Post by XYZ on Jun 25, 2021 5:11:21 GMT -5
Cast
Xander Young Zaber (the Talent)
Clayton Byrne (Creative Team)
Edwin Byrne (Creative Team)
Izabelle Lawerence (Executive Producer)
Xander Young Zaber lounged out on his deck of his luxury high-rise apartment. He sat comfortably in his recliner wearing nothing but a pair of pool shirts as he looked down at the swimming pool below, a group of bikini-clad hotties dipping their feet into the water. A few times he’d see them glance up his way as he’d be his normal charming self, winking, flashing a smile, or even giving them a salute with his alcoholic drink. He’d been in a rather celebratory mood as of late, what with him easily dethroning Casey Holliday and becoming the new Futures Champion. He thought perhaps there would be some sort of backlash from the fan base about his “cheap” tactics but, as it turned out, most felt the same way that he did. The title, no matter what kind it was, should have to be earned. It didn’t hurt that his PR team spun it that he was doing this "sinister deed" in homage of the first Future’s Champion, Sierra Silver. For some reason, because of their brief encounter in the over-the-top battle royal months ago and then, again, when she interrupted his last “X-Factor” show, people seemed to think there was some sort of connection there. Robert B. Goode had said as much, after XYZ’s failed attempt to dethrone Sierra for the belt. Xander was new to this world of wrestling, he had been always been a top-tier athlete and enthusiast when it came to anything sport related. Growing up, he had scholarships for football and basketball. Those got blown out the window when he had his motorbike accident. His crash happened to be caught on film and he became “internet famous” as a result. So he dropped out of college and started up “Dream to be Extreme”. Many people saw it as just another “Jackass” rip off but he meant to show people what it was like to live on the edge; to do what so many would simply dismiss as the impossible. Despite the daring stunts, his charisma only could carry the show so far and it failed really before it had the chance to be successful. But then this opportunity presented itself; the opportunity to infiltrate the world of wrestling, prove to everyone that he was as extreme as he said he was – to put his money where his mouth was. He trained non-stop, getting into the best physical condition of his career. He had gotten a taste of the lime light and he was determined to not let it slip through his fingers. So here he was, 24 years old and the new Futures Champion. Life couldn’t get much better…
“We have a problem…”
XYZ turned in his recliner, letting his shades slip down to his nose as he glared over at his producer.
“I’ll say, it’s hot as hell out here. Good thing you’re here though Izzie…”
Xander reached out and grabbed a bottle of suntan lotion and offered it to her.
“Would you do me?”
Izabella’s mouth dropped as she looked down at the lotion, and then back at Xander who smiled enticingly at her.
“You know, you’re not as cute as you think you are…”
“That implies you think I’m cute…”
Izabella knocked the lotion from his hand and glared at him, hands on her hips. Xander made a “welp” face and went back to his drink. Today’s flavor of the day was a nice vodka sunrise. His producer paced around anxiously, like a caged animal.
“Alright, alright… what’s the problem?”
“… I’m not sure I should…”
“Izzie… just say whatever it is you have to say, you’re really killing my buzz here.”
Izabella sighed as she knelt down next to Xander, meaning that something was serious.
“You know that investor that backed us? The one who spearheaded our funding for “X Marks the Spot”?
Xander looked over at the camera recording them at this very moment, before nodding his head and looking back to his producer.
“I got a call from him today. Apparently, he’s not very happy with the direction the show is going.”
“What are you talking about? It’s only been a few episodes?”
“He’s worried that you aren’t taking this… seriously.”
Xander rolled his eyes and threw his head back, groaning in dismay.
“And what about this am I not taking seriously, exactly!?”
As if on cue, the brothers Bryne burst onto the scene, hooting and hollering as they rushed over to great their friends.
“Dude, look what we just picked up!?”
Edwin pulled forth a video game from his bag and waved it in Xander’s face, so fast he couldn’t even see what it was.
“Early release on Madden 22! You going to jump in on this with us!?”
“Yeah man, we got to take those Rams to the Super Bowl!”
“Dude no, you said we were playing the Chargers this time.”
Izabella put her hands over her face as the two brothers bickered back and forth. Xander wanted nothing more than to go out “hang out with his boys” but he knew this problem, whatever it was, wouldn’t be going away anytime soon.
“Thanks for the offer guys, but Izzie and I have some business to finish up first.”
Izabella looked over at Xander, almost in shock, as the two brothers shared in her astonishment.
“Wait… we weren’t interrupting…”
“Say no more ‘X’, we read you loud and clear…”
Clayton pushed his younger sibling out of the room as Xander looked back to his producer.
“Okay, so how do we fix this? I’ve inserted myself in battle royals; I’ve gone out and captured the Futures Championship, against your wishes, I might add. But look at how our ratings soared as a result. People can’t get enough of the fact that some ‘nobody’ like me is a Champion. That’s the whole point of this show, isn’t it? To prove that anyone can be a ‘wrestler’; that wrestling, itself, is just a sham? I mean come on, are we really supposed to believe that there is some demonic cult out there running around in plain sight, taking people’s bloods for some sacrificial purpose? Or that grim reapers walk amongst us and that, for whatever reason, decided to take up wrestling as their profession of choice? All of these people are psychotic… delusional… and the fans just eat it all up. But now here’s me, some normal guy that simply lives for the thrill, the action, the excitement. I’ve poured everything into making myself better, to prove that it’s possible to have success in this industry without having a single iota of knowledge or skill about this business mere months ago. There are people that have been here longer than I have, that can’t even claim the success that I can. I know I haven’t faced many a foe here, but look at the one loss that I had in that battle royal. Out of six people, I was among the final three, losing out only to Sierra Silver and Aphrodite IX, both of whom are considered to be World Championship contenders. If I can do that, in my first few months, there’s no telling what I can do.”
Izabella scrunched up her face as she placed a hand on Xander’s knee.
“That all sounds well and good Xander, and I know you’ve been working very hard at all of this. Trying to prove yourself to your friends, your family, your fans – even yourself. But you have to remember, you can’t get sucked into this world, we’re here to do a job…”
“And I’m doing it the best way that I can. Don’t think that just because I now have a title around my waist, I forgot the real reason that I’m here.”
“I’m not questioning that, Xander… but HE is.”
Xander tossed his drink angrily to the ground and rose to his feet, perching over the balcony. Izabella reluctantly came to his side, placing a hand on his back.
“So what then? How do I prove myself?”
“He has a request for you, Xander. This week, you face newcomer Kai Morgan.”
“Okay, so what… I need to win? I can do…”
“No, not just win…”
Xander turned on his heel, looking Izabella in the eyes as she slowly lifted her gaze.
“He wants you to make Kai tap out.”
“O…k, so win by submission.”
“You’re not hearing me, Xander.”
Izabella wiped away a nervous tear as Xander looked at his producer, perplexed.
“Regardless of the outcome, win or lose, you make Kai Morgan tap out.”
“But why? Why would I do that? I have no quarrel with Kai, I don’t even know who he is.”
“Doesn’t matter, our benefactor wants certain assurances; he needs to know that you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve our end objective … no matter what.”
The sunset as Xander considered his options.