NOTBPW: The Prodigal Stone

Blake Trask · July 31, 2011

Stone Family Residence.

December 31st, 2009

8:30 PM.

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The Stone clan sit in the dining room of their patriarch, chatting amongst themselves. The atmosphere is pleasant, festive. For one night, they are free of the arduous strain of the wrestling business, and are amongst family in a fashion that doesn’t involve suplexes and submission holds. Victoria leans against her husband, Sean’s arm wrapped around her back. Jeremy chats with Duane – back from Japan for a short while, his Burning Hammer commitments on hold. Jeremy’s wife gossips with Dan Jr’s, catching up with one another. Dan Stone himself reclines in his chair and oversees the whole scene, content. He looks over his shoulder as into the room walks Dan Jr., a slight smile on his face.

“Kids are in bed,” Dan Jr. announces. “Davey grumbled a bit about having to sleep at the same time as Luce, since he’s ‘Sooooo much older’ and everything, but I settled him down. Eventually.”

Dan Jr. goes and sits by Sean and Victoria, and then Dan Stone suddenly sits up, donning his serious face. Catching sight of this, Jeremy and Duane both quieten. Nobody interrupts Dan Sr. when he’s wearing that expression.

“I don’t wish to bring business into family time, but with Jeremy busy with the House, Victoria spending so much time on the booking job and Duane away in Japan, I’m unlikely to get another opportunity to bring all of you together,” Dan Sr. pauses, probably for gravitas. “To cut straight to the point, I’m considering retirement. I feel that it’s about time I handed over the reins and enjoyed some time away from the business. I don’t intend for this to be immediate, but I’ll be looking to step down at some point over the next year.”

Dan Jr. smiles. “Nobody deserves it more than you, dad.”

There’s unanimous agreement around the table, Dan Sr. steeples his fingers.

“Of course, that means I will need to be picking a successor. I think that any one of you could do a fine job of running the company after I retire.”

Sean is first to speak. “With respect sir, I couldn’t possibly step into your shoes. This company needs a Stone at the helm, and if I might be a little selfish, I have an injury to rehab from,” Sean touches his head gingerly. He is still suffering from the effects of a severe concussion he endured a couple of months ago. The doctors are predicting it will be more than a year before he returns to action.

Dan Sr. nods. “I consider you family Sean, but I understand, especially since you’re hurt.”

Duane shifts a little in his seat. “Not that I’m much of a businessman, so I doubt I’d be first choice anyway, but I’m committed to Burning Hammer right now. I’d love to come home, but I’m really enjoying it out there and well…” Duane actually blushes a little. “I’m seeing somebody.”

After the pre-requisite gushing and teasing from the rest of the Stone clan, the room settles back down. Dan Sr. is smiling.

“You’re doing great in Japan son. I’d never force you to take charge, especially when you’re under contract,” perhaps as an act of mercy, he has nothing further to add.

Dan Jr. “Well, you know that I’d love to take over, Dad. I know the ropes, and if you’ll have me, then I know that I’ll do a great job,” he pauses for just a moment too long. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to muscle in on Vicky and Jeremy, if they’d like the job.”

Jeremy thinks for a second, and then shakes his head. “I’d rather concentrate on the House. As you know, we’re pretty much self-sufficient there. I don’t think I could handle wrestling, teaching, balancing the House’s books and running the company. Besides, if Dan wants it, that’s fine by me. I don’t want to have to drop the House, so if I’ve got the choice not to…”

“I wouldn’t tear you away from your beloved House, Jeremy,” Dan Sr.’s tone is just a little teasing. “If Dan wants to run the company, and you’d rather stick to the dojo, then that works just fine,” Dan Sr. glances to Victoria. “Unless you feel you could handle the ownership and the book, Victoria."

“Actually Dad, I was intending to tell you that I’m thinking of stepping down as head booker. I’d like to spend some more time with Sean and Lucy. We’re actually also considering trying for another child. So if Danny wants to take control, then I say all power to him. I can even give him a few suggestions on who to appoint in my place.”

Dan Jr. grins triumphantly. “I won’t let you down, Dad,” for an instant, the smile falters, but only for a split second. “And thanks, Vicky, we can talk about that in the New Year.”

Dan Sr. reclines in his seat once again, sweeping his assembled family with a pleased look. “I’m glad that went so smoothly. Thank you everyone. It’s decided, Dan will be my successo-“

“Aren’t y’all forgetting somebody!?”

