Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 13:22:47 GMT -5
2 | So It Begins: The Perfect Representation
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The two men stared at each other.
On one side, Isaiah Elliott looked across the table. His gaze seemed curious, yet skeptical. He wasn’t dressed up really but he looks to have attempted the feat. He wore a flannel colored button up and a pair of jeans that appeared to be quite old and worn in. He shifted uncomfortably.
On the other side of the table, Nothing Beyond Fight Team founder Harvey Lohman looked at Isaiah. In contrast, he wore a large, almost creepy smile. His fingers were steepled in front of him as he looked eagerly at Isaiah. He then leaned back looking comfortable.
“Thank you for coming in to see me,” Harvey said, breaking the silence.
“Uh… Of course,” Isaiah replied uncertainly.
“I received word of your acceptance into Union Battleground and, upon reviewing your credentials, I found myself very curious. How does some man working as a vehicle mechanic just transition into this business?”
“With all due respect, I’ve been training to fight since my early teens.”
“Have you?” Harvey asked as his eyes narrowed narrowed slightly though his grin remained as large as ever. “What styles have you trained for?”
“Boxing mostly. I’ve got some wrestling in there too.”
“How about Muy Thai?” Harvey asked.
“I… I don’t think so,” Isaiah responded, his brow furrowed.
“Jeet Kune Do?”
“No sir.”
“Ju-jitsu?”
“I’m not sure, really. If I’m being honest, I’ve focused on learning how to properly strike, where to strike, and how to grapple when the fight gets in close. I didn’t focus on any particular style.”
“Ah,” Harvey sighed. “So you’re not marketing yourself as anything specific. That’s alright. We can work with that.”
“I’m sorry?” Isaiah stated hesitantly.
“Work with, as in how we present you to the public and to the fans. If you don’t stay marketable, you don’t stay employed. You follow?”
“I’ll be straight up with you here, I’m not sure who you are exactly or why you brought me here,” Isaiah pointed out.
“My dear boy,” Harvey laughed, his huge grin returning, “you can’t be that naive. I represent some of the most promising fighters in this business and my list of clients is only growing. I wanted to speak with you and see if you were someone who fits that list.”
“And what does it mean to say you’d represent me?”
“You look like a man that prefers his business to the point so I will not disappoint you. It’s all about money when it comes right down to it, Mr. Elliott. You win a championship? That deserves a pay raise, don’t you think? I go behind the scenes with Union Underground management, we talk figures, and boom! Fresh new paycheck for you. But that’s not all! I’m also a lawyer of no small talent. With new money comes many of the wrong kind of people. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, right? Well not with Harvey Lohman by your side! When they start reaching, I start smacking hands. It’s like gold digger whack-a-mole. Whack-a-gold-digger?”
Isaiah just looks at Harvey Lohman and blinks.
“You’re right, that was probably too far but you get the point. But you might be asking, how does this really tie into you? Well, I’m not just behind the curtain pulling strings like the Wizard of Oz. I’m making it happen with you, in the flesh. In your career, you’re the one holding the steering wheel. We can’t forget that. When you look into the passenger seat and see a gorgeous mop of hair with some classy specs on, you’ll know the trip will be long and it will be worth it! Let’s take a trip together, you and I. Let’s embark on a legendary journey from the auto shop to the top!”
Harvey looked to Isaiah with a grin as if waiting for praise on his comments.
“Why?” Isaiah asked simply.
“Beg your pardon?”
“Why? I get what you do, what you’re doing, but why me? I’m just some guy showing up out of nowhere. I’m not a known commodity. No one has seen me in the ring before. How do you know if I’m promising? Why would you take a chance on me?”
“Because, Mr. Elliott, you could be the next big thing,” Harvey said with a smile. “Harvey Lohman cannot pass that chance up.”
“Why would you think that about me? You’ve got no basis,” Isaiah counterpointed.
“I know more about you than you think. Everything about you screams wins. Excitement? Eh, we’ll work on that part. But wins? Absolutely! And you know what earns championships?”
“Wins?”
“See? It’s not that difficult, is it?” Harvey noted with a smile. “Given time, you could’ve put together why I’d be interested in taking you on as a client.”
“So why am I not exciting enough for you?” Isaiah asked with a smirk.
