How To Win Friends & Influence People
Nov 18, 2022 18:47:00 GMT -5
markflynn and Devlin Knight like this
Post by Peter Vaughn on Nov 18, 2022 18:47:00 GMT -5
The Road So Far:
A Day In The Life, Or My Life In One Day (Cannabis Cup)
Can There Be Redemption In A Rebirth?
The Most Honorable Peter Vaughn
The Flames of Fate (Level Up)
The Fire Still Burns (WSOW)
It's continued to be a chaotic few months for Peter Vaughn.
An old nemesis, Andrew Logan, has come back onto the scene, having attempted to 'reconnect' with Vaughn. When Vaughn refused to work with him, Logan tried to blow him up instead. Vaughn later returned the favor, breaking into Logan's office and setting it on fire, while stealing important documents from the business. Vaughn has been waiting for Logan's next move, expecting it at any minute. But it came in a strange fashion, as Logan called only to warn Vaughn that other elements were arranging themselves against him.
Vaughn's purchase and restoration of a ranch north of Dallas this year has apparently ruffled some feathers, which led to an attempt at arson. Vaughn, ironically thanks in part to the early warning from Logan, was able to use his connections to save his ranch. He also rescued the arsonist, a man who was left to the fire after igniting it. This man was taken away by authorities, while Vaughn confronted the farmer's union that appeared to be behind the attack... with little success.
Now Vaughn has to worry about a potential war on two fronts. What will Andrew Logan's next chess move be? And will the farmer's union come after Vaughn once again, trying to find a way to remove him from his dream of being a rancher? Can Vaughn do anything to get ahead of the curve?
November 1st, 2002
~The picture comes up on a shot of a relatively run-down building. The camera zooms in, as if heading straight through one of the apartment windows, ghosting through it like it didn't exist. We see, seated at a table nearby, a young Peter Vaughn as he finishes up one of his homework assignments. He slams the book shut, glad to be rid of it, as it's one of his least favorite subjects: math. His father, moving in the kitchen nearby, looks over with a grin.~
Mr. Vaughn: You can slam that as much as you want, the formulas will still be there.
Peter Vaughn: I don't see why I need it. It's not like custodians need to do fractions or anything.
Mr. Vaughn: Well, for one, you do, actually, have to do some calculating when you're working out how long a cleaning schedule needs to be, and how much product you're going to need for a project. Second, I don't plan on you being a janitor, so you need to keep working on that.
~Peter sighs, then gets up, going over to the refrigerator to get a Coke. He sees there is only one left, though, so he shrugs and heads to the side instead to get a glass of tap water. Hopefully it's at least purified somehow. As Peter heads back to the table, his dad comes over, drying his hands.~
Mr. Vaughn: So you haven't told me about this weekend yet.
Peter Vaughn: ... what about it?
Mr. Vaughn: I know you worry about money, Peter, but I have more than enough for you to go out to Chuck E. Cheese. Did you talk to those kids you told me about? Michael and... was it Billy?
Peter Vaughn: Ummm... yeah... they, uh... they can't go. So we can just stay in this weekend.
Mr. Vaughn: Uh huh...
~Mr. Vaughn pulls up a chair and takes a seat next to Peter, who uncomfortably looks away. Like most fathers, Mr. Vaughn has developed a sense of when his son is trying to pull a fast one.~
Mr. Vaughn: You never talked to them, did you?
Peter Vaughn: ... No, sir.
Mr. Vaughn: Why not? I thought you wanted to start hanging out with your school friends more.
Peter Vaughn: It's just... Michael was talking with his other friends, and I didn't want to interrupt... and Billy was busy reading a book... and...
~Peter's father nods, reading between the lines. He puts a hand on Peter's shoulder, as Peter's head slumps forward slightly.~
Mr. Vaughn: You know, you're a great kid, Peter. I don't understand why you don't let anyone else see it. I know there have been some... bully problems, but you need to find a way to get out of your shell.
~Peter can do nothing but meekly nod. It's not enough, as Mr. Vaughn shakes his head.~
Mr. Vaughn: I'm serious, Peter. You need to work on being able to communicate with people better. There are so many opportunities available for you, son, just waiting for you to find the right person to talk to. Communication is key in this world. Look, just go and give your friends a call. They're probably at home by now, right? For me, and for you, let's try and get this set up, okay?
Peter Vaughn: ... Okay, Dad.
~Mr. Vaughn gives Peter's shoulder an affectionate squeeze, then gets up, going back to preparing their meal for the night. It's most likely something simple, to cut back on expenses. Peter slowly goes over to the phone, studying it for a few moments before tentatively reaching out to pick up the receiver. He begins to dial, apparently knowing the number from memory. The phone begins to ring.~
November 18th, 2022
~We can hear the sound of a phone ringing somewhere in the police station, a common occurrence for a busy metropolitan area. As someone else worries about answering it, we focus on Peter Vaughn as he walks with an officer down the hallway. Vaughn seems to have learned a lot about communication since he was younger, as he's struck up an easy conversation with the man.~
Peter Vaughn: So how are your kids doing, anyway, Bradley?
