Revolution RP: Nothing Personal

Meeting #2

15th September 2013

Jenna Cray’s Notes: The following transcript, complete with personal annotations, is taken from my second meeting with WFWF owner Trace Demon. While Trace has agreed to these bi-weekly meetings he is not aware that I will be taking regular notes in the hopes of publishing them. Trace is a fascinating individual, apparently aware of his narcissism and self-destructive tendencies without feeling any need to correct them, and it is this strange self-awareness that I intend to analyse and assess.


It’s almost as eerie as the last time he entered my office. More so if anything because even though I now know what to expect from him, as much as anyone can know what to expect from him, I still find myself unable to put myself at ease around him. It is, I suppose, one of the aspects of his personality that has benefited his career. The moment he enters a room, or indeed an arena, he puts everybody there on edge. It’s in the way he carries himself and the way he looks right through you, like he knows something about you that not even you do. Is that it, is that his secret? Beneath the controlled madness, beneath the aggression and the hate does there lie a man who sees the world in a way that we can only dream of?


Jenna Cray: I was surprised you agreed to this, after all you’re the owner now, you could have said no.


Trace Demon: I like that, say it again.


Jenna Cray: You could have said no?


Trace Demon: No, the bit before that.


Jenna Cray: You’re the owner?


Trace Demon: That’s the one.


He leans back in his seat with a self-satisfied exhale. Arrogance oozes from his ever pour, everything he says and everything he does is soaked in narcissism. And yet he is of the highest functioning bracket I’ve ever witnessed.


Jenna Cray: Well that’s what I wanted to speak to you about today, the pressure of being the owner.


Trace Demon: What pressure? I’ve spent years fighting with people who want to break my body into little pieces and leave my blood stained on the canvas. And I cope with that with ease. This whole owner shtick is simple compared to that. I suit up, sit in a room with a bunch of suits and make the decisions that need to be made. There’s nothing stressful about that, hell it’s more relaxing than the day to day crap I need to put up with. At least with these meetings I can throw some shades on and fall asleep in the corner.


Jenna Cray: So you’re not stressed out or feeling any more aggressive than usual?


I have to add the ‘than usual’ part, claiming that Trace Demon wasn’t aggressive before would be a gross lie.


Trace Demon: Nope, I’m A-ok doc.


Jenna Cray: So the added pressure of the job had nothing to do with what you did to Scarlett Quinn?


I hoped to pose the question in a more professional manner, to get him to bring it up if at all possible. I feel like it’s going to be a touchy topic, a trigger if you will. And I have seen Trace Demon flip out, archive footage as it may be, and I do not wish to see it occur in my office.


Trace Demon: Wondered how long it’d take for that to come up.


His casual tone is somewhat surprising. He’s not fazed in the slightest.


Trace Demon: What do you want me to say? That the pressure of the job got to me and I snapped? That I’ve finally lost myself in the moment and finally did something that even I, the great Trace Demon, regrets? Afraid that’s not what happened doc, there was nothing spur of the moment about what I did, not a damn thing.


He speaks with passion and conviction; this is the great cult of personality that has garnered him such a following.


Jenna Cray: That what was it Trace, what made you do such a thing to someone so close to you?


Trace Demon: Close to me, huh, maybe she was, I don’t really think about things like that, not like the rest of you do anyway. You see everyone sees what I did as some big horrifying thing, but they only think that because of who I did it to. If I’d kicked Thunder’s head in like I did Penny’s then they wouldn’t have cared. If I’d have dropped Shawn Malakai back first across a chair like I did Scarlett then they wouldn’t have cared. But to me those names are all interchangeable, their all the same, just people with no meaning other than what they bring to the table and what I can get out of them. I helped Scarlett because I’m tight with her old man, and I’m tight with her old man because he’s one of the few people who usually know what they’re talking about. But that don’t make them special, that don’t make them anything.


Jenna Cray: You speak like you don’t care about people, like you have no empathy.


