Post by Lord Hastings on Aug 15, 2014 23:04:26 GMT -5
The hustle and bustle is alive on the busy streets below, as vehicles race by en masse. The fact that it’s Tuesday, and just after nine o’clock in the morning, means but one thing: Those lazy bastards are racing to work, in hopes that their bosses don’t see them arriving late. Again. Sadly, this is what the bulk of the workforce is known for: not going above and beyond to ensure that their company runs as efficiently as possible. Arrive late, half-ass the workload, and then leave at five. And they wonder why they’ll never have anything worth a damn…
The attitude is completely different amongst the offices that are located on the upper floors of The Elite Enterprises. Want to know the true reason why Dirge has been as successful as he’s been, and why his various enterprises have skyrocketed over the last decade? Three main things: Great work ethic, extraordinary business sense, and sheer determination. Sadly…haters gonna hate.
You won’t find any of those ham-and-egger nine-to-fivers in this place, and that much is evident upon first walking through the glass doors. No, Dirge only employs the like-minded, and he sees to it that everyone puts forth one-hundred and ten percent, for the greater good of the business. And he holds them to it, no matter if they are upper level management that he works hand-in-hand with on a daily basis…or if they are part of the custodial staff that cleans the offices at night. He molds each and every person under his employ to the same standard, because that process is just good business. And business is good.
Inside of Executive Conference Room A – housed all the way up on the seventy-second floor – is the greatest assemblage of talent that the wrestling industry has ever seen. You boo, because you know it’s true.
Lounging on the jet black leather sofa along the wall to the right is one-half of the UGWC Cooperative Champions, ‘Vain’ Alan Wallace, and his friend – and UGWC Head Trainer Extraordinaire – Jason Ingalls. ‘Vain’ is laughing at the story that Jase is telling him, as he holds a bottle of delicious Deer Park water (chilled to a perfect forty-one degrees, mind you) in his right hand. His obviously recently polished title belt is draped across his shoulder, and he continually looks down at it as Jase is speaking.
At the end of the conference table, with his feet propped up onto the table in front of him, is the recently revealed fourth member of Team Dirge, the often imitated but impossible to be duplicated Ichabod. He sits in silence, casually smoking one of his trademark Newports, as he looks around the room, silently studying his team members.
Leaning against the near wall to the left, with a bandage still covering his forehead due to the heinous actions of that alcoholic imbecile Chaos, is Remi Monroe. His mood is a bit more reserved than we saw during the early stages of his match. Somebody needs to get this guy some coffee, or something.
At the head of the table is Dirge, and he is flanked by the UGWC Creative Director, David Damarest. The two men stand in front of a large, blank flat panel TV, talking amongst themselves, undeterred by the goings-on around them.
At the back of the room, with his back to the camera as he stares out of the window, is the UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, Donovan Hastings. He stands in silence for merely a few moments, and then turns around towards the rest of the inhabitants of the room. His eyes are focused, as he turns his attention towards this meeting.
Dirge: Welcome gentlemen. It's a pleasure to have you all here. Even you Mr. Ingalls.
Ingalls gives Dirge a quizzical look before looking to see if "Vain" has noticed. When he sees that "Vain" hasn't, he shrugs and faces Dirge again.
Dirge: As you all know, "Outlast" is this coming Monday. This is our best chance to solidify our group as the greatest and most dominant assemblage of talent in the history of the industry. As Donovan has to defend his World Unified Championship in the Main Event, he is justifiably unavailable for our team. As a result of this, as you all know, I contacted Ichabod and he was gracious enough to accept. It didn't hurt him that there was significant financial restitution involved. Now, we all know who the other team "Captains" are, and I use the terms "teams" and "Captains" very loosely. A sound strategy is critical to this situation. With that in mind, I invited you all here for a formal strategy session. I will comment last. Food and drinks will be provided at your call. With that said, here is the first "Captain".
Dirge nods his head and Damarest presses a button on the table. A second later, the smiling visage of Eden Morgan appears on the screen.
Dirge: Eden.
Ichabod: If you had to ask me, she's the most perfect example your group can make of why legends like us endure, and upstart overemotional trash strikes exactly once. She was a much better performer when Jet Somers and Travis Pierce weren't so concerned about playing to her whims, and simply manipulated her as they saw fit.
