Character Study #2 - Chris Q - 11/3/13

[Vinny]

Character Study explanation

Chris Q Bio

Due Date: 11/3/13 (midnight EST)


Chris Q, In Brief:
Chris Q is handled by Nick, one of the longest-tenured handlers in FGA. Chris Q is a 2x FGA Heavyweight Champion and the current, reigning Heavyweight Champion having held the belt longer than anyone else in history.

Nick's Curated RPs and Segments:

[shaunsindelman]

It's amazing what a day off from work and no kids around can do for your free time. Here we go...

With Chris Q being a long tenured member of FGA, I've decided to begin following him from the beginning of 2013 for the purposes of this Character Study. Once again, it will be observations from an outsider (fan) looking in opposed to any preconceived knowledge as a member of the roster.

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"Seeing Double" - Right off the bat, we know Chris is a bit of a drinker and the holidays are probably his Kryptonite. And clearly not a people person or one who was taught to respect his elders. "The Big Bad" lives up to his moniker as he trash talks Pat Gordon Jr from pillar to post and stakes his claim to the FGA Title. I almost think FGA should make him run a gauntlet double-fold just to prove himself a man of his word but hey…what do I know.

"Savage" - The road must be rough on a guy such as Chris Q as well as the perils of being a professional wrestler. A true story of what a lot of guys go through on the indy circuit is captured in the life of Chris Q as he leans on pills and alcohol to get through the days and nights in between his bookings. And just when you think you see a silver lining, that maybe Chris Q actually can be happy about something or someone, poof…he cuts them down like he did with the girl from Jersey. So now Chris is threatening to injure people to get his title shot. And he wonders why FGA is hesitant to give him one in the first place. *grin* I do enjoy his consistent berating of the champ from afar; a slow build to an eventual title match surely.

"The Void" - Alright…now we have a little drama in the backstory of one Chris Q. A mystery stranger from Chris' past has resurfaced. Who will it be? This is the stuff that keeps me as a fan interested from moment to moment. Not much else to say as Chris tears Leon Corella down yet again. The man has a way with words and reminds me of many other popular pro wrestlers from the Texas region (ie. Stone Cold or Terry Funk).

"Photograph" - So is the man in the photo Chris' dad? Regardless, he's a clear source of anger; possibly one that fuels Chris' drive in and out of the ring. I like the fact that Chris believes in living in the moment and pushes himself through usage of drugs and alcohol to follow that ideal. As for his thoughts on Chandler Scott, it's interesting to know that Chris Q has been undefeated since entering FGA yet looked over for a title shot…until now. And once again, we see that Chris Q truly believes "now" is more important than "before" particularly in whatever past victories his opponents boast about in their promos.

"In The Moment" - So Chris is going to just let the past stay in the past and not head back to Texas…it's motivation like that which shows he deserves to be a champion opposed to others who are too busy letting their personal life get in the way of their ambitions. And once again, an opponent of Chris Q's gets the verbal berating like so many others. What I liked a lot about this one was how much Chris makes it clear that The Compactor is his pride and joy…which means a lot when somebody in the future doesn't let it be the end of them.

"Alpha" - What's interesting about all of these CD segments from Chris Q is they all start the same way -- trashed hotel room after another night of heavy partying and the realization that something bigger is ahead of Chris. And after three months, Chris is finally hitting the bigtime with his shot at the FGA title. We all know how that ends up but regardless…this was a really good promo from Chris Q. I almost felt like Chris was the fan favorite in this one trying to vanquish the champion who was sitting on his laurels and not putting in as much work as his challenger has. And that this was the time for a new person to take the crown and bestow the title with prestige. Combined with his penchant for partying, I almost see Chris Q here as the Jeff Hardy of FGA.

New Dimension Pt 1 (and so on) - And now that we enter Chris Q's first reign as FGA champion, what do we get? More of the same. The same badass driven man who got to the title shot in the first place. I almost think being undefeated for so long slightly soured Chris Q's character because a man without any setbacks is not much of a man. Of course in the ramp up to his match with Chris Bond, we started to see in Chris Q a man who needed to be knocked down immediately especially after trying to use Bond's past transgressions against him. Finally, we got someone who was the proper protagonist to Chris Q's antagonist. I'm sure many have said it before but this is very similar to the verbal war between CM Punk and Raven back in RoH or more recently CM Punk and Chris Jericho in the "E".

