Post by Carter Shaw on Jan 2, 2021 11:02:05 GMT -5
The natural light flooded in through the two walls of windows lining the large loft apartment. Carter Shaw walked in through the open door, a dark blue dress shirt and black chinos having him look way more professional than usual. The sharp-looker walked in slowly, letting his eyes roam over all the windows provided by the loft, plenty of view of the slice of Chicago down below.
Realtor: Hello there! Welcome, you must be my 1:30. Thank you for being so timely, I've got showings scheduled on this lovely place throughout the whole day.
As he speaks, the quintessential middle-aged white man walks excitedly across the loft to shake Carter’s hand firmly.
Realtor: My name is Keith Walker and this, my friend, will be one my easiest sells of the year. I mean, look at this place! What was your name again?
Shaw: Ramirez.
Keith: Ah, yes. Manny was it?
Shaw: That’s right. With Philidor Holdings.
The realtor freezes for a quick moment, remembering that it was, infact, Philidor that set up this showing.
Keith: Right, right! Excellent. Well, the good part of this apartment is that, while it won’t take us many steps to see all it has to offer, it is outrageously spacious for its square footage. What brings you to Chicago, Mr. Ramirez?
Shaw: Oh, a little bit of business, a little bit of pleasure. I’ll be working closely with the Mayor on a special project.
Keith: Ah, Mayor Sanchez...ok...so this loft comes with heating, air-conditioning, all-
The man kept talking, entering his prepared ramble on the apartment. Shaw looked around, nodding his head in appreciation as he admired the dark-stained laminate flooring. A white and black rug centered the ‘living room’ section, a black leather couch accenting it perfectly. The two men stroll side by side from the entryway towards the kitchen.
Keith: Everything you see comes with the apartment, ofcourse. All the furniture, all the appliances. Now if you’ll follow me to the bedr-
Shaw: I’ll take it.
Silence follows for a moment.
Keith: Wo...would you like to see the bedroom and bathroom, Mr. Ramirez?
Shaw: Not necessary, I’ll take it.
The realtor jumps forward towards his binder of paperwork and starts spreading papers out. Shaw moves with a slow swagger towards the windows, looking down upon the city.
Keith: Wow, ok, so let’s go over pricing. This place is a steal at $2,100 a month for rent, we offer 6-month and yea-
Shaw: I’m looking to rent it for one month.
Keith: Well...that’s not exactly how it works, Mr-
Shaw: I’ll pay $3,500 for the month of January. No break of lease, no continuation option. I’ll pay in full at the start of the month. No security deposit, but I’ll sign a lease that holds me 100% responsible for anything the complex deems damaged or needing replaced after my stay.
Shaw walks slowly, now with his hands in his pockets.
Shaw: ...are you writing this down?
Keith Walker snaps out of it and quickly grabs his pen and flips over a piece of paper that seems to be rendered useless in the moment.
Shaw: Philidor Holdings, L.L.C. will be co-signing. Simple as that.
He gives the realtor a moment to catch up with his notations. Keith slowly looks up at Shaw, a bit confused.
Keith: This will have to be approved by the manager of the building but I’ve never seen them re-write a lease agreement like this...
Shaw: They’ll agree to it and you’ll get your percentage for being such a great salesman. I appreciate it, Mr. Walker.
Keith: And I, uh, thank you Mr. Ramirez! I’ll get right on this and I'll e-mail you the E-Docs to sign tomorrow. Happy New Year to ya!
Carter nods with a smirk, reaching out and shaking the man’s hand once more before slowly walking out of the loft, taking one more rounding look at the place before disappearing back into the hallway. The realtor leans forward on the marbled kitchen bar, processing what just happened, before pulling out his cell phone and selecting a contact.
Keith: Martha? Cancel all of my showings today, please, I’ve got a renter and I have a feeling it will jump the line on anyone else interested...Let them know this apartment will be available again in February.
“It’s not 2020 anymore.”
Cue the classic New Year’s hype-ups and shutdowns. We are all tempted to run down our accomplishments of the last year as we find ourselves once again on the cusp of Evolution season. We are all ready to plant our flags and claim footing in positions we think we’ve rightfully earned.
But it’s not 2020 anymore.
I could tell you about my grand victory at All-In, still holding this coveted prize with my potential fate sealed up inside. I could tell you about the top AW names that I shocked the world by beating. I could tell you about my rise, from quiet rookie to 2020 Rookie Of The Year, and how it all came to be. I could preach about how I earned my Philidor sponsorship and how they backed the absolute right horse.
But it’s not 2020 anymore.
Howard Black will claim dominance as the Wrestler Of The Year. Corey Black will raise that World Title high and say that between this reign and his Hardcore Title reign, 2020 was almost entirely his. Walter will prepare to dominate just as he did the last 365 days. But…
You get the picture.
