Advisement to Morals

[Delikado/J-Noble]

The show has come and gone. The events of Autumn Annihilation are in the history books for all to see.

It’s obvious that everyone who saw the event saw what transpired after my match with Dru Tha Merc; Chris Strike attacking me as redemption for my previous actions against him.

I deserved it. I had it coming, I suppose.

When the time is right, I’ll address the entire situation with the “God of Thunder.” All I have to say about it now is that while my comeuppance was destined to occur, the manner in which Strike handled it was just as unprofessional as my own.

For now, it’s time to move on to the present week. This upcoming Oblivion is something I look forward to in a sense that I have some strong opposition to test my advancing skills against. The match ahead is the next step forward ---a surefire way to prove to the doubters just what I’m about.

This isn’t “kid around” time anymore. Everyone here has earned their keep. A champion, a strong contender for the Valiant title, and a tough as nails fighter of the streets.

I know what I want from this business, and although I say these men have earned their keep, it doesn’t mean they’ll hold onto it. Not all men are created equal, and not all are born of the same cut. A Main Event match like the one I share with everyone here carries chances I won’t allow to be breached by anything or anyone less than the auspicious.

The Kingdom of Pride is in a position where it is still up for grabs. So far, everything has been an initiative, a beginning that has suffered some damage in the form of less-than-capable athletes and a modest fanbase.

Oblivion is the response from those of an auspicious nature to everyone else to the sport of the professional wrestling…

The beginning can always be undone and remade. I’m a man of nobility, both in literal name and beliefs. My assault on the senses of Pride may suggest differently, but that’s only to those who have yet to wake up and realize what I’m all about.

It may be a tough match ahead, and while some would say “may the best man win,” I humbly admit I have yet to come into such an honor...*laugh*

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Advisement to Morals

The scene opens in the Pride locker-room with a casually dressed Johnny Noble sitting in a steel chair looking over some documents while an unknown individual, an older man in his late 40s to early 50s, sits on a bench nearby looking over at Noble. He is also cleaning his glasses with an orange cloth. Johnny flips a page and looks it over, slowly nodding his head. When he finishes reading whatever it is, he closes the folder and looks up.

Johnny: Well, everything looks okay. It says here that the back pain was nothing long-term and just some minor bruising.

The older man nods his head as he finishes cleaning his glasses and places them back on.

Ethan Ames: That’s good news.

Johnny also nods his head in agreement and tosses the folder aside.

Johnny: So that means nothing is going to keep me from going out there 100%. I’m guessing you saw my booked match.

Ethan: Yeah, the first Pride Main Event spot for you, isn’t it?

Johnny: Mhmm.

Johnny leans back in the chair, groaning softly as his bruised back rests up against the steel.

Johnny: And I’d also guess that you’re well under way with the paperwork write-ups on Strike?

Ethan: It’s no problem, John. Although I’ll admit given the recent turn of events, I’m surprised you called me down here to help you after all this time.

Johnny waves a dismissive hand at the comment.

Johnny: You’re a good man, Ethan. You’ve helped me out more than anyone over the years. It stands to reason I’d want someone I trust to advise me here in the company.

Ethan looks flattered by Johnny’s words, but he quickly goes back to the topic he’d actually meant to speak of.

Ethan: I was more referring to Ray Caravelle. Given the circumstances of managerial help you’ve had since you came to the company, a lot of people would expect you to run solo.

Johnny stares at Ethan for a few silent moments and then smiles lightly.

Johnny: Don't worry about Ray. I told him how things would go if he made his presence known again like at Autumn Annihilation when he tried to cost me my match after I set him straight. And as for my managerial situation...well, while I may not be the most social person in the world, I’ve learned that everyone needs help at some point in their lives whether they’ll admit it or not.

Ethan: Yes. Yes, that is very true.

Johnny looks over at his locker, which is currently open and revealing his baggage and other items. Ethan goes to start looking over some other documents in the meantime. After a few moments of silence, Johnny stands up from his chair and slowly paces back and forth, thinking to himself about the present matters at hand. His thoughts eventually escape to the surface.

Johnny: You know what, Ethan. I’m glad I’ve got the match I have tonight.

Ethan: Well, you should. It’s the perfect chance to asset yourself as a strong contender for some of Pride’s top spots.

Johnny: No, it’s not that that puts me in the mood I’m in. It’s this general plan everyone else has going, either to reaffirm themselves as a big dog in the company or to confirm that’s what they are for the first time to the fans. All three guys, Eagles, Flanagan, Hargrove, they’re all about self-promotion or making themselves look good. It’s this image men like them want to have, to live up to.

Ethan: And what about you...?

Johnny stops and turns to his adviser, softly shrugging his shoulders.

Johnny: Me? I’m not really interested in painting myself as some deity of the ring to the people. Now, that’s not to say I won’t deny myself chances to prove that I’m more than meets the eye, but it isn’t at the top of my list of things to do before the night’s over and done.

Ethan nods his head in understanding, even if he doesn’t truly “get it.”

Ethan: That’s a good plan, John. Don’t let yourself get an overinflated ego, because that’s the first downfall that usually gets a rising star like yourself.

Johnny: Agreed. I could lie to myself and pretend I live to do nothing but cement myself, build a “legacy” off titles and big paycheck earning matches like the other big names in Pride, but I won’t. In the simplest, most dumb-down way of saying it to the people and to my peers: I don’t give a damn about what “the others” give a damn about. I’ll respectfully let them have it, go about it, or speak of it, but I cannot bring myself to lie and say that I care about it.

