Post by Soldado Fortuna on Feb 13, 2021 5:34:57 GMT -5
Victoria looked up at the clock stationed on the wall above her desk. 11.05. She was late.
Victoria was pacing around the room a little anxiously, very unlike her usually calm and collected self. There were only days left before Soldado would return to the ring in this tag team match and Victoria had been busy ensuring her client would be well enough to not only compete but show off his immense talent to the best of his abilities. They’d concocted what they thought was a good plan of attack for Soldado, a plan that would even be enough to overcome the burden of being saddled with a tag team partner.
Then this had happened, throwing a major spanner into the works.
Truth be told, when Victoria had received the phone call, she couldn’t actually believe who was on the other end of the line. Had it not been for Victoria being able to recognise the voice, she would’ve dismissed it as some dumb kid playing some stupid prank on her.
11.10
It had certainly crossed Victoria’s mind that this was all some big set up. Hell, she wasn’t even fully convinced now that it wasn’t. But, when an opportunity like this one presents itself on a silver platter to you, even if it seems a little too good to be true, there’s no way Victoria was going to turn it down.
She returned to her desk and took a seat, still staring at the clock as the seconds ticked by.
Finally, as the clock struck 11.15, there was a knock at the door. Victoria had been so entranced by the clock that it startled her momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure
Richardson: It’s open
The door swung open and there she stood.
Claire. Fucking. Hawkins
The same Claire Hawkins that was scheduled to compete alongside Noris Cranley against her client in a couple of days’ time.
The same Claire Hawkins that had suddenly called her, the manager of her opponent, and arranged a meeting to discuss some urgent matter.
The same Claire Hawkins that was now fifteen minutes late.
Richardson: You’re late
Hawkins: Is that really the way you’re going to greet me?
Richardson: That’s how I greet all the guests that waste my time. Now, are you going to stand in the doorway and waste even more of my time or are we going to discuss that urgent matter of yours?
Hawkins: As you wish
Hawkins stepped through the doorway and closed the door behind her, before making her way to the desk and taking a seat opposite Victoria. Throughout the whole process, Victoria had been shifting her gaze between Hawkins and the door, anticipating some sort of sneak attack. Claire must’ve noticed Victoria’s wandering gaze.
Richardson: How do I know he’s not about to enter this room as well?
Hawkins: You don’t. For all you know, Cranley is just outside, waiting for some sort of signal from me so he can come in here, smack you in the face and post it on his Instagram. But then, you’d have had to be a moron not to consider that a possibility when we arranged this over the phone, that was this was all just some elaborate set up for us to take you and Soldado out – actually come to think of it, where is your client?
Richardson: At the gym.
Hawkins: Ah yes, the masked man at the gym, how inconspicuous.
Richardson: It’s a personal, private gym. Actually, not too far away from here.
Hawkins: I see...and did you fund it all with daddy’s warbucks or....
Victoria slammed her hand on her desk. In turn, Hawkins simply smiled. Victoria didn’t like this. Normally, she was the one to dictate things in these types of meetings. She was supposed to be the one in control...yet Claire had waltzed in and snatched the control right out of her hands. She had to get it back
Hawkins: Well, it’s been made apparent that you and your client have had some...issues in recent matches with the tag partners that you’ve been assigned. I’m here to solve those issues.
Victoria was intrigued, but couldn’t let it show.
Hawkins: Me.
Richardson: I’m sorry...you?
Hawkins: Do I have to put it up in flashing neon lights for you? I’m the partner you need.
Victoria let that sit for a moment. She wasn’t really sure what to say. She stole another glance at the door, which remained firmly closed.
“Now, I’ve caught some of your clients work on CrusierClash and I gotta say, I’ve been impressed. More importantly, I know how much the both of you care about winning. I’d be more than comfortable calling Soldado my partner”
“So, what I’m suggesting is simple: We both turn on our respective partners mid-match and team up with each other. We take care of Stone and Cranley – that won’t be difficult – and we move on together”
“I understand if you still might not trust me, but I ask you this: Which would you prefer: Stick with your partner, some sleazeball who’s accomplished nothing here and who’ll be more interested in figuring out a plan to get you to sleep with him or switch your partner with me, a two-time TV champion that’s completely committed to winning?”
