Cath seeks out Dante

[cathul]

Cathul and the cameraman finds Dante S. Inferno and his TX cronies in a corner booth, the light above it not shining. The darkness is slightly illuminated as he takes a drag from a cigarette. Next to him sit two other wrestlers, Quickfire and Undertakeur. They all blink heavily and scowl menacingly at Cathul as he flips the oversized camera light 'On'.

Cathul: Guys, beat it. I need a word with Dante alone.

Cathul jabs his thumb towards the lounge's exit, the look on his face stone cold serious. Both wrestlers raise to intervene with Cathul, until Dante issues the command for them to withdraw. Still scowling, the two men push past Cathul, bumping him rudely. Still, Cathul doesn't even glance at the exiting men, his eyes stay focused on Dante.

Cathul: I hope you don't mind if I sit here, the table seems to be empty now and you look like you could use some company.

Cathul lowers himself into the chair without waiting for Dante's approval. With a whistle and a wave of his hand, Cath summons the waiter and orders himself a glass of Pinot Noir.

Cathul: What does this make it, Dante... Three federations we've worked for together? Why is it, since we're such familiar traveling companions, why are we always staring each other across enemy lines? Is it because you're still sore from how badly I beat you in that "Sinners Wrestling Federation"? Your broken jaw seems to have been expertly set, there's no disfiguring scars.

Cathul's glass of wine arrives and he pauses his speech long enough to accept the drink and wet his pallet before continuing.

Cathul: I mean, that would make sense. While you've always been on the other side, you've also always taken measures to duck me. That one match we had all those years ago, that's the only time we've ever faced each other. I can't say I fault you for running from me "Pilgrim", self preservation is an amicable trait.

[cathul]

Dante: Ducking you? You think all this while I’ve been running away from you? I know you’re delusional, but come on Cath. ‘Acting’ like an idiot doesn’t suit you, so I recommend you knock it the hell off. What are you here for anyways? I know you, I’ve seen you work your way to the top of three different federations through backstabbing and turning friends on each other. Are you here trying to disrupt TX, because if you are, it isn’t going to fly. These boys believe in me and they believe I’m going to put that belt of yours around one of their waists. Any one of them would take a bat to your head if I asked them to and not even ask why. So I ask again, why ARE you here?

Cathul pauses as he studies the way the ripples in his wine collide as he swirls the contents. He thinks for a long moment before he responds.

Cathul: Dante. Three federations we’ve been through together, always watching the other. This is the first time I’ve seen you turn on your fans. Up until now, they always loved and adored you, no matter how deplorable your actions have been. I remember this one time you fed birds explosives, yet the fans still cheered for you. I’ve been on the other side of that fence since I showed up in the ring. I’ve tried to better people’s lives, I tried to educate them, I tried to be an idol for them to mold their lives into. In this day and age where debased acts assault the senses on a daily basis, I tried giving the people of this nation something wholesome and family oriented to watch. Yet they always booed me. What am I doing wrong?

Dante: And you came to me to ask this? Cathul, like you said, we’re looking at each other across enemy lines. I’m grooming the Undertakeur to challenge you for that belt. You must know this. Why don’t you go ask someone else why the fans love them?

Cathul: Because they didn’t turn on their fans. They only know the love and adoration the fans heap onto them. You had all of that and you turned away from it. I need to know why you did that. And don’t tell me it’s because of Emma. She pays well, but her head wasn’t ever in the game.

Dante: Maybe it actually was. Maybe I truly believed that we could tear down this federation and build a new one in our own image. What about the fans? Yeah, the fans of GX would hate us, but imagine what it would have been like if we succeeded. The fans would see the superior product we were putting on, and they would’ve forgiven us. The booing that you hear for me now would have become cheers. And I could say that I made this. You talk about becoming part of something that is bigger than yourself; I thought you were on board with this project. Making the world a better place is a huge project, why didn’t you start small like, making this federation a better place. All we had to do was sweep aside the old guard and this arena would’ve been our play pen. Why didn’t you side with Emma in the end?

Cathul: Because I saw her lack of faith. She brought me in to do what you were trying, only on a smaller scale. I was taking out her opposition one man at a time. Working for her, I saw her incompetence as a manager. Think about it, she wanted to get rid of the “Old Guard” because they disagreed with her. Do you really think that she could fill a roster with 50 wrestlers that agreed with her ever decision? If she did, what kind of product would your dream federation have put on? It would be like watching a dog fight between vicious killer Poodles. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s lap dog, especially one who lost faith in the task she hired me for. Wearing this belt proves I’m the right person for that job. This belt means I’m the best there is in this business. She should’ve trusted me more.

Dante: Yeah, I have one of those belts too. If we had both been on the same side, imagine what we could’ve accomplished. I think our duel championships show that we were the right men for the job; even if you decided to leave that job to work for the competition. The fans? They hate you because you tell them what they’re doing wrong in their lives. No one wants to hear that they’re wrong, they’re bad, they’re stupid, or anything else you have to tell them. I call it pandering to the lowest common denominator, but I call it connecting with the fans. Take it from me, though Cath. Forget the fans. They’ll expect you to always fight for them, even when they won’t fight for themselves. You’ll expect you to win every match, and they’ll push you when you’re at your weakest. Just keep doing what you’re doing and looking out for yourself, because the fans won’t help you in a match. They’ll just boo you when you lose and hold up signs the next week saying you let them down.

Cathul: I guess we don’t have anything more to say to each other. You gave me something to think about, and you spoke honestly. I respect that, Dante. I have to go contemplate some things before I address my fans. By the way, good job on retaining your belt. You may have lost your fans, but you managed to keep you head; and your belt.

Cathul stands to leave and walks right into The Undertakeur, spilling his red wine down the front of him.

Cathul: Oops. Red wine stains you know. You better go get that taken care of. Oh, and sorry about your ankle, I’m glad to see you’re up and mobile again.

Cathul departs and the Undertakeur begins to follow.

Dante: Forget about him. He thinks his backstage politics can keep that belt on his shoulder. We’ll see if he makes it through the night, as a sign of respect. If he does, Undertakeur, I have some plans for next week. Gather around…

[dantesinferno]

OOC: Lol thanks for picking that end up... sorry about the seemingly drop or ignoring thing. RL reared its ugly head (that and two birthdays in the family and Valentines day all in one week didn't help either lol)

[cathul]

OOC: That's fine, did you want to edit your responses at all? I'm not very good at RPing AS Dante. But if RL is still standing in the way, we'll let things ride. I'm progressing the storyline we discussed earlier.