Dead. Silence.

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Eidenhoek · July 31, 2011

Edd Stone coming in with a decidedly Southern idiom into a Canadian household is awesome.

TakerNGN74 · August 1, 2011

I will definately be following this as NOTBPW is one of my favoriote promotions in the C-Verse. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

Blake Trask · August 2, 2011

*Disclaimer: From this point in, it will become fairly clear that this diary is intended, at least 'backstage', to be a little tongue in cheek. You have been warned.

Moments Later...

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A vein is standing out on the head of Dan Sr., Dan Jr. looks furious. Everyone else just seems completely gobsmacked. Standing in the doorway is somebody that most of the Stone clan haven’t seen in almost three years. Edd Stone, with a twinkle in his eye and a broad smile on his face.

When Dan Sr. speaks, it’s through gritted teeth. “How. On earth. Did you. Get in?”

In response, Edd dangles a set of keys in his father’s face. “You kicked me out so fast that you never took ‘em off me.”

“I couldn’t have got rid of you quickly enough, Edward,” Dan Sr. snarls, placing particular emphasis on the full name that he knows very well that Edd hates.

Dan Jr.’s tone is extraordinarily hostile. “What are you doing here? Dad made it clear that you aren’t welcome.”

“Well maybe I came to see the rest of my family, Danny-boy. Last I checked, Jezza and Duane were still my brothers, and Vic was still my sister, so you can ride your high horse all the way home.”

“I am home.”

“Figure of speech, genius.”

“And you wonder why you were thrown out.”

“Because you’ve got the sense of humour of a brick?”

“Enough!” Dan Sr. barks. “Edd. Just tell us what this is about.”

Edd spreads his hands wide. “I was telling ya’ll the truth, Dad. I wanted to see the family members that don’t hate my guts. Last I checked I was on pretty-okay terms with every one of my relatives not named ‘Dan’. I meant to arrive earlier today, only Freddy got us lost on the way up here.”

“Freddy?” Jeremy stirs. “Franklin Huggins?” Edd nods. “He’s here too?”

“Yeah. He’s outside. Said that he’d leave the awkward family reunion to me,” Edd raises an eyebrow, looking at his father. “And I guess he was right about that. I walk in, and you’re giving the company to Danny without so much as a by-your-leave. You forget about little ol’ me? I’m still your son, Dad. Don’t I at least deserve a say in this, even if it’s just to tell you that I’d rather stay in America?” Edd puffs out his chest. “Heck, maybe I might want to give running the family business a shot.”

“Edd I wouldn’t trust you in charge of a bicycle, let alone a multi-million dollar company.”

“Shush Danny. I’m being indignant.”

Dan Sr. glares at Edd, but manages to keep his cool. “Edd, you are twenty-three years old. You aren’t mature enough to take over, and even if you were, you don’t even have any business experience!”

“I do so! I had an awesome lemonade stand back in the day!”

“…”

“C’mon Dad… honestly when I walked in here I couldn’t’ve cared less about inheriting the company, but ya’ll have hurt my feelings by cutting me out of the loop.”

“I would still pick Dan over you Edd.”

Sean clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “Why not give them both a contest? A balanced way of choosing between the two of them that will settle this without all the arguing. Perhaps… whoever can demonstrate the best knowledge of the company’s history will inherit?”

There is a general nodding of heads around the table at that, as well as some murmured agreement. Sean gives a little smile, pleased.

Dan Sr. nods sagely. “Excellent idea. Will that satisfy you, Edd?”

Edd shrugs. “Sure. At least it’s fair.”

Dan Jr. chuckles, cracking first his neck, then his knuckles. “Edd you’ve spent most of your life with your head in comic books and video games, there’s no way you can beat me in NOTBPW knowledge.”

“Probably not,” Edd admits. “That’s not really the point though, bro,” Dan Jr. snorts dismissively.

Dan Sr. looks from Edd to Dan Jr. “Okay. I will ask you… five questions. In each case, whoever gets the answer first will be awarded the point. First to three is the winner. Agreed?” Both sons nod. “Then let us begin. Question one: Who was the second graduate of the House of Stone?”

“Dann-“

“Me.”

“Point to Dan,” Dan Sr. says with a smug smirk. Edd looks irritated. Dan Jr. looks surprised that Edd even managed to answer that quickly.

“Question two: What partners has Jeremy won the tag team titles with that aren’t related to him?”

“Hm well that has to be…”

“Steve Flash and Robert Oxford.”

