Here we go again (Re-worked for week 2)

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Alexander Ritter is sitting at a table in his tiny apartment in the heart of downtown.  He's eating a bowl of cereal and reading the newspaper when there is a knock at the door.
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Alexander Ritter:  It's open.
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Alice Liddell, Ritter's friend, opens the door and walks into the apartment.  She sees the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, and the stockpile of garbage in the corner and shakes her head.
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Alice Liddell:  Ug.  This place is filthy.  Are you making the rats pay part of your rent?  
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Alexander Ritter:  Ah, they're not hurting anybody.  After a while you don't even notice they're here.
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Alice Liddell:  I don't know why you insist on living here in this dump!  Why don't you just move in with me?
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Alexander Ritter:  In the mansion?  No thanks, I'm doing fine here by myself.  Besides I like doing things myself, if I moved in with you I'd feel like a freeloader.
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Alice Liddell:  I don't mind.  I've got enough money and it gets really lonely in that big house all by myself.  I could use the company.
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Alexander Ritter:  I'd consider it, but not until I feel like I can fairly pay for my fair share.
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Alice Liddell:  You're never going to do that fighting drunk truckers in the basement of that bar for fifty bucks a night.  You can't go on living like this.  You tell everything is fine, but I can tell it's not.
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Alexander Ritter:  Don't worry about me, I heal quick.  Besides, it's only a matter of time before I catch a break.  Sooner or later one of those big promotions is going to come knocking at my door wanting me back in the ring.
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Alice Liddell:  You can't just wait for something like that to happen.  You have to make your own break, it's not going to get handed to you.
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Alexander Ritter:  Well, what would you suggest I do?
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Alice Liddell:  You have to get your life in order.  Would you please just swallow your pride and call some of these promotions and see if they have a spot for you?  I know they'd love to have you, but a job offer isn't going to just fall into your lap!
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Suddenly there is a knock at the apartment door.
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Alice Liddell:  Expecting someone?
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Alexander Ritter: No..
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The door swings open and there they are, Joseph Duplantier and Maria Esfahani, standing in the doorway. He takes off his sunglasses and puts them in his pocket as Maria sifts through a stack of papers and pulls out a dossier which she hands to Joseph.

Joseph:"Good things come to those who wait mister Ritter. May we have a moment of your time to discuss business?"

(ooc: FYI, I'm terrible at the "chain rp" thing.. Also, I highjacked one of your characters  )



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Alexander Ritter:  Is this about that genetic research facility in Reno?  I already told the feds, I had nothing to do with that fire, or the explosions.  It was like that when I got there!
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Maria Esfahani: No, no, nothing like that.  Are you going to invite us in?
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Alexander Ritter:  Well, as long it's not about any of the ec.. wait a second.  Invite you in?  Ah ha!  You almost got me, but there is now way this threshold is being crossed by you blood suc..
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Alice Liddell:  Come in, make yourselves at home.
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Alexander Ritter:  WHAT?!?
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Alice jams her elbow into Ritter's side, and then pulls him off to the side, before turning back to Joseph and smiling.
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Alice Liddell:  We'll be just a minute, we'll be right with you.
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Alexander Ritter:  What do you think you're doing?  Are you out of your mind?
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Alice Liddell:  I don't think there is anything sinister going on with those two.  You would have sensed it for sure, right?
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Alexander Ritter:  Probably, unless they are concealing it somehow.  Like, by magic or something.
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Alice rolls her eyes.
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Alice Liddell:  Lets say that's not the case.  You're just going to make them really suspicious.  
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Alexander Ritter:  They don't seem like the FBI either, but you gotta admit it's really weird how that girl had all those files.  They're up to something, I know it.
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Alice Liddell:Your paranoid tendencies are normally cute but lets tone it down a little, ok?  Lets just see what they want, and get them out of here.
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Alice and Alexander turn back towards Joseph and Maria.
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Alexander Ritter:  Sorry about that guys.  We get a lot of weirdos showing up in this neighborhood.  You said something about a business proposition?
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Maria places her dossier on a nearby table and starts sifting through the papers inside until she finds the one she needs. She grabs it and a pen and extends them both to Alexander.

Maria:"Mister Duplantier here is opening a new wrestling federation and he wants you to be a part of this grand new venture. This is our offer for you."

Joseph:"Maria, get the lady's offer as well, will you?"

Maria hands Alexander both the pen and papers and starts sifting through the papers in the dossier again. She comes back with a new contract and pen which she extends to Alice.

Joseph:"If your partner here wants to join you, Mister Ritter, we are more than willing to accommodate her as your valet."

Alexander Ritter looks at the contracts and then over at Alice, with a worried expression forming on his face as a wicked grin spreads across Alice's lips.
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Alice Liddel:  One for me too?  Really?
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Alexander Ritter:  Ok, I can see the wheels turning already, and I'm scared.
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Alice bites Ritter's ear.
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Alice Liddel:  Aw, is my big bad wolf getting nervous?  It's so cute when you get all nervous and squirmy.
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Alexander Ritter:  I know exactly what you're thinking.  Aren't you the one who always said don't mix business and pleasure?
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Alice Liddell: Yes, but this..
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Alice dramatically waves her arms in the air.
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Alice Liddell: THIS has some real potential!  This is possibly the one exception where mixing business and pleasure is going to be advantageous.
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Alexander Ritter: For the record, I think this is a terrible idea.
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Alice snatches the pen and quickly scribble her name on the contract.
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Alice Liddell: Opps!  Poor impulse control.
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Alexander Ritter: What the @#$% Alice!  These two show up out of nowhere, don't really introduce themselves, don't disclose details on the contracts, and oh by the way they've got CIA dossiers on BOTH of us.  I feel like we should be asking more questions.  Like, how many dates?  How much is the pay?  Where is it based, where are we going to book shows?  How long have you been spying on us?  You know, basic questions like that.
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Alice Liddell: Lets be completely honest.  This is NOT the most screwed up thing that's happened to us.  This week.  You've got a chance to get in on the ground floor of a wrestling promotion and get back to doing what you love.  It's what you said you wanted and as a bonus I'll be there by your side.  It's your dream come true.  And if it's NOT on the up and up.. if this is some kind of weird trick or trap.. we've survived worse.  
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Alexander Ritter:  I don't know..
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Alice Liddell: Come on, Alex.  I'm going to be there with you, so you can't use the "I don't want to go on the road and leave you behind" excuse this time. What are you scared of?
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Alexander Ritter: I'm afraid of failing.  The underground fighting I'm doing feels safe, you know?  Nobody watching on TV, just the scumbags in the basement of the bar betting on the cage fight.  There was no expectation and no pressure.  I'm afraid I've been out of the game for too long.  I'm going to go out there and people are going to have this expectation of who I used to be.  I'm afraid I can't live up to that, and I'm going get back in the ring and fall flat on my face.
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Alice Liddell: See how much easier things are when we are completely honest?  If that's all you are worried about, I can tell you right now that you're NOT going to fail!  You know why?
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Alexander Ritter:  Why?
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Alice smiles.
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Alice Liddell: Because.. I believe on you.
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Ritter signs and closes his eyes.  After a few seconds he signs the contract.
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Alexander Ritter:  Sometimes I hate you.
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Alice Liddell: Aw, but that's why you love me.
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Ritter hands the contracts back to Duplantier.
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Alexander Ritter:  I would say "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into" but it's obvious that you've done your research and you know EXACTLY what you're getting into, and I don't know how I feel about that yet.
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