The Lobby has arrived in New York City - Clark Effect, here we go, a moment in time and history. Last week, The Lobby challenged DNS, Bash and Bolek, to a match at the upcoming Ambition Special - End Games.
The usual Clark Effect set is in place in the ring as the most decorated tag team in the game waits patiently to be introduced.
Stacy Clark: Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome my guests at this time… The Lobby
The crowd lets out an almighty scream as the two former OCW Champions occupy opposite corners of the ring. Paul Pugh is leaning against the top turnbuckle, back to Stacy, looking out at the crowd, taking in their admiration.
Rust Cohle is in a similar pose, only facing towards her, listening intently to the introduction. Both men have microphones and are ready to interact with the oldest interviewer in the game.
Stacy: Guys, last week we saw you challenge Bash and Aleksander Bolek - DNS, and as yet we’ve not had any response - do you think they’re going to accept?
Pugh grins and walks over to her
Pugh: Stacy… Stacy… Stacy… you know what I think? I think it’s a pleasure to be here LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY TONIGHT!
MSG pops loud for the blatant pandering
Pugh: NEW YORK CITY! DO WE THINK THAT DNS ARE GOING TO ACCEPT OUR CHALLENGE?
A mixed reaction ripples around the room as he nods his head
Pugh: See Stacy, there is the problem… these people don’t know if they’re going to accept the challenge… there’s uncertainty in the air… and it’s not surprising… There’s uncertainty around DNS because there’s uncertainty inside DNS. See on one side, we’ve got Bash - the leader, the guy who is doing all the legwork… well, some of it, he spends a lot of time sat on his arse. On the other… Bolek - the man who is desperate to be king… the biggest ego ever to arrive in OCW since… well…
He sheepishly looks side to side and nods as the crowd cheers. He shrugs his shoulders and mouths “It’s me” in Stacy’s direction. He nods as The Five Star Frenchman rolls into shot
Rust: Bonjour, Idiots !
Rust: “Make it about me” they say. It will be fun they say.. But I know someone who hasn't been very amused, no matter how much he tries to make it about himself.. Isn't that right, Bolly ? Let me be perfectly blunt with you, friend. As long as I am here, you'll never see the upper echelon.
Rust: On the other side of the coin, you have the mysteriously out of shape, head of the snake, Mr.Bash.. Surely he has to know that his place inside DNS is soon to be compromised or taken.. Taken by someone who, in the words of my partner here.. Tries to be King ?
Pugh nods in agreement
Pugh: Stacy… to answer the question - it doesn’t matter if DNS accepts our challenge… not to us. DNS wanted to make a name for themselves with their sneak attacks and their hacking bollocks - me and Rusty, we didn’t make our names like that. We made our names with blood, sweat, hard work and harder times… you know what they say - pressure creates diamonds, and we’ve been under constant pressure throughout our careers…
Rust: Well boys ! You had it relatively easy since you've been here, so Pugh and I have decided to give you your legendary welcome party ! This IS your pressure moment ! This moment right here will make or break your career.. Unless you want to stay in mediocrity like plenty of people are apparently happy to stay in..
Pugh: Like I said a few weeks ago - DNS are lucky - they’ve got our attention now. But are they ready for it? What do you think Stacy? What do YOU think New York City? Are DNS ready for The Lobby?
MSG lets out a huge ole cheer with spatterings of “no they are not” or similar
Rust: We’re waiting…
Both members of The Lobby lean on the top rope, facing towards the ramp, tossing the ball into the DNS court.
Shianne Lovelace is seen bouncing around in place, shadow boxing alone in an empty hall with earbuds in, the sound of some late 90s rap faintly heard from them.
Shianne: Mo’ murda, mo’ murda, come, come again…
She quietly sings the song to herself as she boxes the air. Out of nowhere, Jim Black appears, playfully dodging her swings as he comes close with a mic.
Annoyed already, Shianne pulls the earbuds out and slides them back into their case, dropping them into the pocket of her camo cargo pants. She then glares at Jim, who in response puts the mic close to her.
Shianne pauses for a moment, looking at the mic and back at Jim, then at the camera, before sighing.
Shianne: The f**k do you want?
