Post by Devlin Knight on Mar 30, 2024 20:40:53 GMT -5
I hate clowns…
Wait, I said that bit already right? Yeah I distinctly remember and that hasn't changed…
Clowns in their usual guise and clowns like The Irrelevant Ones…
No that's not right…
The Illegitimate Ones…
No, no…
Who cares anyway? This week is about my first proper defence of the WGWF Intercontinental Championship against someone who isn't some kind of carnival character.
She isn't some kind of Cosplaying cretin either…
She is just a regular girl, who deserves a shot at the belt. A shot Devlin is going to give her.
Her name is Ruby Darling…
And Ruby Darling has come quite a way since her debut in WGWF only a few short months ago. Her match against Coding Rhodes was a sign that elevated her status in the promotion…
Her teaming with Jordan Reed was evidence that she was not only a great singles competitor but also a team player and someone you'd pick if you needed a partner in your corner. But now something bigger has come for Ms. Darling, a shot at one of the most prestigious belts in WGWF history, the Intercontinental Title.
Now she faces Devlin Knight…
As the scene opens, we step into what is evidently a newly designed office building. We notice the sleek, modern architecture that greets us along with the spacious lobby welcoming guests with its high ceilings and natural light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. As we walk through the lobby, we pass by the reception area, where friendly staff members are assisting guests.
The reception desk features minimalist design elements, complementing the overall aesthetic of the building and a long black and gold plaque, almost half the size of the wall behind the reception desk, reads “KNIGHT INDUSTRIES”.
Moving further into the building, we see a variety of spaces, including cosy breakout areas with comfortable seating to open-concept meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology, there's a space for every type of interaction… And it is in one of those meeting spaces we find Devlin Knight, Abe Greenberg and Devlin's sister, K.C. who is dressed in a black pencil skirt and white blouse with high heels and is placing paperwork in front of every seat at the meeting table.
Wait, I said that bit already right? Yeah I distinctly remember and that hasn't changed…
Clowns in their usual guise and clowns like The Irrelevant Ones…
No that's not right…
The Illegitimate Ones…
No, no…
Who cares anyway? This week is about my first proper defence of the WGWF Intercontinental Championship against someone who isn't some kind of carnival character.
She isn't some kind of Cosplaying cretin either…
She is just a regular girl, who deserves a shot at the belt. A shot Devlin is going to give her.
Her name is Ruby Darling…
And Ruby Darling has come quite a way since her debut in WGWF only a few short months ago. Her match against Coding Rhodes was a sign that elevated her status in the promotion…
Her teaming with Jordan Reed was evidence that she was not only a great singles competitor but also a team player and someone you'd pick if you needed a partner in your corner. But now something bigger has come for Ms. Darling, a shot at one of the most prestigious belts in WGWF history, the Intercontinental Title.
Now she faces Devlin Knight…
As the scene opens, we step into what is evidently a newly designed office building. We notice the sleek, modern architecture that greets us along with the spacious lobby welcoming guests with its high ceilings and natural light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. As we walk through the lobby, we pass by the reception area, where friendly staff members are assisting guests.
The reception desk features minimalist design elements, complementing the overall aesthetic of the building and a long black and gold plaque, almost half the size of the wall behind the reception desk, reads “KNIGHT INDUSTRIES”.
Moving further into the building, we see a variety of spaces, including cosy breakout areas with comfortable seating to open-concept meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology, there's a space for every type of interaction… And it is in one of those meeting spaces we find Devlin Knight, Abe Greenberg and Devlin's sister, K.C. who is dressed in a black pencil skirt and white blouse with high heels and is placing paperwork in front of every seat at the meeting table.
Abe: ”So what made you decide to rebrand the whole business, Dev?”
Devlin: ”Well, the fact I changed my whole name legally? I couldn't keep the company name as Debonair Enterprises, could I?”
Abe: ”Course you could mate… Why not?”
