Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Apr 22, 2015 16:09:50 GMT -5
'The Blessed One' Travis Roberts sits relaxed in his comfortable first class seat on a flight to Japan, he already has a beverage in one hand and is looking relaxed and content, that is until the empty seat next to him is filled. As his fellow traveller sits down Travis' face goes from an expression of relaxed contentedness, to one of annoyance and displeasure. Martin 'The Mainstreamer' Graber sits down with a smile which only gets bigger as he sees who his companion on this very long flight will be.
The Mainstreamer: Travis.
He nods to 'The Blessed One' still sporting a broad grin as he does so.
Travis: Martin.
He returns the nod but not the smile.
The Mainstreamer: Not who you wanted to see, huh?
Graber chuckles jovially.
Travis: It's nothing personal.
The Mainstreamer: Sure, sure. I understand.
Travis: I guess congratulations are in order.
The Mainstreamer: Oh?
Travis: For your victory at Synergy.
The Mainstreamer: Well that is very gracious of you, thanks.
Travis: No problem. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, especially the ending, Rydell's inadequacies distracting everyone from your far superior skills seems to be the story of your entire relationship, no?
The Mainstreamer frowns.
The Mainstreamer: You guys really don't like Rydell very much do you? If you look back, I hadn't accomplished much until he teamed up with me. Didn't win the Cross-Hemisphere title at Horizons. Never won anything big and didn't win a single title. He's helped me a lot more than I've helped him. We're not a unbalanced team.
Travis: If you think a run with the Cooperative Championships is a more impressive feat than being the most talked about 'rookie' in recent memory, pulling the wool over the eyes of everyone on the roster and kick starting The Yahtzee Cheat into the kind of form that has brought him The World Heavyweight Championship, you and I have very different definitions of 'accomplishments'.
The Mainstreamer snickers.
The Mainstreamer: You may have a point. But I was lacking a lot in the ring. "Almost" winning a lot of stuff will start to get to you. He's also the only guy who really gave a damn about me as a competitor. Everyone else is much more interested in my "gimmick." The hipster thing, the gay thing, the anti-syndicate movement I helped jump start.... that's all I ever seem to hear about. No one took me seriously in the ring until Rydell came around.
Travis smirks.
Travis You're talking to a guy who hasn't had a direct shot at a singles championship since 2009, 'almost' winning something seems like a dream. As for others taking you seriously, welcome to UGWC, if you're seen as a threat, you're going to be ridiculed. You might want to ask yourself why Rydell took you seriously? I'm not sure if you've noticed his propensity for his mouth writing checks his ass can't cash? With you in his corner, fighting his battles for him, he doesn't have to rely on his own skills to get himself out of the holes he digs. Just a thought, but maybe it's you that isn't taking 'The Mainstreamer' seriously?
The Mainstreamer sits silently for a moment.
The Mainstreamer: Maybe that's true. Maybe I over estimated my ability to come back after a 6 year hiatus. It could be that Rydell gave me the confidence I needed to become successful in the ring again. But in whatever light we cast it, people are taking me seriously again both in and out of the ring. Rydell helped me there. If I'm better now, he helped get me there. Has Donny done anything like that for you? Not including diaper changes of course.
Travis smiles and nods, clearly appreciating the last sentence.
Travis: Dumping me unceremoniously out of The Puppet Masters might not look good, but it was the wake up call I needed. Look, I've never needed someone to give me more confidence, and if I did Donovan would be the last person I went to seeking affirmation. Plus to compare my relationship with Donovan to you and Rydell is ludicrous. You've basically said it yourself, yours is a marriage of convenience, you're both getting something from the other. 6 years ago Donovan beat me for the GIW Global Heavyweight Championship, and bar a few months last year we've been strong friends before and since that moment. If the two of you are still together in 6 months I'll be surprised.
The Mainstreamer: It may have been convenience at first, but now he's become a friend. A good friend. Outside of my entourage and Ichabod, I don't socialize with anyone else but Rydell on the roster. I don't go have drinks with Cazador or Mark Stone.
Travis: Obviously, who would?
The Mainstreamer: In six months, I'll have the man's back even if we aren't making the Cooperative division relevant again. But with the current competition, I don't see a real threat for the titles in the near future unless you and Donny can learn to stop underestimating us.
