Post by Peter Vaughn on Sept 25, 2022 21:13:44 GMT -5
The Road So Far:
The Search For A Mother Figure, Finale
Trying To Be Family Again, For The First Time...
A Day On The Ranch...
Nightmares And Cheesescapes
Peter Vaughn has been through the meat grinder as of late.
He went to war, leading the Custodial Coalition against the Maintenance Mafia. He renewed hostilities with a man he truly despises, Andrew Logan. And, of course, he recently crushed the Society, freeing his mother from their pursuit once and for all.
But sometimes, even a warrior craves peace.
Early in the year, Vaughn bought himself a large piece of property north of Dallas, a fixer-upper that would soon turn into a magnificent homestead. Vaughn used some of his tournament earnings to restore the property, even adding on a few extra buildings. But this was only Phase One. Vaughn always planned to turn this place into the PMV Ranch, which would be his future once his wrestling career had ended.
Of course, Vaughn has never been a rancher. Hence the slow build of the actual ranch setting, and more focus on the large home and attached guest houses.
Today, though, could be a turning point, as Vaughn once again finds some time to stay at the ranch, and meet some potential new hires.
September 25th, 2022
~The image comes up on a shot of the symbol that Vaughn has pasted on the side of his large shed. It's the first sign of Vaughn's beginning business venture.~
~Obviously, it still needs some work. But Vaughn has never been much of an artist or designer. He's always been more of a destroyer than a creator. But today, he's needing to be a little of both. We go inside the shed, where Vaughn is currently back under the carriage of a large tractor. Vaughn is grunting with effort, struggling to pop something loose. His feet move as he pulls harder... harder... and then it comes free. He slides out from underneath, staring at the burnt out condenser. He shakes his head, then reaches for the replacement part, when there's a clearing of the throat at the door. Vaughn looks up to see his half-brother, Thomas Hall, standing there looking at him.~
Peter: Thomas? What are you doing here? I'm in the middle of a rebuild...
Thomas: So you really did forget.
Peter: ... What? What do you mean? Wait... is it your birthday? Fuck, man, I'm sorry, I thought it was in...
Thomas: No, Peter, it's not my birthday, or anniversary, or anything like that. It's the day that you told me to bring by the potential new hires, remember?
~Confused, Vaughn sits up, looking past Thomas. We can see three people milling around outside, one looking exceedingly impatient to get things going. Vaughn rubs his head, then pushes up, getting to his feet.~
Peter: Oh, that. Yeah, I didn't forget, I just... it didn't seem that important to me. But yeah, if they're here, I guess we should take care of this, huh?
Thomas: You think? Come and greet them. They've all got good resumes, I think they could be what you're looking for.
~Vaughn walks out of the shed, taking in the three people. There's a skinny guy who's wearing a suit in the Texas heat for some reason. There's a fit young man with relaxed fit clothes. And there's a fairly stunning woman with a cowgirl hat and jeans on. Vaughn takes them all in, and then steps forward, offering his hand.~
Peter: Howdy. Peter Vaughn, this is my ranch.
~The first man looks at Vaughn's greasy hand and chuckles nervously.~
Man: Oh, that's alright, ummm, thanks...
Peter: Yeah, you're out. Go wait by the car.
Man: What? But I...
~Vaughn immediately shoves the guy back, sending him sprawling into the dirt. He leaves a nice grease stain on the front of his suit.~
Peter: You don't belong here. Take a hike.
~The man gasps and scrambles away. Vaughn turns back to the other two, offering his hand. Shrewdly, they both shake, but then, there's less grease there now.~
Peter: If you're going to work here, you're going to get your hands dirty. Get used to it. Now, c'mon, I've got the test all set up.
~The two remaining applicants glance at each other, wondering what the test will be. Thomas follows behind them, already considering calling for the family lawyer in case this all gets out of hand.~
I know I'm always being tested.
I came within one slip of winning the Level Up Extra Lives Battle Royal. Vhodka put one over on me, and hey it happens. It was a test, and I didn't fail. I just didn't get the A+ I was looking for.
And hey, I got to get rid of several people that I don't particularly like, so I enjoyed that as well.
So then, what am I to think when I hear the next show being announced, and I'm once again in a tag-team contest? Hey, I've done it before, carrying other wrestlers to victory, and I always assume I can do it again. But this time? The road looks pretty damn high up. If there are any people I've beaten the holy hell out of the most since I've come to Level Up, it's been Paul Montuori and Miss Riggs.
And now I'm supposed to tag up with them against the Game Changers.
I mean, the WaLuigi World Order wasn't available?
It's obvious that Montuori, Riggs, and I don't exactly get along. I've actually lost count about how many times I've beaten them or thrown them into hot cheese. Okay, that last one is exactly once, and I got a lot of satisfaction seeing Montuori sink. Probably enjoyed it too much, let my guard down, but oh well.