And when he DOES lose his precious FGA title, he acts as if it was highway robbery. As if he was wronged. Typical bad guy mentality. He still sticks on his 10 and 1 record as if it was a 100 and 1. I do like the idea of Chris Q's one man vendetta against The Murder as a storyline as much as the short-lived Chris Bond/Chris Q match setup.

Which brings us to another exciting CD segment…one with a bit of a cliffhanger. What happened between the time he bought the car until the motel room scene? And who's blood was on his hands?

Oh and in very short fashion, Chris Q went from a man with a vendetta to a man with a title again. And how does it change his attitude? And how the hell does FGA keep a man employed who has a DUI on his record? Oh wait…so now Chris Q is the "Kurt Angle" of FGA. Someone sure loves TNA. (just kidding)

Jumping quite a few promos/CDs ahead and we end up seeing that all this time Chris Q has been running from a kid he fostered in October of 202. The Big Bad of FGA does have a flaw…he's a deadbeat dad. Hell, I'd be drinking my savings away if I was in that same position.

[Deleted]

As strange as this sounds, I wish to continue doing the character studies as a newcomer, giving out little more than first impressions (despite reading quite a few of the promos and segments.) It's one thing for people who've worked with or been around these characters for a few months or more, it's another for someone brand new.

That being said, I saw a lot in Q that reminded me almost directly of Chandler Scott in FGA. A cocky, egotistical son of a bitch who doesn't know how to face reality, and as long as he's winning he doesn't have to. Unlike Chandler, who tries desperately to hide his human flaws, Q seems to have accepted his to me. He still doesn't believe he can lose, but at least he's appeared to have contemplated the possibility. Q is still human, although barely at times from the way he treats his opponents.

Maybe that's because unlike Chandler Scott, Chris Q knows what it's like to lose something. Perhaps everything.

Q fought so hard to keep his belt because, to me, the belt was about all he had in this world. I'm interested to see how he bounces back.

Similar to Dom Harter, I also see somebody who acts a lot more evil than they really are. Necessity, if you will. They HAVE to act like assholes because there is no alternative if they wanna stay alive in this business.

In short, getting someone to hate you is a hell of a lot easier than getting people to like you. Q figured that out early and hasn't looked back since.

[Deleted]

You've got an overlying story arc, so lets see if you follow monomyth. I'll intersplice that with some thoughts on your shoots and give you my thoughts on your character.

HERO: We meet Chris Q as he storms into his friend's bar where we also meet Will.

Gotta say "Chris Q loves drinking. After a long day of busting balls and cracking skulls, he continues the abuse to his body by consuming vast amounts of liquor." is one of my favourite lines of introduction ever.

I also note the start of a pattern where you --possibly-- don't adequately describe the scene. Maybe it's a personal preference where instead of using terms like "favorite spot" or "small tattoo parlor" you could tell us what it looks like. Then again that's assuming I don't have a generic shitty little bar image in my head whenever someone says "shitty little bar". And, again, it's personal preference. Plus it seems to work for you

So we've met Q, he explains that he needs to get out of Texas; no explaination as to why, but that's half the mystery and a reason to keep us reading, right? He's signed a contract and is going to Pennsylvania and the North Eastern United States to bust balls and crack skulls. Gotcha.

HERALD: Will is your Hedwig, starting Chris on his journey from resident drunk to wrestling superstar! To helphim escape whatever pit he has fallen into (assuming we don't know at the time) and go make something of himself. I often times wonder hoe much Will's income has decreased at the bar; does he still make a profit without Q there propping up his bar each and every night?

I digress...

The early shoots show Q as a cocky six year vet who's looking to make it as a professional wrestler. I do enjoy your shoots, they're my favourite part of your writing. However, these early rps started what I will call your achilles heel. It started in the Akrista O'Hare one, I think. Where a large section of your shoot was a response to what she said. How you shoot down her mention of getting herself disqualified and spend far too much time replying to her points. You do it later on down the line (our first match, your match against Spiro) and I think if you can stop yourself from relying on that crutch you're damn near unstoppable. As it is, if your opponent no-sells your responses in the first rp, goes at you hard again in another rp and you just respond...you look weaker than you are and your writing doesn't live up to its true standard.

