Tangled Web {private}

[Jason Youngblood]

Jason sat inside of his hotel suite almost this entire day. He wasn't up for doing much else besides getting some away time from the madness of what was going on in TNB lately. Too much was weighing on his mind and he wasn't sure what to do about it all. I guess you could say he was at what they call a crossroads.

Which way to go? What should he do next? Was he doing the right thing by joining MMInc? Was it really the choice he knew he should have made? Would all of this help push him to the top of the mountain like he knew he wanted to be?

He was so unsure of it he had sat in the chair directly beside the massive window of his suite for going on 2 hours, before there was a knock on the door.

*Knock-Knock-Knock*

A few seconds later he could hear the voice from the other side of the door, knowing he was in no way shape or form going to answer it.

Who the hell is it?

Mr. Youngblood, its room service. Compliments of management.

Was this guy serious? Jason had NO appetite whatsoever and was in no mood to deal with anybody right now.

Thanks but no thanks. Now go away.

But sir--

He didn't let the man on the other side of the door finish. By this time he had almost lost all grips and just yelled at the door.

I said

Fuck

Off--

NOW!

Not another word was heard from t he man on the other side of the door. Jason was staring intently at the door, towards the bottom of it as he could hear the sound of footsteps leaving the doorway. He knew the guy probably thought he was crazy right now.

Maybe he was right? Who knew. Things weren't panning out the way he wanted nor as quickly as he wanted. He slumped down in his chair holding his head and closing his eyes as the T.V. across the room kept on watching him because he sure as hell wasn't watching it. Then--

*Knock-Knock---Knock-Knock*

Not again! This time Jason let out a loud grunt before yelling at the door again.

Look pal I said To leave me the hell alone alright? What are you, deaf?

Jason waited for words but they never came. He sat up in his chair just a little bit, staring at the door getting more pissed by the second. He thought maybe this guy had left again and wouldn't come back so he leaned back in his seat again, relaxing like he did before. Then he heard a noise at the door. A piece of paper it looked like was slid beneath the door.

He sat back up in the seat and saw what it actually was. An envelope. He slowly got up from his seat and made his way over to the door. He leaned over picking up the envelope and looking it over, seeing his name on the front of it.

Yeah it was for him. His name was on it and everything. But something was a little different about the way it was written. He stared at the envelope for a few seconds before he opened the door to his suite to see who had slid the letter under the door. He looked around in the hallways but saw no one save for a janitor or something like that. he stepped back in the room and closed the door locking it back.

He went back to his seat and sat down; holding the envelope in his hand reading the front of it out loud to himself.

Jason--The Sin-Sation--Youngblood? What the hell?

[Jason Youngblood]

Now Jason knew he was out of it lately and kind of confused but this was something else. He sat the envelope on the table beside the chair he was sitting in and got up to go towards the bar to pour himself a drink.

Scotch on the rocks and nothing else. Before he knew it he was consuming the entire drink in the blink of an eye. Putting the glass back down on the counter he wondered where in the world the envelope came from. Better yet, who it came from. He walked back over to the chair and picked the envelope up again and in a hurry to open it almost tore it down the sides of it. Another grunt came from his mouth as he pulled out one piece of paper from the envelope. It was almost like some kind of stationary paper or something like that.

It was folded in half and had weird lettering on the front of it. Like some kind of monotype corsiva type of writing that only said one word.

"OPEN"

He unfolded the piece of paper in his hand and looked and started to read the text inside.

"Aspirations... We all have them...

What are yours? The undeniable true aspirations you have for yourself?

How close to them are you? Have recent choices and alliances pushed you closer to them? Or further from them?

Think. Think hard.

They say a team is only as strong as the weakest link..

I say, why would you need a team if you're clearly the strongest of all the aforementioned links?

Think. Think hard, Jason.

Be true. "

He just paused and looked over the letter again before almost talking to himself.

What in the world does that even mean? These fans are gettin' crazier by the day. "

Jason just shook his head; tossing the letter back down on the table and plopping back into the chair and letting out a long yawn. He didn't know who had sent that letter or what it even remotely meant. He figured maybe a crazed fan or something like that. It didn't matter he thought. Didn't matter at all at this point.