Ethan, eyebrows lifted in surprise but not in anything negatively charged, nods his head.

Ethan: Right.

Johnny sighs and proceeds to take a drink of water from the bottle in his locker. From here, he slowly turns his head to Mr. Ames.

Johnny: I just wish more people had the stomach to admit that the simplest way is sometimes the better way. We’re not superheroes. We don’t have to live up to some godlike level each and every week, because we’ll fail to live up to that dream nine times out of ten. Having a realistic approach to your career and your capabilities is the cure to everything, Ethan.

Ethan: Well…that’s not to say you can’t reach big once in a while.

Johnny laughs once and shrugs.

Johnny: Maybe so. And maybe some people around here just like to think their point of view is the “case closed” truth of how it should be done.

His eyes turn to Ethan and light up to suggest he’s talking about his opponents later in the evening.

Johnny: These three guys, my opponents tonight, I suppose I should address them as…I disapprove of qualities and ideals they have. Period. I’m against them in more than one sense tonight, Ethan. One of them is even a champion and I’m against him. Again, they can have their views, but they shouldn’t walk around not expecting people like me to come after them. I shouldn’t have to say that, because it looks like I’m a man without respect or morals, but some things are just unavoidable.

Johnny sighs with a slight hint of anger in his voice and overall body language. However, he quickly regains control and remains calm and collected in his stonewall thoughts.

Johnny: I mean, some of the things I’ve heard and some of the things I’ve seen from these guys tonight and in the past, it’s just the damndest thing you could expect to hear or see, you know. It’s like this, I’m riding the bus to the gym the other but on the way to the bus stop, I bought a magazine, sports magazine that briefly covered the company since it started setting up around here. Now, I’m riding along reading the section on the promotion, and some of the mini sections devoted to some of “big players” of the company, I guess, it catches my eye and I start to look it over.

Johnny silently thinks to himself for a few seconds before continuing on with his recollection of the article.

Johnny: It got the point that I’m just sitting there thinking, “people like these guys? They listen to and cheer for them?”

Ethan: Were they e-mails or letters from their fans?

Johnny: No. They were supposedly critics of these guys who pointed out parts of their careers, bullet-pointed them.

Ethan: You gotta remember though, John, that oftentimes these are thoughts from that particular wrestler’s fans, a fan-club and the like.

Johnny: Cartoon characters have fan-clubs.

Ethan chuckles humorously

Ethan: People have supporters. You said earlier that everybody needs help at some point; these guys with the most letters and article space are usually the ones who get their help from the fans and supporters. It’s like an election campaign to some of them, “Eagles is the One” or “Flap 4 Champ.”

It’s Johnny’s turn to chuckle, although it isn’t nearly as amused in a good-fun sense like Ethan’s was. It’s more of an embarrassed laugh for the others, really.

Johnny: Want to know how to make it in the wrestling business today? Publicity. Be the male Lindsay Lohan of wrestling.

Ethan: Yeah, it’s gotten to that point for some.

Johnny: But anyway, the articles just got to me on some level, made me curious to see not only what other said about these guys, but also what they said about themselves. I swear, some of these people, the wrestlers the fans appear to “love” or “appreciate” are just unlikeable people when you stop and think about it. Josh Eagles, a man the article said lost a lot in this business to the point you’re supposed to believe him or want him to succeed, “sympathize” with, and yet he was one of the most unlikeable people I think you could meet.

Ethan: Really? Wow.

Johnny: Oh, and I don’t mean “unlikeable” in the sense that he’s a major jackass who screws people over for his own gain. His words and overall attitude, even going against people who believe in the same things he does, just made it near impossible for me to find a sense of respect for the man. But…I digress, the business isn’t made off how much I like my peers.

Ethan: Yes, that’s right. It’s only you out there in the end. Heck, all I can do is advise you backstage.

Johnny nods his head in agreement.

Johnny: Indeed.

Ethan looks toward his young friend and associate, doing like Johnny does and thinking for some time before speaking as he takes note of the young Noble’s concentrated face.

Ethan: Be that as it may, with men like Eagles, Flanagan, and Hargrove, you can’t underestimate that they’ll do everything in their power to reach the dreams they’ve aspired to. Especially in a Fatal Four-Way, everything goes. You might want to live a simpler life in the ring than the rest, but it’s their element here with every man for himself. You’ll just have to go out there in the ring tonight and show these other three guys that you’re reasonable to working out differences and styles in the ring, and just because your views are “less touched-upon”, it doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong.

At first, Johnny stands in silence and stares at Ethan with a blank face. However, he then laughs once yet again and walks over to the bench, sitting down next to his adviser.

Johnny: It’s good to have you here, Ethan.

He pats his Ethan’s back in a friendly manner and then eyes the folders next to him.

Johnny: So, those are the early drafts of the paperwork?

Ethan: Yes, sir.

He hands the folder to Johnny and the younger Noble flips it open, glancing at the pages inside. His eyes can been seen scrolling along and his lips form a small smile.

Ethan: Just a few more adjustments to set it up and I think after that it’s only a matter of getting the right people to sign here and there.

Johnny scoffs softly as he continues reading.

Johnny: Right, here’s hoping Kurt will be able to go along with it. Sterling might play along, but it takes both of them to put anything into motion here. Won’t be pulling any fast ones on “Big Brother,” so to speak…

Ethan nods his head at the comment. Both men continue to look over the documents in the folder, pointing out bits and pieces here and there to talk about, for some time before the scene fades out.

Advisement to Morals