True Brotherhood

[FPV]

FPV Promo #4 - True Brotherhood

Vic: I like what you've done with this place. Actually seems respectable now.

My older brother said this as he observed the now almost completed interior of the former ToT Nightclub. The metamorphisis from a wretched hive of drug-adled teenagers to chilled out coffee shop for anyone and everyone was almost complete. The only things left that needed to be done was get the new coffee equipment in and come up with a sensible name for the joint. I had opened the floor for suggestions on Twitter, and per usual got mostly troll responses (aside from a decently funny vegan joke from Kevin Bishop.) I was standing near the top a ladder, placing Vic's former titles (The Television, Tag and Trios Titles) next to my own on the wall.

FPV: Thanks man. It's been a tough little job, but I'm proud of what I've turned this thing into.

Vic: I'll say. You come up with a name yet?

FPV: Not quite sure bout that yet. May just go with Doc's idea for "Frank's Grounds."

Vic: Eh, you could probably do better then that.

FPV: I'll think of something, no big rush.

Climbing down the ladder back down to the ground, I took a moment to simply bask in these three new belts hanging on the wall. Considering the fact that (as far as I know) Vic has had far less professional training then I have, and for him to still even win these titles is an accomplishment in and of itself. It made me one proud little brother, that's for sure.

FPV: Goddamn man. I step out of the spotlight for a lil bit and you go and rack yourself two new titles at once. Unbelievable.

Vic: Well, I didn't do it on my own, of course. Had the help of my friends in The People's Choice.

FPV: That was you, Teo and Spencer, right?

Vic: Mmmhmm. Seeing what Teo's devolved to...it hurts, man. And now I don't even know where Spencer is. Reminds me of a certain someone...but I can't quite put my finger on it.

FPV: I have no idea who you're talking about. None whatsoever.

An awkward silence.

FPV: Okay, I probably deserved that one a bit. But trust me, I bounced for a reason, I just don't think I'm comfortable saying why yet.

Vic: Franky, you're not an idiot. You know eventually you're gonna have to fess up, right?

FPV: I know. I just want it to be on my own terms, is all.

Vic: That's fair, I guess.

I made my way over to one of the new tables set up in the middle of the room and took a seat, kicking my feet up on the table and leaning back slightly. Vic joined me at that table not too long after.

Vic: I watched Slam this past Sunday actually. Saw you're match against that Bishop dude.

FPV: Hehe. How'd you enjoy it?

Vic: It was grand. Fucking grand. Now of course I'm more then a little biased when it comes to your matches, but watching you took care of Bishop when seven other people couldn't...made me super proud, y'know?

I gave him a nice, genuine smile. It was nice to know that the feeling was mutual on his end. This was true brotherhood in it's simplest form. The brotherhood Bishop tried to push upon those poor guys in the Brotherhood, that was not brotherhood. That was a toxic relationship just waiting to explode. Vic and I may have had our disagreements in the past, but that was then, and now we're both content to actually support each other, something I'm not sure Bishop understands how to do.

FPV: Thanks man. I think this win was exactly what I needed to re-energize me. I can almost 100% guarantee it's going to be me vs. Bishop for that People's Title, and honestly I couldn't be happier.

Vic: So...does that mean you're gonna take it easy on Gem and that TV Title?

FPV: Absolutely not! You don't just throw away a shot like that. Who do you think I am, Lilith?

Vic: I guess not. So does that mean you're actually gonna try and be a double champ?

FPV: I see no reason why I shouldn't. I mean, I've done it before, you've done it before, why can't I do it again?

Vic: Well when both of us didn't, we didn't hold a belt that had to be defended every freakin week.

FPV: True. But if I'm being totally honest, I think I could actually handle it with this momentum I've got right now.

Vic: You serious?

FPV: Serious.

Vic actually scoffed for a quick second, then smiled.

Vic: I mean, if you think you can handle it, then be my guest. But I think you'll wear yourself out trying to maintain two belts.

Looking back, I could've acted a little indignant at his response, but I actually didn't mind it. Just another little thing to add to my mental file. "Win Two Belts. Prove Vic Wrong." Seemed easy enough.

FPV: What I'd like to understand is how you've suddenly developed all this good will with the guys in the back. I mean, you weren't back for that long, and you didn't win all that much except when it mattered. Like, were you some locker room leader or something?

Vic: Not really, man. I just treated people with respect who deserved it. Like when I said I'd break the elimination record at WAR, only to have Gem eliminate me to break the record himself. I wasn't a bitch about it, I just told him congrats on twitter and moved on with my business.

FPV: That's why you think he thinks so highly of you? Cause you were the last guy he needed to break the record?

Vic: Possibly.

