Post by Rated R on Mar 25, 2016 12:36:30 GMT -5
BLD
March 3rd 2016; 9:24am
Every morning since I started working for Trace we’ve had these early morning meetings. Basically I run down a list of need to know information regarding his various businesses, and he puts them into two lists. The things he gives a crap about, and the things he doesn’t. There’s a lot more stuff in the latter list.
Elinor Nix: Next up a contract has been pushed through for Dex. Looks like he wants back in.
Trace Demon: Dex? Please, I don’t want that embarrassing world title footnote back in my ring. Reject it.
Elinor Nix: Right. And we still haven’t heard back from Lucas Crowe regarding your offer yet. With the show so close that could be a problem. I could set up a meeting with Tyme, he seems to be the one pulling the strings in that outfit.
Trace Demon: Do it, the sooner the better. I don’t want any surprises come show time. Well, none that we haven’t planned anyway.
Elinor Nix: I’ll make the calls. Where should I make the meeting for? I assume you don’t want anyone at the office getting wise to this?
Trace Demon: I’ll take the jet out to him. Tyme’s gonna be a tricky customer, thinks he’s smarter than he actually is. Let’s show the illusion of respect, make things a bit simpler for ourselves.
The moment I know that Trace had let me into his very exclusive inner circle was the day he moved our morning meeting out of the office and into BLD, his favourite breakfast establishment. Now instead of the sterile office smell I get to enjoy the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted. Definitely a big step up.
Elinor Nix: And lastly Daniel Knight has invited you in for a tribute interview for Shawn Malakai give the unfortunate news of his passing.
Trace Demon: What now?
He pauses, fork in hand, still with pancake on it. He stares at me, as if he needs me to confirm it.
Elinor Nix: A tribute interview. Lila authorised it, from the sounds of it it’s basically just anyone Daniel Knight can get in between the next two shows. He wants you in for the 18th, “if you’re not too busy” he said. Tried hitting on me, keep dreaming.
Trace Demon: Not that bit. Malakai. What happened?
Elinor Nix: Shawn Malakai. He passed away. The cancer got him. I thought you knew? It was all over WFWF.com.
Trace Demon: As if I read that rubbish, that’s what you’re for.
He eats the chunk of pancake on his fork, chewing it slowly and putting the fork down. It’s the kind of melodrama I’ve become accustomed to.
Trace Demon: That son of a bitch.
Elinor Nix: I didn’t think you were particularly fond of Shawn Malakai?
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a great deal about the WFWF when I signed on to work as Trace’s right hand, but I’ve done my research. I’m not just here to help with the less than legal stuff after all. So I know all about the problems between Trace and Malakai and I certainly wasn’t expecting Trace to react like he gave a damn.
Trace Demon: What? What does that matter? He’s dead Elinor, the bastard went and died. I’m bloody devastated. I mean I’d heard he was rough but I always thought he’d live forever, like a cockroach, y’know?
Elinor Nix: He had terminal cancer Trace.
Trace Demon: That’s no excuse to just up and die on me. I thought I had more time.
Elinor Nix: Time? For what?
Trace Demon: To make peace! Now all I feel is guilt! I have to make this right somehow, I have to.
This would probably be more powerful if he wasn’t stopping every sentence to eat pancakes. I swear, if anyone ever just brought some pancakes to the ring with them then he’d take a count out loss just to get to them. Men and their food.
Trace Demon: You said Dex wants back in, right?
Elinor Nix: Yeah, Lila’s already written up a provisional contract, but you said-
Trace Demon: Forget what I said, listen to what I’m saying now. Give him the contract, bring him back. Shawn saw something in him once, if I can’t make peace with Malakai then this is the least I can do. And tell Daniel that I’ll do the interview too. It’s not quite the same as making peace but maybe it’ll ease my conscience a little bit.
I have no idea what just happened. I didn’t know Trace was even capable of having human feeling for anyone but his kids and that weird homeless girl he took in. One thing’s for sure, that interview certainly won’t be boring…
Good Riddance
A Trace Demon Roleplay
The Tyme Mansion
March 7th 2016; 2:42pm
When I said I’d come out and meet Tyme personally I wasn’t expecting to have to fly out to the middle of nowhere. I mean who builds a bloody mansion in the middle of Pensacola? Who even knows that a place called Pensacola exists? Who the hell names a place Pensacola? All questions that I don’t really care about.
Tyme sent a car to meet me at the airport, meaning I’m meant to have time to be awe struck by his mansion as we pull up outside of it. I of course am not, because as much as Justin Tyme likes to boast about being a rich man I know for a fact that I am worth far more than he is. In fact the only thing I can think about as we’re pulling in is how long it’ll be until Tyme manages to burn this place down just like the last one.
I’m met by a Lurch-looking mother-butler at the top of the drive who escorts me up to the steps. I think he says some stuff but I’m too caught up in thinking he looks undead to notice. It comes as no surprise that Tyme doesn’t meet me at the door, he wants to put himself in the power position from the off. If he could piss on the carpet to mark his territory then I’m sure he would. Pretty sure Lurch here takes me the long way round, because we ascend and descend what I’m pretty sure are the same flight of stairs twice before we finally come to the sitting room where Tyme, well, sits.
Justin Tyme: Trace Demon. What a pleasure to see you again.
He offers his hand and I take it out of courtesy. But I can only think about that word. “Again.” Have we met before? Probably. Sooner or later all these guys start looking the same though. The only ones I really notice are the ones who I consider a threat. Tyme does not fall into that camp. Not even close.
Trace Demon: Likewise.
I take the seat opposite and, unbeknownst to Tyme, take the opportunity to take in Tyme’s decorations. It’s modern; everything in here is new, right down to the aquarium that stretches the whole back end of the far wall. Again, a result of the man burning down his entire mansion once upon a time I suppose.
