Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Sept 6, 2013 15:30:30 GMT -5
The sun set's directly down the middle of the stunning glass windows that stretch from floor to ceiling, the view from this main reception area is stunning, the sun is reflected in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, a sight taken straight from many a romantic tale.
But our purpose here is not to admire the view, inside the vast reception area sits a long table, and sat around this table are three people who have been labelled 'The Undesirables' by their own team captain. The Natural Born Killer sits still as a statue, Forewell Boding's eyes are continually scanning the room and Victoria Jensen sits looking from one of her colleagues to the other, most likely wondering what she has let herself in for.
They are not the only inhabitants of the room, eD cASe and Nathan Specter are both stood further back, Nathan is focused on his Blackberry, and eD is pacing up and down muttering to himself every now and then.
It is at this moment that the reason each of these people are here decides to make an appearance. A pair of double doors swing open and in walks 'The Blessed One' Travis Roberts, dressed in jeans and a Monster Magnet tour t-shirt he takes a few steps into the room, and stops.
He scans the room from underneath his trademark Aviators, looking from each member of the table and then back to eD, he does this a few times before he decides to speak.
Travis – 'When did 'The Headliner' grant you permission to have house guests?'
eD – 'Well..'
Travis just raises his hand and takes his eyes of eD.
Travis – ''The Blessed One' doesn't need an explanation for your gross misjudgement of privaleges. Just tell me who these...people?...are.
eD – 'They're your team mates for Outlast. You know that.
Travis looks from eD and then back to the three individuals who for some reason remain silent. Travis cocks his head as if trying to remember, and then runs his hand over his mouth.
Travis – 'So that wasn't a bad dream?'
At this point Victoria flashes her smile and speaks up.
Victoria – 'Nope, I'm afraid your stuck with us!'
She laughs and smiles, and it is indeed a noble attempt to break the atmosphere that has built up in the room, it clearly does not work in the case of 'The Headliner'. He looks over the rim of his Aviators at Victoria, and then looks back towards his agent raising his eyebrows...
Travis – 'That's the Jet Somers fan, right?'
eD just nods.
Travis – 'So now that we've established their identities, why, pray tell, are they gathered in the home of 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia'?'
For the first time since he arrived and sat down The Killer moves, he turns his head towards Roberts and speaks.
NBK – 'Forewell said there would be...cake.'
Travis looks back to eD and this time he raises just the one eyebrow.
eD – 'It's a long story...'
Nathan looks up from his phone.
Nate – 'And I think we've flogged that horse to death...'
eD – 'They're here to talk about Monday..'
Travis raises both eyebrows once more and sighs deeply before shaking his head as he walks over to the rest of the group.
Well crafted mahogany bookcases line the walls, an antique style globe stands in the corner of the room, the main note to the interior decorator was one word; 'brown'. There is a desk, filled with papers and an authentic ink well and quill sat in stark contrast next to a high end MacBook, two comfortable high back, leather armchairs are positioned in the room, one is occupied. A man in his late forties, early fifties sits, glasses on the end of his nose with a notepad and pen in hand.
Opposite, laid out on a a leather couch is Travis Roberts, the object of the other man's attention.
Travis – 'Thanks for seeing 'The Blessed One' at such short notice. Dr Ziegler.'
Dr Ziegler – 'You know you can call me Stanley, and you didn't really give me much choice, you managed to cancel my pre-existing appointment.'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts is a busy man, 'The Headliner' is confident the Senator's schedule will be easier to re-arrange.'
Stanley scribbles something down in his notes before speaking.
Stanley – 'So Travis, how are you, it's been quite some time since our last session, a number of years in fact.'
Travis smiles...
Travis – ''The Blessed One' is in the process of making a triumphant return to the world of Sports Entertainment...'
Stanley – 'I'm aware...'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts is touched that you continue to follow his career with such interest, it's not surprising however, this personality is incredibly infectious.'
Stanley smiles and makes another note.
Stanley – 'GIW became a very healthy income stream for me, due to that I've taken a keen interest in your industry since you first walked into my office, I assure you it's purely a business interest. So what else is going on in your life.'
Travis – ''The TWiSTeD Icon' has a new beach front abode, he hasn't heard from that cursed ex-wife of his in years, and he's back where he belongs, really life couldn't be better...'
Stanley – 'Yet here you are...'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'Yeah, 'The Blessed One' is at a loss to explain that himself, but he's pretty sure it has something to do with his new 'partners'.'
Stanley's interest is piqued, few people know better than Travis' shrink just how badly he plays with others...
We rejoin the 'Team Meeting', and Vix is explaining the virtues of such an appointment.
Victoria – '...otherwise how else can we work together as a team? If we don't know what each other plan to do, what we expect of one another how can we even dream of being a well functioning group?'
Travis is leant back in his chair listening to what Victoria has to say, his hand stroking his beard.
Travis – 'That is where you're wrong, you three will flap around and get your asses handed to you, whilst 'The Blessed One' steals the show. Travis Roberts knows exactly what he can expect of all of you; not a lot.'
Victoria – 'How can you expect to progress if we're as useless as you are presuming.'
Travis sits upright now and leans into the table.
Travis – 'Firstly, each of you are undesirable, but you're not without use. Travis Roberts simply knows what three of the four that will be standing across that ring are capable of, and has seen enough of each of you to know that you're not ready for it...'
Victoria – 'Well then it really does suck to be you, huh? Your big return is destined to end in failure at the hands of a defeat to Zane Scott.'
Travis chuckles to himself.
Travis – 'What if 'The Blessed One' told you he harboured no ambitions of winning the World Heavyweight Championship on Monday? What if he told you he didn't expect to progress past the first match?'
Victoria – 'I'd say; That doesn't sound like the Travis Roberts that became a legend in the industry.'
Travis – 'But that would be because you're a Jet Somers fan, so inevitably you are prone to frequent bouts of CantDistinguishAssFromElbow-itus. 'The Blessed One', however, has impeccable cognitive reasoning skills, and he is aware of reality. Zane Scott has been a consistently dominant force in the industry for the past two years, he's put people out of commission, got away with having two monikers that start with 'The Personification of...' and Outlast could be the pinnacle of his journey to the top of the ladder.'