In 'Savage' and 'Seeing Double' we see you introducing the one time characters. I'm not sure how to classify them: are they there for mischief and comic relief, to provide advice, or to stop our hero from progressing on his journey?

Regardless, the elderly couple in Providence show that Chris is an ass outside of the ring as well as inside. The girl in Jersey show that Chris can mask his contempt when he needs to. If I was using clinical terms I think that sort of behaviour can be classified as sociopathic...or just human

Ah, 'The Void' and Will returns with a mystery man sitting in his bar. The photograph album in the next rp provide a bit more detail; the big bad showing a hint of emotion, opposed to his normal almost stoic stance. Also showing that his go to response is anger. See above paragraph Now I'm questioning whether this man is the reason Chris left Texas. Is he the SHADOW and Chris's main enemy?

Of course, Chris being ever so slightly sociopathic (imho) has a hard time keeping friends; he lashes out at probably the only person he's ever called 'friend'. Gets drunk and falls into bed with a buxom blonde, lured into the encounter with the promise of seeing a gold belt. He's living a rock star life, but with the subtlety that fails most writers in that you don't show his excessive boozing and drug intake. How many writers would have had Q in bathroom at any of those bars, sniffing a line of coke off the toilet seat? But not you, and I respect that. You deal with the aftermath of the partying; the hangover, headache, soreness, the groupies, one night stands etc. and it is a welcome change from what I've read from others in the past.

Now Chris has lost a match, lost his title ... how does he react? Anger, drinking, presumably more pills. Or buy a car, crash it and refuse to deal with the consequences. Hardly Big Bad type behaviour.

After you regain the title (damn you! btw ) you seem to evoke images of Gollum and the ring; the way Chris seemingly obsesses about it, taking it places. I'm surprised he doesn't pour a drink for it at times. It's well done, really it is. Again a sort of subtlety about the writing that shows that Chris is capable of caring - if not about someone - then at least about something. I see this as one of his few humanising traits; his superhuman resistance to alcohol and drugs, his lack of attachment to other human beings etc. push him in one direction, but when he has something he cares about, he's happy and...normal? Content?

And POW! The real SHADOW! The reason Chris has been running for a year; again the abdication of responsibility is key; the fact that Chris would rather run away from his home and pursue a dream that nobody thought would come true for him, instead of taking responsibility for his actions (although he appears to have been tricked into it), in this instance displaying a lack of remorse ... you're hitting all the anti social personality disorder tickboxes here. But damn, you do it well.

And I look forward to seeing where Q goes now that we know why he left Texas, and since he has now lost the one item with which he felt a connection again.

[Chris Q]

I just talked to Terr about this today. In the circle of fedding where I was raised, responding and addressing your opponents words in your own shoots was the way it was done. It was the norm for my previous fed circle and something I intentionally include because I thought it added an extra layer of heat for the match/feud. Now that I know Terr doesn't care for it and that you have similar feelings, I'll never include that shit in my work again.

I feel silly for doing it this entire time thinking I was adding something to my RPs.

[Chris Q]

Thanks for all the responses so far. Sorry I haven't had time to sift through my segments yet, I'll try to do it soon. I've been too busy crying about my title loss.

[Chandler Scott]

Just throwing my useless two cents in here, but I came up in an environment similar to Nick where that was the norm. However, if I know I'm only do one roleplay, I'll make it a point to write up the majority of my roleplay (if not the entire thing) without reading my opponent's. But I'll go right after someone in the second roleplay.

I've personally never had a problem with your roleplays, even when they were against me. You've been doing a great job thus far from an entertainment standpoint. The W/L goes without saying.

But again, my useless two cents.

[Jensen Banks]

Oct 29, 2013 20:51:09 GMT -5 Chris Q said:

Thanks for all the responses so far. Sorry I haven't had time to sift through my segments yet, I'll try to do it soon. I've been too busy crying about my title loss.

I'm fucked at Final Frontier, aren't I?

[Chandler Scott]

Royally

[Chris Q]

No, I'll get beat again. You're the best!