“Not just me, but everybody. You’re just some guy with a family and a nine-to-five. Sure, you’re relatable but the people don’t just want one of them in the mix. They want you to be flashy, to seem like more than them. If everyone believed they could do it, why would they watch? You need to put yourself above them. Yeah, I know,” Harvey assured Isaiah before he could interrupt, “you wouldn’t want to be mean to or alienate anyone. You’re a good-hearted person or something like that but you mistake my meaning. You don’t have to act like you’re better than them. You just have to be better. Get what I mean?”
“Sure,” Isaiah acknowledged.
He wasn’t sure.
“Part of being better is creating your image. You need a gimmick, something that catches everybody’s attention.”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do but really, I’m good.”
“Nonsense!” Harvey blurted out dismissively. “I understand you didn’t need anything special for those bar fights you took part in but this is a different animal.”
Isaiah perked up.
“How did you know about that?”
“Mr. Elliott, it’s my job to know things,” Harvey said with a grin. “I didn’t just invite you in here blindly and without a plan. I knew exactly what I was doing and the history behind who I was getting. I just needed to meet the man behind the mystery. Now,” Harvey continued as Isaiah shifted uncomfortably, “back to the gimmick. Here’s what I’m thinking.”
Harvey lifts his hands in a grand gesture.
“Now coming to the ring… From Asheville, North Carolina... Standing 6'2" tall and weighing in at 196 pounds... ‘The Mechanic’ Isaiah Elliott!”
Harvey looked expectantly at Isaiah. Isaiah reached up and rubbed his face with his right hand.
“No, really think about it. See, you’re the Mechanic because this business is in dire need of a tune-up!”
“No offense, Mr. Lohman, but that sounds ridiculous.”
“You’re right. That’s much more nineties, early aughts. What do you think, Mr. Elliott?”
“Please, call me Isaiah,” he responded.
“And you may call me Harvey,” Harvey countered.
“Ok… Harvey… I think that the bells and whistles aren’t necessary. I’d rather be judged based on my fighting than some fancy outfit or moniker. The latter has the potential to get downright silly.”
“Ok,” Harvey muttered thinking. “Ok, we can work with that. We’ll accentuate your normality. That’s where your strength and marketability will come from. You’ll be relatable and the fans will love you because they can relate to you. They root for you because they see themselves within you. You are their representative, inspirational proof that hard work and determination truly can conquer all, that the ordinary can truly accomplish the extraordinary. You are… The Everyman!”
“That’s… That’s actually pretty good. But there’s no way I’m attaching my name to that. If people find inspiration in me, I’m honored. But I’m certainly not going to force them to.”
“So, what, you just quietly walk down to the ring and fight? Nothing at all to excite the fans?”
“Wouldn’t they be more interested in the fight itself?”
“You have to get them excited!” Harvey exclaimed. “You have to build toward the crescendo! The match is the culmination of it all. You’re going to find yourself at a disadvantage if you think you’re just going to show up for your fight, walk down to the ring, fight, walk to the back, shower, and get back on the road. Things in this business are rarely so simple. You’re going to be stopped by reporters looking to get insight into your matches. They’re going to ask you about your enemies, your friends, and anything that might produce a highlight reaction. In addition to that, you’re going to interact with your fellow fighters. Maybe someone doesn’t like you and doesn’t want to wait until the fight. They’ll catch you walking around backstage and get the jump on you. Maybe someone who isn’t scheduled for a fight with you decides they want one anyway and plan to put your head through a car windshield out in the parking lot as you’re leaving.”
“That’s… disturbing,” Isaiah said with a grimace.
“First thing you need to understand about this business is that it’s cutthroat. You have to keep an eye over your shoulder at all times, especially when you’re doing well, most especially if you have some gold. People are always looking to climb the ladder and climb over anyone in their way. You’ll have to start thinking like that too. Nothing’s going to be handed to you.”
“That’s all fine and great but I will not sacrifice my personal integrity just to be the fattest rat in the bunch. I’ll make it by doing things my own way, the right way.”
“Fine,” Harvey sighed resolutely. “We’ll do it your way. Thank you for coming in today. We’ll definitely be in touch.”
“Thank you, Mr… Harvey.”
Harvey smiled.
“Just Harvey is fine. No need for the mister.”
Isaiah stood and shook Harvey’s hand he then turned and walked out of the office. Harvey leaned back in his chair and glanced over at his computer screen. An image flashed up that said “BATTALION TOURNAMENT TO START AT L!GHTS OUT #13” and he pondered it for a moment. He then looked away.
“Maybe. We’ll see.”
End.