Newton's Third Law
Aug 20, 2024 22:05:56 GMT -5
Post by October Raven on Aug 20, 2024 22:05:56 GMT -5
::Corey O'Brian is sitting in his office, looking at the camera. He eyes it. And stares at it. And keeps staring. Two minutes later, he finally speaks::
Corey O'Brian: "My contract with UBL stipulates that I be informed of any key staff changes in advance. So suffice to say when Sir Wingate told me he was stepping down, I wanted to know who his replacement was. And when I wasn't told, well, I knew that was because I wouldn't like the answer. I didn't expect this. Sir Wingate... I wish you well. You've always been fair and upfront with me, and while we've had our disagreements and this is certainly one of them, I've always respected you and your judgment. But to our new management..."
::Corey briefly pauses, a cold glare at the camera.::
Corey O'Brian: "Let me make this perfectly clear to you Moreno. Well, in case you weren't listening in on the two times I rehearsed this before Xander rolled camera, that is. There is only one thing keeping me from telling you 'Go fuck yourself, I quit'. And that's finishing my mission. The mission of setting whole the lineage of UBL's championship. The one you constantly kept getting in my way of finishing. And even if you weren't, you were the leader of the group that spied on me for years, broke into my dojo at least once that I know of, parked agents in front of my fucking HOUSE, stalked my family and worst of all tried to cripple my best friend... all because I didn't return a fucking phone call. So you'll understand that I'm not exactly thrilled about this announcement."
Corey O'Brian: "You talk about how you're not a wolf in sheep's clothing. And I agree. You're a scorpion. A scorpion that has climbed on the back of a frog named UBL. It is in your nature to sting that frog, even at the cost of your own destruction. Now I'm not interested in waging war against you. If UBL wants to destroy itself by letting you climb atop it, that's UBL's perogative. But I want to explain my intentions to you very carefully."
Corey O'Brian: "See, when Sir Wingate wouldn't tell me who was taking over, I requested two amendments to my standing contract. The first; my contract used to be in perpetuity until mutual departure, to keep a situation where I'm stripped of a title due to miscommunication again. Now, my contract ends midnight on the eve of the Infinite Continuum Championship tournament. Should I win that tournament, the contract stipulates that will extend until midnight of the date when I lose said championship."
::A pause for thirty seconds. When Corey speaks, it is measured and cold.::
Corey O'Brian: "You have until then to convince me that you are not a scorpion. You will say nothing to me to try to convince me you're not. You will prove it through actions alone or you will not prove it at all. In fact, you will not contact me directly for any reason. You need to relay something to me, or Xander Starr for that matter, you can talk to my attorney, because I lawyered the fuck up. And that goes for your Battle Panel. From this point on I want nothing to do with the UBL front office. That, I am sad to say, must include Sir Wingate. As much as I respect you, you're working with Moreno right now, and I simply cannot guarantee any talks between us will be civil. I wish it didn't have to be that way, Sir Wingate, and hopefully one day we can reconcile. And as far as giving Ruby Moreno notice for impromptu promo time, consider yourself notified. You don't like that Moreno? Too bad. If you fire me, you'll prove me right and everyone will turn against you. You'll be ousted from the company faster than two shakes of a Sleepy Goose's tail."
Corey O'Brian: "Which leads to the second amendment to my contract. This is merely putting into writing what Sir Wingate and I had an informal understanding on; the right to control how my personal brand is handled in UBL marketing. Which includes merchandising. The intention was that I would have continue to have input on merchandise bearing my likeness and intellectual property. But now Ruby Moreno is in charge of UBL. So effective immediately, I am demanding that all Corey O'Brian merchandise be pulled from UBL storefronts. That includes the 'YA DONE GOOFED' shirt. And if you want to argue that's not O'Brian branded... Sir Wingate gave me the trademark, it's listed in my royalty check itemization, the company I have stake in distributes it to UBL, and it's also got my name on the inside by the wash instructions."
Corey O'Brian: "Your first week on the job and you've already lost revenue. Does that disturb you, Ruby? It should."
Corey O'Brian: "But don't worry, Ruby... you'll be seeing plenty of that slogan, as I'll be selling the shirt in my storefront now... use promo code YDG50 for fifty percent off the Ya Done Goofed shirt for the rest of the year. Don't worry, I can eat the cost. In fact, for the foreseeable future I'll be donating my checks from UBL to Alzheimer's research, so at least some amount of good will finally come out of the existence of the waste of the finite matter of the universe named Ruby Moreno. Oh, and before I forget, in addition to the new addition to my storefront, I'll be holding a contest for people to submit their own pitches for a new shirt design. I'll be announcing the winner at the next Continuum show."
::Corey takes a deep breath before continuing, the cold fury in his voice fading into... bitterness. Weariness.::
Corey O'Brian: "This was all supposed to be so simple. I was supposed to return, earn my way to a Nexus championship match, and compete in it. So much has impeded me, and this is yet another obstacle. And I will do what I have always done, and endure. Because I gave my word. Because the championship legacy is worth it. Because what that legacy means to wrestling is worth it. Because UBL is worth it."
