For months he’d listened to Draconis’ own reflections, his regrets, the olive branch he’d extended. He could take his so-called regret and choke on it. He could stick that olive branch up his ass for all Jeremy had cared. For months he had listened, but he hadn’t really “heard” Draconis until this past Havoc, when actions became words. He struggled with forgiveness his entire life, but this professional front was a challenge all its own. He needed to move, to clear his mind, to push all this back. He had committed to hitting the reset with Draconis and he couldn’t allow his old habits to get in the way. It was past time for him to address the HWA Fanverse and there wasn’t likely going to be any better time than now. He got up, went to his desk and logged on to the employee portal of the site, fired up the camera and production modules, took a deep breath and took a stab at the first of those unexpected surprises.
(Jeremy): William, I don’t think either of us expect this match at Havoc, at least I didn’t. I’ve been looking forward to facing you again for 5 months and now that it’s here, I feel…unready. Not unprepared…but just not quite ready if that makes any sense. I thought I’d……I thought we’d have more time to bridge this divide and face one another with clarity, but here we are. I heard about you training with the recruits. It’s refreshing to see others like yourself step up and step into the role of advisors. I remember years back when I was in their shoes. I can count on one hand the times anyone of note even came around the LCW.
Jeremy laughs out loud, shaking his head in memory.
(Jeremy): Sorry…you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. “The LCW” was the name Matt and Sean had for HWA back then. I guess it was an inside joke, and they said it stood for the Leper Colony of Wrestling. You know…HWA being blackballed and outcasted. Anyway…the point I was making is that I know what it meant to me the very few times Butch was able to have anyone who even had a recognizable name in the business to visit, so I know what it means to those recruits to have you there. I want you to know that come Havoc, I’ll be looking to see just how much you’ve grown since our last encounter as you are me. You see, I’m looking to push you just as much as you’re looking to push me. It’s not a ppv match, but at Havoc…I know you and I are going to make history.
Jeremy paused a moment. The topic of “ppv” stung just a little after current events. Wisdoms announcement had given him the second unexpected thing. He thinks back to I guess what you could call he and Matt’s first…lovers quarrel. He couldn’t believe Matt had pulled out of the triple threat match that they and Sean were to have upcoming, and now as a result…Helloween Harvest would see he and Sean one-on-one. He was not happy about Matt’s decision, he certainly voiced his opinion…and he supposed that the best part of fighting was making up…and they had more than made up that night. It had seemed like an eternity, but had been mere seconds and he refocused his thoughts back to the subject act hand.
(Jeremy): Speaking of ppv…it’s you and me Sean…the third unexpected item on my list. How many times have we been in there together? I doubt either of us could count, but this will be the first time on a big stage like a ppv. It’s not the triple threat we were expecting, but end result is the same…one of us will go on to face Sensei in the culmination of his in-ring career. It’s an honor we’ve all talked about over the years and seeing him at Art of War against Nakamura…that renewed vigor in him.
It was like watching a battle hardened katana being pulled from it’s sheath after decades of not being used only to find its edge as sharp as ever.
I want that match Sean. I need that match. I still have a lot to prove, and who better to prove it against than the man who helped get me where I am today. There’ll be lots more to say about this along the way, but let us get past Havoc first. I have Draconis and you have Maniac.
Jeremy’s mood and tone changes as he talks of Maniac.
(Jeremy): You know Maniac, I had you beat at Havoc. I know I did. You didn’t beat me, I beat myself. I let my emotions get the best of me and it worked to your advantage. You might not care about wins or loses, but I do. HWA has been going strong since our return and how many one-on-one wins does Jeremy Branson have in that time? One! One freakin’ win. I wanted to humble you at Havoc and I only humbled myself, and now you’ll skip your as into Helloween Harvest with smile on your face in that match with Matt. Your games are at an end, he’s going to wrap you in that barbwire and blow you to smithereens.