Trace Demon: No I got empathy; I just don’t care about it. But you’re wrong on the other thing, I care about people, I care about Wayne and I care about Scarlett just like everyone else cares about people. Difference between me and them is that I’m willing to weigh that up against the situation. Situation this time round was that Scarlett has something I want, so I got to weight up whether the WFWF World Championship is worth burning those bridges, whether it’s worth throwing away all that precious caring. And guess what? It is, it’s worth whatever I’ve got to do to get it because it’s what proves I’m the best and right now that’s what I want, I want to be the best. I got the XWA all sewed up, I had the other XWA in the palm of my hand before I got bored but all the while I’m thinking that as long as someone else has the WFWF World Championship I can’t claim to be the best. So yeah, it’s worth it, it’s worth whatever and whoever I’ve got to leave behind to get it too.


I feel I know the answer before I ask the question, but ask I must.


Jenna Cray: Do you feel any remorse for what you did?


He leans forward and looks me right in the eyes. It sends chills down my spine. I’ve spoken with proven sociopaths before, interviewed murderers and rapists on death row, seen suicide bombers up close just before they detonate, and the one thing Trace Demon has in common with all of them is that look. He believes everything he says, because he knows himself to be right even when the whole world thinks he’s wrong.


Trace Demon: Remorse?


He pauses, thinks it over, then smirks.


Trace Demon: I don’t even know what that is.


End transcript.





Emily Hall: You’re an bunghole.


Peace, solitude, quiet, these are the things that most people desire. It’s human nature, everyone wants to feel at ease, nobody wants to feel like they’re in danger or like they’re not in control. Of course, Trace Demon is not a normal person and his nature is not at all common. Trace Demon loves things to be hectic, he loves things to be crashing down all around him so this, this right here is damn near perfect for him.


Trace Demon: This is very true.


Emily Hall: How could you do that to her, why would you do it to her?


Trace Demon: It wasn’t personal Em, she has what I want and in this business you do bad things to get what you want.


Emily Hall: You could have crippled her!


Trace Demon: She runs that risk every time she gets in the ring. If it wasn’t me then it’d just be somebody else. That probably don’t make it right to you, hell it probably doesn’t even make a damn bit of difference, but that’s the way it is.


Emily Hall: She’s the daughter of your best friend, she’s my… my best friend!


A moment of hesitation, hidden behind the shock. Trace picks it up, doesn’t seek to question it. He might be self-obsessed but he’s not oblivious. He sees what others don’t, hidden behind the arrogance and the vanity lies a man who sees it all. He can tell there’s more than friendship between them, he knew before he did what he did. That’s the horrifying thing he doesn’t care if there’s something there, he doesn’t care if they’re more than friends, he won’t use that but he won’t let it stop him from doing what he has to do. He’ll go as far as he needs to, he’ll do whatever it takes to be the world champion again, even if that means breaking his sister’s heart.


Emily Hall: I don’t understand, I knew you were… different when you were wrestling, I knew you did things but you don’t even care. You don’t care at all about what you did to her.


Trace rises from his seat and approaches Emily. She’s broken up, holding herself together by a piece of string. It breaks his heart to see her like this but it’s a consequence he is willing to take. Love if fleeting, glory is everlasting.


Trace Demon: I know you don’t understand it, you probably never will, but know that what I did I did because I had no other choice. I can’t go easy on her just because of who she is, I can’t hold back because of what she means to you or the history between me and Wayne.


Emily Hall: You can, you can be human.


Trace Demon: No, that’s no human, that’s weakness.


Emily Hall: No, you’re wrong!


She pushes him away, fire in her eyes and in her body. She’s not some timid little girl, she’s not going to keep quiet because he’s her brother, she’s not going to stand around and let him do the things he does no matter how he justifies them.


Emily Hall: There’s nothing weak about feeling something for someone, there’s nothing weak about showing compassion. The Trace that I met nearly a year ago would have understood that, he would have agreed, he wouldn’t have done what you did. There’s something wrong in your head, something twisted and messed up. You don’t see it but everyone else does, you’re not the same man you used to be, you’ve let that damn power and that violence get into your head and make you someone else.


