"Fear of the Future"
Jan 19, 2020 1:13:12 GMT -5
Post by OrochiGeese on Jan 19, 2020 1:13:12 GMT -5
*Arthur Wingate is sitting in his office chair across from Drake Yoshida. There are many bandages on Arthur's face as well as a soft brace on his neck. It is clear that movement is difficult for him based on his facial and bodily tics.*
[Arthur:] "Aging is the great humiliation of champions. A beating like that would have barely registered on my pain scale ten years ago. And this thing..."
*Arthur pulls at his neck brace but Drake reaches his hand out and stops him.*
[Drake:] "It's just a precaution. But if you're going to wear it at all, at least respect your own choice."
*Arthur sighs and sits back down.*
[Drake:] "I'm concerned about you."
[Arthur:] "Why? My body was hurt but will heal. My morale remains steadfast. I won't give up, we won't give up. Despite what Jarec and his mutant lackies did, the Collider Tour will be our best one ever. Did you hear how excited the crowd was about Title unification and the return of your baby, the Universal Championship league?"
[Drake:] "I did, and I agree on just about all of those points. However, I'm concerned that you are putting on a stiff upper lip to hide the profound disappointment that you are feeling right now."
[Arthur:] "I won't deny being frustrated. Every time we take a step forward with a tour, we get knocked two steps back at the end. Base 10 was strong then Rivers ruined it by joining Destiny. Debasement finished even stronger but then two weeks later we lost broadcasting courtesy of Devin Kunn. Catalyst was a pure start to an auspicious project. But at our highest point, Gauntlet brought us down and proved we are still haunted by the ghosts of Destiny."
[Drake:] "Professional wrestling has adversity on all levels. I tried to tell you this before you bought UBL. Even with your impressive in ring career, you never understood what I was faced with in management. Our very product is conflict and it necessarily spreads to production - it's the literal nature of this beast."
[Arthur:] "I know all of this, Drake. I've owned UBL since 2012."
[Drake:] "You used to just know it but not feel it. I think it has finally affected you in a profound way."
[Arthur:] "You are correct that I am dejected, but hardly depressed. I keep fighting. Our tour will go on unabated by Jarec's machinations. Do you truly imagine me giving up? Haven't I continued planning this tour even after Catalyst?"
[Drake:] "Actions aren't proof of anything. I have been depressed before, Arthur. It doesn't hit everyone the same way. For many, the worst thing imaginable is to stop doing what they enjoy or are used to doing. If they quit, then they are left to face all the thoughts that seep into their heads. Instead, they laser focus on their work to an obsessive degree."
*Arthur is silent so Drake stops. Arthur nods his head slightly which Drake takes as a cue to continue.*
[Drake:] "Now, you planned the Collider tour before Jarec's appearance and even before Devin's announcement."
[Arthur:] "Exactly! Doesn't that prove my point? How would anything about this Tour reflect my depression if I had nothing to be depressed about before those two interfered? I was delighted right after 'ALL YOUR BASE."
[Drake:] "I think you were relieved. But here is my point, Arthur. You put together a two-pronged tour that will demand so much attention to minutiae that you won't be able to really ask yourself the hard questions about this place."
[Arthur:] "And what could those hard questions be?"
[Drake:] "What about the future?"
*Arthur again takes a second to reflect on what Drake said.*
[Arthur:] "Are you concerned I will call it quits after Collider? I didn't plan a massive project unifying four Titles just to end the promotion or step away before I get to see the new Champion have a true chance to reign."
[Drake:] "No, the future of the roster."
[Arthur:] "I wasn't planning on firing anyway. What do you mean?"
[Drake:] "Why have you not signed any prospective wrestlers to Basic Training, or even Front Lines, contracts?"
[Arthur:] "We have no Field Leader to guide them. Before suddenly returning this week, Darius left years ago."