The entire room stares at Edd. He shrugs and smiles. Even Dan Sr. seems taken aback.

“That is one each. Question three: What was the longest Canadian title reign in the promotion’s history?”

“Two years, 40 days. Jez’s first reign,” Edd’s smile has turned into an outright grin.

“How can you possibly know that!?” Dan Sr. is starting to lose his composure now. Dan Jr.’s jaw gapes open. Duane and Victoria look as if they’re trying not to laugh.

“Ask Jezza,” Edd answers with a wink.

Deep in thought to this point, Jeremy’s eyes widen... and then he headdesks. “Oh Christ,” he moans into the table.

“…Question four: What team has held the NOTBPW tag team titles the second most times?”

“The Wood Brothers.”

There is a moment’s silence.

All the colour drains from Dan Sr.’s face.

Dan Jr. storms from the room.

Victoria buries her head in Sean’s shoulder to stem the giggling.

Jeremy pounds his head on the table again.

Duane starts howling with laughter.

Edd leans down and rubs his ankle, remembering past pains.

20LEgend · August 2, 2011

That was awesome. Funny and told the story. Freddy Huggins being there for no reason was funny, as was pretty much all of Edd's dialogue.

Is this the game where Sean McFly is out injured (I think you posted about it in the "What's going on in your game thread.)? If so, I'd say the two Dan Stone's are prime suspects to have taken him out.

Edit: Also loved that Duane found it funny. He can bugger off back to Japan

Teh_Showtime · August 2, 2011

Epic backfire...

I'll be reading

Blake Trask · August 2, 2011

Edd Stone coming in with a decidedly Southern idiom into a Canadian household is awesome.

Haha. I'm trying to give him a bit of a distinctive drawl. I struggle with making different people sound different in text sometimes.

I will definately be following this as NOTBPW is one of my favoriote promotions in the C-Verse. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

Thank you! I have a lot planned. NOTBPW isn't generally my cup of tea, but I've done a lot of thinking ahead and I have a few stories in mind (in the ring, not just outside-ring shenanigans)

That was awesome. Funny and told the story. Freddy Huggins being there for no reason was funny, as was pretty much all of Edd's dialogue.

Is this the game where Sean McFly is out injured (I think you posted about it in the "What's going on in your game thread.)? If so, I'd say the two Dan Stone's are prime suspects to have taken him out.

Edit: Also loved that Duane found it funny. He can bugger off back to Japan

Glad you enjoyed it. Right now I'll just say that there's a reason for (almost) everything I've included.

And yup, this is the save with the injured Sean McFly. He's out for 13 months with a major concussion. I didn't intend to leave it this way, but I figured it would be a nice challenge (and it SERIOUSLY has been. I've played most of the first month in-game and I'm drowning in heels).

Epic backfire...

I'll be reading

Glad to have you onboard.

@Everyone: You'll have to bear with me in getting the actual diary part of this started. There's quite a bit of prelude, just to set the scenario. Things are written all the way up to the first show, and I've got abridged versions of the next three - but I've learned from the last failed projects I tried on here that if I don't keep a backlog of content, my momentum completely flags and I wind up losing enthusiasm.

Bigpapa42 · August 2, 2011

Haha. I'm trying to give him a bit of a distinctive drawl. I struggle with making different people sound different in text sometimes.

That can be tough. Using different verbiage can be one way to do it. Someone who you want to sound educated or pretentious can be verbose, using a lot of big words. Someone gruff or direct might use very few words at all. It can accomplish the same thing, essentially, as changing up the "tone" of the words.

Following along, BTW. Great opening segment with the Stone family. Look forward to see where you take this.

Rathen4 · August 2, 2011

This is fantastically written and I wish more people would be talking in here about it, like they do for some other diaries.

Looking forward to more, especially as you're putting some soul into the soulless wrestling machine north of the border!

Eidenhoek · August 3, 2011

Huh. Wondered what Jeremy did that Edd knows so well. Or...yeah, that.

Also, the Wood brothers are Larry and...uh...Hard?

Wallbanger · August 3, 2011

Also, the Wood brothers are Larry and...uh...Hard?

Billy, as played by a young Alysian Scottsfield.

Blake Trask · August 3, 2011

That can be tough. Using different verbiage can be one way to do it. Someone who you want to sound educated or pretentious can be verbose, using a lot of big words. Someone gruff or direct might use very few words at all. It can accomplish the same thing, essentially, as changing up the "tone" of the words.

