Post by kosmos on Jul 15, 2019 21:02:28 GMT -5
He paced the sidewalk just down the street from the restaurant nervously. Only yesterday he had finished a trio of matches with a monster of a man, yet this made him nervous?
Tugging at the green scale print tie that felt tighter than any headlock he’d ever known, he was clearly uncomfortable as he looked at the place. Undoing the chin strap of his mask, he took some deep breaths.
Vanessa wanted to meet with him, she actually wanted to meet with him for once.
As his agent, there wasn’t really much for her to do at such an early stage of his career, it was a wonder she’d gotten him a contract with a promotion as big as RSW if he was being honest with himself.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Oh Dios mío!
He was completely uncomfortable and wasn’t sure why. Ibiza had been surprisingly good to him. His pay per view debut had gone as good as could be expected, now his agent, his pretty young agent, she was coming to meet with him. He couldn’t breath suddenly.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: It is just dinner. Just business. She probably just wants to congratulate you on your recent success. That’s all. Why are you sweating? Just calm down, take a deep breath and go in there.
Summoning more courage than he’d like to admit. Pequeño Dinosaurio approaches the restaurant.
Wood, stone and fabric comprise everything within his sight, he was in awe. Stonework floors, the dividers between each area and table were living bamboo, harvested bamboo combined with local wood made up the furniture and accents, all topped with natural cottons and silks. Even the nicest places he’d seen in Mexico, paled in comparison.
Flute and a lyre danced upon the breeze, as a hostess walked up to him. Not put off by the mask at all, clearly he was expected.
Yan: Welcome. Miss Martinez regrets she is running late, though she has instructed us to ensure you are comfortable while you wait. Please follow me.
Stone statues watched them as passed couples about to be engaged, anniversaries and attempted business deals.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: This place is incredible.
Nodding slightly, Yan had heard it all before. Working in this paradise had deadened her senses to its beauty.
Yan: Yes, thank you. We are all very proud. Very fortunate as well.
Leading him through a tropical bamboo garden, he was brought past the tables and bar, to a secluded corner of the restaurant. With no proper roof, the moon hung large in the sky accompanied by a sea of stars. His stomach was in knots.
Yan: Please take a seat. Please enjoy the champagne.
Moving with a practiced ease, Yan pops open the bottle and pours a perfect glass of bubbly.
Bowing slightly, she was gone. Left to admire his surroundings, a small fire pit cast flickering shadows all around him as he sipped champagne in Ibiza. Not bad for a rookie.
Not knowing how long she would be, he awkwardly took occasional sips from his glass before looking around the room once again.
It truly was amazing, a fusion of nature and mankind like he’d never seen. He’d experienced a world of firsts and he was only a few matches into his career. Imagine what he could do going forward!
Picking up a second consecutive win over Leon Dread had proven he could get in there with much larger opponents and hold his own. In fact, he’d proven more than that. He had proven he could win.
The Pandemonium was over, yet Anarchy was always just around the corner. The future, his future, was right around the corner. He couldn’t help but wonder what was next for him?
Vanessa Martinez: Glad to see you were able to get started without me.
Choking to death on two hundred dollar a bottle bubbly would have been an interesting cause of death as he quite literally inhales the sweet liquid. Maybe she’d be kind enough to answer his question for him?
Vanessa Martinez: Are you even old enough to drink?
She was laughing, she noticed him thinking about it himself, was he?
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Funny. I assume you didn’t fly all this way just to keep me waiting and make fun of me?
Walking over, he offers to push in the chair for the lady. Nodding her head, she sits watching him as he gets settled.
Vanessa Martinez: Such a gentleman you turned out to be. You don’t clean up badly either, other than the mask that is, have a seat.
If she could see beneath his mask, he was bright red, sweat ran down his back. Sitting down, he was so stiff he could have missed the chair and simply held himself aloft.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So you’ve come all this way to show me what my life could be?
She answered as she poured herself a glass, nodding to her client she downs the first one in a single gulp, pouring a second.
Vanessa Martinez: You’ve done well, but not that well. My father thinks I should show you that this first big win is an important first step.
There it was; her father directed her career from his lofty perch, his watched from afar rarely interjecting at all. In a way he envied her
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And what do you think?
He flinched a little after asking, he could tell from the way she spoke to him that she had a realistic approach.
Vanessa Martinez: I think you shouldn’t have lost that first match to begin with. I think you weren’t focused. I think you knew it. And, I think that’s why you called me to get you that rematch. But what I think is less important than what I know.
That was fair, but it was also a lesson he had needed to learn. At his size, he was almost always one move, or one mistake, away from disaster.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And What is that?