Hastings: She's overrated tripe. She couldn't get the job done last year at Outlast, she couldn't beat me at No Holds Barred, it's time that everybody saw her for the propped-up cardboard that she is.
Vain: "The Vain One" finds it amusing that you refer to her as ‘propped-up cardboard’, seeing as how Mr. Ingalls here used her as his own personal blow-up doll for quite some time. Fortunately once he was finished with her, he deposited her to the curb like the trash that she is. Good man, Jase.”
All four "Puppet Masters" chuckle at the remark while Ichabod smiles and takes another drag from his cigarette.
Dirge: We’re in agreement about Eden and her “Achilles Heel”, and we should definitely use that against her. Ms. Morgan has heart and skill, however she's far too emotionally volatile and that is her most pronounced weakness. She is a "Morgan" after all. It is apparently one of many inherited familial defects. I’m going to keep bringing my new prize to the ring to that end.
Dirge picks up Colin Zale’s cane from the table and rests it over his shoulder, drawing grins from the other four men in the room.
Hastings: Don't forget that she has that drooling puppy dog Pierce following her around, anchored to her leg. That's baggage.
Dirge: Indeed. One of us needs to be the car that hits her new puppy and puts him out of our collective misery. That should send her completely over the edge.
Remi Monroe stops playing with his new nipple ring long enough to raise his hand.
Remi: I do dat if dat’s wha’ we wan’. But I t’ink it migh’ be worth considerin’ reversin’ dem roles.
Dirge: Do explain.
Remi: Well lil’miss Mor’an alrea’y done show she ah woman unable ta control ‘ur emotions, but more den dat incapable of even und’ahstandin’ dem. An’ Pierce jus’ don’ seem da sort ta still be chasin’ dat ass if’in ‘e alrea’y got a piece. So maybe we need hur in jeopardy. Match break down, ref lose control, she get led up dat aisle, baited, obviously, it gotta be clear dare a trap ‘bout ta be sprung, an’ white knigh’ Pierce ride ta save da day. Dat righ’ off da bat leave up a three on two advantage in da ring. An’ when lil’miss Mor’an see it, touch by it, she get all dem lil’school girl butt’ahflys, hur head come righ’ out da game. Den win de eventually make it back to da ring, four on two, dats when Pierce get fire trucked. Send ‘ur righ’ off dat edge.
Dirge: Yes. Remi has an excellent point. Every time that Eden gets into trouble, Pierce practically froths at the mouth to get in and save her from herself. She’s obviously bitten at his overt plays of affection. Budding love is so useful.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Moving on from one type of unstable to another...Zane Scott.
Vain: Is he still going all ‘Lord of the Flies’?
The question elicits a slight and barely perceptible twitch in the corner of Dirge's left eye.
Dirge: Yes. Spyder and his erstwhile compatriot, the delightfully incapacitated Colin Zale, have gotten deep into Zane’s head and ruined him.
Remi: Good. Fuck dat big dumdum. He who I wan’ fire trucked.
Dirge: I, like you, have an inclination to show him the error of his judgments. With that said, we cannot allow that to interfere with our march to the top. There will be time to “fire truck” him, Remi. I promise you that you will get your chance.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Seito Risa.
Ichabod: A faked death, a premature return, endless attempts to obtain your help in some personal endeavor, a declaration of war against people who have all but forgotten she exists... seems to me that Ms. Seito is simply trying to get the attention she briefly captured last year. I say we show her she's got ours...
Damarest: Let us not forget that she did make an arrangement with me that we can benefit from. While this by no means protects her from being put down at Outlast, we should also be judicious enough not to burn that bridge. She still has her uses.
Dirge: We can rectify both what Ichabod said with what you said, David. They are not mutually exclusive.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: The Legend in his own Mind, Moss Edwards.
Hastings: He showed us all he had at Seven Deadly Sins. Edwards is done, he's run out of smoke and mirrors. He's a poor man's puppeteer who has been put to shame by the real thing.
Ichabod: I'm not so sure I agree. This is the man who pulled the wool over all of your eyes as Prince Rudo. A quiet Moss Edwards is a plotting Moss Edwards.
