House of Cards

[Andrew Jacobsen]

We begin what appears to be a self-shot video. The camera faces a plain backdrop, and sitting on a stool in front of the camera for the whole world to see is the visage of the North Star, Andrew Jacobsen. Andrew waves to the camera, grinning as he adjusts his positioning.

”Hey there IWF. For those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Andrew Jacobsen. I’ve been a professional wrestler for three and a half years, and until this coming Monday rolls around, every single professional match I’ve ever wrestled will be for a company that is now a set of memories. I’m not going to linger on NCW. It was my home, it was my first love…it was the company that made me the man I am today. But this is a new land. IWF is uncharted territory. And I want to blaze that trail into the wilderness right here with you.”

He smiles with the sort of practiced ease that comes from years of PR work and press events. Andrew runs a hand through his hair, exhaling quietly as he gathers himself and his thoughts together.

”This match this week, this Fatal-Four Way...it's a showcase. I don't know what the unifying factor is that placed us together is, or if there even is one. Maybe we're just four talented wrestlers. Whatever it is, I know that we have all the capability to put on the match of the night. That's my challenge to each of you.”

A chuckle escapes his lips as he looks up into the camera.

”I see IWF as an arena for the most talented technical wrestlers to showcase their abilities against each other. This isn’t about being the flashiest or having the best physique, this is about being the best damn wrestler you can be. And I definitely respect that challenge. As for my opponents…boy, do I have a menagerie to work with.”

He holds up three cards, which upon closer inspection appear to be IWF employee IDs. He spins the first one around in his fingers to reveal a portrait of one Seth Evans.

”Seth. Buddy. It’s good to see a familiar face my first time out. You’re a real character, you know that? The theatrics, the sponsorships…you really bring a lot of great elements together in a way I’ve never seen before. You don’t come across forced, because this is who you are. You’re a passionate wrestler, a hell of a competitor, and a great guy. You’re the kind of man I want to see more of in IWF, and in wrestling in general. I wish you the best of luck in this match.”

Andrew reveals the next one to be an ID made for Buddy Drifter. He looks at the ID for a few moments before glancing up.

”Buddy Drifter. I wish I knew more about you, man. I mean, I know the name vaguely, but apart from a few neurons firing in odd directions I can’t really remember much about you. With a name like The Chosen One, you'd think it would come easier, but I suppose not. You’re not exactly a spring chicken, though. You’ve been around the block a few times. That’s good. It means you know how things work, you know what to do. It’s going to be an honor and a privilege to wrestle with a veteran such as yourself. I look at every match as a learning experience, Drifter. I can learn from wrestling you just as sure as I could learn from wrestling Mike Machado, or Freakke the Clown, or Roberto Verona, or Eirik Ragnar, or anyone else. It’s the particulars of what you learn that make things important. I don’t know what I’ll learn from you, but I’m eager to find out.”

He pauses for a moment before revealing the last card. This one bears the countenance of one Daniel Constantine. Andrew shakes his head slowly, standing from the stool and staring down the camera.

”And then we come to you, Daniel. You’re a special case. I’m normally an open-minded and friendly guy. I don’t know much about you, just like Buddy. I don’t know where you’ve been, I don’t know what you’ve done. All I’ve been able to do is piece together rumors. What those rumors tell me is that you’re a walking, talking example of everything that people dislike about those with faith. You use your faith as a weapon, twisting and distorting a gospel of understanding and brotherhood into a maul to bludgeon down those who you deem unworthy. Tell me, what gives you that right, Daniel? What gives you that supreme authority? You’re not God. You’re not anywhere near qualified to act in the manner you do. You are not that superior. And I won’t hesitate to clamp you into the Sharpshooter and make you pay penance for the kind of man you are. You’re a very proud man, Daniel. And pride comes before a fall.”

He flicks the card to the side, shaking his head in disgust. After a few moments, though, Andrew’s irrepressibly positive mindset resurfaces. He takes a step back, dropping onto the stool and steepling his fingers.

”This is our chance to make an impact. This is our chance to shine as wrestlers, and this is our chance to show the world what IWF is going to be about. We’re the trendsetters, the template-makers. We are the first generation of Imperial Wrestling Federation stars, we are the new legends, and we’re raising the bar for each and every person in this company. It’s their job to rise to meet us. Let’s give ‘em a hard act to beat.”

Andrew stands, walking over to the camera, and reaches behind it, fiddling with something before we cut to black.

---

Our scene opens in the Chicago offices of the Imperial Wrestling Federation. Andrew Jacobsen is dressed in a sharp suit, and flanking him is a beautiful woman, standing roughly five-nine, wearing a nicely tailored jacket, blouse and skirt. She carries a briefcase in one hand, glancing to Andrew as they walk down the halls.

”Andrew, I want you to take this meeting seriously. Henry de Montfort is the Head of Talent Relations. That means you need to have him on your side if you want him to treat you like the star talent that I know you are. I’m glad you decided to forego the tuxedo T-shirt this time, but I’m going to suggest you let me handle the negotiations. If he asks you a direct question, answer him, but don’t go off on unsolicited tangents.”

Andrew shakes his head, looking around the halls of the new building. He hooks his thumbs into the pockets of his pants as they stroll down the hall, grinning slightly.

”Danielle, don’t you think that I know how to handle myself in a social situation? Frankly, the idea of HQ being a day’s drive from home is going to throw me off more than dealing with one of the de Montfort kids.”

Danielle rolls her eyes, shaking her head as they round a corner. As they do, they nearly run over a man with short red hair and an air of authority about him. Danielle practically jumps back, impressively given her footwear choice of three-inch heels. Andrew merely steps back, and the man collects himself, looking at the two with a critical eye. Danielle’s eyes widen, and she rushes over, offering her hand. The man takes it slowly, looking at her with a critical eye.

”Oh my God, Mr. Archer, we are so sorry! Um, this is Andrew Jacobsen, one of the wrestlers under contract to IWF. I’m Danielle Chase, his agent. Andrew, this is Marcus Archer. He’ll be one of the executives here in NCW. I'm sorry, I don't know exactly what your job description is...”

Andrew blinks, nodding, and offers his hand as well. Archer takes Andrew’s hand, shaking. He nods first to Danielle, then to Andrew, speaking with a distinct Midlands accent.

”Quite fine, Miss Chase. Andrew Jacobsen. I recognize you from the personnel files. I’ve heard quite a bit about your ability. If I hear right, you might be just the kind of man I’m looking for here. What brings you two to the corporate labyrinth?”

Danielle grins, composing herself and resuming her professional demeanor.

”We’re here for a meeting with Henry de Montfort. Just standard operating procedure, he said. Wow, what a wonderful surprise to run into you. A bit more literally than I would have liked, but…”

Archer chuckles, nodding. He puts a hand up to forestall Danielle’s speech, and looks to the two once more before checking his watch.

”Yes, well, while I’d love to stay and chat, I have several things to take care of. Administrative business and all that. Good luck in your meeting. And Jacobsen?”

Andrew perks up.

”Yes, sir?”

Archer cracks a smirk at his reaction.

”Good luck in that match of yours. I’ll be watching carefully.”

He resumes his walk down the hall, and Danielle looks to Andrew with a huge grin on her face. She continues heading the way they were going, having to restrain herself from skipping as she walks. Andrew flashes his million-dollar smile at Danielle, full of confidence.

”See? People love me. Now, let’s get this meeting over with so I can get out of this thing…”

Danielle chuckles, shaking her head as they round the corner and we fade to black.