K.C: ”Wouldn't have looked right in all honesty, Abe. I mean the only person even remotely calling Devlin by that name anymore, is J Mont…”
Devlin: ”And the other idiots in TFO…”
Abe: ”Hey, speaking of those little cretins, what the bloody hell happened Monday night on Brawl?”
Devlin: ”I guess The Irrelevant Ones decided they couldn't handle somebody paying them back for the copious amounts of shit they've been shovelling down our throats week after week…”
K.C: ”What was funnier, was that Sonya Benson actually thought she was doing something smart by using me as some kind of bait…”
Abe: ”I saw all that, I just couldn't quite work out the purpose…”
Devlin: ”Is there ever a purpose with that lot? Anyway I'll be addressing it on this week's Brawl, I've got a bit to say…”
Abe: ”Man I can't wait to hear that, I hope you're gonna be speaking up as well, young K.C?”
K.C: ”You know I will, Abraham. Sonya either doesn't remember me or is purposely choosing not to… But this isn't my first run-in with her…”
Devlin: ”And Joe isn't stupid, he knows full well I wouldn't have been intimidated by what they were doing so, he must have just been setting out to piss me off…”
Abe: ”And did it succeed?”
Devlin: ”In pissing me off? Nah… Not even a little bit. What will piss me off is if these people don't turn up though.”
K.C: ”Tell me about it, took me ages to get them on the phone to begin with!”
Abe: ”Who're we talking about?”
Devlin picks up some paperwork and heads out of the office, heading towards an elevator with Abe and K.C in tow…
Devlin: ”A new drinks brand, Spiritiin Energy. They've seen what I've been doing PR and Marketing wise for my White Knight beverage and so they want us to work on marketing for them… Ahh okay they're coming into the lobby now… I'm gonna run to the bathroom and wash up, Cas keep them busy?”
K.C nods as she and Abe head back toward the lobby and Devlin jumps in the elevator to take a ride to the fourth floor and his private bathroom. He places the paperwork on the desk and walks into the bathroom which is lined wall to ceiling with marble stone… The mirror above the sinks is just that, a singular (and huge) mirror. He walks to one of the three sinks, pushes the faucet across to warm and splashes his face…
Voice: ”Good afternoon, Devlin.”
Almost jumping out of his skin, Devlin looks up to see Colonel Foster in the mirror's reflection…
Devlin: ”Jesus Christ, Colonel! What is this??”
Foster: ”Sorry for the intrusion, Devlin. We're trying out new technology.”
Devlin: ”New technology? Care to elaborate?”
Foster: ”Not here, Devlin. Come to the base and I'll explain everything.”
Devlin: ”Well that's going to be difficult, getting out of the building more than anything else bec…-”
Foster: ”Just climb through, Devlin…”
Devlin: ”Right, yep! Doing that right now…”
Devlin takes a deep breath, steps back, closes his eyes and running steps up the sink and melts into the mirror…
I don't want to take up too much time talking about whatshisface? J Mont and his little Circus so, I won't.
I have no reason to… Especially not now I'm living in a world where The Boorish Ones don't even exist.
Oh, that's right… You didn't know, did you?
Joseph Montuori, Clyde Newton, Amber Mansley, Sonya Benson, Shaun Hart…
None of them exist anymore.
So there comes a time I've got to give young upstarts the nudge of destiny if you will. The movement towards greatness and right now… That belongs to you.
Ruby, Darling.
…It's dark wherever we are, that lonely place between two points in space time, that void between time, timelines and dimensions. That space between existing and not and as Devlin Knight casually strolls through it as if he's been here a million times before, it's difficult to understand whether he's in full focus or panic mode. Well, okay for those of you who don't know Devlin that may be the case but for anyone who does? They know this is him on a leisurely walk…
I don't want to take up too much time talking about whatshisface? J Mont and his little Circus so, I won't.
I have no reason to… Especially not now I'm living in a world where The Boorish Ones don't even exist.