I couldn't help myself. The laughter just came out naturally.

FPV: That's a little douchey once you stop to think about it. But whatever, the guy's been World Champ and is the current TV Champ, and a fighting one at that. So I can't fault him too much for that. Fact is he's just like Bishop, a fighting champion and a formidable opponent, so I can't let my guard down too much.

Vic: Hasn't he helped devalue the World Title, though? With his one month reign and all?

FPV: I'd say yeah, he has. Which is sad, everyone always said Gemini had it in him to be a great World Champ. Why do you think he got to main event One though? Here's the thing though, ever since that shit went down in Mexico, the World title's been in an absolute tailspin. First it was on Logan. Then Oblivion. Then Purse. Then Slane. Then Gemini. Then Bates. Now finally it's on Corey Black, and while I tihnk it's gonna stay on him for a bit (finally) we can't take away from the sad fact that we've had SEVEN World Champions in the span of only FIVE months. That's completely fucking unacceptable, and Gemini should totally be held accountable for that. When you hold that World Title, you're have to hold it and defend it with some form of honor, yknow? To have all these champs lose it within their first defense is just sad. Now with guy like Purse and Oblivion it's a little understandable because they really have no business being in the Main Event scene in the first place right now. But Gem? Shit, everyone I know was clamoring for when Gemini finally became World Champion, and to have him fall just like all the others shows that maybe he just is not cut out for the main event scene after all.

Now as Television Champion, that's a whole different story. Dude's defended that belt four weeks straight now, which is pretty good for that belt. So why didn't he bring that exact same fire when he was World Champion, huh? Maybe it's been his opponents. Teddy Blaze and Zmac? Those are some tough men, no doubt. But Adrian Archer? Damian Kaine? Fucking HOWARD STERN? Yeah, those are real tough defenses all right. Gemini simply hasn't to face an opponent of my caliber yet. He knows that, and I think he's scared. He's scared because this won't be just another easy defense. He actually has to try for this one. This match more then anything will prove if he has what it takes to be taken seriously. And if I have anything to say about it, he'll have a lot more time to focus on winning that World Title again and continue to devalue it.

Vic: Shit man, that's a bit harsh.

FPV: Harsh but true, man. Not to mention Gemini has concept of staying true to his friends. The moment he won that World title Thomas Bates came to him not as an opponent, but a former friend, a former brother in arms looking to patch things up, and Gemini straight up told him to fuck off. I'm sure he felt like an idiot once Bates cost him the title three weeks later. Didn't Gem even say that same night that "the pimping of the world title stops here?" Two World Champs later I think it's safe to say the World Title's turned into one of Steve Orbit's girls. If anything Gem's reign just exasperated things.

Vic: What about Joe Smarts? Isn't this whole match a Triple Threat?

FPV: It is, sadly. I feel bad for ole' Joe. Dude has no business being in this match. He's not a current contender for the belt nor is he a former champion of ANY kind, so his inclusion in this match boggles my mind. If this match was just me and Gem one on one, it'd be the Match of the Week, shit probably match of the MONTH if Gem really brought it. Instead we got this Australian Albatross hanging over both of us now. I've already said this when I was doing my research for WAR, but I'll say it again. There's nothing wrong with being funny, hell if you can pull it off it can really set you apart from the rest of the pack. But if you don't have the fire, the desire, the straight up TOUGHNESS to hang with people like me, then you're not gonna amount to much in this biz. That's just the sad truth of it all, and looking at Joe's current record I think he's gonna remain right at the bottom of the card.

That being said, my goal for Slam isn't going to be to try and pin Joe for the east Title Win. That would just feel like too hollow of a victory to me, you dig? I want the fucking glory of actually pinning the champion to win the belt. At best Joe Smarts will be a nuisance, but between Gem and I he'll probably be taken care of easy peezy lemon squeezy.

So that's the goal for this week. Pin Gemini Battle, win the Television Title, then challenge Kevin Bishop for a People's Title match at Hellimination, then beat him once more to not only become double champion once again, but also the only man to hold the People's Title three times in his career. If anyone else in the WCF made such lofty claims they'd be called idiots and "fuckin FGTs" but the degenerates on the internet board. But when it's me saying it? People actually listen. That's the true sign of greatness.

Vic: Quite the overachiever, aren't you?

Another sly smile escaped me.

FPV: You fucking know it, Vic.

---

(Epilogue: Somewhere in Seattle)

All this success the man in Seattle saw Frank Venable achieve was beginning to be too much. Of all the people deserving of a chance of being double champ, Frank was not one of them. Something needed to be done.

The man rolled his wheelchair over to his desk in the corner of the room, got on his laptop, and began to draft his plans.