Remi: Bah! If’n Moss Edwar’s was ‘af as smar’ as ‘e want ever’one ta be-lieve he’d ‘ave stay und’ah da mask. Wha’ ‘e done sense?
Ichabod: Became Global Champion and beat your buddy Boolzian at Horizons?
Remi: BoolZy live fo’ exactly three t’ings in dis worl’. Failin’ when it matt’ah, hatin’ ‘imself, and makin’ bad decisions. Moss migh’ get da credit, but make no mistake. Any oth’ah opponent, an’ Randy’s story still Randy’s story.
Dirge: While Moss is obnoxiously childish and horribly cliché, Ichabod has a point. It would be strategically unwise to underestimate him. Even the Organ Grinder’s monkey occasionally gets the reward that he’s after and he is still absurdly popular with the idiotic fan base of this company. He gains protection from that and feeds off of it. He should also be approached with caution, although I do agree with Donovan that Moss is not quite as brilliant as he likes to portray himself as.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Somers.
Remi: Now dare a pic-cha o’ a desperate man, uh? Desperate lil’ cry bebe. An’ one I been giv’in some thought too ta boot. At firs’ I jus’ could’in wrap my head around why ‘e wan’ be part o’va team not wit ‘is follow’ahs. Nev’ah did buy into dat ‘greater chance for one of us to make it to the next round’ excuse. Dat jus’ don’ make no damn sense considerin’ ev’ryone from da winnin’ team dat survive make to da nex’ roun’. Plus if dey really dat concern, an’ we all know dey got da pull ta pull dis off, but if dey so worry ‘bout gettin’ one a dem pass da firs’ roun’ why not all be on one side, an’ put Jet’s neg ta captain da oth’ah side. ‘Ave ‘im take dat dive an’ move all a dem PeeEmmEnn’s ta da nex’. Dat’s when it hit me. All a’vance dat survive. Acciden’s ‘appen in dat ring all a da time. Miscommunication. Cross signals. Bob when shoulda weave. Bingo bango Nikolaus eliminated an’ now Jet don’ gotta worry ‘bout ‘im no more.
An’ I t’ink dat where we need ta push poke an’ prod. Set dem two up, Klaus prolly not jus’ let Jet slide, an more den not I suspect ‘e wouldn’ be able ta not interject an’ cost Jet roun’ two. Angle dem both at one ah noth’ah sit back an’ enjoy da fireworks till Battlegroun’. Maybe reach out ta Pax o’ Fusion. See if dey wanna ‘elp make dis ‘appen?
The rest of the room falls quiet momentarily in contemplation. Ichabod can’t help but chuckle and shows his thoughts with a plume of white smoke and a raised eyebrow.
Dirge: I like where your thought process is. I’ve always taken a particular pleasure in antagonizing the self-styled “hero” of this company and we can use his “two team” strategy to drive a wedge into PMN. I see no reason not to do as Remi is suggesting.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Klaus.
Vain: “It’s nothing short of a travesty to see that Neanderthal walking around with ‘Mr. Ego’s’ title. However, Vain wishes him well, seeing as how he doesn’t stand a chance of wrestling the World Title away from ‘The Lord of Pain’. And that’s if he’s even fortunate enough to make it to the Main Event.
Dirge: While I agree with you, Alan, in spite of his consistently immature attitude and slavish devotion to Cypress Morgan, Klaus is a dangerous man with a much sharper mind than he wants people to believe that he has. You know him far better than anyone here so your insight has been and will continue to be invaluable. We can expect a lot of trouble from him as it will make his master and his bitch happy.
Ichabod: There's no other word for it; obsession. That's what Klaus feels when it comes to you, Alan. Normally, I'd say this group is more than equipped to turn obsession into weakness, but as far as Klaus goes... he's been the one consistent weak spot in your return to the top. He might be the most dangerous competitor we have to deal with.
Dirge: Fusion. Not that I think he's worthy of much discussion.
Vain: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Red Fusion is ok in my book. However, he should continue focusing on the Cross-Hemisphere Title, lest he become disappointed when he realizes that he still is not World Title caliber. One day he may be...but ‘Outlast’ will not be that day.”