Travis – 'And on the other hand you have 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' who has spent the past two years living a life of luxury beyond your wildest dreams, met a lot of former Playmates of the Year, hasn't been seen in the media in well over a year, and at Outlast he will be stepping inside the ring for the first time since December 2010. Travis Roberts is not as dumb as the company he keeps suggests, 'The Blessed One' is aware he's closer to 40 than 30, and he's been in the business long enough to know two and a half years is a long time.'
Victoria – 'Then how do you expect to steal the show.'
Travis leans back in his chair once more, this time raising his legs onto the desk.
Travis – 'That's the easy bit, Travis Roberts just has to show up to achieve that...'
Back in the office of Doctor Stanley Ziegler we rejoin Travis' session.
Stanley – 'So you're not entering with unrealistic expectations, that's definitely a new attitude for you. But that doesn't explain why your new associates gave cause for you to visit me.'
Travis sits up on the couch, he leans forward, his arms resting on his legs, and he takes of his glasses.
Travis – 'What if she's right?'
Stanley – 'I don't follow'
Travis – 'Well firstly we have to somehow circumnavigate the paradoxical issue of a Jet Somers fan contributing something remotely useful to the universe. Putting that aside, what if 'The Headliner' should have loftier ambitions coming into Outlast, after all we are talking about the 3 Time GIW Global Heavyweight Champion, the longest reigning champion in that company's rich history, the most title defences, a man who has excelled in any environment thrown at him, from Deathmatches of Doom to the Battleground cell. Why shouldn't Travis Roberts set his sights on the World Heavyweight Championship'
Stanley - 'Well, you've answered that already, you haven't been in a ring in years.'
Travis – 'But that doesn't cut it, 'The Blessed One' is not 'The Personification of Wishful Thinking' he truly is blessed. This is a challenge that should not phase 'The Headliner', yet the goals for Monday night remain so low.'
Stanley puts his pen and paper aside and sits forward, we see he was only doodling rather than making notes, but now he's come across something he's not familiar with.
Stanley – 'Are you telling me, that you, Travis Roberts, are having a crisis of confidence?'
Forewell has decided that now is about the right time for him to insert his won way of thinking into the group collective.
Forewell - ’No, I’m not buying this. If you’re not looking to win the title, why are we here, it’s clear that for some reason some unknown mystery force wishes us to sacrifice our own dignities and reputations for the advancement of yours, that doesn’t add up with what you’re saying. On top of that, you’ve always got some kind of plan.’
Travis can only smirk once more, his feet still elevated on the table.
Travis -’It’s a very rare occasion that the Jet Somers fans is not the most mentally challenged person in the room, but then again they’re rarely in a room with other people at all. However retarded your statements are Forewell, they suggest a need to explain even more clearly just why Travis Roberts has no interest in going after Eden Morgan’s fashion accessory on Monday.’
Forewell – ’Ah, you see, you’re trying to downplay your interest in the title in an attempt to divert our attention elsewhere.’
Travis – ’You give yourselves too much credit, if ‘The Blessed One’ wanted to distract the three of you all he’d need do is retrieve something either shiny or bouncy from around his person, he certainly would not have to think of an elaborate plan to achieve it.’
Forewell – ’Or if we were getting close to exposing the truth you’d just hurl a barrage of insults at us in the hope we’ll back down and stop challenging you. But you’ve forgotten who I am, the world’s most determined investigator, and forgotten that I know how much respect you have for World Heavyweight Championships.’
It is at this point that Travis can’t help take his feet off the table and bend forward whilst letting out a hearty stomach laugh. It takes him a little while to recover his composure before he responds.
Travis – ’Respect? What in the name of TWiSTeD is there for ‘The Headliner’ to respect? Since ‘The Blessed One’ left this company and business Jet Somers has held that title, not once, but twice! The first time around he lost it to the Beta Travis, and the second time he lost it to a young girl who’d been in the business for two minutes, Travis thought Somers was meant to be a cross sports legend?’
Travis – ‘What’s worse than that is the fact that isn’t even the pinnacle of the Championships lack of prestige. Think about it this way, Zane Scott, one of the sport’s most dominant competitors, has not held the title in those 2 years, but Ezekiel ‘Once thought he was a fucking Fallen Angel’ Pax has! Not to mention the fact a rampant, raping hobo, who was little more than ‘The Blessed Ones’ pet when he left, is the longest reigning champion in UGWC’s history.
Travis – ’And to top that, when Phrixus Deimos lost the title to Ezekiel Pax, he was so aware of the continued degradation of the World Title, he decided to turn his attentions back to the Cross-Hemisphere Title and it’s respective ‘glory’.’
Travis – ’So since ‘The Headliner’ retreated into his hiatus the World Heavyweight Champions have been, in order, Somers, Beta Travis, ‘The TWiSTeD Icons’ old pet, Deimos, Pax, Moss Edwards, Somers again and finally Eden Morgan. With all the greatest respect to Eden, who is doing all she can to drag the titles honour out from the depths of the gutter it has found itself in, it’s hardly the summit of the business anymore, is it?’
Travis does not wait for his team to respond, as it was clearly a rhetorical question.
Travis – ’So even if ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia’ was interested in taking that strap of gold from Eden’s waist, the world isn’t ready for such a jarring transition, when you’re used to eating Burger King for your entire life, a prime steak is going to cause considerable problems to your bowel movements. Of course Travis Roberts is more than ready to be the standard bearer of this company, it’s just the fans, nor the title, would be able to cope with such a huge jump in quality, it would blow their tiny minds.’
Victoria – 'Sounds like BS to me, I think you know your not ready to be Champion and are just making excuses to hide the fact your half the man you used to be.'
Travis just smiles and takes of his glasses, for this first time since she first met him Vix gets to see his deep blue eyes.
Travis – 'The question's not 'Is Travis Roberts ready to be UGWC World Heavyweight Champion?', no the question is; 'Is UGWC ready for Travis Roberts as it's World Heavyweight Champion.'