Officer Bradley: Oh, they're doing great, Mr. Vaughn. My youngest, Sally, is set to sing as one of the leads in the Christmas play next month.
Peter Vaughn: Really? A lead role?
Officer Bradley: Well, okay, it's probably more like one of the shepherds, but she got cast, that's what matters, right? Even if she has to wear a fake beard?
Peter Vaughn: There's no shame in show business, Bradley. I'm sure she'll do great.
~The two men stop in front of a door that's marked for Interrogation. Officer Bradley seems to hesitate for a moment, then turns to Vaughn with a look of concern.~
Officer Bradley: Are you sure this is alright? I really don't want to get in any trouble.
Peter Vaughn: You've got nothing to worry about, my man. It's not like I'm a threat to him; I rescued him from the fire, didn't I? And hey, the mayor said it would be fine for me to meet with him again.
Officer Bradley: The mayor? You're sure?
Peter Vaughn: ... Yep.
~Vaughn says this blatant lie with a straight face, selling it to the officer, who still seems reluctant. But he shrugs, having no answer to Vaughn's claim.~
Officer Bradley: Okay, look, I can give you 20 minutes or so. He's supposed to be getting transferred out later today, you know, so we can't stall too long on his paperwork. But for you, Mr. Vaughn, and for the mayor... just don't take too long, okay?
Peter Vaughn: I'm sure it will be a quick conversation. Thanks, Bradley.
~The officer unlocks the door, opening it for Vaughn to step through. Inside the room, we see a man slumped over with his head on the desk. He slowly looks up, at first confused by what he's seeing. After a second, he gasps, even as the door shuts behind Vaughn, who smiles grimly as he steps up to the desk.~
Peter Vaughn: Hello there, boyo. Let's have a 'talk'.
~The man seems to pull away from Vaughn, as far as his restraints will let him, as Vaughn slowly leans towards him with a sneer.~
Sometimes it's good to have a refreshing conversation, isn't it?
So let's talk, Mac. Johnny. Triscuit. We've certainly got ourselves something of an altercation here, don't we? And I know what you're thinking. "Vaughn's just going to rant and rave about how much we all suck and how much he hates us." But it's boring talking about someone's lack of abilities, really, and as for hatred... well, no, I don't hate any of you. At all. In fact, if I'm being honest, I have very little in the way of feelings for any of you.
You're just basically in my way. Our way, really.
You've got the aging veteran in Slater, a man who even knew he should be staying away from the action and not getting involved. But you couldn't help yourself, could you, Trix? You had to try and act like you're still relevant, trying to deny others that top spot in the company, and boy, did that work against you, huh? I mean, truthfully, I don't know if Flynn & I would have allied ourselves with J Mont and Debonair without your involvement. So congratulations. You're to blame for all of this. I'm sure Johnny & Mac will undoubtedly thank you for it once they recover.
Speaking of Johnny, here's another man who seems to think he deserves to be at the top of the pyramid. But have you done, really, so far in your time here? You got a lucky break over Bam Miller, who very nearly broke you with a brick, and then you blew it in the Fatal Fourway. You also have suffered a few bad beat-downs, haven't you? Afraid that's not changing on Monday, my friend. You're basically in an unwinnable situation, with partners you can't really rely on to save your cable from being severed. I mean, all the respect in the world, Johnny, you're probably the best of the competition... but that's like saying you're the last man playing the violin on the Titanic. Brave, heroic, even, but not exactly a winnable situation.
And then there's my old pal, Macky. It's strange how we keep coming at each other lately, isn't it, Mac? It's like the wrestling world has been trying to tell us the truth: that you and I shouldn't be in the same circles. If it was meant to be, we'd be partners somewhere, but you know what? It's not. I'm so much better off with Mark Flynn watching my back. He's one of the greatest wrestlers in the world today, while you're a former star slowly heading his way down the ladder. I assume you were brought into WGWF just to pop a name, before you're replaced by everyone better than you.
You're looking at three of them.
Really, you three are completely outclassed at this point. We have the XWF Universal Champion, Mark Flynn. We have the man who won the Fatal Fourway and took down Cabs last time, Fred Debonair. And we have me, one of the greatest wrestlers of 2022, who's still reaching his peak at the top of the business. I mean, has there ever been a main event that features such a completely unbalanced competition? The only way this could get worse for you is if J Mont got added to the match. But it's not like we need him to take you three down.
Now, I'm still getting to know Freddie, so I can't say how our chemistry is going to be on Monday. But Flynn and I? We've worked together on several occasions, and you know what? We're undefeated as a squad. We were future Duos Champions in TPW, and we are definitely future tag champs in XWF and Splat. Whenever we get tag belts going here in WGWF, we'll be claiming those, too. That, in part, is how we're going to be stating our intentions as we lead our team to victory over Johnny C & The Short Timers.
Honestly, guys, if you were smart, you'd take a hike downwards to the next division after Monday. Those of you, y'know, who don't retire again afterwards. The top of the mountain belongs to guys like us.