Following along, BTW. Great opening segment with the Stone family. Look forward to see where you take this.

Thanks for the advice and the support!

This is fantastically written and I wish more people would be talking in here about it, like they do for some other diaries.

Looking forward to more, especially as you're putting some soul into the soulless wrestling machine north of the border!

I'm flattered. 'Soul' is definitely one of the main objectives of the diary. xD. I hope not to detract too far from what NOTBPW is as a company though. They're not going to become faux-CGC overnight.

Besides, Traditional is trending. xP

Huh. Wondered what Jeremy did that Edd knows so well. Or...yeah, that.

Also, the Wood brothers are Larry and...uh...Hard?

It'll come out eventually, and yup, Wallbanger is right. It was a ring-name of Alysian Scottsfield when he was younger. (Interesting trivia, as of February 2010, I have all three of Scottsfield's ex-partners on the roster).

Five Minutes Later

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Outside the Stone residence, a young man sits in the driver’s seat of a beat-up old Corvette, drumming a beat on the steering wheel. As the front door opens, he looks up, grinning as he sees his friend, Edd.

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“The old man kick you out already, huh?”

“Actually Freddy…” Edd hops onto the bonnet of the car and squats down, causing its occupant to wince. “I’m now the heir to the Stone family business.”

Freddy stares. “That must’ve been one hell of a reconciliation. What’d you do? Discover the secret to a perfect suplex?”

“Beat Dan Jr. in a ‘NOTBPW trivia’ contest.”

Freddy pauses for a moment. “Your old man didn’t know?”

“He didn’t know,” Edd smiles as Freddy starts cracking up.

It takes a little while, but once Freddy regains his composure, he speaks again. “So what’s going on now?”

“Danny is I think murdering one of his punching bags and Duane and Vic are trying to console Dad.”

“You think he’ll go through with it?”

“Well, it was Sean’s idea, so if he backs out he’ll prolly upset him. And if Sean’s upset, Vic’ll be upset too. Duane’s sympathetic – he clashed with Dad a lot too, I think that’s one of the reasons he went to Burning Hammer, so he’ll prolly get wound up... So I dunno. Maybe, if he cares about not getting on the bad side of even more of his family. Danny’ll be pissed, but he ain’t got a leg to stand on to complain. He agreed to the contest, after all.”

“What about TCW? Gonna invoke that contract clause?”

Edd nods. “Yeah. I’ll speak to Tommy tomorrow. See if I can drop the belt first show of the new year. Don’t wanna leave him in the lurch, but I’m pretty sure this qualifies as ‘urgent commitments’. Inheriting a company? Yeah, that’s a big deal. If not? Well, I can always buy out the rest of the contract.”

“Didn’t take you for a businessman, Edd.”

Edd laughs. “I’m not, it’s just… well, I went in there meaning to try and patch things up a little with the old man, and I overhear him naming Danny as his heir and it’s just…” Edd shrugs. “The red mist came down and all the fights came flooding back. He hasn’t changed a bit, hell Duane was there, and he doesn’t even work for the company anymore. He’s making a huge decision about the business, and has all his kids there… but me.”

“So you’re just doing it to spite him?”

“Maybe. Maybe to prove I’ve grown up a little,” Edd grins. “Just a little, though. Whole thing is probably a train wreck waiting to happen. I’ll give it my best shot.”

Freddy opens the car door and then gets out, heaving a sigh. “Well… I’ll miss you, man. It’s been good, running with you and Laura the past couple of years.”

“Yeah…” There is a sombre pause, and then… a light bulb could’ve appeared over Edd’s head. “Dude… I’ll make you my booker!”

“What!?”

“I’ll make you head booker! That way we can stick together! The boys back home north of the border!”

“Whoa whoa whoa! I can’t be a booker! The last time Joel asked me to improvise Charlie wound up dressed as a clown!”

“An awesome clown.”

“Nobody else thought so!”

“C’mon Freddy, we’d make the best team!”

“But my ideas won’t fit! Joel and Tommy said I’m too ‘sports entertainment’, remember?”

“Then you’re just what these guys need. Have you seen how dull the shows are? They need some life, dude.”

“But… what about my contract?”

“You’ve got the exact same clause I do.”

“And Laura!”

“Dude she loves it in Cali!”

“But-“

“It’s Jeremy, isn’t it?”

“…Maybe.”

