Dr. Pond

"You know it’s tough for me to meet new people doctor. Those who know of my past don’t want to associate with me. They don’t care what is true and what is not; they’ve heard the rumors and they’ve seen me on television and that’s who I am for them. That’s the image I’ve painted for them and no actions or words from me will change any of that so I don’t even bother. People like that are dead ends for me. Those who don’t know about my past or exactly who I am don’t seem to want anything to do with me either. Tell me doc, is it my appearance or maybe it’s something I say?"

That loaded question carried the same dangers that a loaded gun did. What was he supposed to say? On the one hand he didn’t want to say anything that would offend Shawn and on the other he had a duty to give the man honest answers. Aside from that he didn’t really know what to tell Shawn. He didn’t know who these people were that he was talking about, he didn’t know the interactions he’d had with them, and he didn’t know what Shawn Christopher was like away from the ring and out of a psychiatric office.

He cleared his throat in a desperate bid to stall for time. He checked the clock on the wall like a child just waiting to be saved by the bell. The session was only thirty minutes in with a full thirty minutes to go. He took a deep breath and cursed himself for not becoming a dentist like everyone else in his family; at least that way he wouldn’t have to listen to the filth spewing out from the man in front of him.

"Well Shawn I find it useful to be myself in such circumstances. If you meet some people and eventually become friends with them while playing a role than you’re stuck with that role. You’re stuck playing a character for as long as you know them. If you act like yourself and find friends than you know those people have accepted you for you and not for someone you’re not."

He laughed. That laugh had nothing wholesome or happy behind it. When his wife or son laughed he felt warmth on the inside from seeing the people he loved happy. Even when strangers or television personalities cracked up he could find amusement or enjoyment in it. Not now, not with this man. His smiles always had bad news written all over them.

"So you’re saying I should just be myself? Really doc, is that the best advice you can give me? I don’t know what Christian Connolly is paying you but you’re not exactly earning your keep."

Jonathan thought the same was true for Shawn. A man of immense talent and potential all ruined because of the personality underneath. He was a classic example of being overpriced in the sense that he just wasn’t worth the headaches he caused. Sure he brought in solid numbers and people just to see him fail and beaten, but was it really worth it? Dr. Pond certainly didn’t think so. In fact for the past thirty minutes he had been cleverly designing a plan to execute the man in his office, bury the body, and get away with it. He felt like he didn’t belong anywhere? Well Jonathan thought that he belonged in an unmarked grave. Too bad he was only capable of morbid daydreams.

"Christian isn’t going to be happy knowing he pays you to think all fucking day."

Jonathan envisioned picking up a handgun and blasting a hole right between Shawn’s eyes. He could just picture the blood oozing out of the wound and the confused look on the eyes of the man that had caused him so much grief. Not physically of course, Shawn hadn’t laid a hand on Jonathan, but emotionally and psychologically he had. Jonathan could already picture himself going to a psychiatrist after he was done consoling this animal. Sill he had to push on, only five minutes left.

He nodded and then sat back a bit in his chair, assuming a more natural and comfortable position. To most people it helped put them at ease if they saw their doctor at ease. In Shawn’s case, Jonathan just wanted to pretend that he wasn’t affecting him. He remembered his own advice to Shawn earlier about playing a role. Sadly to say, he was the one now acting.

"Okay Shawn, let’s talk about your career. PWE is a wonderful place to work. It’s well paying and it allows you to channel all your aggression and anger out in a way that can be controlled. Yet, you still feel the need to attack people backstage. I’ve watched over the years as your prey on people’s minds and go about destroying their lives for no apparent reason. You feel like you don’t belong anywhere? Maybe it’s because people who do the things you do don’t belong anywhere. Why do you feel you can treat people like you do?"

His answer was surprising. Not because of what he said, but because he truly believed every word of it.

"See doc, when you watch me fuck with people like Masaharu Tanabashi you see me needlessly trying to ruin him whereas I don’t see that at all. I don’t even see him as a man. People? What are people to me? I don’t give a shit about them, their emotions, their feelings, or any of that other good natured bullshit. To me those people are nothing more than little ants scurrying around trying to find a place to fit in. You say I don’t belong because of how I treat them. I think it’s more in line with the fact that I’m head and shoulders above them all. I can crush them like ants. Step on them and squeeze the life out of them and feel no more remorse or emotion than when I crush an ant underfoot. I mean, they’re truly nothing to me. Hell, even the greatest; even the best of the best are still merely ants. I’d rather be an exterminator than a king among ants."

Jonathan didn’t have to say anything about time being up. Shawn rose after his little speech and with a nod and a wink left the office with only a few parting words, "I’ve gotta go doc. I’m going to go see my new friends."

His smile told of bad things to come.

Walter Doyle

He had given the sell so many times that he had literally memorized every single word. There in lay the problem. He didn’t want to show up and be a robot. He had a reputation for being a friendly and easy going guy, someone that people could really talk to freely without pressures of strict professionalism. So as he drove to meet Franklin Gerry of Gerry Trucking he undid his tie and tossed his notes into the backseat of his BMW. Feeling the stress and burden fall off his tired body he sighed in relief as he pulled into the parking lot.

Franklin Gerry, a short and stocky middle aged man was already sitting at corner table inside. He had a glass of water in front of him and a folded of what Walter could only imagine as files of some sort. Putting on the most sincere smile he could he approached Franklin, "Mr. Gerry, it’s a pleasure to see you again."

