[Mark Ward]

 Post all roleplays for this match here!

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[J2H]

  J2H - Record Breaker?

Who would have thought that when he started in wrestling, he would be in this position now to become not one of the greats, but the greatest World champion SCW has ever seen? The likes of Gabriel, Drake Green, Sean Jackson, Spike Staggs, Simon Jones, Jordan Williams, Nick Jones, men who have been called legends in SCW folklore, veterans of the ring the whole world over, could all be looking up to a twenty two year old rich kid as the longest serving World champion SCW has ever seen.

Did the man formerly known as James Huntington-Hawkes III ever dream that he would have worked his way in to a position where people would have to measure up to him? Did he ever think that maybe someday, he will be all everyone aspires to be, a record holder at the very, very top? Maybe in his mind he thought that he could be as good as this, maybe more hope then belief but now he's standing on the very edge of standards set by Spike Staggs, he already knows he's going to match the record, but who wants to be someone who matches a record?

No one!

No one wants to be a co record holder, no one wants to be the guy who is just AS good as the guy before him, people want to be better than the guy before him, better then the man who holds the record, but one thing stands in his way, one thing stops him from being sure of SCW greatness...

Despayre...

The popular man that everyone wants to see with the championship belt to complete the true underdog story. Everyone loves an underdog, but this underdog could stop the greatest achievement of a young man's life.

See, there's more than just a title belt on the line when these two men meet, J2H could break a record, Despayre could realize a dream that he may of secretly harbored, or at least his father secretly harbored from the day he put him in a ring and taught him how to wrestler.... All parents live vicariously through their children when they just can do it themselves.

Sly shot at Synn? Of course, cause Synn could never reach the heights that Despayre has, and it's plain to see where the wrestling talent is in that family, but with the will of Synn, could it be enough to push Despayre to title glory and ending J2H's attempt at a record?

Fuck no! Not in J2H's mind anyway cause that little bit of spice just got thrown in to the cooking pot and changed the taste of this match. Beating Despayre for second time, always fun, keeping a title, even better, but the chance to break a record doesn't come along that often and in J2H's mind, that little extra motivation just put him over the edge. He may have promised no Casey Williams at ringside but now there's more on the line, not even J2H knows if he will go back on his word, but what he knows right now, what he knows in his heart is that with the record within touching distance, he will do whatever it takes to take it.

Whatever it takes.

One man's dream will end, someone will become a World champion for the first time, or someone will break the record of being the longest running champion.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, J2H made a little promise, did he not? A certain promise that he will expose so much in SCW, and just like a promise he will make to keep the championship and break a record all in one go, that little promise won't be broken either.

Some will call it biting the hand that feeds you, some will say it's disrespectful to someone who gave you a chance, but sometimes, the truth needs to come out, sometimes, the truth about what really happens, needs to be told, so it can be fixed. Eventually, the truth will always come out, This just might speed it up a little bit...



A run down looking room is seen, a brown leather looking sofa sits in the fore shot of the camera, behind it, a dark grey wall, with an SCW banner falling down it, barely making contact with the top of the leather upholstery. A man paces impatiently waiting for someone, the man in his forties, with a receding hairline, grey hair cutting in to his short brown locks down the side of his head, as well as greying stubble on his face. The mans face turns to a smile as he sees someone walking towards him. The camera turns to see J2H walking towards him, wearing white shorts, a sleeveless white shirt, a thick gold chain hanging from his neck, black sunglasses and a black baseball cap, slightly tilted to one side. Over his shoulder, he holds the SCW World Heavyweight championship. The man reaches out his hand but J2H addresses him first.

J2H: Steven Shaw?

The man nods enthusiastically.

Steven: Yes sir, it's a pleasure to meet you. What do I call you? J2H? James?  

J2H: J will be fine.

Steven points to the leather sofa, his boney fingers pointing to the middle seat of the three.

Steven: Please take a seat, and relax. I can't believe we have you here today.

J2H moves in front of the sofa and slowly lowers himself on to the seat, nodding with confidence at Steven.

J2H: Well I wanted to get this off my chest, you seem to be the go to guy in this field.

A smile crosses the mid fourties man, looking surprised by the praise from the SCW World Heavyweight champion.

Steven: It's an honor. Before we start, I need to make sure you know the implications of what you're about to do here today. People have got fired for being on a show like this and biting the hand that feeds them so to speak. You're about to blow the lid on so many things today.

A non-challont shrug of the young man's shoulders indicates his feelings on the matter as he readjusts himself on the sofa, getting more comfortable.

J2H: I know exactly what I'm doing. It's time people opened their eyes on so much and if this is the way to get their attention, so be it. It's about time they stood up and saw what's really going on around SCW and how things really happen. They're not gonna fire me tomorrow for this shit so I don't care.

Steven: As long as you're sure. Ok, I'm gonna sit off camera and ask you questions about you and about SCW. Is there anything off limits?

The champion quickly shakes his head.

J2H: Not when it comes to SCW.

Steven: Ok great.

Steven takes a seat just off camera and looks towards J2H.

Steven: Ready?

J2H: Sure. Let's get this thing started.

Steven clears his throat as he gets ready to talk to one of today's biggest stars in wrestling.  

Steven: Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a very special guest, a man who has evolved all the way through his wrestling career and at the young age of twenty two years old, already held three out of four Sin City Wrestling championships, a man who is currently the SCW World Champion, a man who will lay it all out on the line for you all right now, J2H! Welcome J, how are you today?  

J2H: I'm doing great Steven.

Steven: Great to hear. Let's get right in to the meat of this story. For weeks, you've been saying that there are people against you and have been since day one of your championship reign, and we're not talking about the challenges on camera, we're talking about from the other side of the camera. How did this come about from the beginning?

J2H: Actually, the day after I won the title, my phone was blowing up. You'd think seeing ya phone go off from a co-worker, you'll get congratulations, but no. I posted a tweet about not sure I even wanted the belt, as a way to get under some people's skin, as a way to evolve myself to the next level, but I wasn't getting those congratulations. Three people came to me and asked to take the title from me if I didn't want it. Three people who let's just say, sitting down at the ass end of SCW who would never realistically be a World champion, were asking me. They come to me to go and speak to the bosses and say I, yes, I thought it was a good idea for them to be champion over me.

Steven: They didn't even do it themselves?

J2H: No, they wanted me to look stupid and go suggest I drop the belt to those guys. I would have looked like I didn't have a clue about business, when I actually have a business degree. I would never put the belt on those guys, so I thought it was some kind of joke. They hassled me for a while about it. I'm just glad that the owners had the good sense to see that it wasn't gonna work.

Steven: So you did go to the staff about it?

J2H: I had a casual conversation with Christian Underwood and Mark Ward when I was called in to SCW HQ about what's going on from now on.

Steven: Rumor has it that someone else in the office is very much against you right now.

J2H nods his head firmly.

J2H: There is. One of the guys in creative called me and said to me and I'm quoting this. "Hey, I haven't spoke to Mark or Christian yet, but I've been thinking we can do a great angle where Casey Williams beats you for the title, he has earned it for being here for years."

Steven: How did you react to that?

J2H: Look, I like Casey, he's a good guy that's had my back for a long time since I've been here. He has a way of being a locker room leader. I know he's took a lot of the new guys to one side and had a convo with them, but I hung up the phone right away.

Steven: You hung up?

J2H: Yeah, because I knew they wanted me to agree with it to strengthen their case when they took it to Mark and Christian.

Steven: Do you think they would have agreed to it?

J2H: If I was on board, yeah probably. They give their champions a bit of freedom when it comes to creative so if I was for it, then they may have gone for it.

Steven: And that person is still wanting you to lose?

J2H: Yeah, he does. I know he does, I don't know what he has against me, but in my run as champion, I've brought fresh energy to the scene, I've worked harder than any champion SCW has ever seen, and the guy came up with me losing to Drake Green, which made no sense when it came down to it. Why give the belt to someone who everyone knows is out of the door in just over a week?

Steven: He wanted you to lose to Drake?

J2H: He wanted me to lose to everyone I've faced since I got the belt. I have my spies in that creative room, and it was suggested I took on the entire male roster at the supercard, fuck, I wouldn't be shocked if he was the one who sent Dmitri out to me the other week.  

Steven: You didn't know Dmitri was in the picture?

Another shake of J2H's head.

J2H: Nah. I'm the kinda guy who will go to the ring and talk and if people interrupt, they interrupt and I work with it on the spot. I don't need hours to practice what could happen. I don't need to be pulled aside and told how to react. People buy shit more when it's natural. I had no clue what was going on, but wouldn't be shocked to find out that guy is behind it.  

Steven: But you've defeated some credible opponents so he can't have that much power.

J2H: He wants power, and I think he almost had his way when I fought Despayre at the last supercard.

Steven: How so?

J2H: I got a call on the Wednesday before the show telling me Despayre really wanted the title so I was to lose.

Steven: Based on Despayre wanting the title?

J2H hold his hands up

J2H: I'm not saying there's Sin influence, but it's the first time ever Despayre has hinted that he might wanna be champion, he hates single belts, but he does and I got told the belt is changing hands. I only spoke to Austin about it because it didn't make sense to me. I'd been bringing in the money, I've asked SCW to get me out there two or three days a week to promote the federation. I'd go to maybe three or four places those days and signed autographs, spoke to fans, been on radio shows, just to show I'm a worthy champion and next thing I know, all I was doing wasn't good enough. All I've done wasn't good enough. It made no sense to me to put out the one hot thing in SCW just like that.  

Steven: But it didn't happen?

J2H: It didn't and I still don't know why the change of heart. Maybe someone looked at the facts and figures about what I was doing, maybe someone found out that guy has a personal vendetta against me and fuck what it meant for business. I don't know how or why it happened, but it did happen and personally, if I was running the company, I wouldn't take a belt from someone that's on fire and give it to a guy who is by nature, socially awkward.

Steven: So it's not an act for Despayre?

J2H: No, Despayre is socially awkward. He doesn't know how to go out and stand in front of a crowd to part them with their money, he doesn't know how to actually do that. People with money that own businesses wouldn't listen to someone like Despayre. The guy doesn't like crowd so until he changes, he won't be the great champion he's destined to be.

Steven: Have you had any calls about how it's going to go down at the next supercard?

J2H: Not yet, but I probably will do by the middle of next week. If you look at things with your eyes open, everyone know I should walk out of there with the belt.  

Steven: Coming away from there, what annoys you most about backstage in SCW?

J2H: The people.

J2H laughs after his comment, flicking his hair back behind his ears.

J2H: There's a lot of weird personalities backstage, but you should all want to get to push the company as far as it can go, but there are wrestlers in there just working for themselves.

Steven: Like who?

J2H: Well Lord Raab comes to mind. I've seen creative people try and talk to him about stuff and his head is so far up his own ass, he pretty much rejects everything because it doesn't suit him. He's not a team player at all. He pulls SCW in his own direction when he could be at the top, but he generally does what suits him. I actually saw him smile when he found out he wasn't on the cruise cause he's a miserable bastard who has no concern for anyone other than what he's doing in SCW. Sooner he wins the tag and Internet titles and let's Samuel do his own thing, the better.

Steven: Is he on the list with Rage for people you have no interest in working with?

J2H quickly nods his head up and down.

J2H: Fuck yeah, could you imagine a guy that difficult being World champion again? They'll have to save money cause he's ruin the company.

Steven: And Rage?

J2H: There's nothing I can add to a feud with Rage. I'm full of charisma, I'm fast and I'm good. I am the opposite of Rage, and I'll be carrying him just to get people interested in what the hell is going on. He's nothing but a run of the mill big guy with nothing extra to his game. He changes his look every so often but it doesn't make him more interesting or sellable to anyone around him. The guy is dull and I can't work with that. At least if I'm working with a guy like Despayre, he's interesting. People actually like seeing Despayre in the ring, they like seeing what crazy stuff he has going on, but Rage is just a face in a crowd. Does nothing for me.

Steven: What's your feelings on people asking for title shots?

J2H: That ship sailed on me. I will listen to people who want a shot, but I can't take some people seriously in the slightest. You take on Twitter earlier this week with Miles Blake already trying to get Scott Sanders a shot. Just fuck off with shit like that. The guy hasn't even made a debut yet, he hasn't been in a match then and if Drake Green does lay down for him or whatever, it's nothing I haven't done in the past, except it took me years to get where I am. People who come in and demand shit, have no respect for the history of SCW. Fuck them, I'm not even taking them seriously.

Steven: You mentioned Drake Green, there's word that you have real heat with him.

J2H: I don't like him. I said he had the chance to show what kinda guy he was by changing the sex scenes with Melody in that shit box movie, but he hasn't.  

Steven: Do you think this will put pressure on you and Melody as a couple?

J2H: I do. We will be apart and she'll be getting up close with Drake Green rehearsing and all that bullshit. Yeah, it could end me and Melody for all I know. I'm just like everyone else and I have my limits on what I can take before saying fuck it and ending things there and then. I'm not gonna sit around if I'm pushed on things. I guess it would be down to Melody to either stand up to him on this or go through with it. I've made it clear in the past Melody at times puts friends before us, so I don't know if she'll put this shitty film before us.  

Steven: And if she does?

J2H: Then I don't know what the hell is gonna happen.

Steven: Are things ok with you guys right now, considering your next opponent is her best friend?

J2H: Is he? I mean considering he's been more for Mikah lately, is he really?  

J2H puts his hands up in front of him.

J2H: To answer your question, things are great with Melody right now. She still has tons more energy then I have and doesn't know how to have a day where doing nothing is doing something good but she and I have a good relationship right now. It's not full blown together every night, we still have our own places but it works for me.

Steven: I happened to see Roxi's ask.fm account, asking about which of her friends she thought would get engaged next, and she replied with Melody...

J2H smirks and shakes his head.

J2H: Not happening, been there, done that, got the tattoo. I think Roxi was just taking a guess, but she was way off base.

Steven: What has caused Melody's change in attitude?

J2H: Well she's finding her voice, learning how to use her voice and telling people how it is. There's a lot of shit that you don't see on the cameras behind the scenes that are enough to piss off everyone. There are people out there who have their favorites and other people start to get forgotten. Sometimes, you just need to do something to make people still know you're there. I hate it when champions don't make a noise, and Melody is making a noise, and so she should.

Steven: A lot have been said by a lot of people about champions who don't appear on shows.

J2H: It pisses me off. You're trusted with a title, you're trusted to lead that division and then you shut up about it. What's the point of working hard to even get that far if you're just gonna piss away the opportunity? Thankfully now, we have champions on every single show to show off the belts, to make people want them but if you're not willing to put the work in, you shouldn't be able to have the belts to start with. You need to put more effort in as a champion and I have done that and others should do the same. When they don't, it pisses me off more than you can imagine. It's why these new guys piss me off coming in and asking for shots when no one knows if they're gonna sulk when they lose.  

Steven: SCW has had a high turn over of wrestlers.

J2H: It's because there's so many bitches in wrestling, it's not even funny. They're meant to be big tough guys that cry when they lose and disappear. So many don't have a thick enough skin to even be wrestlers, they show up, they lose, and they disappear. They're as embarrassing as those idiots chasing imaginary creatures around with their phones. They'll be more comfortable in something not as challenging as wrestling if sulking is on their mind or little imaginary phone killing creatures.

Steven: Despayre left the ring on Sunday to hunt for them.

A sigh passes out of J2H's lungs as he shakes his head slowly in disappointment.

J2H: Like I said, I plan nothing and I was as fucking shocked as everyone else in the crowd when that happened. Not the first time Despayre has done that. I remember a segment where the Seven Deadly Sins were in the ring celebrating a clean sweep at a supercard on the show after and he told the world he had to pee and ran out of the ring. Completely ruined the entire thing, and took away from a group putting over their dominance. A contract signing should be what it is, but it's ruined by a guy with his phone.