Trace Demon: Why should I be the same? Why should I stand by and let everything stay the same just to appease everyone? I’m not the same because things have changed, I’ve changed and right now I’m better than I ever was. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped caring for you, you’re still my sister, I still love you. But you’ve got to understand that I’ll never be the man you want me to be I’m my own person, I do what I know is right and this is right. What I did was right. That title belongs around my waist and Scarlett has it so whatever I have to do to her to get it I will do because that is who I am. That’s who I’ve always been, that’s the one part of me that has never changed and will never change. You need to realize that Emily.


Emily toughens, looks at Trace with solemn eyes. It’s a look he knows. It’s his look.


Emily Hall: If you make me choose then I can’t promise it’ll go the way you want it to go.


Trace Demon: You don’t need to promise anything, because I already know which way it’s going to go. I always know.


Emily shakes her head, one part disappointment, another part horror. Is the brother she first met still in there buried beneath the darkness that has overtaken him, or is he gone forever?


Emily Hall: Do the right thing.


Trace Demon: I already am.


There’s silence between them for a brief moment, and then she leaves. Trace remains where he stands as the second hand ticks nearby. And then a voice speaks. She’s been listening in to all of it.


Alexa Munroe: I hope you know what you’re doing.


He looks at her. She doesn’t agree with his actions either but she’s behind him, she always has been when it comes to this. He’s not on anything, he’s as sober as he’s ever been which means what he’s doing is a decision that’s been made with careful thought and precision planning because everything always is with him. If he knows what he’s doing… then she’ll always be behind him.


Trace Demon: I always do.




Ace Andrews: Never took you as a park person dude.


Trace Demon and Ace Andrews sat on a bench in the middle of one of LA’s most beautiful parks. It was true Trace wasn’t a fan of the quiet but when you have to formulate a plan there are few places better than an open aired place of such of beauty.


Trace Demon: Well I can’t spend all day stuck in that bloody office, especially when everyone keeps going on about what a handsome devil I am. That s**t gets weird.


Ace Andrews: I’m pretty sure they’re just calling you the devil.


Trace Demon: Might have added the handsome bit in myself, but only because it’s true and I rarely get a chance to be vain.


Ace Andrews: Well that’s a lie.


Trace Demon: Well that’s just like, your opinion man.


Ace laughed at the reference. It was weird, being friends with a man like Trace. They’d known each other for a good six months now, ever since they tore up the ‘other’ XWA, but still Ace couldn’t get over the feeling that Trace would stab him in the back if it could get him closer to whatever it was he wanted. After seeing what he did to Scarlett that feeling was stronger than ever, yet here he was anyway.


Trace Demon: Now tell me why the hell you’re here, because I know it isn’t just to hang because you sure as hell aren’t a park person.


True enough.


Ace Andrews: What’s up with you picking Rev?


Trace Demon: What, you jealous?


Ace Andrews: I just don’t get it, you’ve got a big time match against two people you almost killed so clearly they’re gonna want to kick your ass, but instead of choosing someone you’ve actually teamed with before, the extremely talented man sitting beside you, you choose a guy who’s come right out of a Crow audition and who is friends with the father of the chick you tried to cripple. I know you’re mental, no offence…


Why would he possibly take offence to such a high compliment?


Ace Andrews: But you’re also one of the smartest guys I’ve met, second only to me some would say.


Trace Demon: Nobody would say that.


Ace Andrews: Some would.


Trace Demon: Literally nobody at all.


Ace Andrews: Whatever, point is you’re smart enough to know that picking Reverend Shadow was a stupid choice, and don’t give me this crap that the lawyer is making your matches without consulting you because we both know that’s bull.


Trace Demon: And you think you’re smart.


Ace comically raises an eyebrow, the classic “excuse me” that only sassy gay people should be able to get away. It says a lot for Ace that he manages it so well. He’s not all that masculine though.


