Post by Lord Hastings on Apr 6, 2012 15:53:44 GMT -5
Hastings: Tell me, why are you here?
Donovan sits on his throne inside his office in the Dungeon of Pain gymnasium and training facility. To the side is Chris Peterson, seated in his own chair with clipboard in hand. Seated across from Donovan is his lone female student, Joy Asiago. She glances at Chris before carefully considering her answer.
Joy: Because Sir Peterson told me to come in here and see you.
Hastings: Yes, well, granted, that is not a terrible answer, but I meant why are you here at the Dungeon of Pain at all? You're a bit old to start learning to compete in the ring.
Joy: To be honest, I'm not really interested in being an in-ring competitor.
Hastings: Given then that Edwards was removed from his position on the Consortium this week, an accomplishment I achieved without your help, and my entire reason for having you here was for potential insights you could give me into him and his madness, it begs the question of why you should continue to stay. Did you sign my petition?
Joy: What petition?
Chris: She did.
Joy: We all signed a blank piece of paper the first day.
Hastings: Yes, that was it, we filled in rest of it later. Well, that's one feather in your cap, I suppose. To be perfectly honest, however, I'm not sure what further you have to offer us here. You see, Joy, eventually everybody comes around to my way of thinking. Do you know who came to see me today? Ezekiel Pax. Now, that might shock a lot of people. After all, we were just in direct conflict with each other a few weeks ago, and there is that matter of the misunderstanding with his church last year. But Zeke is a big enough person to see past all that, as am I. His disciple, Ezra Wade, has a shred of potential, but has been unable to locate it. He brought this neophyte before me, and he will be joining your class. Of course, a spot here is something that comes at a premium, so it begs the question of why, when I no longer need you for Moss and you don't really want to actually fight anybody, why should you stay here?
Joy: I've never taken no for an answer.
Hastings: I should think you haven't heard it much. But I still don't know what it is you want here.
Joy: I've always said that my goal is to be the leading name in sports marketing. That's really what you're all about here, that was what was at the heart of your lesson to us last week, what was at the center of the "homework assignment" that you gave us all. You want us to focus on marketing ourselves.
She hesitates, but Donovan nods his head.
Hastings: Perhaps there is hope for you after all.
Joy: That's what I have to offer you. I can help turn this group into something that people want to watch. You're a creative mind, there is no doubt about that, but where you are weak is in the area of market research. You're not always in touch with what people want to see.
Chris winces in his chair.
Joy: I mean, take "The Athlican" for example. Not sure how good a ring that has to it.
Chris: Joy, the Lord does not need to be-
Hastings: It's okay. I will hear her out.
Joy: Well, I get the athlete part of it, but Paul is an Aussie, isn't there a value in highlighting that?
Hastings: Because that's worked for him so far. What you need to understand, my dear, is that people do not know what they want. They never do. If you give them what they want, all that happens is they want something else, to fill the void that is still left behind, because what people want and what people need is often very, very different.
Joy: Maybe, but with this company heading to Paul's home country in a couple weeks, you want to publicly divorce him from that country?
Hastings: That is entirely the point. Paul Cockatoo has a reputation, and known associations. They have gotten him nothing. Where better to establish the new Paul Cockatoo, "The Athlican" Paul Cockatoo, than in a place where people are most likely to stand up and take notice. For the first time in his career, there is a chance that people will leave an arena and actually make a comment to each other about Paul Cockatoo.
Chris: Amazing.
Hastings: Simply spectacular, I know. Tell me, Peasant Joy, given your background, you should know the answer to this. Is there such thing as "bad" publicity?
Joy: ...no.
Hastings: No, there isn't. If people leave the arena and they talk about us, we've done our job. If people react to us, we've done our job. People don't always react to what they think they want. They react to what we know they need.
Donovan shifts on the throne, thinking for a moment.
Hastings: I've changed my mind, Miss Asiago. I think that perhaps there is a place for you here after all. This Monday night on Synergy, Owen has told me I am slated to face Zane Scott. I don't know who that is, nor do I much care, but I understand he might be of the violent and unhinged sort. Normally I would be accompanied to such an encounter by the Mistress of Pain herself, but Cal will be otherwise occupied this week, babysitting her useless heap of a temporary partner. You will accompany me instead.
Joy: Me?
Chris: Her?
Hastings: Indeed. This is your role. You aspire to be a marketer, a promoter? You're about to be a manager.
Joy: Zane Scott is dangerous!
Hastings: I am dangerous. Scott and his cohorts exist in UGWC at my pleasure. UGWC itself exists at my pleasure. The Consortium, restructed as it may be, is crumbling. The Dungeon of Pain represents the new generation, a force unparalleled in this industry. Now excuse us, we have much to discuss, and I believe you still have a homework assignment to complete.
Joy stands, and Chris nods to her as she leaves. Donovan drums his fingers on the table for a moment.
Hastings: What do you think?
Both Donovan and Chris look towards the fourth person that has been present this entire time, seated in a chair opposite Chris on the other side of Donovan.
Zeke: This should be fun.
