Post by Zane on Jan 19, 2018 21:10:17 GMT -5
“I see that you’re making yourself nicely at home already.” Zane says with a smile.
He looks around the Creative Director’s Office and nods his head at the changes that the new Creative Director, Donovan Hastings has done to put his mark on his new space. The far table has been cleared of all of the self-congratulating decorations that the former Creative Director, Dr. Hans Lieberjosch had adorned it with. In its place are multiple photos of Donovan Hastings and his twins. There are also images of Donovan and his daughters on his desk, in addition to multiple framed images of the World Heavyweight Championship. The far table has more images of the World Heavyweight Championship, as well as an image of Donovan and Owen, one of Donovan and Larry, “The Protégé of Pain” (not Zane’s Larry), an image of Donovan and Travis Roberts raising the Co-Operative Championships as “TWiSTed”, Donovan with “The Puppet Masters” and lastly one of Donovan and Zane winning the Co-Operative Championships as “Pain and Paradox”.
Over Donovan’s shoulder is his full “Lord of Pain” outfit, including his cloak and crown in a full sized glass case. Instead of a desk chair, Donovan has a throne, much like the one he was brought out to the ring in when he was announced as Creative Director. In true Donovan style, he’s had a new desk mounted on top of the poles that are used to carry the throne around. It’s an impressive dark colored wood desk with ornate decorative corners and framing and what appears to be a white marble top. There’s only one part of the office that stands in stark contrast to all of the Donovan accouterments.
The enormous framed image of Dr. Hans Lieberjosch that sits directly behind the desk.
This clearly annoys Donovan as he continually glares at it over his shoulder. For his part, Zane seems indifferent to it as he sits comfortably in a high backed black leather chair with a drink in his left hand and a tablet in his right. His Championships hand over each of the high sides of the chair, with the Chaos Championship dangling over the left side and his half of the Co-Operative Championships dangling over the side of the chair on the right. He swirls the drink and looks at Donovan as he once again glares at the picture of Dr. Lieberjosch before he looks down at his desk. Zane watches him do this with an amused smirk on his face.
“If it bothers you that much, cover it.” Zane chides.
Donovan looks at him from across his desk and shakes his head.
“It wouldn’t work.” He replies. “He’d still be back there...looking at me...”
He pauses.
“And defiling my office.” He practically spits disgustedly.
Zane replies with raised eyebrow, as if to indicate that he thinks that Donovan is being a bit melodramatic.
“Being a bit melodramatic, are we?” He asks.
(Right. Anyway.)
Donovan looks at him from across his desk as if he can’t tell if Zane is being sarcastic or is just daft.
“Are you being sarcastic?” He asks. “Or are you just a bit daft today?”
(Again with the outward statement of my exposition.)
Zane’s smile stays affixed to his face and he raises his glass to salute Donovan before he takes a drink and then places the glass down on the small end table that sits next to his desk. Donovan fails to see the amusement in Zane’s continuing smile and repeats an earlier statement.
“That picture defiles my office.” He states. “And I dislike it.”
Zane chuckles at him and shakes his head.
“Defiles’, huh?” He asks rhetorically.
Donovan shakes his head enthusiastically as he puts his pen down and fixes a firm look on his Co-Operative partner in “Pain and Paradox”.
“Yes.” He replies calmly. “‘Defiles’. It means...”
He never gets a chance to finish his explanation as Zane holds a hand up with a chuckle.
“I know what ‘defile’ means, Donovan.” He states.
Donovan raises a quizzical eyebrow.
“Then why did you ask what it meant?” He inquires.
“I didn’t.” Zane replies in amusement.
Donovan shakes his head.
“You replied ‘defiles’ in a questioning tone.” He answers. “You were clearly unsure of my meaning.”
Zane shakes his head and waves a dismissive hand at Donovan.
“No.” he answers. “I wasn’t unsure of the meaning. I was unsure of your use of it. It’s a tad overly dramatic.”
Donovan replies with a slightly incredulous raised eyebrow.
