Post by walkindude on Jun 28, 2024 15:57:24 GMT
FAWN HQ, last week...
“It's horseshit.”
“Please, Penny. There's no reason to be vulgar.”
“It's horseshit and you know it, Ms. Christian.”
Bethany Christian sighed and leaned back in her chair. She'd known this meeting would be challenging, but she had to admit she'd underestimated her visitor's anger. “It's not horseshit.” she replied. “It's marketing. I don't need to tell you that having two heels headline a pay-per-view rarely draws the numbers we get if there's a face that the crowd can throw their cheers behind.”
PENNY TREMBLAY:
Penelope Tremblay's lips pursed like she'd bitten into something extremely bitter. “So I should just go fuck myself, is that it? Marketing decrees we need even more eyes on the product and so lets pit the washed-out shell of a former champion, a woman I ruined over a best of five series against a World Champion who will happily take a count-out or brazen interference from her spineless assistant to keep her reign limping along? Huzzah for the marketing department, let's give everyone a raise!”
Bethany grimaced, thought about withholding this next bit of information, ultimately decided against it. Tremblay would find out one way or another. Braddock simply didn't have it in her to keep her mouth shut about... well, anything. “It's not just a matter of marketing, Penelope. Kat asked for Sue barely a day after Mayhem.”
Tremblay's dark eyes flared so violently that Bethany actually thought the blonde would scream aloud or simply swipe everything off her desk in a fit of rage. Her suspicions only grew stronger when Penny reached across the desk, but instead of taking it out on Bethany's miniature Zen Garden, the blonde took hold of a dark purple stress reliever and proceeded to squeeze the life out of it for almost thirty seconds.
After a moment she sighed and said, “Little sister deserves a rematch far more than the old hag.”
“Be that as it may, Kat asked, or rather, demanded, the Rainmaker and we've decided to give her what she wants.”
“Capitulation from management is hardly inspiring.” Penny murmured.
Christian looked annoyed. “It's not capitulation. That pairing comes with the sort of built-in drama that almost never occurs in a first-time match. Think about it. If Sue manages to win, she's FAWN's first ever four-time World Champion. But if Kat wins, she's added another former World Champion to her resume and she's beaten both Burlingame sisters in back-to-back cards!”
“No matter the outcome, both of those undeserving pieces of garbage are benefiting from my hard work.”
Bethany didn't reply at once. She'd reached the moment where she had to tread carefully. “Sometimes our hard work doesn't go rewarded as quickly as we think it should.” she told the furious bendy-back. “But that doesn't mean it's gone unnoticed. Is that what you want to hear, Penelope?”
“I want to hear a reason why I shouldn't break them both in half whenever it goddamned suits me. And I think Summer Swelter suits me just fine.”
“That would be most unwise.” there was ice in Bethany's voice now. “Any interference on your part would simply give champion and challenger a legitimate reason to demand a rematch, presumably one featuring a stipulation that would nullify any more interference. Is that what you want?”
“I ruined Sue Burlingame.” Penny growled. “Not Chrissy Daniel. Not Portia VanBuren. Not Lisa Dream. Not Pandora. And certainly not Kat Braddock. She may pick my scraps. She may well claim the glory of retiring that witch in front of the world, but anything she accomplishes is done by standing on my shoulders. What do I want, Ms. Christian? I want what I've so rightly earned.”
“I'm afraid I can't give you that at Summer Swelter.” the executive said after a moment. Penny sneered and started to rise, only to stop when Christian held out a hand. “But perhaps I could offer you something else. In exchange for a bit of forbearance on your part, of course.”
Tremblay didn't sit back down, but she didn't leave either. “Make your case, Ms. Christian.”
“All I want is a promise from you, Penelope. Don't lay so much as a finger on either champion or challenger starting from the moment you leave this office up to the Announcer's proclamation after things have been decisively settled. If you can do that, I'll offer you something extremely valuable in return.”
“I'm not sure you and I share the same definition of value, Ms. Christian.”
“Oh, I think we do, Penelope. Stay your hand through the end of Summer Swelter and I'll owe you a favor.”
“What sort of favor?”
“Anything you desire, my dear. You want a reserved parking spot in the executive lot? It's yours. You want first access to the private gyms and training areas whenever you're so inclined? Consider it done. Do you want a match? With anyone? Anywhere? Any time? All you have to do is stroll through those doors there,” Bethany indicated the double doors on the far side of her office, “and say, 'Ms. Christian, I'm calling in my favor.' But you have to stay out of the main event. Do you understand?”
Penny mulled it over. “I do. But that's not what said the first time. The first time you said I can't lay a finger on champion or challenger from now through the moment their match is over. Just now you told me to stay out of the main event. Those are two different things, Ms. Christian.”
Bethany offered her a smile. “I believe the initial wording will suffice, Penelope. Do no harm to Braddock or Burlingame and you'll have whatever you want. Do we have a deal?”
Tremblay looked down at the small purple sphere, gave it a final white-knuckle squeeze before she leaned forward and set it back in its holder on Bethany's desk. Then she stood up and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Ms. Christian. Enjoy the World Title match, I'm sure it will be profitable one way or another. I'll wait for the dust to settle before I call anything in.”
“But not too long, surely.” Bethany said with a slight smile.