He grabbed the remote control to the television and flipped through channels for a few minutes before starting to fade away into sleep. And before he even knew it he was fast asleep. Forgetting about the letter completely.

[Jason Youngblood]

*One hour later*

Jason woke up slouched down in the chair he had fell asleep in. He blinked his eyes a couple of times before sitting himself upright in the chair and letting out a long sigh before a cough followed. Rubbing his hand across his forehead he blinked a few more times before looking back to the table beside him and the letter.

Piece of shit. Just--crazy.

He didn't know what the hell that thing was about or who sent it. It didn't make any sense to him. At all

He stood up from the seat stretching for a few moments before making his way to the bathroom. There he stood in front of the bathroom sink still trying to "wake up" you could say. Rubbing his eyes for a second he leaned down and leaned on the sink after turning the cold water on. He stared into the mirror for a few moments before reaching down and splashing some water onto his face; wanting to speed up the wake up process. He looked at himself in the mirror but really did not see himself.

He saw many other people; Shawn; Moneymaker; Lionheart; Lucy; and on, and on, and on... But not himself.

It was almost like he didn't recognize himself anymore. Like he was only but a remnant of what was leftover from his dealings and history with these people and more.

What the fuck is going on with you Jason? *sigh* Have you finally lost it?

He didn't know what it was but it was something. The letter bothered him. It bothered him alot. And more than he wanted to admit. He was on the verge of becoming distant from everyone, even Lucy at this point.

He made his way out of the bathroom tossing his shoes on before grabbing the letter up into his hand before grabbing his coat off of the rack. He started towards the door, taking the room key card off of the table next to the bed. He had to get out of this room for now. It was starting to drive him crazy.

Jason stepped from the room and before he could even close the door & lock it to leave, he noticed yet another envelope taped to the door. He looked to both sides of the hallway before seeing there was no one there again. He took the envelope in his hand and looked at the front of it just like the last one. It had the same name:

Jason-The Sin-Sation-Youngblood.

He said nothing, but just closed his door and locked it. He started walking in the direction of the elevator with the letter already being opened. Once it was open he read it to himself

*A wise man once said.. “Some rise by sin...and some by virtue fall”

He started wondering what this had to do with him; but kept on reading.

"I know what you want Jason.. And I can help you get just that..

But you have to make the choice.. I can only show you the door; but it is you who must walk through...

Sincerely,

Your guardian demon angel*

He made it to the elevator stepping in just as he finished reading it. This one was weirder than the last one and he still had no idea what it all meant. The elevator started down as he was going to head to the front desk to ask if anyone knew anything about the strange happenings in this hotel tonite. Somebody had to know something.

[Lucy Youngblood]

Lucy got off the elevator in the hotel where Jason was staying and made her way to his room. She knocked on the door a few times then remembered she had a key card too. Tired of waiting she opened the door herself and walked on in leaving the door open.

Jason? Jason sweety? I missed you and wanted to talk to you.

She walked in looking around and seeing him nowhere. She thought that maybe she can call him on his cell phone but saw it on the dresser so that was out. She shook her head standing there her hands on her hips. She really wanted to talk to him with them seeming to grow apart lately. Suddenly she felt like someone was watching her and turned around to the door again.

No one was there and Lucy just looked for a few seconds. She could have swore someone was there. She just felt it.

Hello? Jason is that you?

She walked to the door and looked out in the hallway and saw nobody there. Figuring that she was just paranoid she closed the door back and locked it leaving the floor to see if he was somewhere around the hotel.

Men. They're never around when you need them. I should have known. He needs a personal assistant not a new manager.

And off she went towards the elevator again.

[Jason Youngblood]

Jason got off the elevator on the lobby floor and made his way to the front desk. He held the note up in his hand and tried to get the attention of the receptionist but she was on the phone with someone else who already had her attention.

He waited a bit until her phone call was over. She looked up at Jason and then proceeded to try to help him.

"What can I do for you today sir?"

I don't know really. I'm just trying to find out what's going on with this?

He dropped the note on the counter and the woman just looked at it for a second before picking it up.

"Well what do you mean sir?"