“Overly...dramatic...” He answers somewhat tersely.
“Yes.” Zane replies. “It means...”
“I know what it means.” Donovan interjects. “I’m merely taking exception with your choice of words. That you would insinuate that
I’m being ‘overly dramatic’ is slightly insulting.”
Zane raises a single eyebrow in reply.
“I didn’t ‘insinuate’.” He replies. “I actually said it.”
Donovan waves a dismissive hand in reply.
“Nonsense.” He answers. “That wasn’t how I heard it.”
“Of course not.” Zane chuckles.
The two don’t get to carry the conversation any further as they are suddenly interrupted by a dull thud on the office door, followed by a muffled “owie” in Larry’s high pitched voice. Zane and Donovan look at each other before they both look back at the door as a conversation is heard on the other side.
“Why didn’t you tell me that the door is locked?” Larry squeaks irritably.
There’s a brief pause on the other side before Owen replies.
“I didn’t know.” He answers. “Donovan knows we’re coming, so it doesn’t make sense that he’d lock the door on us.”
“Make sense!” Larry replies indignantly. “Since when did Mr. Donovan start to make sense?!”
It’s at that moment that Donovan yanks the door open behind them, having removed himself from his desk and walked across the room. He holds the door handle in hand and looks over at Zane.
“At ‘doorman’ to our list of additions to the Office of the Creative Lord-Chief”. He says.
Zane smiles and nods before he swipes on his tablet and then types for a few seconds.
“Done.” He replies, looking back at Donovan.
“Thank you.” Donovan replies with a short bow.
“You’re welcome.” Zane replies with a slight decline of his head.
Donovan turns and looks back at Owen and Larry as the two stand there with a long trunk in hand. He looks down at Larry with a raised eyebrow.
“You’re lucky that I opened the door at all, Shrill Minion.” He states imperiously. “You did not use the secret knock.”
Larry answers him with an expression that clearly states that he thinks that Donovan is a nut. He opens his mouth to say something when Owen interrupts him.
“Don’t say it, Larry.” He says.
Larry’s mouth opens and closes a couple of times. He looks at Owen, who shakes his head.
“It’s not worth it.” He says.
Larry stands silently as his mouth repeatedly opens and closes. He looks back at Owen again and Owen once again shakes his head.
“Besides,” He explains. “We’re still holding the trunk.”
Larry’s face flushes and he lets out a sound that approximates an irritated growl. He turns and looks at Owen, clearly frustrated.
“Fine.” He says. “Let’s just get this stupid thing into the office. My arms are getting tired.”
Donovan replies with uncomfortably loud laugh. Both Owen and Larry look at him curiously. Donovan holds up a hand to waive the question off and then steps aside. Larry casts him another disapproving look but seems to decide that discretion I the better part of valor, or at least of not having to lug around a large trunk until one wants to collapse. Donovan turns and walks back to his desk, where he sits down. He looks over at Zane with a smile.
“What are your thoughts on my first brilliant card as Creative Director?” He asks.
Zane stands up and walks over to the bar. He uncaps the Scotch bottle and refills his glass. He turns, walks back over to his chair and sits back down. Larry and Owen continue to try and lug the large trunk through the room.
“I like it.” He answers. “Or at least most of it.”
Donovan replies by raising his right eyebrow questioningly.
“Most of it?” He asks. “You infer that there are problems with it.”
Zane replies with a shrug and pauses to look over his shoulder as Larry and Owen struggle by with the case. He waits for them to pass and looks back at Donovan, whose expression is unchanged.
“You were saying.” Donovan says with a raised eyebrow.
Zane shrugs again.
“It’s not your fault, really.” He says.
“What’s not my fault?” Donovan pressed.
Zane takes a drink and looks at Donovan with a sideways smile. Donovan shakes his head in apparent annoyance.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” He asks.
Zane nods.
“I have no idea what you mean.” Zane says with an innocent smile.
Donovan momentarily cracks a smile before a more serious expression takes its place. Zane raises a curious eyebrow.
“Is that your ‘Creative Director’ face?” He asks.