Justin Tyme: Impressive, right? I thought that given the unfortunate end to my previous abode that I’d build it up a bit more. Put my money to good use.
Trace Demon: Certainly impressive, but I didn’t come here to talk architecture.
Not to mention that mine’s bigger and I don’t want him feeling too immasculated.
Justin Tyme: No, I suppose you didn’t. Lucas told me all about your offer to him. I have to say I was very disappointed that you didn’t come to me first. You wouldn’t be trying to step on my toes would you Trace? I’ve heard you’ve become quite the politician in recent years.
I’d love to be able to deny it, never have had any fondness for politics, but running a company like the WFWF, amongst other ventures, means you pick up a few things.
Trace Demon: Wouldn’t think about it. I went to Crowe because I figured he had a mind of his own. I’m not one for intermediaries. Like to handle my business personally.
Justin Tyme: I suppose that’s the wrestler in you, can’t give away control for a moment. I was much the same when I first packed it in. But I’m sure you’ll understand Trace, Lucas Crowe is an investment. An investment I’ve spent a lot of time and resources on. His business is my business. So any offer you make to him directly affects me.
Trace Demon: Is that why you’ve been stonewalling me Tyme?
See, here’s the difference between you lot and me. Faced with someone you want something from you’d probably be diplomatic. Butter him up and hope things go in your favour. But that’s the fools way, both in business and in life. Up front, blunt, make it clear what you want and how far you’re willing to go to get it. You get a lot more through respect born through fear than you do through pity born through good manners.
Justin Tyme: Just weighing up our options.
Justin of course would like to think he’s playing it smart, whereas we both know that isn’t at all what he’s doing. When you get down and dirty about it, he’s just messing with me.
Trace Demon: Look Tyme, I’m not gonna bullcrap you. The way I see it you and your boy have two options. The first is that you turn down my offer, or you keep pissing about to the point that I rescind it outright. Same result either way.
Justin Tyme: And what would that be?
He’s testing me. Like I said, you’ve got to make it clear how far you’re willing to go. That doesn’t always have to be through actions. Sometimes the threat of an action is enough. Especially when you have the reputation that I do.
Trace Demon: I make sure that Lucas Crowe’s legacy becomes nothing more than a career wasted because of a single bad business decision. See Crowe could be money, I see a future where he’s a marquee star with everything that comes with it. But right now he’s nothing more than expendable, a cog in the machine that could be easily replaced with almost anybody else. So I’d imagine if it just so happened that some dirt came up on your boy I’d have little problem cutting his contract short just like that. It’d be disappointing, sure, but if needs must.
Justin Tyme is a business man, and Crowe’s a fighter, so making threats of violence against them isn’t going to have much of an effect. Threaten his bank balance, his so called investment, well, that’s a different story.
Justin Tyme: And the other option?
See what I mean.
Trace Demon: Like I said, I see a future where he’s a marquee star with everything that comes with it. Who knows, this time next year, you could be talking about WFWF World Heavyweight Champion Lucas Crowe.
Justin Tyme: I think I underestimated you Trace.
I most certainly didn’t underestimate you though Tyme.
Trace Demon: Doesn’t everyone.
Justin Tyme: I think we can come to a pleasant arrangement that suits all parties.
Trace Demon: Sounds like good business to me.
Justin Tyme: What say we toast our deal with a drink? I’ve got, well, basically anything you could ever want.
Trace Demon: Water will be fine Tyme.
And I’ll be checking for poison.
< *** >
WFWF Headquarters; Production Suite
March 18th 2016; 1:14pm
Stagehand: He’s almost ready Mr. Knight, said to give him two minutes.
Daniel Knight: Tell him to take as long as he wants.
Stagehand: Of course.
It might not seem like it, but right now I’m freaking the hell out. This is a big deal. The owner of the WFWF coming in to praise his former mortal enemy Shawn Malakai in an exclusive sit down interview with yours truly. Only invited him because I didn’t want him finding out I didn’t and then docking my pay.
Again.
Daniel Knight: Is everyone ready?! I want this to go smoothly!
And then he’s here, like a bloody eclipse making everything around him feel grim and dark. Trace Demon, our so-called supreme overlord, flanked by his latest right hand Elinor Nix. Got to say she’s a damn slight easier on the eyes than Anders was. Better at her job too by all accounts.
Daniel Knight: Trace, thanks for coming in today, it’s a real-
Trace Demon: God sake stop kissing my ass man, you’ve already got promoted to the desk, what more d’you want?
Daniel Knight: Oh, right.
Bloody bunghole.
Trace Demon: Where d’you want me? Here?
He signals for one of the seats, then sits before I even have a chance to say that’s my seat. I’m about to say something when I catch Nix off in the background shaking her head at me. I don’t exactly know anything about the woman but if she’s got Trace’s ear I’m inclined to take her advice. Instead I take the seat opposite.
Daniel Knight: So basically all we need is your thoughts on Shawn Malakai. I’ll ask a few basic questions but really I just want you to shoot from the hip, alright?
Trace Demon: That won’t be a problem.
He’s surprisingly solemn. Didn’t think Trace would even have a good thing to say about the guy if I’m honest. Certainly no love lost between them from what I saw.
Daniel Knight: Of course. Are we ready?
The weird camera guy nods, I’d have rather had gotten the cute temp we had in last week. She didn’t know a damn thing about cameras but at least she didn’t make me feel like I needed a shower.
Stagehand: We’re rolling in five… four…
The final count comes silently, and then we’re rolling. Time to earn your pay check.
Daniel Knight: Ladies and gentlemen, today we’re here to honour the dearly departed Shawn Malakai, a legend here in the WFWF who will be missed by all. Now there were many people we could have spoken to about Malakai, but there are few who could attest to his heart, will and determination to fight to the very end than a man who witnessed it all first hand in the ring with him. I’d like to welcome Trace Demon.