[Drake:] "Darius was not the only candidate for the job. We could have easily held a tournament for a new Field Leader much as we did ten years ago for the original crowning of the position. The problem was never a lack of Field Leader, and the problem was never a lack of interested wrestlers. The problem is that you are concerned about the future of this promotion. Even if you put on a brave face against the specific challenge of Gauntlet, you are getting worn down from the constant battery of new obstacles. And you aren't allowing yourself to even consider future talent as a result."
[Arthur:] "We have signed new wrestlers recently."
[Drake:] "No, we've signed existing wrestlers recently, all of them being veterans from friendly promotions. As excited as I am to sign top tier talent like Jeremy Moore, Jimmy Nails, and Mickey Grinds, they aren't rookies. They will give us their best over the next few years but then what? We have to look to the future, Arthur. And if you want proof of just how important signing and training new rookies is, look at who has dominated the Circuit and Battalion Championships recently. Tetsu and THRASH, as well as both El Exilio and JET Hamada were all part of the original Basic Training program. Who will dominate these divisions in five years if we aren't training any new talent? Who will be in the main event in five years when legends like Corey and Geese retire? Or in ten years when wrestlers like Alicia and RYOMA retire?"
*Arthur has no response.*
[Drake:] "Five years ago we almost signed multiple wrestlers as a result of a draft for unaffiliated talent. Now is the time to officially sign them to deals. I believe at least four of them are still available. I can't guarantee that any of them will rise to the lofty heights I advertised but if even one does, that is a tremendous win for us. Furthermore, re-starting our Basic Training program could bring in other new talent as well. Even if it's simpler than it was before, it is crucial to our long-term future. If you truly are serious about moving forward, we need to have new talent to move us into the future."
*Arthur nods and turns around very slowly to face the window. He looks deep in thought for a minute while Drake has a patient but focused look on him.*
[Arthur:] "We need a new Field Leader. But we should not muddy the waters by starting yet another tournament."
[Drake:] "Agreed. Let's appoint one. I already have someone in mind that is perfect for the job."
*After another minute of reflection, Arthur turns back around to Drake with a softer look on his face.*
[Arthur:] "Originally, I kept you on as Sergeant because of your experience and out of family loyalty. But I must graciously admit that you have been indispensable to our success. And tonight, you proved indispensable to my spirit. Thank you, Drake. Let us truly build together for our future once again."
*Drake nods then smiles as the scene fades to black.*
[Arthur:] "Aging is the great humiliation of champions. A beating like that would have barely registered on my pain scale ten years ago. And this thing..."
*Arthur pulls at his neck brace but Drake reaches his hand out and stops him.*
[Drake:] "It's just a precaution. But if you're going to wear it at all, at least respect your own choice."
*Arthur sighs and sits back down.*
[Drake:] "I'm concerned about you."
[Arthur:] "Why? My body was hurt but will heal. My morale remains steadfast. I won't give up, we won't give up. Despite what Jarec and his mutant lackies did, the Collider Tour will be our best one ever. Did you hear how excited the crowd was about Title unification and the return of your baby, the Universal Championship league?"
[Drake:] "I did, and I agree on just about all of those points. However, I'm concerned that you are putting on a stiff upper lip to hide the profound disappointment that you are feeling right now."
[Arthur:] "I won't deny being frustrated. Every time we take a step forward with a tour, we get knocked two steps back at the end. Base 10 was strong then Rivers ruined it by joining Destiny. Debasement finished even stronger but then two weeks later we lost broadcasting courtesy of Devin Kunn. Catalyst was a pure start to an auspicious project. But at our highest point, Gauntlet brought us down and proved we are still haunted by the ghosts of Destiny."
[Drake:] "Professional wrestling has adversity on all levels. I tried to tell you this before you bought UBL. Even with your impressive in ring career, you never understood what I was faced with in management. Our very product is conflict and it necessarily spreads to production - it's the literal nature of this beast."
[Arthur:] "I know all of this, Drake. I've owned UBL since 2012."
[Drake:] "You used to just know it but not feel it. I think it has finally affected you in a profound way."
[Arthur:] "You are correct that I am dejected, but hardly depressed. I keep fighting. Our tour will go on unabated by Jarec's machinations. Do you truly imagine me giving up? Haven't I continued planning this tour even after Catalyst?"
