((The west coast...just prior to noon.))

((He's had a roommate for the last couple of weeks. The apartment is a mess, it smells, and there's something growing in one corner of the living room...but at least he's not alone. At least there's someone there to talk to when the alcohol isn't working anymore. Not that the conversation is ever all that intelligent. Mostly it's about whatever happens to be on TV at the time. Still...he's not alone.))

((The breeze coming in off the Pacific whips the ends of his white, button-up, shirt around as he looks out towards the beach with large hands gripping the railing on his balcony. His hairs a total mess, and needs a trim. The same could be said for the beard and mustache that have started to thicken up upon his face. She always hated to kiss him when he wasn't clean shaven...well fuck her now huh?))

((It's quite out today...this early on a Sunday morning most civilized places are. Empty too. He could probably catch a couple of good waves, but then again that'd involve leaving the apartment, and he really didn't want to open that door anymore. It hurt too much.))

November: Sure...I'm a disappointment. I can live with that. I have lived with that, but really...that's not what this is about. No...not in the least. Oh you'd like to make it about that. You'd like to keep the conversation as far away from you as possibly. Because Heaven forbid someone with a mind actually attack your character, morals, and personality traits. Heaven forbid...

((With his profile to the camera...he slowly turns his head until his eyes are upon us. Dark orbs of hate and drunkenness. For a moment there's just silence...contemplation, and then finally...))

Like...Heaven forbid you compromise the good and decent person you are just for a "friend". Heaven forbid a strung out whore shows up on your doorstep one day and asks for any money you have. Heaven forbid you actually give her all the money you have on you at that time. Heaven forbid she had actually walked away then Marcus...because she probably would have ended up dead. Lucky for you...and your lack of a backbone...that she let you help her. Because you would have let her walk away. Yeah, you're a real saint. You never, and I mean ever, compromise who you are for anybody. So why start now? Why stick your neck out on the line for anyone if it'll just add complications to your life that you don't need?

Why not help Kyle Lee out? Why not prove to this stranger...to this guy you barely know that you'll back him no matter what? Why not? I'll tell you why. Because daddies watching at home, and that's the only opinion you're after. You need his love and admiration more then you need anyone else's...because he's a God right? Because he was respected right? Because he's remembered in this game right?

Wait! Game? Did I just call the sport of wrestling a game? Why yes...I did. 

((He releases a heavy sigh, shakes his head, and drops his eyes down to his hands. He's watching his knuckles grow white. There are so many God damn things to say, and he doesn't know where to start...))

Because...because this is all a game to me, Marcus. Just one big fucking game of the popularity contest. And that's all it's ever been. Because at the end of it all...nothing we do here is going to ever matter out there.

((He flicks his head up a bit to indicate "the world at large", and then drops it back to his hands...))

Not in any sport does it ever matter. I mean...what's it ever done for your father? Oh sure...a title here, and a good name there might make it a bit easier for you to get some good ad work hocking worthless shit over the airwaves, but really...this game doesn't define who or what I am. Do you actually think I give a fuck if I beat Aaron Faith cleanly or not? Do you actually think I would have given a fuck if this title was taken from me and given to him all because Shawn thought you were playing unfair?

Fuck the title! You want it? You can have it. I'll put it in a box, put a red ribbon around it, and ship it off to you. Because it doesn't matter as much to me as that of a companion who has my back no matter what. And I wasn't  asking you to do anything illegal. It's a God damn game!

((His hands fly up to his head...and fingers lace themselves through dark hair. His elbows drop down to the railing, and for a long moment there's just more silence.))

It's a game Marcus. And when you couldn't separate yourself from the game long to prove to me, just that one time, that you would watch my back regardless of your fathers standards... I lost all confidence in you. To put it simply I can't trust you. It's a game. We play it to make money. We play it to take control of that spotlight so that we can sell a couple of more shirts and our action figures. Because you know those names that you compared me to... when you said I wasn't the Charm? That's all they did their entire career. 

((He turns his face again towards the lens...dropping his hands back to the railing and pushing up to his full height.))

Yeah...I know all about the Charms, and you should apologize to me for assuming you know a damn thing about them. Because why? You were front row at fall from grace one? I spared with the old man in the weeks prior to that. So let me tell you about the Charms. Let me tell you about a young, cocky, egotistical, Misery who cheated every chance he had, and when he couldn't his family cheated for him. Let me tell you about a young, cocky, egotistical Shawn Twilight who strung a man up on a scoreboard, turned his back on everyone in his family, lied and cheated to get to the top... check ffg 3, and along the way made sure to pick up Tybalt so that when the odds were a little uneven he had someone to trip up his competition. Let me tell you oh wise one about Jeffery Mother Fucking Drake... The Charm. A man who re-started his career upon lies, and cheating. And I just don't mean he cheated at the occasional weekly card. I mean he used outside help at fall from grace. The staple of his families name.

So now compare me again to them. Show me again where what I expect from my family is any different from what they did? Illustrate to me why they're so God like in your mind, and I don't compare or rate? The truth is Marcus...you, just like everyone else, fell victim to their lies, deceit, and illusions. Slight of hand the magicians call it. Get them looking this way while you prepare the trick over that way. Only... it was easier to fool you...because Matthew Lee once sent you a letter, and Jeff once said three words to you. Oh... you are the expert... littlest Charm. 

((He shakes his head, and hangs it again... letting out one little cough of laughter followed by a deep sigh.))

There...I let you draw me into some conversation about that Charms for a bit. But I couldn't allow your delusions of what they were to continue any longer. And because that's what you think they are...you don't have a fucking clue what I'm really about. About the statement I'm making to them. You'd like to pretend you understand me...that you have my number like you have Darren Ridel's. As if I'm the same kind of opened book he is, but the truth is Marcus you don't, and that's why all of this is so confusing for you. Because I just can't make it about the game like all your other opponents have...I'm taking it deeper and making it about us.

I'm making it about your inability to commit to a relationship. To give all of your attention to a person, and not an inanimate piece of equipment. Oh yeah, you can pound the fuck out of that bag until you bleed, but can you put that much dedication into a conversation? Into a embrace of comfort? You're scared of people and interaction with people. You do one thing well, and you're too afraid to take a step away from it. Too afraid that then that one thing will suffer and then there will be nothing for your father to be proud of any more.

And that's why she won't want you. I want her to see what you are...I want her to know that you'll never change. That when she needs someone to be there just for her...you'll be thinking of ways to apply a little more pressure to that ankle hold. That when she breaks down in the locker room and starts to cry uncontrollably... you'll ignore your "obligations" to the ring and just hold her. She doesn't need you in her life, hell...she doesn't need me in her life, but I need to make sure she doesn't make a mistake with you.

Because you are scary good in that ring, top notch. But you're only second rate when it comes to living and experiencing life. That's what I'm going to show her, and if it means I lose on the 15th... well then fuck it. So long as she sees that there is nothing more to you then what you've been giving us.

((His eyes pop back up to watch the waves rolling in. A deep breath...))

It's all so personal now isn't it Marcus? Not so...black and white, good and evil, right or wrong. Just two guys who want to let the other know that they're living their lives in the wrong way. It's a shame you can't see the truth of my words.

((A quick glance and nod back at the camera.))

'night.

((black...))