A SEB Life (RP for Level Up Wrestling)

[Sebastian Everett-Bryce]

All we can see is an empty chair. Not that entertaining, right? Right, but relax, we’re just easing you in. So. Empty chair, centre screen. But it doesn’t stay empty for long, ladies and gentlemen, no, for with a runtime of less than five seconds, a figure walks into shot, fiddling with a microphone.

“Always hated these things.” He says. “Is that alright? Can you hear me?”

“Yeah, we can hear you.” Comes a voice from off camera. “Is that chair okay for you?”

“It’s a chair.” The figure says before sitting down. “I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I’m not quite the primadonna everyone makes me out to be.”

Before the official start of the interview, our subject is sat in makeup with a pitcher of water set to one side.

“I’m sorry, is that chilled?” He asks. “I really need it to be chilled. Oh, and I think I asked for only red and purple skittles, but I noticed a green one in there could you…”

“Chilled water… And you want me to…” The runner says, pointing to the bowl. “What? Pick out any that aren’t red and purple…?”

“Oh good lord no.” He said laughing. “No, I want you to toss the entire bowl away and start again. Can’t have someone fingering my food.”

We cut back to the interviewee now sat in the chair.

“Do you mind introducing yourself?” Asked the off-camera voice.

“Are… Are you sure? Pretty confident everyone will know who I am already.” He said with a little chuckle.

“Off course, but… Just for the sake of anyone who isn’t in the industry.” Said the off-camera voice again.

“I mean…” The subject seemed to think about it for a second. “I mean, fine.”

The shot cuts and moves - it’s a trope of documentary makers. Cut a little pre and post interview footage to make the entire thing look more real and edgy. Anyway, the shot focuses back on the subject.

“My name is Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third - UGWC Superstar, former UGWC Cooperative, Cross Hemisphere and World Heavyweight Champion. Winner of the 2020 Massive Melee and Battleground matches.” He said with a smile. “What, was that too much?”

“No, that’s great.” Said the voice from off-camera.

“Good. That’s good - One Shot Seb they call me.” He said. “Oh… Wait, I forgot something.”

“What’s that?” Asked the man off camera.

“I’m also the first Level Up Final Boss Champion.” Seb added with a nod and a wink. “There, now we’re good.”

“Great - can we do that again?” Asked the director.

“Of course - but I’ll be saying the One Shot Seb line again.” He replied before adjusting his position in his seat. “Annnnnnd action!”

---

Catchy jingle music plays over the following logo.

---

“In March 2021, Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third, UGWC wrestler and multi-time champion, allowed our film crew to follow him in the build up to his first stateside wrestling match outside of UGWC in almost two years.”

Seb opened the door to his apartment and smiled.

“Afternoon.” He said, moving aside letting the camera inside the apartment. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

He led the crew into the lounge area.

“This is Oliver - he’s a blogger from the UK, but recently he’s part of the team that’s helping with my image.” Seb said.

Oliver got to his feet and shook hands with the members of the crew.

“You know, I suggested something like this about eighteen months ago, but Seb said it was a terrible idea. This time it was a suggestion from his…” Oliver legitimately air quotes. “Communications Director, and it was apparently a stroke of genius...”

“Alright, Ollie.” Seb said, smiling at the camera nervously. “This is Beckett Taylor, my Communications Director and my roommate’s little brother. And that fine looking gentleman in the corner is my grandfather - Sebastian Everett-Bryce the original. Also my Chief of Staff.”

We cut to Seb in his seat in the studio.

“So what’s the idea behind the staff?” Asked the off-camera voice.

“I’ve had some problems defining my image and my direction over the past couple of years - my mouth and my actions have gotten me in trouble. Lost me a few allies here and there, and a lucrative sponsorship deal. They’re there to… ” Seb begins to move his hands in circles to buy some time.

“Rein you in?” Asked the voice.

“Not at all, no, I’m free to do and say what I want, they’re just there to manage the narrative.” Seb said with a smile.

“Spin what you do into an outcome that ensures that you keep said lucrative sponsorship deals and keeps you out of trouble?” Asked the voice.

“Precisely.” Said Seb smirking.

We cut back to the apartment where the door to a room off to the right opens. Out steps a woman with pink hair and a towel wrapped around her.

“And this is my roommate - the number one contender to the UGWC World Heavyweight Championship - Sloane Taylor. The Sky Queen… The…” Seb began.

“... Not at all prepared to be on-camera, Seb, what the heck?!” She demanded, wide-eyed and flushing as she rushed behind the door.

“I told you they were coming.” Seb answered.

