NPCW: Behind the Curtain – Episode 008: “Check In”
Scene 1 – NPCW Headquarters
Executive Conference Room
The conference room atop NPCW Headquarters was designed for control.
Glass walls overlooked the city skyline, but the blinds were drawn halfway—letting in only controlled light. The long obsidian conference table reflected the soft glow of recessed ceiling lights. No banners. No logos. Just the quiet weight of authority.
Nine chairs.
Nine figures responsible for the direction of NPCW.
At the head of the table sat Kristine Kringle, calm and composed, a slim folder resting before her.
To her right sat Lucien Vantrell, perfectly tailored suit, fingers lightly folded as if the meeting were merely another calculated step in a larger strategy.
Next to him, Celeste Noir sat motionless, black attire immaculate, her eyes unreadable.
Across from them were the division leaders:
Elias Coldmere – Polar Division GM
Alton Bell – Mythic Division GM
Goldie Locks – Northern Belles GM
Hammer Washington – Iron Ring Academy GM
Beside Kristine sat Victoria Deschamps, posture poised but relaxed, and Robert Cratchit, already reviewing a thick packet of financial reports.
Kristine gently closed her folder.
The room quieted.
Kristine Kringle
“Thank you all for making the time.
We have a board meeting at the end of the month. Before that happens, I wanted a direct assessment from the people actually running this company.”
Her eyes moved slowly around the table.
“Overall, NPCW is doing well. But success has a way of hiding small problems until they become large ones.”
She nodded slightly toward Cratchit.
Robert Cratchit
Cratchit adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.
“Financially speaking, the federation is in a strong position.”
He slid a report toward the center of the table.
“Revenue from television and live events has exceeded projections. Even accounting for several legacy contracts negotiated during the Scrooge administration.”
Lucien’s eyebrow lifted slightly.
Lucien Vantrell
“Still paying for ghosts of Christmas past?”
Cratchit gave a tight smile.
“Unfortunately some of Mr. Scrooge’s agreements run multiple years. However… the impact is manageable.”
Kristine folded her hands.
Kristine
“And his branding rights?”
Celeste spoke before anyone else could.
Celeste Noir
“Limited.”
Her voice was calm, almost academic.
“Mr. Scrooge retains rights only to certain arena naming agreements and the purchase of commercial broadcast slots.”
Victoria frowned slightly.
Victoria Deschamps
“Which leads to the question everyone backstage keeps asking.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“How exactly did Scrooge end up with television time during Oathbound?”
A faint silence settled across the table.
Kristine turned slowly toward Celeste.
Kristine
“Yes. I’d like to understand that as well.”
Celeste didn’t blink.
Celeste
“The request came through external channels.”
She paused.
“Specifically… Ardan Vantrell.”
Lucien’s expression remained smooth.
Kristine turned her gaze toward him.
Lucien raised his hands slightly.
Lucien
“I assure you I was not involved in the request.”
Across the table Alton Bell shrugged with casual indifference.
Alton Bell
“If Vantrell wants to buy airtime, that’s business.”
Kristine studied the two men for a moment longer.
Then she let the matter drop.
For now.
Kristine
“Very well.”
She turned toward Elias Coldmere.
Kristine
“Elias. Let’s begin with the Polar Division.”
Coldmere inclined his head politely.
Elias Coldmere
“Polar operations are stable.”
His tone was calm, scholarly.
“Madness is fully booked for this month. And planning is underway for Whiteout in April.”
Before he could continue—
Alton Bell
“Hold on.”
Bell leaned forward, folding his arms.
“Polar gets two pay-per-views back to back?”
The question hung in the air.
Kristine answered evenly.
Kristine
“Madness is classified as an extended event. Whiteout is a general PPV.”
She met Bell’s gaze calmly.
“Which means Polar receives the first extended show of the year.”
Bell seemed unconvinced.
Kristine continued.
Kristine
“You will be receiving Wrestlefest in April, followed by consecutive events in May and June.”
Bell leaned back in his chair.
Satisfied.
Alton Bell
“Fair enough.”
Victoria flipped through a few notes.
Victoria
“One question though.”
She looked toward both Coldmere and Bell.
“Why has Universal Champion Jack Mason been absent from the first three pay-per-views?”
Elias answered first.
Elias Coldmere
“It was a strategic decision.”
“We wanted the Polar and Mythic championships to establish their prestige first—without the Universal title overshadowing them.”
Bell nodded.
Alton Bell
“Jack’s coming back strong.”
He tapped the table once.
“He’ll headline Long Night.”
Coldmere added calmly:
Elias
“And he’s scheduled to feature prominently at Whiteout.”
Kristine nodded.
Kristine
“That aligns with what I expected.”
She looked briefly toward Victoria.
“And Polar Power has been performing exceptionally well. It remains our flagship program.”
Coldmere inclined his head again.
Kristine
“Now.”
She turned to Bell.
“Mythic Division.”
Bell leaned forward slightly, the warrior’s confidence showing.
Kristine
“I want to commend your handling of the Eternal Flame Championship.”
Her tone was genuine.
“Weekly defenses keep the title elevated.”
Bell gave a satisfied nod.
Alton Bell
“Glad someone noticed.”
Then his expression shifted slightly.
“One question though.”
He looked toward Victoria.
“I’ve noticed several additions to the Polar roster recently.”
He spread his hands slightly.
“But nothing for Mythic.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
Then she slid a folder across the table.
Victoria Deschamps
“Funny you should mention that.”