Travis: I hate to point out that pretty much everyone who's held those belts have stated they are making them relevant again, it's becoming somewhat cliché. We don't underestimate you, just Rydell. In fairness, that’s only really my issue, Donovan might underestimate Dave Rydell, but he has a lot of respect for Red Fusion. I'm also well aware I've never beaten him in the middle of that ring, I know there's work still to be done. Your partner on the other hand already thinks he's made it, to the point he's confident of defeating us even if he's forced to team with Larry! No disrespect to Larry but surely even you can accept that's a tough ask.
The Mainstreamer: Cliché or not, TWiSTeD versus the Glorious Bastards is the most anticipated Cooperative Title Match since I've been here. Additionally, we have two men who could walk onto the World Title scene if they saw fit now coming after Co-op gold. Others might have said they were making it relevant... but Rydell and I have done it. As for as Larry... he's going to be special. If he ends up in the ring with you two you're going to get a lesson in heart.
Travis: It could be argued that Blessed Immortality making their first ever play for the Cooperative Championships is why this match is so anticipated, not the owners of the belt. However I won't pretend to know exactly why the match is so hotly anticipated but I will agree the fans in Tokyo are in for one hell of a contest. As for Larry, potential or no, Rydell is used to being carried, or for arguments sake being someone’s equal, a leader he is not and no amount of heart on Larry's part is going to change that.
The Mainstreamer turns and points at Travis Roberts.
The Mainstreamer: There's your confidence in yourself. If Rydell is too used to being carried, you two are used to being successful. You just said I came off the hottest rookie season in memory. I'm also at odds with Eden who has more heat than anyone. Plus the possible debut of Larry? It's pretty egotistical to think you two are making this match. Maybe you two need a Mainstreamer to bring you back to relevance.
Travis raises his hands.
Travis: I said 'it could be argued', and my confidence, regarding the hype surrounding this match, is based on the brand appeal of TWiSTeD, however I'm not naïve enough to think we can trade on past glories forever. I've spent the best part of the last 9 months learning that to remain relevant I've got to reproduce the sort of form that made me GIW's longest reigning Global Heavyweight Champion, the kind of focus that brought about two Battleground match victories and the ability that had me win the Global Challenge. I've publicly recognized that all that's history, ever since success is not something I have tasted on a regular basis. I've made it clear just how determined I am to get back to that level. Will I succeed? I honestly don't know. But maybe that should be playing on your mind more than a few insults directed at your partner.
The Mainstreamer: The question of if we can beat you hasn't left my thoughts since you became the number one contenders. What's been on my mind is the number one contender that I came out to help and thought I was attacking his partner. I see the number one contender who thinks he lost last Monday because of a Dave Rydell distraction. I see another man who may not know that I even exist. I see two awesome individuals who think their talent alone is going to beat whatever team they see in Japan. I just hope this team takes us a little more seriously this time around. Otherwise you're going to have to dig deep to find another reason you weren't successful.
Travis: If we're not successful it's because we're not good enough, I can accept that. Whilst I admire the confidence in your ability to survive The White Out, and got a first hand example of just how skilled you are inside the ring, you seem awful desperate to be taken seriously, especially for a man who's response to Eden Morgan blackmailing him was to tweet-grape her. How does ZANE9000 fit into this crusade to be taken seriously?
The Mainstreamer: Well, ZANE9000 is a training tool for Larry. I don't really get what you mean there. As far as Eden, I could have taken the approach on Eden that everyone else has taken and roll over and take it. Maybe you eluding I should "kick her ass" and as that goes, I will. But she's an entertainment professional and I'm sure kicking her ass is another day at the office. Twitter grape as you've called it has put her on tilt. It may seem goofy, but she's in a way that she's never been since her rise to power with the Syndicate. She's going to make a lot of mistakes in the ring with me and I'll continue to beat the Syndicate with mind games while the rest you sit around and complain about them.
Travis: I suppose dressing up as 'The Blessed One' was also part of the training? As amusing as that was, and believe me I enjoyed it, it was your actions in the ring that made me take you seriously, whether you believe it or not. As for the Syndicate you might want to consider not grouping me in with the rest of the roster. When have I complained about them? Professionally I can only respect what they have achieved, I would be a hypocrite to do otherwise given my past. My issue only came when Eden brought an outsider into this and made things personal. Don't mistake my considered approach as inaction. You may well think you are 'beating' The Syndicate, but they seem to have a fair share of the gold, including the crown jewel. I'm happy for you to score small victories against them, but when the moment is right I will make Eden Morgan regret her actions. In that regard I wish you luck, I don't begrudge you your pound of flesh, I just hope you plan to up the ante at some point.