It's strange what the mind does to a person. I’ve been preparing for Helloween Harvest and went back to Helloween Harvest 2003. You were a young dude back then, younger than I am now, but you had the “It Factor.” You even had the US Championship and were taking on the legendary Buff Bridges. You lost the match, but what struck me most about it was the fans. They loved you back then. Back the only crazy you had in you was the occasional reckless abandon you might have had in the ring, and the fans ate it up like Jeff Hardy diving off a ladder. Now you’re older and walking around with some split personality crap, and trying to play mentor and spread your mental disability like a plague.
Only Erica was dumb enough to take you up on that offer of yours, and you have your hand out to Draconis’ kids as if he’d let that happen. I’ve got other things to focus on at the moment Maniac, but we will meet again, and I will beat you definitively. You might laugh it off and act like you don’t care, but I and the whole world knows that laughter is the best medicine for pain. It’s probably why you do it, you’re a miserable man with no friends or family, and the only time you feel anything is when you hurt. Not to worry, there’s a lot more hurt in your future.
He sighs, thinking now on of Hans and Vanessa.
(Jeremy): Hans…Vanessa, it’s a terrible situation you’re in. Erica has learned too well from her Maestro it seems. I don’t mean to dredge up the past, but as I said…I was just looking at Helloween Harvest 2003 and Vanessa, you were in the throws of some conflict with Thane Givens at the time, and now all this time later you find yourself distressed at the same time. I’m sorry for this. I’m sorry for what you guys are going through, but Stu-E….
What’s your deal man? I mean, we all have our opinions, but as of late you seem to be making it a point that your points sting. First you talk shit about…just about all of us coming from the Academy…what was it you said? Something about us being “cookie cutter” wrestlers. You sat in bar at Art of War until you felt the time was right to make a dramatic entrance for your match some 10 or 15 minutes already underway. Then you start trashing how “management” is running things and not having the decency to really call Butch or Wisdom by name, and now…now you’re questioning Hans? Hans…whose neck deep in so much personal shit, you dare entertain the thought that he’s got time for some corporate games? You know what…maybe all of our “respect has been very misplaced.”
A lot of us were so excited when we heard your were coming back to the company. Got to meet you at the reunion, serving up those drinks and having a good time, I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, but now…I just don’t get you. As far as I could see, you’ve been given nothing but respect for the man we thought you to be and the veteran you are. Sean talked about the voicemail you sent him following your first match, after our match you commented on some radio show about how I brought my A-game.
It was a little nod, but I damn sure took it. Where has that Stu-E Price disappeared to? Whatever it is you seem to be so bitter about, talk to us man, maybe we can help…but keep running everybody down and the time for talk will be over. I know that may not sound like much from a guy with one decent win under his belt, but take it for what you will.
There was a lot on his mind, and this was one of the reasons he liked to stay off the radar. He didn’t like getting worked up and stressed out over things.
(Jeremy): Erica, I don’t even have words for you bitch. You may need more help than Maniac, and that’s saying something. What you’re doing is criminal, and I can’t wait for it all to come bite you in the ass someday, you pathetic excuse for a woman.
He looked at the clock and it was coming up on dinner time. He was to have sushi with Matt at Sawa Sushi downtown. It was a small, dark and intimate place that only sat 10 people. It took forever to get a reservation and he was looking forward to it. He decided to wrap this up so he could get ready and get his mind right to enjoy the evening.
(Jeremy): You know, I started this for Draconis and I’m going to end with you. My mind got sidetracked by all the other noise. I just want to add one more thing. While we both had the opportunity, and before the ppv comes bearing down on us I want to wish you best of luck at Helloween Harvest against Fallen. He’s been a thorn in everyone’s side since he came back, some more than others, and no one knows him better than you. No one is better equipped to deal with him on the personal level that you are. I don’t need to tell you that whatever you once had as friends is long gone. That poison he sprayed in your eyes, I’m sure has you seeing clearly enough about that. He somehow lived to fight another day after Sean pummeled him at Art of War…I hope you put him down once and for all.
Jeremy publishes his message, still deep in thought and heads to the shower to get ready for his date night with Matt. At the moment, there was nothing else in the world he’d have wanted more.
Message Thread
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