End of the Line?

[Icon Lord Leon Corbin]

(This takes place before the convention, and obviously before the Munin and Raze at it RP.)

*Ring Ring*

"Hello?"

"Hey, hey, Luscious Leeray! How's it going?"

"What...? Jerry, you little bastard! How are ya, mate?"

"Not bad, chap, yourself?"

"I'm doing good. Doing good."

"The kids too?"

"Probably better than me. The tykes have waaay too much energy. How are you though? Seen you 'floating' about in Hong Kong a bit."

"I touched down just recently, earlier than planned. You believe that fucking handicap match?"

"Sadly, I do. It's been this way for months. Shit's gotta stop."

"Glad you agree. I gave Munin an equaliser, but steps need to be taken to keep the others from tipping the scales back."

"Sounds like you have something in mind."

"If the rest of the Clan come out, I'm hopping the barrier. Even then, four against two are still shite odds. Pre-emptive strike, maybe?"

"No skin off my nose and I'd consider that an investment. I know how those fucks love to get involved in business that isn't theirs..."

"Me too. And why should Munin be the one getting fucked over? We should blitz them. No need for people to end up hurt before a title match. Heatwave title matches are brutal enough. But you know that already, heh."

"We both do. It might even take the wind out of Kolic's sails as well..."

"I'm sorry, Leon. This whole thing is my fault."

"What? What's your fault? You told Kolic to turn into a second rate arsehole?"

"No. I brought Clan Mayhem in. I thought it would help."

There is an expected pause from the end of the 2007 Lord.

"When we went back, we wanted to help however we could. I thought that by introducing an outside force, the roster would unite against them, remember their passion. Mayhem were looking to destroy, because that's what they were led to believe. The truth is, they were intended as a sacrifice. Obviously, it's gone wrong. I need to put it right."

"I remember us discussing things we could do but this? Mate, come on, you're kidding, right?"

"Wish I was. They were never meant to last as long as they have done. I don't know where it went wrong."

"I can't believe it...Mate, talk me through this, please. From the beginning. Tell me how this happened? You realise those fuckers didn't act as if they were there to mix things up a bit, they were there to injure, to maim. Myself included. How did this arrangement take place?"

"I used an alias when dealing with them. They have no idea who really sent them. The thinking was that although I could have tried to beat some sense into them and shout at them, all we'd get back would be excuses. I thought that by having people threaten GZW, it'd wake them up. The plan, the one Clan Mayhem doesn't know about, was to have them cause trouble. A few bruises and beatings to shake the dust off. GZW's roster gets the lead out, fights back, Clan Mayhem gets run out the door. All in an effort to re-invigorate them. If Clan Mayhem knew the truth, no one would have been convinced. The threat had to seem real. I underestimated them. Or overestimated the roster. Either way, I fucked up somehow. That's why I started getting into the fights myself, to turn it around and get the plan going where it needed to. Then I pulled their funding, thinking both actions would leave them vulnerable. I never saw Kolic's betrayal coming. When I walked away, people were fighting back. Not just against them, but the complacency. I thought it was working."

There's a long, heavy sigh from the Ring of Honor Icon.

"Fucking hell, Jerry..."

"I know. When I saw you, Eva, Kolic and Munin go up against them, I thought it was in the bag. This was never meant to happen, and now Munin could end up paying for it. I can't let that happen."

"You know, I couldn't promise I wouldn't twat you one right now if you stood in front of me...But as it stands, there's been too much pointless fighting. You realise they almost broke Evalyn's already broken neck, right? I just thought I'd throw that one out there. They tried to finish her off."

"Fuck. I know an apology won't cut it for that. But I will make this right. After that, if you want to swing, fine. We've done worse for less. As it stands right now, someone saw fit to put Munin against two of them, and the hardest hitters to boot, in a no DQ match. I'll be there to help her, but I need someone at my back before then, to stop Damien and Demon."

"You know they've broken away from those shackles. And now with Kolic in their ear... I am more than happy to remove his advantage so he faces Tamer fair and square and that they don't get involved in Nin's match either. But we do this together...the way we used to...the way Hong Kong knows us to, know what I mean?"

There is a pause and a short breath, like a barely contained laugh.

"Oh, I do. I promise you though; you, Eva and Munin. I will make up for this after Heatwave."

"After Heatwave? What will you do after Heatwave?"

"Pull the plug. Properly this time."

"Whose...?"

"Clan Mayhem. I did this and my friends have suffered for it. So I'll stop it."

The sound of breathing becomes evident as the former World champion grows angry at his mistake.

"I'll stop that, then maybe pay Alex a visit."

"I can understand Clan Bastard but why Alex?"

"You see what he did to Munin? I mean, after betraying his team like a bitch."

"Well, yes. But that's a personal issue, more so. You seem...really keen to protect Nin. She might be slight next to us lads but she's no pushover."

"I know, but I have to, in this case. Without meaning to, I put her in this position. And Alex just pisses me off these days. She deserved better than that, don't you think?"

"She does, you're right. Just know that Alex will probably react seeing that he’s trying to be the nastiest bastard of all time..."

After a short pause, Leon bellows with laughter down the line.

"He can wrestle, aye. But I doubt he can outstrike me."

"I've faced you both. He hits like a pussy..."

"Once they're kept under control, you need anyone kept off your back?"

"No...There's no one I can't handle myself but if you feel the need to twat anyone on the basis that they deserving a kicking, I'm sure as hell not gonna stop you..."

"So long as no one interferes, you're happy then. Cool."

"Last thing I need is some twat thinking I am getting someone else to do my dirty work when everyone knows I am more than happy to get my own hands very dirty."