Trace Demon: I wish it was under better circumstances Daniel.
A surprisingly civil answer. Got to say I had my doubts with Trace’s game here, but maybe he is just trying to play the good boss for once.
Daniel Knight: Of course. It’s with great sadness that I’m even hosting this interview, but it’s what Malakai would have wanted, I’m sure.
God, I almost made myself sick with that line. That’s getting edited out.
Daniel Knight: Now Trace, as I mentioned you had your fair share of experience when it came to the determination of Shawn Malakai in the WFWF. Why don’t you tell everyone what you remember most about your time in the ring with him?
Trace Demon: Look, everyone knows that me and Shawn Malakai had our differences. A lot of them in fact. And I could sit here and tell you any number of things about him, but I’ll give him credit. He was a fighter, crawled his way from the bottom right up to the top back in the days when the bottom was just as competitive as the main event scene. People who have only recently started following the WFWF won’t remember much about the house show circuit back then, but it was where a number of guys got their start. Two of which were men by the names of Shawn Malakai and Trace Demon. I saw Malakai come up from the bottom and I’ve gotta say, considering his level of ability, he did surprisingly well.
We’ll push right on past that underhanded shade.
Daniel Knight: Considering the number of years you’ve known Shawn then it must have been an emotional moment when you heard what had happened?
Trace Demon: I was devastated Daniel. Me and Shawn left things in a bad spot, and my biggest regret is that I never got to make peace. I’m gonna be honest, I always thought he’d fight through it, y’know? Denial and all that I guess. I always thought I’d be standing across the ring from him one more time. I don’t regret much about my life, but knowing that I’ll never get that is definitely one of them.
This is gold. Pure gold. Trace Demon acting like a good human being? Who else is getting that on camera nowadays? Nobody, that’s who, nobody but yours truly.
Daniel Knight: What would you say to him if you’d had one final conversation with him?
Trace Demon: I’d have told him to get his ass out of his sickbed because he owed me a match.
Daniel Knight: I suppose that’s the way everyone in this business thinks. You always want to see the greats step foot in the ring one more time.
And there’s the moment, the moment where I become the real star of the interview. That moment that separates the best from the rest…
Trace Demon: What? One of the greats? One more time? What the
are you on about Knight?
Wait, this isn’t how-
Daniel Knight: Well you said-
Trace Demon: I don’t give a damn about Malakai getting a swan song or anything like that if that’s what you’re trying to get at. I’m saying that that bastard literally owed me a match after he screwed me over and went running the way he did.
Oh no.
Trace Demon: Wait, is that what everyone thinks? Do you all think that I’m here because I care about Malakai? You do, don’t you? Right Knight? And you Elinor! That’s why you were so shocked, you thought I cared about Malakai too, didn’t you?
Crap, crap, crap.
Trace Demon: I’m not grieving because Malakai has died. I don’t give a crap that he’s dead you idiots. I’m grieving because I never got to kick Malakai’s head in and show him that his victory over me was aing fluke! You think I wanted to make peace with him? No, I wanted to make peace with myself by holding Malakai’s broken body in my hands as I force fed him his damn pride! My regret is that people’s memory of me and Malakai is going to be Shawn Malakai holding the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship up high instead of me stomping his disgusting, cancer ridden body into a bloody pulp in the middle of the ring!
What was I thinking? Trace Demon? Respectful of Shawn Malakai? God how did I think that was even possible? I should have seen this coming!
Daniel Knight: Trace I’m afraid that-
Trace Demon: Shawn Malakai was aing worm! He pranced about the place pretending to be a star when really he meant nothing! Get that camera on me right now! The legacy that Shawn Malakai will leave is of always being the man who was never quite as good as the top guys. He knew that. That’s why he ran when he did. He stole a brief moment up with the real stars and he knew he couldn’t keep hold of it for long so he ran! He was a coward, a nobody, a bloody parasite who would cling on to new emerging talent to stay relevant. Shawn Malakai meant nothing in life and you know what? He means nothing in death. And to all you people who were inspired by Malakai let me tell you this. You’ve wasted your life looking up to a man who couldn’t even keep his own daughter safe.
Elinor Nix: Interview’s over. Trace!
Trace Demon: Shawn Malakai will go down as the second most pathetic WFWF World Champion in history, right after the man he handed the title over to.
Elinor Nix: Trace!
Trace chuckles, as if everything he said has been some fun game, and walks off set. It feels like I’ve just stepped on a bloody mine.
Elinor Nix: If this interview goes live we’ll sue the hell out of you, got it?
She doesn’t wait for an answer; she’s gone off after Trace the moment she finishes talking. One things for sure, we can’t use any of that crap.
< *** >
The Residence of Trace Demon
March 20th 2016; 10:34am
Look at the shine on the thing. It never loses that.
Elinor Nix: Trace, are you even listening to me?
Trace Demon: No, I wasn’t. What were you saying?
Elinor Nix: I was complaining that it’s a Sunday morning yet I’m here in your house trying to figure out this mess.
My trophy room. The crowning glory of my ‘far superior to Justin Tyme’s mansion’ mansion in every way. In here is every reminder of my success that I could possibly think of.
Trace Demon: What mess?
Elinor Nix: Your interview, the Daniel Knight debacle. It leaked online.
Trace Demon: I know.
Elinor Nix: You what now?
Trace Demon: I said I know. I’m the one that leaked it. Well, my secretary did, and she certainly deserves some credit given that she had to flirt with that weirdo cameraman, but still, the girl was just following orders so I don’t want to inflate her ego too much.
Elinor Nix: Why the hell would you leak that video? Now the whole world thinks that you’re some disgusting creep who can’t even keep their mouth shut over a dead man.
