, is cute, bubbly and has a great ass. But, well…
Trace Demon: Why didn’t you tell him to piss off?
She can be infuriatingly inept sometimes.
Alice Devine: I tried! In nicer terms, but he wouldn’t listen, just kept saying that you owed him the time.
Trace Demon: I owe that man nothing but a good punt kick to the face! Does he have his goons with him?
Alice Devine: Goons sir?
Trace Demon: You know, that Kevin Cronis wannabe or the Russian?
Oh god, the Russian, I should have been watching the Russian.
Alice Devine: No sir, he’s on his own. Do you want me to call security?
Trace Demon: Well that would have been a good idea if you’d done it before I got here. Now I’m stood here shouting and he can definitely hear me through that door because I’m being rather loud, so thanks for nothing.
I storm into my office, possibly being overdramatic? No, the right amount of drama for the situation given who I’m dealing with here.
Justin Tyme: Nice of you to finally turn up.
Yes, Justin Tyme, as if you hadn’t figured it out already. The king of being a pain in the ass without actually mattering, a difficult balance to maintain when you think about it.
Trace Demon: Get out of my seat.
He doesn’t argue, in fact he’s smug when he stands, offers my own chair up to me as if he’s got some kind of say in the matter. He’s playing games, and he’s playing them because he knows how screwed he is right now. He’s a buffoon yes, but he’s not completely stupid. He can tell that Crowe is slipping out of his clutches, which sounds kinda creepy when you think about it, he’s trying to find some kind of leverage to keep hold off before it’s too late.
Justin Tyme: I’ve been calling Trace.
Trace Demon: Really? Elinor didn’t say, she must be slipping.
Would anyone miss Tyme if he went missing? I imagine there’d be questions, but I’m good with questions, I can hide things just fine. Alice probably couldn’t keep her mouth shut though, and I’d hate to deprive all the idiotic frat boys by shipping her off to Siberia. Or Illinois. You know they’re just as bad as each other.
Justin Tyme: You know why I’m here.
Trace Demon: To be honest I thought I did, but I don’t see any strippers so I’m really confused.
Justin Tyme: I’m here because of Cameron Stone.
Trace Demon: Oh come on, I thought all that rubbish was over between you and Stone. You can’t keep living in the past Tyme.
Though to be fair the past is all you have you old shrivelled up piece of crap.
Justin Tyme: Why is Cameron Stone getting a title shot? He lost. Crowe beat him, if anyone should be getting a title shot it should be my boy.
Trace Demon: Okay one, don’t call him your boy, that’s so creepy I don’t even want to make jokes about it, which is when you know it’s bad. Two, Stone isn’t getting a title shot, he’s getting the possibility of a title shot. Three, I’ve already gifted Crowe two separate title shots and yes, he’s won both of them, but that’s beside the point. And four, and this is the important one so listen up, what makes you think that you can come into my office and start arguing with my decisions?
Justin Tyme: You need me Trace, that’s why I can come in here and point out when your decisions are wrong, because you need me.
Trace Demon: I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone, I tolerate you, barely, to a very small degree and very, very regrettably. Those are very different things.
Justin Tyme: Crowe is an asset to you.
Trace Demon: I’m not arguing that, what I’m arguing is that you might not, no, let’s get that right, you are not as big of an asset as you seem to think you are.
And the shift in his demeanour is complete. A mere minute ago Justin Tyme seemed to think that he was on an equal playing field. I couldn’t have that. I’ve played along with him for too long, given his ego too much of a boost. He seems to think that just because he’s got money and that he brought Crowe to me that I owe him something. I don’t owe him crap. I don’t owe anybody crap. Trace Demon is a self-made man, always has been, always will be, I ain’t bowing down or owing favours to a Donald Trump wannabe.
Justin Tyme: All I have to do is click my fingers and Crowe is gone, you understand? Gone. He works for me.
Trace Demon: Well his contract is actually with the WFWF so really he works for me.
Justin Tyme: He is my client! He does as I say! What happens if I tell him to come to that ring and kick Wolf’s head off the moment the bell rings, eh? What if Wolf happens to win the match by disqualification. What’re you going to do when you’re little game is ruined? What’re you going to do when you don’t have Crowe backing you.