Vanessa Martinez: My father is paying for this little business trip, so I’m here in Ibiza celebrating your first Pay Per View win.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ha! Ok, fine. If you’re so smart, what else do you know?
Appearing out of nowhere, Yan waits patiently to be acknowledged. Once the both of looked to her, Vanessa answered his question.
Vanessa Martinez: Hello Yan, me and my client here are involved in a little game. I hope you don’t mind but I’ll be ordering for both of us.
Yan: Very good, did you need more time?
Vanessa Martinez: No.
Her answer contained so much certainty that she instantly had his attention.
Vanessa Martinez: I’ll have the Thai Red Duck Curry please and for the gentleman Wagyu.
Yan: Excellent, our chef shall begin. In the meantime please enjoy your appetizers specifically selected by Mr. Martinez.
Vanessa ordered with power and confidence, that changed at the mention of her father. Vanessa’s eyes roll almost out of her head. He smiled, Yan was gone and they were alone again.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And is that all you know?
Vanessa Martinez: I know who your next opponent is.
Her reply was sharp, brought on by the annoyance she felt at having her father influence her meeting all the way from Mexico.
Vanessa Martinez: I thought that might get your attention.
Topping up her glass, he politely declines, his interest fixated on her.
Vanessa Martinez: So Anarchy 50 is being billed as a celebration show from the advertising and they’re leaning heavy on returns from their past. Your match is no different. A showcase match.
Considering the entirety of his career thus far had been spent fighting Leon Dread, a showcase match on a reunion show could really help him raise his profile.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok. That doesn’t sound bad, a showcase match against who?
Vanessa Martinez: Omar Azure. He has an alter ego, The Dragon King.
Being a luchador, this concept was foreign to him. The mask was his alter ego, there was no need for another.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So he’s a man and sometimes he turns into something else? I feel like there’s someone else doing that. Am I wrong?
Now she was rolling her eyes at him. He had a point, but there was more to it.
Vanessa Martinez: Don’t think about that! Look!
Pulling out her phone, she shows him an early match graphic she’d been sent for approval.
Vanessa Martinez: They’re billing this as Dinosaur vs Dragon. There’s actual marketing money being put into this match! It’s just a test image, but someone had to make that graphic. Think about it like that. You make a statement here and things could really pick up!
Nodding, she had a point.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, I can work with that. So, this Omar Azure? He’s a former world champion then?
Her body language changed slightly.
Vanessa Martinez: Not from what I have read on him.
That was ok, a win or strong showing against a marquee guy could send him toward Senor Vinnie or Isaiah Zepp and two championships.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Then a Legacy or Anarchy Champion?
She sips her champagne, swirling it in her glass.
Vanessa Martinez: Also, not from what I have read.
Championships weren’t everything, a major player from the first year of the company could get some nostalgia attention, he could make this work still.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Then surely he’s a main event guy from RSW’s early days?
Glancing sideways, she was clearly hoping he would’ve stopped asking before now.
Vanessa Martinez: Again, nothing I have been able to find supports that either.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, so what exactly am I trying to prove here?
Vanessa Martinez: I don’t know, that dinosaurs and better than dragons?
His growing impatience and annoyance was matched by her indifference to it.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So, What you’re really telling me is that this ‘showcase’ is just ‘hey, look at the two lizard gimmicks!’ so much for my big break.
So, he’d seen through her positive spin on things. It was time for brutal honesty.
Vanessa Martinez: Look, I know you’re disappointed that your father didn’t name you Tiranosaurio Jr. but if you need something to prove, how about starting with why he should have given you his mask? You’re a rookie, keep making waves, keep winning matches and we’ll actually have something to celebrate when we do this for real. Maybe even a shiny gold belt. We don’t have to be friends, but if you want to be successful, I can help you with that. The dinosaur thing is marketable. Especially to kids. Stay clean and wholesome and I might be able to start small. Get plastic versions of your mask at the merch stands, get you a t-shirt, that sort of thing.
He was disappointed, but he was slowly learning that in this business disappointment was all too often part of everyday life.
But, she was right. He needed help navigating the business side of things. The honesty door swung both ways.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, I hear you. But since we’re being honest. I get that I’m just your way to the top of your father’s company, but I need your help to get noticed and you need me to be successful in order to get taken seriously. You make the shirts and masks happen and I’ll make sure Omar Azure realizes the difference between dinosaurs and dragons.
Vanessa Martinez: And that is?
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Dragons are fairy tales, Dinosaurs rules the earth for millions of years.