You three certainly aren't capable of dragging us down. I doubt you can even get up the mountain before you end up taking the Plunge.
November 18th, 2022
~The man winces backwards in pain, holding his bloody nose as he sits in the interrogation chair. Vaughn, standing nearby, shakes his head.~
Peter Vaughn: You should be more careful there, friend. I'd hate to see you damage the table.
Prisoner: Guards! GUARDS!! GET ME OUTTA HERE!!
Peter Vaughn: Have you never been in an interrogation room before, kid? These things are perfectly sound-proof... for just this sort of occasion.
~With a lightning-quick move, Vaughn is suddenly grabbing the man by the back of the head, tilting him backwards.~
Peter Vaughn: I know your 'friends' are bailing you out by transferring you to another district. I bet you'd even 'disappear' on the bus ride over. Whether that means your freedom or your demise, who's to say? They did leave you to die in the fire, after all. So you might as well talk, boyo. Who gave you the order to torch my ranch?
Prisoner: I... I don't...
~WHAM! The prisoner's head painfully bounces off the table again, another 'accident'. He howls, reeling in pain, as Vaughn lowers down next to him.~
Peter Vaughn: Man, I want to be sympathetic to you, being a klutz and all, but I really don't have all day. Tell me names and details... now... or else this keeps getting worse for you.
~Vaughn pulls the man's head back by his hair once more, with the man sputtering before talking through his bruised lips.~
Prisoner: Wait... WAIT!! It... it was Ringo... one of Floyd Patterson's men... please...
~Vaughn immediately releases the man's head and lets him relax, reaching into his pocket to give him a tissue for his nose.~
Peter Vaughn: See? Isn't that better? So Ringo told you to burn my ranch, huh? I figured it was Patterson. He was too defensive when I saw him last.
Prisoner: Ringo... was supposed to come get me once... the fire got going. I don't know why... he didn't...
Peter Vaughn: Because you were disposable, my man. Terrible thing, really, but that's the way the world works. So, y'know, thanks for confirming this for me. I appreciate it.
~With that, Vaughn gets up, heading towards the door. The prisoner suddenly sits up, looking agitated.~
Prisoner: Wait, hold on... you really think they're going to make me disappear?
Peter Vaughn: That's what I would do, if I were them. Especially since you're willing to talk.
Prisoner: Then... then I'll testify against them! I want a deal, protection, whatever I can get!
~Vaughn looks back at the doorway, raising an eyebrow.~
Peter Vaughn: You think I care about doing this the lawful way? Sorry, boyo. You're on your own. Enjoy your trip.
Prisoner: What?? WAIT!! DON'T GO!!
~The man's cries are silenced as Vaughn shuts the door behind him, making sure to clean off his hands before he starts out of the police station. He gives a nod to Officer Bradley, who's busy talking to a young woman in trouble. Vaughn doesn't stop, continuing out the main door. As he does so, his phone begins to ring.~
Peter Vaughn: This is Vaughn.
Andrew Logan: Hello again, Peter.
~Vaughn stops in his tracks for a second, then shakes his head and continues on towards his truck.~
Peter Vaughn: At this point, I really need to add your numbers to my contacts list. You really like to reach out and touch somebody, huh?
Andrew Logan: Oh, I find phone calls most convenient for avoiding any... physical reactions. So, Peter, how'd it go in the police station? You get what you were after?
Peter Vaughn: You have someone tailing me now, too?
Andrew Logan: I always keep track of my investments, and whether you believe it or not, Peter, I'm invested in you. I want to see you succeed. I don't want to see your potential wasted.
Peter Vaughn: Uh huh. Well, you have nothing to worry about. I'm the most successful wrestler in WGWF, and the future World and Tag Champion. I'm still taking the world by storm, as you'll see this Monday. So if you're worried about 'potential', just concentrate on how I might potentially put my boot up your ass the next time we meet.
~The phone is silent for a moment, as Vaughn works to unlock his truck. He starts to get in, then stops, realizing that there's a commotion nearby. It's the sound of sirens. He looks out, seeing a fire truck going by, already on its way to the scene. A few police officers run by as well, heading for their cars.~
Andrew Logan: Ahhh, from what I can hear, it's begun, hasn't it?
Peter Vaughn: What have you done, Logan?
Andrew Logan: It's merely my gift to you, Peter. We may be adversaries in your mind, but I still see as future... business partners. For that, I wanted to help you with your little problem. You don't need to thank me. Just appreciate the gesture.
~As another officer starts to run by, Vaughn reaches out, grabbing him by the arm.~
Peter Vaughn: What's going on?
Officer: There was an explosion at the Patterson Ranch. Excuse me, sir, I have to get there right away.
~The officer runs off, as Vaughn looks around, realizing what's happened.~
Andrew Logan: I'd make sure more people see you, Peter. Alibis are extremely important, after all, especially when you've just beaten up one of the antagonists. We'll talk again soon.
~The phone clicks off, with Vaughn looking down at it for a few seconds.~
Peter Vaughn: Well... shit...
~Vaughn turns back to the police station, considering his options and who he should talk to next. The picture slowly fades out.~