Trace Demon: I didn’t want Shadow as my partner because of how good he is, I didn’t even consider talent for this one. It’s about getting in their heads. Physically they’re hurt, I could beat them on my own right now if I wanted to, but mentally they’re still strong, they’re still hurting for a fight, not just hurting. I’ve got to break them, bring them as far down as I possibly can before I make my real move.


Ace Andrews: Your real move?


Trace Demon: Spoilers Ace, can’t be giving all my tricks away. Anyway, like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I’ve got to break them. Reverend Shadow’s close to the McGurk’s, friends with Wayne and protective of the old man’s little girl. So I put them in the ring together and I make sure they’ve got no choice but to fight.


Ace Andrews: And you watch them tear each other apart.


Now he’s getting it.


Trace Demon: Exactly, it’s a show of power; they need to know this is a fight they just can’t win. All of them, the entire damn roster, that’s what it’s all about. And it isn’t my power as an owner, I don’t need to flex that muscle, it’s my power as the best and sickest wrestler in this business that they need to respect and fear. That’s all this is, mind games b***h. You’d be smart to take notice too man, don’t go getting thoughts ahead of your station.


Ace Andrews: We both know that when it comes time for me to go after the world title I’ll do it no matter whether you’ve got the belt or not.


Trace Demon: And then I’ll have to kick your ass.


Ace Andrews: You could never kick my ass.


Trace Demon: Man, I kick all of the asses.


He kicks all of the asses all day long.

Primary Office

18th September 2013

He sits in his office, alone as he often is. A set of headphones drown out the noise of agonized trainees below him while a cup of coffee sits on the table in front of him. Black, one sugar if you’re wondering. In front of him a dozen or so clips are strewn out across the monitor of his laptop, each one playing at the same time. Every single clip is of Scarlett Quinn, taken from various matches and training sessions. This is scouting for Trace Demon, this is what makes him invincible. Every strength, every weakness, every little flaw in her arsenal, he picks up on them all. A slight favouring of her right arm potentially means a weakness in the left, a slightly stiff strike from her opponent in her last match could mean a minor and unnoticeable laceration that he could exploit.


It is a sight that few get to see, and one that he hates being interrupted. But today he knows it’s coming, he was waiting for it. This is the first time he’s come into the school since Massacre and he only did it to get this damn thing out of the way. And as he hears the slamming of a door, so loud it’s audible over the blaring music playing from his Ipod, he prepares himself for what he has to do.


Trace Demon: Three… two… one…


As if on cue the door flies open.


Wayne McGurk: You sick son of a…


Trace removes the headphones and removes his laptop from the desk. He’d rather they didn’t get smashed up, it took him far too long to put together the perfect playlist together and that’s the kind of thing you’ve got to protect.


Trace Demon: Good to see you too Wayne.


Wayne McGurk: Shut the f**k up!


Trace doesn’t move from the seat as Wayne leaps across the office, grabs him by the collar of his shirt, drags him up and slams him back first down onto the desk. During all of this Trace doesn’t even wince. Hell, the only movement he makes at all is a slight glance at his now ruffled collar. Shame, he’d only ironed it this morning. In stark contrast to Trace’s stoicism Wayne was a bundle of emotion, his entire body fuelled with hate, rage and the deep instinct to protect his daughter.


Wayne McGurk: We were friends! You were like a brother to me and you go and do this over a f*****g title? You should have just asked her for a damn match!


Trace Demon: Not my style.


Wayne McGurk: Not your style? Not your f*****g style? What the hell is wrong with you?


Silence, no answer from the master of the mindgame. Not even a twitch of his jaw.


Wayne McGurk: Come on Trace, try and talk your way out of this one, try and convince me that you had to do it, try and drip then venom like you always do!


Trace Demon: No.


Wayne McGurk: No? You’re saying no? You realize I’m going to smash your head in right?


Trace Demon: No… more… talking.