Donovan smiles again and nods.
“It is.” He answers. “How does it look?”
Zane flashes a quick grin.
“It’s not bad.” He answers. “But it needs some work. Sort of like the card.”
The second Zane says “the card”, Donovan’s smile evaporates.
“We’re back on that again.” He says flatly. “And even after I dubbed you the ‘Lord of Pain-Thriller’.”
Zane takes a drink and smiles.
“You just can’t get good help these days.” He replies with a chuckle.
“Tell me about it.” Donovan replies with a grin. “Do continue.”
Zane nods.
“Don’t let it bother you.” He answers. “In reality it only has one less than impressive match in it and in all fairness that’s due to the talent and has nothing to do with your booking. It's like that picture of Lieberjosch that bothers you so much.”
Donovan leans back on his desk throne and places his hands behind his head.
“Do continue.” He says.
Zane smiles.
“You have an inferior object to work with." Zane explains. "It'll continue to bother you until you replace it with something better."
He pauses.
"You could have left that match off.” He says with a bored shrug. “Or it could have been the opener. In either case, you made the best of something you don't like. Afterward you replace it with something better, much like you'll do with that hideous painting of Lieberjosch.”
Donovan looks at him and shakes his head.
"I appreciate your analogy." Donovan replies. “I would have left them off, but they move just enough merchandise that it makes sense to book them.”
Zane raises a questioning eyebrow.
“They move merchandise?” He asks. “I always thought they were the ‘piss break’ part of the program.”
Donovan smiles.
“They usually are.” He replies. “So I thought we could get them out of the way fairly early and give the peasants a bathroom break after their first round or two of beers.”
Zane laughs loudly and points at Donovan.
“Clever.” He replies. “That makes perfect sense.”
Donovan nods his head slightly.
“Thank you.” He replies.
“You’re welcome.” Zane answers. “Other than that, it’s a great first show”
Donovan nods in appreciation.
“No complaints about your match?” He asks.
Zane shakes his head.
“No.” He replies. “Admittedly, I’m not thrilled with the idea of teaming with Maclean. It’s my hope that he takes a ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ approach to this.”
Donovan smiles and laughs a bit and then looks at Larry and Owen as they drop the trunk against the far wall with a loud “thud”. It nudges the table with the pictures of Donovan’s daughters, which causes a few of them to rattle a little, although none of them fall down. Donovan meets their inadvertent clumsiness with a reproachful frown.
“Knock those photographs down at your peril.” He says coldly.
Zane shakes his head as Owen flushes slightly and Larry pales.
“Tisk, tisk, gents.” He says.
Larry lowers his head dejectedly while Owen looks from Zane to Donovan and rolls his eyes.
“Sorry.” He replies. “This thing weighs a ton. What the heck is in it?”
Donovan replies with a wide smile and points to an empty pedestal that sits over by his collection of World Championship and team photographs.
“It’s an expensive marble bust.” He says. “Your Lord-Chief Creative Director of Pain demands that you not ruin it before it can be placed on glorious display.”
Zane replies to Donovan’s statement with a raised eyebrow and mouths what Donovan had just said. Donovan sees him doing so and looks at him with a questioning expression.
“Too much?” He asks.
Zane shakes his head.
“No.” He replies. “I just had to take it for a spin to get the feel for it.”
Donovan beams in reply.
“Excellent.” He answers.
Zane grins in reply.
“Besides, since when has ‘too much’ ever stopped you before?” He asks with a grin.
“Touché.” Donovan replies with a point at Zane.
Zane nods his head and looks back at Larry and Owen.
“Just be careful, guys.” He says. “I won’t let Donovan smite either of you.”
Larry exhales loudly in relief, which draws a curious look and a head shake from Owen. He pats Zane’s eccentric assistant on the shoulder and nods towards the door.
“Come on.” He says blithely. “There’s more in the truck.”
Larry sighs and his shoulders slump. He nods his head and follows Owen as he walks out of the room. Zane looks back at Donovan and gesture towards him.
“You were saying?”