Steven: I did pick up on something during your last promo. Gabriel mentioned about how you could have been one of them, what was all that about?

J2H: Some years ago, when I came to SCW, I guess Synn saw something in me. I think maybe it was the fact I kept getting my ass handed to me and kept bouncing back.

Steven: You wasn't a trained wrestler at the time.

J2H: I wasn't, I paid to get in, in a publicity stunt that worked out for Christian Underwood. Him giving the money I paid to charity made SCW look like a great place to be involved in so more sponsors got involved and guided the company through a financial rocky time because it looked sympathy to charity. I wasn't trained to do shit. I'd sit there with wrestlers backstage and they worked with me and gave me the basic stuff.

Steven: And Synn was one of them?

J2H: No, but after seeing me get my ass kicked by everyone, including his own group, I think he took pity on me, pulled me to one side and spoke to me about being the sin of gluttony, because I had everything and loved to spend and getting the best from everything.

Steven: And you didn't take up the offer?

J2H: No, I didn't want to be trained by Synn, I didn't want to be around a group, I didn't wanna become one of his people. It didn't appeal to me at all.

Steven: Do you think you'd have gone as far as you have done under the guidance of Synn?

J2H runs his hand over his chin, thinking deeply about the question.

J2H: No, I think I've done it the right way. I think Synn was too focused on Gabriel and Despayre to have focused on me. Looking at Rage coming back in to the fold and Synn focusing on him, and Shipman added from another branch, I would have been over looked by him and the group, so I think I would have gone nowhere with the group. I don't think I would have been world champion, I don't think I would have been one half of a golden couple, I don't think I would have broke out of the mid card ranks.  

Steven: Even with the success of Sinful Obsession or Rage?

J2H: Yeah, because they were the focus. I don't work well in groups, I won't be in one, I won't run one, fuck all that. I would have been the forgotten one and ended up not going as far as I have and as far as I am gonna go.  

Steven: What do you think your secret to success is?

A wide smile passes on his face as he looks across at the SCW World championship on his shoulder and across at Steven off the camera.

J2H: Obviously Austin Parker played a big role in turning me from who I was to who I am because he put something in my mind that I stuck to which has brought me success. I watch everything.

Steven: Everything?

J2H: Yeah, every promo that airs on SCW television, every single match from start to finish. It doesn't take that long but people are fucking lazy. Most of them won't see this, because they're lazy. Here's the thing, this is what makes me stand apart from the crowd. I know what all my opponents are already about when I get in the ring with them. I already know what they can do before they even get in the ring with me, cause I watch everything, I'm immersed in SCW from top to bottom and it's what makes me the best SCW has to offer, because I do all that. There's not one other person on the roster that does that because they're too lazy to do that. If they did, then maybe they'll get to my level. Being in a SCW shouldn't be about picking and choosing, you should be a student of wrestling which means you need to look at everything. This is what Austin drilled in to my head, and this is why I'm at the top of my game and everyone else is so far behind me.

Steven: With you claiming everyone is lazy and implying that maybe everyone has their own agenda, is there any kind of frosty atmosphere backstage?

J2H: Frosty, no. I mean some people come out and talk to others, some older guys talk to the younger guys, but sometimes it feels a little weird back there with everyone looking at their own stuff, when they should be looking around at their betters and learning from them.

Steven: Some people have been vocal about drug use in SCW, do you see many of these situations happening in SCW?

He thinks carefully about his answer, fully aware of the criminal implications that come with answering something this controversial.

J2H: You're talking about Joshua Acquin, and his slow brother. I have no doubt that it happens. We spend a lot of time out there getting beat up and giving it our all. We don't do house shows or any bullshit like that, we get time to rest so we give it our all in one match, so people do get hurt when they put it all on the line, so would I be shocked if this shit happens? Fuck no, but I can't say I've seen it happen. It's not like there's people doing lines of coke off hookers or anything backstage. There's not like walking in and be given a joint and a shot of whiskey. What people do when they're not working don't mean shit to me. I've never seen people walk around with needles hanging out their arms or anything and we don't have dealers just hanging out backstage.

Steven: Are you confident in the direction SCW is going?

J2H: As long as they keep the belt on me, yeah, every confidence in the world.

Steven laughs but his laugh trails off when he sees the serious look on J2H's face, showing that he wasn't joking.

Steven: Oh you wasn't joking?

J2H: This is not a face that is joking bro. I'm on fire with everything I do lately. I give it one hundred percent, I give nothing less. I get those appearances in and I sell the company on everyone. I put asses on seats and people show up at all these events to see me, to see what I'm gonna do, they show up to have a look at if I'm gonna just show up and beat people up. They show up to see if anyone is gonna challenge me and how I'm gonna react. People show up cause I'm where I am. If I end up somewhere in the middle of the card fighting no one's for no reason, then there's no point to me showing up every week. There's no point stepping up and putting myself all over the place. That is when SCW will go down the pan. That's when things will go south but as long as I'm the guy people hate to chase, people will keep watching to see who's gonna finally kick my ass.

Steven: You feel hated, but since you've become champion, you've gained a lot of fans where there has been cheers for you at shows.

J2H: It just means they respect me now, when before they just saw who I was, I was just another guy on the roster, now they see just how good am now the focus is on me. Someone who can talk, someone who can wrestle, someone who has it all. Now they get to see that more cause I'm not lost in the shuffle. People were focused on watching others and people like me got overlooked until I got noticed. Now the fans know who I am more, they can get behind a champion like me that doesn't give a fuck about a lot. They're behind a real wrestling guy and I am showing the world every week just what a good champion looks like.

Steven: Are you saying other champions were not up to that level that you see yourself on now?

J2H: Fuck yeah I am. Part time champions and people who couldn't be bothered to make this title worth what it should be, had no business to be that high up anyway. Like I said earlier, some people had favorites and they got pushed above real talent to lead. It's happening now at a lower level, you just need to have your eyes on things a little closer. Right now, there's people getting shots at titles who don't deserve it. On the upcoming show there's people who don't deserve to be anywhere near where they are on the card or in the matches they've in cause they haven't won shit, but someone's gotta be a fan.

Steven: We're running out of time a little bit now J, so we better start slowing this down. What is in the future for you now?

J2H: Well in every SCW contract, there's a clause that if you have a title run for over three months, you're allowed time off when the title moves on. I think there's a huge chance I will be taking that time off from SCW, and moving on to another federation.

Steven: Wait, did you just say you're leaving SCW for somewhere else?

J2H: There's a big chance it's gonna happen. I can work for anyone I want now as long as I tell SCW, but I prefer to work for one place. With that prick against me, what's the point of sticking around for someone who's never stepped in a ring before to try and bury my career cause I'm not one of his faves? The option is there for me to move on for a few months.

Steven: Have you spoke to another company?

J2H nods confidently with a smirk on his face.

J2H: I have and all I gotta do is say the word and I'll be walking in to somewhere else the day after I lose this thing.

Steven: So Summer XXXTreme could be the last time we see you in an SCW ring?

J2H: Not the last, because I might still have time to run on my contract that I will have to see out but the contract clause will allow me to go do what the fuck I want for a few months and not give a damn about SCW or any crooks behind the scenes. I'm twenty two years old and I can walk in anywhere and do well. I'm not gonna sulk off like Kain does when he loses a belt, I'm actually making it fucking clear that I can take the option to take a break and come back when I want to reclaim what I lost, but believe me when I say it would be crazy for this belt to leave my side, it would be something that will kill SCW to move the belt on to Despayre or anyone else when the best is yet to come. That is something I can promise the world. If this belt stays here on me, the best will be yet to come.  

Steven: Thank you for your time J. This has been a very eye opening, frank and honest shoot. A lot of people come on these things guarded, but you've been honest and I wish you luck for Summer XXXTreme IV.

J2H: Thanks. I doubt any of my co-workers will watch this because they're too lazy, but credit to the ones that do.

J2H stands up, reaching his hand out towards Steven as the camera fades out.



Let's fast forward shall we? Did you see Melody Grace's promo? No? Well, you fucking should go there now, because it's one, really, really good, and two, she dropped a bombshell on me... A big bombshell to me, maybe not to you, but a bombshell on me. Go, watch it now and I'll wait... Wait, it's not airing yet? Ok, go grab a coffee and come back in a bit and keep watching.

Ok, waited long enough because now we continue on from there...

J2H blinds rapidly at Melody, her heart poured out. He breathes slowly as he looks at her eyes, pleading for some kind of response to her words, but the thought of her kissing Drake, even in a movie, still playing on his mind. The words flashed back from his shoot interview with Steven Shaw just days before, thinking about how he said this movie could ruin his relationship with her, admittingly, sex scenes to kissing was a big drop down, but he couldn't shake the thought or feeling that this could end them, regardless of what he wanted. As she put out her hands, physically trying to prompt a response from him, the silence in the room got bigger as his mind run away with him, wondering what future problems may arise from future movies, the thought that it could be this way every time Melody appeared on the silver screen.

Melody: Well?

J2H sees her lips move but a response isn't as forth coming as she would have liked due to the fact her words were drowned out by the thoughts in his mind. Who hires a hot young actress NOT to be involved in those bullshit love scenes? He knew the movie will bomb, and end up in the bargain bucket in Walmarts months after it's release, but he also knew from hours of watching Melody rehearse that she will outshine Drake Green on the screen, he knew that she will easily win more awards for her performance in that one movie, than Drake Green would win in a career.

Melody: James?

Again, his train of thought rolls right through Melody's attempt to get his attention. The thoughts of how good Melody will be still in his mind. Did a part of him want her to fail so she'd never get cast again? The thought hadn't crossed his mind, but knowing how good she was and how he despised Drake Green's acting, being forced to watch his movies with Melody for research reasons, and hating every single one of them. Only part of the reason he didn't want Melody in these movies was because of Drake's underhanded ways of getting up close to his woman, the other part was these were really bad movies. Drake as an action hero was comparable to Macaulay Culkin being cast as He-Man, in J2H's mind, it just didn't fit. Drake being piss poor acting once more would push Melody to the stars.  

Melody: Hello?

He sees her waving her hand in front of him, the silence becoming more awkward, more and more becoming convinced that he just didn't want Melody in this movie or any other movie. He'd heard every word that passed her lips, he heard everything she had to say but he couldn't get his head around much of it. So they didn't live together right now, only about twenty minutes apart, but who's to say someday they won't? Why would she need money for bills when that day comes? Why would she need to worry about these things if she saw a long term future?

Melody: J?

He shakes his head, finally snapping out of his thoughts for a few seconds as he looks into Melody's eyes. He knew at the point he had a choice to make, support her and risk resenting her, try to make her see things from his point of view, or just turn on his heels and walk away, knowing that she'll find someone else at the click of her fingers, someone who can be supportive.

J2H: Huh?

Melody rolls her eyes at J2H as he looks blankly towards her.

Melody: Did you hear anything that I said?

He nods once sharply and looks at her, trying to figure out how honest to be with her.

J2H: I heard every word of that, but there was a lot of it so took me a minute to work out just what I wanted to say to all that.

Melody: Well?

A frown crosses his face as he decides to go with brutal honesty.

J2H: I don't want you in this movie with Drake, I don't like the guy, don't really give a fuck that it's only kissing. Drake Green is a snake and I don't trust him as far as I could throw him, but this is clearly something you want to do, so...

He shrugs his shoulders towards her.

J2H: You wanna do it, do it. I can't stop ya, but I don't have to be happy about it.

Melody stands open mouthed at J2H as he looks towards her, Melody's own words when she made her big move on him justifying his words. She told him she wouldn't do the movie if it got him back. In his mind, he was justified in his response.

J2H: You don't know what's going to happen with us, I don't know what's going to happen with us. I know there's one or two of your friends that would LOVE to see us fail so they can be all over you, so maybe you should do this so you can move on to make the money to bounce all over the country to hang with those people, but this whole need to make your own money is bullshit.

Melody grits her teeth, her words leaving her lips through her teeth with bluntness.

Melody: What do you mean?

J2H: I'm a lot of bad things that you see past. I'm an egotistical asshole, that at the age of twenty two doesn't give a fuck about new exciting crazes, I'm already set in my ways and like to have a lot my way and you see past it and don't try and change me for it, but you overlook my good too.

Melody stares at him, her eyebrows lowered and caught slightly offguard.

J2H: You look past the fact that I am an old fashioned guy in some ways. I ain't gonna be with someone and tell them they gotta pay for stuff. What kinda guy does that to someone? You wanna think long term, and that you have to break in to movies and all that shit to make your own money so you don't have to go back to the ways of your parents? Lemme drop some long term shit on ya Mel. Say we end up moving in together in the near future, you won't have to pay for anything. When we go out, I take my woman out, I don't say lets go out but you're paying. It ain't how I work. We're a couple, it ain't what's mine is mine and you can have nothing, it becomes ours. You're making a name for yourself in the ring, like I did. I got handed a shit load of cash, I didn't have to get in the ring, but I did and my name has been made.

Melody: I want to make my name in a lot of things, not just as a wrestler.

J2H: You wanna start an empire, a brand, all that stuff. Fine, I'll give ya a million dollars right now and you can start your empire now.

She turns her back towards J2H, her head lowered before spinning back towards him.  

Melody: I don't want your money, I want my own money. I want to do this for me.

J2H: You're not gonna be short of money regardless.  

J2H moves closer, putting hi hand on her cheek, causing her to look away.

J2H: With a face like this, you can be on the cover of every magazine in the world. You can be the face of any product and sales will go up because you're smoking hot. You don't need to be leared over in movies with the likes of Drake Green or any other sleezy little actor. Shit, put the boot on the other foot. If it was me in movies with the women all over me, a different one three times a year. You'll be pissed at me.

Melody: It's only acting J.

Her soft voice cuts through the air, as he sighs.

J2H: It's only acting until these sleezy people make a move. It's only acting until you're away from me eight months a year. If it was the other way around, I don't think you'll be happy.

Melody: But you don't need the money.

J2H: Neither do you. All that shit is in your past. All that living on the borderline has gone now and you're with me now. I don't even need wrestling anymore, I don't need more money and neither do you. You wanna talk future kids and shit, they won't need money either. It isn't you anymore, it ain't me anymore, it's us. What I do effects you, what you do effects me. I don't wanna see you kissing people on screen, fuck, I don't even like some people you talk to on Twitter that causes shit between us.  

He breathes deeply, feeling deflated as he takes his hand from Melody's cheek and turns away.  

J2H: I know you're gonna do what you want, so do it. Fact is when I accepted the fact that we was gonna be together again, my first thought wasn't "this is gonna cost me" or anything like that. I don't need to be surprised with nice things because I get the biggest surprise of my life every time I wake up next to you, just by knowing that you haven't let someone get in your ear about how bad I am and gone with them. That's the only surprise I need.

Melody moves next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

J2H: Besides, when I ever asked you to pay for anything?

Melody: Never, but that's not the point. The point is I want to say about going places with you and pay. I don't want to be a leach on you.

J2H: You're not a leach on me, you're not a golddigger. If I went out and picked up a random woman and she was asking for shit, she'd be a golddigger, but you and I have history. We got drunk on New Years Eve and got fake married by Despayre dressed as Elvis and you still came back to me after I went apeshit. That's not what someone would do if they just wanted money, they'd move on to the next guy with money. You came back for love, not dollars.

A smile crosses her face, unable to stop it from forming as he mentions the word love.

Melody: I did.

J2H: Love not money Mel, so I don't see you as a leech. I see you as my woman. You don't have any debts now and you never will.  

He sighs, the realization setting in that his point has been put across to Melody and knowing he can't stop her from making any movies.

J2H: The truth is, I've said what I had to so I don't keep it bottled up until I explode. I don't want you in the film with Drake the snake, but you're clearly gonna do it anyway. I don't think you need to be in more movies when I can help you start an empire right now, but you're gonna probably do that anyway. I can't say that we'll end up staying together forever if you do, but I couldn't be sure on that one before the conversation started, no one can.