And I thought I was delusional.
Trace Demon: What happens if you tell him to do that? Nothing, because he won’t do it. Crowe’s a hell of a lot smarter than you give him credit for Tyme, and he knows that out of me and you I’m the one with the power around here. You think for a second Crowe believes you got him where he is today? You might have got him through the door Tyme, but I got him to the top, and that’s what matters. The real question is what happens when he decides to cut you loose? Because he will. Where you gonna be then Tyme, with no client, no power and no reason for me to keep you around whatsoever.
Tyme rises from his seat as forcefully as he can, which as it turns out isn’t very because he almost falls over as he does so. I’m almost embarrassed for him.
Justin Tyme: You’re going to regret this Trace.
Trace Demon: Funny, people keep saying that, yet here I am feeling just fine.
< *** >
Wesser Brewery
21st June 2016; 14:21pm
Have you figured it out yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t, you weren’t supposed to. If you were I’d have dropped a few clues. No, I like the suspense; it’s what keeps me going. It’s what keeps things fun, y’know? So as I sit here in the boardroom of a brewery I let the anticipation build up inside me. It’s not a real brewery, not in my books, it’s an industrial complex where a crapty excuse for beer gets bottled. But that don’t matter, not when my prey is about to enter the room.
Tomas Wesser: Mr. Demon, I can’t say I was expecting to see you today. Or ever. As you know my son is our representative with the WFWF.
Are you with me yet?
Trace Demon: Oh I know, but you’re the one with the actual investment, right? You’re the one putting the money in.
Tomas Wesser: That’s correct, but I’m afraid I don’t actually have any time for you today so if you’d please-
Trace Demon: You’ll want to make time once you see what’s in here.
I place the envelope down calmly on the large boardroom table, unable to hide my smirk as he glances at it.
Tomas Wesser: And what exactly is in there?
You’ve got to have it figured out by now, right?
Tomas does, as he opens up the envelope and sees the one thing every father wishes they’d never have to see. He’s almost sick, right there at the table. He immediately has to take a seat, his face going pale. There’s a certain pleasure in it I’ve got to say.
Tomas Wesser: What the is wrong with you?
Trace Demon: Well if we got into that I’m sure we’d be here all day, but like you said you don’t really have time for me so I’ll just take my photos and-
Tomas Wesser: Sit the down. What do you want? Why are you showing me these… these sick bloody… you’re just sick aren’t you?
Am I sick? Well if showing a father photos of his daughter bent over a desk with a… oh no wait, yeah that’s definitely sick. Can’t even argue that one.
Trace Demon: What I am is a businessman, just like you, expect now you’re learning what happens when you do business with someone like me.
Tomas Wesser: We just bloody sponsor the damn shows!
Trace Demon: Exactly, and it was the sponsors that stole away my power and handed it over to that bitch Lila Sleater. You did that to me, don’t argue, I know you voted against me.
There, you know what’s happening now, don’t you? You know the game.
Tomas Wesser: Because you’re a damn madman! Sooner or late you were gonna do something and everyone involved with the WFWF was going to suffer! The people that watch your shows, that go to them, they like beer, it makes sense for us to sponsor the damn brand, but you? You don’t make sense, you’re a liability. The less power you had the better.
Trace Demon: Well now I want it back, and unless you want these photos leaking out onto the good old internet then I’m fairly confident that you’re going to help me. Unless you want the world jacking off over your not-so-sweet, not-so-innocent daughter.
If looks could kill I would, without doubt, be bleeding out on the floor right now. Sadly only killers kill, and as rich as Wesser may be I don’t think he’s got it in him. And as his shoulders slump I know I’m right, this man would rather admit defeat
Tomas Wesser: What do you want from me?
Trace Demon: I want you on my side when the time comes. It’s as simple as that.
Tomas Wesser: When the time comes for what?
Trace Demon: I’m going to launch a hostile takeover Mr. Wesser, I’m taking back my company. I’ve tried doing it in the ring, now I know the only way to succeed is playing Lila at her own game.
Tomas Wesser: And you think it’ll be that easy? That you’ll put it off just like that?