Back in the psychiatrists office Stanley has just finished hearing Travis recollect his views on the World Championship.
Stanley – 'But she's right isn't she? You are concerned about your ability to recapture that championship. But you do, despite your protests. want it.'
Travis – 'Of course 'The Headliner' wants to be World Heavyweight Champion, why else would he have returned? If your not in the industry to become the very best, something is wrong with you. Travis Roberts strives on being the man to beat, the responsibility of representing an entire company and legacy is what drives 'The TWiSTeD Guerilla' to the heights he is legendary for.'
Stanley – 'Then why the concerted efforts to keep such a fact quiet.'
Travis – 'Because it will define 'The Headliner', and if he fails, what does that make him? It's not only been over two and a half years since Travis Roberts stepped foot in a ring, but it was December 2009 that he was last a World Champion, to the fans of today that was an era ago, it means next to nothing. To come back and decree that 'The Blessed One' is back to once again be the top dog, would just make any loss at Outlast would devastate the momentum of his return. It would be a ridiculous risk...'
Stanley – 'But do you think you could?'
Travis slumps back in the couch and shrugs his shoulders.
Travis – 'Who knows? 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' will have a better idea after his first match, who better to have as a measuring stick of your current abilities than Zane Scott? 'The Personification of Personification' is at the top of his game right now, it's only a matter of time before he is World Champion, given this will be Travis Roberts' first run out in years, retaining the ability to feel the lower half of his body could be considered a positive result.'
Stanley – 'Outlast has come to soon, that's not really anything you should worry about, no-one can expect you to reach those former heights in such a short time space.'
Travis – 'They wanted 'The TWiSTeD Icon' to return at WrestleStock last month...'
Stanley raises his eyebrows now, this is an interesting new revelation.
Stanley – 'Then why didn't you?'
Travis – 'You're the professional, it shouldn't be hard to work it out for yourself.'
Stanley – 'I see, the more time you were back, the more in-ring practice you would get, the higher expectations would become.'
Travis – 'Instead 'The Blessed One' stalled until the very last minute then insisted Synergy was no place for him to make a return.'
Stanley – 'Which meant you had even less opportunity to warm up for the event, and an obvious, and understandable reason for failing. I'd say that was a smart, if deceitful, way of handling the situation...'
Travis – 'It is, but it's not the Travis Roberts way. 'The Blessed One' has never cared about defeats, and cared even less about what people thought of him...'
Stanley – 'But that was when you were in the ring on a consistent basis, that was back when you had already forged a legacy. Now you are starting out afresh, almost from scratch, it's more than healthy to have these thoughts of uncertainty.'
Travis – 'Trust Travis Roberts when he tells you there is nothing healthy about laying awake at night obsessing about how the fans of today have come to accept the likes of Jet Somers, Beta Travis, Phrixus Deimos and Ezekiel Pax as the standard bearers of their generation. How can 'The Blessed One' try and fight a war against something he just cannot comprehend? The industry has changed immeasurably in the last two and a half years, the sort of fans that would never have looked twice at UGWC before are now snapping up the merchandise and flocking to shows. The world is a very different place, does 'The Headliner' even fit in it any more?'
Back in Travis Roberts reception room it's NBK who now has something to say.
NBK – 'I want...Zane Scott.'
Travis – 'And he wants you too apparently, which means he must know enough about 'The Headliner' to know to respect his opponents, but he clearly overestimates the worth of the rest of you. Even 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' has too limited a power to carry this team past what he has lined up.'
NBK – 'You enjoy...belittling us, but we see no-one else at your side, no-one willing to help you on this crusade of a return...many would expect you to be...grateful.'
And yet another laugh from Travis.
Travis – 'Grateful? For what, exactly? Everyone knows that each and every one of you are hanging on to Travis Roberts' coat tails, you've all seen what being associated with 'The Blessed One' can earn you. Only three competitors have ever spent significant time with 'The TWiSTeD Icon' in this industry, Declan Prescott; Two Time Global Champion, One time UGWC World Heavyweight Champion. Donovan Hastings; GIW Global Champion, Two Time UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, and 'The Blessed Ones' former pet, Tyvola; Longest reigning UGWC World Heavyweight Champion in history. It pays to know 'Th Headliner''
NBK – 'We won't deny...you are useful for us, but only because we want...Zane Scott...after Outlast we see no further purpose for you...'
Travis now decides to stand from his chair and light a pre-rolled.
Travis – 'At least we're on the same page there. However 'The Headliner' isn't sure Zane Scott will be too interested in tangling with you, it's more probable he'll ensure Ichabod or Raenius get that pleasure, no, Scott will want to take 'The Headliner' out himself. If Monday night pans out how he wants, it's possible he'll have to beat a young girl to become Champion, and no matter how determined, how tough spirited and resilient Eden Morgan is, she is still a rookie. Will beating her really be a fitting crowning moment? Maybe, but if he can beat 'The TWiSTeD Icon' on route to his coronation, that would be something truly historical.'
NBK now stands up and fronts up to Travis.
NBK – 'We...want...SCOTT!
Travis exhales directly into The Killer's masked face.
Travis – 'Sit down boy. Did 'The Headliner' say he'd stand in your way? But as skilled and talented as 'The Blessed One' is, the ability to control the actions of another quite so directly is not in his tool kit. If you can distract Zane Scott from legacy, destiny and history, all displayed to him in one package, you're more than welcome to him. As Travis Roberts already pointed out, the minute he walks through that curtain, his job is as good as done.'
NBK retreats back to his seat and Travis remains standing, with a grin still present on his face.
Stanley is now pacing up and down in the room, intently listening to what his patient has to say, his hand rested on his chin in a recognisably studious manner.
Stanley – 'But you don't want NBK to take Scott, do you? You want to beat him, you want to prove to the world you still have it?'
Travis is momentarily silent, a rare occurrence, he looks around the room for a while.
Travis – 'But what if that doesn't matter?'
Stanley – 'I don't see how he couldn't, you've said it yourself, he's been dominant for a long while, a win over one of the top guys in the company, in your first match back, it'd be a pretty big deal, I would think.'