Oh, that's right… You didn't know, did you?
Joseph Montuori, Clyde Newton, Amber Mansley, Sonya Benson, Shaun Hart…
None of them exist anymore.
So there comes a time I've got to give young upstarts the nudge of destiny if you will. The movement towards greatness and right now… That belongs to you.
Ruby, Darling.
…It's dark wherever we are, that lonely place between two points in space time, that void between time, timelines and dimensions. That space between existing and not and as Devlin Knight casually strolls through it as if he's been here a million times before, it's difficult to understand whether he's in full focus or panic mode. Well, okay for those of you who don't know Devlin that may be the case but for anyone who does? They know this is him on a leisurely walk…
Devlin: ”You know I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ruby you've got a very big future ahead of you girl, in fact I think you're going to be holding a number of belts in your time the picture you're painting is huge, so big in fact they won't even be able to hang it in The Louvre! One thing I do need you to realise though Ruby is that, that time isn't now… That's nothing personal against you, it's just the way it has to be right now. You see your story hasn't begun quite yet and of course there's your singles and tag matches that I've touched on recently in which you've most definitely served a higher purpose, only contextually I AM the highest purpose right now, for you there is nobody higher but sadly this'll be as far as you get.
Now we both know it's not in my nature to tell someone who's young, hungry and ready to work their asses off it'll be as far as they go and yet I just did but it wasn't out of malicious intent or bad blood, I'm just trying to let you know that the WGWF Intercontinental Title isn't for you, perhaps one day when I'm not holding it, but I've got dues to pay with this belt Ruby, so I apologise but you aren't leaving Denver with my belt. I've done my homework on you Ruby Darling and I've got to say you've got some moves in your arsenal that's for sure! The way you dispatched Nova last week was sublime… Absolutely no doubt about that!”
Devlin does a “Chef's Kiss” when he says the word sublime, continuing to walk through the blackness of the area he's in. As he walks on, glimpses of scenes from his entire life appear to glow on multiplex screens in the air around him. He brushes them away with his hand and looks all around him, potentially for an exit.
Devlin: ”As I say I've been watching you for some time, Ruby and I know exactly what you're capable of but you've got to understand again that I'm not one of those guys you've faced up until now and right now is a challenge that I don't think you're ready for, although of course I truly hope you are my friend. I believe that after watching your matches against Nova, against Brooke Blakely and against Achilles which unfortunately you lost that one, that you're approaching a point in your career where everybody's heads are going to turn… But it doesn't change the fact that well, on Brawl you're going one on one, with a man who's on track for greater things than he ever has!
You know I may be the guy who has held more belts in more promotions than most on the ladder here in the WGWF, but that also means I've lost more too! And that's not something to be proud of, but getting back on the horse when something knocks you off is and that's what Devlin Knight has done over and over again, Ruby! I've been chewed up and spat out in the WGWF, as many times as I have done well here and I said I'd be making waves once I got this belt and that's all I've been doing since! I've been striving for that which makes somebody that extra special I've been pushing to keep tally of what needs to be done to be the epitome of a champion since Cholo had to let this belt go and I've continued to do just that…”
Devlin suddenly spots an area in the black that appears to be moving, almost wibble-wobbling. He approaches it and slowly moves his hand towards it and the moment his arm disappears, Devlin walks straight through… On the other side of the void we find an almost identical mirror to the one in Devlin's bathroom at Knight Industries. Standing in front of him, is a Soldier holding a towel and Colonel Foster who salutes at Devlin as he pulls up and takes a couple of deep breaths before saluting back, taking the towel and heading into the debrief and hose down area…
Devlin: ”You know Ruby, many people never even had Devlin Knight Vs. Ruby Darling in the WGWF, in 2024. People never doubted you but I don't think anybody ever had you down as a challenger for the WGWF Intercontinental Title! And there's no words that can describe how you feel when a chance like this comes along, Ruby, so I absolutely know that you're preparing yourself right now.
