Cairo Chronicles 2057.01: Semi-Charmed Life
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 6:05 pm
"I never thought I'd find myself in a situation like this again" is all newly tabbed GM Brandon Slouck could think to himself as his flight touched down at Cairo International Airport. Traveling over 18 hours had him bleary eyed and punchy. He'd been in a fight for the arm rest through both legs of his travel to the Middle East. The organization thought highly enough of the GM to hire him but not book him first class.
Walking off the plane, he wandered around, struggling to figure out where baggage claim was. While a vastly differently place, he immediately was transported back to Paris in 2028. Much younger. Much hungrier. Eyeing to prove he was ready for the jump to the MBBA, while simultaneously excited for his chance in the EBA.
"Hey!"
Snapped out of his trance, Brandon realized he was at baggage claim. Only one piece of luggage continued around the carousel. He looked around, only finding a man who appeared to be a reporter.
"Are you Brandon Slouck?"
"Yes, I am" the disheveled GM said trying to straighten himself out.
"Abdel Rahman Magdy with Egypt Today. After 2 championships in Charm City, what brings you to Cairo?"
"Excuse me?"
"After 2 championships in Charm City, what brings you to Cairo? This seems like a pretty big downgrade doesn't it?"
Head in hand, rubbing his forehead, Brandon softly muttered "that isn't me."
"I'm sorry, what's that?"
"THAT ISN'T ME" he shouted in embarrassment. "That isn't me."
"Wait a minute." Abdel flips through his notes quickly. "Didn't you say you were David Burcicki?"
"No. I never said that. That's the current GM of Charm City."
"And who are you?"
"Brandon Slouck. New GM of Cairo."
"So you're telling me," Abdel started, "Cairo, a team that won a championship in 2055, hired a GM nobody has heard of?"
"You seemed to of heard of me when this conversation started, but yeah, I guess that's what I'm telling you Abdel."
"Ok Mr. Slouch..." Abdel tried pushing forward.
"SLOUCK" interrupted Brandon. "It's Slouck"
"Ok, Mr. Slouck. Have you won anything?"
"Yes I have. The European Cup in 2028 and..uh.. JL Worst GM in 2042." He immediately regretted mentioning the second "honor."
"Ok, well I've got all I need," Abdel quipped, closing his notebook. "Thank you for your time."
Before Brandon could even reply, Abdel was gone.
"No way that goes well for me."
Much older, much hungrier (for a meal), and feeling he deserved better than being back across the pond, Brandon grabbed his luggage and made his way outside.
To his right, was a man holding a sign that read "Mr. Slouch." Rolling his eyes, Brandon walked up to the man feeling utterly defeated.
"That's me."
"Hello and welcome to Cairo. Right this way."
"At least they sent me a driver," Brandon thought to himself. Just as that thought finished, the man put a helmet in his gut. "What's this for?"
"A helmet for the ride. You don't have to wear it but I suggest you do," the man said as he pointed over to the bike and got on. "Come on, hop on the back. We're running late."
Letting out a sigh and a chuckle, Brandon looked to the sky in disbelief. "Cairo ain't much of a town."
Walking off the plane, he wandered around, struggling to figure out where baggage claim was. While a vastly differently place, he immediately was transported back to Paris in 2028. Much younger. Much hungrier. Eyeing to prove he was ready for the jump to the MBBA, while simultaneously excited for his chance in the EBA.
"Hey!"
Snapped out of his trance, Brandon realized he was at baggage claim. Only one piece of luggage continued around the carousel. He looked around, only finding a man who appeared to be a reporter.
"Are you Brandon Slouck?"
"Yes, I am" the disheveled GM said trying to straighten himself out.
"Abdel Rahman Magdy with Egypt Today. After 2 championships in Charm City, what brings you to Cairo?"
"Excuse me?"
"After 2 championships in Charm City, what brings you to Cairo? This seems like a pretty big downgrade doesn't it?"
Head in hand, rubbing his forehead, Brandon softly muttered "that isn't me."
"I'm sorry, what's that?"
"THAT ISN'T ME" he shouted in embarrassment. "That isn't me."
"Wait a minute." Abdel flips through his notes quickly. "Didn't you say you were David Burcicki?"
"No. I never said that. That's the current GM of Charm City."
"And who are you?"
"Brandon Slouck. New GM of Cairo."
"So you're telling me," Abdel started, "Cairo, a team that won a championship in 2055, hired a GM nobody has heard of?"
"You seemed to of heard of me when this conversation started, but yeah, I guess that's what I'm telling you Abdel."
"Ok Mr. Slouch..." Abdel tried pushing forward.
"SLOUCK" interrupted Brandon. "It's Slouck"
"Ok, Mr. Slouck. Have you won anything?"
"Yes I have. The European Cup in 2028 and..uh.. JL Worst GM in 2042." He immediately regretted mentioning the second "honor."
"Ok, well I've got all I need," Abdel quipped, closing his notebook. "Thank you for your time."
Before Brandon could even reply, Abdel was gone.
"No way that goes well for me."
Much older, much hungrier (for a meal), and feeling he deserved better than being back across the pond, Brandon grabbed his luggage and made his way outside.
To his right, was a man holding a sign that read "Mr. Slouch." Rolling his eyes, Brandon walked up to the man feeling utterly defeated.
"That's me."
"Hello and welcome to Cairo. Right this way."
"At least they sent me a driver," Brandon thought to himself. Just as that thought finished, the man put a helmet in his gut. "What's this for?"
"A helmet for the ride. You don't have to wear it but I suggest you do," the man said as he pointed over to the bike and got on. "Come on, hop on the back. We're running late."
Letting out a sigh and a chuckle, Brandon looked to the sky in disbelief. "Cairo ain't much of a town."