Anyway, so we're supposed to find a way to work together as a team against three guys who have been shackled together forever? Well, I guess we're going to have to, aren't we? Okay, let's look at the positives. Back in other organizations, Montuori was a pretty hot commodity, wasn't he? So there's talent there. I'll just stretch that out and assume Miss Riggs is in the same spot. So maybe, MAYBE, they can actually come through if I'll work with them.
The last time I really hated my partner, I ditched him during the match, and took the loss. And that led to a month of me having to fight him again and again and again... so I learned my lesson. I'm never walking away again. I'm going to be there for my partners, win or lose. It's just that I might just be cheering from the apron as they take all the punches to the face. But I'm going to be supportive!
And hell, I don't mind kicking a little Game Changer ass, so if Paulie & Riggs want me in there, I'll gladly oblige. For a little while.
I mean, I can't do all the heavy lifting, can I? Everyone needs to carry their own weight.
No, that's not a weight joke towards Miss Riggs. She's in great shape. It's not a weight joke towards Paulie, either, although... no, not gonna make that joke. We're a team.
And we're going to break some change.
September 25th, 2022
~The group of four end up walking over to a tall corral that has just been recently built. It almost looks like the paint has yet to dry, although that could just be because of the heat. Thomas hurries to catch up to his half-brother, still not sure what's going on.~
Thomas: You want to fill me in, bro? These two have a lot of experience, I assure you...
Peter: And that last guy? You thought he would work here too?
Thomas: He was up for the accountant position! You need someone working the books!
Peter: ... Oh. Well, I didn't like him. Find someone else.
Thomas: Someone who doesn't mind greasy fingers, gotcha.
~Vaughn looks out over the corral, before glancing back at his brother. He points over to the other two, who can surely hear them both.~
Peter: But these two are here to be ranch hands, right?
Thomas: Yes, yes, both are extremely skilled in taking care of animals. Leon there is a prodigy, and Sadie grew up around horses. I think both would be great here, if you give them a chance.
Peter: I see. So both of you want a chance, is that it?
~The burly guy steps forward, nodding.~
Leon: Yes, sir. I think we can do a lot here.
~The lady, Sadie, just nods, ignoring Leon. Vaughn studies them both, before nodding and turning to jump over the corral.~
Peter: Okay then. Let's see what you've got.
~The others follow, with Thomas struggling to get over the railing. He eventually gives up and starts walking around, looking for the manual gate. The others catch up with Vaughn as he reaches a nearby storage unit. You can hear the sounds of banging and whinneying inside. Leon looks a little unsure, while Sadie is expressionless. Vaughn nods to them, telling them to stand to the side.~
Peter: Here's how this is going to work. Earlier today, I had a delivery from a nearby ranch. They had a bronco that needed breaking. I said we'd pay the price to take care of it for them. So here's your test: which one of you can tame this beast?
~Vaughn suddenly hits the release button, and steps to the side. A black horse comes flying out, nostrils flaring. It immediately charges at both possibly employees, looking for its freedom. The horse crashes right between them, with Leon going flying. He lands on his side, holding his arm. Vaughn walks over to him, shaking his head, but seems to reconsider when he sees Leon pull himself up. Leon's arm is hanging a little limply, possibly signaling a dislocation or a break, but he's still getting up.~
Leon: Damn it... that hurt... where'd that horse go? I... I wasn't ready...
~Leon takes an unsteady step to the left, as if to go off in pursuit, but Vaughn stops him with a grab of his arm. Leon immediately lets out a small groan of pain. Vaughn nods, recognizing the injury.~
Peter: One second, kid. Hey, over there, is that Garth Brooks?
Leon: What? Where? AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!
~With Leon's attention diverted, Vaughn quickly snaps the dislocated shoulder back into place. Leon staggers, suddenly able to flex his arm again, although he's still feeling a ton of pain. He turns back to Vaughn, trying to hold back his anger, but Vaughn just smiles. As Thomas hurries up, Vaughn turns to him.~
Peter: Hey, go get Leon an ice pack and maybe a pain med or two. And then show him to his bunk. Kid can take a hit, I can appreciate that.
~Leon's eyes light up in spite of the agony he's in.~
Leon: You're serious? Thanks!
~Leon goes to reach out his hand towards Vaughn, then grimaces again, with Thomas immediately directing him towards the gate. He turns back to his half-brother, shaking his head.~
Thomas: Injuries already? And what about the girl, Sadie?
~In answer, Vaughn points over to the other side of the corral. Thomas looks over, seeing Sadie currently on top of the bucking bronco, riding it like there's no tomorrow, even though there's no saddle. Thomas' eyes show a flash of love as he sees Sadie bouncing up and down, and let's face it, it's a thrilling sight. To most. Vaughn, for his part, looks away, staring at his watch, wondering how long this is going to take.~
I just have one question for the Game Changers.
You guys have been together for so damn long... why haven't you changed the game yet?
Your nickname should just be the Game Players. Or the Game Conformists. Maybe the Game Genies, no, wait, that's taken. You can't have that.
