Post by 'The Dragon' Travis Levitt on Jul 27, 2023 6:31:09 GMT
Establishing The Stakes
IWF BLOODY ASSIZES RP
PRE-SHOW: Travis Levitt vs. Erik Holland vs. Ultimo Forajido
IWF BLOODY ASSIZES RP
PRE-SHOW: Travis Levitt vs. Erik Holland vs. Ultimo Forajido
The scene opens up on a rather simple shot. Its just a wrestling ring in a well-lit room. The mat is clean, the turnbuckles are tightly on, and if a ring could shine, this one would. The shot just stays on the ring for a few moments until some footsteps break the silence and a blonde haired female steps into the room. She's dressed in a simple business suit and her hair is tied back in a ponytail. The woman stops when she sees the ring, a single arched eyebrow all the sign we need that something is amiss here. With a small sigh she turns and leaves the room once again and the scene cuts out.
It comes back in a few moments later on a new shot. This one is also of a wrestling ring, but its night and day. This ring looks old and a few steps away from completely breaking down. It's stained by what you could only hope is blood and sweat, though judging by the smell in the room, thats a lost hope. And in this ring we see a tall man bouncing the ropes, dressed in a simple tanktop and shorts, and already sweating hard. This man is 'The Dragon' Travis Levitt and he looks focused on his workout. Into the dusty room walks the blonde from earlier, and she just watches for a moment as Travis hits the ropes in front of her, bouncing back across the ring to hit the other ropes, and then charging back. Instead of just hitting the ropes though Travis leaps, flipping over the ropes and landing on his feet outside the ring on some worn down dark mats. He winces as he lands, stumbling for a step or two before he looks toward the blonde, breathing hard and panting a little harder. He grins as he sees her, reaching up to slip the airpods from his ear and grinning as he looks at her.
"Hi Jess. Been here long?"
"Thats Miss Pryce to you. And yes. Too long already. How can you stand that smell?"
Travis glances around at that, giving a gentle whiff of the air. He waits a moment and then leans down to sniff his own armpits and recoils from that one, shaking his head as he looks back at the woman with a puzzled look.
"I was born with that smell. But sorry Miss Pryce. I'll try and shower next time I know you're coming for a visit."
Travis steps past her, limping slightly as he heads over to a nearby bench and grabs his water bottle. Jess follows him over, arms crossed over her chest as she waits a few moments for him to refresh. Travis turns to sit down, reaching down to rub at his calf and then glancing up at her, her expression making him sit up and stare at her for a moment.
"Wait. What are you doing here? I thought you were still overseeing that new gym being built?"
"It was finished last week. You were supp--"
"First session there today. Right. My mind is going out with my age, I swear."
Travis sighs and shakes his head as he reaches down to rub at his calf for a moment. Jess watches him for a few moments and gives him some time to think before speaking again.
"You know the deal, Mr. Levitt. Pryce Incorporated will finance your return to wrestling. This includes all costs of travel, accommodation, healthcare, training and gear and in return..."
"I'll make public appearances extolling the nature of how Pryce Inc are the greatest business in the world, draw eyes and attention to their facilities and avail myself to any documentary or publicity event that is required. I know."
"And any time you fail to make an appearance, Pryce Incorporated will have the right to withdraw all support, as well as legally retain the right to claim all costs already availed upon you. So you could forfeit your car, your house, all those mementos of your entire career could belong to Pryce Inc. In other words, Mr. Levitt, if you slip up even once it could all be over for you."
"And that decision resides solely in the hands of Pryce Inc's resident business manager, Miss Jessica Pryce. Daughter of the Boss, looking to make a name of her own, and knowing full well that if I mess up, its going to look bad on her too. So, Thanks for that sweet summation of the stakes of me getting back in the ring, Boss. Did we miss anything?"
Travis stands up now, slipping off his tanktop to expose an abdomen marked by scars and bruises. Stepping aside, again, he reaches for his phone and then turns back to Jess who is staring at him intently. The two stand there for a moment before she raises her phone, glancing at the time and then back at him.
"Video room will be ready for you in thirty minutes. Go shower, get dressed, and we'll get going."
