Post by gvb on Mar 8, 2022 15:31:05 GMT -6
2x18 PAPER HEARTS
Lady's Office
February 24th, 2022
6:46 PM
The cameras cut again, after a short line of text ran across the bottom of the screen, reading “Last Week - Behind The Scenes Of The Academy”. The footage showed Lady Magdalena’s Parisian inspired office, and the numerous framed photographs of her with her family, the graduates from the first season of the Academy and ones of her with her fellow coaches. There seemed to be a fresh bouquet of white lilies in an ornate vase, and if anything the office was extremely well organised and tidy. Too tidy, in fact. That all changed, after some loud “oohs” and “aahs” could be heard from the outside, followed by a single scream and a round of applause. There was silence after this, until Lady Magdalena herself marched into the office, covering her mouth.
Lady Magdalena:
Was that truly necessary, brother?
She cried out loudly, reaching into her fridge as she produced a chilled glass bottle of sparkling water, shaking her head as she paced over to the desk to pour it’s contents into what seemed like a brandy glass.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
What do you mean?
Came the voice of her brother, the world renowned thirteen time World Heavyweight Champion. He was attired in his training gear, seemingly made personally for him in the red and white of the Polish flag, whilst Lady wore a more classy navy blue tracksuit, though a far stretch from the regal attire she was often seen in on shows.
Lady Magdalena:
The suplexes. Did Rainer really require to take so many? Eight of them? Eight? And my ears are still ringing from the Erika girl screaming. It is bringing on the most terrible of migraines.
She seemed quite furious, sitting herself down as rubbed her temple with her hand, before she began to drink the water from the glass deeply. Andreas was stone faced, merely folding those powerful arms of his across his chest, giving a side glance back towards the door.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
For his recent retorts? He likely deserved more… But he adequately cushioned his landing on the final one, which at least shows that he was listening to the lesson.
Lady Magdalena:
His head was practically bouncing off of the mat after that last one. I’m surprised he was able to roll out of the ring.
She blurted out, slamming the now empty glass upon the mahogany table so hard that it almost shattered. Her eyes were fixated on her brother, who seemed to have zero reaction to her outburst.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
You’ve grown soft, sister… I remember years back when you didn’t bat an eyelash when giving a similar lesson to Myron and Ando. In fact, you applauded the lesson given.
He sat down at the desk right across from her, his eyes fixated on her face, watching her disappointment and concern with steely eyes.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
And what was given, was a perfect demonstration in how to perform, protect yourself and how to reverse a German Suplex…
Lady Magdalena:
He never managed to reverse one.
She exclaimed, glaring over at her brother, fury painted on those elfin features of hers.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Though I reversed his. And let the rest of the class see exactly how to.
Lady Magdalena:
The last thing I require is a member of my team to receive an unnecessary injury only days from the next show. He’s a strong, durable competitor, but I have seen you lay out opponents for weeks, months with those Germans of yours. But well done, you drove the fear of death into the boy, as well as the rest of my team when you made them watch on.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Your team? I thought he was “Team Rainer”?
She turned her gaze to him, her eyes wide as she waved her hands up in frustration, marching over to grab herself another drink, this time one from a decanter. As she did so, Andreas continued to speak, a slight smirk upon his grizzled features, but he spoke calmly and reassuredly.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
You didn’t just bring me here for my expertise in the ring, sister. Nor for the lessons I will be teaching this group on how to function as a team when the bell rings.
His finger tapped on the table, Lady with her back turned to him as she poured out her drink, downed it in one, then put away the decanter into a cupboard.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
The inmates are beginning to run the asylum, and despite the efforts of you, Helena, Gian and the other coaches… You’re beginning to lose your grip on their egos.
Lady half turned at this, letting out a sigh, eyes cast down as her brother, the twenty five year veteran of the sport, carried on.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Your ability to teach these kids, from the ground up in all aspects of the sport… It’s a high level. The facility itself is world class, the equipment is state of the art and the training rings are of a much higher standard than some full fledged promotions I have competed in. Your methods of coaching are much to be admired, that goes for all the staff, and the group of you are making the learning process interesting to the roster, and often entertaining so they enjoy the hard work you encourage.