Another sigh comes from him as he looks towards her.

J2H: If you wanna do these movies, do them, but remember the effect it has on us. Just think about what would it be like if it was the other way around and I was away months at a time.

Melody: What if you was in the movies too?

J2H shakes his head, his eyebrows lowered and lip curled down.

J2H: Fuck no!

Melody: Why not? I mean you sit in the house watching movies all day sometimes.

J2H: I sit and watch shows about hospitals, but it doesn't mean I can do a heart transplant. I don't wanna be in the movies. I got a business degree, I don't need to bounce around on screen pretending that I'm something I'm not. I don't wanna be an actor, I don't need to be. If I wanted an empire, I'd just start one.

Melody: I wanna do the same J, but I wanna do it on my own, with my own money. Be a self made woman. You're saying about being a couple is about doing things together in life, but being part of a couple means supporting each other and what we do.

He throws his hands up in defeat, knowing that Melody has a point.

J2H: And I'd support you in a lot of things, but sitting around while you're shooting off on locations all over the world and I'm sitting here without you. There's you acting about kissing people and there's only one person you should be kissing. There's me here and you on the other side of the world and the truth is, I don't like that. It might shock you a little bit but I do actually miss you and this is gonna put a fuck load of unwanted pressure on us.

Melody looks a little taken back as she looks at him.

Melody: I think that could be the first time you said you miss me.

J2H scratches his head before running his fingers down his suit jacket.

J2H: Well we might as well get it out in the open. I don't want to sit around while you run around the world because I'd actually miss you. I'm pretty sure you're set for life anyway doing anything other than movies, but obviously, I can't stop you so I'm not gonna try.

Melody moves towards him, her hand on his shoulder as she now stands in front of him.

Melody: We can make it work.

J2H: I'm confident in a lot in life, but I don't know about that.

At that moment, the thoughts rushed through his head once more. Could this actually be the beginning of the end for those two for the sake of a movie with Drake Green and what could follow. He knew Drake Green didn't care about his relationship, blind men can see what he's up to. He needed to step away at this point of the conversation before stepping away a lot further became more of a reality. He cared for Melody more than she knew and he felt it at this moment, but he also felt that maybe letting her go was better for her. She was worth the hit and pain to him, even if he didn't express his feelings as much as others.

Melody: Look, can we talk about this one over dinner and maybe figure this out?

Relief ran through the SCW World champions body. It was almost like Melody could read his mind, like she could feel him take half a step away for her sake. He knew she wanted to do this and would be willing to risk their relationship to do so, but deep down he wanted her to be happy, even if it meant him being hurt and single again. He knew this could make him miserable, adding more mass to his recent bouts of paranoia to the point he would hurt her more by staying with her. He didn't want that, and it might hurt less considering they're starting from the bottom of their relationship again and the broken trust in the past, hasn't quiet healed yet. Maybe it was a more humane thing to do than let her get closer. The choice was in his face right now. He could end future pain at this point and walk out that door, not come back, send his title back to SCW and do what Melody herself did and drop off the face of the earth, or fight for what he wanted and take the talk to a more public place.

J2H: Sure. Go get ready babe and we'll talk about it later.  

Melody nods towards him and walks to a door at the side of the room, swinging herself around the door and looking back at J2H.

Melody: You really don't want me to be in that movie with Drake, do you?

A roll of his eyes looks back towards Melody, as his tone changes to sarcasm.

J2H: What gave it away?

Melody taps the side of her head before pointing towards him.

Melody: I can read your mind.

Melody blows him a kiss and turns behind the door, off to get ready, leaving J2H standing with a curious look on his face.

J2H: Can she....?

He shakes his head, dismissing the idea of Melody having mind reading powers quickly.

J2H: Nahhhhhhh

The scene fades as J2H waits for Melody.



An SCW ring is seen, only the ring is lit up and the surrounding areas in darkness around the six sided battleground of so many classic matches, a ring where over one hundred superstars have met and gone to war. Footsteps from one side of the ring off camera can be heard, the legs of a man in black pants can be seen and the camera moves up his body to show the man wearing a Chicago Blackhawks jersey. His face comes in to the shot and J2H stands with the SCW World championship over his shoulder, looking down the camera.

J2H: I stand here before you today as living proof of so many things. So many people have put their feet in to this ring, so many people have climbed up the steps and walked around this canvas. Some for one match.... Fucking losers.... and some for years. Some have stood still, never changing, being the same person they was when they turned up, the same dull character expecting to get by without evolving, and then you have people like me.

He taps his hand on his belt.

J2H: People who change with the times to become better, to strike gold to be the best they can be. I did that. All those years ago when I showed up in SCW, I was not the man I am today. I was looked down upon, I was laughed at, I was beat up just for the sake of it.

A sincereness surrounds his voice as he bites his lip and turns his head away, looking down at the floor.

J2H: I was the last person anyone thought they'd ever see here right now. I was the last person anyone expected to turn in to a man who could drag SCW back up and force it to be interesting again, but I did. The taunts of "He'll never make it." "He's here to make up the numbers" "He's only here to get beat up" have faded away over time and here I stand on the edge of the cliff, looking in to greatness. I get to be the man who could break records and become known as the best ever SCW World champion.

He breathes deeply as he looks up at the camera.

J2H: I am standing at the top of the mountain and about to ascend in to God like status, and I know you didn't expect me to ever be doing that but here I am.

J2H looks up to the sky, breathing deeply before lowering his head.

J2H: I changed to be where I wanted to be. I made myself better and better every fucking day of my life to get where I am. I changed as a person to be the absolute best and I am and I'm just one step away from being a God, it's so close and I'm gonna take that step. I've changed for the better and look where it's got me. I was born with the heart of a champion, and Austin Parker showed me how to let it out and put me at the top of SCW, I got the fighting spirit of ten men, this is why I'm here. I grabbed respect by the balls and opened it's eyes just to be where I am, I worked to be here, but my opponent, what has he done to get his popularity? To get his spot here?

His face turns to a cocky smirk.

J2H: Fucking nothing.

A harsh assessment of Despayre, but in his mind, a fair one.

J2H: I got this far by being a single wrestler, taking on and beating the world, I made people take notice with hard work and evolving, but Despayre's popularity comes from being a clown, being a joke with stupid skits with people that make no sense! Hanging with bad guys somehow makes him more popular? Open your eyes idiots, he stands with people you hate, and you still don't see that doesn't make him a good guy. He's got you eating out of the palm of his hand by doing stupid shit.

A look turns from a cocky smirk, to annoyance in a split second.

J2H: You even fucked up a contract signing looking for fucking Pokemon! You're meant to be a damn wrestler! It's fucking embarrassing! This is someone you people want to see take my title away from me, this is someone you want to see take away my dream of being the record champion here! A man with about as much mental capacity as a nine year old, and this is the man you want to see take the place of a hard working man who has put wrestling before so much else lately. And you call yourselves wrestling fans?

Disgust is the next emotion that crosses his face.

J2H: A man who puts a game designed for kids before taking his job seriously, is who you want to beat me? That isn't gonna fucking happen, not now, not ever. He'll probably try and eat the damn belt thinking it's made of candy! Not the first time he's tried to t

[J2H]

 J2H: A man who puts a game designed for kids before taking his job seriously, is who you want to beat me? That isn't gonna fucking happen, not now, not ever. He'll probably try and eat the damn belt thinking it's made of candy! Not the first time he's tried to take a bite out of a title belt. You people would take that over a guy who puts it all on the line? You're just as stupid as the he is. I have respect for this belt, and let's be fucking honest, regardless of the dicks that are against me, I earned this thing by beating all put in front of me. I have improved week after week, changed week after week, why my opponent is the same guy that strolled through the door years ago. He didn't try to change for the better cause he don't take this seriously. I trained under Austin Parker, Austin fucking Parker. Most of the people in the back would give up their left nut to have that chance, and I did. I went out to improve and get better. I could have walked away from Austin on day one, but I didn't. I took my shots like a man cause I wanted to be standing here with the title belt. I didn't get here by hanging out with Mikah, or because I wanted to be friends with everyone.  

J2H turns his side to the camera and starts to pace the ring.

J2H: That's not how you become a champion Despayre, that's not how you take the top prize. Everyone in SCW should use me as a blueprint to success. When I stopped being the joke of SCW, when I started taking it seriously, I became the future Hall of Famer you see in front of you now. I took it seriously and got to the top. You wanna know why the fans like you and not spit hate and venom at  you?

J2H stands side on and turns his head towards the camera.

J2H: Because you're goofy.  

J2H turns and puts his hands out in front of him.

J2H: They're not laughing with you, they're laughing at you! They're not trying to make friends with you by chuckling along, they're laughing at your goofy antics. Being goofy don't win you titles, especially this kinda title. To win this one, you need to be focused. You need to be driven, you need to be looking at the prize and wanting it with determination and that's something you don't have Despayre. I look at this belt and want it more than most things and that's why I will walk out with it. I want it more than you do, I'm more focused than you are when it comes to this belt and this is why I will walk out with it.  

A smile crosses the champions face.

J2H: You don't have the heart for it, you don't have the balls for it. You're not ready for it. I fight like a champion, because I am a champion and I wanted to be a champion, but now I got that extra motivation Despayre. I want to be a record breaker, the man who is remember for the longest run of all time with the SCW World title and I'm too fucking determined to ever let you take that away from me. I'm the man who deserves this, because I took SCW back to the top by showing everyone what a real champion should be like.  

A determined look runs over his face.

J2H: I'll be damned if I'll let a Pokemon playing kid take that away from me! I've worked too fucking hard for too long to let you take the belt away from me. I am the theory of evolution proved right and I'll be damned if you think you can take my title one day away from breaking a record that's over three and a half years old! There's my extra motivation to step up and take what I want and what I want, you can't stop. What I want, I will get because I always get what I want Despayre and I've spent years of my life proving that. From the second I walked in to SCW, I was destined to be the longest champion, it was my destiny, it is my destiny and you will not stop me, you can not stop me Despayre. I will not let you take away what is mine, I will not lay down for a second.

J2H moves closer to the camera.

J2H: It's not in my nature to give up on something I want so bad, and after the last match with you, I know what you're all about. Respect goes out of the window and I will do whatever it takes to make sure I leave that ship with my title. I will put everything on the line for that Despayre and I will walk out as a champion.  

An intense look crosses his face.

J2H: You will not stop fate Despayre, you will not stop destiny, and I'm telling ya bro, you won't stop me from being known as THE greatest champion that ever lived. Not one of the best Despayre, but the greatest. That's real talk bitch!

J2H walks off the camera as the scene fades out.

[Despayre]

 "I still remember when I found out that I was going to get my assignment. My charge, if you will. You see, every teddy bear gets one charge, a single child assigned to them and only to them. This child is then their own to defend and to protect from the dangers that lurk in the night. It's a battle that's been waged in the shadows for well over a hundred years. That might not seem like very long, but believe me, when you're the ones fighting it, it can seem an eternity. We train and prepare, because we know that the innocence of a child is a beacon to those things that go bump in the night, and it's that very innocence that we must protect at all costs. That innocence is the foundation of the very future, and if a child falls to the creatures of the night and loses his or her innocence, the balance of power is shifted."

"I am very proud to say that to my knowledge, this is an act of horror that has never happened. At least to my regent. So far as I know, no teddy bear has lost a child to That Which Lays In Darkness. Many a shadowy beastie has slithered its way from beneath the bed or out of the closets throughout the world, and was met with much tenacity and ferocity so as to either slay it or beat it back into the shadows and deliver a message to it's evil brethren:"

"Come after our charges at your own risk!"

I could see him from where I hid in wait in the small bin filled with those like me, in the store that advertised 'Where Friends Are Made' but a much greater purpose was served for the greater good. Yes indeedy do, the slogan and front of the beloved Build-A-Bear franchise the world over was just that, and it in fact was a basis of power for our side where many of us were joined with those we were meant to protect. He was not at all what I expected when I saw him set foot into the store, by passing the friendly greeting of one of our Acolytes, and he headed straight for the bins to inspect and choose.

For one, he was much older than what I had come to believe those like me were meant to watch over. Most of us are assigned to charges who are between the ages of less than a year of age, up to ten. maybe a year or two more so than that. This young man was just that: a young man. At the time I was hazarding a guess that he was maybe sixteen years of age. Seventeen if I felt like being generous. But luckily I had been forewarned when I was called before the great Pooh Bear, and told in depth about this very special young one. Someone who had been through a great many traumatic events in life, and had deteriorated into a very sad and feral state when all of that could have been solved had he been given one thing;

His protector.

That was why I was here now, and why I watched with such a careful eye. He was a sight, I'll say that much. His long hair looked like it had not been combed in a week, and it really needed a trim if I'm to be honest. It reached clear down to his mid back and was shaved on the left side of his head! Was that a statement or something? And he seemed to have a thing for clothes with cartoon emblems on them. Nothing wrong with that! But with that ankle length trench coat, I can't say he exactly fit the mold of who you usually saw set foot inside of Build-A-Bear. He even drew a few nervous stares from the other mothers and their young who were busying themselves, becoming acquainted with their new protectors.

But if he was a sight, you should have seen the two that he came here with. The one was obviously his father, even if the young man didn't know it yet. I could tell. We teddy bears have a sixth sense about things like that. It also didn't hurt matters to observe and see how he watched oh-so carefully over Joshua as he made his way through the different bins and displays of the store, and shooed aside the Acolytes to allow his boy to roam about freely and without disturbance. The funny thing was the sheer difference in stature alone between the two. Where my soon-to-be Joshua looked quite diminutive, his father was a towering figure of a man.

The second guy that came in here with him seemed almost embarrassed to be seen in such a place. I could sense power radiating off of him, but he was obviously not one of the Collective who were in the know about the truth of places like this. He seemed anxious to leave, and annoyed at best. I came to know him by his given name of Gabriel, but at the time I just nicknamed him Guyliner because he had the absolute most luxurious and dark eyelashes I've ever seen on a human male! But I could tell he was an alright sort. When it looked as if the Acolyte was going to further discomfort Joshua, he had let her know Joshua was 'unique' with the universal forefinger twirl around the ear.

I was patient, hidden in the bin as Joshua closely examined the other teddy bears who awaited their charges to be made whole. You could tell he was taking this seriously, smart lad. I wasn't worried. Teddy bears and their charges never get mixed up. We always go to the one we are meant to be with. Brown bears and white bears, bears that were colored a sky blue or with a rainbow cast to their fur -- I imagine those ones in particular go to very special children who will grow up to be even more special. Soon enough, I watched as he made his way over to the bin where I was. There was a light in his gray eyes as he looked down at me and my bearthren, as if he had come to a choice and he started searching... looking. He picked one up and looked into its eyes, then another. Then, he picked me up. He held me out before himself and when our eyes met, we both knew we had found each other. That light I mentioned in his eyes? Yes. It grew in its intensity, and I could just feel his heart beat in excitement.

"Is that the one?" The big guy asked him and Joshua answered with a simple nod. When you find each other as quickly as Joshua and I did, words were unnecessary. With a guiding hand, the big man steered Joshua and myself over to the station where the bonding process would be forged with the assistant of those annoyingly cheerful Acolytes Build-A-Bear has a penchant for bringing into the fold.

"Are we ready?" The Acolyte asked and Joshua and I both knew that we were. She held her hands out for me to be passed into and I could feel Joshua's hesitation. He had just found me and did not want to let go, but that was fine. Once the process was complete, we'd never have to be separated again.

He passed me over to her hands finally and she slipped me back against that metal tube that the 'Fluff of Life' would pass through and into me -- (brief pause to say BRRR! That tube is cold!). The Acolyte said, "Okay, now press your foot gently down onto the pedal." Joshua did so, the machine hummed to life and I felt the strength being flowed through and into me. From my feet to my head, the fluff flowed until I was full and strong.