“You didn’t say they were coming now! Oh my god!” She said.

“Alright, alright - my bad!” Seb said walking towards her. “Why don’t you… Get ready and they can… You know... Interview you when you’re less… Moist.”

Several people, Sloane included, baulk at the use of the word.

“You’re disgusting sometimes. You’re in serious trouble, Sebastian.” She scolded. “I’ll be out in a little while.”

“Oops.” Said Seb, turning to face the camera.

We cut back to the studio, but this time it’s Oliver with a name card - Oliver Johnson, Blogger, Wrestling Journalist, and Seb’s Press Secretary.

“Is there something going on between Sebastian and Sloane?” Asked the voice.

“We’ve often asked that question ourselves, but I’m not sure they could keep it hidden for so long - if I had to hazard a guess? I’d say they’re just really close friends.”

We then cut to Bastian - elder statesman of the Everett-Bryce family, with his own name card - Sebastian Everett-Bryce, retired investment banker, and Seb’s Chief of Staff.

“Do you think there’s something going on between Seb and Sloane?” Asked the documentary maker.

“Oh good lord no - Miss Taylor is far too smart to get caught up with my grandson. Takes after his grandfather, you see - something of a… I think the appropriate word is slut…” Bastian said with a beaming smile.

“Seb is a... slut?” Asked the voice.

“No, my dear boy. I was.” Said Bastian with a knowing grin.

We cut to Beckett Taylor, Blogger and Seb’s Communication’s director.

“Is there any truth to the rumours about Seb and your…” The voice began to ask.

“Don’t…” Said Kit, holding up a hand and looking down. “Just… Don’t.”

We return to the apartment where Seb and his cabinet are sitting around the table.

“Alright so, the Last of Us Gauntlet…” Said Seb with a smirk. “Seems fun, right?”

“You could say that.” Said Kit. “It’ll be hard going though, those kinds of contests usually are.”

“Have you ever even played the game?” Asked Oliver, stopping the conversation in its tracks.

“Wait, what?” Asked Kit.

“What in the blazes are you talking about you blithering idiot?” Asked Bastian.

“The game? The Last of Us? I hear it’s pretty difficult, and I’d never have picked Seb out for a gamer.” Oliver added.

“Oliver… It’s a wrestling Gauntlet, for a company called Level Up Wrestling? For the Level Up Final Boss Championship… It’s not… A gaming thing, it’s a wrestling thing.” Said Seb with a furrowed brow.

“Oh…” Said Oliver.

We swiftly cut to him in the studio.

“Okay, look - in my defence - Level Up… Final Boss Champion? Come on, I’d be forgiven for thinking it was a gaming thing right?” He said, looking around for support from the crew. “Right?”

“Sometimes Oliver speaks before he thinks, which I’ll admit, isn’t always a good policy for a Press Secretary.” Said Seb as we cut to him back in his seat, picking out a handful of red and purple Skittles. “But he does have some strokes of genius. And whilst he made the initial mistake, he was quick to catch up to the rest of us.”

We cut back to the lounge area where the Last of Us Gauntlet was still the subject.

“Okay, look, what do you know about the other competitors?” Asked Kit.

“Obviously I know everything I need to know.” Said Seb with a smirk. “I’m a professional.”

“Right… A professional… So, what do you know?” Asked Kit.

“You’re going to produce a pack, right? Background information about my opponents in this gauntlet?” Seb asked as he took a sip of water and made a face. “No, sorry - this is still pretty tepid. What you want to do is get it in a deep freeze and then let it thaw.”

“But… That would take hours?” Said the researcher.

“Then you’d best get to it.” Said Seb with a smile, before turning back to the filmmaker still off-camera. “So?”

“So what?” Asked the film maker.

“Uhm… Where’s my research pack? I’m not going to look like an idiot in this film.” Seb said with a chortle that clearly said ‘obviously’.

“We’re not researching your opponents, Seb.” Said the filmmaker.

“Well that seems a little unprofessional of you.” Said Seb shaking his head.

We cut to Beckett in the studio.

“Here’s the thing about Seb - I wouldn’t say he’s lazy, but he’s used to certain things being done for him. In UGWC it’s easy for him, right? He interacts with these people all the time - it’s organic. You take in what you need to know - and he’s awesome at that. Like, he’s good at seeing people and nailing them to a cross with their own weaknesses. But when it comes to something like the Level Up event… Well…” Kit moves his head from side to side.

“He wants someone else to tell him what he needs to know?” The off-screen voice asked.

“Precisely.” Said Kit.

We cut to Bastian.