Donovan leans back in his throne and places his arms on the arm rests.
“I know that I booked you in a match where you’re surrounded by enemies.” He explains. “Hell, I doubt that Rogan has forgotten that you stood by and watched as Spyder split his head like a cantaloupe. We don’t even need to really discuss Eden and her spin doctor.”
Zane laughs in reply and rolls his eyes.
“Spin doctor.” He replies. “That really is what Jet has let himself become. That was some sad ‘splaining.”
“It gave me a good laugh.” Donovan replies. “His narrative of ‘you only do what Eden does because you want to be seen as being as good as her’ is so hollow it could house a family of birds.”
Zane laugh again.
“It sounds like the inside of Rydell and Pierce’s heads.” He replies.
Donovan flashes a quick smile in reply.
“Indeed.” He says. “He’s obviously ignoring that you won both the Cross Hemisphere Championship and the Co-Op Championships before she did.”
Zane shrugs.
“Of course he is.” Zane replies. “The fact that she won the World Championship and the Chaos Championship before I did and won the ‘Grand Slam’ before I did leaves us even at best.”
“At best.” Donovan replies. “But you took them both off of her and won the ‘Grand Slam’ at her expense, so I’d say that you’re still at least slightly ahead on points.”
Zane takes a drink and sets his glass back down.
“Maybe.” He replies. “No matter how one spins it, Eden and I seem to continually get in each other’s way.”
Donovan nods.
“That’s my fault this time.” He answers.
Zane shrugs and stands up from his chair.
“Don’t worry about it.” He replies. “I enjoy a challenge and facing Eden is always a challenge. The addition of Jet on her team and Maclean on mine only makes the challenge greater. I’m looking forward to it. I have a feeling that Rogan and I will meet as opponents in the future anyway, so I might as well get another chance to scout him.”
Donovan nods and pauses as he hears Larry and Owen coming down the hall. He looks at Zane and rolls his eyes.
“It’s amazing in a way that those two function so well as a team.” He says. “Although I might have to have the office redesigned to fit everything into it.”
Zane walks around to the bar and sets the empty glass on it. He reaches for the bottle of “Breckenridge” Whiskey that’s sitting on it but changes his mind and reaches into the mini fridge. He comes out with a bottle of water and sets it down.
“Do you want one?” He asks Donovan.
“No.” He replies. “But thank you.”
“Sure.” Zane replies and then takes his and returns to his chair.
He leans against the back of it and looks across the majestic and resplendent wooden desk at Donovan.
“I fully expect that even if Maclean and I win, that he’ll try something afterward just to make a point at my expense. He needs to reestablish himself a bit right now and there are two very obvious reasons to choose me as a target.” He explains. “Hell, it wouldn’t shock me if he no showed or walked out mid match and left me hanging.”
Donovan nods.
“That occurred to me when I booked it.” He explains. “I have to what’s best for the company and regardless of the fact that it might be personally bad for you, it’s a great ratings booster.”
Zane shrugs and smiles.
“No worries.” He replies. “As I said, I like a challenge.”
Donovan’s smile suddenly widens considerably.
“What?” Zane asks.
“I just had an idea for you.” He says. “You said that you like be challenged.”
“Yes?” He asks.
“You have two Championships right now...”
Zane stands silently for a moment before a wide grin spreads across his face.
“Yeah...” He says. “That’s a damned good idea. It would be history making.”
“Yes it would.” Donovan replies.
“Damn.” Zane says as he picks up his two Championships and lays one over each shoulder. “It’s a good thing that I have broad shoulders.”
Donovan stands up, raises his hands towards the ceiling and looks up.
“It has begun!” He says in a booming voice that reverberates through the room.
Zane looks around the room as it somehow echoes off of the walls and then looks at Donovan with a grin.
“Nice effect.” He says. “When does the invasion start?”
Donovan lowers his head and looks at Zane, clearly perplexed.
“What?” He asks.
“Never mind”. Zane replies. “The moment’s passed.”