Travis – 'What if 'The Headliner' is no longer relevant enough for it to matter? What if the story is 'Zane Scott in shock defeat to relic of past'? How many people in Ohio purchased tickets on the back of 'The Blessed One'?'
Stanley – 'Given you were announced so late, I imagine most of the tickets were already sold, that's not a reflection on you.'
Travis – 'But it is a reflection of the fans, they bought tickets to see Eden Morgan, Seito Risa, Zane Scott, even Jordan King probably has some distant family in the area, the name Travis Roberts didn't enter the equation. What if it never will? What if it's too late?'
Stanley stops stroking his chin, taken aback somewhat by what he just heard.
Stanley – 'I've never heard you be so defeatist, even hypothetically. I know you don't truly believe that is the case, you would never have agreed to return if you didn't think you could succeed, no matter the odds.'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts has been around long enough to know that thinking something doesn't make it so, if it did JK would not only be World Heavyweight Champion since 2009, he'd also have multiple platinum albums to his name. What if 'The Blessed One' is wrong, what if he can't make a successful return. It wouldn't be the first time 'The TWiSTeD Icon' has been wrong, the name Mary-Joanna proves that much.'
Stanley makes a 'hmmmm' sound but does not elaborate.
Travis – 'What?'
Stanley – 'Why did you bring your Ex-Wife up?'
Travis – 'Because she's the biggest, most undeniable example of just how wrong Travis Roberts can be.'
Stanley – 'But she has nothing to do with this. Mistakes in your personal life hardly prove anything about decisions in your professional life.'
Travis – ''The Blessed One' does not do things by half, he's back in the industry, this is his life now, personal and professional. Besides, it's not like she had nothing to do with the business.'
Stanley – 'Maybe that's the problem...'
Travis is ushering the others out of their seats.
Travis – 'As much pleasure as Travis Roberts has extracted from this ordeal, it's pretty clear it's run its course. 'The Blessed One' is sure you all have more valuable things to do than remain here being proved wrong over and over again, 'The TWiSTeD Icon' certainly does.'
Victoria is clearly not happy, she stomps over to Travis, pointing her chin out and jutting her face up towards his.
Victoria – 'The biggest match of all our careers is just a couple of nights away, it's as important for you to re-establish yourself as it is us, do you really think this is going to have helped us work as a team?'
Travis – 'What did you expect?'
Victoria – 'I don't know, I didn't have any preconceived notions of how this would pan out, but I expected more than you shooting down anything we had to say?'
Travis – 'So you expected anything different? What could any of you possibly offer 'The Blessed One' in terms of insight or tactics? Travis Roberts can tell you exactly what you were hoping for. You thought there would be cake and drinks and camaraderie. You wanted us all to bond, all to realise we were the family we never knew we could have. You wanted some BS feel good movie played out in real life. Sorry kid, but that's just not how life works.'
Victoria reaches up and unleashes a slap right across Travis Roberts face, knocking his Aviators off his face and causing him to stop smiling for the first time all night.
Victoiria – 'Do not patronise me. You've been talking down to us all night, judging us based on some two dimensional description you got eD to retrieve from some smart marks site, you're no better than the people you despise, you pay no attention to anything but yourself! Did I think 72 hours from Outlast we'd magically become some well oiled machine? Of course I didn't, none of us even thought that would happen over two weeks, but we did think it might be worth coming and at least trying to co-exist when we get in that ring. Sure Outlast is unpredictable, it's pretty much useless to try and plan for anything, but that doesn't mean we should make life difficult by turning our team into another unknown variable!'
Travis Roberts just stands in silence as Victoria marches towards the door, Forewell and Nbk following behind her, she swings it open and looks back.
Victoria – 'I hope you get your wish and Zane Scott does beat you, I just hope he does it quick so we can try and do the best we can without your damn ego tripping us up along the way.'
She storms out of the door, followed by the other two members of her team and Nate who signals to eD he ight want to say something to Travis who hasn't moved a muscle since he received that stinging right hand from Victoria. eD approaches slowly and with a fair amount of trepidation. He speaks very softly.
eD – 'So I guess that went as well as we could have ex...'
Travis turns his de-Aviatored head towards his agent.
Travis – 'Just get OUT!'
eD without a moments hesitation scurries away and out of the front door, he can't remember the last time he saw Travis like this, but he knew it was best to just leave, as quickly as possible.
Stanley is now sitting down again, leaning forward towards Travis, and the room is still brown.
Stanley – 'So how was your time off?'
Travis – 'Exactly how you'd expect, a lot of partying, a lot of gigs, a lot of relaxing, lots of sun, lots of merriment, every man's dream really.'
Stanley – 'Did you miss the business?'
Travis looks his shrink directly in the eyes.
Travis – 'Every day.'
Stanley – 'Did you make any friends?'
Travis laughs.
Travis – ''The Blessed One' hasn't been asked that since the first day of kindergarten. Travis Roberts makes friends no matter where he goes, he's the heart and soul of the party.'
Stanley – 'Did you meet anyone you let in, anyone special enough to get to know the real you.'
Travis – 'It's a rare occasion someone is worthy of such trust, you should know that all too well Doc.'
Stanley – 'Have you ever considered that could be your problem.'
Again Travis laughs.
Travis – 'You still don't understand my profession do you, that's my strength.
Stanley – 'But it's very unhealthy for your personal life, and you said it yourself you don't seem to be able to separate that from your professional life.'
Travis – 'We all have to make sacrifices, and the one time 'The Headliner' did show someone his trust in his personal life they ripped out his heart and used it as a hug toy with another.'
Stanley – 'That's life Travis, you get hurt, you learn. You can't go through it without letting anyone else in, you just can't.'
Travis – 'There is no other choice.'
Stanley flops back into his chair and sighs, he stares at the ceiling for a few moments, both men in silence, before he asks his final question.
Stanley – 'Are you lonely Travis?'
Travis looks shocked at the question and he just stands up and walks towards the door, he opens it and before leaving he looks back into the office and directly at Stanley.
Travis – 'More than you can imagine.'