I like to spend a bit of time here most weeks, just reminding myself of all the good I’ve done for the world, all the great things that people have had the honour of watching me do. That and it reminds me that I can still do better, bigger, grander.
Trace Demon: Let the world think what they want. I don’t like this whole thing where we suddenly pretend someone was the best person imaginable all of a sudden just because they’re dead. Didn’t do it with my dad, didn’t do it with my mom, sure as hell not gonna do it with Shawn Malakai of all people. Everyone wants to pretend he was this great upstanding guy, but honestly he was a serious piece of crap who wouldn’t hesitate to throw someone under the bus if he got the chance. I bet that bunghole was laughing that he never gave me the chance to redeem my victory. He knew I’d do it too, that’s why he retired.
Elinor Nix: I think he retired because of the terminal cancer.
Trace Demon: Always an excuse with that guy. Everyone wants to pretend he was a good guy, that he was some saviour of the WFWF? Well good for them, but I know better. I for one remember that his final real act in the WFWF was basically to piss on the most meaningful thing we’ve got. Look at this Elinor, you see that?
Elinor Nix: It’s a belt. I know what it means, but-
Trace Demon: It’s not just a belt Elinor, that…
Is the crowning glory of this room. True, it’s only a replica, the type every champion is given to display proudly, but it means something. It means I’m part of the elite.
Trace Demon: Is the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship. That is the reason that everyone in the WFWF is in the WFWF. Now I get it, you see the bigger picture, I like that, but despite everything I’ve built the WFWF is still priority number one. And that, that title is the most important part of the WFWF. And few things in the history of that title, ignoring Kyzer and Drakz’s mental renaming days, have pissed on the legacy of that belt as much as Shawn Malakai did when he handed it over to that piss-ant Dex.
Elinor Nix: You didn’t hire Dex back to honour Malakai’s memory, did you?
Trace Demon: The I did. I agreed to bring Dex back because since I couldn’t put Shawn Malakai in the dirt myself then I damn sure will put his legacy there right beside him. Malakai thought Dex was going to be the next big thing so he handed the WFWF World Championship over to him. Like it meant nothing. He gave it away to a man who hadn’t earned it and you know what happened? Dex shat the bed and proved that Malakai made a mistake. So Dex wants back in? Fine. But I’ll make damn sure it’s a short return.
I run my hand over the title. This one was forged to be an exact replica, material and all, at my specifications. But still, I can feel the difference. This is not the World Championship I deserve.
Trace Demon: I’ll tear Shawn Malakai’s house down around his corpse, and it all starts with Dex. That ridiculous, neurotic failed science experiment is going to realize exactly what happens…
But soon, when everything falls into place, I’ll have that title around my waist, and it won’t be a replica. I can promise you that.
Trace Demon: When you finally get something that you actually deserve.
< *** >
Shawn Malakai is dead! Long live Shawn Malakai! Oh wait, don’t, because nobody gives a crap. Oh give it up, did you really think I’d give a damn that the cancer-ridden bastard finally popped his clogs? Only think that irks me is that I didn’t get my moment of kicking his head in. Makes me sick to think he went into the ground having one up on me. Still, he also went into the ground knowing he was a failure as a father and that my kids still alive, so swings and roundabouts, right?
Still, Malakai’s gone, but he’s left some of his crap lying about in my company, and it falls to myself to clear it up with a little help from my new associates. Nothing needs to be said about Drakz that hasn’t been written in volumes already, so let’s focus on little Lucas shall we? Smart kid that, dangled a treat in front of him and he damn near bit my hand off when all was said and done. A lot of people will call him some rather hurtful and unwarranted names in the coming months, but I’m sure he’s thick skinned and clear headed enough to brush them off and realize what they really are. Jealousy. Everyone wants to be a star, they’re just jealous that the two smartest men in the room picked out Crowe instead of them.
Green’s not a flattering colour.
Samael Ahriman, Shawn Malakai’s little golden boy, now knows first-hand exactly what happens when you try to play with the big boys. I’m sure he and Josh Dean can form a pointless title reign club and cry about their wasted lives. I mean if they’re going to keep pumping air through their lungs then at least they could do something useful, right? Sadly I don’t see them taking Malakai’s lead and pissing on off this planet to leave it for people who can actually do something worthwhile. Oh, I don’t know, like raising children properly.
What, too soon?
And now another one of Malakai’s little transgressions has come to rear its ugly head. Things have changed around here Dex. There’s no more Shawn Malakai to keep you safe at night. I’m sure that when you signed back up you thought that you were going to be handed anything you wanted on a silver platter. Instead you’ve been handed straight to me. I won’t lie; I had a little hand in making sure your first opponent would be your last. See Dex, poor dead Malakai thought that you were something special, someone worthy of being gifted a title they didn’t have the ability to hold. Me? I’ve got a considerably different opinion of you.
There’s a lot to be said about how you vanished the moment you realized that you weren’t cut out for this business. I’d call it smart, but I don’t think you’ve got the brain cells in that rotten brain of yours to warrant the word. No, let’s go with cowardly shall we. You couldn’t handle your failure so instead of being a man and trying to prove everyone wrong you upped and left. Can’t say I missed you. Place took an upturn in class if you ask me. But still, even though you’d gone you were always going to stink up the joint, because your name will forever be etched in the annals of history as a former World Champion.
I can’t let that stand. Because as long as your name is attached to that title then everyone will forever remember the moment that Shawn Malakai pissed on the legacy of that title and how you crap the bed so hard proving me right when I said it was a decision on par with grand treason. So what’s the answer here? In my eyes it’s simple. See nobody likes to talk bad about a dead man, they’ll brush almost anything under the carpet if they’re pretending to be respectful of the deceased. Shawn Malakai’s already gone.
That just leaves you.
Let’s clean up his mess, shall we, and maybe make a little one of our own while we’re at it.