“Was Sebastian born with a silver spoon in his mouth?” Asked the film maker.

“Was he… Good lord man, his name is Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third - of course he was born with a damned silver spoon in his mouth. I tried my best to keep him grounded - I was, in my time, what people called ‘new money’. His father was born into it, and it made him spoiled and greedy. Sebastian is much less cruel than his father, but at the same time, he did expect the butler to cut up his pork chops so he didn’t have to chew as much.” Said Bastian with a chuckle. “But deep down, he’s a good man. Doesn’t always do good things, and makes some terrible choices - that being said, he’s a spoiled little bastard at times.”

“So you think he wanted someone to tell him what he needed to know?” The filmmaker asked.

“You could say that.” Bastian added with a chuckle.

We cut back to the war room, Seb suddenly looking around nervously.

“We can focus on the opponents later. Is it me, or is it getting hot in here...” Seb asked, pulling his t-shirt away from his chest. He looked up to find a fully dressed Sloane, jacket and all walking into the room. “Um… Sloane… Where are you… Going?”

“Out, Seb - I’m going out.” She replied. Seb glanced nervously at the camera.

“But… You know… The docum…” He began, but she cut him off with a look. She then glanced at the camera and smiled.

“I’m sorry, I have somewhere to be - but I promise you I’ll be around over the next couple of days for you to speak to me.” She added.

We cut to the interview room and a flash of pink hair. On screen, the title card reads “The Sky Queen” Sloane Taylor - UGWC Superstar and number one contender to the UGWC World Heavyweight Championship.

“Hi!” She said, smiling and bubbly.

“Hi, Sloane.” Said the voice from off-screen.

“Sorry about the other day - Seb has a habit of doing things how he thinks they’re best without much thought about how they would effect other people. He doesn’t mean to - he’s just a little thoughtless.” She said with a smile.

“And a camera crew showing up when you’re walking around in just a towel…” The voice said.

“Oh god.” She said, her hand over her face as she giggled. “Yeah, that wasn’t ideal. But that wasn’t why I left - I was meeting a friend. And Seb seems to believe that lives come to a standstill when they’re not focused entirely on him.”

“And they don’t obviously.” The voice said.

“No. There is a world outside of Seb’s Empire - but he doesn’t always see it.” She added with a smile. “But I guess that’s a part of what’s made him successful since he’s been here - he’s more concerned with what he can do than what his opponents can’t. It’s all about him.”

“That’s got to be tough, though, right? Him doing whatever suits him best?” The voice asked.

“Yeah the heating is goosed.” Said Seb, rolling his eyes and talking to Oliver in what he thinks is a voice that goes unheard by the cameras. “I’ve just let Sloane know.”

“What did your building manager say?” Asked Oliver, but Seb just cleared his throat. “Seb… What did your building…”

“He said he’d fix it - but I suggested that perhaps he could take his time. The heat isn’t that bad…” Seb said unconvincingly and a touch suspiciously. Ollie cut him off before he could protest further.

“You can’t be serious! It’s starting to feel like the inside of a pair of tight boxer shorts in here. It’s sweltering!” Said Oliver with Seb shushing him frantically.

“Look, I’m just saying - I can deal with the heat. And I’m not entirely sure it’s a bad thing if Sloane felt a need to dress a little more… Like we’re living in the Bahamas.” Said Seb with a conspiratorial smirk.

“What? For the documentary?” Oliver asked.

“Yes.” Said Seb quickly, his eyes darting this way and that. “Yes, of course for the documentary.”

We return back to Sloane in the studio.

“It can be challenging, yes.” She said rolling her eyes.

”Our first day filming with Sebastian and his friends had been somewhat insightful - but we hadn’t managed to get to the bottom of why this match was so important to him - stepping outside the bounds of UGWC for the first time since he’d signed seems drastic, especially given the year he’d just had. We hoped to gauge more the following day.”

---

“Morning.” Said Seb, looking not just a little tired and somewhat worse for wear. “Come in, but be warned it’s sweltering.”

The camera followed him inside, to find a much quieter apartment. Just Seb, wearing shorts and an open shirt. As they reached the living area, Sloane walked from the kitchen looking much more comfortable, holding a pitcher and a stack of glasses.

“Oh hey! I just made lemonade.” She said, her hair pulled back and up into a high ponytail. She wore a vest top and shorts and seemed much more comfortable than Seb who flopped into a chair and picked up a wet towel and draped it around his neck.

On the TV were three faces - the three men from yesterday. Given the heat, they’d chosen to stay away and video call instead.