Trace Demon: Oh-
I can barely contain the grin as it crosses my face.
Trace Demon: I think I’ll be quite good at it.
< *** >
You know they say it’s easier to be the villain than the hero. And see that’s probably true, but it’s a lot more difficult being good at being the bad guy than it is being good at being the good guy. Because everybody wants to see the bad guy fail, they want to see him fall and it doesn’t matter what he’s trying to do, it doesn’t matter if he’s trying to make the world a better place, if he’s the bad guy then nobody wants to see him succeed. Which means everybody is out to get him which makes succeeding as the bad guy infinitely more difficult.
Me? I’m good at being the bad guy, I’m good at playing the villain and I’ve spent so long pretending that I was the hero of the story that I kind of forgot how damn good I am. It feels good to be back.
Now of course the big question is what game am I playing with precious little Cameron Stone? You know, the guy who fancies himself a movie star. Makes sense when you think about it, he’s never been able to get the job done here so now he’s trying to do it somewhere else, somewhere scripted. But see I don’t reckon that’s where his heart lies, as much as he claims it is. I stood in that ring opposite Stone and I saw the truth in his eyes when he said he wanted to be World Heavyweight Champion, because of course he does, that’s what everyone wants. But wanting it isn’t enough, you can want whatever you want, doesn’t mean you’re gonna get it.
In this world, you got to work for what you want, and only the people willing to do whatever it takes, to push it as far as it’ll go; they’re the ones who get what they want. So I’ve given him the chance to do exactly that, to prove how far he’ll take this, to prove he deserves a shot at Drakz, to prove he has the balls to grab an opportunity when it’s presented to him. Am I playing a game? Damn straight I am, because you don’t get anything in this life without a couple strings attached, but should Stone be worried? No, because believe it or not this game isn’t about destroying Stone, it’s about helping the poor bastard.
I meant what I said, I want Stone to prove himself, I want him to prove he’s got what it takes, that he’s willing to do anything to get what he wants. I want him to get that title shot because it means he proved me wrong. Does that mean I’m doing it out of some desire to see the man succeed? Please, who do you think you’re talking to here? I don’t do anything unless it helps or amuses me, and watching Stone turn his back on those precious morals and ethics of his is going to be very, very amusing. Well worth the possibility of him getting a shot at Drakz. Not like he’s going to be champion, but let’s see where the winding road of fun takes us shall we.
Now, Trevor Wolf. You might be wondering why I’ve been directing everything Stone’s way. Simple fact is you’re not important. You’re a nothing, a nobody, a fly on my windscreen that I’m gonna wipe off. You are simple a means to an end. When people look at this match they’re not asking who’s going to win, they’re asking what is Cameron Stone going to do, or what is Trace Demon going to do to with Cameron Stone. Nobody is asking what is Trevor Wolf going to do, because nobody cares. You’ve been handed opportunity after opportunity to prove yourself and you’ve failed at every single turn.
This time’s not going to be any different.
You think you can step foot in that ring, after months and months of losing, and you can beat me? You think that even your best effort is going to be able to beat me. Not even on a bad day boy, and sadly for you I don’t have bad days. Don’t think you’re getting lucky because I want to lose to screw over Stone, because a man like me, a man who has tasted as much success as I have, and more importantly a man with my ego, does not lose no matter what. I step foot in that ring to win, to beat you Wolf and if I get to have a bit of fun with Stone at the same time? Well I’m all the better for it. This is my company, my ring and my match to win and at the end of it all anybody will be talking about is Trace Demon and Cameron Stone. People won’t even remember your name Wolf.
It’s good being bad.
But it’s better being the best.
And right now you’re damn well looking the best.
The Brass Knucks Nightclub
17th June 2016; 02:21
Emma Wesser: You are a bad man!
She laughs, as if there’s anything funny about stating the obvious. Of course you might be asking exactly what I’m doing right now, sitting in my own nightclub, flirting with some stupid blonde eighteen year old who shouldn’t even be here. You might be asking why right now I’m here, sober as a bloody judge (which makes no sense, because every judge I’ve ever met has been drunk out of his skull) instead of getting an easy, no-effort lay that doesn’t involve being around a horde of drunk, rich idiots.