“A shame.” Donovan answers with a shrug. "I thought I'd get to drop someone through the trap door later."
He looks around the Creative Director’s Office and nods his head at the changes that the new Creative Director, Donovan Hastings has done to put his mark on his new space. The far table has been cleared of all of the self-congratulating decorations that the former Creative Director, Dr. Hans Lieberjosch had adorned it with. In its place are multiple photos of Donovan Hastings and his twins. There are also images of Donovan and his daughters on his desk, in addition to multiple framed images of the World Heavyweight Championship. The far table has more images of the World Heavyweight Championship, as well as an image of Donovan and Owen, one of Donovan and Larry, “The Protégé of Pain” (not Zane’s Larry), an image of Donovan and Travis Roberts raising the Co-Operative Championships as “TWiSTed”, Donovan with “The Puppet Masters” and lastly one of Donovan and Zane winning the Co-Operative Championships as “Pain and Paradox”.
Over Donovan’s shoulder is his full “Lord of Pain” outfit, including his cloak and crown in a full sized glass case. Instead of a desk chair, Donovan has a throne, much like the one he was brought out to the ring in when he was announced as Creative Director. In true Donovan style, he’s had a new desk mounted on top of the poles that are used to carry the throne around. It’s an impressive dark colored wood desk with ornate decorative corners and framing and what appears to be a white marble top. There’s only one part of the office that stands in stark contrast to all of the Donovan accouterments.
The enormous framed image of Dr. Hans Lieberjosch that sits directly behind the desk.
This clearly annoys Donovan as he continually glares at it over his shoulder. For his part, Zane seems indifferent to it as he sits comfortably in a high backed black leather chair with a drink in his left hand and a tablet in his right. His Championships hand over each of the high sides of the chair, with the Chaos Championship dangling over the left side and his half of the Co-Operative Championships dangling over the side of the chair on the right. He swirls the drink and looks at Donovan as he once again glares at the picture of Dr. Lieberjosch before he looks down at his desk. Zane watches him do this with an amused smirk on his face.
“If it bothers you that much, cover it.” Zane chides.
Donovan looks at him from across his desk and shakes his head.
“It wouldn’t work.” He replies. “He’d still be back there...looking at me...”
He pauses.
“And defiling my office.” He practically spits disgustedly.
Zane replies with raised eyebrow, as if to indicate that he thinks that Donovan is being a bit melodramatic.
“Being a bit melodramatic, are we?” He asks.
(Right. Anyway.)
Donovan looks at him from across his desk as if he can’t tell if Zane is being sarcastic or is just daft.
“Are you being sarcastic?” He asks. “Or are you just a bit daft today?”
(Again with the outward statement of my exposition.)
Zane’s smile stays affixed to his face and he raises his glass to salute Donovan before he takes a drink and then places the glass down on the small end table that sits next to his desk. Donovan fails to see the amusement in Zane’s continuing smile and repeats an earlier statement.
“That picture defiles my office.” He states. “And I dislike it.”
Zane chuckles at him and shakes his head.
“Defiles’, huh?” He asks rhetorically.
Donovan shakes his head enthusiastically as he puts his pen down and fixes a firm look on his Co-Operative partner in “Pain and Paradox”.
“Yes.” He replies calmly. “‘Defiles’. It means...”
He never gets a chance to finish his explanation as Zane holds a hand up with a chuckle.
“I know what ‘defile’ means, Donovan.” He states.
Donovan raises a quizzical eyebrow.
“Then why did you ask what it meant?” He inquires.
“I didn’t.” Zane replies in amusement.
Donovan shakes his head.
“You replied ‘defiles’ in a questioning tone.” He answers. “You were clearly unsure of my meaning.”
Zane shakes his head and waves a dismissive hand at Donovan.
“No.” he answers. “I wasn’t unsure of the meaning. I was unsure of your use of it. It’s a tad overly dramatic.”
Donovan replies with a slightly incredulous raised eyebrow.
“Overly...dramatic...” He answers somewhat tersely.
“Yes.” Zane replies. “It means...”