"Fair point. We doing anything about Kolic afterwards or should we just watch him implode?"

"Play by ear. I fully intend to walk out Heatwave with the belt and no one is gonna be happy about that. I won't have time to think about Kolic and his failed attempt at causing a stir."

"That is if Tamer doesn't fix that for us."

"I'm not holding my breath there either, y'know. Fuck ups, the pair of them."

"I expect Kolic will try to fuck him with his new mates. He seems keen on shortcuts these days."

"Whatever point he thought he had kinda got lost in all the pointless monotony of his one-trick pony actions."

There's a heavy grunt from the World champion.

"You bloody fool. Don't you realise that one of you would have done way more for this company than a dozen of these motherfuckers?"

There is a sigh from the other end, followed by a short pause.

"Maybe. But for a while there, things looked good. People started putting themselves out there again and I thought it had reached the point where I could finally walk away. I was hoping the increase in action would last."

"Jerry, come on, man? You've been around long enough to know that's never the case. People get complacent and those are the ones that make more effort than the complete wasters that leech off the industry."

"I suppose I did overestimate them. It does give me an idea, though. In hindsight, it's something I should have done from the start."

"That being? And you realise after everything, I do insist on knowing..."

"Send the message myself. Plain as day, nice and simple. If Clan Mayhem can be kept around unofficially, I can too. It'll give me the freedom to do more than if I were contracted. Let them know the days of an easy ride are over."

"But they are contracted. In some capacity, they are contracted. They are booked and given locker rooms, the works. They aren't just breaking in and having their way. They're just allowed to do what the fuck they like and someone higher up is letting them. Whatever you planned has long since been taken out of your hands, Jerry. And if you want to do something, you need to be there in some official capacity..."

"You realised I've retired more than the fucking Stones by now."

"Depends who you ask, mate. According to Locke, I've retired more than anyone else in spite of the fact I have never retired..."

"I see your point. Think dear old dad can put personal shit aside for once, to do this?"

"He's doing fuck all else to help. I see why not. Seriously. Since he's been in charge the place has gone to pot. I don't know what they do in those meetings that keeps him away from his family all the time but it sure has nothing to do with what's best for business anymore..."

"Exactly. Wrestlers don't always make the best execs. An actual promoter would be ideal, someone used to this sort of thing."

"Sometimes I wonder if he is letting it get this bad so his era, his time, seems like a Golden Era that can never be matched..."

"A pretty elaborate way of doing it if that's the case."

"Why should he care? It's not his wrestling career on the line."

"His office career should be. How about Cavanaugh, she makes business decisions. She knows that side of things."

"She does, but have you noticed that the office are very quiet these days. Something is going on in the upper ranks, I'd wager. I don't know what but something is and I bet it's as serious as when the presidency was up for grabs too."

"At this point, a monkey could do that job. I think old Seth or whatever his name is needs to take a look at his fucking company here."

"Seth was president. My dad has his job now. Logan Corzair, perhaps?"

"Aye, him. See? Another one who does so little that he's forgettable. He needs to step in."

"These people don't care what happens at our level. We are payroll numbers...maybe. They don't even know who works for them more often than not."

"Maybe it's time they were reminded."

"Strike? A revolt? They've willingly watched the company fall to ruin and did nothing. Why would they take notice now?"

"We revolt. Hard. A strike would be a bad message, given some roster members' laziness. A revolt, though... a direct hit against them would help. They can't suspend everyone, least of all the bigger draws."

"They already launch crap into the main event. You think that matters to them?"

"It will. They suspend a big draw, they hit themselves in the wallet. That'd get their attention."

"Hm...I think you're way too optimistic..."

"They're greedy. We can force them to fuck up in a way that gives them no choice but to wake up. Stop towing the line and they'll punish us. Depending on how that's done, the fans will follow. Less fans equals less income. None of them would risk it."

"They've been punishing me for years, Jerry. And I know we'd be fighting a losing battle. They don't recognise assets, we are all just replaceable in their eyes. They've a choke hold on the industry so they'll still rake in the cash even if they had Happy fucking Sumo headlining Heatwave. A small company, you can hold to ransom. These fucks, not a chance."

"Whatever happens, we should try something."

He grunts, evidently accepting something.

"Looks like the dynamic duo is getting back together, that's a plus. Though we're less Batman and Robin, more chainsaw and landmines."

"You can be the chainsaw. I prefer blowing up in people's faces..."

"I'd ask Eva about that, but there are some mental images even I don't want."

"You had to lower the tone. Like that would matter to a filthy bastard like me, Jerry...Come on now..."

"I'm sorry, is Leon Corbin lecturing me on lowering the tone?"

"Don't even go there. I've done things that would probably turn you into a giggling little woman. Well...that's a different show altogether..."

"If you want to turn this into a contest..."

"Why fight a battle you can't win, Jerry? And wasn't I supposed to be pissed off at you?"

"Supposed to be, but I think you realised I didn't fuck everyone over on purpose."

"Or maybe it's just not sunk in properly yet..."

"I'm sure I'll know when it has."

"Well...I should probably go. My toe nails need painting fluorescent pink apparently..."

"Lucy?"

"George..."

"Enjoy the pedicure, princess. I'll see you at Heatwave, if not before."

"I'm sure I will. I can't imagine you'd miss the upcoming GZW fan convention in Hong Kong."

"Nah, I'll head along. At least I don't need to sign anything for hours on end. Perks of retirement, heh."

"Perhaps. Anyway, I'm not a princess. I'm a fucking queen, remember. See you soon, I'm sure."

"Ha ha! Aye, point taken. Take care, mate."

"You too."

*Click*