“Jezza’s an alright guy, Freddy-“

Freddy fixes Edd with an accusatory glare. Edd sighs.

“I’ll give him your instructions, that way you don’t have to be in the same room as him.”

“…Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Alright alright… then I guess we’ve both got some talking to do with Tommy.”

“And me my dad. Want to come inside?”

“Is he there?”

“…You can wait in the car.”

Emark · August 3, 2011

Oh my!! The foundation of NOTBPW is crumbling

. Really enjoying the back story and I'm always a mark for Edd Stone. I'm anxious to see where this one goes.

Blake Trask · August 4, 2011

Oh my!! The foundation of NOTBPW is crumbling . Really enjoying the back story and I'm always a mark for Edd Stone. I'm anxious to see where this one goes.

The foundation of NOTBPW is the patented "60 minute time limit draw between the two best wrestlers on the roster. Every week." (according to the AI, at least), so I'm gonna be jumping on that all day long. xD. Happy to hear you'll be reading.

@Everyone: Things are proceeding apace, and I'm getting surprisingly invested in a couple of characters I didn't think I'd ever particularly care about. In game, I just finished playing past Clash Classic and will be trying to write up Big City Brawl in full + finish at least month two. (Which will bring me to 10 shows booked). There will be more 'backstage' stuff in the future, but not as much as the initial storystorystory kick I'm on.

Self · August 4, 2011

Digging this. Good representations of the family. Nice little Jeremy/Huggins thing going on. Very cool. Rock on.

FuelFan0102 · August 4, 2011

This is so cool. Edd is such an awesome character, I'll definitely be following this.

Teh_Showtime · August 4, 2011

As a Huggins mark (the biggest one here probably), this is the best thing that I could expect. I didn't think I would see him in this NOTBPW. This is amazing!

Blake Trask · August 5, 2011

Digging this. Good representations of the family. Nice little Jeremy/Huggins thing going on. Very cool. Rock on.

That makes me a very happy camper! I was a massive fan of your FCK diary, and looking ahead, there's definitely a few influences in here from your work.

This is so cool. Edd is such an awesome character, I'll definitely be following this.

Thanks. Welcome aboard!

As a Huggins mark (the biggest one here probably), this is the best thing that I could expect. I didn't think I would see him in this NOTBPW. This is amazing!

When I talk a little more about inspirations for this (later down the line), I'll bring up why I've included Freddy. Nice to find a fellow Huggins fan though!

Just afterwards...

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Edd returns inside, finding the dining room deserted apart from his father. Dan Sr. looks haggard, resigned. He’s clearly had quite the talk with his other children, perhaps had to confront one or two harsh truths. He knows he’s backed himself into a corner, and isn’t quite sure how to get out of it.

“Edd I…” Dan Sr. sighs, then gestures to one of the empty chairs. “Sit down, please.”

The youngest Stone does so, looking at his father with narrowed eyes.

“I know that… I know that we haven’t always seen eye to eye, and it was perhaps… maybe,” Dan Sr. struggles, the admission clearly difficult. “Somewhat unfair of me to exclude you from this discussion. For that, I apologise,” Dan Sr. hesitates again, obviously trying to be as diplomatic as he can. “However… surely even you can see that you wouldn’t be the best man to take this company forward? You haven’t been involved in NOTBPW affairs for years now and you’ve had little to no experience in business. …Lemonade stand or no.”

“What’s your point?” Edd himself can’t quite hide the hostility from his tone.

“What I am trying to say is that rash words were spoken, I was perhaps a little too hasty. But… you just aren’t suited to succeed me.”

Edd snorts. “Want a shovel for that hole you’re digging, Dad? Happens you’re probably right-“

“So you’ll allow Dan to-“

“Let me finish Dad! You never let me finish!” the flash of anger across Edd’s face is a reminder of past arguments, years of yelling at one another for entire nights. Dan Sr. shuts his mouth. “Thanks. Yeah, Danny would probably be better at the job than me, but you’re completely missing the point; which is that you didn’t freaking TELL me about all of this! Jeez Dad if you’d even called me to ask, I would’ve been perfectly happy to let ya’ll keep doing what you’re doing up here and supported whoever you picked to take over. Well… more likely I prolly would’ve said something about not caring and that you could do whatever you want, but it’s the thought that would’ve counted. But what did you do? You shut me out; you pretended I don’t even exist. So in short? No, I ain’t letting Danny have it, not after I beat him.”