Hastings: You get too dismissive with Fusion and he'll drop you with that damned Virus of Life. I'm telling you, if we sit here and assume that he's a non-factor that KvK and Somers are going to kick to the curb, it'll bite us in the ass. He's an obsessive idiot with nothing to lose, and we all know how dangerous that can be.
Dirge: The best thing about dealing with idiots is that they're like birds and most other less discerning wild animals. They're easily distracted by shiny things. Right now he's so distracted by trying to hold two Championships at once that we can use that obsessiveness as the means to cause him to foster his own demise. He's beneath us and we shouldn't waste much time on him. He needs to be dropped on his head quickly and discarded as the trash that he is.
Dirge: Ezekiel.
Ichabod: I honestly can't get a handle on him. He has the talent and drive to be the face of this company, but he repeatedly seeks his success as the shadow to some unworthy mentor. Failing that, he quits. We have to remember that he has been the most successful World Champion when it comes to Outlast, however, and that's going to come into play in some way or another.
Remi: Back ta Jet and Klaus for a moment, I t’ink maybe Pax migh’ jus’ be da bes’ push’ah in dat match-up.
Dirge smiles at the suggestion and Damarest pushes a few keys on the keyboard that’s built into the table before looking up and smiling.
Damarest: An excellent suggestion, Remi. I’ll see to it after Outlast.
Dirge: Roberts.
Crickets.
Vain: Who?
Hastings, Remi and Dirge all share a chuckle at Vain's retort. Even Damarest snickers a bit, as Ichabod simply squints and scratches his scarred pate.
Dirge: NBK.
Remi: You know really did Dex’tah Vines set dat team up fo’ us, or did I pay someone off again? Dis could’na gone bett’ah eith’ah way!
Dirge presses a button on the desk and waits for the response from his personal assistant.
Diane: What can I do for you, sir ?
Dirge: I’m going to have an unusual order for you to place with one of our local bakeries later.
Diane: Bakeries ? Ok. Just buzz or come see me when you’re ready and I’ll make sure it gets done ASAP.
Dirge: Excellent. Thank you.
Donovan walks to the midpoint of the table.
Hastings: Well, this has been productive, chums. Let's go out strong, everybody in, let's get a "Puppetmasters Perfect!" on three!
He extends his hand over the table, in the center of the group. Dirge rolls his eyes, and Vain turns to a side conversation with Ingalls.
Remi shrugs his shoulders and gives Donovan a fist bump, as the scene fades out.
The attitude is completely different amongst the offices that are located on the upper floors of The Elite Enterprises. Want to know the true reason why Dirge has been as successful as he’s been, and why his various enterprises have skyrocketed over the last decade? Three main things: Great work ethic, extraordinary business sense, and sheer determination. Sadly…haters gonna hate.
You won’t find any of those ham-and-egger nine-to-fivers in this place, and that much is evident upon first walking through the glass doors. No, Dirge only employs the like-minded, and he sees to it that everyone puts forth one-hundred and ten percent, for the greater good of the business. And he holds them to it, no matter if they are upper level management that he works hand-in-hand with on a daily basis…or if they are part of the custodial staff that cleans the offices at night. He molds each and every person under his employ to the same standard, because that process is just good business. And business is good.
Inside of Executive Conference Room A – housed all the way up on the seventy-second floor – is the greatest assemblage of talent that the wrestling industry has ever seen. You boo, because you know it’s true.
Lounging on the jet black leather sofa along the wall to the right is one-half of the UGWC Cooperative Champions, ‘Vain’ Alan Wallace, and his friend – and UGWC Head Trainer Extraordinaire – Jason Ingalls. ‘Vain’ is laughing at the story that Jase is telling him, as he holds a bottle of delicious Deer Park water (chilled to a perfect forty-one degrees, mind you) in his right hand. His obviously recently polished title belt is draped across his shoulder, and he continually looks down at it as Jase is speaking.
At the end of the conference table, with his feet propped up onto the table in front of him, is the recently revealed fourth member of Team Dirge, the often imitated but impossible to be duplicated Ichabod. He sits in silence, casually smoking one of his trademark Newports, as he looks around the room, silently studying his team members.
Leaning against the near wall to the left, with a bandage still covering his forehead due to the heinous actions of that alcoholic imbecile Chaos, is Remi Monroe. His mood is a bit more reserved than we saw during the early stages of his match. Somebody needs to get this guy some coffee, or something.