Seriously, though, it seems like all of your efforts to make major changes in Level Up have really, continuously failed. Oh, sure, you've won titles. Larry Tactless keeps on trucking and all, and you guys make great groupies for him. But is the slight increase really worth the amount of punishment you guys take week in and week out?
Yeah, okay, pot speaking to the kettle here, I get it.
Here's the honest truth from me: at first, I thought I could find a way to admire the Game Changers. I once had my own group, the Exiles, and we tore through multiple companies for a while, really doing a lot of damage. Thunder Pro Wrestling didn't even survive us, as I retired their International Championship. The XWF tried to send their best stable, Apex, against us, and we soon watched them implode and fall apart, as I took their Universal Title from them. So, I mean, I definitely have experience when it comes to powerful stables.
But you know what your biggest flaw was?
You approached others to try and get them to join your gang of malcontents and miscreants, but you never thought to ask Peter Vaughn.
I mean, hey, the state of mind I was in, I can't say if I would have agreed or not. But you decided that I wasn't worth your time. Wonder if you still feel that way, after I've gotten some big victories here in Level Up, and now hold the ability to attack your boss if I felt like it? And I know, the answer will be "You never cashed it in because you've been too scared". Nah, fear has never been a part of it. It's just all about timing, and the fact that I'm extremely patient.
I said coming into Level Up that I was going to handle things differently. I wasn't going to push for a top tier title right away. I was going to make an impact and climb the ladder just like everyone else.
But you know, patience does have its limits. Maybe at EXP 31, I'll finally decide to stop waiting and crush the Game Changers... twice.
Or maybe I'll just walk away knowing that you're going to continue to feel intense anxiety any time I'm around.
It's fun, isn't it?
That said, this one's not about a title opportunity... yet. This one's about showing the Game Changers once again what they missed out on. It's my chance to pop some skulls and snap some skins, sending some poor GCs back home crying to their papa about how poorly they were treated.
Then, hey, maybe we'll get to meet again in the near future. As always, I look forward to it.
Especially if one of you gets set up to take the Plunge.
~It takes a long while. The sun is starting to set when Sadie finally rides the bronco over to where Thomas and Peter have been watching. Thomas can't help but applaud, a large smile on his face. Peter's face is unreadable. As Sadie dismounts, Peter reaches out and puts a hand on the side of the horse, who snorts for a second before allowing himself to be led back into captivity. As the door shuts, Thomas turns to Sadie with a grin.~
Thomas: That was spectacular! Hey, want to go get a bite after this? I'd really like to pick your brain about your riding style...
Sadie: Cool your heels, champ. That's not going to happen. So, Mr. Vaughn... did you like what you saw?
~Vaughn seems to think it over for a moment.~
Peter: I think it could have been done faster... that said, good job. You're hired, just like that other fellow. The bunkhouse is right down there, you can get yourself settled in there in a few minutes. We'll get started early tomorrow.
Sadie: Thank you, sir.
Peter: Don't thank me yet. It's not going to be easy, being here on the ranch. I'm going to be coming and going, keeping my wrestling career on target, but I'm determined to see this endeavor pay off. So I'm going to be asking a lot of everyone who's employed with me. Are you going to be able to handle that?
Sadie: Yes, sir. I do believe that I can.
Peter: Good. And stop calling me sir. I hate that.
~Sadie nods, a small smile on her face, before she walks away. She easily goes over the fence with one leaping gesture, helped by her arm on the post, and continues onwards, as Thomas stares after her. He obviously didn't take her words about it never happening to heart.~
Thomas: I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her leave. She's really incredible, isn't she, Peter?
Peter: All I care about is if she can get the job done.
Thomas: Oh, don't give me that tough "Cowboy" bullshit. You don't know anything about breaking a bronco, and neither do I. You still grew up in the city, I haven't forgotten it.
Peter: I've ridden a horse or two in my day, so don't paint me as a complete city slicker. But yes, this ranching life is going to be new to me. So I expect you to make things easier on me, rather than ogling the new employees. Got it?
~Thomas stares oddly at his half-brother for a few seconds.~
Peter: ... What?
Thomas: At some point, we really need to talk about what's keeping you from feeling any emotional attachments for anyone. Including Mom and I.
Peter: ... sure. We'll talk about that. Someday.
~Vaughn turns and walks away, towards the fence. Knowing better, Thomas immediately heads for the gate instead. We switch off of them to focus on Sadie, who is approaching the bunkhouse. She looks around casually for a few moments, before pulling out her cell phone. After a few clicks, the phone starts ringing. We hear someone pick up, although nothing is said.~
Sadie: This is Agent #347. I have made contact and am in the nest. Repeat, I have made contact and am in the nest.
~There's a corresponding beep, then the phone hangs up on its own. Sadie puts away the phone, again checking to see that no one was around her, then moves off into the bunkhouse to get settled in. We slowly fade out.~