Dan Sr. looks like he is in physical pain. “But the company…”

Calming a little, Edd’s balled fists are still white-knuckled. “Y’know, you could always make the best of it and… oh I dunno, try and help me run things. Just a suggestion.”

Hesitation.

“Look Dad, nothing says you’ve gotta retire next month, does it?”

“…I suppose. I will… try to guide you a little.” There is a pause, Edd waits expectantly as Dan Sr. shifts in his chair, then looks over at his son. “I don’t suppose you’d consider allowing Dan to take the book…?”

Edd folds his arms. “Nope.”

Dan Sr.’s shoulders slump. “You have someone in mind, then?”

Edd nods.

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Still sitting outside, Freddy Huggins looks up at the sound of an audible facepalm.

Blake Trask · August 6, 2011

Five Minutes Later...

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Head still ringing from the facepalm, Dan Stone Sr. looks from his youngest son, to Edd’s companion, then back again.

“Edd,” he says after a considerable pause. “Please tell me that this is a joke.”

Edd quirks an eyebrow and says nothing.

Dan Sr. lets out a very, very long sigh.

“Well gee. I’ve got to say that I’m thrilled by your show of support, Mr Stone,” Freddy Huggins shoots Dan Sr. a scowl.

“To be perfectly honest, Franklin, I was hoping Edd might choose somebody with a little more experience than one of his… “frat boys”,” Dan Sr. actually does air quotes. He could well have been dismissing a claim.

Edd laughs. “You totally called that one, Freddy,” they fist bump, and Freddy makes an explosion noise. Dan Sr. is less than amused.

“I will not have you two running this company like your own personal playground!”

Freddy hesitates a second, his expression sobering. “Mr Stone, we’re not doing this so we can wreck NOTBPW. See, if Edd ran the business into the ground, that would kind of prove the point that you made in the first place, wouldn’t it? Nope…” Freddy smirks. “Edd will get to gloat a lot more if he does the job right.”

“And that starts by naming a man with no experience whatsoever to the booking position?”

A roll of the eyes. “With all due respect, Mr Stone, Edd is my best friend. We trained together, in America we teamed together. We’re on the same wavelength, we think in the same way.”

Edd chimes in. “Freddy is somebody I know I can count on Dad – somebody that I don’t need to worry about babysitting, ‘cause we’re both on the same page. I don’t have to think about whether he’s gonna be running things how I want, or if he’s gonna undermine me, ‘cause he’s my bro. S’more than I could say for some of the other people y’all might suggest.”

Edd quite pointedly leaves it unspoken whether he’s referring to the undermining or the brotherhood. Maybe both. Probably both.

Dan Sr. sighs. “I see I’m not going to change your mind – as if I ever could. I can’t say that I think that this is the wisest thing to do, but my hands are tied, aren’t they?”

Both of the others nod.

“Fine then, Franklin takes the book,” Edd and Freddy start to whoop, but Dan Sr. cuts them off with a sharply raised hand. “But… I haven’t retired yet. I expect to be kept appraised of your creative direction and signings."

“You’ve got it, boss.”

Dan Sr. rolls his eyes, and moments later a voice calls from the next room.

“If it’s decided, I have one or two things I’d like to talk to the future management about.”

What Actually Happens:

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JeremyStone_Self3.jpg

“Hey there Franklin. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? When you’ve got some more time, we should discuss a couple of guys who I think will be ready to graduate to the full roster sometime soon.”

Jeremy holds his hand out for a shake.

What Freddy Sees and Hears:

This, particularly the intro.

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JezzaEEEEEEEEEVIL.jpg

This

And this.

”I will snap EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY.”

Freddy stands there, paralysed. Jeremy and Dan Sr. give him extremely confused looks. Edd coughs awkwardly and shuffles his feet, then gingerly takes a transfixed Freddy’s hand and puts it in Jeremy’s outstretched palm.

The reaction is instantaneous.

“AAHHHH PLEASE NO I LIKE MY ARM IN ONE PIECE I PROMISE I LEARNED THE ARMBARS!”

Freddy somehow lets that out in one huge burst, wrenches his hand out of Jeremy’s grip and runs screaming from the room.

“…”

Edd stares after him, and then turns to his father and brother.

“There’s uh… there’s probably something I should tell you about Freddy.”

Teh_Showtime · August 6, 2011

You really put over Jezza with that last bit. We need to see a sparring session between him and Freddy.