At the head of the table is Dirge, and he is flanked by the UGWC Creative Director, David Damarest. The two men stand in front of a large, blank flat panel TV, talking amongst themselves, undeterred by the goings-on around them.
At the back of the room, with his back to the camera as he stares out of the window, is the UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, Donovan Hastings. He stands in silence for merely a few moments, and then turns around towards the rest of the inhabitants of the room. His eyes are focused, as he turns his attention towards this meeting.
Dirge: Welcome gentlemen. It's a pleasure to have you all here. Even you Mr. Ingalls.
Ingalls gives Dirge a quizzical look before looking to see if "Vain" has noticed. When he sees that "Vain" hasn't, he shrugs and faces Dirge again.
Dirge: As you all know, "Outlast" is this coming Monday. This is our best chance to solidify our group as the greatest and most dominant assemblage of talent in the history of the industry. As Donovan has to defend his World Unified Championship in the Main Event, he is justifiably unavailable for our team. As a result of this, as you all know, I contacted Ichabod and he was gracious enough to accept. It didn't hurt him that there was significant financial restitution involved. Now, we all know who the other team "Captains" are, and I use the terms "teams" and "Captains" very loosely. A sound strategy is critical to this situation. With that in mind, I invited you all here for a formal strategy session. I will comment last. Food and drinks will be provided at your call. With that said, here is the first "Captain".
Dirge nods his head and Damarest presses a button on the table. A second later, the smiling visage of Eden Morgan appears on the screen.
Dirge: Eden.
Ichabod: If you had to ask me, she's the most perfect example your group can make of why legends like us endure, and upstart overemotional trash strikes exactly once. She was a much better performer when Jet Somers and Travis Pierce weren't so concerned about playing to her whims, and simply manipulated her as they saw fit.
Hastings: She's overrated tripe. She couldn't get the job done last year at Outlast, she couldn't beat me at No Holds Barred, it's time that everybody saw her for the propped-up cardboard that she is.
Vain: "The Vain One" finds it amusing that you refer to her as ‘propped-up cardboard’, seeing as how Mr. Ingalls here used her as his own personal blow-up doll for quite some time. Fortunately once he was finished with her, he deposited her to the curb like the trash that she is. Good man, Jase.”
All four "Puppet Masters" chuckle at the remark while Ichabod smiles and takes another drag from his cigarette.
Dirge: We’re in agreement about Eden and her “Achilles Heel”, and we should definitely use that against her. Ms. Morgan has heart and skill, however she's far too emotionally volatile and that is her most pronounced weakness. She is a "Morgan" after all. It is apparently one of many inherited familial defects. I’m going to keep bringing my new prize to the ring to that end.
Dirge picks up Colin Zale’s cane from the table and rests it over his shoulder, drawing grins from the other four men in the room.
Hastings: Don't forget that she has that drooling puppy dog Pierce following her around, anchored to her leg. That's baggage.
Dirge: Indeed. One of us needs to be the car that hits her new puppy and puts him out of our collective misery. That should send her completely over the edge.
Remi Monroe stops playing with his new nipple ring long enough to raise his hand.
Remi: I do dat if dat’s wha’ we wan’. But I t’ink it migh’ be worth considerin’ reversin’ dem roles.
Dirge: Do explain.
Remi: Well lil’miss Mor’an alrea’y done show she ah woman unable ta control ‘ur emotions, but more den dat incapable of even und’ahstandin’ dem. An’ Pierce jus’ don’ seem da sort ta still be chasin’ dat ass if’in ‘e alrea’y got a piece. So maybe we need hur in jeopardy. Match break down, ref lose control, she get led up dat aisle, baited, obviously, it gotta be clear dare a trap ‘bout ta be sprung, an’ white knigh’ Pierce ride ta save da day. Dat righ’ off da bat leave up a three on two advantage in da ring. An’ when lil’miss Mor’an see it, touch by it, she get all dem lil’school girl butt’ahflys, hur head come righ’ out da game. Den win de eventually make it back to da ring, four on two, dats when Pierce get fire trucked. Send ‘ur righ’ off dat edge.
