Post by The Cobra Viper on Jul 8, 2011 19:20:41 GMT -5
6/26/11 SNV After Roy's Match.
I clutch my chest as I walk back stage moments after taking a drop kick from Danny Tenfold. ‘Well I think that went well. Proved my point, proved it twice, and got a nice response from the fans. Everything is working out.’ I think to myself and Tai as I smile and stagger into the back stage area.
‘Yep. You won your match, you have a title match in two weeks and you’ve sent a message that you aren’t the guy to fuck with.’ Tai reassures me as Warrior enters my vision and blocks my path. I smirk obviously my words messed with the simple Rhino’s head.
“Come to tell me I did the right thing again? Or just wondering if you’ll ever make as big of an impact as I can nightly?” I ask pointedly picking up the conversation from before my match as if nothing had happened.
Warrior cackles and shakes his head for an immediate answer before locking his eyes with mine. “Trust me boy you got a lot to learn. I’m just here to let you know Mark’s looking for you and you’re right same side doesn’t make us allies but I have Dogs of War backing me what do you have?” Warrior stated before walking off not giving me a chance to rebut.
‘Arrogant prick.’ Tai spits angry at Warrior’s tone without thinking of his words. Pensively I move through the backstage area, heading for Mark’s office, with Warrior’s words echoing in my head.
He had a point, as small as it was that he had back up. If I did anything now regardless of what it was I no longer had someone watching my back. Mark was my boss and I had put him in power but he wouldn’t watch my back, I am a liability to him unless I prove useful, Warrior is all about himself always has always will, sure he’s with Mark but only as long as that’s the side with the most profit, Scorpion who is the champion because of Mark but is only faithful to his God, and then there’s Luck who is loyal to Mark and again out for himself with a commission to back him up. Five players two with groups, one with management power, one with a title, and me with nothing but promise. I need more than promise but what?
As I reach the end of my thought train I realize I’m right outside Mark’s office. ‘Irony’ I laugh to myself before walking in to see the back of Mark’s chair before he plays up the dramatic effect with the slow turn.
“Ah, Roy I see you succeeded in your match tonight. Congrats but business is business and we have business to discuss.” Mark begins almost quoting my first words to him when I came to him about putting him in power. I smile and nod acknowledging the symmetry and take the seat across from him as he had indicated with a quick hand motion. I lean back in the chair as raise my eyebrow letting Mark know I was listening and that he had the go ahead to begin.
“As you know I’ve booked a special main event for the next Sunday Night Vengeance and both of us have a part to play. You have shown your worth as an investment but I’m still questionable on your commitment to myself and the Asylum.” Mark deliberately pauses at this point to judge my reaction. He’s words are calculated but not surprising so I maintain myself but add my crooked grin and nod to acknowledge I understand and am unfazed. Acting as though it was a natural pause Mark continues. “So to prove your loyalty I put you in the title match not to win it but to assure Jack Bull doesn’t.” Again he pauses but this time due to the confused look on my face. With a smile he acknowledges my unclear understanding and asks. “You don’t want to prove your loyalty? Maybe we need to change our original agreement.”
“Oh know I’ll prove it.” I state pointedly locking my burning eyes with his so as to put any doubts or games to rest on that subject. “But I’m confused as to why that’s my assignment since you are the special referee and could just not count when bull goes for a pin. Seems a little over kill and wasted to put me in match that you can influence as you see fit. I’ll do it just doesn’t add up to the most effective way to do business.” I explain pointing out an obvious fact and thought for concern.
Mark laughs in response with a smile indicating that my idea wasn’t bad but he probably had already come up with it and there was a reason I was still needed. “While yes I could,” Mark begins as the serious returns to his voice, “but I’m about looking to be a fair manager, and thus can’t do that. However, if say a wrestler goes out of his way to stop another I can’t be accounted for his actions now can I?” Mark adds winking at me as he holds both hands out to the air above the desk as if asking for applause and earning a smile and a nod from me.
“Smart, not to mention makes it so it doesn’t look like Scorpion is getting special favors. You want Bull unable to get the three, fine that’s my main focus but a phone call would have worked for this. What else did you want to discuss?” I ask enjoying Mark’s scheme to avoid adding to his public disproval and add to mine while keeping his golden boy in possession of the title.
“You catch on quick.” Mark points out before continuing. “Our operation is small and weak, yes we have powerful people but no loyalty and I need that so I was hoping you could recruit a little for me. Add to our size, power, and loyalty since they would be hired under me and not that bug Kirk. As I recall you have some friends back home that have some experience in the ring, and with you being the one to ask I’m sure you could get them on our side.” Mark explains slyly and without realizing it solves the issue on my mind as I entered his office.