“Oh no.” Penny confirmed. “Not long at all.”
“It's horseshit.”
“Please, Penny. There's no reason to be vulgar.”
“It's horseshit and you know it, Ms. Christian.”
Bethany Christian sighed and leaned back in her chair. She'd known this meeting would be challenging, but she had to admit she'd underestimated her visitor's anger. “It's not horseshit.” she replied. “It's marketing. I don't need to tell you that having two heels headline a pay-per-view rarely draws the numbers we get if there's a face that the crowd can throw their cheers behind.”
PENNY TREMBLAY:
Penelope Tremblay's lips pursed like she'd bitten into something extremely bitter. “So I should just go fuck myself, is that it? Marketing decrees we need even more eyes on the product and so lets pit the washed-out shell of a former champion, a woman I ruined over a best of five series against a World Champion who will happily take a count-out or brazen interference from her spineless assistant to keep her reign limping along? Huzzah for the marketing department, let's give everyone a raise!”
Bethany grimaced, thought about withholding this next bit of information, ultimately decided against it. Tremblay would find out one way or another. Braddock simply didn't have it in her to keep her mouth shut about... well, anything. “It's not just a matter of marketing, Penelope. Kat asked for Sue barely a day after Mayhem.”
Tremblay's dark eyes flared so violently that Bethany actually thought the blonde would scream aloud or simply swipe everything off her desk in a fit of rage. Her suspicions only grew stronger when Penny reached across the desk, but instead of taking it out on Bethany's miniature Zen Garden, the blonde took hold of a dark purple stress reliever and proceeded to squeeze the life out of it for almost thirty seconds.
After a moment she sighed and said, “Little sister deserves a rematch far more than the old hag.”
“Be that as it may, Kat asked, or rather, demanded, the Rainmaker and we've decided to give her what she wants.”
“Capitulation from management is hardly inspiring.” Penny murmured.
Christian looked annoyed. “It's not capitulation. That pairing comes with the sort of built-in drama that almost never occurs in a first-time match. Think about it. If Sue manages to win, she's FAWN's first ever four-time World Champion. But if Kat wins, she's added another former World Champion to her resume and she's beaten both Burlingame sisters in back-to-back cards!”
“No matter the outcome, both of those undeserving pieces of garbage are benefiting from my hard work.”
Bethany didn't reply at once. She'd reached the moment where she had to tread carefully. “Sometimes our hard work doesn't go rewarded as quickly as we think it should.” she told the furious bendy-back. “But that doesn't mean it's gone unnoticed. Is that what you want to hear, Penelope?”
“I want to hear a reason why I shouldn't break them both in half whenever it goddamned suits me. And I think Summer Swelter suits me just fine.”
“That would be most unwise.” there was ice in Bethany's voice now. “Any interference on your part would simply give champion and challenger a legitimate reason to demand a rematch, presumably one featuring a stipulation that would nullify any more interference. Is that what you want?”
“I ruined Sue Burlingame.” Penny growled. “Not Chrissy Daniel. Not Portia VanBuren. Not Lisa Dream. Not Pandora. And certainly not Kat Braddock. She may pick my scraps. She may well claim the glory of retiring that witch in front of the world, but anything she accomplishes is done by standing on my shoulders. What do I want, Ms. Christian? I want what I've so rightly earned.”
“I'm afraid I can't give you that at Summer Swelter.” the executive said after a moment. Penny sneered and started to rise, only to stop when Christian held out a hand. “But perhaps I could offer you something else. In exchange for a bit of forbearance on your part, of course.”
Tremblay didn't sit back down, but she didn't leave either. “Make your case, Ms. Christian.”
“All I want is a promise from you, Penelope. Don't lay so much as a finger on either champion or challenger starting from the moment you leave this office up to the Announcer's proclamation after things have been decisively settled. If you can do that, I'll offer you something extremely valuable in return.”
“I'm not sure you and I share the same definition of value, Ms. Christian.”
“Oh, I think we do, Penelope. Stay your hand through the end of Summer Swelter and I'll owe you a favor.”
“What sort of favor?”
“Anything you desire, my dear. You want a reserved parking spot in the executive lot? It's yours. You want first access to the private gyms and training areas whenever you're so inclined? Consider it done. Do you want a match? With anyone? Anywhere? Any time? All you have to do is stroll through those doors there,” Bethany indicated the double doors on the far side of her office, “and say, 'Ms. Christian, I'm calling in my favor.' But you have to stay out of the main event. Do you understand?”
Penny mulled it over. “I do. But that's not what said the first time. The first time you said I can't lay a finger on champion or challenger from now through the moment their match is over. Just now you told me to stay out of the main event. Those are two different things, Ms. Christian.”
Bethany offered her a smile. “I believe the initial wording will suffice, Penelope. Do no harm to Braddock or Burlingame and you'll have whatever you want. Do we have a deal?”
Tremblay looked down at the small purple sphere, gave it a final white-knuckle squeeze before she leaned forward and set it back in its holder on Bethany's desk. Then she stood up and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Ms. Christian. Enjoy the World Title match, I'm sure it will be profitable one way or another. I'll wait for the dust to settle before I call anything in.”
“But not too long, surely.” Bethany said with a slight smile.
“Oh no.” Penny confirmed. “Not long at all.”