[Vinny]

FWIW, I think there's value in addressing what your opponent has said. If we treat each shoot in a vacuum I find that to detract. That said, responding to an opponent should never be the primary driver or content of an RP. That's how you get people waiting until deadline to use their opponent's work against them (or two people posting shit in the last 10 minutes). There obviously a disadvantage to being the first guy to post, but on the flip side it seems dumb to just ignore what they said if you've had time to read it.

Oh and my study will probably be up this weekend, because like my RPs I procrastinate with this too.

[Bondo]

As one of the guys whom you've defeated regularly, I really dig the way you write Chris Q. You're aggressive. You're vile. You're down right ruthless with your verbage.

That being said, I can honestly say the first real human part of Q that I've found was your latest work for Respect Is Earned. When I found out he had fathered a child and left and started wrestling because of it, I downright lost it.

I finally realized how much of a bad guy he really is.

He's got his demons. And he wallows in them. But not in pity, either. He thoroughly enjoys the booze and the drugs and the women, and makes no apologies. I loved during our story that he never hid them. He threw them in my face, and honestly Q's statement that he had Bond beaten when (I) refused the drink was accurate. After that, there really was no limit to which Q would go and there was a limit where Bond would go.

To me, Chris Q is the epitome of a bad guy here. Sure, we have our other villains, but in all honesty. They're just dickheads or sociopaths. But Q, here's a guy who literally makes no apologies for nothing. When he loses (which is fucking rare) he takes it, uses it for fire, and the next guy in line pays the price.

I'm envious of your shoots. You have a way with words, and are able to be concise yet fierce. I'm sincerely jealous of the fact that you can do what I try to do in a shorter length, and it's pretty much 100% spot-on.

My only complaint is that the Chris Q character has basically only progressed thus far. "He drinks and parties, and kicks tons of ass. And he's running from something." And this is before my tenure here. And now, late October, we finally find out why he's running. What I'm getting at, my only complaint is I know very little about why Q is the way he is. I don't know why he's always drinking. Always smoking. Always fucking someone. I wish I did. And it's one of the reasons I always read your RP's now, Nick.

You're ruthless, and I love your writing. I'm personally looking forward to a possibly new Q, who's gone from being at the top of his ideal world, to having it stolen (i'm guessing here) and burnt to the ground in his eyes.

Don't Stop Believin', Nick. Because Chris Q's legacy here is that he's one tough, ruthless son of a bitch. And I don't wanna see the Chris Q Party stop anytime soon.

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2013 20:47:23 GMT -5 Chris Q said:

I just talked to Terr about this today. In the circle of fedding where I was raised, responding and addressing your opponents words in your own shoots was the way it was done. It was the norm for my previous fed circle and something I intentionally include because I thought it added an extra layer of heat for the match/feud. Now that I know Terr doesn't care for it and that you have similar feelings, I'll never include that shit in my work again.

I feel silly for doing it this entire time thinking I was adding something to my RPs.

In my non-judging opinion, it can add to it. I've been guilty of replying to what people and I'm not criticising you for doing it.

It's when you do it too much. One, maybe two points that your opponent has made - fine. But then add something new to the dialogue. Go at them, don't always be countering points.

Remember it's better to give than receive ... Not just for Christmas, but for trash talk to.

[Vinny]

Oct 30, 2013 4:26:34 GMT -5 @blaineharrison said:

Remember it's better to give than receive ...

That's what she said. *Bro-Five*

EDIT: Sorry, I'll stop hijacking. I couldn't resist.

[styg]

I wouldn't say responding to your opponent is inherently bad - characters don't exist in isolated bubbles from each other, and presumably at least *some* of them watch their opponents' promos. But it can be easy to fall into the trap of it being all one does, which is... well, a bit lazy? If all I ever see of a character is them shooting on their next opponent, I tend to get bored with them pretty quickly. I think for most of the fedding world, we're not playing The Undertaker, we're playing Mark Calaway, and to keep the character interesting one needs to bring other facets of their character into play than just their shoot persona.

None of that is aimed specifically at Chris btw. Just my thoughts about that side of the discussion. I'll try to get a study of Chris up in the next couple of days.