The Mainstreamer begins to speak, but the flight attendants begin giving the flight plan. Martin holds a finger up as both men buckle in and sit through the demonstration they've both sat through before. The men sit in silence as the flight begins to take off. After a few minutes they've finished take off and are headed to their destination. Flight attendants begin to fill the glasses of the first class patrons.
The Mainstreamer: Do you think Pierce did this on purpose?
Travis: Did what?
The Mainstreamer: Got us sitting together. I don't want to toot my own horn, but beating you may be the most prolific thing I've done here. We're opponents going in Ko...
Travis: Kobayashi Maru.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah. Also we both have a pretty personal beef against Eden. Our match is all Larry seems to be talking about. The IWC seems to things we'll headline Horizons one day.
Travis smiles and hands his drink over for a top off.
Travis: Maybe we will, sir. I could see the ZANE9000 training and “Blessed One” interviews. It would be a spectacle to say the least.
The Mainstreamer smiles.
The Mainstreamer: You said what I did in ring got your attention. What I did out of the ring got everyone else's attention. I don't admit it often, but you're one of the guys that actually distract me from my hang up with Vain. You've got a combination of in ring talent and out of ring personality few people have. The competitor in me wants to see you in the ring. It was actually pretty hard turning you down for Outlast last year.
Travis pauses.
Travis: Jesus that... I had forgotten about that.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah. It was tough actually. I think I made some hipster comment about your shirt or something. But you were going against Vain at the time... I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Travis: That was some night. If I recall you pinned >V< that night and took Somers to the limit.
The Mainstreamer: You nearly beat the entire Puppet Master squad. I'm not sure if I'm the one who deserves the praise from that night.
Travis snickers.
Travis: The “Blessed One” thanks you but this is a bit different than I expected from you. So far as I've known you, you've mocked me, told me how much I've underestimated you and made it a point to show me up.
The Mainstreamer pauses.
The Mainstreamer: I have a weird way of showing respect don't I?
There's a pretty long silence.
Travis: Well there's a long flight in front of us Martin. We can talk about Larry, Rydell, Hastings, and ZANE9000...
Travis takes a long sip from his beverage.
Travis: Or we could talk about The Yahtzee Cheat and Eden.
The Mainstreamer laughs.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah, that's pretty common ground.
The flight continues as Travis Roberts and The Mainstreamer continue their conversation into the night.
The Mainstreamer: Travis.
He nods to 'The Blessed One' still sporting a broad grin as he does so.
Travis: Martin.
He returns the nod but not the smile.
The Mainstreamer: Not who you wanted to see, huh?
Graber chuckles jovially.
Travis: It's nothing personal.
The Mainstreamer: Sure, sure. I understand.
Travis: I guess congratulations are in order.
The Mainstreamer: Oh?
Travis: For your victory at Synergy.
The Mainstreamer: Well that is very gracious of you, thanks.
Travis: No problem. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, especially the ending, Rydell's inadequacies distracting everyone from your far superior skills seems to be the story of your entire relationship, no?
The Mainstreamer frowns.
The Mainstreamer: You guys really don't like Rydell very much do you? If you look back, I hadn't accomplished much until he teamed up with me. Didn't win the Cross-Hemisphere title at Horizons. Never won anything big and didn't win a single title. He's helped me a lot more than I've helped him. We're not a unbalanced team.
Travis: If you think a run with the Cooperative Championships is a more impressive feat than being the most talked about 'rookie' in recent memory, pulling the wool over the eyes of everyone on the roster and kick starting The Yahtzee Cheat into the kind of form that has brought him The World Heavyweight Championship, you and I have very different definitions of 'accomplishments'.
The Mainstreamer snickers.
The Mainstreamer: You may have a point. But I was lacking a lot in the ring. "Almost" winning a lot of stuff will start to get to you. He's also the only guy who really gave a damn about me as a competitor. Everyone else is much more interested in my "gimmick." The hipster thing, the gay thing, the anti-syndicate movement I helped jump start.... that's all I ever seem to hear about. No one took me seriously in the ring until Rydell came around.
Travis smirks.
