43. The Beginning of the End
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As our blog story-form entries begin to draw to a close, it’s time to shift our focus toward a new chapter in Scaleville’s history. While a few mysteries are still yet to be revealed, the next arc takes us back to a simpler time, the early 1990s, to uncover the origins of one of our story’s most infamous characters: Pierre Hauteur, the dragon who would one day become Scalesville’s relentless compliance officer.
To our readers, you’re a part of the original circle of fans who are witnessing the native ideas. These are the first drafts before print. Your support has made this journey worth it and it has been my pleasure to share these characters - birthed by the creativity of my daughter and myself. We have created a fun quiz for you to discover who you’d hang out with if you visited the town of Scaleville. Check out the dragon personality quiz to find your chatty dragon match. -A. Pop
And with that, let’s take a step back to the year 1992.
“Sir, the proposals are in for the 1993 catalog,” said a young designer with noticeable hesitation in her voice as she set a stack of paper comps on the large mahogany desk. “We’d love your input, sir. The team has a few new directions we think could help us extend our brand’s reach.”
A large, gray dragon in a tailored suit sat in an oversized, black leather chair behind the desk in the boss’s office upstairs at the printing facility. The thick lenses of his silver-rimmed spectacles reflected the fluorescent light. Every part of his body was tense and rigid (which was his typical nature). His tail flickered sharply and his burly matted black wings were accordion folded on his back constricting and expanding subtly to the rhythm of his breathing that grew heavier and longer each time he inhaled.
The design team stood motionless and sweating, unsure whether the heat came from the struggling AC unit trying to cool the poorly insulated, three-story building in the middle of summer or from the anger radiating off their superior as he stewed in disgust at the comps.
“Wha—what is this garbage?” he demanded, flipping through the mockups. “Stickers? Rainbows? Reptile mascots? Do you think this is a toy company?”
The team exchanged uneasy glances as they look at one another intentional not to make eye contact with the inquisitor.
“Sir,” a sales dragon began carefully, “we’ve lost several of our loyal accounts. Offices are moving toward in-house printing, and we’re no longer their only option. We believe if we pivot slightly we could reach a broader market. This would allow us to use the machines on the floor now for high quality stickers while we they aren’t running commercial labels.”
He slammed the folder shut. “We are the pride of Scalesville. This printing facility has partnered with prestigious brands all over the world. This is not a hobby shop! I didn’t build this company from the ground up at eighteen to sell scrapbook stickers. Our name represents quality, precision, and industry. Not playful foolishness.”
Another team dragon cleared her throat. “What if we separated the lines, sir? One catalog for corporate clients and one for retail and consumer driven businesses?”
His breathing quickened and steam began to escape his nostrils. “No! I know what’s best for this company. I’ve kept it alive for seventeen years when others said I couldn’t. We will not cheapen our name for the sake of trends. Bring me something that will actually work or you can find employment elsewhere. I expect to see viable ideas on my desk Monday morning.”
The team fell silent again with most of the dragons now looking down at the floor. Together they swallowed their disappointment of having to work through another weekend. The meeting ended with the mockups left scattered across the desk, behind a polished brass nameplate engraved with the name - Pierre Hauteur, Sr., CEO, Print and Hauteur Label Co.
The truth was, Hauteur Print and Label Co. had been on the decline for the last few years. Personal printers and in-office machines were on the rise. Technology changed the way reptiles and dragons needed commerical printers, and although Mr Hauteur took great pride in serving wealthy corporations on occasion, the bulk of repeat orders came from the small to medium size local businesses - the little guys. Scaleville’s once-iconic printing powerhouse was in the mist of a crumble, one contract at a time.
Within nine months, the doors of Hauteur Print and Label Co. closed for good. Mr. Hauteur had already dismissed more than two-thirds of his team, the halls that were once alive with business chatter and humming machines became bare and hollow.
In those final months, the few who remained, worked frantically to bring the original proposal to life - an idea that Mr. Hauteur now claimed as his own brilliant concept, though the revelation came far too late. The company’s most creative minds had been let go months earlier for their so-called childish daydreaming. By the end, the company was so far in debt, there wasn’t enough time or money left to market creative stickers to retail businesses.
Pierre Hauteur Sr., once the pride of Scalesville, watched his empire crumble under the weight of his own ego and a chase for unacheivable perfection.
To be continued… New dragon story installments each Friday. Subscribe below to follow the dragons. Read the beginning of it all at Blog 1: New Adventure Awaits.