And with that he leaves his psychiatrists office.
But our purpose here is not to admire the view, inside the vast reception area sits a long table, and sat around this table are three people who have been labelled 'The Undesirables' by their own team captain. The Natural Born Killer sits still as a statue, Forewell Boding's eyes are continually scanning the room and Victoria Jensen sits looking from one of her colleagues to the other, most likely wondering what she has let herself in for.
They are not the only inhabitants of the room, eD cASe and Nathan Specter are both stood further back, Nathan is focused on his Blackberry, and eD is pacing up and down muttering to himself every now and then.
It is at this moment that the reason each of these people are here decides to make an appearance. A pair of double doors swing open and in walks 'The Blessed One' Travis Roberts, dressed in jeans and a Monster Magnet tour t-shirt he takes a few steps into the room, and stops.
He scans the room from underneath his trademark Aviators, looking from each member of the table and then back to eD, he does this a few times before he decides to speak.
Travis – 'When did 'The Headliner' grant you permission to have house guests?'
eD – 'Well..'
Travis just raises his hand and takes his eyes of eD.
Travis – ''The Blessed One' doesn't need an explanation for your gross misjudgement of privaleges. Just tell me who these...people?...are.
eD – 'They're your team mates for Outlast. You know that.
Travis looks from eD and then back to the three individuals who for some reason remain silent. Travis cocks his head as if trying to remember, and then runs his hand over his mouth.
Travis – 'So that wasn't a bad dream?'
At this point Victoria flashes her smile and speaks up.
Victoria – 'Nope, I'm afraid your stuck with us!'
She laughs and smiles, and it is indeed a noble attempt to break the atmosphere that has built up in the room, it clearly does not work in the case of 'The Headliner'. He looks over the rim of his Aviators at Victoria, and then looks back towards his agent raising his eyebrows...
Travis – 'That's the Jet Somers fan, right?'
eD just nods.
Travis – 'So now that we've established their identities, why, pray tell, are they gathered in the home of 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia'?'
For the first time since he arrived and sat down The Killer moves, he turns his head towards Roberts and speaks.
NBK – 'Forewell said there would be...cake.'
Travis looks back to eD and this time he raises just the one eyebrow.
eD – 'It's a long story...'
Nathan looks up from his phone.
Nate – 'And I think we've flogged that horse to death...'
eD – 'They're here to talk about Monday..'
Travis raises both eyebrows once more and sighs deeply before shaking his head as he walks over to the rest of the group.
~~~
Well crafted mahogany bookcases line the walls, an antique style globe stands in the corner of the room, the main note to the interior decorator was one word; 'brown'. There is a desk, filled with papers and an authentic ink well and quill sat in stark contrast next to a high end MacBook, two comfortable high back, leather armchairs are positioned in the room, one is occupied. A man in his late forties, early fifties sits, glasses on the end of his nose with a notepad and pen in hand.
Opposite, laid out on a a leather couch is Travis Roberts, the object of the other man's attention.
Travis – 'Thanks for seeing 'The Blessed One' at such short notice. Dr Ziegler.'
Dr Ziegler – 'You know you can call me Stanley, and you didn't really give me much choice, you managed to cancel my pre-existing appointment.'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts is a busy man, 'The Headliner' is confident the Senator's schedule will be easier to re-arrange.'
Stanley scribbles something down in his notes before speaking.
Stanley – 'So Travis, how are you, it's been quite some time since our last session, a number of years in fact.'
Travis smiles...
Travis – ''The Blessed One' is in the process of making a triumphant return to the world of Sports Entertainment...'
Stanley – 'I'm aware...'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts is touched that you continue to follow his career with such interest, it's not surprising however, this personality is incredibly infectious.'
Stanley smiles and makes another note.
Stanley – 'GIW became a very healthy income stream for me, due to that I've taken a keen interest in your industry since you first walked into my office, I assure you it's purely a business interest. So what else is going on in your life.'
Travis – ''The TWiSTeD Icon' has a new beach front abode, he hasn't heard from that cursed ex-wife of his in years, and he's back where he belongs, really life couldn't be better...'
Stanley – 'Yet here you are...'
Travis smiles.
Travis – 'Yeah, 'The Blessed One' is at a loss to explain that himself, but he's pretty sure it has something to do with his new 'partners'.'
Stanley's interest is piqued, few people know better than Travis' shrink just how badly he plays with others...
~~~
We rejoin the 'Team Meeting', and Vix is explaining the virtues of such an appointment.
Victoria – '...otherwise how else can we work together as a team? If we don't know what each other plan to do, what we expect of one another how can we even dream of being a well functioning group?'
Travis is leant back in his chair listening to what Victoria has to say, his hand stroking his beard.
Travis – 'That is where you're wrong, you three will flap around and get your asses handed to you, whilst 'The Blessed One' steals the show. Travis Roberts knows exactly what he can expect of all of you; not a lot.'
Victoria – 'How can you expect to progress if we're as useless as you are presuming.'
Travis sits upright now and leans into the table.
Travis – 'Firstly, each of you are undesirable, but you're not without use. Travis Roberts simply knows what three of the four that will be standing across that ring are capable of, and has seen enough of each of you to know that you're not ready for it...'
Victoria – 'Well then it really does suck to be you, huh? Your big return is destined to end in failure at the hands of a defeat to Zane Scott.'
Travis chuckles to himself.
Travis – 'What if 'The Blessed One' told you he harboured no ambitions of winning the World Heavyweight Championship on Monday? What if he told you he didn't expect to progress past the first match?'
Victoria – 'I'd say; That doesn't sound like the Travis Roberts that became a legend in the industry.'
Travis – 'But that would be because you're a Jet Somers fan, so inevitably you are prone to frequent bouts of CantDistinguishAssFromElbow-itus. 'The Blessed One', however, has impeccable cognitive reasoning skills, and he is aware of reality. Zane Scott has been a consistently dominant force in the industry for the past two years, he's put people out of commission, got away with having two monikers that start with 'The Personification of...' and Outlast could be the pinnacle of his journey to the top of the ladder.'