“Seb, we need you to concentrate - tactics.” Said Bastian.

“I don’t need tactics, this is my kind of match. This is the kind of scenario I thrive in.” Seb said. “What I do need is Sloane to go and get me some more ice from the freezer.”

“Nice try, Seb, I’m not falling for that again.” She said, pulling her tongue at him.

“Or maybe you could put something on under the tank top, and then it wouldn’t be a problem.” Said Kit.

“It’s too hot for that, Kit.” Said Sloane, rolling her eyes.

“Can we get back to the point?” Asked Oliver. “I honestly don’t even know why you signed up for this match.”

“Because I thought it would be fun.” Said Seb, in exasperation. “I’m not sure I’ve ever needed to justify why I do anything.”

“Alright, alright.” Said Oliver. “But if we knew your motivation, it would help us to guide you to…”

“Look, you’re not here to worry about the match, I have that covered, you’re here to decide how we spin the results depending on how it goes.” Seb said. “This is a Gauntlet, and whilst I have every confidence that I’ll be victorious, anything can happen and we need to decide how to spin it. That’s all I need from you - alright?”

We cut to Bastian in the studio.

“What you have to understand about my grandson, is that he doesn’t always consider the consequences of his actions - take this idea to delay the fixing of the heating. Short term, fine - he gets to spend time with his beautiful roommate in a state of undress.” Said Bastian.

“You think that’s why he did it?” Asked the voice.

“Anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron.” Said Bastian. “Still, he failed to see the other consequence which is that he, too, would be very, very warm - and he’s British. And we don’t do very well at all with excesses in heat.”

We cut to Kit.

“Yeah, I mean Sloane is more cut out for this than Seb is. We’re not exactly tropical, but she’s always been a sun girl.” Said Kit before grumbling. “Used to cause me nightmares when I brought friends around and she was catching sun. ‘Hey Kit, can we go say hello to Sloane on the roof?’ Always been the same.”

“Do you think this heating issue was done on purpose?” Asked the voice.

“What? No… No it… It can’t be. Seb wouldn’t…” Kit paused, clearly thinking it through. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“They have a point, Seb.” Sloane said. “I know you think you’re in control, but there’s no harm talking about why you’re doing this. You have a habit of talking about your skills, but not so much focusing on your motivation.”

“Sloane, it’s two hundred and ninety eight degrees in here…” Seb said.

“Dramatic.” She responded with a laugh.

“... My point is that I don’t feel like talking about the why, that’s all…” Said Seb. “Now, if you could all just let me enjoy the feeling of what is quickly becoming a luke warm towel around my neck that would be…”

“Okay, okay.” Said Bastian. “But seriously though, why?”

“Oh for fuck sake!” Seb blasted as he jumped out of his seat. “Fine - you want to know why I’m doing this event? Because I have to - I need this. I need to stand out above a group of people and be able to point at each and every one of them and tell them I’m better. No… Not just better. I’m the best. I need to stand tall in an impressive field and at the end of it, hold MY hand high because I won. Horizons, I lost. Infinity, I lost. Everyone tells me how damn impressed they were with my year last year, but I need to prove it wasn’t a one-off.”

“No-one thinks it was a one-off…” Sloane said, her eyes on Seb who was now pacing back and forth around the room. Sweat slid down over his face and torso.

“Maybe not, but keep going the way I have since Battleground, and it’s what I’ll start to believe. This match? This opportunity - it’s a chance to make history. The first ever Final Boss Champion. Do you know how many firsts there are? This match, in this company is important because it means something - not because I’ll be able to go back to UGWC and tell the world that I won, but because I’ll be able stand up in Level Up as THE man. I’ll be the standard that’s set in a brand new company. I’ll be the measuring stick for every single person that walks through that door.” Seb said before walking back to his seat and picking up his towel. He dropped back into his seat. “This? Isn’t about an outsider wanting to visit, wave, and then disappear - this is about me, Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third, wanting to make a statement in Level Up. One that will be remembered for a long, long time.

The video call had ended and Seb and Sloane were alone, the day’s filming almost at its end. The two of them stood in the kitchen of their apartment, though neither had removed their microphones.

“Are you thinking of leaving?” Sloane asked as she stepped towards Seb and pressed a hand on his shoulder. “If you win this title, are you going to leave UGWC?”

“No.” Said Seb, although his answer wasn’t entirely convincing. “No, I can do both, but when I win that title, I have no intention of being the UGWC guy who won the Level Up Final Boss title - I’ll be a Level Up guy, defending the Level Up title.”