"Now," The Acolyte started to speak but where she was going to ask Joshua to select a heart for me, she looked up and already saw that he had picked one out while she was performing her task. Smart lad my Joshua was! She smiled at him and said, "You know the process? You're very smart." That he was, and although I was swollen with pride, I could still see Joshua's pale cheeks flush lightly with the praise.

"Now!" She said. "Rub the heart between your palms like this to get it beating." Joshua did so as the big man watched on, and Guyliner raised a single eyebrow as if in questioning. She went on, "Now place it on your forehead and hop in a circle on one foot to help him be wise and brave." Joshua asked no questions and did as he was bid, while Big Man watched and Guyliner started to smile.

Just between us? I never truly understood how doing these silly rituals like hopping in circles and such helped the process, but they were the Acolytes, trained especially for this. If they say it works, they must know something that I don't.

The Acolyte then said, "Now close your eyes, make a wish, and seal it with a kiss." And this would be it. This would be the moment Joshua and I would be bonded together for all time. He closed his eyes and leaned in to whisper to the heart, "I want us to be together forever."

We would be, Joshua. We would be.

"Every teddy bear has the chance to rise in rank, according to duties served. I know many a brave and valiant teddy bear, both boy and girl, who have served faithfully in the regent that I now command. I've come to fight alongside many a fierce protector, including the one who now watches over the baby Lucas. I was never more proud than when I heard of her defeat of the Pale One in the flesh! I knew she was the right one when I found her for Joshua's 'nephew'. I must have impressed someone to have come so far in such a short amount of time. From my first battle where I sent the creature crawling back to its netherworld to warn against coming after 'my' Joshua, to the latest confrontation against a servant of the Boogey Man, I have simply done my best. Not out of hope for advancement, but out of the desire to keep a boy who I had grown to love since that first day I met him, safe. To love him and nurture him, in body, heart and soul. You see, that's something else we do, and we do so gladly."

"The story is always the same: every teddy bear sets foot into the battle field that is the child's bedroom, ready to serve and to protect. At first it is always about the business at hand. At first. But then as time goes by, a teddy bear grows to love the child that they watch over. It simply can't be helped. If we didn't, we couldn't fight as ferociously as we do to protect them. Oh we'd still fight! Make no mistake about that! But it's the love we have for the children of the world that gives us that extra burst of something that makes the shadows fear us so. And make no mistake about it. I do love Joshua. There was no question from that first day..."

"Here..." The Acolyte said as she passed me into Joshua's arms. "Give him a squeeze and make sure he's huggable."

Joshua did as asked, and he hugged me tight. As he did, I could hear him say just above a whisper, "He's perfect." And yes, I hugged him right back.

"... from that first day I loved Joshua. I wanted to watch over him and protect him against anything that came his way. Unfortunately, I was just an expert on the threats of evil, and there were so many other things out in the world that could hurt someone as special as he was. Things that I was not an expert on -- at least, not yet anyway. I was a great listener. I could give advice better than most. But I was watching him now as he seemed to draw back into himself as he was watching 'that match' again, and it pained me that this was one of those things that I couldn't fight for him."

Joshua, or Despy as those closest to him might refer to him as, was once again in his personal hidey hole (aka his bedroom), all alone save for that one presence that never left his side. Angel sat back against the multitude of pillows at the headboard of his queen-sized bed, watching as Despayre sat cross-legged in the center of the bed, his eyes glued in close scrutiny to the screen of his laptop which sat on the edge of his combination desk/entertainment center.

On the screen of the laptop was the match Despayre had just recently had in Tokyo, Japan against J2H for the SCW World Heavyweight Championship. He watched stoically as he and James went at it full-tilt for nigh on thirty minutes straight before the inevitable happened. Before Despayre suffered a bad fall on the back of his head, allowing J2H to take advantage and set him up for that gut-wrench powerbomb (if indeed that's what you would call it) to put him away for the three count and to successfully retain his gold. However, this time he was only thirteen minutes into the match, and propped his chin into the palm of his hand with his elbow rested on his knee, resigning himself to once again face the inevitable.

"Poor Joshua. This must be the twentieth time he's watched that match, give or take. He just keeps tormenting himself over what had happened, and no matter what I say to the contrary, he won't be convinced that he had absolutely no reason to be ashamed of what went down."



The upstairs wasn't the only place where there was life inside of this Las Vegas abode. Downstairs in the office where Synn conducted his business affairs, the very same two men who we got a glimpse of earlier, were seated in their respective chairs; Synn behind his desk, and Gabriel sat opposite of him, as the two trusted friends had a personal discussion outside of the listening vicinity of anyone else.

"So talk to me." Gabriel said as he reached forward and took a paper clip from the plastic cup on the desk. The magician leaned back in his chair and kicked an ankle over his knee, bending at the clip and twisting its shape idly as he went on, "What's been going on with Despy lately? Has something been wrong with the little nutter?"

"I'm not sure what you mean." Synn leaned heavily against the left arm rest of his own office chair, his emerald green eyes watching as Gabriel twisted the paper clip between his fingers into a variety of shapes. He pulled his attention away from the action that was keeping Gabriel's hands busy and asked, "What makes you think anything is wrong with Joshua?"

"Oh the little things." Gabriel answered, glancing up at his mentor and friend with a smile that held no mirth, but simply concern. "Like for example, he didn't come busting downstairs to give me his usual greeting the moment I pulled into the drive." Gabriel nodded knowingly. "That's usually a pretty big sign."

"Well, perhaps he's just become engrossed with his 'preparations' with Mikah's bridal plans." Synn offered, but it was plain to see for Gabriel that Synn didn't believe a word he had just said.

Gabriel frowned, "I thought he had his mom and Fantasia and Kittie helping him with all of his 'Man of Honor' duties?" He said this to give Synn an opening, to let him down easy.

Synn could only smile, knowing full well that this was the truth. And typical Despayre. He was given a wonderful task to be at Mikah's side for her wedding to Drake Green, but as far as the duties and responsibilities that came along with it, he had 'coerced' his family and friends to pretty much take the brunt of that off of his shoulders, although chances were that he's still reap the majority of the benefits that came along with it. With Synn himself and Gabriel around, it was certain to say that Despayre learned from the best.

Synn could only say, "He has."

"So ... what, then?" Gabriel shrugged, trying to draw out an answer to soothe his own concerns. It's not as if Despayre had been ignoring him or Odette, or especially Lucas. He came over as often as he was able during his off time from SCW, and he called and Skyped frequently to make sure 'his nephew' was A-Okay! But during each time over the past month or two, during each visit or social call, something just didn't seen quite right. Like that light in his eyes that made Despy so damn special had somehow diminished. At first Gabriel had thought he was simply imagining things, but even Odette had recently asked him if 'their Despy' was alright. Odette adored the little guy almost as much as Gabriel himself did, and if she had shown cause for concern, then the matter had been settled. Gabriel would need to find answers, which was what led him to this very visit.

Synn sat up straight and turned to rest his chin against his curled fingers while his eyes strayed from the guest across from him, and out the large, picture window. It was clear that Synn was concerned, although it would be a rarity for him to admit towards it. Synn said, "Joshua has just become withdrawn over the past few weeks. I even tried taking him to Panda Express a few days ago to try and see if he might loosen up, and he turned the offer down."

That particular bit of news was not welcome to the ears. If anything could make Gabriel's eyebrows rise clear into his hairline, that certainly had the desired effect. "Despy turned down Panda Express?" He expressed in a state of disbelief. "That is serious! Despy loves that place!"

"It has something to do with his rematch against James." Synn turned back to Gabriel and leaned heavily on his forearms. "Of that I am certain. That was when all of this started to manifest. The moment Christian and Mark announced Joshua would be getting another chance at the World Championship."

Gabriel shook his head, "I don't get that boy. Wrestlers all over are clamoring for just one chance at James's title. Despy's having title shots practically thrown into his lap..."

"Because he earned them." Synn stressed.

"Damn right he did." Gabriel continued. "And yet when he is given them, he tries to throw them back in Christian and Mark's faces or throws a temper tantrum. I don't get it."

"Neither do I." Synn exhaled in an exasperated sigh. "I try to talk to him about it, and he just shuts down. I try to coerce him into a training session to prepare, and he finds every excuse he can think of not to. Hell, two days ago I wouldn't take no for an answer and had to drag him to the damn training gym."

Gabriel squinted his eyes and pursed his lips, saying, "Oo! I bet he didn't take too kindly to that."

"He did not." Synn rubbed at his forehead with his fingers and thumb, feeling as if a headache were starting to rear its ugly head -- pun not intended. He continued, "Joshua just sat in the corner of the ring and refused to come out to engage his partner. Then I made the critical error of sending the man in after Joshua to try to force his hand."

"Oh Christ..." Gabriel closed his eyes, already knowing how that particular mistake would have gone done.

Synn shook his head, not enjoying the feeling that he had made such a mistake -- any mistake -- particularly one that involved his son. "Indeed. That backfired in a grand fashion. Took Shane and myself both to pry Joshua off of the poor man. Lesson learned. When my son is that determined not to do something, the wisest course of action would be to not force his hand."

"Well," Gabriel mused, the corners of his lips curling upwards despite the dour nature of the conversation. "He is your son."

Synn just glanced at the magician from out of the corner of his eye and was gifted with a wink in return. Then it was back to the business at hand and Gabriel asked, "Have you spoken to his mother?"

"I have. He's attempted to hide this newly discovered sour disposition from her and her mother, but they're not fools by any means. Both Margaret and Victoria have noticed something wrong. Their first question was whether or not he was taking his medications as prescribed." Before Gabriel could raise the burning question, Synn held his hand up and said, "He is. I make certain of that every morning, especially after what happened that one time. I had thought to ask his doctor but I'd rather not draw him further under her scrutiny than is necessary."

"She might be able to give you the answer you can't find yourself."

"I am aware." Synn nodded. "But Joshua is already distrustful of her by rote. Same as he is with any doctor. Delving too much deeper might cause more harm than good. Especially if I'm patient and try to work this out on my own."

Gabriel snorted back a laugh at the man's expense. Ordinarily he would have just let the laughter rip, but he knew this was a serious topic of discussion. Any time something was 'off' about their Despy, it was serious indeed.

"You? Patient?" Gabriel mused. "Can I assume by handling it yourself, you mean inviting me over to go out for dinner with you two on Theresa's night off?"

"Guilty." Synn admitted. "Joshua might have turned down an invitation to Panda Express the one time, but the chance to go there with the added bonus of you for company?"

Gabriel started to stand up, and he said, "You're a sneaky son of a bitch, you know that? Right?"

"Both literally and figuratively." Synn replied as he too stood up to go fetch his boy.

But Despayre was no fool. Most people look at him and watch his comedic antics, goofy chatter and his propensity for all things teddy bears, and they assume he's simple minded along with his other more obvious mental incapacities. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who think of him in that light are often surprised by the fact the young man is actually quite sharp. He's simply a child in a young man's body, with all the restraint and temperament of that toddler.

Despayre had heard the car pull into the drive, and he was always curios about visitors, whether they be a member of their dysfunctional family of Sins, or one of his father's business clients outside the sport of wrestling. Being curios was simply in his nature. It was one of the reasons why any guest under their rook knows not to use the land line when Despy can't be seen. Chances were that he'd be listening on the other end.

"But only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Sunday!"

Right! Anyway, Despayre knew the sound of that car's engine by heart. He knew who had just arrived but he got up from his bed to look out the window and see. Just to be certain. And yes, it was Gabriel who was there for a visit. Oh how bad Despayre wanted to race down the stairs and tackle his big brother in a super duper teddy bear hug, but he fought that urge and restrained himself. It hurt to do so, but he had to stay strong! His dad had been trying for days, if not weeks, to get him to talk and find out what, if anything, was wrong. And Despayre was not budging to discuss anything he was not prepared to -- at least, not yet.

Gabriel's arrival near supper time meant that dad had something else up his sleeve. Well two could play that little game! As soon as he saw Gabriel emerge from his car, Despayre set about slipping on a nicer shirt (this one had Bugs AND Daffy on the front) and he shut his laptop. He then just sat there on the edge of his bed and waited with Angel on his lap. Funny but how he leaned down onto his teddy bear and hugged him, it was just like Angel had his own paws curled against his forearms, hugging him right back.

And there it was! The tell-tale sound of the footsteps heading upstairs and no doubt, to his own room. But before they could arrive at the top of the stairs, Despayre took that as his cue and he jumped up and ran for the closed bedroom door. He pulled it open with a flourish and charged out into the hall, putting on his best 'surprise face' at who was there.

"Gabriel! Hi!" Despayre raced into him for a quick one-armed hug. Better that than to do nothing and further their suspicions. He then released him and tried to press past the pair when Synn reached out and stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.

His father said, "Whoa, where are you going? Gabriel and I were coming up to take you out to dinner."

"Oh... darn." Despayre was not the best of actors, and his father and 'big brother' saw through that farce rather easily. "I'm sorry! I promised Missus O'Heaney I'd come over tonight! She's going to order us a pizza and she's gonna show me one of her favorite old movies." Of course, this wasn't entirely true. Okay, so none of it was true. But he was certain once he got over there he could talk her into ordering that pizza and watching something to kill some time until his dad dropped any idea on getting him to crack.

Gabriel said, "But we were going to go to Panda Express..."

"Next time! Promise!" Despayre started downstairs when Synn proved he had had quite enough at being blown off like this by his own flesh and blood.

"Joshua, you didn't even ask." He said and Despayre stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned back to look at his father and say, "I wasn't aware I needed permission to spend time with a friend."

A surprised silence hung in the air until Despayre turned back away from the two and he ran the rest of the way out of the house, the sound of the front door slamming shut behind him resounding through the house. Gabriel turned to Synn with a most surprised expression at how 'his Despy' just behaved and only one word came to mind.

"Ouch."



"Can I hide here?" Despayre asked as he huddled back on the Old English style sofa in the living room of his elderly neighbor, and neighborhood antagonist, Missus Colleen O'Heaney. And sometimes his own personal nemesis! But ever since last year when he had discovered her on the floor after a bad fall, Despayre had started spending more time with her, and not to simply prank her time and again. And despite her brusque nature, she did not throw him out or tell him not to return. It was for that reason Synn had theorized that she had grown to enjoy the company Despayre provided, even if her personality would refuse her to acknowledge such a thing.

Mrs. O'Heaney was seated in her usual chair, a plush recliner for her physical comforts, with a dinner tray perched over the arm rests. A modest meal of spaghetti with a single piece of garlic bread was her dinner for the night and she had just started her repast when Despayre had as usual, invited himself in. Only this visit was apparently anything but the norm. She set her utensils down, without having taken even her first bite, and she regarded her guest with her usual critical stare.

"Hide?" She said. "My home is not a hiding place nor a place to play games."

"I know." Despayre said respectfully, shaking his head to emphasize he understood. He went on, "I'm not playing a game. I just ..." He hunched his shoulders up and they sagged. "I just don't want to have to talk to my dad is all. He thinks something is wrong and he won't let me alone."

"Is there something wrong?"

Despayre sighed. Another person asking him things. Still, he was a guest, sort of, so he felt obligated to give her an answer. "Kind of." He said. "But I'm just not ready to talk. But when my dad gets worried..."

"He pushes." Mrs. O'Heaney finished his thought for him and Despayre nodded.

Despayre pushed his fists deeply into his lap, a sign of his emotional stress, and he said, "I'll talk to him. Just ... just not now."

Mrs. O'Heaney huffed, exhaling sharply through her nose. She frowned as she heard a slight rumble, and when Despayre subconsciously rubbed a hand on his belly, she turned her head and called out, "Marsha!"

A few moments later, a visiting nurse who helped with small chores as well as her personal care, emerged from the interior of the house to the living room. "Yes, Colleen?"