Blake Trask · August 7, 2011

You really put over Jezza with that last bit. We need to see a sparring session between him and Freddy.

Hahaha. It may well happen in time!

----

Game Data Details:

Playing with...

Dual Grade Images (making stats as grades rather than numbers irrelevant)

Owner Goals turned OFF

Penalties for small rosters ON

Penalties for repetitive booking OFF

Perfect Show Theory OFF

Characters can become stale over time ON

Gimmick Effects ON

Worker Morale Effects ON

Locker Room Morale Effects ON

Momentum Effects ON

Time Limits on Negotiations ON

Advance Bookings Cannot be Deleted OFF

"Dirt Sheet" Available

Industry and Economy Effects ON

--

Auto Save ON

New Worker Frequency HIGH

Relationship Frequency MEDIUM

Strict Boom and Bust ENABLED

Strict Advanced Booking ENABLED

Strict Storylines ENABLED (Not that it's relevant...)

Promotional Battles ENABLED

Injury Frequency MEDIUM

Death Frequency LOW

Regeneration ENABLED

Dirty Tricks ENABLED

Worker Restrictions OFF.

Changes to default data

Dan Stone Sr./Edd Stone 'Family Feud' relationship removed, replaced with 'Blood Relative'.

(In playtesting, I discovered that if the relationship was still negative, Edd would not inherit the company)

Victoria, Jeremy and Dan Stone Jr. 'Business Reputation' stats set to 0%

(This was to prevent any of the aforementioned taking over the company instead of Edd. I think it's fairly random when there are multiple candidates to inherit)

Set Edd Stone's business stats to the following:

Business Reputation: 100%

(Just to make extra sure)

Roster Size: Medium

Pacts: Normal

Patience: High

(Considering the scenario is that his best friend is head booker, I thought this was realistic)

Roster Turnover: High

Finance: Flashy

(It's Edd, of course he's flashy)

Style Preference: Pure Entertainment

(Which I did not, in fact, change. He has this set already even though under normal circumstances he can't become an owner).

Set Edd Stone to be employed by NOTBPW on a five year written contract, to ensure I won't lose him before he takes over.

Sean McFly is injured for 13 months with a Major Concussion, making him completely unavailable. (Forgot to revert)

The regular Freddy Huggins has been set to 'out of the business'.

The user character Freddy Huggins has been set to 'best friends' with Edd Stone.

CGC is at war with NOTBPW. (Forgot to revert)

The User Character:

As Freddy Huggins (set as 'Franklin Huggins' in the data). His popularity in Canada has been set comparable to Edd's.

Booking Reputation: Lowest

User Talents

Negotiating: 7

Motivating: 6

Creativity: 5

Leadership: 2

(And my backstage is still 100% thanks to all the Stones)

Eddsecutive Decisions (Product changes)

Mainstream: Very Low -> Low

Pure: Medium -> Low

Match Ratio: 90% -> 80%

Expected Match Lengths: 12/18/30 -> 8/15/25 (20 for TV)

Match Intensity: 80% -> 65%

Match Danger: 20% -> 25%

Next up: Roster Review

sebsplex · August 7, 2011

Head still ringing from the facepalm...

I love that line. The comedic tone in general is great, especially the last piece where Huggins perception and reality conflicted at the end.

Really enjoying this one so far and as you've already heard from numerous other people, your characterisations of the Stone Family are excellent. I'm all for the inclusion of Huggins as well. The dynamic with him and Edd is so rich for the pickings. I'll be following this.

Jaded · August 7, 2011

Congratulations on proving those of us who didn't think there was ANY way to make NOTBPW interesting 100% wrong.

Awesome stuff, can't wait for the first show. PLEASE job Dan and Jezza out to the Fighting Irish sooner rather than later...