Jim looks excited as he brings the mic back to himself.
Jim: Well, Miss Lovelace, thank you for asking! I just wanted to track you down for a couple hard-hitting questions.
Shianne sighs.
Shianne: Step back some before I get you with some hard-hitting fists.
Jim obliges, stepping back away from Shianne.
Jim: So Shianne… how’s it feel having Joanna Silver step in the way when you’re trying to declare yourself a challenger for Deborah Soto’s Women’s World Championship?
Shianne’s glare narrows.
Shianne: It’s annoying, that’s what. I don’t need some stupid cult w**re getting in the way. Whether that freak likes it or not, [I]I’M[/I] Big Legs’ next opponent. Emp and Kameyo are going to sweep through the S-Cup Tournament, and I’m going to cut down Deborah like the freak of nature she is, and together we’re going to rule this whole division.
Jim nods.
Jim: Mighty aspirations! But how do you plan to do that when there’s only two titles to go around?
Shianne: Are you suggesting we’d turn on each other over championships?
Jim: Well… I’ve seen it happen countless times before!
Shianne: Our bond is unbreakable. Everything I do, it’s for the boss. It’s for Kameyo. Everything they do? It’s for me. We work for each other, we look out for each other. Anybody who’s got a f**king problem with that? They can take it up with us in the ring.
Jim: Or in their homes?
Shianne: You’re one strike away from being knocked out, James.
Jim chuckles.
Jim: I jest, I jest!
Shianne: There’s a reason stand-up isn’t your career.
Jim puts his hands up in a sort of surrendering motion, before continuing.
Jim: How do you feel chasing after the Championship when at any time Lotus Flojo could potentially use her Future Investment briefcase to weasel away with the belt - especially given that Flojo is one of just a couple women who have singles victories over you?
Shianne: She may’ve got me once. Deborah also got me once. But y’know what the funny thing is, Jim? Once you get me that first time. It doesn’t happen again. If she gets in the way? This time, she dies.
Jim: You’re always confident, aren’t you?
Shianne: Confidence breeds success. I had to be confident while boxing. I have to be confident here in this company. If you lack confidence, you’re just a loser. Like Whale-Plex.
Jim frowns.
Jim: Whale-Plex? C’mon Shianne, she’s in the S Cup.
Shianne: To give everyone else easy wins.
Jim sighs, but perks back up.
Jim: One last thing before I let you go back to… fighting the invisible demons-
Shianne takes a step closer to Jim, raising a fist as her glare narrows. Jim does another surrender motion.
Jim: A-anyways! So the word around the dirt sheets is that you’ve got yourself an admirer here in the OCW locker room… I was just wondering if you might have any idea who that might be?
Shianne’s expression switches to one of pure confusion.
Jim: Y’know… of the masculine variety?
Shianne: Are you f**king hitting on me?
Jim: No, of course not!
Shianne: Get the f**k away from me, ya weird f**king creep.
Jim takes no further warning, skedaddling out of the area as Shianne watches him leave, visibly disgusted and angry. After a few moments, she puts her ear buds back in and resumes shadow boxing in the hall.
Joe Deaver paces back and forth, once again, in the catering area located backstage. Frustrated, he mutters unintelligibly to himself as he paces until his concentration is interrupted by the familiar sound of Chris Greene eating a plate of pasta.
Joe: Again!?
Chris shrugs.
Chris: Alfredo is my second love.
Joe: What’s the first?
Chris looks longingly into the distance, his thoughts roaming the never ending abyss of emptiness.
Joe: Chris?
Chris shakes his head suddenly, pulled out of his mind.
Chris: Pasta and cupcakes.
Joe: So cupcakes before pasta?
Chris: Are you crazy? Do I look like I’m trying to hurl after every meal?
Joe pauses for a moment before answering.
Joe: Uh… kinda?
Chris looks shocked at this revelation.
Chris: Have I really lost that much weight!?
Joe: That’s the thing, I don’t think you’ve lost [I]any[/I]. But that is besides the point!
Joe stomps his foot on the concrete floor, focusing up, as Chris slurps up another noodle
Joe: We need to have a match, don’t we!?
Chris nods.
Chris: Indeed, young padawan.