March 3rd 2016; 9:24am
Every morning since I started working for Trace we’ve had these early morning meetings. Basically I run down a list of need to know information regarding his various businesses, and he puts them into two lists. The things he gives a crap about, and the things he doesn’t. There’s a lot more stuff in the latter list.
Elinor Nix: Next up a contract has been pushed through for Dex. Looks like he wants back in.
Trace Demon: Dex? Please, I don’t want that embarrassing world title footnote back in my ring. Reject it.
Elinor Nix: Right. And we still haven’t heard back from Lucas Crowe regarding your offer yet. With the show so close that could be a problem. I could set up a meeting with Tyme, he seems to be the one pulling the strings in that outfit.
Trace Demon: Do it, the sooner the better. I don’t want any surprises come show time. Well, none that we haven’t planned anyway.
Elinor Nix: I’ll make the calls. Where should I make the meeting for? I assume you don’t want anyone at the office getting wise to this?
Trace Demon: I’ll take the jet out to him. Tyme’s gonna be a tricky customer, thinks he’s smarter than he actually is. Let’s show the illusion of respect, make things a bit simpler for ourselves.
The moment I know that Trace had let me into his very exclusive inner circle was the day he moved our morning meeting out of the office and into BLD, his favourite breakfast establishment. Now instead of the sterile office smell I get to enjoy the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted. Definitely a big step up.
Elinor Nix: And lastly Daniel Knight has invited you in for a tribute interview for Shawn Malakai give the unfortunate news of his passing.
Trace Demon: What now?
He pauses, fork in hand, still with pancake on it. He stares at me, as if he needs me to confirm it.
Elinor Nix: A tribute interview. Lila authorised it, from the sounds of it it’s basically just anyone Daniel Knight can get in between the next two shows. He wants you in for the 18th, “if you’re not too busy” he said. Tried hitting on me, keep dreaming.
Trace Demon: Not that bit. Malakai. What happened?
Elinor Nix: Shawn Malakai. He passed away. The cancer got him. I thought you knew? It was all over WFWF.com.
Trace Demon: As if I read that rubbish, that’s what you’re for.
He eats the chunk of pancake on his fork, chewing it slowly and putting the fork down. It’s the kind of melodrama I’ve become accustomed to.
Trace Demon: That son of a bitch.
Elinor Nix: I didn’t think you were particularly fond of Shawn Malakai?
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a great deal about the WFWF when I signed on to work as Trace’s right hand, but I’ve done my research. I’m not just here to help with the less than legal stuff after all. So I know all about the problems between Trace and Malakai and I certainly wasn’t expecting Trace to react like he gave a damn.
Trace Demon: What? What does that matter? He’s dead Elinor, the bastard went and died. I’m bloody devastated. I mean I’d heard he was rough but I always thought he’d live forever, like a cockroach, y’know?
Elinor Nix: He had terminal cancer Trace.
Trace Demon: That’s no excuse to just up and die on me. I thought I had more time.
Elinor Nix: Time? For what?
Trace Demon: To make peace! Now all I feel is guilt! I have to make this right somehow, I have to.
This would probably be more powerful if he wasn’t stopping every sentence to eat pancakes. I swear, if anyone ever just brought some pancakes to the ring with them then he’d take a count out loss just to get to them. Men and their food.
Trace Demon: You said Dex wants back in, right?
Elinor Nix: Yeah, Lila’s already written up a provisional contract, but you said-
Trace Demon: Forget what I said, listen to what I’m saying now. Give him the contract, bring him back. Shawn saw something in him once, if I can’t make peace with Malakai then this is the least I can do. And tell Daniel that I’ll do the interview too. It’s not quite the same as making peace but maybe it’ll ease my conscience a little bit.
I have no idea what just happened. I didn’t know Trace was even capable of having human feeling for anyone but his kids and that weird homeless girl he took in. One thing’s for sure, that interview certainly won’t be boring…
Good Riddance
A Trace Demon Roleplay
The Tyme Mansion
March 7th 2016; 2:42pm
When I said I’d come out and meet Tyme personally I wasn’t expecting to have to fly out to the middle of nowhere. I mean who builds a bloody mansion in the middle of Pensacola? Who even knows that a place called Pensacola exists? Who the hell names a place Pensacola? All questions that I don’t really care about.
Tyme sent a car to meet me at the airport, meaning I’m meant to have time to be awe struck by his mansion as we pull up outside of it. I of course am not, because as much as Justin Tyme likes to boast about being a rich man I know for a fact that I am worth far more than he is. In fact the only thing I can think about as we’re pulling in is how long it’ll be until Tyme manages to burn this place down just like the last one.
I’m met by a Lurch-looking mother-butler at the top of the drive who escorts me up to the steps. I think he says some stuff but I’m too caught up in thinking he looks undead to notice. It comes as no surprise that Tyme doesn’t meet me at the door, he wants to put himself in the power position from the off. If he could piss on the carpet to mark his territory then I’m sure he would. Pretty sure Lurch here takes me the long way round, because we ascend and descend what I’m pretty sure are the same flight of stairs twice before we finally come to the sitting room where Tyme, well, sits.
Justin Tyme: Trace Demon. What a pleasure to see you again.
He offers his hand and I take it out of courtesy. But I can only think about that word. “Again.” Have we met before? Probably. Sooner or later all these guys start looking the same though. The only ones I really notice are the ones who I consider a threat. Tyme does not fall into that camp. Not even close.
Trace Demon: Likewise.
I take the seat opposite and, unbeknownst to Tyme, take the opportunity to take in Tyme’s decorations. It’s modern; everything in here is new, right down to the aquarium that stretches the whole back end of the far wall. Again, a result of the man burning down his entire mansion once upon a time I suppose.