You might also be asking why, in a few hours, I’ll take this girl back home and we’ll do unspeakable things while I take special care to take a few Polaroid’s.
You might not be asking any of this, because you don’t give a crap. That’s fine too.
But for those that are let me assure you things are about to get interesting around here.
So what exactly am I doing with this girl? Try and figure it out.
Man of Enterprise
A Trace Demon Roleplay
< *** >
BLD
19th June 2016; 9:31am
Trace Demon: Anders still isn’t returning my calls.
After a brief interval where I was forced to get my breakfast food of choice in Boston of all places I’m thankfully back at my home away from home, the safe table at BLD where I know my pancakes are being treated with the respect that they deserve. Life is good.
Elinor Nix: Well you did sleep with his daughter and then humiliate him, I can kind of see why.
Life was good, until buzzkill Nix here turned up for our morning meeting.
Trace Demon: I did not humiliate him, he humiliated himself by being a massive loser with no backbone. There’s a big difference. And so what, I slept with his daughter, what’s the big problem here? Did I sleep with his girlfriend? No! Because she doesn’t exist, but the point stands.
Elinor Nix: Trace, if somebody slept with your daughter what would you do?
Trace Demon: I’d cut them up into tiny little pieces, mainly because my daughter is three years old. God Elinor, you have a sick mind you know that? Talking about toddlers having sex, what’s wrong with you?
Elinor Nix: Who even looks after your kid? I swear your never at home anymore.
Trace Demon: I’m rich; I hired a nanny like rich people do. A young, flexible nanny who likes it when I-
Elinor Nix: Too much information Trace. I regret even asking the question.
Why does nobody ever let me finish my sentences? I was going to say she likes it when I treat her with respect. Anyone believe that? Anyone at all?
Elinor Nix: Let’s just get to business can we? I’ve had Justin Tyme on the phone all week trying to book a meeting, not sure what about exactly because all he does when I answer is shout obscenities about Cameron Stone.
Trace Demon: Tyme? Ugh! Let him bitch about it for another week, see if he burns himself out and gives up, he’s good at that. If not I’ll deal with it.
Elinor Nix: And how do you plan on doing that exactly?
Trace Demon: I don’t know, I’ll piss in his cereal or something.
Elinor Nix: He’s got a point though Trace, I think, not really sure what he’s saying. Either way you’re playing a dangerous game with this whole Cameron Stone thing, you do remember that technically you’re not allowed to be booking matches, right? The sponsors were very specific about that, I’ve already had two of their representatives calling to find out what you’re playing at doing Lila Sleater’s job for her.
Sponsors, the faceless enemy trying to tear down a good, hardworking and honest businessman. Well, hardworking at least.
Trace Demon: It’s in hand.
Elinor Nix: Is it Trace? I know the plan, I like the plan, it can work because you’re sick enough to pull it off.
Pancakes and compliments? What a day this is shaping up to be.
Elinor Nix: But if this is going to work we’ve got to be smart about it, you can’t be drawing attention to yourself with these twisty little mind games you like to play.
with people all you want but nothing that’s going to make the sponsors sit up and take notice. I mean Trace, Cameron Stone?Trace Demon: What? Why not Cameron Stone?
Elinor Nix: Because he’s a nobody, he’s not a threat, not unless… oh god Trace.
It’s hard being the smartest guy in the room, always waiting for everyone else to catch up.
Elinor Nix: He’s not a threat unless you make him one. You actually think he’s going to do it don’t you. You’re not setting him up to fail, you’re setting him up to win.
Trace Demon: There’s too many pieces on the board right now, too many people between me and what I want. Now sure I could make a grab at any moment, but there’s half a dozen things that could get in the way and mess it all up. Like you said, we’ve got to play it smart, so that’s what I’m doing.
Elinor Nix: We can’t fight two wars on two different fronts. It doesn’t work, ask that Germans. Sooner or later something unexpected happens because you were watching the British instead of the Russians and it all comes tumbling down.
I did not know Elinor was so into her world history metaphors.