"Whatever you saw, Miss Pryce. I'm just the show-pony after all."
And with that Travis heads off screen, and we fade back to black....
The scene switches again, this time to a much simpler shot. Its a single well-lit room, with a PRYCE INCORPORATED sign at the back, and a single chair in the middle of the room. And currently sitting in that chair is The Dragon himself, now dressed well in a nice shirt, leather jacket, and some jeans. Travis is nursing a glass of soda on his right as he looks down at the ground, and then slowly lets his gaze rise to meet the camera. Instead of speaking though, The Dragon just stares for a moment, as if staring through the camera will send a message without words being necessary. Finally though he speaks, his tone low but loud.
"It's been a while since I did this, so excuse me if I ramble a bit." Travis pauses now, head turning slightly to look towards the wall as he seems to be thinking it over and then looks back at the camera. "I mean, I don't even know where to start really. I guess some basics might make sense. My name is Travis Levitt. If you're a long time wrestling fan, you might have heard of me. I've had some wins here and there, fought some big names, signed some giant contracts. If WWH had paid in real money instead of crypto, I'd be set for life. But hey, we all have a story like that."
Travis pauses again, fingers drumming on his chair and he looks down again and then slowly shifts his head, turning to see the sign behind him, and then back at the camera.
"Anyway. Guess I uhh......I talk about my match, yeah? I mean....first time in a long time I've dusted off the boots. I pulled them from the closet and they were caked in so much dust, I started looking around for the line of c-list celebs and their one dollar bills. For you young'uns out there, thats a cocaine joke. Yes. I'm that old. Anyway. this week is a big week. First chance to make an impression. First chance to show what I can do inside the ring again. And as much as I sit here, and I riff on about my nerves or my worries, the reality is, it won't matter. Once I step back between those ropes....once my feet feel that familiar plyboard trampoline under me.....Once that bell rings, everything else fades away. The fears. The worries. The thoughts....won't matter one bit. Because when I get back between those ropes, that is when instinct kicks in. And thats when things get dangerous."
Travis seems to have found his groove now, slowly shifting in his seat, leaning a little forward, hands templed in front of him. His gaze is locked on the camera and he pauses just for a moment more.
"See, I can sit here, and I can act the clown, or the smart-ass, or the washed up has-been. But when that bell rings, I become The Dragon. I become deadly. I become strong. I become wise. Between those ropes, I'm a whole different man then the one you see sitting here. So, if you're watching this, and your thinking I look like a walk-over, or a easy win, then I'd advise you come see the Pre-Show. I'd suggest you come and watch what I'm about to do to Erik Holland and Ultimo Forajido."
"Now, Erik and Ultimo are good men. They both have their own styles. Erik is strong, built, stacked like a brick shithouse. And if he hits the average man, that man will stay hit. They'll go down faster then a white woman in Denzel's locker room. But I'm not your average man. So when Erik hits me, I might teeter. I might stumble. I may even drop to a knee. But you'll never hit me hard enough to knock me out, Holland. I'm not built that way."
"And Ultimo Forajido, I've seen how quick you are. I know you can move fast, and I'll probably never even seen you coming. You've got the look of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and yet it hasn't slowed you down. And I can respect that. But it won't matter how quick you are, Forajido. I'm like one of those monsters in an Eighties horror film. See, you can run and run and run, but I'll keep coming. And sooner or later, your legs are going to tire. Your body is going to slump. And then you're going to look over your shoulder and see me in the shadows, ready for the killing shot."
Travis pauses again now, looking down at the floor and then slowly raising his eyes once again.
"You both are good. And I have no doubt, we're going to steal the pre-show, because we all want to make an impact. But let there be no doubt, I'm not getting back into wrestling to just be a stepping stool or a bounce pad. I'm coming back to show I am still one of the best in the business, and to get that gold. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, hit lows some of you could only imagine, and yet here I sit. Once more into the breach, ready to show a whole new audience, just what happens when you Play With Fire."
And with that simple statement Travis rises from his chair and heads on out as the scene cuts out with a quick clip hyping up the PPV.
--FIN--