Trace’s head suddenly jerks forward, his skull slamming into Wayne’s with a vicious headbutt that sends the elder McGurk crashing to the ground. Trace rises, brushes himself off and then takes a step forward before bringing his boot forward straight into the ribs of his now former friend. It’s strange, once upon a time Trace would have pounced upon Wayne and beaten him to a pulp while he had the chance. Now he just stands there, watching him cough and splutter. He’s not the man he once was, there’s no victory in this, he gains nothing. Not now.


Trace Demon: You might think I owe you an explanation Wayne, but I don’t. You’re taking this far too personally, this isn’t anything against you or Scarlett, this is about the title, this is about her having something I want. I didn’t attack your little darling daughter; I attacked the WFWF World Champion. Just so happens it’s her, wrong place at the wrong time and all that crap people spout to justify themselves.


As Wayne tries to push himself up Trace smashes his boot into his jaw, sending him over onto his back, looking up at the man who he once called a friend. Trace shakes his head and then picks up his laptop and headphones and heads for the door. He pauses before he exits, looking back with mild pity.


Trace Demon: You want to burn this bridge down over this then be my guest, just remember that if I have to I’ll bury your entire family beneath the ashes to get that title.


He turns and pulls the door shut behind him as he leaves. Wayne lies there, coughing, grasping at the side of his head in pain. But it’s not the physical pain that takes it’s toll, it’s the knowledge that not only has he lost a brother but that this man, this damn Demon, is so capable that if he wants to, if he really wants to, then he won’t have a daughter left either.



The past is the past, every day a new day dawns a new era rises and the last is left behind. That’s the way I live my life, those are the facts, but some people are reluctant to accept that. They think that just because you were once friends that you must always be friends. They think that just because you were once like brothers that you must always be brothers. But these are false truths, lies to keep people in their place. The truth is every time you wake up you’re a new person, every time you open your eyes you’re somebody else, somebody different to who you were yesterday. It’s up to you what you do with that, only you can decide who you are today. Me? I’m always the same, deep down, I’m always a man hunting glory, I’m always a man using any means to get what he wants and I’m always a man who can beat anybody else.


One day I woke up and I was Scarlett Quinn’s mentor, her friend, a father figure even. The next I woke up and she was the WFWF World Champion and suddenly I was the man who would have to take that from her. So I did what I had to do, I did what I would have done if it was anybody else and I didn’t think twice about it because a real champion never has to think twice. A real champion does whatever he has to do, Scarlett Quinn would know that if she had the experience that I have. This is the reason I’ve been so successful, this is the reason that I won the WFWF World Championship on my own within years of joining this company and this is the reason why Wayne McGurk took so long and needed so much help from some parasitic little megalomaniac to get the job done.


So what, I turned my back on my protégé, on the girl I saw grow from a young, reckless youth to a… well, slightly older reckless youth. But who are you people to call damnation upon my name for turning my back on her? What right do you have to claim that I did something so wrong when it is you that cannot see that it was the only right thing to do? I could not stand by and let myself fester while she held that title, I could not give her false hope when all I have ever intended to do was take what I rightfully deserve. I am the best in the world, not her, not anybody else on this roster, me! That’s why I’m the man in charge, that’s why I’ve got my name in lights, that’s why I’ve been the International Champion for over a year, because I deserve every last bit of that glory. And I deserve the World Champion, I’ve slaved over it, I’ve fought for it, it belongs to me! Me!


So Scarlett, I’m sorry, really I am. Don’t mistake that sincerity for sarcasm, I really do mean it. You’re just a victim of my rightful hunt for glory, wrong place at the wrong time and all that. But that’s the world we live in. One day you woke up as the WFWF World Heavyweight Champion, the next you awoke in pain with the knowledge that your days in the spotlight were numbered. Because that’s the cold reality, once I’ve got you in my headlights there’s no getting out of the way, there’s no escape. Just ask Yukio Blaze, he found himself standing opposite me and I beat him so bad that now he’s lost his god damned mind, ranting about theme music as if I gave a damn. Scarlett, this is the end game for you, you had your story and now the pages are running out and I’m ripping the last page out because there’s no happy ending for you.


There’s nothing but pain, horror and fear.


And a complete lack of hold around your waist.