Travis – 'And on the other hand you have 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' who has spent the past two years living a life of luxury beyond your wildest dreams, met a lot of former Playmates of the Year, hasn't been seen in the media in well over a year, and at Outlast he will be stepping inside the ring for the first time since December 2010. Travis Roberts is not as dumb as the company he keeps suggests, 'The Blessed One' is aware he's closer to 40 than 30, and he's been in the business long enough to know two and a half years is a long time.'
Victoria – 'Then how do you expect to steal the show.'
Travis leans back in his chair once more, this time raising his legs onto the desk.
Travis – 'That's the easy bit, Travis Roberts just has to show up to achieve that...'
~~~
Back in the office of Doctor Stanley Ziegler we rejoin Travis' session.
Stanley – 'So you're not entering with unrealistic expectations, that's definitely a new attitude for you. But that doesn't explain why your new associates gave cause for you to visit me.'
Travis sits up on the couch, he leans forward, his arms resting on his legs, and he takes of his glasses.
Travis – 'What if she's right?'
Stanley – 'I don't follow'
Travis – 'Well firstly we have to somehow circumnavigate the paradoxical issue of a Jet Somers fan contributing something remotely useful to the universe. Putting that aside, what if 'The Headliner' should have loftier ambitions coming into Outlast, after all we are talking about the 3 Time GIW Global Heavyweight Champion, the longest reigning champion in that company's rich history, the most title defences, a man who has excelled in any environment thrown at him, from Deathmatches of Doom to the Battleground cell. Why shouldn't Travis Roberts set his sights on the World Heavyweight Championship'
Stanley - 'Well, you've answered that already, you haven't been in a ring in years.'
Travis – 'But that doesn't cut it, 'The Blessed One' is not 'The Personification of Wishful Thinking' he truly is blessed. This is a challenge that should not phase 'The Headliner', yet the goals for Monday night remain so low.'
Stanley puts his pen and paper aside and sits forward, we see he was only doodling rather than making notes, but now he's come across something he's not familiar with.
Stanley – 'Are you telling me, that you, Travis Roberts, are having a crisis of confidence?'
~~~
Forewell has decided that now is about the right time for him to insert his won way of thinking into the group collective.
Forewell - ’No, I’m not buying this. If you’re not looking to win the title, why are we here, it’s clear that for some reason some unknown mystery force wishes us to sacrifice our own dignities and reputations for the advancement of yours, that doesn’t add up with what you’re saying. On top of that, you’ve always got some kind of plan.’
Travis can only smirk once more, his feet still elevated on the table.
Travis -’It’s a very rare occasion that the Jet Somers fans is not the most mentally challenged person in the room, but then again they’re rarely in a room with other people at all. However retarded your statements are Forewell, they suggest a need to explain even more clearly just why Travis Roberts has no interest in going after Eden Morgan’s fashion accessory on Monday.’
Forewell – ’Ah, you see, you’re trying to downplay your interest in the title in an attempt to divert our attention elsewhere.’
Travis – ’You give yourselves too much credit, if ‘The Blessed One’ wanted to distract the three of you all he’d need do is retrieve something either shiny or bouncy from around his person, he certainly would not have to think of an elaborate plan to achieve it.’
Forewell – ’Or if we were getting close to exposing the truth you’d just hurl a barrage of insults at us in the hope we’ll back down and stop challenging you. But you’ve forgotten who I am, the world’s most determined investigator, and forgotten that I know how much respect you have for World Heavyweight Championships.’
It is at this point that Travis can’t help take his feet off the table and bend forward whilst letting out a hearty stomach laugh. It takes him a little while to recover his composure before he responds.
Travis – ’Respect? What in the name of TWiSTeD is there for ‘The Headliner’ to respect? Since ‘The Blessed One’ left this company and business Jet Somers has held that title, not once, but twice! The first time around he lost it to the Beta Travis, and the second time he lost it to a young girl who’d been in the business for two minutes, Travis thought Somers was meant to be a cross sports legend?’
Travis – ‘What’s worse than that is the fact that isn’t even the pinnacle of the Championships lack of prestige. Think about it this way, Zane Scott, one of the sport’s most dominant competitors, has not held the title in those 2 years, but Ezekiel ‘Once thought he was a fucking Fallen Angel’ Pax has! Not to mention the fact a rampant, raping hobo, who was little more than ‘The Blessed Ones’ pet when he left, is the longest reigning champion in UGWC’s history.
Travis – ’And to top that, when Phrixus Deimos lost the title to Ezekiel Pax, he was so aware of the continued degradation of the World Title, he decided to turn his attentions back to the Cross-Hemisphere Title and it’s respective ‘glory’.’
Travis – ’So since ‘The Headliner’ retreated into his hiatus the World Heavyweight Champions have been, in order, Somers, Beta Travis, ‘The TWiSTeD Icons’ old pet, Deimos, Pax, Moss Edwards, Somers again and finally Eden Morgan. With all the greatest respect to Eden, who is doing all she can to drag the titles honour out from the depths of the gutter it has found itself in, it’s hardly the summit of the business anymore, is it?’
Travis does not wait for his team to respond, as it was clearly a rhetorical question.
Travis – ’So even if ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia’ was interested in taking that strap of gold from Eden’s waist, the world isn’t ready for such a jarring transition, when you’re used to eating Burger King for your entire life, a prime steak is going to cause considerable problems to your bowel movements. Of course Travis Roberts is more than ready to be the standard bearer of this company, it’s just the fans, nor the title, would be able to cope with such a huge jump in quality, it would blow their tiny minds.’
Victoria – 'Sounds like BS to me, I think you know your not ready to be Champion and are just making excuses to hide the fact your half the man you used to be.'
Travis just smiles and takes of his glasses, for this first time since she first met him Vix gets to see his deep blue eyes.
Travis – 'The question's not 'Is Travis Roberts ready to be UGWC World Heavyweight Champion?', no the question is; 'Is UGWC ready for Travis Roberts as it's World Heavyweight Champion.'
~~~
Back in the psychiatrists office Stanley has just finished hearing Travis recollect his views on the World Championship.