Justin Tyme: Impressive, right? I thought that given the unfortunate end to my previous abode that I’d build it up a bit more. Put my money to good use.
Trace Demon: Certainly impressive, but I didn’t come here to talk architecture.
Not to mention that mine’s bigger and I don’t want him feeling too immasculated.
Justin Tyme: No, I suppose you didn’t. Lucas told me all about your offer to him. I have to say I was very disappointed that you didn’t come to me first. You wouldn’t be trying to step on my toes would you Trace? I’ve heard you’ve become quite the politician in recent years.
I’d love to be able to deny it, never have had any fondness for politics, but running a company like the WFWF, amongst other ventures, means you pick up a few things.
Trace Demon: Wouldn’t think about it. I went to Crowe because I figured he had a mind of his own. I’m not one for intermediaries. Like to handle my business personally.
Justin Tyme: I suppose that’s the wrestler in you, can’t give away control for a moment. I was much the same when I first packed it in. But I’m sure you’ll understand Trace, Lucas Crowe is an investment. An investment I’ve spent a lot of time and resources on. His business is my business. So any offer you make to him directly affects me.
Trace Demon: Is that why you’ve been stonewalling me Tyme?
See, here’s the difference between you lot and me. Faced with someone you want something from you’d probably be diplomatic. Butter him up and hope things go in your favour. But that’s the fools way, both in business and in life. Up front, blunt, make it clear what you want and how far you’re willing to go to get it. You get a lot more through respect born through fear than you do through pity born through good manners.
Justin Tyme: Just weighing up our options.
Justin of course would like to think he’s playing it smart, whereas we both know that isn’t at all what he’s doing. When you get down and dirty about it, he’s just messing with me.
Trace Demon: Look Tyme, I’m not gonna bullcrap you. The way I see it you and your boy have two options. The first is that you turn down my offer, or you keep pissing about to the point that I rescind it outright. Same result either way.
Justin Tyme: And what would that be?
He’s testing me. Like I said, you’ve got to make it clear how far you’re willing to go. That doesn’t always have to be through actions. Sometimes the threat of an action is enough. Especially when you have the reputation that I do.
Trace Demon: I make sure that Lucas Crowe’s legacy becomes nothing more than a career wasted because of a single bad business decision. See Crowe could be money, I see a future where he’s a marquee star with everything that comes with it. But right now he’s nothing more than expendable, a cog in the machine that could be easily replaced with almost anybody else. So I’d imagine if it just so happened that some dirt came up on your boy I’d have little problem cutting his contract short just like that. It’d be disappointing, sure, but if needs must.
Justin Tyme is a business man, and Crowe’s a fighter, so making threats of violence against them isn’t going to have much of an effect. Threaten his bank balance, his so called investment, well, that’s a different story.
Justin Tyme: And the other option?
See what I mean.
Trace Demon: Like I said, I see a future where he’s a marquee star with everything that comes with it. Who knows, this time next year, you could be talking about WFWF World Heavyweight Champion Lucas Crowe.
Justin Tyme: I think I underestimated you Trace.
I most certainly didn’t underestimate you though Tyme.
Trace Demon: Doesn’t everyone.
Justin Tyme: I think we can come to a pleasant arrangement that suits all parties.
Trace Demon: Sounds like good business to me.
Justin Tyme: What say we toast our deal with a drink? I’ve got, well, basically anything you could ever want.
Trace Demon: Water will be fine Tyme.
And I’ll be checking for poison.
< *** >
WFWF Headquarters; Production Suite
March 18th 2016; 1:14pm
Stagehand: He’s almost ready Mr. Knight, said to give him two minutes.
Daniel Knight: Tell him to take as long as he wants.
Stagehand: Of course.
It might not seem like it, but right now I’m freaking the hell out. This is a big deal. The owner of the WFWF coming in to praise his former mortal enemy Shawn Malakai in an exclusive sit down interview with yours truly. Only invited him because I didn’t want him finding out I didn’t and then docking my pay.
Again.
Daniel Knight: Is everyone ready?! I want this to go smoothly!
And then he’s here, like a bloody eclipse making everything around him feel grim and dark. Trace Demon, our so-called supreme overlord, flanked by his latest right hand Elinor Nix. Got to say she’s a damn slight easier on the eyes than Anders was. Better at her job too by all accounts.
Daniel Knight: Trace, thanks for coming in today, it’s a real-
Trace Demon: God sake stop kissing my ass man, you’ve already got promoted to the desk, what more d’you want?
Daniel Knight: Oh, right.
Bloody bunghole.
Trace Demon: Where d’you want me? Here?
He signals for one of the seats, then sits before I even have a chance to say that’s my seat. I’m about to say something when I catch Nix off in the background shaking her head at me. I don’t exactly know anything about the woman but if she’s got Trace’s ear I’m inclined to take her advice. Instead I take the seat opposite.
Daniel Knight: So basically all we need is your thoughts on Shawn Malakai. I’ll ask a few basic questions but really I just want you to shoot from the hip, alright?
Trace Demon: That won’t be a problem.
He’s surprisingly solemn. Didn’t think Trace would even have a good thing to say about the guy if I’m honest. Certainly no love lost between them from what I saw.
Daniel Knight: Of course. Are we ready?
The weird camera guy nods, I’d have rather had gotten the cute temp we had in last week. She didn’t know a damn thing about cameras but at least she didn’t make me feel like I needed a shower.
Stagehand: We’re rolling in five… four…
The final count comes silently, and then we’re rolling. Time to earn your pay check.
Daniel Knight: Ladies and gentlemen, today we’re here to honour the dearly departed Shawn Malakai, a legend here in the WFWF who will be missed by all. Now there were many people we could have spoken to about Malakai, but there are few who could attest to his heart, will and determination to fight to the very end than a man who witnessed it all first hand in the ring with him. I’d like to welcome Trace Demon.
