Guess that means me

[Jennifer Drew]

One hour?

So this was the story, Jen would have to walk into enemy territory sit down with their Fearless Leader and negotiate for, something or other. What to do? Just show up, smile big, act enthusiastic and wing it.

After the broadcast Jennifer took a few minutes to make herself presentable for a business meeting. She scrambled around her apartment for a few minutes made all the more tense as she could feel the seconds ticking away.

Jennifer hadn’t exactly planned on doing anything remotely businessy that day after training and the old jeans and T-shirt she was lounging about in said so. The realization that she was going into this cold was a little daunting, but she’d let the deadline pressure wash all of that anxiety away. Once she felt sufficiently clean and primped she ran to the elevator and took it up to the Mayhem GM’s office.

She took one last minute to fix her hair and smooth out the black button down top and slacks she had managed to pull out of nowhere then knocked on the door a few times.

[rr]

His trained ears catching the light knock at the door, and with Lady Bankova's slight wave of her index finger, Radimir assumes vertical base and heads toward the closed door. Hesitation never being his, the Iron Bison opens the door and greets the visitor with a snort. His shrouded hazel eyes scan her from head to toe, his sights now squarely upon the unnaturalness of her hairpiece.

[Jennifer Drew]

Oh hey, I know you. You were in the video.

She felt a little uneasy but tried her best to look the man in the eyes by standing on her tiptoes.

So, I think Ms. Banks wanted to see me. Right now I think, unless I was watching a replay in which case I’m just going to look like a complete idiot, aren’t I? I mean if I spaced on something like that I’d probably uh…

This was getting a little awkward.

Can I go in?

[rr]

Her mumblings were beginning to annoy him. Not only that, the little girl tries her best to stare him in the eyes. Her first mistake. Radimir would gladly be the impulsive brute he is if this were not important to Lady Bankova. He manages to keep himself as reserved as possible, and steps to one side. A heavy snort follows, just so she understands that respect is expected of her during this all. Not only this, he makes sure to keep his eyes on her throughout the meeting since she is considered blue, the color of the enemy.

[Jennifer Drew]

Alright, I’ll take that as a yes.

She steps past the big man as fast as she can keeping an eye on him just in case he decides she had performed the entrance ritual improperly and had to be removed. She moves toward Ms. Banks’ desk and stops behind one of the chairs pointing a thumb back at Romanov.

I like him, you’re going to have to show me where I can get one. Anyway, I saw you on TV and TV you told me I had to come here. Nice to finally meet you, Miss Mayhem GM Silvia Banks.

[sil]

Well... it's nice to meet you too, dear...

The first thing Silvia takes notice of is this woman's choice of hair color. VERY clashy... but to each her own, right? It's a good thing she isn't here to judge upon looks... well much...

How awkward it is that you know my name and I do not know yours... but I assure you that it's possibly at the tip of my tongue? Or is it because you are one of the LockUp! qualifiers? If it is, I mean no disrespect my dear but I couldn't know what your name is. And for the record, Radimir doesn't like it when someone points at him. He gets sort of touchy... in that bad way I mean...

She demonstrates the snapping of a twig with her hands, which surely gets the point across. It's followed by a smile and Silvia waving her toward the X over yonder... while the camera within the room is easily spotted...

[rr]

Lady Bankova's words are heard quite loud and clear... especially as a nod from the Iron Bison adds legitimacy to the claim just made. He crosses his arms, and surveys the area from his post near the door.

[Jennifer Drew]

She just threw out her hands in a little frustration. Jennifer knew there was a difference between invited and welcome in this case, but she figured she’d just roll with it. This guy wouldn’t actually kill her, right?...Right?

Well sor-ry. Didn’t realize pointing was one of his buttons. Let me know if any of my other gestures make him, you know, homicidal. And it’s Jennifer by the way. Jennifer Drew, LockUP! Superstar/Debutante.

She decides to just skip the handshake after calculating the chances of the return.

You want me to go stand on that X? Fine, peace offering, I’ll go stand on your death trap... I mean your simple innocuous mark on the floor.

She inspects the area for falling sandbags and trapdoors then takes her place in front of the camera.

So, what happens now?

[sil]

Silvia giggles at her quirks. This woman also seems to be quite the short fuse as well. How ever so droll...

Don't you worry, if I don't... I'm sure he won't hesitate to SHOW you. Alas, it IS a shame that he does have a habit of showing before telling...

One moment... Jennifer Drew? THE Jennifer Drew?

So you're THE Jennifer Drew, hmm?

Time to stroke her ego...

I'm sorry, but I have heard of you before. Quite the repetoire you have indeed. And you've decided to join us here? Too bad you're on the wrong show though... where your potential and talent will be nothing but stifled...

She dismisses the thought... and goes right to business.

Did you watch the video in its entirety, Miss Drew? Simply put, you tell me what happens now... Or should I go as far as to ask you the simple question: do you... wanna be... on TOP?

[Jennifer Drew]

Whoooa, can someone crack a window and let all the innuendo out of this room?

She leans in and winks, being careful not to point… at anything.

Alright, alright, yes for the record I am THE Jennifer Drew, although when you say it like that it takes on a gravitas I don’t know that I can really match. THE President of the United States, His Holiness THE Pope, and THE Jennifer Drew. One of these things is not like the other.