[Drake:] "Actions aren't proof of anything. I have been depressed before, Arthur. It doesn't hit everyone the same way. For many, the worst thing imaginable is to stop doing what they enjoy or are used to doing. If they quit, then they are left to face all the thoughts that seep into their heads. Instead, they laser focus on their work to an obsessive degree."
*Arthur is silent so Drake stops. Arthur nods his head slightly which Drake takes as a cue to continue.*
[Drake:] "Now, you planned the Collider tour before Jarec's appearance and even before Devin's announcement."
[Arthur:] "Exactly! Doesn't that prove my point? How would anything about this Tour reflect my depression if I had nothing to be depressed about before those two interfered? I was delighted right after 'ALL YOUR BASE."
[Drake:] "I think you were relieved. But here is my point, Arthur. You put together a two-pronged tour that will demand so much attention to minutiae that you won't be able to really ask yourself the hard questions about this place."
[Arthur:] "And what could those hard questions be?"
[Drake:] "What about the future?"
*Arthur again takes a second to reflect on what Drake said.*
[Arthur:] "Are you concerned I will call it quits after Collider? I didn't plan a massive project unifying four Titles just to end the promotion or step away before I get to see the new Champion have a true chance to reign."
[Drake:] "No, the future of the roster."
[Arthur:] "I wasn't planning on firing anyway. What do you mean?"
[Drake:] "Why have you not signed any prospective wrestlers to Basic Training, or even Front Lines, contracts?"
[Arthur:] "We have no Field Leader to guide them. Before suddenly returning this week, Darius left years ago."
[Drake:] "Darius was not the only candidate for the job. We could have easily held a tournament for a new Field Leader much as we did ten years ago for the original crowning of the position. The problem was never a lack of Field Leader, and the problem was never a lack of interested wrestlers. The problem is that you are concerned about the future of this promotion. Even if you put on a brave face against the specific challenge of Gauntlet, you are getting worn down from the constant battery of new obstacles. And you aren't allowing yourself to even consider future talent as a result."
[Arthur:] "We have signed new wrestlers recently."
[Drake:] "No, we've signed existing wrestlers recently, all of them being veterans from friendly promotions. As excited as I am to sign top tier talent like Jeremy Moore, Jimmy Nails, and Mickey Grinds, they aren't rookies. They will give us their best over the next few years but then what? We have to look to the future, Arthur. And if you want proof of just how important signing and training new rookies is, look at who has dominated the Circuit and Battalion Championships recently. Tetsu and THRASH, as well as both El Exilio and JET Hamada were all part of the original Basic Training program. Who will dominate these divisions in five years if we aren't training any new talent? Who will be in the main event in five years when legends like Corey and Geese retire? Or in ten years when wrestlers like Alicia and RYOMA retire?"
*Arthur has no response.*
[Drake:] "Five years ago we almost signed multiple wrestlers as a result of a draft for unaffiliated talent. Now is the time to officially sign them to deals. I believe at least four of them are still available. I can't guarantee that any of them will rise to the lofty heights I advertised but if even one does, that is a tremendous win for us. Furthermore, re-starting our Basic Training program could bring in other new talent as well. Even if it's simpler than it was before, it is crucial to our long-term future. If you truly are serious about moving forward, we need to have new talent to move us into the future."
*Arthur nods and turns around very slowly to face the window. He looks deep in thought for a minute while Drake has a patient but focused look on him.*
[Arthur:] "We need a new Field Leader. But we should not muddy the waters by starting yet another tournament."
[Drake:] "Agreed. Let's appoint one. I already have someone in mind that is perfect for the job."
*After another minute of reflection, Arthur turns back around to Drake with a softer look on his face.*
[Arthur:] "Originally, I kept you on as Sergeant because of your experience and out of family loyalty. But I must graciously admit that you have been indispensable to our success. And tonight, you proved indispensable to my spirit. Thank you, Drake. Let us truly build together for our future once again."
*Drake nods then smiles as the scene fades to black.*