((V-I-R-G-I-N-I-A... digest that for a moment.))

((Pale beams of sunlight slashed into the dim room through cream colored vertical blinds, creating a pin striping effect across the mocha colored carpeting. Motes of dust danced and swirled in the thin rays of light, pushed around by an overhead heating vent. The window faced west, but it lacked an ocean view and instead gave way to a Virginia landscape. The man inside this small hotel room was not impressed with the scenery.))

((The man in question sat at the foot of a queen sized bed looking through the blinds at nothing... just as most of the Virginia populace did on a Monday night as they waited for their cows to... something. He'd seriously considered no-showing this event as well... purely based on location, but decided two no-shows in a row was a little extreme, even for him. Though to be totally truthful his absence last week had been the fault of his tag-team partner Bryce Knight. The call had went something like, "Hey... I won't be there on Tuesday."))

((He sighed heavily and finally flicked his dark eyes over towards the camera. A camera set up on the dresser across from the hotel rooms bed. It was hand held and digital and could be controlled by a small remote that he kept tucked away in the pocket of his denim jeans. It use to be you'd have to schedule some camera time and then wait for a crew to make it out to your location. Now everything was digital and streaming and "high tech". He didn't understand how any of it worked he just knew how it worked and it made his life a lot easier.))

November: I've got a lot to say, and I don't want to waste a lot of time saying it. So I'll stick as close to the point as possible.

((He'd call Erika after this and find out what was happening with Bryce's contract. Although he was kind of glad that he no longer had a camera following him around 24-7. It had made life... interesting.))

November: So we have the re-birth of the AOWF Community and the people rejoice. Why you ask? Because they've had to settle for mediocre for the last three-years. Had to watch as inept promoters mismanaged talent and ultimately wasted prime opportunities to create something fan-fucking-tastic.

((He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. He's clean shaven for his first IWL appearance, but that won't last long... it never does. Neither does the nice guy act he tries to put on. He kind of has a temper. Just wait for it.))

Several weeks ago I was involved in one such situation and happily walked away from it when a better opportunity came along.

((He pauses holding up a finger.))

I apologize. I meant to say: when the best possible opportunity came along.

Because this is the AOWF people. This is what's been missing from your lives for the last three-years. This is what you've asked for, begged for, and now here it is staring you in the face. Of course you're not impressed yet because it's not what it was, but it'll soon be more then you ever thought possible. Because for every mistake that it's made, an improvement has been implemented.

I'm one of the AOWF's biggest fans because it never forgets who made it what it is. Because the only thing that matters to any of us is that our history be remembered. Our history created the AOWF.

And the AOWF remembers us. 

((Lazily he drops down to his side on the bed, resting his head on his propped up hand. If you asked him why he felt compelled to praise the AOWF he couldn't give you a good answer. It just felt like the right thing to do. It felt like you needed to be reminded what this was all about.))

I know what the promoter wants. He wants me out here lambasting Corey Lazarus and making our match this Tuesday a real "show stopper". But you see the problem there is that Corey is just a torrential waste of my time because he doesn't matter.

He's never mattered.

He blows into the Community every so often, gets into some hijinks with Thunderwolf, and then... just as quickly blows away. Or, as he's proven thus far here in the IWL, fails to even put in an appearance before tucking tail and returning to his life of seclusion in a trailer park somewhere out in West Hollywood. The number of people that Corey has impressed with his lackluster career can be counted on one finger.

Protean.

((He was suppose to be an exclusive tag-team wrestler now, but Bryce had fucked all of that up and now here he was again. Forced into a role he no longer wanted.))

It's funny that the one guy who's actually impressed with Corey Lazarus' return to our Community... is the same guy whose own career most closely mirrors his. They both have a history of fleeing from the AOWF when things get a little "rough", and accomplishing things outside of its walls that nobody fucking cares about. Wow, you had the best theme music in the HiC? That's... that's really fucking impressive Jake. I mean it.

Are we just no longer embarrassed by anything anymore? Are our values as wrestlers just that far out of whack that you'd actually list something like that on your resume?

Yeah... Corey Lazarus' return to the squared circle is definitely something to get excited about. Because we can always count on him to leave just as quickly as he shows up. But hey don't take my word for it just ask his biggest fan, Jake. On second thought you better not. You might hurt his feelings, and then he might leave, and then what ever would we do without HiC's Best Theme Music award winner?

I know... a loss like that could devastate all of us.

((One day they'll meet in a ring somewhere and have a good laugh about that. It'll happen. No... it'll fucking happen.))

There... I threw our owner a bone and I even cross promoted. I'm a supserstar.

I'd say I'm stirring the pot, but really I'm not. Stirring the pot would be me challenging Thunderwolf for the AOWF Intercontinental Championship. I mean when's the last time he defended that thing anyway? Not to worry there though Kelser fans, he's not about to put that title up on the line anytime soon, and so I'm not even going to make the challenge. After all it is the only credibility he has to his name. I mean the guy puts himself down as the "final" AOWF Intercontinental Champion. That's how much he really doesn't want to lose that thing.

And that... that's just really, really, sad.

I don't even know why I decided to bring you into this one-sided conversation Dustin, it's really unfair of me and baseless, but as long as you're listening I feel compelled now to tell you, after all of these many years, that your accent is hurting us and you should practice saying more, with fewer words.

Do the right thing Dustin... pronunciate.

((He slips a hand into his pocket and hits the "auto dimmer", and just like that we're at the end.))

'night.

((Fade))