Mrs. O'Heaney asked, "Is there much more of your spaghetti left?"

"Oh yes." She nodded. "I made plenty in case you wanted some for lunch tomorrow."

Mrs. O'Heaney shook her head and said instead, "Will you fix this boy up a plate? Stuff it. And a few pieces of your garlic toast, too."

The nurse, apparently named Marsha, blinked in surprise. She had been helping care for Mrs. O'Heaney for weeks and had not scene a single shred of evidence that she was anything other than a miserable old crank. yet here she was now, showing a bit of hospitality towards this young man. A young man who looked as surprised as she felt.

"Of course Colleen, just give me a moment and I'll bring it right out." And that being said, the nurse headed back into the house, presumably the kitchen, leaving Despayre to face his 'hostess' and speak a half muttered, "Thank you."

To which she simply nodded.



Synn had enough of this ridiculous nonsense. He had waited long enough, and was tired of his son avoiding him or the responsibility that was culminating with the upcoming championship match. Hence, he was going to get some answers whether Despayre wanted to or not. That being said, he had left Gabriel to wait at the house while he went in search of his boy at the house of the neighborhood's most despised resident.

It was a simple walk in the hot afternoon sun, and Synn all but ignored any greeting in passing from the neighbors that were few and far between. He showed no pretense that he was out to make new friends and acquaintances ever since he and Despayre moved in nigh on five years ago. He was a responsible neighbor, yes, but friendly? Less than so. The house he sought was one of only a handful on this neighborhood block, a prime reason he had chosen this residence for privacy sake. And there was the old Victorian house that Colleen O'Heaney called home. There was a strange car in the drive, but given what Joshua told him of the random nurse's visits, that could be explained easily enough. Synn carefully crossed the road to the other side and bounded up onto the old porch and rapped his knuckles hard against the granulated wood of the door.

He heard a dog bark from somewhere inside, which surprised him. If Joshua was inside, he just assumed the dog had gone into hiding. His son -- terrorizer of German Shepards. The barking subsided and a moment later, a middle aged woman opened the door and looked up at him in a startled surprise, his stature catching her off guard.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for my son, Joshua." Synn said simply. "Is he inside?"

"Joshua? Oh!" She nodded and held the door open. "Please, come in. He's just eating dinner."

Synn stepped inside, and paused while the nurse closed the door behind him. He had never been inside of this house before, and his eyes fell into a ritual habit of appraisal, and it pained him to admit that the so-called neighborhood harpy had excellent taste. His eyes went all around him as he was led from the foyer and towards the living room, and at first glance, he could understand just why Joshua was so fascinated by this woman, given her collections and framed photographs which were -- everywhere.

"Colleen?" The nurse said as they rounded the corner, and the moment Despayre looked up, his face fell. "Joshua's father is here."

"Thank you." Mrs. O'Heaney spoke crisply as she laid eyes for the first time in person of Joshua's father. Despayre's eyes were tightly closed, not liking what could come of this, and he listened as his father said, "Come on Joshua. It's time to come home and stop imposing on Missus O'Heaney's hospitality."

"When Missus O'Heaney is being imposed upon, Missus O'Heaney will let you know."

Despayre's eyes blinked open wide and he looked back and forth between her and his father, not remembering the last time anyone spoke to his father the way she just did. Well, except maybe Gabriel that one time. Synn simply stared at her, and for a change, the person he was staring down did not look away as many others felt the desire to when engaged.

Surprisingly, Synn was the first to break the stare down but did so in order to turn his attention to Despayre and he said, "Come on Joshua. It's time to come home so we can talk."

Despayre sighed, his nerves fluttering and a sour feeling beginning to grow in intensity in the pit of his belly. He turned to Mrs. O'Heaney and said a half hearty "I'm sorry." Before he set his tray down onto the coffee table and slowly stood up. He picked Angel up and hugged the bear tightly as he stepped around the table and Synn drew him forward with an arm around his slim shoulder.

Synn said, "Situations like these wouldn't happen if people were more open to express themselves."

"You're absolutely right."

"You see? Missus O'Heaney agrees with me."

"I was talking about you!"

Synn came to an abrupt halt and turned to look at her and a frown creased his brow, "I beg your pardon?"

But this gauntlet was picked right up by an old Irish woman who was perhaps as stubborn or strong willed as Synn himself happened to be. She said from her chair, "The embarrassment to your son would never have happened had you not come marching over here to retrieve him when I believe he told you he was going to be spending the evening with me for supper."

"I was just trying to make sure he wasn't bothering you." Synn reasoned, but the elderly woman frowned.

"Who said I wanted you to? I'm my own person. I am certainly capable of deciding for myself who I wish to spend time with, and I dare say the same could be said for that son of yours!"

Synn ushered a reluctant Despayre out towards the door and he took the hint and exited the house, leaving for his own home. Synn then turned to Mrs. O'Heaney and asked her, "Have you any children?"

"No."

Synn barked, "Then who the Hell are you to tell me anything about how to handle my son!?"

Mrs. O'Heaney rapped her cane on the hard floor and barked back, "I know enough that you don't open a damn floodgate all at once! You allow it to flow slowly over time rather than risk a damn disaster!"

Synn said nothing more. He just glanced at her briefly and turned on his heel and left the home to follow Despayre to their own. The moment the front door closed behind him, the nurse stepped back out and shook her head. "What was all that about?"

"A disaster waiting to happen." Was all Mrs. O'Heaney said.



"I can't believe you did that!" Despayre wailed as he set foot inside of his home, slamming the door but Synn caught it quickly enough to set foot inside first before shutting it behind him. "I can't believe you embarrassed me like that!"

"What. Is going on?" Gabriel asked, having been waiting in the main area of the home's immediate interior ever since Synn had left to fetch him. However this reception was not quite what Gabriel would have thought would be when they'd arrived back.

Synn said, "I simply went over to Missus O'Heaney's to get Joshua so we could have that chat..." But he was interrupted by a teary eyed Despayre who pointed at his father accusingly, "He embarrassed me!" He wiped his forearm quickly across his eyes to save himself further embarrassment of Gabriel seeing him shed tears over what had just happened. "He said I was bothering Missus O'Heaney but she said I wasn't!"

"Joshua," Synn was keeping a remarkably cool head given his nasty temper and reputation for losing it at the drop of a hat. "I just endured being chastised by that friend of yours, and all I've been wanting was to talk. You've been avoiding me..."

"I have not!" Despayre denied hotly. "I love you!"

Synn said, "And I you. And it's that reason why I've been able to tell that something is wrong. All I ask is that you tell me what. Something. I'll take a single word."

Despayre closed his eyes and shook his head, his head tilted forward but not enough so as to hide the sight of the hot tears streaming down his cheeks to pool at the dimple in his chin. "Why are you doing this?" He asked.

"Because we care about you Despy." Gabriel joined in, sensing the time was right. He stepped forward, slowly. Even though he knew Despayre loved him like his own, he also knew the young man's mind was unstable even at the best of times and did not want to provoke him. Especially when he was so obviously emotional.

"If you really care about me..." Despayre drew his head up, but still refused to look at either man. ".. then why are you making me do something that I don't want to do?"

Synn frowned and asked, "What are you talking about?" As he took a step closer to his son, wanting nothing more than to give him the comfort he himself had always been denied as a youth. How many years had he missed out on raising Despayre, and each time he wondered this, it made him want to simply do whatever he could to reclaim those 'stolen' years. Synn asked, "What are we making you do that you don't want to...?"

"I don't want to wrestle James!" Despayre interrupted in a loud cry, finally giving voice to his frustration. "I never did!"

"That's what this is about?" Gabriel said, sharing a quick glance with Synn. "Despy, if that's the case, why didn't you speak up and say something?"

"Why didn't I...?" Despayre slowly turned his head to Gabriel and practically gawked at his big brother. "Are you kidding me!? All I've ever done is tell all of you I didn't want to wrestle for the World title! And all you ever did was bully me into doing it anyway!"

"Bully you...? Despy, we would never..."

Despayre cut him off now that he was on this emotional roller coaster, "I told you all that I didn't want to be in that Gauntlet match for the world title in the first place! You made me enter it anyway! You just kept after me, again and again, until I just gave up and did it! And what happened? I LOST! And then you all made me wrestle James for the title in Tokyo, even though I made it pretty clear I didn't want the World title -- AGAIN!"

Synn said, "Joshua, you earned that title shot when you won that mixed tag event!"

"I KNOW!" Despayre cried. "... I know. But earning it -- and accepting it.. they're two different things." he inhaled, and his emotions were clear as his breath racked with subdued sobs. "But I earned a shot when I won the King match too, but I never took it. If I wanted it, I would have, but I didn't! And same thing happened as before! I lost!"

"But you put on a hell of a match Despy!" Gabriel stressed, trying to diffuse the situation. "Even James gave you props for the fight you gave him!"

"I. Still. Lost!" Despayre growled helplessly, holding his arms out to the side and allowing them to fall against his sides. "And now ... here I am again! The only one who doesn't bother me about wrestling James or winning the title is Rage and that's only because he wants it! He wants it so bad he doesn't care if I win it!"

"Despy, that's not true..."

"It is so! You've heard Rage! All he cares about is the World title and it wouldn't matter to him if I won it or not! He'd still want it! He wouldn't be happy for me! The first thing he'd do is ask for a shot at it! rage wants title shots and can't get one, but me? I didn't ask for this shot! Everybody knows I don't want it but NOBODY LISTENS!"

Synn said, "Joshua, we're listening."

Despayre closed his eyes again and said, "You might be listening to me, but you're not hearing me."

"Joshua," Synn took that final step towards his son and placed his hands on his shoulders. Synn then leaned down at the waist so as to put himself at eye level with his much smaller son and finally Despayre felt the pressure to open his own eyes and look into his dad's own. Synn felt that pain every parent feels when they know their child is hurting and angry, and right now Despayre's gray eyes looked more like storm clouds. He said, "Just please tell me ... why don't you want this match?"

Despayre took a brief pause as he swallowed before he cried, "BECAUSE I CAN'T WIN!!!" And he threw his father's hands off of his shoulders and turned and dashed for the stairs before either Synn or Gabriel could stop him. They watched helplessly as Despayre vanished upstairs to the second story and only when the door to his bedroom slammed shut, did the two men turn to one another.

Gabriel was the first to find his voice, "What do we do?"



"Hi champ! Or James. You don't mind if I call you James, do you? That is what friends do, after all. Put each other on a first name basis. I don't know about you, but I'd like to think of us as friends. That's why I had us stop that unpleasantness that you probably just witnessed so we could have ourselves a little chat. Just between us."

"You see, I get it. You've had a very easy life, all except for your foray into wrestling. At least, up until recently. When you first came to SCW, you were looked upon as a joke. As a comedic moment or a perfect time for a bathroom break. You'd walk out to the ring with a swagger and a strut and run your mouth, only to usually find your foot put in it for all your efforts. Well guess what? Nobody is laughing at you any more. For all the jokes at your expense, you showed that from the very first moment in the ring, all you wanted to do was become a successful professional wrestler. It just took some extremely hard work and a trainer to push you to the bro=ink of quitting and beyond until you reached your very goals. You became the best that you can be, the World Heavyweight Champion! Not too shabby!"

"And when people started making jokes and questioning the legitimacy of your claim to the title, you did what any good champion would do: you told them to put their money where their mouths was and you proceeded to shut each and every one of your detractors up, one by one. From Connor Murphy to TNA, right up to your greatest challenge to date, our mutual pal, Despayre. Every challenger beaten, but then that begs the obvious question..."

"What is there left to do?"

"It's understandable. I mean, you've pretty much went through the entire Superstar roster, so who is left for you to defend against? What is left for you to do but to simply go back and start all over from one challenger to the next. Anything to shut up the detractors who think you should simply yield the title, but you're not the type to just hand anything over. That much I am aware of. So the higher ups decided that the greatest threat to your belt that you've had to deal with, would have to be dealt with again."

"A lot of people didn't think Despayre belonged in the Main Event at Into the Void V, let alone compete for the World Championship. It didn't matter to them that he had earned the title shot through multiple wins, both King of the Mountain as well as the Blast From the Past IV event. They looked at Despayre as a tag team wrestler and someone who was best at comedic moments in matches, not as someone who could be a legit threat to the most sought after championship in SCW. I don't think you felt that way exactly, but if you did, I think we can all agree that Despayre proved everybody wrong. You both did! And you showed just what kind of man you became James, when you didn't gloat over the win. You walked across that ring and you hugged the man that had suddenly earned your respect by giving you the fight you had been wanting since becoming Champion!"

"Now while the World title was not his primary concern in that match in Tokyo, pride and revenge was, and both of those are as much as gas to a flame as a golden title belt can be. You both proved that you don't have to be two hulking, muscle laden heavyweights to compete in a Main Event Heavyweight championship match! You and Despayre tore that house down and brought everyone to the brink of their seats, from the opening bell to the closing! And yes, you did win that match, James. Everybody saw it, and no one will deny it. But Despayre put you through what no other challenger has before, and now you are slowly coming to realize that he is going to do so again. And that loss he suffered at your hands? That's not going to demoralize him, not really. What it will do is give him something to feed on. He'll remember what it was like for the first time to have had his shoulders pinned in a one on one contest, and he will fight even harder to make certain that it does not happen again. And he'll do so not just once, but twice!"

"That's the funny thing about two out of three fall matches. They're a class act, dating back to the earliest times in wrestling when it was held in smoke filled arenas and the newspapers covered the matches as a legit sporting event. Men attended in suits and ties, and the ladies in a rarity would be seated in gowns and jewels. Best of Three Fall matches many believe favor the champion, but not this time around. Even if you do score one of those first two falls, and I wouldn't put it past you, given your record, it'll work against you in the end. If you thought Despayre came at you full force the first time you wrestled, then you won't be prepared at all for what he'll be bringing to the table. You fight dirty, but Despayre proved he was more than capable of biting or hair pulling, and throwing the fists around in a classic brawl. If you want to take to the air, I do believe that is an area of expertise that Despayre has a clear advantage in, although you are mightily talented in that field yourself."

"My point is, it's going to come down to a matter of anything you can do, Despayre can do better. You may have the championship that you want to keep wearing around your waist, but Despayre sees the stripping of that gold from your possession as a means to an end. A way to make him feel better about himself as a person and as a wrestler. It's something that I know you're familiar with, and can relate to. At the start of your career, people often told you that you simply were not good enough. Admittedly nobody has been telling Despayre that, but that loss has been eating away at him, James. It's been telling him that you were the better man that night, and he now wants to be the best. Despayre wants to be the better man and his actions will speak volumes when he uses this match not to win a championship, but to win once again his own self confidence."

"And that, Champ, is what is going to be the driving force behind crowning a brand new World Heavyweight Champion."

[Christian Underwood]

 The first RP period is over. All RPs posted from here will count towards RP period two!

Second RP Period Deadline:
United States: 11:59pm EST Friday 07/29/2016
England: 04:59am Saturday 07/30/2016

[J2H]

 <span style='font-family:Arial'> Summer XXXTreme, one of the most unique traditions in the universe of Sin City Wrestling. A time where there is no hiding from anyone on the roster at all. It's actually pretty bizarre when you think of it. People who spend months trying to rip each others head off, swearing and cursing, attacking and beating, all end up in the same space. There is no little trips back home, there is no going to your favorite Starbucks - Yes, I'm looking in your direction Christian - There's an entire roster, even people you don't see that often, their families who take advantage of the trip, ex SCW stars who see it as a vacation and a chance to put their faces on camera again to be remembered, there's even new people who are set to appear for the first time in SCW, or returning stars and more importantly, the fans...

....Ah, the fans, the people who believe they already know about what's gonna happen before it happens. The people who make more predictions than Tommy Knocks on a Friday on The Hotwire - There ya go Tommy, you can pay me tomorrow for the plug - but these are also the people who are the ones that pay to buy in to the magic we well and truly create. It's our jobs to put their arses on seats by selling them a piece of fantasy, and a place where everyone is together, how do you sell that to the fans who watch your every move, just waiting to see what you're like when you're not being your television persona?