Servers begin appearing with a train of appetizers, next stop? Saudi Arabia and slaying a dragon.
Tugging at the green scale print tie that felt tighter than any headlock he’d ever known, he was clearly uncomfortable as he looked at the place. Undoing the chin strap of his mask, he took some deep breaths.
Vanessa wanted to meet with him, she actually wanted to meet with him for once.
As his agent, there wasn’t really much for her to do at such an early stage of his career, it was a wonder she’d gotten him a contract with a promotion as big as RSW if he was being honest with himself.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Oh Dios mío!
He was completely uncomfortable and wasn’t sure why. Ibiza had been surprisingly good to him. His pay per view debut had gone as good as could be expected, now his agent, his pretty young agent, she was coming to meet with him. He couldn’t breath suddenly.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: It is just dinner. Just business. She probably just wants to congratulate you on your recent success. That’s all. Why are you sweating? Just calm down, take a deep breath and go in there.
Summoning more courage than he’d like to admit. Pequeño Dinosaurio approaches the restaurant.
Wood, stone and fabric comprise everything within his sight, he was in awe. Stonework floors, the dividers between each area and table were living bamboo, harvested bamboo combined with local wood made up the furniture and accents, all topped with natural cottons and silks. Even the nicest places he’d seen in Mexico, paled in comparison.
Flute and a lyre danced upon the breeze, as a hostess walked up to him. Not put off by the mask at all, clearly he was expected.
Yan: Welcome. Miss Martinez regrets she is running late, though she has instructed us to ensure you are comfortable while you wait. Please follow me.
Stone statues watched them as passed couples about to be engaged, anniversaries and attempted business deals.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: This place is incredible.
Nodding slightly, Yan had heard it all before. Working in this paradise had deadened her senses to its beauty.
Yan: Yes, thank you. We are all very proud. Very fortunate as well.
Leading him through a tropical bamboo garden, he was brought past the tables and bar, to a secluded corner of the restaurant. With no proper roof, the moon hung large in the sky accompanied by a sea of stars. His stomach was in knots.
Yan: Please take a seat. Please enjoy the champagne.
Moving with a practiced ease, Yan pops open the bottle and pours a perfect glass of bubbly.
Bowing slightly, she was gone. Left to admire his surroundings, a small fire pit cast flickering shadows all around him as he sipped champagne in Ibiza. Not bad for a rookie.
Not knowing how long she would be, he awkwardly took occasional sips from his glass before looking around the room once again.
It truly was amazing, a fusion of nature and mankind like he’d never seen. He’d experienced a world of firsts and he was only a few matches into his career. Imagine what he could do going forward!
Picking up a second consecutive win over Leon Dread had proven he could get in there with much larger opponents and hold his own. In fact, he’d proven more than that. He had proven he could win.
The Pandemonium was over, yet Anarchy was always just around the corner. The future, his future, was right around the corner. He couldn’t help but wonder what was next for him?
Vanessa Martinez: Glad to see you were able to get started without me.
Choking to death on two hundred dollar a bottle bubbly would have been an interesting cause of death as he quite literally inhales the sweet liquid. Maybe she’d be kind enough to answer his question for him?
Vanessa Martinez: Are you even old enough to drink?
She was laughing, she noticed him thinking about it himself, was he?
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Funny. I assume you didn’t fly all this way just to keep me waiting and make fun of me?
Walking over, he offers to push in the chair for the lady. Nodding her head, she sits watching him as he gets settled.
Vanessa Martinez: Such a gentleman you turned out to be. You don’t clean up badly either, other than the mask that is, have a seat.
If she could see beneath his mask, he was bright red, sweat ran down his back. Sitting down, he was so stiff he could have missed the chair and simply held himself aloft.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So you’ve come all this way to show me what my life could be?
She answered as she poured herself a glass, nodding to her client she downs the first one in a single gulp, pouring a second.
Vanessa Martinez: You’ve done well, but not that well. My father thinks I should show you that this first big win is an important first step.
There it was; her father directed her career from his lofty perch, his watched from afar rarely interjecting at all. In a way he envied her
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And what do you think?
He flinched a little after asking, he could tell from the way she spoke to him that she had a realistic approach.
Vanessa Martinez: I think you shouldn’t have lost that first match to begin with. I think you weren’t focused. I think you knew it. And, I think that’s why you called me to get you that rematch. But what I think is less important than what I know.
That was fair, but it was also a lesson he had needed to learn. At his size, he was almost always one move, or one mistake, away from disaster.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And What is that?