Blake Trask · August 8, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="sebsplex" data-cite="sebsplex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="31868" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I love that line. The comedic tone in general is great, especially the last piece where Huggins perception and reality conflicted at the end. Really enjoying this one so far and as you've already heard from numerous other people, your characterisations of the Stone Family are excellent. I'm all for the inclusion of Huggins as well. The dynamic with him and Edd is so rich for the pickings. I'll be following this.</div></blockquote> Thank you! I'm happy to hear that. I honestly find these 'backstage' parts a lot easier to write than shows, probably because it's just quick back and forth. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="31868" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Congratulations on proving those of us who didn't think there was ANY way to make NOTBPW interesting 100% wrong. Awesome stuff, can't wait for the first show. PLEASE job Dan and Jezza out to the Fighting Irish sooner rather than later... </div></blockquote> Well, the soulless machines resisted it, but I'll drag them kicking and screaming if necessary. <img alt=";)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/wink.png.686f06e511ee1fbf6bdc7d82f6831e53.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />. As for that... xD. I wouldn't say I'm a great booker, but I'm not a suicidal one either. The Stones will remain in or around the main event... just hopefully not every single show in hour long A* matches. ----- <div style="text-align:center;"> ROSTER REVIEW Main Event Bloodstone http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JohnnyBloodstone.jpg - Great technician - Can talk at a push - Capable of making grown men cry with pain Dan Stone Jr. http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/DanStoneJr_Self2.jpg - All round skills (Tommy’s better!) - Hates Edd - May break my ankle if I have him job Dark Angel http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/DarkAngel.jpg - Awesome face paint - Great ring general - May be checking to make sure he is not under my bed each night from now on Jeremy Stone http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JeremyStone_Self3.jpg - … - … - … Steve DeColt http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/SteveDeColt.jpg - Godly microphone skills - The champ, has the ability to back it up - One of the only guys on the roster with more personality than a paper towel. Upper Midcard Freddy Huggins http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/FreddyHuggins.jpg - The best there is - The best there was - The best there ever will be John Maverick http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JohnMaverick.jpg - Technically skilled - Good fundamentals - Keep away from live microphones at all costs Owen Love http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/OwenLove_alt2.jpg - Half of a great team - Like a better Maverick - Cool sunglasses R.K. Hayes http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/RKHayes.jpg - Over the hill - Looks scary - Punches things The Natural http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/TheNatural_alt1.jpg - Other half of a great team - Brings the talk as well as good skills - Equally cool sunglasses Midcard Derek Frost http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/DerekFrost.jpg - Solid fundamentals - Decent brawler - Awesome hair Edd Stone http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/EddStone_alt2.jpg - Part of the number one tag team in the world - My best friend, therefore awesome - Throws great parties Harrison Hash http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/HarrisonHash_alt.jpg - Used to wear a panda head - No longer wears a panda head - Something has gone terribly wrong Lord James King http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/GentlemanJimKing.jpg - Average all-rounder - Sweet-as-hell hat - May not be working a gimmick Mighty Cavanagh http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/MightyCavanagh.jpg - Looks like a badass - Weak skills - May eat me for saying that Omar Brown http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/OmarBrown.jpg - Sort’ve like a mini R.K Hayes - Works strong style!? - Do not book self against Tim Westybrook http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/TimWestybrook.jpg - Insane stamina - Could break me in half over his knee - May actually be a robot Lower Midcard Canadian Dragon http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/CanadianDragon.jpg - Funky mask - Nothing to really write home about - JOBBER! Harlem Haynes http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/HarlemHaynes.jpg - Big and angry - Punches things - If Omar is mini-Hayes, he is Clone-Hayes Jason O’Conner http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/CHThreepwood.jpg - Sort’ve like a proto-Maverick - That means we have time to save him from becoming a black hole of charisma! - Give him opportunities to improve mic skills before his soul drains away! Robbie McNamara http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/CrockettTubbs.jpg - Super bland - Looks like skimmed milk in human form - Probably not really Irish Opener Erik Strong http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/ErikStrong.jpg - Hot prospect - Actually capable of holding a mic without having a nervous breakdown - One of the only wrestlers I know who wears a shirt. Bears further investigation. May be suspicious. Julian Watson http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/JulianWatson.jpg - Has potential - Looks disconcertingly similar to Maverick - Long lost brothers? Investigate. Enhancement Talent Flash http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/FlashSavage_alt1.jpg - AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH. - Decent high flier - Sadly, not the saviour of the universe. Women’s Division Kristabel Plum http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/KristabelPlum.jpg - Good talker - Good basics - …Kind’ve bland. Probably has the belt cause she’s the only face. Lauren Easter http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/LaurenEaster.jpg - Great prospect - Can talk, submission wrestle and has good fundamentals - H.O.T. HOT Melody http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/Melody.jpg - Solid all-rounder - May work better as a face - Surname AWOL Sally Anne Christianson http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z453/EddStoneNOTBPW/Characters/SallyAnneChristianson.jpg - Very average skills - Young - JOBBER! </div> Weep for my complete lack of faces.

Phantom Stranger · August 8, 2011

ohgodIcan'tstoplaughing

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