Stanley – 'But she's right isn't she? You are concerned about your ability to recapture that championship. But you do, despite your protests. want it.'
Travis – 'Of course 'The Headliner' wants to be World Heavyweight Champion, why else would he have returned? If your not in the industry to become the very best, something is wrong with you. Travis Roberts strives on being the man to beat, the responsibility of representing an entire company and legacy is what drives 'The TWiSTeD Guerilla' to the heights he is legendary for.'
Stanley – 'Then why the concerted efforts to keep such a fact quiet.'
Travis – 'Because it will define 'The Headliner', and if he fails, what does that make him? It's not only been over two and a half years since Travis Roberts stepped foot in a ring, but it was December 2009 that he was last a World Champion, to the fans of today that was an era ago, it means next to nothing. To come back and decree that 'The Blessed One' is back to once again be the top dog, would just make any loss at Outlast would devastate the momentum of his return. It would be a ridiculous risk...'
Stanley – 'But do you think you could?'
Travis slumps back in the couch and shrugs his shoulders.
Travis – 'Who knows? 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' will have a better idea after his first match, who better to have as a measuring stick of your current abilities than Zane Scott? 'The Personification of Personification' is at the top of his game right now, it's only a matter of time before he is World Champion, given this will be Travis Roberts' first run out in years, retaining the ability to feel the lower half of his body could be considered a positive result.'
Stanley – 'Outlast has come to soon, that's not really anything you should worry about, no-one can expect you to reach those former heights in such a short time space.'
Travis – 'They wanted 'The TWiSTeD Icon' to return at WrestleStock last month...'
Stanley raises his eyebrows now, this is an interesting new revelation.
Stanley – 'Then why didn't you?'
Travis – 'You're the professional, it shouldn't be hard to work it out for yourself.'
Stanley – 'I see, the more time you were back, the more in-ring practice you would get, the higher expectations would become.'
Travis – 'Instead 'The Blessed One' stalled until the very last minute then insisted Synergy was no place for him to make a return.'
Stanley – 'Which meant you had even less opportunity to warm up for the event, and an obvious, and understandable reason for failing. I'd say that was a smart, if deceitful, way of handling the situation...'
Travis – 'It is, but it's not the Travis Roberts way. 'The Blessed One' has never cared about defeats, and cared even less about what people thought of him...'
Stanley – 'But that was when you were in the ring on a consistent basis, that was back when you had already forged a legacy. Now you are starting out afresh, almost from scratch, it's more than healthy to have these thoughts of uncertainty.'
Travis – 'Trust Travis Roberts when he tells you there is nothing healthy about laying awake at night obsessing about how the fans of today have come to accept the likes of Jet Somers, Beta Travis, Phrixus Deimos and Ezekiel Pax as the standard bearers of their generation. How can 'The Blessed One' try and fight a war against something he just cannot comprehend? The industry has changed immeasurably in the last two and a half years, the sort of fans that would never have looked twice at UGWC before are now snapping up the merchandise and flocking to shows. The world is a very different place, does 'The Headliner' even fit in it any more?'
~~~
Back in Travis Roberts reception room it's NBK who now has something to say.
NBK – 'I want...Zane Scott.'
Travis – 'And he wants you too apparently, which means he must know enough about 'The Headliner' to know to respect his opponents, but he clearly overestimates the worth of the rest of you. Even 'The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millennia' has too limited a power to carry this team past what he has lined up.'
NBK – 'You enjoy...belittling us, but we see no-one else at your side, no-one willing to help you on this crusade of a return...many would expect you to be...grateful.'
And yet another laugh from Travis.
Travis – 'Grateful? For what, exactly? Everyone knows that each and every one of you are hanging on to Travis Roberts' coat tails, you've all seen what being associated with 'The Blessed One' can earn you. Only three competitors have ever spent significant time with 'The TWiSTeD Icon' in this industry, Declan Prescott; Two Time Global Champion, One time UGWC World Heavyweight Champion. Donovan Hastings; GIW Global Champion, Two Time UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, and 'The Blessed Ones' former pet, Tyvola; Longest reigning UGWC World Heavyweight Champion in history. It pays to know 'Th Headliner''
NBK – 'We won't deny...you are useful for us, but only because we want...Zane Scott...after Outlast we see no further purpose for you...'
Travis now decides to stand from his chair and light a pre-rolled.
Travis – 'At least we're on the same page there. However 'The Headliner' isn't sure Zane Scott will be too interested in tangling with you, it's more probable he'll ensure Ichabod or Raenius get that pleasure, no, Scott will want to take 'The Headliner' out himself. If Monday night pans out how he wants, it's possible he'll have to beat a young girl to become Champion, and no matter how determined, how tough spirited and resilient Eden Morgan is, she is still a rookie. Will beating her really be a fitting crowning moment? Maybe, but if he can beat 'The TWiSTeD Icon' on route to his coronation, that would be something truly historical.'
NBK now stands up and fronts up to Travis.
NBK – 'We...want...SCOTT!
Travis exhales directly into The Killer's masked face.
Travis – 'Sit down boy. Did 'The Headliner' say he'd stand in your way? But as skilled and talented as 'The Blessed One' is, the ability to control the actions of another quite so directly is not in his tool kit. If you can distract Zane Scott from legacy, destiny and history, all displayed to him in one package, you're more than welcome to him. As Travis Roberts already pointed out, the minute he walks through that curtain, his job is as good as done.'
NBK retreats back to his seat and Travis remains standing, with a grin still present on his face.
~~~
Stanley is now pacing up and down in the room, intently listening to what his patient has to say, his hand rested on his chin in a recognisably studious manner.
Stanley – 'But you don't want NBK to take Scott, do you? You want to beat him, you want to prove to the world you still have it?'
Travis is momentarily silent, a rare occurrence, he looks around the room for a while.
Travis – 'But what if that doesn't matter?'
Stanley – 'I don't see how he couldn't, you've said it yourself, he's been dominant for a long while, a win over one of the top guys in the company, in your first match back, it'd be a pretty big deal, I would think.'