Corey O'Brian: "But maybe I was wrong about that last part."
::Corey turns his chair around, back towards the wall of trophies and newspaper clippings behind him, and then the camera turns around to Xander Starr::
Xander Starr: "This was when we were supposed to cut out, but I have something to add. Not as Xander Starr, the wacky jokey guy who helps Corey strategize. Not as Xander Starr, the guy who sat at ringside during a deathmatch doing the Michael Jackson Popcorn bit. Not even as The Human Superball Xander Starr. But as Xander Starr, the person. People have asked me why I don't get that many big league outings. They think it should be easy for me to get on any show I want because all it would take is for Corey to make one phone call. And they're right, it would be. But I don't want to be a nepotism booking. He doesn't make those calls because I asked him not to. I had lobbied hard for a chance to show what I can do in UBL. And when I got that shot, I was beaten to within an inch of my life. Because of you, Ruby Moreno. All the time in the hospital, being told I'd never walk again let alone wrestle. All the rehab, all the surgeries, all the bullshit I had to go through to get cleared to compete. The nightmares. The therapy. I was on medication for years not just because of the physical trauma but the mental."
Xander Starr: "For all you're claiming that you're on our side now, that you're the new nicer, friendlier, empathetic Ruby Moreno? You know what we didn't hear from you in that nice pretty corporate speech? Remorse. An apology. Hell, you said empathy but you damn sure didn't display it. Not just to me but for any of your actions against UBL. Oh sure, you made peace with the Reyes family, with your sister, with Luke and Jean... that's all well and good. But I guess the rest of us who've had our lives irrevocably altered by you can just go fuck ourselves huh? Who needs making amends for previous crimes when we have a chance to give the guy who acts like a fucking 19th century prospector some extra ring time."
Xander Starr: "So yeah, anyone from UBL front office looking to get in my ear to try to talk down Corey? Not gonna happen. Not that any of you ever gave a shit about me anyway. Just don't send a hitman when I send you to voicemail."
Xander Starr: "But I'll still be there. For two reasons. One, because Corey's my best friend and if he's going up to New York so am I. When some shit goes down on your watch, probably because of your sudden yet inevitable betrayal, I'm gonna be there for him, and anyone not directly working for UBL front office either, because they damn sure can't trust you or your security to help."
Xander Starr: "And also I'll be there as a reminder. Of everything Ruby Moreno has done over the years..."
Xander Starr: "But also the things she hasn't."
Corey O'Brian: "My contract with UBL stipulates that I be informed of any key staff changes in advance. So suffice to say when Sir Wingate told me he was stepping down, I wanted to know who his replacement was. And when I wasn't told, well, I knew that was because I wouldn't like the answer. I didn't expect this. Sir Wingate... I wish you well. You've always been fair and upfront with me, and while we've had our disagreements and this is certainly one of them, I've always respected you and your judgment. But to our new management..."
::Corey briefly pauses, a cold glare at the camera.::
Corey O'Brian: "Let me make this perfectly clear to you Moreno. Well, in case you weren't listening in on the two times I rehearsed this before Xander rolled camera, that is. There is only one thing keeping me from telling you 'Go fuck yourself, I quit'. And that's finishing my mission. The mission of setting whole the lineage of UBL's championship. The one you constantly kept getting in my way of finishing. And even if you weren't, you were the leader of the group that spied on me for years, broke into my dojo at least once that I know of, parked agents in front of my fucking HOUSE, stalked my family and worst of all tried to cripple my best friend... all because I didn't return a fucking phone call. So you'll understand that I'm not exactly thrilled about this announcement."
Corey O'Brian: "You talk about how you're not a wolf in sheep's clothing. And I agree. You're a scorpion. A scorpion that has climbed on the back of a frog named UBL. It is in your nature to sting that frog, even at the cost of your own destruction. Now I'm not interested in waging war against you. If UBL wants to destroy itself by letting you climb atop it, that's UBL's perogative. But I want to explain my intentions to you very carefully."
Corey O'Brian: "See, when Sir Wingate wouldn't tell me who was taking over, I requested two amendments to my standing contract. The first; my contract used to be in perpetuity until mutual departure, to keep a situation where I'm stripped of a title due to miscommunication again. Now, my contract ends midnight on the eve of the Infinite Continuum Championship tournament. Should I win that tournament, the contract stipulates that will extend until midnight of the date when I lose said championship."