Someone slid it beneath the door of my suite about an hour and a half ago. Any idea who that might have been? The room service guy was there just a few minutes before that. Maybe he saw something?

She just looked at the note and then placed it back on the desk counter for him to retrieve again. Suddenly she began typing on the computer keyboard while talking to Jason.

"What's your name again sir?"

Jason. Jason Youngblood. I just want to--

"Well, there was a package dropped off for you about an hour ago. I was just going to call your room and let you know after our room service informed us you wished to not be disturbed earlier. Would you like the package now Mr. Youngblood?"

Well... DUH!

Yes please, I'll take it now.

The receptionist reached down behind the counter and pulled out yet another envelope. This one was thicker and was a different color. A golden brown almost and looked to have a lot of something inside of it.

He took the package just as the woman was talking again.

"Is there anything else we can assist you with today Mr. Youngblood?"

No. No thank you, that'll be all.

"You're quite welcome Mr. Youngblood. Have a nice day."

You too. Thanks again.

Jason turned leaving with the package and headed towards the doors of the lobby towards the parking garage of the hotel. He'd look through the package once he got to his car.

A few minutes later he was standing beside his rental car, unlocking the door and climbing inside with the package. He got settled in and stuck the key in the ignition starting the car up.

Here goes nothing...

He started opening the package. A few seconds passed and the envelope was opened and he started to pull everything inside out of the package. His eyes squinted a little bit seeing all of the pictures and notes attached to them, not knowing what to make of them in the first place.

There had to be at least 2 dozen pictures in the package and each one was something that had to do with his career all the way up to this point. Some were stills of match highlights and some were stills of match lowlights you could say. But they all had something to do with him, Jason Youngblood.

Except for the last one. It was a picture of a restaurant he thought. He looked over the pic and then said out loud the name of the place in the picture.

Bistro 990.

He flipped the picture over to the other side and saw the words;

*"Find Me... To begin down the road to salvation of your beloved career.. As well as your own, Jason... Time is ticking... Tick Tock... Tick Tock..."*

He thought about it for only a few seconds before putting the pictures all into the passenger seat before backing the car out of his parking spot and heading off in an attempt to find the place on the picture. He wondered where or who it would lead to.

[Jason Youngblood]

After 45 minutes of searching and verbally bashing himself for forgetting his cell phone back at the hotel suite, he finally found what he was looking for. Or at least he thought and hoped he did anyway. He parked across the street from this Bistro 990 place, turning off the car and sitting there for a few moments. He was getting more and more anxious to see where all of this would lead.

He sat there thinking, this is just a prank Shawn & the rest of MMInc was playing on him or something. Maybe Lucy was even involved. That had to be it. He wasn't sure but that was all he could come up with at the time as he got out of the car bringing the package with him. He stared across the road at the place while cars passed by and waited for his chance to cross over.



Why this place? Whoever chose the meeting place needs better taste for sure. Let's see what happens.

Realizing he was talking to himself he started across the road and i a few seconds was at the Bistro 990's door. Opening it he stepped in and noticed that the place was nearly empty. There seemed to be a few waiters scurrying around the place, and a person he almost missed as he came through the door sitting at a nearby table.

Always one to speak to anyone at anytime he offered;

Hey, how's it going?

The man did one of those backward head nods. You know, where the person's head moves in an upward motion instead of downward? Yeah it was kind of one of those. Jason walked on by thinking about how out of place that guy seemed.

Hey not because he was a black man but because he looked way too thugged out. Long braids & was wearing the darkest pair of glasses he'd ever seen; especially for it to be broad daylight out. Husky build, but not just the build, the muscle to match.

Dude was just huge Jason thought. Almost like he was a professional wrestler himself. The scar covering from the bottom of his jaw halfway down the side of his neck surely didn't help either. Yeah, meeting this guy in a dark alley would not be a good idea.

Plus the fact that he just sat there staring while Jason walked past only giving the head nod. Just seemed strange to him as he stopped and looked around the place.