Trace Demon: Trust me; nothing unexpected is going to happen.
< *** >
The Office of Trace Demon
20th June 2016; 11:32am
Well this was unexpected.
Trace Demon: He’s what?
I cannot not tell Elinor about this, can’t have her thinking she was smarter than me about something, even something as insignificant as this, that’d throw the whole balance off whack.
Alice Devine: In your office sir, I said you weren’t here but he just said he’d wait.
Alice Devine, my secretary for the uninitiated, is cute, bubbly and has a great ass. But, well…
Trace Demon: Why didn’t you tell him to piss off?
She can be infuriatingly inept sometimes.
Alice Devine: I tried! In nicer terms, but he wouldn’t listen, just kept saying that you owed him the time.
Trace Demon: I owe that man nothing but a good punt kick to the face! Does he have his goons with him?
Alice Devine: Goons sir?
Trace Demon: You know, that Kevin Cronis wannabe or the Russian?
Oh god, the Russian, I should have been watching the Russian.
Alice Devine: No sir, he’s on his own. Do you want me to call security?
Trace Demon: Well that would have been a good idea if you’d done it before I got here. Now I’m stood here shouting and he can definitely hear me through that door because I’m being rather loud, so thanks for nothing.
I storm into my office, possibly being overdramatic? No, the right amount of drama for the situation given who I’m dealing with here.
Justin Tyme: Nice of you to finally turn up.
Yes, Justin Tyme, as if you hadn’t figured it out already. The king of being a pain in the ass without actually mattering, a difficult balance to maintain when you think about it.
Trace Demon: Get out of my seat.
He doesn’t argue, in fact he’s smug when he stands, offers my own chair up to me as if he’s got some kind of say in the matter. He’s playing games, and he’s playing them because he knows how screwed he is right now. He’s a buffoon yes, but he’s not completely stupid. He can tell that Crowe is slipping out of his clutches, which sounds kinda creepy when you think about it, he’s trying to find some kind of leverage to keep hold off before it’s too late.
Justin Tyme: I’ve been calling Trace.
Trace Demon: Really? Elinor didn’t say, she must be slipping.
Would anyone miss Tyme if he went missing? I imagine there’d be questions, but I’m good with questions, I can hide things just fine. Alice probably couldn’t keep her mouth shut though, and I’d hate to deprive all the idiotic frat boys by shipping her off to Siberia. Or Illinois. You know they’re just as bad as each other.
Justin Tyme: You know why I’m here.
Trace Demon: To be honest I thought I did, but I don’t see any strippers so I’m really confused.
Justin Tyme: I’m here because of Cameron Stone.
Trace Demon: Oh come on, I thought all that rubbish was over between you and Stone. You can’t keep living in the past Tyme.
Though to be fair the past is all you have you old shrivelled up piece of crap.
Justin Tyme: Why is Cameron Stone getting a title shot? He lost. Crowe beat him, if anyone should be getting a title shot it should be my boy.
Trace Demon: Okay one, don’t call him your boy, that’s so creepy I don’t even want to make jokes about it, which is when you know it’s bad. Two, Stone isn’t getting a title shot, he’s getting the possibility of a title shot. Three, I’ve already gifted Crowe two separate title shots and yes, he’s won both of them, but that’s beside the point. And four, and this is the important one so listen up, what makes you think that you can come into my office and start arguing with my decisions?
Justin Tyme: You need me Trace, that’s why I can come in here and point out when your decisions are wrong, because you need me.
Trace Demon: I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone, I tolerate you, barely, to a very small degree and very, very regrettably. Those are very different things.
Justin Tyme: Crowe is an asset to you.
Trace Demon: I’m not arguing that, what I’m arguing is that you might not, no, let’s get that right, you are not as big of an asset as you seem to think you are.
And the shift in his demeanour is complete. A mere minute ago Justin Tyme seemed to think that he was on an equal playing field. I couldn’t have that. I’ve played along with him for too long, given his ego too much of a boost. He seems to think that just because he’s got money and that he brought Crowe to me that I owe him something. I don’t owe him crap. I don’t owe anybody crap. Trace Demon is a self-made man, always has been, always will be, I ain’t bowing down or owing favours to a Donald Trump wannabe.