“You know you’re just one title away from a Grand Slam, Seb - the Chaos Title is all you need.” She said.

“I’m not thinking about that right now. I’ll focus on Tempest when he’s the man in front of me.” Seb said.

“Alright.” She said. “I just… Don’t like the idea of UGWC without you in it.” She smiled.

Seb turned to face her and pulled her into a hug.

“Don’t worry, that’s not going to happen. But I’m not going to half-arse either.” He said. As they pulled apart, Seb reached up and nudged her chin. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

We cut to the studio where Beckett is in the chair.

“Just one last question - why do you think Seb will win at The Last of Us?” The voice asked.

Kit smirked and took a deep breath.

“You know, I’ve been a wrestling fan for a long time - I knew about Seb long before he crossed the Atlantic, and the one thing I know about him for sure? Is that this is the kind of match he loves - he’s never been concerned with the weaknesses of his opponents, but his own strengths. He knows what he’s good at, and matches like this? They’re exactly why he was successful last year - The Massive Melee, Battleground… Matches in which the odds were against him and he came out swinging. I have every faith in my friend.” Kit added with a nod.

We switch to Oliver.

“Why do you think Seb will be the first Final Boss Champion?” Asked the voice.

“I’ve followed Seb in England and since he came over to the States - and since he’s been here, he’s been looking for that defining moment. He almost won a championship in his second day in UGWC. He held two championships at once in his first six months in UGWC. He’s the only man to this day to defend two championships at Horizons. Still, he hasn’t quite had that moment to define him since he arrived here. This? Right here? The first ever Final Boss Champion in a brand new company will cement him in history. And that’s what he wants - no… It’s what he needs. And I wouldn’t want to be standing in his way when he’s going for it.” Said Oliver with a smirk.

We cut now to Bastian.

“What would it mean to Seb to win this Gauntlet match?” The voice asked.

Bastian rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.

“I won’t claim to know this business well - I wasn’t a fan before my grandson joined, and I knew next to nothing about the American business when he arrived here. But what I do know is that this is his life - he risked his relationship with his family; he gave up the friendships he had back home; he took a risk to walk away from a small pond where he was the shark to come to America. He values everything he’s accomplished so far, and he’s defined by the choices that he’s made. And yet, to win this match, and be recognised somewhere outside what is now seen as his home would prove that he is able to transfer what he’s learned… His skills, to any promotion at anytime. A victory in this match would mean everything to him - because it proves that he can define his own future any way he sees fit.” Said Bastian with a tear in his eye. “And that makes me so proud.”

We switch to Sloane now, smiling sweetly.

“Do you think he’ll win?” Asked the voice.

“No.” She replied. “Seb is my best friend. He was the man who stood at my side when we won our first championships together. I was the one who won at Wrestlestock, but he was the one who took that appearance and turned it into legacy. In the past year, I’ve had people tell me that I wasted my opportunity and Seb had left me behind - I was mad at them for saying that, but I think they had a point. My best friend was building a legacy for himself and no-one could understand why I was just happy for him. Seb, the guy who has been there for me since the day we met, was fulfilling his potential and people expected me to be ashamed by that - why would I be? He’s been my friend, he’s been my partner, he’s been my teacher, and he’s been my shoulder to cry on. I’m proud of Seb, and the fact that he sets his eyes on a goal and accomplishes it. So no. I don’t think he’ll win. I know he will. And I’ll be there to cheer him on every step of the way.”

Finally we cut to Seb himself, sat with one leg crossed over the other, leaning to the side and resting his chin on the last three fingers with the index pressed against his cheek.

“What does this all mean to you? Wrestling? Winning? Legacy? What does it all mean to Sebastian Everett-Bryce?”

“The Third.” Says Seb with a smirk.

“To Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third.” Said the filmmaker. “What does this all mean?”

“Everything, and more than you could ever know.” Seb said. “This is my Empire, everyone else is just visiting.”

“Thank you, Seb.” Said the voice off-camera.

“Of course.” Said Seb.

”And so, after two days spent with Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third, it was intriguing to see what he and his friends thought of his chances. It is unusual, but not unheard of, for an outsider to win these kinds of events - those who are on the inside usually have a better idea of who and what they’re facing. And yet, in Sebastian Everett-Bryce the Third, we have a genuine contender for no other reason than the fact that he cares less about everyone else and focuses on being the best that he can possibly be. The question now is whether those he is due to face at The Last of Us are able to deal with the sheer force that is The Mauler of Markham Square - we’ll find out this coming Tuesday, March 9th in Indianapolis.”

A SebEmpire Production. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2021.