Dirge: Yes. Remi has an excellent point. Every time that Eden gets into trouble, Pierce practically froths at the mouth to get in and save her from herself. She’s obviously bitten at his overt plays of affection. Budding love is so useful.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Moving on from one type of unstable to another...Zane Scott.
Vain: Is he still going all ‘Lord of the Flies’?
The question elicits a slight and barely perceptible twitch in the corner of Dirge's left eye.
Dirge: Yes. Spyder and his erstwhile compatriot, the delightfully incapacitated Colin Zale, have gotten deep into Zane’s head and ruined him.
Remi: Good. Fuck dat big dumdum. He who I wan’ fire trucked.
Dirge: I, like you, have an inclination to show him the error of his judgments. With that said, we cannot allow that to interfere with our march to the top. There will be time to “fire truck” him, Remi. I promise you that you will get your chance.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Seito Risa.
Ichabod: A faked death, a premature return, endless attempts to obtain your help in some personal endeavor, a declaration of war against people who have all but forgotten she exists... seems to me that Ms. Seito is simply trying to get the attention she briefly captured last year. I say we show her she's got ours...
Damarest: Let us not forget that she did make an arrangement with me that we can benefit from. While this by no means protects her from being put down at Outlast, we should also be judicious enough not to burn that bridge. She still has her uses.
Dirge: We can rectify both what Ichabod said with what you said, David. They are not mutually exclusive.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: The Legend in his own Mind, Moss Edwards.
Hastings: He showed us all he had at Seven Deadly Sins. Edwards is done, he's run out of smoke and mirrors. He's a poor man's puppeteer who has been put to shame by the real thing.
Ichabod: I'm not so sure I agree. This is the man who pulled the wool over all of your eyes as Prince Rudo. A quiet Moss Edwards is a plotting Moss Edwards.
Remi: Bah! If’n Moss Edwar’s was ‘af as smar’ as ‘e want ever’one ta be-lieve he’d ‘ave stay und’ah da mask. Wha’ ‘e done sense?
Ichabod: Became Global Champion and beat your buddy Boolzian at Horizons?
Remi: BoolZy live fo’ exactly three t’ings in dis worl’. Failin’ when it matt’ah, hatin’ ‘imself, and makin’ bad decisions. Moss migh’ get da credit, but make no mistake. Any oth’ah opponent, an’ Randy’s story still Randy’s story.
Dirge: While Moss is obnoxiously childish and horribly cliché, Ichabod has a point. It would be strategically unwise to underestimate him. Even the Organ Grinder’s monkey occasionally gets the reward that he’s after and he is still absurdly popular with the idiotic fan base of this company. He gains protection from that and feeds off of it. He should also be approached with caution, although I do agree with Donovan that Moss is not quite as brilliant as he likes to portray himself as.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Somers.
Remi: Now dare a pic-cha o’ a desperate man, uh? Desperate lil’ cry bebe. An’ one I been giv’in some thought too ta boot. At firs’ I jus’ could’in wrap my head around why ‘e wan’ be part o’va team not wit ‘is follow’ahs. Nev’ah did buy into dat ‘greater chance for one of us to make it to the next round’ excuse. Dat jus’ don’ make no damn sense considerin’ ev’ryone from da winnin’ team dat survive make to da nex’ roun’. Plus if dey really dat concern, an’ we all know dey got da pull ta pull dis off, but if dey so worry ‘bout gettin’ one a dem pass da firs’ roun’ why not all be on one side, an’ put Jet’s neg ta captain da oth’ah side. ‘Ave ‘im take dat dive an’ move all a dem PeeEmmEnn’s ta da nex’. Dat’s when it hit me. All a’vance dat survive. Acciden’s ‘appen in dat ring all a da time. Miscommunication. Cross signals. Bob when shoulda weave. Bingo bango Nikolaus eliminated an’ now Jet don’ gotta worry ‘bout ‘im no more.
An’ I t’ink dat where we need ta push poke an’ prod. Set dem two up, Klaus prolly not jus’ let Jet slide, an more den not I suspect ‘e wouldn’ be able ta not interject an’ cost Jet roun’ two. Angle dem both at one ah noth’ah sit back an’ enjoy da fireworks till Battlegroun’. Maybe reach out ta Pax o’ Fusion. See if dey wanna ‘elp make dis ‘appen?