“So you want me to get my Irish Street Fighting buddies to join the Asylum, manage them, and provide you with the numbers and power needed to maintain your desired order?” I ask acting as if it was a hard decision and earning only a nod from the man in charge. “Sure, but if I do this we’re our own group under you. Kinda like the Las Vegas Commission but with more due to the fact that I know about six people willing to join under your terms.” I reply before standing up out of the chair and extending my hand to conclude the deal.
“Of course. I don’t want people thinking I’m behind all these underhanded tactics” Mark says sarcastically before raising himself and shaking my hand. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you Roy, you always get straight to the bottom line and the point. You are a man of action and I like that.” Mark concludes before letting go of my hand and retaking his seat.
I turn and leaving with plenty on my mind but a statement needing to be said. As the door is about to shut behind me I speak loud enough for Mark to hear me. “And my actions are my own.” The door clicks shut behind me and I am left in a vacant hallway as the main event has started.
‘Why the hell would you do that Roy? Promise not to win the title when this is your chance. That is the single most stupid thing you could do. I mean sure you’re facing Scorpion who you’ve never beaten, Titan who is known for shelving people, and Bull the crowd favorite, but come on you just gave the title away two weeks before the match.' Tai preaches to me as I move towards my locker room to change out of my ring gear and prepare to head home and home being Ireland this time.
I chuckle to myself as Tai rants about what I’ve given up and how stupid I am until he takes a breath. “Tai, slow down I have my reasons and loopholes that disprove your notions.’ I interject quickly to cut him off and explain my side. Tai’s sudden silence was my queue to continue as I pushed through the doors to my personal locker room. “Yes I told Mark that Making sure Bull doesn’t win would be my main focus I didn’t’ say I wouldn’t win. Who is to say pinning Bull is any different than preventing him from winning? It’s the same thing with a different result.’ I begin to explain letting my internal smile extend to the external world.
‘So you’re manipulating his word choice without taking your eye off what you truly want. Why do I doubt you sometimes?’ Tai asks in an exhausted voice and small chuckle as I take a seat and begin to unlace my boots.
‘Good question, but I have a better one. What do I do about Titan and Scorpion? Mark is sure to talk to at least Scorpion but I doubt Titan will care that my job isn’t to win. I have a feeling we’re all targets to him and whether Mark pulls strings or not Titan isn’t going to settle for a loss because Mark asked nicely. I’m the smallest man in the fight and thus Titan’s biggest target. How do I avoid Titan and keep Bull from winning?’ I point out to Tai.
‘Oh never thought of that. Um….’ He paused in his speech as he thought giving me the time to finish my boots and think of the list of things I had to do before July 10. I had to train for a title match, move back home, recruit a few people, and then fly them and myself to New York for Sunday Night Vengeance and contract signing; all this while dealing with the loss of Sara in my life because of the Kirk thing. ‘Oh you could play phantom’ Tai finally answers as my mood sinks.
‘What do you mean? Phantom? That’s a new idea’ I respond confused as I clear my mind of the red head that had helped me and left me.
‘You spend most of the match avoiding Titan but when he finally gets tired of playing cat and mouse you go in and wail on Bull before continuing your role as the mouse. It’s not impressive but it keeps you from going toe to toe with the big guy and makes sure you do your job for Mark.’ Tai explains as I kick off my boots.
‘So play the coward yet provide results…… Sounds good and Scorpion and I will put on a good show if needed. I mean if I see Bull pin Titan and I can’t pull him off I guess I’ll have to lay down for Scorpion or any situation like that.’ A smile crosses my face as a thought burns in my head. ‘or if I let Bull take out Scorpion and then Titan I can cover Scorpion and win while keeping Bull from the belt.’ I start to cackle the ideas around Mark’s simple request all beginning to flood in. ‘It’s just too easy.’
While Roy flew back to Ireland the next day and did meet with a few friends most of his week was spent in the back alleys of Ireland taking and dishing out beating in preparation for another no disqualification fatal fourway match. Peter, Shamus, John, and Leo all volunteered to help Roy in payment for bring them to the big top. From throwing him against trashcans and brick walls to doing a series of five plus counters until he managed to hit the original move he intended. While mainly pain and technician practice the task of taking on the four former local champions trained Roy to think on his feet and look for openings that most would think of.
At one point Shamus caught Roy before he hit the Venom Injection and tossed him away. Usually this would result in Roy taking a nasty bump to his back but since John was about to lay in a clothesline to Shamus Roy turned the free fall into a hurricanrana and then proceeded to DDT Shamus for his trouble. Also Mary and Morgan had agreed to join the group as eye candy and referee interference which took Roy’s mind off of Sara. With the six all being old friends and having been Roy’s original trainers Roy felt great going into SNV knowing his hometown friends would join him at the Asylum and together they would form a group to help Mark and protect each other. A group known as The Seven Sins of Ireland. Hope the Asylum is feeling lucky.