Trace Demon: I wish it was under better circumstances Daniel.
A surprisingly civil answer. Got to say I had my doubts with Trace’s game here, but maybe he is just trying to play the good boss for once.
Daniel Knight: Of course. It’s with great sadness that I’m even hosting this interview, but it’s what Malakai would have wanted, I’m sure.
God, I almost made myself sick with that line. That’s getting edited out.
Daniel Knight: Now Trace, as I mentioned you had your fair share of experience when it came to the determination of Shawn Malakai in the WFWF. Why don’t you tell everyone what you remember most about your time in the ring with him?
Trace Demon: Look, everyone knows that me and Shawn Malakai had our differences. A lot of them in fact. And I could sit here and tell you any number of things about him, but I’ll give him credit. He was a fighter, crawled his way from the bottom right up to the top back in the days when the bottom was just as competitive as the main event scene. People who have only recently started following the WFWF won’t remember much about the house show circuit back then, but it was where a number of guys got their start. Two of which were men by the names of Shawn Malakai and Trace Demon. I saw Malakai come up from the bottom and I’ve gotta say, considering his level of ability, he did surprisingly well.
We’ll push right on past that underhanded shade.
Daniel Knight: Considering the number of years you’ve known Shawn then it must have been an emotional moment when you heard what had happened?
Trace Demon: I was devastated Daniel. Me and Shawn left things in a bad spot, and my biggest regret is that I never got to make peace. I’m gonna be honest, I always thought he’d fight through it, y’know? Denial and all that I guess. I always thought I’d be standing across the ring from him one more time. I don’t regret much about my life, but knowing that I’ll never get that is definitely one of them.
This is gold. Pure gold. Trace Demon acting like a good human being? Who else is getting that on camera nowadays? Nobody, that’s who, nobody but yours truly.
Daniel Knight: What would you say to him if you’d had one final conversation with him?
Trace Demon: I’d have told him to get his ass out of his sickbed because he owed me a match.
Daniel Knight: I suppose that’s the way everyone in this business thinks. You always want to see the greats step foot in the ring one more time.
And there’s the moment, the moment where I become the real star of the interview. That moment that separates the best from the rest…
Trace Demon: What? One of the greats? One more time? What the
are you on about Knight?Wait, this isn’t how-
Daniel Knight: Well you said-
Trace Demon: I don’t give a damn about Malakai getting a swan song or anything like that if that’s what you’re trying to get at. I’m saying that that bastard literally owed me a match after he screwed me over and went running the way he did.
Oh no.
Trace Demon: Wait, is that what everyone thinks? Do you all think that I’m here because I care about Malakai? You do, don’t you? Right Knight? And you Elinor! That’s why you were so shocked, you thought I cared about Malakai too, didn’t you?
Crap, crap, crap.
Trace Demon: I’m not grieving because Malakai has died. I don’t give a crap that he’s dead you idiots. I’m grieving because I never got to kick Malakai’s head in and show him that his victory over me was a
ing fluke! You think I wanted to make peace with him? No, I wanted to make peace with myself by holding Malakai’s broken body in my hands as I force fed him his damn pride! My regret is that people’s memory of me and Malakai is going to be Shawn Malakai holding the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship up high instead of me stomping his disgusting, cancer ridden body into a bloody pulp in the middle of the ring!What was I thinking? Trace Demon? Respectful of Shawn Malakai? God how did I think that was even possible? I should have seen this coming!
Daniel Knight: Trace I’m afraid that-
Trace Demon: Shawn Malakai was a
ing worm! He pranced about the place pretending to be a star when really he meant nothing! Get that camera on me right now! The legacy that Shawn Malakai will leave is of always being the man who was never quite as good as the top guys. He knew that. That’s why he ran when he did. He stole a brief moment up with the real stars and he knew he couldn’t keep hold of it for long so he ran! He was a coward, a nobody, a bloody parasite who would cling on to new emerging talent to stay relevant. Shawn Malakai meant nothing in life and you know what? He means nothing in death. And to all you people who were inspired by Malakai let me tell you this. You’ve wasted your life looking up to a man who couldn’t even keep his own daughter safe.Elinor Nix: Interview’s over. Trace!
Trace Demon: Shawn Malakai will go down as the second most pathetic WFWF World Champion in history, right after the man he handed the title over to.
Elinor Nix: Trace!
Trace chuckles, as if everything he said has been some fun game, and walks off set. It feels like I’ve just stepped on a bloody mine.
Elinor Nix: If this interview goes live we’ll sue the hell out of you, got it?
She doesn’t wait for an answer; she’s gone off after Trace the moment she finishes talking. One things for sure, we can’t use any of that crap.
< *** >
The Residence of Trace Demon
March 20th 2016; 10:34am
Look at the shine on the thing. It never loses that.
Elinor Nix: Trace, are you even listening to me?
Trace Demon: No, I wasn’t. What were you saying?
Elinor Nix: I was complaining that it’s a Sunday morning yet I’m here in your house trying to figure out this mess.
My trophy room. The crowning glory of my ‘far superior to Justin Tyme’s mansion’ mansion in every way. In here is every reminder of my success that I could possibly think of.
Trace Demon: What mess?
Elinor Nix: Your interview, the Daniel Knight debacle. It leaked online.
Trace Demon: I know.
Elinor Nix: You what now?
Trace Demon: I said I know. I’m the one that leaked it. Well, my secretary did, and she certainly deserves some credit given that she had to flirt with that weirdo cameraman, but still, the girl was just following orders so I don’t want to inflate her ego too much.
Elinor Nix: Why the hell would you leak that video? Now the whole world thinks that you’re some disgusting creep who can’t even keep their mouth shut over a dead man.