The place was damn near empty. The 3 or so waiters kept on about their business one even walking past him and slightly bumping him a little before apologizing. A raised hand told the guy Jason wasn't worried about it in the least. Then--

I shoulda knew. A freakin wild goose chase. This is a waste of--

But before he could finish he saw someone sitting in the farthest corner of the restaurant. A small petite woman sitting alone. He saw her raising a cup to her lips and taking a sip of whatever she was drinking. She looked into his direction and he could tell it; even behind her own dark glasses.

There was a smile from her he thought, as he started walking in her direction. A fast paced walk too. He had to know what this was all about & with her and the first guy he saw coming in being the only two people present right now he thought he'd ask her first over the probable two time felon sitting by the door. He was a few feet from the table when he attempted to speak to her, holding the envelope up while speaking--

Excuse me miss, but y--

Suddenly she spoke up, cutting him off with...

[Generra]

“I was beginning to become apprehensive awaiting your arrival, Jason. Please, join me...?.”

The young unsuspecting man just stood there, looking her over as if attempting to decipher what was truly going on with all of this. A smile graced her face; though she acknowledged not his unwillingness to join her at her private table, she did in fact acknowledge what she hoped would be in store for the near & far future.

By now she had retrieved her eating utensil from the table, slowly starting to pick at the meal before her while she spoke to the hopeful new Sin-Sation of TNB.

“I know you must have more than a few uncertainties concerning today’s unarranged meeting but, I assure you, you would be prudent to do what so few are willing or able to do when they’re in desperate need of help.

“Listen.”

Once again, Jason didn’t budge one inch, the look on his face told it all. He had already begun to think she was crazy. Deranged. A Lunatic. She was far from it & in time he’d grow to realize the same. She motioned her hand to the seat across from her after removing the dark sunglasses from her eyes.

"I'm sure you feel "out of the loop" Mr. Youngblood, and it's certainly understandble given the situation but..."

“…Audiatur et altera pars?Hm?”

{….Let us hear the other side?Hm?”}

“I assure you mi nuevo amigo.. I would never waste time, money nor effort. If you please?

She motioned toward the awaiting seat for a second time, the demeanor in her facial expressions clearly stating there would not… Be a third.

[Jason Youngblood]

Jason sits down at the table even though he really really was suspicious of this woman. He put the package on the table in front of him and moved it to the middle of the table.

He sat and then looked back at the doorway where that ‘other’ guy was still sitting. This time the big guy was looking in their direction and just nodded his head a few times. He looked back across the table to this mystery woman and her face said all he needed to know. That guy must have been her muscle. But why would she need it?

Alright, I’m here. I’m sitting down and I’m listening.

[Generra]

The young beauty just smiled so very brightly at Jason. So much so she placed her fork back on the table, atop the nearby napkin of course, before folding her hands together directly beneath her lovely chin.

She merely gazed at the man across from her, wondering one year from this day, would he remember what he was once was… As it relates to what she was more than sure, he would in fact become.

"Where do you see yourself in say… 5… 7… 10 years from now, Jason? Hm?"

She maintained her sights on him intently, letting her question linger for only a moment before continuing on, finally leaning back into her seat once more relaxing the atmosphere slightly. Crossing her legs, she folded her hands together slowly within the confines of her lap and kept on with the interrogation.

"Why do you think you’ve so many short comings where it concerns your career Mr. Youngblood? Why do you believe you have that lost look on your face nearly 24/7, since joining Mr. Moneymaker’s little, “faction”?"

She cocked her head slightly to the side this time as she paused in her discourse.. This time allowing for the swords to linger a little bit longer this time around. Then…

"You see Mr. Youngblood, I’m a… Specialist of sorts if you will. What do I specialize in you ask?"

She smiled again, seeing that Jason wasn’t exactly happy about where the convo was going at this moment in time.

"Liquidation matters, Jason. Career... Bankruptcy... Moments in time where all is lost and there seems to be no salvation. I, do what no one else believes can be done, as well as what no one else could fathom… Doing. Which is why I am here with you today, Jason."

[Jason Youngblood]

Jason had to keep from laughing out loud before he said what was on his mind.

What? Is this what this is about? You're some crazed fan or washed up diva who thinks she can tell me what I need to do with my career! You gotta be kidding me.