“I know what it means.” Donovan interjects. “I’m merely taking exception with your choice of words. That you would insinuate that
I’m being ‘overly dramatic’ is slightly insulting.”
Zane raises a single eyebrow in reply.
“I didn’t ‘insinuate’.” He replies. “I actually said it.”
Donovan waves a dismissive hand in reply.
“Nonsense.” He answers. “That wasn’t how I heard it.”
“Of course not.” Zane chuckles.
The two don’t get to carry the conversation any further as they are suddenly interrupted by a dull thud on the office door, followed by a muffled “owie” in Larry’s high pitched voice. Zane and Donovan look at each other before they both look back at the door as a conversation is heard on the other side.
“Why didn’t you tell me that the door is locked?” Larry squeaks irritably.
There’s a brief pause on the other side before Owen replies.
“I didn’t know.” He answers. “Donovan knows we’re coming, so it doesn’t make sense that he’d lock the door on us.”
“Make sense!” Larry replies indignantly. “Since when did Mr. Donovan start to make sense?!”
It’s at that moment that Donovan yanks the door open behind them, having removed himself from his desk and walked across the room. He holds the door handle in hand and looks over at Zane.
“At ‘doorman’ to our list of additions to the Office of the Creative Lord-Chief”. He says.
Zane smiles and nods before he swipes on his tablet and then types for a few seconds.
“Done.” He replies, looking back at Donovan.
“Thank you.” Donovan replies with a short bow.
“You’re welcome.” Zane replies with a slight decline of his head.
Donovan turns and looks back at Owen and Larry as the two stand there with a long trunk in hand. He looks down at Larry with a raised eyebrow.
“You’re lucky that I opened the door at all, Shrill Minion.” He states imperiously. “You did not use the secret knock.”
Larry answers him with an expression that clearly states that he thinks that Donovan is a nut. He opens his mouth to say something when Owen interrupts him.
“Don’t say it, Larry.” He says.
Larry’s mouth opens and closes a couple of times. He looks at Owen, who shakes his head.
“It’s not worth it.” He says.
Larry stands silently as his mouth repeatedly opens and closes. He looks back at Owen again and Owen once again shakes his head.
“Besides,” He explains. “We’re still holding the trunk.”
Larry’s face flushes and he lets out a sound that approximates an irritated growl. He turns and looks at Owen, clearly frustrated.
“Fine.” He says. “Let’s just get this stupid thing into the office. My arms are getting tired.”
Donovan replies with uncomfortably loud laugh. Both Owen and Larry look at him curiously. Donovan holds up a hand to waive the question off and then steps aside. Larry casts him another disapproving look but seems to decide that discretion I the better part of valor, or at least of not having to lug around a large trunk until one wants to collapse. Donovan turns and walks back to his desk, where he sits down. He looks over at Zane with a smile.
“What are your thoughts on my first brilliant card as Creative Director?” He asks.
Zane stands up and walks over to the bar. He uncaps the Scotch bottle and refills his glass. He turns, walks back over to his chair and sits back down. Larry and Owen continue to try and lug the large trunk through the room.
“I like it.” He answers. “Or at least most of it.”
Donovan replies by raising his right eyebrow questioningly.
“Most of it?” He asks. “You infer that there are problems with it.”
Zane replies with a shrug and pauses to look over his shoulder as Larry and Owen struggle by with the case. He waits for them to pass and looks back at Donovan, whose expression is unchanged.
“You were saying.” Donovan says with a raised eyebrow.
Zane shrugs again.
“It’s not your fault, really.” He says.
“What’s not my fault?” Donovan pressed.
Zane takes a drink and looks at Donovan with a sideways smile. Donovan shakes his head in apparent annoyance.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” He asks.
Zane nods.
“I have no idea what you mean.” Zane says with an innocent smile.
Donovan momentarily cracks a smile before a more serious expression takes its place. Zane raises a curious eyebrow.
“Is that your ‘Creative Director’ face?” He asks.
Donovan smiles again and nods.
“It is.” He answers. “How does it look?”
