Stepping Stones || RP #2 vs ZERO

[Bear Reynolds]

Bear wasn't afraid of much. He'd seen a lot: deathmatches where the 'death' was literal, those far-too-in-depth medical documentaries, and that 'Carrie' re-enactment at the last Vendetta. But if there was one thing that evoked fear in him, it was going to his father's office. It wasn't so much his father that scared him – more the anxiety that came with trying to predict what he would say. A lot had happened since Bear last spoke with his father, and as he stood outside the office door, the one with the immaculate silver plaque that read 'Mr. Robert Reynolds', he felt an urge to turn and walk away. Instead, he knocked and waited.

“Come in,” came the hoarse voice of the head of the Reynolds family business. Bear did as he was told, entering the office and immediately feeling suffocated by the openness of it. At the other end of the office, seemingly a mile away, sat Robert, his huge desk dwarfed by the aura that surrounded him.

“Hello, father,” Bear greeted, in no rush to sit down in front of Robert's judging eyes. But he steeled himself, conjuring up the composure he loved to exert before taking a seat. When he got no response from Robert, Bear continued. “I'm leaving for California in a couple days. For RSW.”

There was a considerable pause before Robert spoke. “Yes, your mother told me.” Robert looked his son up and down, his eyes seeing more than Bear thought was humanly possible, despite looking as glassy as the tumbler of bourbon that sat in front of him. “Who're you fighting?”

“ZERO.” As was clear from Bear's voice, he was surprised that Robert was showing any interest in his career at all. Time was a cruel entity, and the curiosity Robert once had for Bear's career had long since disappeared. Or so Bear thought.

“The one who breaks people's arms?” Another question. Bear wasn't prepared for anything more than a few words to be exchanged, and so he nodded, speechless. More silence grew between them. “Do you think I don't care about what you do? I know I haven't always been very invested in your career, but this venture into RSW has piqued my interest. You do realise who works there, don't you?”

This again. Bear smiled through the torment – how many times had he been questioned like this? “He breaks people's arms, I've broken people's legs... both times were an accident, but they happened. And yes. I know full well what I'm getting involved in, and I know about ZERO.”

“It just seems...odd. You've gone from fighting around the world with your friend to brawling with a group of misfits in some backwater company in San Francisco.”

Ignoring the comment about his 'friend', Bear continued to smile, though it faltered just a bit. “I'm there to change things. Just like you did with the company. If you can improve a business in the short time you did, then I can change the landscape of RSW – starting with ZERO and Larsen International.” Robert didn't look very convinced, but Bear continued regardless. “Speaking of which, do you know anything about L.I.C?”

“They don't ring a bell. Though I do know that anyone trying to uphold a company name can't be trusted. Don't fall for any of their tricks, got it?”

“Haven't you seen my matches before?” Bear asked, awkward laughter escaping him just a moment after. “I'm not falling for anything. I'll always stay focussed, just like you told me.”

“Good.” If the conversation had ended at that, Bear would have been satisfied. But Robert wasn't done. “If there's anything I've taught you, it's that you shouldn't be someone else's stepping stone. You're too nice sometimes, and if there's anywhere you can't be like that, it's in this...company.”

Those words echoed in Bear's head. Advice from his father was never lacking, and despite the fact that Robert was often a busy man, he would always have time to spout out some kind of motivational quote. Though those messages always came across more like the demands a military officer would bark at his subordinates than heartfelt inspiration. “I've never been anyone's stepping stone, and I'm not going to start being one now.” Bear hadn't expected such bravery to appear. Though much to his surprise, by the time he left the office, there was no remnant of fear left - there was only the determination to never be 'someone else's stepping stone'.