Joe: CAN YOU STOP WITH THE PADAWAN STUFF!?
Chris chuckles.
Joe: But how the hell am I supposed to bring it in a match against you when I couldn’t even do it against A-Mart? I mean, after all he’s as ancient as you are…
Joe slumps down onto a crate next to the wall, gently resting his head against the wall and staring up at the ceiling, defeated.
Chris: He’s older than me.
Joe: My point remains.
Chris: I s’pose you’re in the ballpark.
Chris thinks to himself for a moment as silence falls between the two former tag partners.
Chris: Why don’t I fight A-Mart?
Joe: How does that help me?
Chris: It doesn’t. But it’ll help me! Think about it, if I can put down the guy who put you down, then I’ve basically already won, right?
Joe sighs.
Joe: I hate you sometimes, y’know that?
Chris: If I remember correctly, I deserve that.
Joe: What’s there to forget?!
Chris: Perhaps I didn’t actually hit you with a chair.
Joe: You definitely hit me with a chair.
Chris shrugs.
Chris: In the words of a very wise man… ‘It wasn’t me.’
Joe: That song is older than I am!
Chris is taken aback by that information.
Joe: But still… None of that helps me, Christopher.
Chris: No, no it doesn’t. Because only you can help you. Me? I’m gonna go get myself a match against Anthony Martin for next week, and it’ll help me get ready to face you. You? You gotta figure out what you’re going to do, my friend, because once we get in the ring together I won’t be holding back.
Chris stands up and tosses his now empty plate into the nearby garbage can, stretching before walking off. Joe sighs.
Joe: I hate when he makes sense.
ROUND 2 - TURMOIL BLOCK
HEATHER ANGELO vs.
ASHLEY MOORE
We cut away to a spinning Instagram logo, which transitions quickly to a beautiful beach resort being panned around back and forth.
As the camera pans around, taking in the calm sounds of crashing waves and the glare of the sun overhead, a voice is heard from off-screen.
Brian Williams: I got the hat you wanted-
Without much warning, the camera spins over to reveal a profoundly sweaty Brian Williams holding a comically large sun hat complete with some kind of shiny glitter all over it. Deborah’s voice can now be heard from behind the camera.
Deborah: Are you KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW!? You ruined the shot, you fat sack of wet leaves!
Brian is taken aback and tries to wipe his glasses with his shirt, only making them sweatier and more distorted.
Deborah extends her hand onto the screen to slap the hat away into the sand.
Deborah: Now how is this any better than the one I have?
Brian: I don’t-
Deborah: Uh, just shut up already. Get out of the shot!
Deborah takes a moment, standing up before flipping the camera’s view to the front of the device and smiling wide into the Instagram live video.
As her face appears on the live feed, the reactions and hearts begin flying off the screen, as the several thousand live Instagram viewers are coming in to see what she has to say.
Deborah: Hello from paradise, babes!
Deborah: Isn’t this view just amaaaazing?
The World Women’s Champion shoots a disgusted side eye at her assistant(?) Brian Williams as she says that.
Deborah: But I didn’t go live just to read your lovely comments while I enjoy this amazing view!
Deborah: I’m here to announce… That next Friday, March 1st on Turmoil, THE World Champion will be returning to Brooklyn for Turmoil!
The light sound of the RIOT crowd can be heard giving a mixture of loud booing and incel cheering, as Deborah looks around with her tongue out as if she expected the reaction when she went live earlier today.
Deborah: I know! I can’t say I’m as excited as all of you, because well, it’s not like I get to see a talent of my caliber when I get back. I have to share a building with the rest of the unworthy.
Deborah: Oh… And you better believe I’m going to have a few words for that filthy pervert Joana Silver and little miss “pick me” girl Shianne Lovelace.
Deborah: Or as I call them, Shebop and Crotchsteady.
Deborah: But for now, I’m going to get back to enjoying this gorgeous sunlight to make sure I’m in tip top shape for all of my adoring fans!
Deborah: Ticket prices might rise because of my announcement, but don’t let that deter you. See you all next week! MWAH!
Soto blows a kiss to the camera before waving her newly did long fingernails to the camera as it goes dark.