We're smart people, we know how to keep the illusion alive, we know how to stay just about in check with realism as we can. For some people it's easy, the likes of Melody Grace, Ben Jordan, Jamie Dean, Natalie McKinley, Roxi Johnson, Keira Fisher, and people like that. What you see on Television is what you get, same can be said for people like Rage and Lord Raab, but people like those have to be a little more careful than the rest not to flip out and start ripping fans heads off.

We need to keep the illusion for the fans to the point where if you see Steve Ramone, sitting having a beer with Kain and Rage, the illusion is gone for that match.

This might be the relaxing event that some people thing, but it's also a lot of stress on us to stay who we are without blowing the fantasy.... Thankfully, I don't want to be anywhere around Despayre anyway and hope that annoying little man leaves me alone for the entire cruise, probably be too busy running around looking for his imaginary little friends anyway.

But as relaxing as it is, we still have to work. It's not all about sitting around getting a sun tan, it's not all about sitting around and posing for selfies with every single person on the fucking ship, and trust me when I say the fans will hunt you down for pictures so they can say they have a picture or autograph from every SCW star. Everyone is a collector at heart, one of the bosses collects action figures, another of them just started to collect shot glasses - I'll let you figure out which is which - but the fans would go to a lot of lengths to go get every autograph and picture from every wrestler and staff member alike.... As I'm recording this and talking to you all, I'm actually sitting watching Zelda Clark mobbed by autograph hunters... It's true, she's looking a bit flustered over there, and this is just a woman who writes an article every week for SCW. Can you imagine what it's like for a guy like me? A guy with a title everyone wants to pose with? By the end of this, there will be more hands on my title than there has been on Amy Marshall and that is in the millions.

Unlike Amy Marshall though, everyone wants a piece of this action, people have to get paid to get a piece of Amy's action... There ya go, that's what ya get for saying you hope I'm disappointed at the end of this show Amy. Go back to splicing your past matches in to your promos, just to add extra minutes so you don't have to be creative, k?

Anyway, I'm getting a little off track here putting the little people in their place. The facts are simple, we all have to smile for the fans, avoid our opponents and expect to have people take pictures of us while we're doing the smallest of things. We might be ordering a drink, watching a show, playing in the casino, but you can't hide from those camera phones.

A lot of people don't mind it, a lot of people will happily pose for the fans, unless you're Lord Raab who is happier sitting in a tiny cabin with his not so tiny guy, dragging him down and stopping him from having fun so he can sit there and bitch about everything SCW and how this is not suited to him. Well boo hoo, news flash for Lord Raab, SCW don't revolve around you, get used to it. Thankfully, I don't think he's on this cruise cause the halls having been filled with bitching just yet.

So if you're name is not Lord Raab, one, you should be gratful, and two, you'll probably be going out and having a good time.

Am I gonna do that?

Why wouldn't I at some point? I'm on this boat for about eight days. Of course I'm gonna kick back and relax at some point, but you won't see me acting the idiot like say Despayre and Jessie Salco running around like fools looking for creatures who don't exist.... You're meant to be professional wrestlers, act like it! Am I gonna go get drunk on the companies money every night just cause I can? Fuck no, but I will have fun at some point. I'm not treating this like a vacation like everyone else is, I'm treating this as what it is, it's work, it's business first and I intend to treat it that way.

The rest of you can be lazy bastards if you want and sit on ya ass and watch your skin turn in to shades of lobster for an entire week, get out there, wrestle your match and go home for a couple of weeks before heading out on tour again - Yes, I'm not stupid and I know SCW will do a tour right after this, if you knew your history, you will see it coming. This is what most SCW people will sit and do, free vacation, right? Wrong! You can all sit around and be lazy, but I'll go ahead and do what a champion does, I will get out there and be around the fans for a few days, I will work my ass off to get them that damn excited while you all do nothing at all.

I've been carrying SCW on my shoulders for a while now, so I'll do it again. Meet the fans, sign autographs, be the best I can be while you lot just carry on doing nothing.

So this didn't start to well for me, it will sure as hell end well for me when I leave this boat as champion and record breaker....



Sunday 24th July 2016.

The beautiful sight of the Princess Cruise liner can be seen in the afternoon sun, as crowds of people gather at the bottom of the walkway to lead on to the home of where every Sin City Wrestling star on the roster, most with their families, and SCW crew members will be staying for the next week. Many Sin City Wrestling stars have already walked up the ramp towards the ship but the fans wait for their yet unseen favorites to grace them with their presence, waiting for their photo opportunities. A black limousine catches their attention, pulling up at the bottom of the walkway, coming to a stop nearby and the drivers door open, causing the crowd to wait with baited breath to see who the next SCW star is to arrival. Tension fills the air as the driver walks around to the back door, opening one side and Simpson steps out of the door, causing the crowd to cheer. The driver moves towards the back of the car, opening it up and starting to remove bags from back. Simpson, a man who usually shy's away from the attention, uncharacteristically smiles towards the crowd, waving at them as Austin Parker is the next to step out of the car, causing a more mixed reaction as Simpson moves towards the back of the car towards the driver, helping him with the luggage and moving it towards the side of the car. Pussy Willow, waiting for the stars to arrival, smartly waiting at the bottom of the walkway approaches Austin.

Pussy: Austin! Can I have a word?

Austin looks down at the smaller woman.

Austin: Ah ain't got nothing to say.

His bluntness leaves Pussy standing bewildered as he walks away and towards Simpson. The crowd instantly cheer as Melody Grace exits the vehicle, her Bombshell Internet Championship over her shoulder. She smiles at the fans but some boos scatter the crowd as J2H exits the limo, the SCW World Championship over his shoulder. Melody moves in front of the fans, posing for pictures and Pussy approaches J2H and starts to speak to him.

Pussy: I know you won't let me down when it comes to speaking to me J. Can I ask you a quick question?

J2H, dressed in white shorts and a sleeveless shirt, while wearing sunglasses over his eyes, looks through the tints and shrugs his shoulders.

J2H: You got one question, so make it a good one, cause I ain't got time for all this.

Pussy: You're stepping on to this wonderful cruise liner, knowing on Sunday, knowing that you will equal Spike Staggs record of being the longest serving SCW World Champion, but you could leave here as the man with the record. How are you feeling about that?

J2H: I give you one question and that's what you ask me? How the fuck are you still employed?

Pussy looks shocked my his comment, but J2H holds up his hand.

J2H: I'll be nice, I'll answer it anyway for you. How do I feel about becoming the best SCW has ever seen? Confident as fuck. I ain't walking on this thing, sitting around for a couple of weeks, just to look pretty and come off here pissed off. I'm here to step off here the best in the business. You might wanna start running round and planning the victory party, because it's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen very damn soon.

J2H looks to his side as Austin and Simpson stand beside him with the luggage, J2H reaching down and putting a heavy looking bag over his shoulders. Melody joins the others and picks up a bag, while Austin carries one and Simpson lifts two heavy cases. Austin leads the way up the ramp, followed by Simpson and Melody and J2H stand at the bottom, posing with their titles before walking up the walkway and catching up with Simpson and Austin. The four reach the top, looking down at the fans gathered below and cheering towards them before they turn around, being directed to a reception area. Simpson leads the four towards the reception desk and Austin moves to one side, looking through pamphlets of the entertainment on the cruise. J2H looks at Simpson.

J2H: Check us all in Simpson.

Simpson: Yes sir.

Simpson moves towards the desk and Melody spins, putting her arms around J2H neck, both dropping their bags to the side of them seconds before. She looks at him with a smile on her face.

J2H: And hello to you.

Melody: Hi.

Her smile lights up the reception area as she looks in to his eyes.

J2H: What's up?

Melody: Nothing. I was just thinking and it involved you.

J2H raises his eyebrow, knowing that anything could be going through the young blondes mind with the countless activities going on at any given time. Casino games to be played, movies to be seen, people to meet, drinks to be drunk, and if you're Lord Raab, boiler rooms to sit and sulk in. He looks in to her eyes, wondering what is in her head.

J2H: Thinking? That must have hurt.

A smile crosses J2H's face but Melody pouts at J2H and pushes him away slightly in a joking manner.

Melody: I'll ignore that.

J2H: Because my smile is so damn good, you already forgot I said it?

Melody tilts her head to the side, her nose scrunched up.

Melody: Yeah, keep telling yourself that babe. Actually, I was thinking, maybe one of these days, we don't actually have to leave our cabin, you know.

Melody winks towards J2H, his mind now at ease that there would be no crazy ideas. A smile forms on his face.

J2H: Ohhhh, I see what you mean. I don't think there's gonna be a problem with that. I mean I know I'm a great champ and should have my face all over this place, but sometimes, my face might need to be more near you.

A smile passes on the young blondes face as she pulls her hands away, clapping her hands in excitement, but a worried looking Simpson walks towards them, his hand moving over his head as he looks uneasily at the duo as Austin joins them.

Melody: What's wrong, Simmy?

Simpson: I'm afraid that they have given us four rooms instead of three, Ms Grace. You're not in the same room.

A smile crosses Austin Parker's face as he rest his hand on J2H's shoulder.

Austin: Don't worry yeself boy, ya always got yer right hand, and ya left if yer feel like playing away from home.

J2H looks at Austin, shaking his head as a huge grin crosses Austin's face.

J2H: This is bullshit Simpson! I asked for three! Damn idiots in that SCW office can't get anything right!  

Austin: Well maybe they thought being as y'all just knocking boots an' not livin' together, y'all want ya own space, like ya have on dry land.

J2H: I'm the SCW World Champion, what I want, I get, no if's buts or ands about it. This is punishment for me telling all about what it's like backstage, and showing that the bosses don't know how to control their own staff. I'm gonna sort this out myself.

J2H takes two key cards from Simpson and walks confidently towards the desk, moving through people and towards the front desk to where the receptionist, a young female with her brunette hair tied neatly back sits. Melody, Austin and Simpson watch on from a distance.

Receptionist: Hi can I....

The receptionist stops, instantly recognizing the man as SCW World Champion, J2H.

Receptionist: Oh... my.... God, you're him, aren't you? You're J2H!

Overhearing this, Melody rolls her eyes as she looks towards the receptionist, but J2H sees the advantage in the woman knowing who he is.

J2H: I am and how are you today?

Melody rolls her eyes once more at hearing J2H respond to the woman.

Receptionist: I'm great! Thank you for asking, what can I do for you today?

The over enthusiasm pours from the woman as she looks at the SCW Superstar before her. J2H leads on to the desk.

J2H: There's been a bit of booking mistake here. It was meant to be three rooms, one with a big old double bed in it, instead, there's four rooms. I need that changed right away.

The woman types away on the computer in front of her before looking towards J2H.

Receptionist: I'm sorry sir. It seems that four rooms were booked by Christian Underwood.

J2H: That guy can't book three instead of four rooms, but he can book a damn wrestling show on a ship? This is unbelievable! Look, I know it's not your fault, but I need that changed right away, because I need to use this cruise to test something out, so I need that big suite.

The woman taps away on the computer once more, before looking up at J2H with a sad look on her face, while Melody looks at the back of his head, hearing part of the last comment.

J2H: Don't give me that look, I know nothing good comes from that look. I invented that look!

Receptionist: I'm sorry sir, all suites have been taken except one and that one is out of SCW's given budget. We've been told that we can not go over budget from the figure SCW has offered us.

J2H lowers his voice as he moves in closer.

J2H: Look, I don't care, I will even sit there and face time with your mom if it gets me that room.

The receptionist smiles at J2H who nods confidently.

Receptionist: Really?

A strong nod comes from J2H as he looks at her.

J2H: Really. I just need that room and I'll talk to your mom. Now, can you help me out...

J2H leans forward, looking at the name tag and willing to use every trick in the book to get what he wants.

J2H: Sarah.

The woman blushes as she looks at the screen in front of her.

Receptionist: I could let you have the room if you pay the excess cost for the nights that you're on the cruise.

A smile crosses his face as he nods in approval.

J2H: That's more like it. How much is that gonna set me back? A couple of hundred a night?

Receptionist: Actually, that would be one thousand, two hundred dollars a night sir.

J2H's face drops as his mouth opens, looking at the woman in disbelief. He turns around to Melody and instantly fakes a smile, his hand slowly forming in to a thumbs up, and getting her a to smile towards him. He turns back towards the reception desk, shaking his head slowly.

J2H: Fine. I'll take it.

He places the two cards from the other room down on to the desk and the receptionist takes them back before handing him a package.

Receptionist: There's two key cards in there and all the information you need to find your way around. I'll be on a break in a few minutes so I will call my mom then.

J2H: Thanks.  

J2H picks the package from the desk and turns around, moving towards three waiting for him, confidently strolling through the crowd.

Melody: Well?

J2H: I told you I'd get it done and I did.

A wide smile crosses Melody's face as he hands her the information package.

Austin: So ya' guys get a package thing, and me and Simpson just get key cards and a map?

J2H: Who's the champ here?

J2H looks at Austin with a cocky smirk but Austin stares at him.

Austin: Not too much of a champ ta get a smack in the face.

J2H grins at him before turning back to Melody. Opening the package from her hand and sliding one of the key cards out and in to his palm.

J2H: You guys go ahead up to the rooms. Make sure Melody gets to ours Simpson and I'll come up in a bit. I will meet you guys at the bar over there in say an hour?

Simpson: Very good sir. Would you like me to take your bag sir?

J2H: Thank you Simpson.

Simpson lifts J2H's bag over his shoulder and readies himself to pick up the two he carried on board. Melody looks at J2H with a quiical look on her face.

Melody: And what are you going to do?

J2H: Well I'm gonna go over there and sort out some cash for the room because Christian can't afford it, it seems. Then I'm gonna make a Face Time call.

Before Melody says anything, J2H puts his hands up, stopping her from talking as his mind wanders back to Melody's money talk last week.

J2H: And don't worry, it's only a couple of extra dollars so I got this one.

He looks around the crowd, giving Melody a kiss on the cheek as the camera fades out.



Meet and greets are a fairly popular thing when it comes to Summer XXXTreme shows. The fans spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars to get to spend time around their favorite stars and at some point, every single superstar is called to do these things.

The scene starts in a hall with a stage at one end and stalls dotted around the area, with names of wrestlers above them, as well as merchandising stalls, selling everything you can buy from the SCW shop. From the side of the stage, J2H observes the crowds walking around, forming lines to meet their favorite wrestlers. A blonde woman sits under a sign with the words "SCW's Latest Bombshell - Polly Playtime." J2H looks at her and shakes his head.

J2H: I know good things are meant to come in small packages, but she's almost a midget.

An arrogant smirk crosses the white short wearing champion, his upper body covered with a black sleeveless shirt and his trademark chains around his neck and his SCW World Championship over his shoulder. He looks around the room more, spying Romanian Bombshell, Amy-Jayne walking around the room, posing for a picture with a young fan.

J2H: I know who she is, she's the one who thinks I'm cute, so Twitter told me. Nothing wrong with her eyesight.

He cranks his neck around the corner, spying the Acquin brothers, Joshua and Austin, sitting next to each other at a table and signing autographs for a line of fans. Alongside them, Candy and Hazel Overton also sign pictures of themselves, handing them out to grateful fans. He moves his eyes back to the opposite side to see Blanca Chastain signing autographs, while her sister Zuri, dressed in full wrestling gear, including mask, poses with a young fan.

J2H: At least someone had the good sense to keep them and the Overton's apart.  

He casts his eye further in to the crowd to see Ryan Keys - thankfully dressed - walking amongst people, stopping at their requests to take photos and Matt Spears on one knee, signing an autograph. Justin Decent taps J2H on the shoulder, causing him to look around.