Travis You're talking to a guy who hasn't had a direct shot at a singles championship since 2009, 'almost' winning something seems like a dream. As for others taking you seriously, welcome to UGWC, if you're seen as a threat, you're going to be ridiculed. You might want to ask yourself why Rydell took you seriously? I'm not sure if you've noticed his propensity for his mouth writing checks his ass can't cash? With you in his corner, fighting his battles for him, he doesn't have to rely on his own skills to get himself out of the holes he digs. Just a thought, but maybe it's you that isn't taking 'The Mainstreamer' seriously?
The Mainstreamer sits silently for a moment.
The Mainstreamer: Maybe that's true. Maybe I over estimated my ability to come back after a 6 year hiatus. It could be that Rydell gave me the confidence I needed to become successful in the ring again. But in whatever light we cast it, people are taking me seriously again both in and out of the ring. Rydell helped me there. If I'm better now, he helped get me there. Has Donny done anything like that for you? Not including diaper changes of course.
Travis smiles and nods, clearly appreciating the last sentence.
Travis: Dumping me unceremoniously out of The Puppet Masters might not look good, but it was the wake up call I needed. Look, I've never needed someone to give me more confidence, and if I did Donovan would be the last person I went to seeking affirmation. Plus to compare my relationship with Donovan to you and Rydell is ludicrous. You've basically said it yourself, yours is a marriage of convenience, you're both getting something from the other. 6 years ago Donovan beat me for the GIW Global Heavyweight Championship, and bar a few months last year we've been strong friends before and since that moment. If the two of you are still together in 6 months I'll be surprised.
The Mainstreamer: It may have been convenience at first, but now he's become a friend. A good friend. Outside of my entourage and Ichabod, I don't socialize with anyone else but Rydell on the roster. I don't go have drinks with Cazador or Mark Stone.
Travis: Obviously, who would?
The Mainstreamer: In six months, I'll have the man's back even if we aren't making the Cooperative division relevant again. But with the current competition, I don't see a real threat for the titles in the near future unless you and Donny can learn to stop underestimating us.
Travis: I hate to point out that pretty much everyone who's held those belts have stated they are making them relevant again, it's becoming somewhat cliché. We don't underestimate you, just Rydell. In fairness, that’s only really my issue, Donovan might underestimate Dave Rydell, but he has a lot of respect for Red Fusion. I'm also well aware I've never beaten him in the middle of that ring, I know there's work still to be done. Your partner on the other hand already thinks he's made it, to the point he's confident of defeating us even if he's forced to team with Larry! No disrespect to Larry but surely even you can accept that's a tough ask.
The Mainstreamer: Cliché or not, TWiSTeD versus the Glorious Bastards is the most anticipated Cooperative Title Match since I've been here. Additionally, we have two men who could walk onto the World Title scene if they saw fit now coming after Co-op gold. Others might have said they were making it relevant... but Rydell and I have done it. As for as Larry... he's going to be special. If he ends up in the ring with you two you're going to get a lesson in heart.
Travis: It could be argued that Blessed Immortality making their first ever play for the Cooperative Championships is why this match is so anticipated, not the owners of the belt. However I won't pretend to know exactly why the match is so hotly anticipated but I will agree the fans in Tokyo are in for one hell of a contest. As for Larry, potential or no, Rydell is used to being carried, or for arguments sake being someone’s equal, a leader he is not and no amount of heart on Larry's part is going to change that.
The Mainstreamer turns and points at Travis Roberts.
The Mainstreamer: There's your confidence in yourself. If Rydell is too used to being carried, you two are used to being successful. You just said I came off the hottest rookie season in memory. I'm also at odds with Eden who has more heat than anyone. Plus the possible debut of Larry? It's pretty egotistical to think you two are making this match. Maybe you two need a Mainstreamer to bring you back to relevance.
Travis raises his hands.
Travis: I said 'it could be argued', and my confidence, regarding the hype surrounding this match, is based on the brand appeal of TWiSTeD, however I'm not naïve enough to think we can trade on past glories forever. I've spent the best part of the last 9 months learning that to remain relevant I've got to reproduce the sort of form that made me GIW's longest reigning Global Heavyweight Champion, the kind of focus that brought about two Battleground match victories and the ability that had me win the Global Challenge. I've publicly recognized that all that's history, ever since success is not something I have tasted on a regular basis. I've made it clear just how determined I am to get back to that level. Will I succeed? I honestly don't know. But maybe that should be playing on your mind more than a few insults directed at your partner.