Donovan nods.
Hastings: That much is inevitable.
Donovan sits on his throne inside his office in the Dungeon of Pain gymnasium and training facility. To the side is Chris Peterson, seated in his own chair with clipboard in hand. Seated across from Donovan is his lone female student, Joy Asiago. She glances at Chris before carefully considering her answer.
Joy: Because Sir Peterson told me to come in here and see you.
Hastings: Yes, well, granted, that is not a terrible answer, but I meant why are you here at the Dungeon of Pain at all? You're a bit old to start learning to compete in the ring.
Joy: To be honest, I'm not really interested in being an in-ring competitor.
Hastings: Given then that Edwards was removed from his position on the Consortium this week, an accomplishment I achieved without your help, and my entire reason for having you here was for potential insights you could give me into him and his madness, it begs the question of why you should continue to stay. Did you sign my petition?
Joy: What petition?
Chris: She did.
Joy: We all signed a blank piece of paper the first day.
Hastings: Yes, that was it, we filled in rest of it later. Well, that's one feather in your cap, I suppose. To be perfectly honest, however, I'm not sure what further you have to offer us here. You see, Joy, eventually everybody comes around to my way of thinking. Do you know who came to see me today? Ezekiel Pax. Now, that might shock a lot of people. After all, we were just in direct conflict with each other a few weeks ago, and there is that matter of the misunderstanding with his church last year. But Zeke is a big enough person to see past all that, as am I. His disciple, Ezra Wade, has a shred of potential, but has been unable to locate it. He brought this neophyte before me, and he will be joining your class. Of course, a spot here is something that comes at a premium, so it begs the question of why, when I no longer need you for Moss and you don't really want to actually fight anybody, why should you stay here?
Joy: I've never taken no for an answer.
Hastings: I should think you haven't heard it much. But I still don't know what it is you want here.
Joy: I've always said that my goal is to be the leading name in sports marketing. That's really what you're all about here, that was what was at the heart of your lesson to us last week, what was at the center of the "homework assignment" that you gave us all. You want us to focus on marketing ourselves.
She hesitates, but Donovan nods his head.
Hastings: Perhaps there is hope for you after all.
Joy: That's what I have to offer you. I can help turn this group into something that people want to watch. You're a creative mind, there is no doubt about that, but where you are weak is in the area of market research. You're not always in touch with what people want to see.
Chris winces in his chair.
Joy: I mean, take "The Athlican" for example. Not sure how good a ring that has to it.
Chris: Joy, the Lord does not need to be-
Hastings: It's okay. I will hear her out.
Joy: Well, I get the athlete part of it, but Paul is an Aussie, isn't there a value in highlighting that?
Hastings: Because that's worked for him so far. What you need to understand, my dear, is that people do not know what they want. They never do. If you give them what they want, all that happens is they want something else, to fill the void that is still left behind, because what people want and what people need is often very, very different.
Joy: Maybe, but with this company heading to Paul's home country in a couple weeks, you want to publicly divorce him from that country?
Hastings: That is entirely the point. Paul Cockatoo has a reputation, and known associations. They have gotten him nothing. Where better to establish the new Paul Cockatoo, "The Athlican" Paul Cockatoo, than in a place where people are most likely to stand up and take notice. For the first time in his career, there is a chance that people will leave an arena and actually make a comment to each other about Paul Cockatoo.
Chris: Amazing.
Hastings: Simply spectacular, I know. Tell me, Peasant Joy, given your background, you should know the answer to this. Is there such thing as "bad" publicity?
Joy: ...no.
Hastings: No, there isn't. If people leave the arena and they talk about us, we've done our job. If people react to us, we've done our job. People don't always react to what they think they want. They react to what we know they need.
Donovan shifts on the throne, thinking for a moment.
Hastings: I've changed my mind, Miss Asiago. I think that perhaps there is a place for you here after all. This Monday night on Synergy, Owen has told me I am slated to face Zane Scott. I don't know who that is, nor do I much care, but I understand he might be of the violent and unhinged sort. Normally I would be accompanied to such an encounter by the Mistress of Pain herself, but Cal will be otherwise occupied this week, babysitting her useless heap of a temporary partner. You will accompany me instead.
Joy: Me?
Chris: Her?
Hastings: Indeed. This is your role. You aspire to be a marketer, a promoter? You're about to be a manager.
Joy: Zane Scott is dangerous!
Hastings: I am dangerous. Scott and his cohorts exist in UGWC at my pleasure. UGWC itself exists at my pleasure. The Consortium, restructed as it may be, is crumbling. The Dungeon of Pain represents the new generation, a force unparalleled in this industry. Now excuse us, we have much to discuss, and I believe you still have a homework assignment to complete.
Joy stands, and Chris nods to her as she leaves. Donovan drums his fingers on the table for a moment.
Hastings: What do you think?
Both Donovan and Chris look towards the fourth person that has been present this entire time, seated in a chair opposite Chris on the other side of Donovan.
Zeke: This should be fun.
Donovan nods.
Hastings: That much is inevitable.
x2
