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 Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 10:12 am
Outside the personal dressing room of the world champion, Drako Damone, and his family empire of wrestlers, "The Syndicate", a backstage WWFG cameraman would catch an unlikely visitor approaching their door. Salem Croft, dressed in his sleeveless shirt, camo jeans, and combat boots, came to the door and hesitated before knocking. The WWFG Tag Championship over his shoulder was familiar to the men inside, but not as familiar as he, himself.
Drako and his family had been close friends of Salem's for a long time, but ambitions had put them at odds in recent months. The conflict showed on his face as he debated rapping at the door, but after a moment he decided to go ahead and knock politely, letting out a deep breath as he waited for a response.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 11:39 am
In said dressing room, the world champion is getting ready for his title defense in the main event. At the knock on the door, he glances to Adrian and nods towards the door. The manager makes his way across the room to open the door, to one Salem Croft of all people.
"Dear God, did you dress yourself in the dark? What are you wearing and why do you own it? Please tell me you came for help upgrading your wardrobe."
Marcus steps into view at this point and puts a hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Really not the time. We've got this."
Adrian shrugs. "Suit yourself."
Adrian walks off and Blaze steps up to his place, folding his arms across his chest as Marcus addresses Salem again.
"I'm guessing you want some help for Kyra, right?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 11:47 am
Salem watched as the door opened and Adrian, the managing affiliate of "The Syndicate", admonished his sense of style and taste in clothes. But before Salem could chime back at him, Marcus and Blaze, the tag team cousins Salem and Erynys had beaten for his Tag Team Championship, intervened and sent Adrian aside. For a moment, Salem pondered that he might be received with violence, but as they inquired about Kyra, Salem nodded and held his palms up in peace.
"Hey, thanks. I'm not trying to start trouble, coming by. Can I come in and we talk about it?" he offered, glancing around the hallway as staff and talent shuffled about.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 11:59 am
Marcus and Blaze stare at Salem for a few moments. The title belt on his shoulder could provoke a certain response if not for the subject matter at hand. That being said, the cousins step aside to allow him inside.
Drako is sitting in a chair with a stylist retwisting his dreadlocks because it was time for it to be done and this was the best time to have it done. the champion looks up as Salem is allowed into the room.
"I'd make a quip, but I know what brings you here is more personal than business. So, what do you need?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 12:11 pm
Salem entered past the cousins, taking a seat in a chair across from Drako. He looked back at his friend, feeling the tension in the room but moreso an itch needing scratched. Professionally, the men gathered might be at odds with one another, but Salem could tell that the familiarity of the personal still ran deep between them, and that their relationship with him and Kyra took precedent over their conflicting business ventures. Resting his elbows on his knees, Salem let out a sigh and responded.
"So, I guess you saw what Cart pulled out there, huh? Giving Kyra a match, banning me from ringside, tuning me up. It's a damned mess."
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 12:17 pm
Drako's head cocks to the side, though whether that was intentional or because of the stylist still at work is debatable.
"Oh, I'm well aware of what happened. Had I been made aware as things were happening, we might have done things the family way. After all, messing with my goddaughter tends to piss me off. No matter what i direct my boys to do to you, actual children are off limits. After all, she's family and not old enough to participate in all the family traditions. Now, since you're here, I'm going to assume that Cartwright is still in one piece. So what do you need?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 12:33 pm
"I appreciate you guys wanting to look out for her." Salem replied, looking between Drako, Marcus, and Blaze. "She loves you guys, and I know y'all love her. I'm sure she would've wanted to come see y'all, but I didn't want to have this conversation in front of her, she's got Jessie babysitting her while I'm here. I've got something in mind for Cart's little plan, so don't worry about Kyra. I know you wanna help."
Turning back to Drako, Salem looked more intently into his best friend's eyes.
"But if you really want to help, I'd be grateful if you did it by taking care of Emiko in this main event, tonight. Kyra's got a lot on her plate right now - we all do - but the last thing I need is her worrying her mom's gonna get hurt. I'm not saying you'd do that, I know better. But I also know Adrian is making a habit of getting involved in things and I just want Emiko to get a fair shake, win or lose. That's all I'm asking for."
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:56 pm
Drako listens to Salem's response quietly. His stylist finishes the last of the locks she's retwisting, so the champ turns to Adrian and the boys.
"Give us the room. Pay my girl here for the phenomenal work on the dreads and Adrian schedule a follow up for next month. Me and Salem need to have a chat alone."
the champ watches as the others leave the room and close the door behind them. Then he turns his gaze back to Salem.
"Let's be clear. Emiko is coming for my world title. And she's not going to take it easy on me so as not to upset her daughter. As far as Adrian goes, he's going to walk with me to ringside, but I'm going to level with you. I don't need help. Like I told Emiko last show, if she steps in the ring with me, I have one goal. To stretch her in a way that makes you jealous and leave with the title. I'm not going to treat her any nicer or softer than I did Luca at the Rumble. Now my goal is not to cripple the woman, but I'm going to beat her and look forward to Survivor Series and my next challenge."
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 2:03 pm
Salem watched as Drako asked the others to leave, waiting patiently until the world champion addressed him again. Alone now, Salem listened to Drako, nodding as he took in what the Dragon had to say.
"Hey, I get it. When we fought in those semifinals for that belt, there wasn't any hard feelings. You wanna get to the top, you gotta make the climb. Do what you gotta do. I just don't want more trouble for my - for our family - than we need, tonight. That's all."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 9:11 am
Drako again listens carefully and observes Salem.
"No additional trouble will come from me tonight. But, did it occur to you to have a similar conversation with Emiko? After all, my promise only stands so long as I'm not provoked and she's proven very...."
the champ pauses, searching for the right word.
"...shall we say resourceful, in her dealings here lately. Or weird. Weird is a good word. No funny business on my end but if there's some on hers, well, all bets are off."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 9:33 am
Salem sighed and nodded, looking down at the floor slightly.
"Yeah, I know. One thing at a time, though. With the Kyra situation, I gotta protect her, first. This, she doesn't know I'm here. I was just making a small gesture and hoping it helped."
Sitting back in the chair and going limp, Salem hung his head back and sighed deeply, releasing the stress of a worrisome evening.
"Cartwright trying to take our titles every show. Trying to hurt my daughter. Helluva night, I'll tell ya." he lamented to his longtime friend.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 9:46 am
Drako smirks.
"Welcome to my life since I won this. Cartwright still doesn't like me any more than he does you. But you're the one that wanted to have gold here in WWFG. Now you get to see what it means to be champ here while Cartwright is the boss."
Drako turns his chair to look in the mirror, his vanity unable to be held back any longer as he checks his freshly retwisted hair
"Now, should you decide you need some help handling whoever else Cartwright has in his pocket to keep my goddaughter safe, let me know. Me and the boys have no problem paying them a visit for her sake. And do try to hold onto the gold until I decide the boys are ready to try for them again."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2023 9:54 am
Salem smirked back at Drako and chuckled, standing up to walk towards Drako admiring himself in the mirror.
"Of course, bro. I'd have it no other way. I'll be in touch, but until then..."
Salem teased that he'd mess up Drako's new hairstyle, but simply laughed and patted him on the shoulder, as an appreciative friend would, heaving his own championship over his shoulder as he turned towards the door, offering a salute with one hand as the other grasped the knob.
"By your leave, Your Grace." he teased his friend before exiting the dressing room.
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