The Mainstreamer: The question of if we can beat you hasn't left my thoughts since you became the number one contenders. What's been on my mind is the number one contender that I came out to help and thought I was attacking his partner. I see the number one contender who thinks he lost last Monday because of a Dave Rydell distraction. I see another man who may not know that I even exist. I see two awesome individuals who think their talent alone is going to beat whatever team they see in Japan. I just hope this team takes us a little more seriously this time around. Otherwise you're going to have to dig deep to find another reason you weren't successful.
Travis: If we're not successful it's because we're not good enough, I can accept that. Whilst I admire the confidence in your ability to survive The White Out, and got a first hand example of just how skilled you are inside the ring, you seem awful desperate to be taken seriously, especially for a man who's response to Eden Morgan blackmailing him was to tweet-grape her. How does ZANE9000 fit into this crusade to be taken seriously?
The Mainstreamer: Well, ZANE9000 is a training tool for Larry. I don't really get what you mean there. As far as Eden, I could have taken the approach on Eden that everyone else has taken and roll over and take it. Maybe you eluding I should "kick her ass" and as that goes, I will. But she's an entertainment professional and I'm sure kicking her ass is another day at the office. Twitter grape as you've called it has put her on tilt. It may seem goofy, but she's in a way that she's never been since her rise to power with the Syndicate. She's going to make a lot of mistakes in the ring with me and I'll continue to beat the Syndicate with mind games while the rest you sit around and complain about them.
Travis: I suppose dressing up as 'The Blessed One' was also part of the training? As amusing as that was, and believe me I enjoyed it, it was your actions in the ring that made me take you seriously, whether you believe it or not. As for the Syndicate you might want to consider not grouping me in with the rest of the roster. When have I complained about them? Professionally I can only respect what they have achieved, I would be a hypocrite to do otherwise given my past. My issue only came when Eden brought an outsider into this and made things personal. Don't mistake my considered approach as inaction. You may well think you are 'beating' The Syndicate, but they seem to have a fair share of the gold, including the crown jewel. I'm happy for you to score small victories against them, but when the moment is right I will make Eden Morgan regret her actions. In that regard I wish you luck, I don't begrudge you your pound of flesh, I just hope you plan to up the ante at some point.
The Mainstreamer begins to speak, but the flight attendants begin giving the flight plan. Martin holds a finger up as both men buckle in and sit through the demonstration they've both sat through before. The men sit in silence as the flight begins to take off. After a few minutes they've finished take off and are headed to their destination. Flight attendants begin to fill the glasses of the first class patrons.
The Mainstreamer: Do you think Pierce did this on purpose?
Travis: Did what?
The Mainstreamer: Got us sitting together. I don't want to toot my own horn, but beating you may be the most prolific thing I've done here. We're opponents going in Ko...
Travis: Kobayashi Maru.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah. Also we both have a pretty personal beef against Eden. Our match is all Larry seems to be talking about. The IWC seems to things we'll headline Horizons one day.
Travis smiles and hands his drink over for a top off.
Travis: Maybe we will, sir. I could see the ZANE9000 training and “Blessed One” interviews. It would be a spectacle to say the least.
The Mainstreamer smiles.
The Mainstreamer: You said what I did in ring got your attention. What I did out of the ring got everyone else's attention. I don't admit it often, but you're one of the guys that actually distract me from my hang up with Vain. You've got a combination of in ring talent and out of ring personality few people have. The competitor in me wants to see you in the ring. It was actually pretty hard turning you down for Outlast last year.
Travis pauses.
Travis: Jesus that... I had forgotten about that.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah. It was tough actually. I think I made some hipster comment about your shirt or something. But you were going against Vain at the time... I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Travis: That was some night. If I recall you pinned >V< that night and took Somers to the limit.
The Mainstreamer: You nearly beat the entire Puppet Master squad. I'm not sure if I'm the one who deserves the praise from that night.
Travis snickers.
Travis: The “Blessed One” thanks you but this is a bit different than I expected from you. So far as I've known you, you've mocked me, told me how much I've underestimated you and made it a point to show me up.
The Mainstreamer pauses.
The Mainstreamer: I have a weird way of showing respect don't I?
There's a pretty long silence.
Travis: Well there's a long flight in front of us Martin. We can talk about Larry, Rydell, Hastings, and ZANE9000...
Travis takes a long sip from his beverage.
Travis: Or we could talk about The Yahtzee Cheat and Eden.
The Mainstreamer laughs.
The Mainstreamer: Yeah, that's pretty common ground.
The flight continues as Travis Roberts and The Mainstreamer continue their conversation into the night.