Lady Magdalena:
That is rather high praise, brother. Surprising, actually… Though I do suppose there is a ‘but’ to this unexpected veneration?
She finally answered, moving back towards the table as she rested her palms upon it. She tilted her head as she searched his face for answers, though Andreas remained dramatically silent for just enough time to leave her feeling uneasy.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
But…
Lady rolled her eyes at this, knowing that it was coming as she went to take her seat once more.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
You give them far too much free reign.
Lady Magdalena:
We treat our students here at the Academy like adults, brother. We respect them as individuals and understand their individual needs, and what helps them to flourish.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Hmph… Straight from Gian’s textbook. If that is the case, please understand that Gian is as soft as liquid shit, and some of these students are cunts…
Lady looked absolutely aghast at Andreas’ comment, and use of foul language, giving him such a stunned look at the usually stoic Morning Star almost chuckled. Almost. But he carried on, pointing a finger in his younger siblings direction.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Don’t look at me that way, you know what I speak of is true. Gian has a bright and shining vision for the Academy, and it’s future for MWE… But all that will rust away if you don’t install some discipline, and halt this maddening idea that the students have free reign over the Academy, being able to do and say whatever they want.
He sat back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Promos are promos, interviews are interviews, and there will always be those who try to take shortcuts in contests. It is the more savage nature of the business, and avenues for that and in defence of that must be explored. But the blatant disregard for the efforts you are making, and the establishment you have created can not be ignored.
Grabbing the picture at the side of the table, one containing the images of Lady with her freshest batch of students on day one of the Academy reopening, Andreas placed his finger on the face of the student they had mostly been discussing.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Take Rainer, for example. Brash, talented, has natural raw ability, that much is certain. But your willingness to allow him to blatantly disrespect you by denouncing that he is part of your training team, and allowing him to influence others into doing so as well is detrimental to what you are trying to build here. As well as being hypocritical, when they insult you, your fellow trainers and the organisation's decisions at any given opportunity then walk into the gym expecting you to teach them!
His finger then slid across the picture, moving to another figure, one that had practically been joined to Rainer’s hip for the last few months.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Take your other student, the Eldon girl. A clear acolyte to his way of thinking. The business can’t be all made of leaders, it needs followers, and while her own allegiance may be romantically, or obsessively, influenced… She will follow her new leader by that path that will blind her to the learning opportunity she has here.
Turning the photo to take a look at it, his eyes then cast up to his sister, who didn’t look best pleased with his evaluation of the team she had put together.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
That is not to say that all of them are the same. Levandrier and Wakefield have shown quiet potential. While not as verbally explosive as the others, they slowly progress. While not getting the acclaim that the more loud mouthed receive, you must be pleased with their steady growth. These, I suppose, are the two that you could label as your model students? But then there is the one who you put the most stock in… The one that has recently bitten back harder and deeper than the others.
Lady didn’t say a word, merely gritting her teeth as the veteran competitor, the man who had once trained her, spoke on.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Rebellion is common in youth, more common within the wrestling industry now than ever before. We can thank influences like the Bastard for that. Within every promotion now, there is a small handful who will riot, rebel and revolt against management for the sake of riot, rebellion and revolution. But often in these cases, with some exceptions of course, there is no reason bar a want for attention and recognition. And whilst this is becoming a terrible, repetitive norm throughout nearly every federation around the globe… It has zero place in an Academy. They are here to learn. They are here to push themselves and better themselves. They live, breathe, eat and sleep on site, given a home in the dorms and are contractually obliged to take part in training and seminars. This is what they came here to do, to be better. And if they already think they are, they are clearly mistaken. Even the lowest rungs of MWE would eat every single one of these students alive if they were to find themselves on the main roster tomorrow… Especially a student who only a few short days ago was knocked out by a newcomer in forty two seconds.
