Ground Breaking [DaF RP #3]
Feb 19, 2019 22:35:16 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and Bobby Barratt like this
Post by Jack Diamond on Feb 19, 2019 22:35:16 GMT -5
February 15th 2019
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The scene opens on a Friday morning in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cold doesn't begin to describe what is going on outside as onlookers stand around across from the XHF Headquarters, bundled in their heaviest coats, their breaths warming the air and creating a fog around them. A Range Rover pulls up in a parking spot near the make shift stage. A buzz can be heard among the crowded people, all shuffling a little closer together in hopes of body head warming them up. Inside the SUV, Jack Diamond picks up his coffee, taking a drink of it and lowering his sunglasses to first look out at the crowd, then over to the XHF Headquarters and finally at Dakota who sits beside him.
Jack Diamond: Look at that... it's damn near zero degrees out here and yet there is still a crowd of people gathered for this.
The camera shows the dash of Jack's vehicle. It is indeed a blistering 2 degrees Fahrenheit outside this morning with the high temperature of the day set to reach fifteen. He isn't wrong though, there are dozens of reporters huddled around microphones and cameras and even more spectators just there to witness this.
Dakota Paige: Well, anytime you are around, people want to see what you say next. Add in your match with Bobby next week and it becomes that much more must-see. Then... the ground breaking...
The camera zooms in on a banner hanging above the stage. It reads "Coming Soon... Diamond Lounge II" Jack smiles as he looks at the banner. He puts his glasses back on, zips up his heavy jacket and claps his hands together before rubbing them to get some warmth, dreading stepping out of the heat of the vehicle.
Jack Diamond: Yeah... Mongo isn't going to be too happy about this. Oh well... it's show time!
Announcer: ...So without further ado, the reason we are all here today, he is the two-time XHF X*Crown Champion, owner of The Diamond Lounge... and soon the owner of Diamond Lounge II... JACK DIAMOND!!!
Jack steps out of the Range Rover to a roar of icy applause. He shivers, maybe more so from the warm reaction than the grip of winter that runs up his spine. He walks across to the stage, taking just enough time to allow the cameras a good shot but not so much time to piss the crowd off who has been waiting a while in this weather. Jack steps up to the podium and some of the fans in the back break out into a "Diamond Club" chant. Jack smiles and laughs.
Jack Diamond: Thank you, thank you. I'm humbled by the fact that all of you would stand around in this miserable Minnesota ice age to listen to what I have to say. Normally, I would open these things up with some witty banter followed by allowing you all to fire away questions while I choose what to offer a response to and what to ignore. It's too cold for that shit. So instead of waiting for you all to ask the million dollar question, I'm just going to give you the soundbites you are looking for. Jack Diamond, live and in person.
Jack pauses and grabs what should be a cup of water. He goes to take a sip and gets smacked in the mouth with a chunk of ice. He shrugs and lays the cup down, adjusting his tie before he continues.
Jack Diamond: Alright then, first thing is first. I've heard it too much... Jack, are you really leaving if you do not beat Bobby? The answer is simple. Yes. Jack Diamond has a lot of fun but if there is one thing I am... it's a man of my words. When I walked out on that stage at Supremacy I meant every word. Bobby Barratt wants my ICW Championship if for no other reason than to hang it in his "hall of fame" beside the Shooting Star title he stole from me, but that is a story for another day. The thing is, since the day I decided to follow Bobby here and join the Network, I have been looked at as second best. People seem to forget that at worst, we are equals. Bobby is quick to point out the fact that each time we've gone against each other on an XHF stage, he has came out the victor. So me putting my career on the line, should tell you just what the fuck I plan on bringing to this match. So will I hang up my wrestling gear if I lose? Absolutely.
Jack pauses as the crowd is hushed. It is too hard to think about the wrestling business without Jack Diamond. Has he been insufferable at times? Sure. One thing is for sure though, he blazed a trial that very few have ever been able to get close to. There is a solemn feel to the cold air as Jack smiles in one corner of his mouth.
Jack Diamond: But will I lose? FUCK NO! Bobby Barratt, you are my homie. We still have a lot of life left in our conquest of the wrestling business but on February 24th... you will understand why the show is titled "Diamonds Are Forever" and not "Barratts Are Forever" I seen the snippets of your interview with those reporters this morning. Cute. so you held it together while hung over. Bravo. I know what you can bring when you are focused on me and I'm ready. In turn, you know what I can bring when my back is against the wall. They say this is setting up to be a tribute to our ICW days. Well... you know how all that played out.
The crowd begins to stir again. Even though they are undoubtedly freezing, they are melting on every work The Ace of Spades breathes from his mouth.
Jack Diamond: You've done a great job playing commissioner this week. Hell, the show is coming together nicely and you deserve a ton of the credit. But while you are playing dress up in a gig that isn't actually paying you anything, I've been on the grind getting this set up. See... I must compete with you one other way before our match next week. I'm sure you taking over the XHF office is pissing Mongo off... but that brings me to the reason I am here today.
Jack reaches in his pocket and takes a business card out. He flips it over and over in his hand before finally resting it in front of him on the podium, allowing the camera crews a chance to zoom in on it and see the "Xtreme Hotels" logo on the card.