Zane flashes a quick grin.
“It’s not bad.” He answers. “But it needs some work. Sort of like the card.”
The second Zane says “the card”, Donovan’s smile evaporates.
“We’re back on that again.” He says flatly. “And even after I dubbed you the ‘Lord of Pain-Thriller’.”
Zane takes a drink and smiles.
“You just can’t get good help these days.” He replies with a chuckle.
“Tell me about it.” Donovan replies with a grin. “Do continue.”
Zane nods.
“Don’t let it bother you.” He answers. “In reality it only has one less than impressive match in it and in all fairness that’s due to the talent and has nothing to do with your booking. It's like that picture of Lieberjosch that bothers you so much.”
Donovan leans back on his desk throne and places his hands behind his head.
“Do continue.” He says.
Zane smiles.
“You have an inferior object to work with." Zane explains. "It'll continue to bother you until you replace it with something better."
He pauses.
"You could have left that match off.” He says with a bored shrug. “Or it could have been the opener. In either case, you made the best of something you don't like. Afterward you replace it with something better, much like you'll do with that hideous painting of Lieberjosch.”
Donovan looks at him and shakes his head.
"I appreciate your analogy." Donovan replies. “I would have left them off, but they move just enough merchandise that it makes sense to book them.”
Zane raises a questioning eyebrow.
“They move merchandise?” He asks. “I always thought they were the ‘piss break’ part of the program.”
Donovan smiles.
“They usually are.” He replies. “So I thought we could get them out of the way fairly early and give the peasants a bathroom break after their first round or two of beers.”
Zane laughs loudly and points at Donovan.
“Clever.” He replies. “That makes perfect sense.”
Donovan nods his head slightly.
“Thank you.” He replies.
“You’re welcome.” Zane answers. “Other than that, it’s a great first show”
Donovan nods in appreciation.
“No complaints about your match?” He asks.
Zane shakes his head.
“No.” He replies. “Admittedly, I’m not thrilled with the idea of teaming with Maclean. It’s my hope that he takes a ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ approach to this.”
Donovan smiles and laughs a bit and then looks at Larry and Owen as they drop the trunk against the far wall with a loud “thud”. It nudges the table with the pictures of Donovan’s daughters, which causes a few of them to rattle a little, although none of them fall down. Donovan meets their inadvertent clumsiness with a reproachful frown.
“Knock those photographs down at your peril.” He says coldly.
Zane shakes his head as Owen flushes slightly and Larry pales.
“Tisk, tisk, gents.” He says.
Larry lowers his head dejectedly while Owen looks from Zane to Donovan and rolls his eyes.
“Sorry.” He replies. “This thing weighs a ton. What the heck is in it?”
Donovan replies with a wide smile and points to an empty pedestal that sits over by his collection of World Championship and team photographs.
“It’s an expensive marble bust.” He says. “Your Lord-Chief Creative Director of Pain demands that you not ruin it before it can be placed on glorious display.”
Zane replies to Donovan’s statement with a raised eyebrow and mouths what Donovan had just said. Donovan sees him doing so and looks at him with a questioning expression.
“Too much?” He asks.
Zane shakes his head.
“No.” He replies. “I just had to take it for a spin to get the feel for it.”
Donovan beams in reply.
“Excellent.” He answers.
Zane grins in reply.
“Besides, since when has ‘too much’ ever stopped you before?” He asks with a grin.
“Touché.” Donovan replies with a point at Zane.
Zane nods his head and looks back at Larry and Owen.
“Just be careful, guys.” He says. “I won’t let Donovan smite either of you.”
Larry exhales loudly in relief, which draws a curious look and a head shake from Owen. He pats Zane’s eccentric assistant on the shoulder and nods towards the door.
“Come on.” He says blithely. “There’s more in the truck.”
Larry sighs and his shoulders slump. He nods his head and follows Owen as he walks out of the room. Zane looks back at Donovan and gesture towards him.
“You were saying?”
Donovan leans back in his throne and places his arms on the arm rests.