Silence fills the room as Victoria took in all of Claire’s proposition. On one hand, she was loathed to trust anyone, much less someone who was supposed to be a direct opponent...but Claire didn’t seem like she was kidding around.
Hawkins extended her hand. Victoria, still hesitant, remained unmoved, her eyes locked on Claire’s. Suddenly, from behind Hawkins, a hand appeared and shook Claire’s extended hand. Claire looked up and saw Soldado Fortuna looking back at her. He gave her a slight nod of the head.
Now it was Victoria’s turn to smile
Hawkins smiled
Hawkins got up and saw herself out. Victoria looked at Soldado
Soldado nods
We open on a large statue of the biblical figure Goliath, in front of which stand Victoria Richardson and Soldado Fortuna.
Silence for a few seconds.
“Our issues with tag partners have been documented to that point and we certainly anticipated a pairing with Andrew Stone to go much the same, such was our luck with partners”
“But then, why should we accept that as our reality? Why should we merely accept that Soldado’s efforts are going to be in vain because his partner is not on the same level? Soldado is far too talented to continue to be on the losing end of these equations. Fuck accepting that reality, we are in control of our own narrative”
“And so, it was that I devised an ingenuous contingency plan to ensure Soldado’s passage to the next round of the Battlebowl Memorial tournament would not be hindered. You really think a man of Soldado’s talent deserves to be knocked out this early all because of the sheer ineptitude of his partner, deprived of the chance to earn the coveted final spot in the Havoc Rumble. We’ve already seen how well Soldado can do in a Rumble match...and that time, he entered at number five. Can you imagine the luxury that being the last person to enter affords to Soldado?”
“I am determined to ensure Soldado has the greatest chance in being able to compete and secure that spot. Thankfully now, we no longer need to have reservations about Soldado’s partner and whether or not they will undo the mighty work that Soldado has put in”
“You see, it was not only Soldado that benefitted from my contingency plan, for I also freed Claire Hawkins for being stuck with a tag partner that was no doubt more interested in his next sponsored ad post than on securing their path to the next round. In Soldado, Claire now has a partner of not only the finest technical ability but one with a sole focus on winning, not to mention the astute tactical mind her liberator, your truly, possesses that also now on her side. I – sorry we have done Claire an enormous favour and, given the fact she followed through with my plan, she is now someone that we are able to trust not to drag Soldado down but instead to compliment him”
“Our opponents look to be a formidable team of Sam Kidsgrove, former three-time United States champion, and Corey Bull, former Hardcore champion. Both men come highly accomplished and have been mainstays here in Action Wrestling, a pairing was touted as one of the favourites in this tournament”
“Sure sounds like the script for this match has already been written, doesn’t it Sam? But you, of all people, must be aware that scripts are never static and can be torn up and re-written at a moment’s notice. That’s exactly what we are going to do Sam, because frankly we’ve got a script of our own that’ll work even better, one where you Sam, so often typecast as the leading man, are nothing more than a mere inconvenience for this new conquering hero. We’ll be generous and give you a typical villainous monologue scene, but the ending will remain untouched: Soldado beating you down and ripping your arm out”
Soldado whispers to Victoria.
“Now, let’s address the elephant in the room and yes, I’m referring to you Corey. The size difference between you and Soldado isn’t lost on me. 10 inches in height and 185 pounds. You are not the typical opponent that Soldado has had to face...but Soldado is also far from your typical all-flash Cruiserweight. He is more cerebral and methodical and rest assured, we have a plan to ensure that size difference won’t matter”
“Then there’s the mask. While Soldado proudly wears his because of his heritage and the traditions and pride associated with it, yours is nothing more than an intimidatory façade meant to convince the world, as well as yourself, that you are the monster you claim to be”
“Others would be apprehensive of the prospect of facing someone as recognized as Kidsgrove and as large as Bull, but we are going to relish this opportunity. Why? Because we know that the bigger they are, be it name or size...the harder they will fall”
Soldado pushes the statue of Goliath, sending it crashing to the floor below and clouds of dust into the air. From the dust and rubble, Soldado and Victoria emerge through and walk off.