Senester is seen sitting in a board meeting in the West Tower where the HWA CFO is presenting the results from Declarations.
(HWA CFO): We saw only moderate drops in revenue streams from pay-per-view, digital media, and live TV events in this 4th Quarter opening compared to the prior year. We are hopeful that Ring Master, which will occur in December and will be included in first quarter financial results, will yield improved numbers.
(Senester): I’m not in interested in what you’re “hopeful” about, give me the figures.
HWA CFO): Yes sir, well…total revenues for the 2011 first quarter were $107.8 million compared to $162.6 million in Q1 of last year. Operating income dropped from $27.1 million to $16.7 million, and net income fell from $19.5 million ($0.27 per share) to $10.3 million ($0.14 per share). We are just pulling through the early stages of the recession recover, households are maintaining that conservative edge that has been necessary the past few years.
(Senester): Necessary? What’s necessary is for our superstars to increase their value. Consumer expect to have a value-added asset, they will pay their hard earned money, they will spend their last dollar just to see an HWA superstar. What they won’t do is spend one red cent to see, or to have merchandise for anyone who does not hold some form of value to them. Do you know why my action figure is the highest selling in the market? Because I provide the highest form of value, people buy not because they like me, but for the pleasure of beating it up and breaking it with their other action figures.
Make no mistake ladies and gentlemen…this is about profit, sustainability and the evolution of our brand. HWA talent will do their part in programming to facilitate the goals that I set. Value…quality…output… Ronnie McNeil is now HWA Champion which naturally increases the interest of the African American demographic, just as Hans’ reign peaked foreign interests. Champions like him, like Eddie Phoenix are centerpieces who are to perform at the highest of standards which should be reflected in our income statement, and if it isn’t…if these ppv buyrates stagnate or diminish, if the bar isn’t raised for others to follow and increase merchandise sales, if that value is not obtained… then they will lose that title just as they loses this company money. They can join Bryan Deas action figures on the end-rack clearance shelves at Walmart as we liquidate and cut our losses.
The meeting continues for roughly another 45-minutes before adjourning. Senester heads out and is joined by 4 members of Dark Horse’s legal branch.
(Attorney): We have received the prosecutions witness list for the next court date. You’ll want to review it, we have already begun preparations for cross-examination.
(Senester): Send it upstairs…I’ll deal with this later tonight.
Minutes later Senester enters what can only be described as a very elaborate and lavish nursery. It looks more like a futuristic marvel of architecture than the traditional pastel concoction found in homes. He stops in the doorway, sniffing the air as he catches a very faint odor. The nanny is sitting in a chair reading as the twin babies sleep. Senester leans over their cribs watching their mouths smack and eyes wince as they sleep. The nanny looks up at him and smiles.
(Nanny): They’ve been well today my lord.
(Senester): Good. You’re excused…I will attend them the rest of the night.
The nanny gets up and nods taking her leave as Senester picks up the twins, nestling them on his shoulder and heads to a different room. The girls has Butch’s intense emerald green eyes and the boy an arctic blue resembling Senester’s own. They look over their father’s shoulder with all the wonder of their new world surrounding them, and the motion of Senester’s stride nestling them back to sleep. Some hours later he has put them to bed and has made is way down a few floors. He pulls his hands from his pocket and places it on the black surface of a door before him, and the door slides open with a digital ping.
(Senester): This was his room Herr Heinrich……The Baron. The bookshelves still hold the collections of his favorite readings, the air still smell of the cashmere in his sweaters. If you listen very closely, you can hear him arguing in competitive banter with his former brethren Buff Bridges or Reaper. If you touch your hand the walls you will find they still vibrate to the sounds of “Set Me Free” by Velvet Revolver that he often blasted through the sound system. This was indeed Hans’ room, his home away from that hovel in New York. This room Herr Heinrich could tell you secrets. Secrets he left behind its locked doors when he chose to depart my side.
It has been some time since a von Richtoven has graced these halls and especially this room, needless to say I am anticipating your arrival for our little… “sparring” session as you call it. I shall regale you with stories from the past. Do you know how many time he watched his 2004 match with Black Dragon...the very match that made the man a vegetable for four long years? He studied it the way I taught him to study it. Watching the pained expressions on his victims face. The look of fright and helplessness in the eyes of the referees, its beyond adrenaline Herr Heinrich and the Baron was a finely tuned instrument of not only destruction but an unsympathetic one at that. Yes…I have man adventures to share with you, because while you were still finding your way in the world, perhaps not wanting to walk in big brother’s footsteps or shadow… he for a period of time experienced true freedom.
I want you to taste that freedom Heinrich. At Havoc when we look across the ring at Talon and Logan I want you to feel its tingle on the tip of your fingers. It is not your body’s natural instincts, it is the will of the flesh alone to act. One little taste Heinrich…a fine elixir for the soul. Perhaps this match shall be the beginning of your own legacy. We shall see.
Senester leaves the room the door sliding shut and locking behind him.
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