Justin Tyme: All I have to do is click my fingers and Crowe is gone, you understand? Gone. He works for me.
Trace Demon: Well his contract is actually with the WFWF so really he works for me.
Justin Tyme: He is my client! He does as I say! What happens if I tell him to come to that ring and kick Wolf’s head off the moment the bell rings, eh? What if Wolf happens to win the match by disqualification. What’re you going to do when you’re little game is ruined? What’re you going to do when you don’t have Crowe backing you.
And I thought I was delusional.
Trace Demon: What happens if you tell him to do that? Nothing, because he won’t do it. Crowe’s a hell of a lot smarter than you give him credit for Tyme, and he knows that out of me and you I’m the one with the power around here. You think for a second Crowe believes you got him where he is today? You might have got him through the door Tyme, but I got him to the top, and that’s what matters. The real question is what happens when he decides to cut you loose? Because he will. Where you gonna be then Tyme, with no client, no power and no reason for me to keep you around whatsoever.
Tyme rises from his seat as forcefully as he can, which as it turns out isn’t very because he almost falls over as he does so. I’m almost embarrassed for him.
Justin Tyme: You’re going to regret this Trace.
Trace Demon: Funny, people keep saying that, yet here I am feeling just fine.
< *** >
Wesser Brewery
21st June 2016; 14:21pm
Have you figured it out yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t, you weren’t supposed to. If you were I’d have dropped a few clues. No, I like the suspense; it’s what keeps me going. It’s what keeps things fun, y’know? So as I sit here in the boardroom of a brewery I let the anticipation build up inside me. It’s not a real brewery, not in my books, it’s an industrial complex where a crapty excuse for beer gets bottled. But that don’t matter, not when my prey is about to enter the room.
Tomas Wesser: Mr. Demon, I can’t say I was expecting to see you today. Or ever. As you know my son is our representative with the WFWF.
Are you with me yet?
Trace Demon: Oh I know, but you’re the one with the actual investment, right? You’re the one putting the money in.
Tomas Wesser: That’s correct, but I’m afraid I don’t actually have any time for you today so if you’d please-
Trace Demon: You’ll want to make time once you see what’s in here.
I place the envelope down calmly on the large boardroom table, unable to hide my smirk as he glances at it.
Tomas Wesser: And what exactly is in there?
You’ve got to have it figured out by now, right?
Tomas does, as he opens up the envelope and sees the one thing every father wishes they’d never have to see. He’s almost sick, right there at the table. He immediately has to take a seat, his face going pale. There’s a certain pleasure in it I’ve got to say.
Tomas Wesser: What the
is wrong with you?Trace Demon: Well if we got into that I’m sure we’d be here all day, but like you said you don’t really have time for me so I’ll just take my photos and-
Tomas Wesser: Sit the
down. What do you want? Why are you showing me these… these sick bloody… you’re just sick aren’t you?Am I sick? Well if showing a father photos of his daughter bent over a desk with a… oh no wait, yeah that’s definitely sick. Can’t even argue that one.
Trace Demon: What I am is a businessman, just like you, expect now you’re learning what happens when you do business with someone like me.
Tomas Wesser: We just bloody sponsor the damn shows!
Trace Demon: Exactly, and it was the sponsors that stole away my power and handed it over to that bitch Lila Sleater. You did that to me, don’t argue, I know you voted against me.
There, you know what’s happening now, don’t you? You know the game.
Tomas Wesser: Because you’re a damn madman! Sooner or late you were gonna do something and everyone involved with the WFWF was going to suffer! The people that watch your shows, that go to them, they like beer, it makes sense for us to sponsor the damn brand, but you? You don’t make sense, you’re a liability. The less power you had the better.
Trace Demon: Well now I want it back, and unless you want these photos leaking out onto the good old internet then I’m fairly confident that you’re going to help me. Unless you want the world jacking off over your not-so-sweet, not-so-innocent daughter.
If looks could kill I would, without doubt, be bleeding out on the floor right now. Sadly only killers kill, and as rich as Wesser may be I don’t think he’s got it in him. And as his shoulders slump I know I’m right, this man would rather admit defeat
Tomas Wesser: What do you want from me?