Ok right. My career is in the bankruptcy stages then huh. This is the worst insurance scam I ever heard lady. Is that all you got?

[Generra]

She placed both her hands over her heart, feigning obviously as she responded sarcastically...

"Oh I do apologize kind sir! A hardcore title reign, a world title reign in a condemned bingo hall & coming out victorious in a wrestling match sponsored by a washed up porn star, qualifies as making great strides in the wrasslin' bizness!!!"

The smile instantly was gone from Jason's face, as well was her own...

"X Violence champion?... Who...

Cares...

Jason... ?"

"You Defeated Brody Hondo in some sort of Neanderthal marathon of cage matches how many years ago...?"

"So...

What....?"

"You are clearly, not listening Mr. Youngblood. Your career is severely in jeopardy right now. You may not think so but trust me, I've seen it many a time before. It's in desperate need of a makeover from top to bottom, yet all you seem to be able to do is mope around and feel sorry for the man in the mirror."

"Yes. I've been watching you Jason. For a few weeks now actually. An incredible opportunity was thrown at your feet, yet you struggle with moral and ethical issues, pondering what your next move should be. It simply baffles me to no end."

"That is unacceptable Jason. Beyond unacceptable. You clearly have forgotten since you began on this journey you dare to call a career many years ago, that the idea of a journey is to move forward. Meaning far removed from where one began said journey, Mr. Youngblood. "

[Jason Youngblood]

Look I don't have to sit here and listen to you badmouth me. I can go to work if I wanted to do that. Every Tom, Dick & Harry says the same shit about everybody else working for TNB. I thought you had some answers about all of this.

He reached and picked up the envelope from the center of the table. He dumped out all of the pictures and notes on the inside of it onto the table.

The pictures and all of this. So this was just to tell me my career needs a new direction? Tell me what's new--Whatever your name is. What do you know about wrestling anyway? What qualifies you as an expert when I've gave all I've got since the first day of my career Mrs.--?

[Generra]

"You, can call me Generra, Jason. And if this is all you've got to give, I've really got my work cut out for me."

She too had an envelope of her own, taking it from the seat beside her she brought it into the forefront of the conversation. Opening and retrieving some of the more relevant ones before placing them before Jason and continuing on.

"Why is a man of your talents not challenging the almighty Avenger for that TNB Undisputed Championship? Why are you not being pushed and praised by the TNB Championship committee? Dare I ask, why aren't you a member, of said committee?"

"You've been floating along Jason. Safely... Staying close to your brother, your friends... Your wife..."

"What you need is for things to be shaken up and taken in a new direction."

She watched as he was staring at the pictures in the middle of the table. A picture of the Avenger holding up the Undisputed title was on top of the pile. Just the one she needed to soak into that brain of his.

"You see Jason, you come up with the exact same results, because you make the precise same choices... Over... And over again. The time has come, for some new choices my new friend."

[Jason Youngblood]

New choices like what exactly? I go out there and I bust my ass every night like everyone else in the industry does. Sometimes you roll 7’s & sometimes you crap out. It’s hit and miss and you can’t just will yourself to be the best in the business like over night or something.

You sure don’t know much about the wrestling business if you think somebody can. Look at my match with Avenger a month ago and you’ll see that I’m plenty good in the ring Generra. That’s not the problem. That was a non title matchup anyway but I still showed I have the goods to keep up with the old man, who in all honesty; is one of the few people I would call a “legend”. He’s done it all and even this far into his career he can out wrestle and out brawl the best of them. I think I wrestled a pretty good match. My time will come, no need to worry about that.

[Generra]

"You wrestled a good match? Did you ever think that's one of your biggest problems Jason? Maybe you're doing too much damn "wrestling", and need to start kicking someone's teeth in a little bit more sweetie pie. Because from what I've seen, wrestling isn't getting you what you say you want to have."

Generra once again retrieved her eating utensil, offering a few more words before re-enjoying her meal

"Honey.. All I am trying to get across to you here is this: You're not where you wish to be in your career, and that is something I can assist you with. Whether you believe I'm qualified for such a task should be the least of your worries. I know a little about wrestling...""But I know everything there is to know...

... About people..."

"That much, I can assure you."