Walter had met Franklin before, but the man’s stocky stature reminded him of a penguin. It took all of Walter’s will power not to break out laughing at the man. Somehow he didn’t think that Franklin would enjoy the jab at his appearance. Walter was sure he’d gotten those for most of his life already and it wasn’t worth pissing off a potential client.

The two men shook hands and sat down at the table. Walter was pleasantly surprised when a pretty, young lady came by to take their orders shortly later. He ordered a BLT with a glass of water, while his stockier counterpart went for the club.

After the waitress had left Franklin smiled and turned to Walter, "You know something Walter yesterday I was watching march of the penguins. You ever seen it?"

Walter nodded as he bit his lip. He was thus pleasantly surprised with Franklin as he continued, "Well it’s really good, but what really stuck out to me was just how similar some of us are to those penguins."

Franklin laughed and Walter could no longer hold his laughter back. The men laughed at the expense of the stocky gentleman. Walter was happy to see that Franklin could take a joke and didn’t have to be serious all the time. Now a genuine smile crept over his face; he just knew that this would be a great meeting.

Shawn Christopher

Journal Entry #1 – November 10, 2009

"Today Walter met with some fat bastard in one of those restaurants that is neither cheap nor expensive. It’s the kind that middle income people go to so that they can feel wealthy and the kind poor people go to on a special occasion. It’s the kind I would never step in to.

Walter seemed to be in an especially pleasant mood. I don’t know the reason, his company was rather repulsive. I was close on many occasions to gutting that fat lard like a fucking fish. I bet his entrails would fill the entire restaurant. Somehow I don’t think it would matter to some of the trash eating the filth they called fine dining. Hell I could feed them my shit so long as it was deep fried.

It’s been months and I finally feel comfortable enough for an introduction with Walter. He isn’t the kind of man that freely opens up. That much is evident from his relationship with his wife. The woman must be starved, but that’s all in due time. For now, Walter is the key. He’s the head of the family, a weak head, but the head nonetheless. Chop off the head and the rest will follow."

The following promotion is brought to you by the former XWF World Television King, and future Lord of the Ring... The Cult Icon, Shawn Christopher.

"Alright people. Today's lesson is simple and very, very important. I want you all to never forget what I'm about to tell you...

Failure is for the weak.

That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way. It's a lesson that all the greats live by. And it's the lesson thats gonna get me through the Lord of the Ring. Cause I'm no longer weak. I'm stronger than every man entered in this match.

Failure.. is not an option.

My opponents... they're cut from a different cloth. They'll accept failure. They live by the notion that you can fight another day. They know that even if they dont win, they'll get their opportunity. Everyone does, right?

That's a load of bullshit.

Take Hunter Ryan for instance.. that little fucking pussy, with all his sob stories and morals. Reminds me of one of those Catholics, driving home their religion, as if they actually practiced what was preached. He surprisingly has been front running for awhile now, taking on the same competition, leaving the crowds wondering what happened to the REAL characters.

Keep going Hunter, we all love hearing your emotion filled rants.

I'm kind of hoping we meet up in the end, that is if you can get past the rest of this watered down field. You’re supposed to be the golden son here, correct? Chomping at the bit to become Steve Jason. Well if anything pal, you’ve disgusted the rest of us. You’re garbage and I’ve proven that before.

Hunter Ryan is a bitch. I’ll prove it again.

Fuck your issues, and fuck everything you stand for. I can’t wait to hear you’re sappy bullshit, promises to everyone to be the ‘best’. Promises that you’ll be the one to bring this place back to the glory days.

Lemme just ask.. you and what army?

This place is soon to be dead, and I’ll be holding the smoking gun, you realize this, right? You guys must really thought I wouldn’t show? Fuck that, you hoped didn’t you? Sorry Hunter, my desire to kick your ass around was too much to sit in the shadows. You want productive, how does snapping your fucking neck sound?

Do yourself a favor, and go play dolls with your brother. Stay out of my way.

Who else? Marquee, Aldrik Ramsden, Centurion, Rage? Really not impressed with the field. After watching Cent's promo, we all feel better knowing he's still old and talentless. And Rage.. he's just the same thing reworded 400 times. Wash, rinse, repeat. They're like two peas in a fucking pod.

No, I’m mistaken, I must be. Centurion is a legend, Christ he’s hall of legends. Unfortunately we all know who else is there too, I hope you’re enjoying Malcolm’s company. What a joke.

But alas, we know where the match starts and ends with.

I know that most of you here think that this is your big chance to make a name for yourself, use my name as a stepping stone to the higher grounds? I don’t think so gentlemen, I think it’s pretty clear how this will work out. I’ll travel through this match untouched, heading for my chance with the Universal Champion.

It's high time I take my legendary status.

Don’t you feel it? Do you feel the swing of power now? Stripping all of you of your accomplishments, stripping you of that comfort you had with the limelight? How do you focus when you know you’re just another one of the forgotten? It’s actually pretty simple to figure out, a bigger name came in and now it’s time to destroy all the new foundation that you’ve all built.

But don't worry guys.. after I win, then go and take the Universal title.. this place will be in good hands. I'm sure I'll have jobs for the lot of you.

I’m sure there are some toilets to be cleaned."

End feed.