Now yes, I saw the video, my TV commanded me to come here within an hour and I did, and not just because I lack willpower, no I do want to be the Top Debutante here in GCW. That’s why I’m here and you know that’s why every other girl in this company is here even if they deny it to your face. Me, I’ll tell you up front that I’ll do everything legal in the state of Missouri to make sure that happens at Absolution. Then I start hearing about advantages and contests and whatnot and I have to say I was a little intrigued, and I start to ask myself what can Silvia Banks do for me?

[sil]

I admire your humility, Miss Drew... however, not to toot my own horn but beep beep...

The corner of the right side of her lips curls up into a half-smirk.

The question is, what can't I do for you? I can assure you that your current "boss" isn't doing a darn thing. MayheM's current standing with respect to LockUp! is enough of an indication. But enough of that. Back to the question I just posed... with of course, with all things comes a price.

She points over to the camera stationed within the room, focused on the two and then slowly... solely on Miss Drew.

Convince me what you have to offer... what you plan to do? You may also use the video featuring myself as a set of blueprints before you utter a word into that camera over there. I await with intrigue...

[rr]

Radimir huffs and puffs, simply unimpressed by this strange pink piglet. She is stained blue...

[Jennifer Drew]

The video, yeah. Guess that’s as good a place to start as any.

She thinks back to the video having made it a point to remember all of the words that crawled across the screen in stead of paying attention to all the other stimuli. She pulls out a small slip of paper with some scrawled notes on it then turns and looks into the camera.

Making it nice and easy are we? Well that’s cool, really why can’t everything be in a nice little checklist? Basically you’ve laid out everything you want your top Debutante to be and surprise surprise I think I fit all those pretty well. I’ll just go right down the line. Beautiful, hey no matter what anyone says the fact is they’ve allowed me on TV all this time, we know they have ways of keeping you off if no one wants to look at you. Edgy’s my thing, I mean we both know you mean somewhere beyond extreme soda edgy and I like going over the top pushing the limits of what’s considered not assault whenever I get a chance. And I think you get that I’ve got a stride of my own. Wouldn’t you say there’s something just a little bit “different about me? And I mean I could have just come in here and been all reverent like one of those “professionals” I always hear about. But no, right now I’m thinking of hitting the Russian with a little sign language. Personality yeah, I think I might have one of those. Innovative, that’s what I do in the ring, I’ll send you a press kit and a couple of matches, you’ll see it’s all there. And fierce? Well ask anyone who’s ever been in the ring with me if it didn’t get intense and see if you don’t get the same answer every time.

Jennifer slides the paper back into her pocket, satisfied. And now, it was time to ad lib.

What I’d do as the top Debutante? Besides strutting around like I own the joint? I guess I’d just do whatever it takes to keep the world interested. Thriving on conflict, putting on classics at every show, getting the belt out there, making you money by making me money. What more is there?

[sil]

Did Ms. Drew just insinuate that she'd flip off Radimir?! She covers her mouth ever so slightly, to conceal a smile and a giggle that follows. She found it quite humorous, in that good way...

You have it all figured out, hmm?? The mind frame of a seasoned veteran, I assume? Fabulous. It's self-evident that whoever decided the drafting made a big mistake putting you on the wrong show. By the way, I love the personality, Ms. Drew. I'm sure it will take you quite far. But, what have you say about your first opponent and all those that may follow in the Debutante tournament?

This should be good...

[Jennifer Drew]

She looks up crossing her arms and stroking her chin for a second.

My opponents, well you’ve got your Amy Rhoades she reminds me a lot of me. The worry there is that we’d be too evenly matched and that the pay per view would go on until one of us dies of old age, or there’s a nuclear apocalypse or the Rapture comes.

Then the Boston*, sorry but I just don’t trust anyone with an asterisk in their name. Would you? I mean that could potentially footnote anything. Anything!

This seemed to deeply concern her, for a minute at least.

I was pretty surprised to find out what a huge star Veranica Styles is and I’m sure just about everyone else was too after she told us.

I went one on one with Angel Storm not too long ago and believe me if I had slipped up once she’d probably be sipping a frothy pint of ale from my skull. If it comes down to it I wouldn’t mind her trying to tear me limb from limb one more time.

Kelly Monarch, I don’t know her too well but I’m still using every fact I have on her to my advantage. One, she’s a friend of a friend, two she’s totally into butterflies. That gives me some tactical advantage, I don’t know what it is but I’m sure I will by Absolution. All I know is that she’s got a long night ahead of her and if she can walk out of the ring under her own power after taking on Angel she’ll have proven everything she needs to prove to me.

Jennifer shifts gears a bit, looking just a bit more serious as by process of elimination she got to her first round opponent.

And then there’s Shelby Steele. All I’m going to say is thank God I’ve got to go through her before I can worry about anyone else on that list. See, I’ve been on the phone with Vegas… uh, the city with all the casinos not, you know, and the odds on her just keep getting better and better. And you’d better that’s got something to do with her beating me on LockUP! I know what I’m getting into this time and if I have to wrestle her for 30 minutes, or an hour or until the aforementioned complete destruction of the human race as we know it, I’ve got to win this one for me, plain and simple.

She stops and refocuses on the camera, not as if she’d forgotten something but as if there was something else urgent on her mind.

Oh, and that Lessien chick needs to call me.