“I know that I booked you in a match where you’re surrounded by enemies.” He explains. “Hell, I doubt that Rogan has forgotten that you stood by and watched as Spyder split his head like a cantaloupe. We don’t even need to really discuss Eden and her spin doctor.”
Zane laughs in reply and rolls his eyes.
“Spin doctor.” He replies. “That really is what Jet has let himself become. That was some sad ‘splaining.”
“It gave me a good laugh.” Donovan replies. “His narrative of ‘you only do what Eden does because you want to be seen as being as good as her’ is so hollow it could house a family of birds.”
Zane laugh again.
“It sounds like the inside of Rydell and Pierce’s heads.” He replies.
Donovan flashes a quick smile in reply.
“Indeed.” He says. “He’s obviously ignoring that you won both the Cross Hemisphere Championship and the Co-Op Championships before she did.”
Zane shrugs.
“Of course he is.” Zane replies. “The fact that she won the World Championship and the Chaos Championship before I did and won the ‘Grand Slam’ before I did leaves us even at best.”
“At best.” Donovan replies. “But you took them both off of her and won the ‘Grand Slam’ at her expense, so I’d say that you’re still at least slightly ahead on points.”
Zane takes a drink and sets his glass back down.
“Maybe.” He replies. “No matter how one spins it, Eden and I seem to continually get in each other’s way.”
Donovan nods.
“That’s my fault this time.” He answers.
Zane shrugs and stands up from his chair.
“Don’t worry about it.” He replies. “I enjoy a challenge and facing Eden is always a challenge. The addition of Jet on her team and Maclean on mine only makes the challenge greater. I’m looking forward to it. I have a feeling that Rogan and I will meet as opponents in the future anyway, so I might as well get another chance to scout him.”
Donovan nods and pauses as he hears Larry and Owen coming down the hall. He looks at Zane and rolls his eyes.
“It’s amazing in a way that those two function so well as a team.” He says. “Although I might have to have the office redesigned to fit everything into it.”
Zane walks around to the bar and sets the empty glass on it. He reaches for the bottle of “Breckenridge” Whiskey that’s sitting on it but changes his mind and reaches into the mini fridge. He comes out with a bottle of water and sets it down.
“Do you want one?” He asks Donovan.
“No.” He replies. “But thank you.”
“Sure.” Zane replies and then takes his and returns to his chair.
He leans against the back of it and looks across the majestic and resplendent wooden desk at Donovan.
“I fully expect that even if Maclean and I win, that he’ll try something afterward just to make a point at my expense. He needs to reestablish himself a bit right now and there are two very obvious reasons to choose me as a target.” He explains. “Hell, it wouldn’t shock me if he no showed or walked out mid match and left me hanging.”
Donovan nods.
“That occurred to me when I booked it.” He explains. “I have to what’s best for the company and regardless of the fact that it might be personally bad for you, it’s a great ratings booster.”
Zane shrugs and smiles.
“No worries.” He replies. “As I said, I like a challenge.”
Donovan’s smile suddenly widens considerably.
“What?” Zane asks.
“I just had an idea for you.” He says. “You said that you like be challenged.”
“Yes?” He asks.
“You have two Championships right now...”
Zane stands silently for a moment before a wide grin spreads across his face.
“Yeah...” He says. “That’s a damned good idea. It would be history making.”
“Yes it would.” Donovan replies.
“Damn.” Zane says as he picks up his two Championships and lays one over each shoulder. “It’s a good thing that I have broad shoulders.”
Donovan stands up, raises his hands towards the ceiling and looks up.
“It has begun!” He says in a booming voice that reverberates through the room.
Zane looks around the room as it somehow echoes off of the walls and then looks at Donovan with a grin.
“Nice effect.” He says. “When does the invasion start?”
Donovan lowers his head and looks at Zane, clearly perplexed.
“What?” He asks.
“Never mind”. Zane replies. “The moment’s passed.”
“A shame.” Donovan answers with a shrug. "I thought I'd get to drop someone through the trap door later."
2013, '18, '23 
2013 