::A pause for thirty seconds. When Corey speaks, it is measured and cold.::
Corey O'Brian: "You have until then to convince me that you are not a scorpion. You will say nothing to me to try to convince me you're not. You will prove it through actions alone or you will not prove it at all. In fact, you will not contact me directly for any reason. You need to relay something to me, or Xander Starr for that matter, you can talk to my attorney, because I lawyered the fuck up. And that goes for your Battle Panel. From this point on I want nothing to do with the UBL front office. That, I am sad to say, must include Sir Wingate. As much as I respect you, you're working with Moreno right now, and I simply cannot guarantee any talks between us will be civil. I wish it didn't have to be that way, Sir Wingate, and hopefully one day we can reconcile. And as far as giving Ruby Moreno notice for impromptu promo time, consider yourself notified. You don't like that Moreno? Too bad. If you fire me, you'll prove me right and everyone will turn against you. You'll be ousted from the company faster than two shakes of a Sleepy Goose's tail."
Corey O'Brian: "Which leads to the second amendment to my contract. This is merely putting into writing what Sir Wingate and I had an informal understanding on; the right to control how my personal brand is handled in UBL marketing. Which includes merchandising. The intention was that I would have continue to have input on merchandise bearing my likeness and intellectual property. But now Ruby Moreno is in charge of UBL. So effective immediately, I am demanding that all Corey O'Brian merchandise be pulled from UBL storefronts. That includes the 'YA DONE GOOFED' shirt. And if you want to argue that's not O'Brian branded... Sir Wingate gave me the trademark, it's listed in my royalty check itemization, the company I have stake in distributes it to UBL, and it's also got my name on the inside by the wash instructions."
Corey O'Brian: "Your first week on the job and you've already lost revenue. Does that disturb you, Ruby? It should."
Corey O'Brian: "But don't worry, Ruby... you'll be seeing plenty of that slogan, as I'll be selling the shirt in my storefront now... use promo code YDG50 for fifty percent off the Ya Done Goofed shirt for the rest of the year. Don't worry, I can eat the cost. In fact, for the foreseeable future I'll be donating my checks from UBL to Alzheimer's research, so at least some amount of good will finally come out of the existence of the waste of the finite matter of the universe named Ruby Moreno. Oh, and before I forget, in addition to the new addition to my storefront, I'll be holding a contest for people to submit their own pitches for a new shirt design. I'll be announcing the winner at the next Continuum show."
::Corey takes a deep breath before continuing, the cold fury in his voice fading into... bitterness. Weariness.::
Corey O'Brian: "This was all supposed to be so simple. I was supposed to return, earn my way to a Nexus championship match, and compete in it. So much has impeded me, and this is yet another obstacle. And I will do what I have always done, and endure. Because I gave my word. Because the championship legacy is worth it. Because what that legacy means to wrestling is worth it. Because UBL is worth it."
Corey O'Brian: "But maybe I was wrong about that last part."
::Corey turns his chair around, back towards the wall of trophies and newspaper clippings behind him, and then the camera turns around to Xander Starr::
Xander Starr: "This was when we were supposed to cut out, but I have something to add. Not as Xander Starr, the wacky jokey guy who helps Corey strategize. Not as Xander Starr, the guy who sat at ringside during a deathmatch doing the Michael Jackson Popcorn bit. Not even as The Human Superball Xander Starr. But as Xander Starr, the person. People have asked me why I don't get that many big league outings. They think it should be easy for me to get on any show I want because all it would take is for Corey to make one phone call. And they're right, it would be. But I don't want to be a nepotism booking. He doesn't make those calls because I asked him not to. I had lobbied hard for a chance to show what I can do in UBL. And when I got that shot, I was beaten to within an inch of my life. Because of you, Ruby Moreno. All the time in the hospital, being told I'd never walk again let alone wrestle. All the rehab, all the surgeries, all the bullshit I had to go through to get cleared to compete. The nightmares. The therapy. I was on medication for years not just because of the physical trauma but the mental."
Xander Starr: "For all you're claiming that you're on our side now, that you're the new nicer, friendlier, empathetic Ruby Moreno? You know what we didn't hear from you in that nice pretty corporate speech? Remorse. An apology. Hell, you said empathy but you damn sure didn't display it. Not just to me but for any of your actions against UBL. Oh sure, you made peace with the Reyes family, with your sister, with Luke and Jean... that's all well and good. But I guess the rest of us who've had our lives irrevocably altered by you can just go fuck ourselves huh? Who needs making amends for previous crimes when we have a chance to give the guy who acts like a fucking 19th century prospector some extra ring time."
Xander Starr: "So yeah, anyone from UBL front office looking to get in my ear to try to talk down Corey? Not gonna happen. Not that any of you ever gave a shit about me anyway. Just don't send a hitman when I send you to voicemail."
Xander Starr: "But I'll still be there. For two reasons. One, because Corey's my best friend and if he's going up to New York so am I. When some shit goes down on your watch, probably because of your sudden yet inevitable betrayal, I'm gonna be there for him, and anyone not directly working for UBL front office either, because they damn sure can't trust you or your security to help."
Xander Starr: "And also I'll be there as a reminder. Of everything Ruby Moreno has done over the years..."
Xander Starr: "But also the things she hasn't."