Trace Demon: I want you on my side when the time comes. It’s as simple as that.
Tomas Wesser: When the time comes for what?
Trace Demon: I’m going to launch a hostile takeover Mr. Wesser, I’m taking back my company. I’ve tried doing it in the ring, now I know the only way to succeed is playing Lila at her own game.
Tomas Wesser: And you think it’ll be that easy? That you’ll put it off just like that?
Trace Demon: Oh-
I can barely contain the grin as it crosses my face.
Trace Demon: I think I’ll be quite good at it.
< *** >
You know they say it’s easier to be the villain than the hero. And see that’s probably true, but it’s a lot more difficult being good at being the bad guy than it is being good at being the good guy. Because everybody wants to see the bad guy fail, they want to see him fall and it doesn’t matter what he’s trying to do, it doesn’t matter if he’s trying to make the world a better place, if he’s the bad guy then nobody wants to see him succeed. Which means everybody is out to get him which makes succeeding as the bad guy infinitely more difficult.
Me? I’m good at being the bad guy, I’m good at playing the villain and I’ve spent so long pretending that I was the hero of the story that I kind of forgot how damn good I am. It feels good to be back.
Now of course the big question is what game am I playing with precious little Cameron Stone? You know, the guy who fancies himself a movie star. Makes sense when you think about it, he’s never been able to get the job done here so now he’s trying to do it somewhere else, somewhere scripted. But see I don’t reckon that’s where his heart lies, as much as he claims it is. I stood in that ring opposite Stone and I saw the truth in his eyes when he said he wanted to be World Heavyweight Champion, because of course he does, that’s what everyone wants. But wanting it isn’t enough, you can want whatever you want, doesn’t mean you’re gonna get it.
In this world, you got to work for what you want, and only the people willing to do whatever it takes, to push it as far as it’ll go; they’re the ones who get what they want. So I’ve given him the chance to do exactly that, to prove how far he’ll take this, to prove he deserves a shot at Drakz, to prove he has the balls to grab an opportunity when it’s presented to him. Am I playing a game? Damn straight I am, because you don’t get anything in this life without a couple strings attached, but should Stone be worried? No, because believe it or not this game isn’t about destroying Stone, it’s about helping the poor bastard.
I meant what I said, I want Stone to prove himself, I want him to prove he’s got what it takes, that he’s willing to do anything to get what he wants. I want him to get that title shot because it means he proved me wrong. Does that mean I’m doing it out of some desire to see the man succeed? Please, who do you think you’re talking to here? I don’t do anything unless it helps or amuses me, and watching Stone turn his back on those precious morals and ethics of his is going to be very, very amusing. Well worth the possibility of him getting a shot at Drakz. Not like he’s going to be champion, but let’s see where the winding road of fun takes us shall we.
Now, Trevor Wolf. You might be wondering why I’ve been directing everything Stone’s way. Simple fact is you’re not important. You’re a nothing, a nobody, a fly on my windscreen that I’m gonna wipe off. You are simple a means to an end. When people look at this match they’re not asking who’s going to win, they’re asking what is Cameron Stone going to do, or what is Trace Demon going to do to
with Cameron Stone. Nobody is asking what is Trevor Wolf going to do, because nobody cares. You’ve been handed opportunity after opportunity to prove yourself and you’ve failed at every single turn.This time’s not going to be any different.
You think you can step foot in that ring, after months and months of losing, and you can beat me? You think that even your best effort is going to be able to beat me. Not even on a bad day boy, and sadly for you I don’t have bad days. Don’t think you’re getting lucky because I want to lose to screw over Stone, because a man like me, a man who has tasted as much success as I have, and more importantly a man with my ego, does not lose no matter what. I step foot in that ring to win, to beat you Wolf and if I get to have a bit of fun with Stone at the same time? Well I’m all the better for it. This is my company, my ring and my match to win and at the end of it all anybody will be talking about is Trace Demon and Cameron Stone. People won’t even remember your name Wolf.
It’s good being bad.
But it’s better being the best.
And right now you’re damn well looking the best.