The rest of the room falls quiet momentarily in contemplation. Ichabod can’t help but chuckle and shows his thoughts with a plume of white smoke and a raised eyebrow.
Dirge: I like where your thought process is. I’ve always taken a particular pleasure in antagonizing the self-styled “hero” of this company and we can use his “two team” strategy to drive a wedge into PMN. I see no reason not to do as Remi is suggesting.
Damarest pushes the button for the next picture.
Dirge: Klaus.
Vain: “It’s nothing short of a travesty to see that Neanderthal walking around with ‘Mr. Ego’s’ title. However, Vain wishes him well, seeing as how he doesn’t stand a chance of wrestling the World Title away from ‘The Lord of Pain’. And that’s if he’s even fortunate enough to make it to the Main Event.
Dirge: While I agree with you, Alan, in spite of his consistently immature attitude and slavish devotion to Cypress Morgan, Klaus is a dangerous man with a much sharper mind than he wants people to believe that he has. You know him far better than anyone here so your insight has been and will continue to be invaluable. We can expect a lot of trouble from him as it will make his master and his bitch happy.
Ichabod: There's no other word for it; obsession. That's what Klaus feels when it comes to you, Alan. Normally, I'd say this group is more than equipped to turn obsession into weakness, but as far as Klaus goes... he's been the one consistent weak spot in your return to the top. He might be the most dangerous competitor we have to deal with.
Dirge: Fusion. Not that I think he's worthy of much discussion.
Vain: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Red Fusion is ok in my book. However, he should continue focusing on the Cross-Hemisphere Title, lest he become disappointed when he realizes that he still is not World Title caliber. One day he may be...but ‘Outlast’ will not be that day.”
Hastings: You get too dismissive with Fusion and he'll drop you with that damned Virus of Life. I'm telling you, if we sit here and assume that he's a non-factor that KvK and Somers are going to kick to the curb, it'll bite us in the ass. He's an obsessive idiot with nothing to lose, and we all know how dangerous that can be.
Dirge: The best thing about dealing with idiots is that they're like birds and most other less discerning wild animals. They're easily distracted by shiny things. Right now he's so distracted by trying to hold two Championships at once that we can use that obsessiveness as the means to cause him to foster his own demise. He's beneath us and we shouldn't waste much time on him. He needs to be dropped on his head quickly and discarded as the trash that he is.
Dirge: Ezekiel.
Ichabod: I honestly can't get a handle on him. He has the talent and drive to be the face of this company, but he repeatedly seeks his success as the shadow to some unworthy mentor. Failing that, he quits. We have to remember that he has been the most successful World Champion when it comes to Outlast, however, and that's going to come into play in some way or another.
Remi: Back ta Jet and Klaus for a moment, I t’ink maybe Pax migh’ jus’ be da bes’ push’ah in dat match-up.
Dirge smiles at the suggestion and Damarest pushes a few keys on the keyboard that’s built into the table before looking up and smiling.
Damarest: An excellent suggestion, Remi. I’ll see to it after Outlast.
Dirge: Roberts.
Crickets.
Vain: Who?
Hastings, Remi and Dirge all share a chuckle at Vain's retort. Even Damarest snickers a bit, as Ichabod simply squints and scratches his scarred pate.
Dirge: NBK.
Remi: You know really did Dex’tah Vines set dat team up fo’ us, or did I pay someone off again? Dis could’na gone bett’ah eith’ah way!
Dirge presses a button on the desk and waits for the response from his personal assistant.
Diane: What can I do for you, sir ?
Dirge: I’m going to have an unusual order for you to place with one of our local bakeries later.
Diane: Bakeries ? Ok. Just buzz or come see me when you’re ready and I’ll make sure it gets done ASAP.
Dirge: Excellent. Thank you.
Donovan walks to the midpoint of the table.
Hastings: Well, this has been productive, chums. Let's go out strong, everybody in, let's get a "Puppetmasters Perfect!" on three!
He extends his hand over the table, in the center of the group. Dirge rolls his eyes, and Vain turns to a side conversation with Ingalls.
Remi shrugs his shoulders and gives Donovan a fist bump, as the scene fades out.
