((Sometime very close to noon. His pay checks have been a little bit bigger then he's use to, and so he decided to go first-class this time. On his right shoulder a small bag with his ring gear and a couple days worth of clothes...in his left hand his ticket. An observant viewer would notice the absence of the JWA Television Title on his person. He tends to leave that with the JWA because he feels silly walking around with a big leather strap all the time...))

((We watch him, watching the planes taxi around on the air strip. He looks tired, worn, and unkempt...his wild hair, the bags under his eyes, and the layer of stubble growing along his jaw line pays testament to that. He raises a hand to his mouth and coughs into it...finally turning his attention to the camera...))

What's funny here is that of everyone that Styx could possibly be looking at to destroy...Thunderwolf assumes that it's him. Abunai, breaks his fucking jaw, and suddenly Styx is responsible. Diablo, molests his wife, and Styx has it in for him. The Machine, kidnaps his daughter, and bingo...Styx must want him destroyed. Get over yourself already Dustin...we could care less about you, and Styx especially could care less about what happens to you. If anything he's more interested in what we're doing, because if we fail...then he fails.

((He coughs into his hand again, the congestion in his lungs very noticeable. He'd kill for a cough drop right now.))

So you don't need to worry about what I'll be doing at Vengeance...I just wanted to see Twenty-One jump a bit when he thought I wouldn't be there. Because for someone who's the number-one this, and the number-one that...he's awfully interested in where this TV champs career is heading. Just like he's interested in how I formed a "relationship" with Angel, and how suddenly we're all best buddies. Why, Twenty-One...how very un-Charm like of you. I try my best to keep the soap opera out of my promos, and there you are asking for all the intimate little details.

How bout this...how bout you tell me how you and your family became such good buddies with your clone there over night, and I'll tell you the whole story, down to the smallest detail, of how Angelus and I came to reach an understanding, hmm?

((He coughs again...harder this time, but he still manages to get his hand up.))

Speaking of your little clone...notice really that I've never called you a shadow...a shadow is too good for you. That's something reserved for those who actually originated those lines you're playing with, and that you are now butchering. I can almost feel your new family cringe behind your back every time you try for the witty remark, and fall flat on your face in the process. Just like how you stretched to use that whole "shadow line" because you thought it sounded good...even though a shadow was never mentioned.

...

Here's an idea for you stupid...make sure your rebuttal stacks up to the insults, and maybe...just maybe work on a counter to the whole "clone line"...and well you might even impress your new family if you get it right, but you won't...not unless they sit you down and feed you your next line.

((More coughing...it's that time of the season. A never ending cycle. Only he's alone and there's no one to bring him soup in bed anymore...))

Of course a double-standard applies in Twenty-One's situation...they want him to fit the mold, and to spew the lines, and to hit the Heroes this and that, and maybe even a Miser's Grasp in there for a little symbolism. So you let that slide because he's what they're calling a Charm now days, and you also have to drop the shadow line because he's just not...not like Shawn and Drake were. Even then Shawn wanted the shadow and Drake was so far removed from Shawn's passing that it didn't take him long.

Yeah I know the text-book history...I witnessed it all from backstage or at home in my recliner with a remote in my hand. Still bitter? Why yes of course, but not to the point I was a few months ago. Do I still want to end you? Never said I didn't...in fact I could make it happen in February, but I won't be so bold as to even assume that has anything to do with me. Any night of the week I'd gladly step into that ring and make it happen...

((He stops short, and his eyes go wide...))

Oh! You thought I meant I was going to be out there with a chair every night bashing your brains in right? No...I'm not one of the Faust brothers or Vice or even Mass Carnage whom you shamelessly steal lines from like no one will notice. I'm none of them, but I will end you...all it takes is one match. Just one. That's why I'm still here in the JWA Twenty-One...to make sure I'm there to step in when I need to. You talk about stirring the pot, and I don't think you could stir it much more then that.

((A small cough that he tries to stifle...just makes him want to cough harder.))

I know...I know...it's not time for that yet. But it's really the only thing I'm looking forward to. That and grabbing up that AOWF World title before you do...because you seem confused by the concept of number one contender, and really folks he is according to the AOWF Rankings, and actual champion which you are not. Which means I still have plenty of time to grab that title...just have to wait for my new best friend Angel to let go of it, and I highly doubt he'll be doing that to you.

And...

And...you said a lot more, but I didn't take notes. So I'll see you tomorrow then. 

((black...))