I started out in this game green as hell. Eager to learn, ready to mold myself, to adapt and overcome. I brought my set of skills and just kept adding to the toolbelt with each passing match, opponent and opportunity. I started last year out by facing NATE...I start this year the same way, who doesn’t love a full circle?
And while I’m all for slates getting wiped clean and bragging rights reduced to “harping on the past” just as quickly as the calendar changed pages, I will say that the year 2020...changed me. Evolved me. Took me to places I never thought I’d be and new heights I never thought I’d accomplish so soon.
But my hunger is different, affected by every time I was done right and done wrong.
I’m done with incremental improvements. It’s time for impactful takeovers.
I’m not your only evolution story, ofcourse, there’s PLENTY of them in Action Wrestling. NATE? When I came into AW, I was put across this man in a debut test, the only stat being told to me was that he stood 7 feet tall. After I laid him out quickly and continued on my weekly journey of making my name stick? Well, let’s just say the phrase “this is easier than I thought this would be” passed through my brain more than once.
And then a few months ago, when I got to do battle with NATE again, he was a little different. He had a role model. He had an influence. That role model’s name is Matthias Mintzel.
Jesus.
Never form that sentence again.
Mintzel is no role model, he simply models a role. Now more than ever, now that he has been hitched onto the bandwagon of The Loss Breed. I will say that an important part of his role, though, is being the only chance at a ‘family victory’ when your founding fathers can’t seem to scrap up the ability to be taken seriously.
At least in any instance where they’re not holding a knife to your throat.
NATE slowly started...competing. Hell, I even remember him telling Mintzel that he was gonna give him tips on how to beat ME. How great is that? Now, I of course went on to lay Mintzel down that week, but it was the thought. The competitive thought. If there’s at least one thing that Matthias has accidentally instilled in his tagalong, it’s that. And when you’re a walking phone booth, that is quite the helpful boost.
So let’s do this NATE. I watched you scrap with Frank Lowe for that Hardcore Title, and even if you couldn’t really process that kind of danger you were in with that environment, it actually...gave you a strange advantage and you held your own against the most ruthless piece of shit ever to step into a wrestling ring. I’ve watched you actually win a match or two, a feat nobody had true belief in you to accomplish.
Traw Ma has strung you along as a toy but since Matty Pa has come into the picture? It’s been beautiful. Good for you, man, seriously. I hope you come into this match thinking you’ve got a blueprint again for ‘beating Shaw’. I hope that’s the case for two reasons.
Reason one? Because you deserve that confidence, Nate. You’ve gone from laughing stock to holding stock. They may still laugh at you, Nate, but you atleast possess the ability now to swing your swamp-monster arm with enough precision to knock their unassuming head off. You deserve that optimism now, and you reserve the right to claim an undefeated streak...even after I leave you laying in the ring again. Live within those picket fences of your mind, Nate.
And reason two? Reason two why I hope you tell the AW locker room you’ve got the blueprint to beating me?
Because I want to stand in the middle of that ring...the first Clash of a NEW SEASON of Action Wrestling...I want to put the briefcase gently to the ground by my feet, I want to hold up that blueprint that ANYbody in AW thinks they have drawn up, and I want to rip it to the tiniest of pieces.
Like a hill of snow at my feet, those hopeful pieces will rest. Now I know beating Nate is not the impactful watch me moment I want to start the year off on...Sorry, Nate...but the bigger metaphor here is the statement to the rest of you. To those I’ve already bested. To those I haven’t bested yet.
And to David Sanchez.
ALL ARROWS are STILL pointing up for the stealth-wonder that is the Rise Of Carter Shaw.
All those who fell short of their own expectations? All of those dissatisfied with their shortcomings? Go ahead and let it RING OUT. “New Year, New Me!” My focus is more shifted towards “New Year, New M.E.”
New Main Events...and you better get accustomed to seeing the name ‘Carter Shaw’ right there in the thick of it.
In 2020, I learned alot. I learned that it takes a little more than fists and in-ring technique sometimes. I learned that sometimes the battle pours out of the ring, out of the arena and into the fuckin’ streets. I laid claim to several things over the course of last year. I called myself “King Of The Trenches” during that TV Title reign because it was those streets that made me. Now? I embrace it. I embrace the brutal rollercoaster ride Corey Bull took me on to ruin my personal life. I understand that this competition sometimes has to elevate beyond pine and canvas.
And Sanchez will learn...that I can take it to the streets just as good as I can fuckin’ take it to the ring.
Let us not forget the still-stirring curiosity as to what’s brewing behind Philidor Holding doors.
“But it’s not 2020 anymore.”
I only ask one thing of you, NATE. When you retreat backstage after losing to Carter Shaw again, I want you to go find your buddy Matthias. If you’re lucky, you’ll find him amongst the crows of The Loss Breed too. And I just want you to give him an honest review of your experience.
“It Hurt, Matty Pa”.
End quote, brought to you by Philidor Holdings.