Vanessa Martinez: My father is paying for this little business trip, so I’m here in Ibiza celebrating your first Pay Per View win.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ha! Ok, fine. If you’re so smart, what else do you know?
Appearing out of nowhere, Yan waits patiently to be acknowledged. Once the both of looked to her, Vanessa answered his question.
Vanessa Martinez: Hello Yan, me and my client here are involved in a little game. I hope you don’t mind but I’ll be ordering for both of us.
Yan: Very good, did you need more time?
Vanessa Martinez: No.
Her answer contained so much certainty that she instantly had his attention.
Vanessa Martinez: I’ll have the Thai Red Duck Curry please and for the gentleman Wagyu.
Yan: Excellent, our chef shall begin. In the meantime please enjoy your appetizers specifically selected by Mr. Martinez.
Vanessa ordered with power and confidence, that changed at the mention of her father. Vanessa’s eyes roll almost out of her head. He smiled, Yan was gone and they were alone again.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: And is that all you know?
Vanessa Martinez: I know who your next opponent is.
Her reply was sharp, brought on by the annoyance she felt at having her father influence her meeting all the way from Mexico.
Vanessa Martinez: I thought that might get your attention.
Topping up her glass, he politely declines, his interest fixated on her.
Vanessa Martinez: So Anarchy 50 is being billed as a celebration show from the advertising and they’re leaning heavy on returns from their past. Your match is no different. A showcase match.
Considering the entirety of his career thus far had been spent fighting Leon Dread, a showcase match on a reunion show could really help him raise his profile.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok. That doesn’t sound bad, a showcase match against who?
Vanessa Martinez: Omar Azure. He has an alter ego, The Dragon King.
Being a luchador, this concept was foreign to him. The mask was his alter ego, there was no need for another.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So he’s a man and sometimes he turns into something else? I feel like there’s someone else doing that. Am I wrong?
Now she was rolling her eyes at him. He had a point, but there was more to it.
Vanessa Martinez: Don’t think about that! Look!
Pulling out her phone, she shows him an early match graphic she’d been sent for approval.
Vanessa Martinez: They’re billing this as Dinosaur vs Dragon. There’s actual marketing money being put into this match! It’s just a test image, but someone had to make that graphic. Think about it like that. You make a statement here and things could really pick up!
Nodding, she had a point.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, I can work with that. So, this Omar Azure? He’s a former world champion then?
Her body language changed slightly.
Vanessa Martinez: Not from what I have read on him.
That was ok, a win or strong showing against a marquee guy could send him toward Senor Vinnie or Isaiah Zepp and two championships.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Then a Legacy or Anarchy Champion?
She sips her champagne, swirling it in her glass.
Vanessa Martinez: Also, not from what I have read.
Championships weren’t everything, a major player from the first year of the company could get some nostalgia attention, he could make this work still.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Then surely he’s a main event guy from RSW’s early days?
Glancing sideways, she was clearly hoping he would’ve stopped asking before now.
Vanessa Martinez: Again, nothing I have been able to find supports that either.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, so what exactly am I trying to prove here?
Vanessa Martinez: I don’t know, that dinosaurs and better than dragons?
His growing impatience and annoyance was matched by her indifference to it.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: So, What you’re really telling me is that this ‘showcase’ is just ‘hey, look at the two lizard gimmicks!’ so much for my big break.
So, he’d seen through her positive spin on things. It was time for brutal honesty.
Vanessa Martinez: Look, I know you’re disappointed that your father didn’t name you Tiranosaurio Jr. but if you need something to prove, how about starting with why he should have given you his mask? You’re a rookie, keep making waves, keep winning matches and we’ll actually have something to celebrate when we do this for real. Maybe even a shiny gold belt. We don’t have to be friends, but if you want to be successful, I can help you with that. The dinosaur thing is marketable. Especially to kids. Stay clean and wholesome and I might be able to start small. Get plastic versions of your mask at the merch stands, get you a t-shirt, that sort of thing.
He was disappointed, but he was slowly learning that in this business disappointment was all too often part of everyday life.
But, she was right. He needed help navigating the business side of things. The honesty door swung both ways.
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Ok, I hear you. But since we’re being honest. I get that I’m just your way to the top of your father’s company, but I need your help to get noticed and you need me to be successful in order to get taken seriously. You make the shirts and masks happen and I’ll make sure Omar Azure realizes the difference between dinosaurs and dragons.
Vanessa Martinez: And that is?
Pequeño Dinosaurio: Dragons are fairy tales, Dinosaurs rules the earth for millions of years.
Servers begin appearing with a train of appetizers, next stop? Saudi Arabia and slaying a dragon.