Justin: Are you ready for me to introduce you J?

J2H: What the fuck am I even doing here Justin? I mean I've never had to do this stage bullshit before. Last year, I was somewhere in the back signing autographs and wondering where the nearest bar is.

Justin: Well, I think they just need you to go out, thank everyone for coming, promise them a good show and cut a heel promo. Just go easy on the language because there are kids here that are younger than we usually get at the shows.

J2H: I got it, sell the show, don't say fuck. Go on then, let's do this.

J2H sighs as Justin starts to walk on the stage, walking to the middle with a microphone in hand and turning to face the crowd.

Justin: Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?

A crowd start to rush towards the stage and J2H looks in to a nearby mirror, checking that his hair is in place.

Justin: We have a very special guest here for you today. He is the current SCW World Champion...

A mix of boos, which some shocked cheers are heard in the crowd.

Justin: He is J2H!

The intro to "Lights Out" starts to play and J2H takes a deep breathe before stepping out in to view on to the stage for the fans to see. Screams come from the young females in the crowd, while boos comes from the men. J2H switches on, looking around the room with an arrogant smirk as he stops halfway towards Justin. He reaches on to his shoulder and raises the SCW World title above his head before walking towards Justin, pulling the microphone from his hand and pointing towards the exit. J2H looks around as the screams can be heard over the boos and the music fades out. Still the screams and boos fly towards the stage as he pauses, looking around the crowd. He puts his hand up, waving them down, and finally the crowd quietens down.

J2H: For my fellow SCW workers in the room, THAT is what you call a reaction. I know you don't hear it when you step out on the stage, but that's what they sound like.

J2H draws hard stares from many of his fellow workers in the room but he continues.

J2H: Welcome to the Summer XXXTreme IV cruise, where you will see some amazing matches and some amazing wrestlers, but none more so than the man who is standing right here before you, the man who is going to take wrestling to a whole new level when I get to pin Despayre twice, the man who will be a record breaker come Monday morning, me, J2H.

More screams come from the teenage girls in the crowd and boos from the rest.

J2H: I don't care if you cheer for me, if you boo me, it doesn't matter because right now, you're all in a very special place, because you're in my presence, you're in my company, you're sitting there listening to this guy, this guy who has entertained you for so long, the guy you already look up to. You get to see this guy at what last year made some serious money. It's not cheap to get us here, so it's not cheap for you to be here, so I'm sure whoever is sitting in the SCW office counting up all your hard earned money, thanks you.  

J2H starts to stroll up and down the stage.

J2H: But I know you would have spent so much more to see me live in action, to live around me for a whole damn week. To be able to get a picture of me laying by the pool, or drinking a beer or talking with Melody. Well trust me when I say just being in this room with me, looking at me, has made your expense worth it. I have just made this trip worth it but the fun just doesn't stop there. Be honest, how many of you came here because you think Despayre is gonna beat me?

A lot of hands shoot up in the air and J2H looks around the crowd.

J2H: Hate to break it to you, but that's not gonna happen this show or any other show.

J2H runs his hand over the title.

J2H: This ain't going nowhere at all, other than back to Beverly Hills with me. That's the only place it is going to go. Back with the best damn champion you have ever seen!

He smirks around the crowd.

J2H: Don't worry if you're disappointed because once again, J2H makes your day, because I will get off this stage a few minutes and you can ask me for photos, just so you can have your picture taken with one of life's winners. So please get those cameras ready, because you will get your chance to stand next to greatness. Hit my fu.... freaking music!

"Light's out" starts to play and J2H starts to walk off the stage. He reaches the side and tosses the microphone to Justin as the scene fades out



With the meet and greet over, done and dusted and finished in the morning. The day was his own now. The SCW World champion strolls past a basketball court as a stray ball bounces in his direction. J2H, now out of his "work" clothes wears nothing but long red shorts, a backwards baseball cap, sunglasses and a trainers on his feet. The sun beats down on his back as he picks up the ball and throws it towards the hoop, watching it swish right through and causing a slight cheer from the players.

J2H: Yeah, I'm just good at everything.

He continues to walk through the recreational area, looking across to see Jason Adams and Belinda Simone in a heated conversation on a mini golf course, Belinda waving the club in Jason's face as he innocently pokes his tongue out at her. Out of place on another hole on the golf course, he spies two deck chairs, on one, Kale Smith, his knee heavily strapped sitting next to Alex Rush. Both men with their heads back and sunglasses covering their eyes, clearly partied too hard the night before. Walking further down, he spots the Surf Boys, fighting off a flock of seagulls as they swoop down, trying to steal food from the hapless duo. J2H rolls his eyes, and faces front, almost getting bumped in to by Despayre as he walks in front of him, his phone in his hand searching the ship for something that isn't there or real.  

J2H: I wonder if I get the night off if that idiot falls overboard?

He sighs to himself.

J2H: Knowing the luck he has, he'll get fished out with a million Pokemon.

He walks on, dodging past people and towards some stairs, standing at the top, he looks down and looks at the crisp blue sea, admiring it's wonder before stepping down the stairs towards a huge swimming pool and Jacui area. He looks around the pool area to see Casey Williams casually posing for a photo with a fan, his arm on the fans head. J2H walks past him, giving the big man a nod before continuing on to see Roxi Johnson and her wife Keira sunbathing poolside, as well as Sam Marlowe sitting next to Ben Jordan and opposite Jamie Dean and Amy Marshall as the four enjoy a cold drink in the warm sunshine, smiling for pictures as fans approach them. His eyes moves towards the Jacui where he sees Melody Grace sitting in one alone, the water bubbling around her body and he approaches her, looking around at a crowd of gathered men.  

Melody: Jammy Jam!

She calls out to him, not one of his favorite nicknames, but he says nothing, just watching the small crowd disperse. He kicks off his trainers and steps in to the water, slowly stepping down the steps and in to the bubbles and takes a seat. Melody moves around, sitting next to J2H and putting her head on his shoulder, prompting him to put his arm around her shoulder.

Melody: So how did it go meeting the fans? I know you secretly like it.

He tilts his head, looking at her sunglasses covered eyes and shakes his head.

J2H: About as much as I secretly like being chased by Brother Grimm. It was another fan fest thing, the usual autographs, photos, me knocking out a great speech. What did you get up to?

Melody: Spoke to some fans, took Simpson shopping for a little while. Got changed and came down here to relax for a bit.

She moves herself closer to J2H, her head on his chest as people start to look towards them, their eyes on the couple, wondering what they will do next.

J2H: You took Simpson shopping?

Melody smiles proudly, nodding her head up and down as she looks at him, his eyes covered by his sunglasses but his eyebrows raised above them higher than usual.

Melody: I did. His clothes are so out of date and we're on a cruise and he didn't have one pair of shorts, or a bathing costume.

J2H: If you saw his legs, you'd understand why. They're like tree trunks. No one wants to see legs like that.

Melody: Well he stands around in that stuffy suit all day Jam, and it's so hot today, so I thought he needed to be dressed more appropriately.

J2H: Melody, what have you done?  

The concern was in his voice, not because of Melody's fashion sense, she usually has a great sense of style and is always dressed to the modern times, her body often covered with the latest fashions from all over the world, but Simpson. He lived a simple life without the need to, he was never underpaid and must have a fortune saved, yet very rarely spent and his knowledge of fashion was limited.

Melody: And I let him pick out all his own stuff and paid for them, even though he stood there for so long trying not to let me pay for them.

Disaster run through J2H's body at the thought of Simpson picking out his own style of clothes. In public he was always smartly dressed in a suit, in private, he was always smartly dressed in a suit, but it was always a struggle to convince him that he looked good in those suits.

J2H: You know the man probably hasn't had to pick his own style in like twenty years or something, right?

Melody waves her hand towards J2H, casually brushing off his statement, while he can only imagine what horrors Simpson could be dressed as.

Melody: He looked perfectly fine to me when I last saw him and he was off to change and he will be joining us soon. I think he's very eye catching and will get people talking.

J2H: Yeah but in what way? Hey there's the latest style guru walking towards us, or what the fuck is he wearing, kinda eye catching?

Melody moves closer to her concerned man, her lips just inches away from his ear, her voice almost a whisper.

Melody: He'll be fine babe. It's about time he got noticed. He does so much for us and he should be noticed for that.  

J2H: Well you don't have to buy him clothes. I can do that, or he can do it out of his own money. I pay him well enough for what he does, and I always did wonder what he spent his cash on.

Melody: Maybe he plays a lot of online poker or something.

J2H laughs, but his face quickly changes to thoughtfulness. He never did know what Simpson did after he finished for the day. He'd often be around J2H after the working day was done but retired to do his own thing on many oasions.

J2H: You know Mel, that's not as far fetched as it may seem. I mean we go out a lot and stay in a lot and he never seems to leave the house.

Melody: Chill Jam, I was joking, he probably has a secret family we don't know about.

J2H looks at Melody with a serious look on his face but Melody pokes him on the nose and pokes her tongue out at him.

Melody: I was joking about that too.

The young man can't help but smile at Melody as she plants a kiss on his cheek.

Melody: You need to relax more.

J2H: I will do tonight when I'm out there winning some money in the casino.

Melody runs her hand up and down J2H's chest, her fingers tracing his tattoos.

Melody: Are you gonna dress like James Bond?

She asks him with a wink of her left eye, her hand reaching up to the side of his head.  

J2H: I always dress like James Bond when I'm in a casino. It's all about being calm and having a flawless image.

Melody moves her lips towards J2H but his eyes instantly widens as he looks past her and in to the distance, where he sees a very brightly dressed man moving in their direction. J2H darts his head to the right, causing Melody to miss her kiss and catch him on the shoulder.

Melody: Hey! What gives!

J2H pulls his arm out of the water and points behind a pouting Melody.

J2H: That gives!

Melody turns her head to spy Simpson walking towards the pair, dressed in bright blue long shorts, hanging just past his knees, the shorts covered with yellow palm trees either side. On his top half, he wears a white shirt with various neon colors upon it, showing a beach scene.

J2H: All these designer stores on this thing and he buys that?

The sound of disgust falls from his lips as he looks towards Simpson and back to a smiling Melody.

Melody: He didn't like any of that designer stuff, so we found another little place on here and he loved those.

Simpson moves closer to the two, but J2H looks towards Melody.

J2H: I can't be seen with him dressed like that!

J2H takes off his hat and sunglasses, leaving them on the side of the Jacui before taking a deep breath and plunging his body beneath the water, the bubbles covering his head. Simpson reaches the Jacui.

Simpson: Good afternoon, Ms Grace. I'm heading to the bar for some refreshments and maybe off to relax by the pool. Before I go, would you like anything.

Melody: No thanks Simmy, I'm all good. Looking very sharp though.

Melody points towards the big man, causing him to coyly smile.

Simpson: Thank you, I should dress like this more often, it's oddly stress relieving.

Melody: I think you should too, even around the house. Don't worry about James, I'll talk him in to allowing something like that to be your new uniform. It will be like casual Friday, except it will be casual every day.

Another shy smile comes from Simpson as he looks down at Melody.

Simpson: If you require anything Ms. Grace, please don't hesitate to ask.

Melody: Go and enjoy yourself Simbabwe, I'll be fine.

Simpson nods with approval of his latest nickname and turns away, just in time for J2H to appear, breaking through the water and breathing for air. Melody puts her arm under him, holding him up as he catches his breath.

J2H: We need to go.

Melody: Go where?

J2H: To see if this boat has an optician on board, just for buying him that stuff!

Melody smiles as she pulls herself next to J2H and the camera fades out.



The noise of slot machines paying out can be heard as the scene opens in the casino area of the ship. Many people walk between slot machines, some attracted by the lights and the thoughts of winning big. The camera pans around the area where we see SCW stars by the plenty. Chris Shipman stands next to Rage and Synn, their eyes on the craps tables as Mercedes Vargas rolls the dice, bouncing off the back wall of the table and coming to a holt, causing a cheer from the people around the three Sins members and the Argentine Assassin, who smiles at her winning luck. Christina Bentley and her mother Lacey move through the crowd, being tracked by people. Christina stops, turning around to the crowd, flashing her winning smile to a sea of phones clicking and flashing, taking a lasting memory of the two classy dressed ladies.  

The camera cuts to a roulette table as we see debuting SCW Superstar Scott Sanders, standing alongside future father in law, Billionaire Miles Blake, and Billionaires Club member Veronica Taylor, Miles placing what can only be described as a months average salary for some countries on a single number, and watching the ball bounce around the wheel. The number doesn't land on what Miles predicts but the billionaire shrugs it off to place another large wager on another number.

The camera cuts to the door of the casino where J2H and Melody make an appearance, as promised from earlier, J2H dressed in a tuxedo and bow tie in a very James Bond style, while Melody wears a figure hugging blue dress, her curves perfectly shown. Her arm links around J2H's as they take stock of what is happening in the casino. Travis Nathaniel Andrews walks past the two, crossing their path yet ignoring everyone around him as he talks loudly down the phone and further in to the casino. J2H looks towards Melody.

J2H: I told you that guy was an idiot. Talk on the phone in a noisy place, yet outside the door there, quiet enough to hear yourself talk. He must have got dropped on his head a lot as a baby.

Melody smiles at J2H as he rolls his eyes towards the direction Travis just walked in and the two move in towards the main gambling floor.

Melody: So what's it to be? Blackjack? Poker? Roulette?

His eye look around the room, looking towards one of the poker tables where he sees Evie Baang looking intensely at the cards on the table, her new friend and former SCW Bombshell, Alexis Edwards looking at the cards and back towards Evie, Evie's eyes not moving from the table.

J2H: I think I'll give that poker table a miss.

Melody: Why?

J2H: You look at her, she's looking at her cards and at everyone's movements. This is not her first game of cards, probably not her millionth. She's say beyond that. She's clearly a bit of a pro.

J2H's eyes dart around, just watching SCW Bombshell Champion, Crystal Hilton posing with some fans, smiling as she looks at the cameras. Melody and J2H walk slowly in to the room.

J2H: How about some roulette?

Melody: Sure.

Melody's eyes light up as they look for a roulette table. Melody points to the one where The Billionaires club stand, but J2H shakes his head.

J2H: A guy with a bad wig, a gold digger and a bimbo who vocabulary of insults is limited to the world basic, which in itself is pretty fucking basic for a human adult with no mental problems? I think not.

Melody: How about that one?

Melody points towards a roulette table, with no SCW wrestlers around it and walks towards it arm in arm with her. They reach the table and are quickly recognised, as whispers move around the table.

J2H: It's ok, you can talk to us. We're just normal people tonight. I'm not gonna walk over there and bodyslam Travis Nathaniel Andrews through a table, no matter how tempting it really is, nor is Melody gonna go over there and throw Mercedes Vargas through a machine or anything. Just here to win some money.

Confidence flies through his body, passing a pile of notes towards the roulette croupier, who quickly counts it and converts it in to chips, pushing them in front of him. He quickly splits the chips in half and pushes half of them in front of Melody, who looks at him with curiosity painted on her face.

Melody: What's that for?

J2H sarcastically taps his chin, looking at Melody with his lip pressed out.

J2H: I think they're to go on pia, ya know those little round things you pick off and throw in the top of the box when ya not in the mood for them.

Melody pinches his arm, causing him to smile and jump, all eyes around the table seemingly on the couple, regardless of the wheel spinning around, and peoples fortune depending on where the ball stops.

Melody: I know what they are, but why are you giving them to me?

J2H: To gamble babe. To throw away on numbers and try and win some money.

Melody: I have my own money J. You don't need to give me any of yours.

The eyes around them seem to become more focused on the duo, as they hear Melody's last line, wondering what will happen next.

J2H: Didn't need to gorgeous, wanted to. You're luckier at these things than I am.  

This causes Melody to smile as she looks towards him, pursing out her lips and blowing a kiss towards him.