Do you think you've got what it takes, to stand opposite me in the ring, look me in the eye and then, take my belt away from me? I don't think so, Ruby! We both know you've got what can be assumed as the strength and fortitude to do so, but actually being able to do it? Perhaps you should think about gunning for the WGWF X-Division Championship, over on Smash at the moment, eh? Maybe it'll be more your scene! In any case, good luck Ruby and I'll see you later this week, hm?”
Devlin places the towel around him, grabs his clothes from a rack outside the debrief and hosedown hub and heads toward an office room where Foster and a man in a suit are sitting there smiling. Devlin shuts the door, salutes Colonel Foster and takes a seat opposite her…
Foster ”Thanks for coming Devlin…”
Devlin: ”Well I didn't really have much of a choice did I, Colonel?”
Foster ”I apologise for the abruptness, this is Captain Reynolds…”
Reynolds: ”Mr. Knight it's an honour to meet you sir…
The man leans forward extending a hand, which Devlin reciprocates while nodding.
Devlin: ”Likewise, so what's the big hoo-ha about???”
Foster ”We’ve built a new structure Devlin, taking some of the time machines data along with some new calculations…”
Devlin: ”I saw it on my way in here, you guys look like you just take kids dream machines from playing Minecraft and turn it into reality… So what's it do?”
Foster ”It’s a QGD. A Quantum Ghost Dial. At least that's what we call it…”
Reynolds: ”Essentially we can take you to any time period that ever existed… But not as yourself.”
Devlin: ”What's that supposed to mean??”
Foster ”You enter the body of someone else within history and live their lives…”
Devlin: ”So… The Quantum Leap Project?!”
Foster ”The Quantum Leap Project was ficfional.”
Devlin: ”This is true…”
Reynolds: ”Come down to the floor with us and look yourself at what we can do…”
Devlin stands, shrugs and heads towards the office door as the scene fades out…
…When we return we find Devlin at ground level, in the hub where all the tools and electronics are. Devlin is sat in a chair with a type of helmet just finished being strapped to his head, Colonel Foster and Captain Reynolds standing beside him.
…When we return we find Devlin at ground level, in the hub where all the tools and electronics are. Devlin is sat in a chair with a type of helmet just finished being strapped to his head, Colonel Foster and Captain Reynolds standing beside him.
Foster: ”Once the guys are finished here Devlin, we'll give it a test run and see how we do, alright?”
Devlin: ”Of course, but I can already tell, I'm not going to like it…”
Reynolds: ”Trust me Devlin, it's not the greatest start but I can assure you the trips get better…”
Devlin: ”Trips?”
Foster: ”You'll feel it when it happens, don't fight it…”
Suddenly there's a whirring sound, a slight hiss and everyone backs away from Devlin and the machine. They all walk to a door and exit stage left as a strobing light effect begins to fill the machine area above Devlin's head and then… All is black bar a small dial on the wall that reads 1840…
…It's extremely dark but Devlin can hear mumbling all around him as he slowly opens his eyes…
…It's extremely dark but Devlin can hear mumbling all around him as he slowly opens his eyes…
Voice 1: ”Hello? Can you hear us? Can you tell us your name??
Devlin: ”Yeah, it's Devlin…”
Voice 2: ”It said Devil! See we've invoked demons!”
Devlin: ”What?! No I said De…-”
Devlin suddenly sees the name plaque on the table, it reads Janet Firth… He looks up quickly…
Devlin: ”I mean it's Janet… Janet!”
Voice 1: ”Janet love? It's Gregory… Are you ok??”
He looks up realising he's sat at the head of a table holding hands either side of him and sees a number of random people just looking at him. He looks over to his left and sees the full length mirror and the image of the gorgeous 19th century redhead in front of him, it was him…
Devlin: ”Oh boy…”
TO BE CONTINUED…