Bell opened the folder.
His expression sharpened.
Victoria
“I’m currently negotiating with him.”
She nodded toward Hammer Washington.
“But I believe he might benefit from a short stay at the Academy first.”
Bell handed the folder to Hammer.
The veteran trainer scanned it.
His eyebrows lifted.
Hammer Washington
“Well I’ll be damned.”
He looked up.
“This kid’s got teeth.”
Victoria smiled.
Victoria
“He’ll be assigned to Mythic once training is complete.”
Bell nodded approvingly.
Across the table Celeste spoke.
Celeste Noir
“Oathbound marketing performed exceptionally well.”
She turned slightly toward Bell.
“I’ll work with Mythic on the upcoming campaigns.”
A slight pause.
Then she added quietly:
“Preferably without Mr. Scrooge.”
A few quiet chuckles circled the table.
Kristine
“Good.”
She turned to Hammer.
Kristine
“Hammer. The Crucible show has been excellent.”
Hammer gave a small nod.
Hammer Washington
“Appreciate it.”
Kristine continued.
Kristine
“I do have one concern.”
“The Academy policy currently requires six months before promotion.”
Hammer nodded.
Kristine continued.
Kristine
“I’d like you to consider promotions at the three-month mark if someone is clearly ready.”
Hammer leaned back.
Thinking.
Then he nodded.
Hammer
“Fair point.”
“I’ve got a few prospects I’m watching.”
He added bluntly:
“And a few I’ll probably cut after Q1.”
Kristine nodded approvingly.
Kristine
“Good.”
She turned toward Goldie Locks.
Kristine
“Goldie.”
Goldie sat forward slightly.
Kristine
“You’ve done a respectable job stepping into the role.”
Goldie smiled politely.
But Kristine’s tone shifted slightly.
Kristine
“However… concerns have been raised that the Northern Belles show hasn’t quite found its stride yet.”
Goldie’s smile faded slightly.
Kristine continued calmly.
Kristine
“One suggestion has been raised.”
She folded her hands.
“To cancel the weekly show.”
The room grew quiet.
Kristine
“And redistribute those matches across Polar Power, Dark Fable, and house shows.”
Goldie’s expression tightened.
Victoria leaned forward immediately.
Victoria Deschamps
“With respect…”
She looked at Kristine.
“The division has momentum right now.”
She glanced at Goldie.
“Sisters of the Hood returning. Polly Mason arriving.”
She shook her head slightly.
“I think we’re just starting to see the pieces fall into place.”
Kristine nodded thoughtfully.
Kristine
“I’m not making a decision today.”
She looked back toward Goldie.
“Just… consider the idea.”
Goldie nodded slowly.
Still disappointed.
But composed.
Kristine stood.
The meeting was over.
Kristine
“Thank you all.”
Her eyes moved across the room one last time.
“Let’s keep building.”
The executives slowly rose.
Conversations began quietly around the table.
But beneath the calm professionalism—
Politics had just moved several pieces.
And some of those pieces…
Were not playing for the same side.
Epilogue
Office of Polar Division General Manager – Elias Coldmere
NPCW Headquarters – Late Evening
The building had mostly emptied.
Night had settled over the skyline beyond NPCW Headquarters, the lights of the city reflecting softly against the tall windows of the Polar Division offices.
Inside Elias Coldmere’s office, the lighting was low and deliberate. A single desk lamp cast a warm circle of illumination across an otherwise immaculate workspace.
Files were arranged in perfect order.
Schedules.
Contracts.
Match layouts.
Coldmere sat quietly behind the desk, jacket removed, sleeves folded neatly at the cuffs.
The calm scholar of the Polar Division.
He turned a page slowly.
The Madness event booking sheet.
His eyes scanned the lineup with the patience of a historian studying an ancient manuscript.
Tag matches.
Division rivalries.
Title defenses.
All necessary pieces.
All carefully placed.
Then his gaze stopped.
Van Helsing vs. Krampus
For the first time that evening—
Coldmere smiled.
Not broadly.
Just the faint, satisfied curl of someone watching a long-awaited mechanism begin to turn.
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
His fingers tapped the paper once.
Elias Coldmere
(softly)
“Balance requires… pressure.”
He reached into the drawer of his desk.
From within he retrieved a small black communication device, no larger than a matchbox. The metal casing was unmarked, polished smooth by years of discreet use.
Coldmere studied it for a moment.
Then he pressed a sequence of numbers.
The line clicked.
A low hum.
Then silence.
Someone had answered.
Coldmere spoke calmly.
Elias Coldmere
“Tell Lord Thorne the match between Van Helsing and Krampus is set.”
A pause.
His expression remained completely composed.
Elias Coldmere
“The plan is underway.”
He ended the transmission.
No farewell.
No confirmation.
The device returned to the drawer.
The drawer closed softly.
Coldmere stood and walked to the small sideboard beside the window. From a crystal decanter he poured himself a measured glass of amber whiskey.
The ice clinked quietly.
He returned to the desk.
The Madness match sheet still rested beneath the lamplight.
His eyes drifted again to the line:
Van Helsing vs. Krampus
He lifted the glass.
Studied the page.
And smiled once more.
Not with malice.
With belief.
Elias Coldmere
(quietly to himself)
“Every ritual requires its beginning.”
Outside the office windows, the lights of the city flickered in the cold night.
And somewhere far beyond the reach of those lights—
Ancient forces were beginning to move.
Fade to black.
No comments:
Post a Comment