Jack Diamond: When I built The Diamond Lounge in Canton, Ohio... I didn't know just how successful it would be. I envisioned it to be a home base for the Icons, a place for us to hang out and chill. That's what it was all about. It was supposed to be mine, Bobby and Jenny's retirement plan.
Jack's voice catches on that last sentence. The drunken text from Bobby mentioning Jenny's name and possibly using Diamonds Are Forever to pay tribute to her, it's raw.
Jack Diamond: The night it opened, I quickly realized that it could be ever bigger. Expansion plans were in my mind right away. Everyone loved the idea... except one... Mongo. The next night at the Night Of Champions, he had the audacity to walk up to me and give me a thinly veiled warning. What was the words, Mongo? You didn't want it to lead to a "conflict of interest"? Yeah you shook my hand with that shit eating grin of yours and told me I got it right the first time and didn't have to worry about opening new locations.
Jack scoffs, remembering his run in with Mongo that night. He looks up, beyond the crowd at the building across the street. A huge smile forming on his face.
Jack Diamond: Fuck Mongo! Listen to what I say to you next, Mongo. This is my world that you all get to live in. You may put your name at the top of the letterheads inside that office of yours, but the XHF... this is MY COMPANY. The X*Crown Championships... they are MY CHAMPIONSHIPS and the business of running a great hotel... well, no one does it better than Jack Fucking Diamond! So today... we break ground on The Diamond Lounge II. Right here in the heart of Minneapolis. Right here across the street from XHF Headquarters. I hope you look out your window each and every day, Mongo, and realize just who the fuck I am.
The crowd beings a small cheer, happy to know that the Jack Diamond brand is coming to Minnesota. Jack looks up at top set of windows of the XHF Headquarters, he can't make out which set may be Mongo's but he know's he is up there watching. Jack throws up a one finger salute, smiling in the process.
Jack Diamond: Diamond Lounge II. The next phase in Jack Diamond's life. A new addition to my legacy. Dakota and I will move here once it's done just so I can ensure that I am a thorn in Mongo's side for years and years to come. A place for me to run operations out of so that I can be close to the "XHF Commissioner." A place that can continue to grow Bobby, Mav, Dakota and my retirement plans.
Jack looks over at his Range Rover, giving Dakota a quick smile and wink as she is enjoying the speech from the warm comfort of the running vehicle.
Jack Diamond: A retirement plan... that doesn't begin next weekend. What becomes of the original Diamond Lounge? Well, it's been brought to my attention that Maverick sometimes gets the short end of things when it comes to the Icons. People feel like we left him in AWF to fend for himself. No, we left him in AWF because we knew he has this shit. Look at what he's accomplished. So once Diamond Lounge II is finished and Dakota and I move here, I will be signing over the penthouse in the Canton location to Mav. He needs a permanent spot stateside and while he is kicking ass in AWF it will provide him with stability. Diamond Lounge is yours Mav.
Diamond smiles and winks directly into the camera this time, knowing that Mav is somewhere watching this. He can imagine the look of stunned surprise on Mav's face when he realizes he is getting the keys to the kingdom so to speak.
Jack Diamond: So you see, Jack Diamond is going to be fine. No matter what. It is all about expansion and growth and that is what today is all about. Today is about breaking ground. A new beginning. And next Sunday? Well that is a new beginning as well. No, it will NOT be the beginning of Jack's retirement. It will be the beginning of Jack's third reign as X*Crown Champion. I will watch Mongo squirm knowing that HIS champion is right across the street, day in and day out stealing the same money from his pockets that is put there by Jack Diamond being the fucking face of XHF. Next Sunday will be the first time Jack Diamond beats Bobby Barratt in the XHF as well as the last time Bobby Barratt gets a shot at winning the ICW Championship. Next Sunday... Diamonds Are Forever and so will my third X*Crown reign be. That... Bobby... you can bet on!
Jack throws up his hands into a diamond as the crowd cheers. He steps off the stage and joins several city officials who all have hardhats on. Jack takes one of his own and places it on his head. He grabs a shovel from Mayor Frey and holds it so the cameras can get several shots. Jack drives the shovel into the fresh sod to thunderous applause. Jack finishes up the ceremony, meeting with some executives before finally heading back to the warmth of his Range Rover. He gets in, sighing with relief at the warmth. He tries to thaw his hands out and looks over at Dakota who is smiling from ear to ear.
Dakota Paige: And they say you aren't the same Diamond... looked like it out there to me.
Jack smiles, he knows he was dishing out some classic work there
Jack Diamond: Yeah, that felt good. Bobby will have a lot to say, I'm sure but he knows that those words, those feelings, are 100 percent real. He will dish back the same thing. I'm ready.
Dakota Paige: I know you are, but are you ready for the shit-storm Mongo may bring your way? He's already tried and failed to stop this site from being approved. You really poked the bear there... what do you think he'll try next?
Jack Diamond: Mongo? Fuck Mongo. He can't do shit about it. Like I said out there, this is Jack Diamond's world baby...
Jack raises his heads up to his sunglasses and tips them down to look at Dakota over the tops of them with a goofy look on his face. She just rolls her eyes as Jack laughs and throws the Rover into reverse. As they back out of the lot and head through downtown Minneapolis, the scene fades to black.