I like to spend a bit of time here most weeks, just reminding myself of all the good I’ve done for the world, all the great things that people have had the honour of watching me do. That and it reminds me that I can still do better, bigger, grander.
Trace Demon: Let the world think what they want. I don’t like this whole thing where we suddenly pretend someone was the best person imaginable all of a sudden just because they’re dead. Didn’t do it with my dad, didn’t do it with my mom, sure as hell not gonna do it with Shawn Malakai of all people. Everyone wants to pretend he was this great upstanding guy, but honestly he was a serious piece of crap who wouldn’t hesitate to throw someone under the bus if he got the chance. I bet that bunghole was laughing that he never gave me the chance to redeem my victory. He knew I’d do it too, that’s why he retired.
Elinor Nix: I think he retired because of the terminal cancer.
Trace Demon: Always an excuse with that guy. Everyone wants to pretend he was a good guy, that he was some saviour of the WFWF? Well good for them, but I know better. I for one remember that his final real act in the WFWF was basically to piss on the most meaningful thing we’ve got. Look at this Elinor, you see that?
Elinor Nix: It’s a belt. I know what it means, but-
Trace Demon: It’s not just a belt Elinor, that…
Is the crowning glory of this room. True, it’s only a replica, the type every champion is given to display proudly, but it means something. It means I’m part of the elite.
Trace Demon: Is the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship. That is the reason that everyone in the WFWF is in the WFWF. Now I get it, you see the bigger picture, I like that, but despite everything I’ve built the WFWF is still priority number one. And that, that title is the most important part of the WFWF. And few things in the history of that title, ignoring Kyzer and Drakz’s mental renaming days, have pissed on the legacy of that belt as much as Shawn Malakai did when he handed it over to that piss-ant Dex.
Elinor Nix: You didn’t hire Dex back to honour Malakai’s memory, did you?
Trace Demon: The
I did. I agreed to bring Dex back because since I couldn’t put Shawn Malakai in the dirt myself then I damn sure will put his legacy there right beside him. Malakai thought Dex was going to be the next big thing so he handed the WFWF World Championship over to him. Like it meant nothing. He gave it away to a man who hadn’t earned it and you know what happened? Dex shat the bed and proved that Malakai made a mistake. So Dex wants back in? Fine. But I’ll make damn sure it’s a short return.I run my hand over the title. This one was forged to be an exact replica, material and all, at my specifications. But still, I can feel the difference. This is not the World Championship I deserve.
Trace Demon: I’ll tear Shawn Malakai’s house down around his corpse, and it all starts with Dex. That ridiculous, neurotic failed science experiment is going to realize exactly what happens…
But soon, when everything falls into place, I’ll have that title around my waist, and it won’t be a replica. I can promise you that.
Trace Demon: When you finally get something that you actually deserve.
< *** >
Shawn Malakai is dead! Long live Shawn Malakai! Oh wait, don’t, because nobody gives a crap. Oh give it up, did you really think I’d give a damn that the cancer-ridden bastard finally popped his clogs? Only think that irks me is that I didn’t get my moment of kicking his head in. Makes me sick to think he went into the ground having one up on me. Still, he also went into the ground knowing he was a failure as a father and that my kids still alive, so swings and roundabouts, right?
Still, Malakai’s gone, but he’s left some of his crap lying about in my company, and it falls to myself to clear it up with a little help from my new associates. Nothing needs to be said about Drakz that hasn’t been written in volumes already, so let’s focus on little Lucas shall we? Smart kid that, dangled a treat in front of him and he damn near bit my hand off when all was said and done. A lot of people will call him some rather hurtful and unwarranted names in the coming months, but I’m sure he’s thick skinned and clear headed enough to brush them off and realize what they really are. Jealousy. Everyone wants to be a star, they’re just jealous that the two smartest men in the room picked out Crowe instead of them.
Green’s not a flattering colour.
Samael Ahriman, Shawn Malakai’s little golden boy, now knows first-hand exactly what happens when you try to play with the big boys. I’m sure he and Josh Dean can form a pointless title reign club and cry about their wasted lives. I mean if they’re going to keep pumping air through their lungs then at least they could do something useful, right? Sadly I don’t see them taking Malakai’s lead and pissing on off this planet to leave it for people who can actually do something worthwhile. Oh, I don’t know, like raising children properly.
What, too soon?
And now another one of Malakai’s little transgressions has come to rear its ugly head. Things have changed around here Dex. There’s no more Shawn Malakai to keep you safe at night. I’m sure that when you signed back up you thought that you were going to be handed anything you wanted on a silver platter. Instead you’ve been handed straight to me. I won’t lie; I had a little hand in making sure your first opponent would be your last. See Dex, poor dead Malakai thought that you were something special, someone worthy of being gifted a title they didn’t have the ability to hold. Me? I’ve got a considerably different opinion of you.
There’s a lot to be said about how you vanished the moment you realized that you weren’t cut out for this business. I’d call it smart, but I don’t think you’ve got the brain cells in that rotten brain of yours to warrant the word. No, let’s go with cowardly shall we. You couldn’t handle your failure so instead of being a man and trying to prove everyone wrong you upped and left. Can’t say I missed you. Place took an upturn in class if you ask me. But still, even though you’d gone you were always going to stink up the joint, because your name will forever be etched in the annals of history as a former World Champion.
I can’t let that stand. Because as long as your name is attached to that title then everyone will forever remember the moment that Shawn Malakai pissed on the legacy of that title and how you crap the bed so hard proving me right when I said it was a decision on par with grand treason. So what’s the answer here? In my eyes it’s simple. See nobody likes to talk bad about a dead man, they’ll brush almost anything under the carpet if they’re pretending to be respectful of the deceased. Shawn Malakai’s already gone.
That just leaves you.
Let’s clean up his mess, shall we, and maybe make a little one of our own while we’re at it.
I dont know good luck 