Lady Magdalena:
Brother…
Andreas Lasiewicz:
No, you will listen to me now.
His voice boomed, even taking Magdalena off guard with his sudden outburst, sheer power in his voice that seemed to make the very room itself shake.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
You personally selected this girl for your team despite complicated past histories involving her family and ours. You have put time and effort into her coaching, along with Wheeler, gave praise to the girl for standing up for herself, and the Academy. You rewarded her for her efforts, her hard work and for calling out the bad apples within the Academy who were slowing down progression for the students with their own egos, and tainting the reputation of the school. You made her the captain of your team, and recommended them to compete for the Gold Star.
He took a pause, Magdalena turning away from him for a second as she seemed to let her own coaches’ speech sink in. Lasiewicz then continued on, his voice lowering in volume, but no less powerful.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
And in return, they act like they have already done enough. They complain about anyone else being given an opportunity and they make a public, damning outcry about the way the school is run, the shows are booked and the fact that they are expected to actually attend lessons. How many classes did they skip leading up to that forty two second loss?
The Frenchwoman turned slowly to face her sibling, and whilst she didn’t utter a word, the answer could be seen clearly upon her face.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
You told me over the telephone that it was a blessing in disguise when Bey Addams was released from the Academy. Did you expect that the girl who spoke out against Addams so strongly would turn into her within such a short period of time?
Lady let out a sigh, obviously listening on, but it was unclear whether she was tired of her brother's words but was listening reluctantly, or whether she was absorbing them like a sponge. But her attention was taken, a single eyebrow raised.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
What you have now is a situation where you could go down two possible paths with them. One, you allow them to carry on, play the rebel heart and disrupt the rest of your class, until they spill out onto the main roster with a General Manager who will not put up with their shit, then their heart bleeds on the mat and another career is been and gone within a year or two. Or, you can nip this in the bud, teach this girl a lesson and ensure that she learns from it. And learns for the better. And becomes better.
Lady Magdalena:
Brother, I have this matter under contr–
But he didn’t give her enough time to speak, interjecting before she could even finish her sentence.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
She has already insulted me by her refusal to attend these seminars, and insulted all of you, and the competitors that I was holding study pieces on by showcasing their work and talents. The decision on how you handle this situation is entirely in your hands. Do you want to make a real champion out of her? Or do you want her to be another ignorant, failing wish-they-knew-it-all who is out of the business in a flash like Bey Addams, who will never be able to become as good as they are in their own mind, like RISE’s Athena Adler?
The mere mention of Adler, the RISE student who infamously refused to listen to the coaches in HKW, made her grimace. The comparison was obviously there, whether Lady liked it or not, and the sheer suggestion that McKinley could spend her time skipping classes and complaining about the coaches just as Adler did was a harsh one. She let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment.
Lady Magdalena:
I will take your advice and recommendations, dear brother, and will consider them. But as you said, this is my decision and mine alone.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
It’s what I am here for…
Lasiewicz then stood up, moving towards the exit. Before he did so though, he turned his head to his sibling.
Andreas Lasiewicz:
Before I take the next seminar though… The one on Noir’s team, you know whom I speak of…
This time it was Lady who interrupted him, clearly knowing where the conversation was going.
Lady Magdalena:
Oui… I saw it too… Were you aware?
Andreas Lasiewicz:
No…
Andreas uttered, before exciting her office. Lady sat there in silence for a moment, before taking hold of the framed picture, staring at it blankly, clearly considering all that had been discussed before the scene faded to black.
Singles Match
Devin Levandrier VS Luis Rivera
WINNER: Luis Rivera BY: Pinfall (Right Hook), 12:13 |
Team Title Match
Team Strike © (Erika Eldon & Emma Wakefield) VS Team Noir (Walker & Shaina Sheridan)
WINNER: Team Strike (STILL TEAM CHAMPIONS) BY: Pinfall (Roll-up), 16:28 |