Travis – 'What if 'The Headliner' is no longer relevant enough for it to matter? What if the story is 'Zane Scott in shock defeat to relic of past'? How many people in Ohio purchased tickets on the back of 'The Blessed One'?'
Stanley – 'Given you were announced so late, I imagine most of the tickets were already sold, that's not a reflection on you.'
Travis – 'But it is a reflection of the fans, they bought tickets to see Eden Morgan, Seito Risa, Zane Scott, even Jordan King probably has some distant family in the area, the name Travis Roberts didn't enter the equation. What if it never will? What if it's too late?'
Stanley stops stroking his chin, taken aback somewhat by what he just heard.
Stanley – 'I've never heard you be so defeatist, even hypothetically. I know you don't truly believe that is the case, you would never have agreed to return if you didn't think you could succeed, no matter the odds.'
Travis – 'Travis Roberts has been around long enough to know that thinking something doesn't make it so, if it did JK would not only be World Heavyweight Champion since 2009, he'd also have multiple platinum albums to his name. What if 'The Blessed One' is wrong, what if he can't make a successful return. It wouldn't be the first time 'The TWiSTeD Icon' has been wrong, the name Mary-Joanna proves that much.'
Stanley makes a 'hmmmm' sound but does not elaborate.
Travis – 'What?'
Stanley – 'Why did you bring your Ex-Wife up?'
Travis – 'Because she's the biggest, most undeniable example of just how wrong Travis Roberts can be.'
Stanley – 'But she has nothing to do with this. Mistakes in your personal life hardly prove anything about decisions in your professional life.'
Travis – ''The Blessed One' does not do things by half, he's back in the industry, this is his life now, personal and professional. Besides, it's not like she had nothing to do with the business.'
Stanley – 'Maybe that's the problem...'
~~~
Travis is ushering the others out of their seats.
Travis – 'As much pleasure as Travis Roberts has extracted from this ordeal, it's pretty clear it's run its course. 'The Blessed One' is sure you all have more valuable things to do than remain here being proved wrong over and over again, 'The TWiSTeD Icon' certainly does.'
Victoria is clearly not happy, she stomps over to Travis, pointing her chin out and jutting her face up towards his.
Victoria – 'The biggest match of all our careers is just a couple of nights away, it's as important for you to re-establish yourself as it is us, do you really think this is going to have helped us work as a team?'
Travis – 'What did you expect?'
Victoria – 'I don't know, I didn't have any preconceived notions of how this would pan out, but I expected more than you shooting down anything we had to say?'
Travis – 'So you expected anything different? What could any of you possibly offer 'The Blessed One' in terms of insight or tactics? Travis Roberts can tell you exactly what you were hoping for. You thought there would be cake and drinks and camaraderie. You wanted us all to bond, all to realise we were the family we never knew we could have. You wanted some BS feel good movie played out in real life. Sorry kid, but that's just not how life works.'
Victoria reaches up and unleashes a slap right across Travis Roberts face, knocking his Aviators off his face and causing him to stop smiling for the first time all night.
Victoiria – 'Do not patronise me. You've been talking down to us all night, judging us based on some two dimensional description you got eD to retrieve from some smart marks site, you're no better than the people you despise, you pay no attention to anything but yourself! Did I think 72 hours from Outlast we'd magically become some well oiled machine? Of course I didn't, none of us even thought that would happen over two weeks, but we did think it might be worth coming and at least trying to co-exist when we get in that ring. Sure Outlast is unpredictable, it's pretty much useless to try and plan for anything, but that doesn't mean we should make life difficult by turning our team into another unknown variable!'
Travis Roberts just stands in silence as Victoria marches towards the door, Forewell and Nbk following behind her, she swings it open and looks back.
Victoria – 'I hope you get your wish and Zane Scott does beat you, I just hope he does it quick so we can try and do the best we can without your damn ego tripping us up along the way.'
She storms out of the door, followed by the other two members of her team and Nate who signals to eD he ight want to say something to Travis who hasn't moved a muscle since he received that stinging right hand from Victoria. eD approaches slowly and with a fair amount of trepidation. He speaks very softly.
eD – 'So I guess that went as well as we could have ex...'
Travis turns his de-Aviatored head towards his agent.
Travis – 'Just get OUT!'
eD without a moments hesitation scurries away and out of the front door, he can't remember the last time he saw Travis like this, but he knew it was best to just leave, as quickly as possible.
~~~
Stanley is now sitting down again, leaning forward towards Travis, and the room is still brown.
Stanley – 'So how was your time off?'
Travis – 'Exactly how you'd expect, a lot of partying, a lot of gigs, a lot of relaxing, lots of sun, lots of merriment, every man's dream really.'
Stanley – 'Did you miss the business?'
Travis looks his shrink directly in the eyes.
Travis – 'Every day.'
Stanley – 'Did you make any friends?'
Travis laughs.
Travis – ''The Blessed One' hasn't been asked that since the first day of kindergarten. Travis Roberts makes friends no matter where he goes, he's the heart and soul of the party.'
Stanley – 'Did you meet anyone you let in, anyone special enough to get to know the real you.'
Travis – 'It's a rare occasion someone is worthy of such trust, you should know that all too well Doc.'
Stanley – 'Have you ever considered that could be your problem.'
Again Travis laughs.
Travis – 'You still don't understand my profession do you, that's my strength.
Stanley – 'But it's very unhealthy for your personal life, and you said it yourself you don't seem to be able to separate that from your professional life.'
Travis – 'We all have to make sacrifices, and the one time 'The Headliner' did show someone his trust in his personal life they ripped out his heart and used it as a hug toy with another.'
Stanley – 'That's life Travis, you get hurt, you learn. You can't go through it without letting anyone else in, you just can't.'
Travis – 'There is no other choice.'
Stanley flops back into his chair and sighs, he stares at the ceiling for a few moments, both men in silence, before he asks his final question.
Stanley – 'Are you lonely Travis?'
Travis looks shocked at the question and he just stands up and walks towards the door, he opens it and before leaving he looks back into the office and directly at Stanley.
Travis – 'More than you can imagine.'
And with that he leaves his psychiatrists office.