Melody: Ok babe. I just have one tiny question to ask you before I start playing and trying to win some money.

J2H slides his arm down her back, resting it around her hips, his fingers on her stomach.  

J2H: Yes darling?

Melody moves her head closer to him, her lips near his ear.

Melody: How do you play this game?

J2H turns his head, looking towards Melody with a little look of surprise on his face. He's seen her in Vegas wander in and out of casinos, before they were together. Even when they were first together and working a show in Vegas, he'd see her move in and out of casinos.

J2H: Babe, you always used to be in and out of casinos when we was in Vegas.

Melody: Yeah, but I wasn't gambling. I was standing there modelling cars that people could win by gambling. I told you I had debt to pay off so took modelling jobs. It was my job to stand there next to a car, point at it a little bit and tell people they could win the car by hitting the jackpot on this giant slot machine. I never got time to gamble. I went from there, to other jobs.

J2H: So you didn't get to see how roulette was played?

Melody: Never played it.

J2H scratches the side of his head as he looks at the innocent looking Melody.

J2H: Ok, this could be good, because you must be overloaded with beginners luck right now. You pick a number and you put money on it. Or you can bet if the ball will land on an odd number or even number, or red or black, or two numbers next to each other, or four numbers next to each other in a square. Ball lands on something you bet on, you win. It doesn't, never mind.

Melody: Oh that sounds easy enough.

Melody picks up a chip and places it on the black diamond as the croupier spins the wheel. He drops the ball as J2H looks on in horror as he realized Melody has places five hundred dollars on one spin. He looks at her face, her hands clutched together as his heart races, waiting for the ball to settle. The wheel starts to slow down, the ball bouncing through the rungs before landing on twenty black. J2H sighs through relief as double the chips get pushed back in Melody's direction.

Melody: Did I win?

J2H smiles at Melody, giving her a reassuring nod.

J2H: You did babe.

A wider grin crosses Melody's face as she looks at the table a little more.

Melody: This is fun.

J2H: Yeah, well lets see if we can both win some money.

For the next two hours, the young couple gambled on almost every number and combination that can thought of with man highs and many lows. Let's fast forward a few hours, as we zoom in on the not so happy J2H, looking at one remaining chip in front of him. Turning his head, Melody's face tells a different story as pure joy washes over her face as she looks down at a huge pile on chips in front of her, maybe three or four times the amount of what she started with. She wraps her arms around J2H's neck with excitement, giving him a squeeze before letting him go. She looks at the piles of chips and toward J2H.

Melody: Did I do well?

J2H: You did brilliantly. Man, even I was surprised at how good you've done.

Melody: What do we do now?

J2H points a window where a sign on a booth says cashier above a woman's head. He turns to the croupier and points to a chip tray and he hands it towards J2H.  

J2H: Thank you. Now Mel, we take these chips, put them in the tray in the right places, the chip value to the right slot and we take it over there and you get paid.

J2H and Melody start to fill the slots in the chip tray, separating the different values. After a few seconds, with all the chips in the tray, Melody picks them up and J2H leads her towards the cashier. Melody places them on the tray in front of the cashier and pushes them through the slot, the elder woman, in her fifties, looks at them, scanning them under a scanner and the cash value comes up on her screen. She slides a key in a draw, opening it up and pulling out a wrapped bundles of bills, before adding another smaller bundle on top. The woman reaches in to the drawer and pulls out some smaller note, counting them out and placing them on the tray, Melody's eyes growing wider as she sees the amount of money before them. The woman pushes them through the slot, nodding and giving Melody a warm smile as she picks up the banded money, looking towards J2H.

Melody: Jam! There's like over seven thousand dollars here.  

J2H: Not bad for me only putting down three overall. Told you, you had the luck.

Melody forces the money towards J2H, pushing it in towards his chest.

Melody: The money's yours.

J2H shakes his head at Melody.

J2H: No, it's not mine. You said you wanted to earn your own money and you did. Shit, you saw me piss away over a grand at that table, you earned it by picking right. The money is yours Mel, you won it, I didn't.

Melody: But you gave me...

J2H puts up his hand, stopping Melody's words in their tracks.

J2H: I gave you a chance to show what you can do, that's all. How about you just enjoy that big time winning feeling and we go get some ice cream or something.

Melody: Can you loan me a couple of bucks? I'm a bit short.

J2H can't help but smile as he puts his arm around his lovely lady's shoulder, leading her out of the casino as the scene fades to black.



*THIS TAKES PLACE DIRECTLY AFTER A SCENE IN MELODY'S PROMO*

Dinner is now down as the group transition from the restaurant area to the bar. J2H stands with his back to the bar, looking through the restaurant, spying the Members Of The Elders, Master Lilly, Jon Dough, Eyesnsane, Alana and Song, gathered around a table waiting for their meals to arrival. He turns his head to the side to see Jessie Salco, Lucy Seraphina, Uriella Abaddon and Samuel Devereux gathered around a pool table, Jessie about to take a shot.

J2H: Not interesting that way either.

He looks amongst his companions, standing next to Melody, as she stands next to Odette and Gabriel on the other side of his wife. Listening to the two women chat, slowly turns in to white noise and he casts his eye around again, spotting the foursome of Johnny Tsunami, sitting across the way of his on, off, no one knows, possible girlfriend Remi, while his tag partner Caleb Houston sits across from his wife, Eden. The sound of a glass being put on the bar behind him can be heard and catching his attention. J2H turns around to see a Shirley Temple with an extra cherry in a glass sitting in front of him.

J2H: I didn't order this.

The barman points to the end of the bar where Connor Murphy sits, a huge grin on his face as he raises a pint of Guinness towards J2H. J2H rolls his eyes at Connor.

J2H: Very fucking funny.

J2H turns away from the smiling Irish Canadian as Odette's voice grabs his attention.

Odette: So when are you guys moving in together?

Gabriel chokes on his beer as he looks at his wife.

Gabriel: That's a big personal.

Odette waves her husband away, her eyes on J2H. Melody turns her face to look at her boyfriend with a raised eyebrow.

J2H: Ummm, can't say we've spoke about it.  

Odette: Well you should, you both clearly like being around each other again.

J2H: We do but right now, a lot is going on. I gotta defend the title, Melody has a movie to shoot.

Those words sting as they come out, knowing how he feels about Melody starring in a movie with Drake Green. He casually talks, trying to hide the real feelings he has.

J2H: And I'm getting offers to be in different federations now from all over America, Canada and even England, so we haven't really spoke about it. Plus SCW always tours after this show, and if it's somewhere like the ass end of Africa, or some remote island in the middle of nowhere, which I wouldn't be shocked at, I wouldn't be in America, if I'm still working for SCW.

Gabriel: Really gonna leave SCW?

[J2H]

 J2H: Big chance it will happen. My eyes have opened a lot lately about what's really going on. I've started to see through a lot of people. Starting to see a lot don't have my best interests at heart so yeah.

Melody puts her arm around J2H's waist as she looks up at him.

Melody: I don't want you to leave SCW, I don't think other do either.

Gabriel: For a guy who's an asshole on camera, you're getting a lot of new fans.

Odette puts her hand on her husbands.

Odette: You did the same. You seemed more popular as a bad guy than a good guy.

J2H: Fact is, there's just some people I don't wanna be around anymore and if I beat Despayre, I don't have a lot left to prove here. People seem to be against me anyway, so maybe I should just lay down for Despayre.

Gabriel: He finds out you gave less than your all, Synn may need a new house afterwards.

J2H: Maybe. What would you do in this position?

Gabriel rubs his hand across his chin, thinking as he looks at J2H.

Gabriel: Do everything I could to stick around and annoy the hell out of the people you think are against you by rubbing it in their faces every day that they're not as good as me, and of course be with my wife.

Odette smiles towards Gabriel before flicking her head back towards J2H and Melody.

Odette: And speaking of being a wife. When are you two gonna at least get engaged?

J2H raises a finger towards Odette.

J2H: Excuse me a second, I have to go thank Connor Murphy for the drink he send over, be rude not to.

J2H stands up, turning his back to the crowd and picking up the Shirley Temple and walking towards Connor Murphy, his former challenger looking up at him while he drinks. J2H places the glass firmly in front of his as a sarcastic tone comes from his mouth.

J2H: Fucking hilarious Connor.

J2H walks past Connor, heading towards the door and outside as the scene fades.



Even on vacations, well, part vacations, wrestlers love to work out. Show me one gym junkie, who doesn't go on vacation and immediately checks out the gym facilities, hell, a lot of people check out these things before they even book vacations. SCW wrestlers are all gym junkies, even the ones you don't expect to be, they are. They're a lucky bunch that this cruise ship does have a state of the art gym and for the sake of SCW, a temporary ring set up for wrestlers to keep their skills sharp, and this is where we start this little part.

J2H is seen in the ring, a look of anger on his face as he steps between the ropes and drops to the floor and movies towards Austin Parker. Austin looks towards the corner of the ring where he sees James Tuscini and Dmitri, looking towards J2H as they wait patiently for the ring to be free. Austin Parker gives them a nod and waves them in to the ring. J2H walks past Austin, the camera spinning around to see Kain preparing for his Internet title match by hammering away on a nearby speedbag, his fists moving at lightning speed as he works on his timing. J2H continues to storm away as Austin looks confused, storming past Natalie McKinley, Ipod earphones in her ear, lost in the music and lifting dumbbells with huge weight on them. Behind Natalie, Markus Reeves runs shirtless on a treadmill, his body in peak condition for one of the oldest men on the roster, never missing a step, his pace quickening. Austin tries to catch up with him but J2H walks in to the locker room, where Steve Ramone and his two bodyguards stand, deep in conversation. His arrival causes them to look towards him but they return to their conversation. Austin walk in to the room, seeing J2H leaning against a locker.

Austin: What's wrong with ya? Things were looking great out there.

J2H drives his fist in to the locker room, causing Steve and his bodyguards to look in his direction.

J2H: What's the point of all this shit Austin?

Austin scratches the side of his head, slightly confused by the question.

Austin: The point of what?

J2H: This. Wrestling. Getting yourself beat up for people who think we're just glorified stuntmen. What's the point of all this shit that we put ourselves through, just to entertain?

Austin looks at the shorter man, his eyes narrowed but a smile starts to spread over his southern face.

Austin: Ah know exactly what the problem is here. Y'all not the first ta feel it, ya won't be the last. Get ya ass in the shower an' meet me on the high deck in twenty minutes. The one at the back of the boat. Ah sort this shit out.

Austin turns and walks away as J2H puts his head on the locker. Skip forwards twenty minutes, the freshly showered and more relaxed J2H walks through a door and to the outside, the sun catching his face. He walks through a family area, past the host of Summer XXXTreme IV, Simon Jones, sitting with his young daughter on his lap as Zelda Clark makes funny faces at her. Opposite Simon his wife smiles at his daughters reaction. J2H reaches the bottom of some steps, but before he can start to climb them, Twisted Sister jumps out, waving her arms around.  

J2H: The fuck let you out of your cage?

J2H backs away slightly, moving to the other side of the metal steps, as close to the rail as he could possibly go and starts to step up them. Reaching the top, Teddy Warren and Kate Steele wait from him to pass, before descending the steps. His eyes peer around the top deck, seeing Austin Parker looking out to sea on the port side, and on the starboard side, he spots Mikah and Drake sitting on a bench. Mikah turns her head, waving at J2H, causing Drake to turn his head around to see who she's waving at. J2H nods towards Mikah, just grinding his teeth as he looks towards Drake, before joining Austin on the port side, sitting at bench. J leans down, his elbows on his knees, as Austin looks out at the sea.

Austin: Ah've seen this before.

J2H: What? Water?

Austin: No, Ah mean the look on yer face, the fact that yer sitting there asking what this is all about an' it's all bout what ya could become after Sunday.

J2H turns his head, looking at Austin, his elbows still planted on his knees, a little confused look on his face.

J2H: What the hell are you going on about Austin? I know you have trouble because of that rootin' tootin' aent of yours but you're making less sense than usual, and that fucking hard to do.

Austin: Ah'm talking 'bout yer record, smart ass. The fact ya could be the longest serving world champion when ya wake up on Monday morning. Ah can tell it's playin' on ya mind 'cause you've gon' further than even yer tiny mind imagined.

J2H stares blankly out in to the ocean, knowing Austin is right. He takes a deep breath and starts to talk, his eyes still fixated on the water.

J2H: You're right, it is playing on my mind. For years, actual years, I wanted to win a title, hold it for a long time, make people look at me with a little bit more respect. I've tried so hard to get people to do that, I spent my career changing and evolving and getting better and better. I haven't been one of these little punk ass bitches like Scott Sanders, using Miles Blake to try and get him an instant shot. I went through everything, took the little titles, worked with people to take the tag titles, pushed myself through every barrier set for me until I reached that glass ceiling. I had to do things my own way to get that belt, shock the world, beat a federation and still stand up against Goth and beat him.  

The refreshness of honesty fills the air, every word coming from his lips more and more heartfelt.

J2H: At that point Austin, I thought maybe, just maybe someone, anyone would sit there and show the slightest bit of respect for me. I thought someone would look back and say this kid should be proud of himself. He showed up with a guy who had less on his bones than a chicken wing, and look at him right now. He should be the proudest guy in the world, I'm proud for him, I'm proud of him for showing hard work pays off. Did I get that?

Austin remains quiet, letting J2H speak freely, listening to the man he helped model in to a champion.

J2H: Nah, I got whispers in my ear that Rage felt a sense of entitlement towards the title. I heard Sean Jackson was leaving, I heard people was retiring. I heard Goth went back to the dressing room and questioned people on why he lost, how could he lose to someone below him. How could Rage feel I deserved anything when he was here from the beginning of time? How could Sean Jackson respect me as champion, when I was so much younger? One of my most glorious nights Austin, one that should have been a fucking happy night, turned in to one of my worst nights on the planet. It turned out to be one of my worst nights of my professional career.  

J2H looks away from Austin:, the words choking from his throat.

J2H: I didn't get the congratulations, I got looked at like I left school at eighteen and my dad just made me your new boss at his business, regardless that you've worked there for twenty years. That's how people were looking at me backstage, Austin. You was there, you saw it, not one of them could see the bigger picture that I earned it, so I wanted to give it up and one tweet and people were on the phone to me asking me to drop the belt to them, and that got me right here.

J2H points to his chest.

J2H: It got me because not one of them said to me not to give up the belt. Not one said I earned it, they just wanted me to go to the people at the top and tell them to give it to them. Just hand it over. You'd have thought the following day when the dust had settled, people could see this was a good change. No one did, they just wanted my belt. Rage was making stupid, sarcastic tweets, Goth was still kicking up a fuss so I hear, Sean Jackson was gone and wasn't looking back. Not one came to me and even said they respected the fact that after years of getting my ass kicked, I never gave up. It was like I could hear them all in the locker room when I walked out to the ring to give the belt up, they were waiting, rubbing their hands together, and I was gonna do it because they had no respect for their leader. That's when I said fuck it, I'm gonna earn their respect and I told them no, this was mine, they had to come and get it. You could hear the collective groans above the fans boos, because they didn't respect me either.  

He takes a deep breath.

J2H: Shoulda shown the way this was gonna go when that creative guy kept telling me who I should give the title to, the same week I won it. My supporters were disappearing fast for whatever reason. He has influence over people, so can make them back him up. Not even he could sit there and let me have a week as champion without saying who the next champion should be. It made me feel fucking worthless, less than worthless, like I've wasted so long trying to be here when that... asshole was trying to bury me from day one.

Austin: Ya hadta stop yaself from sayin' the C word then, didn't ya?

J2H: Yeah, but it would have been fitting. I went out of my way Austin, I showed up on every show, something no other champion has ever done. When I wasn't booked, when Melody wasn't booked, we could have been off seeing the world, but I showed up where ever SCW was. I put out an open challenge to everyone who wanted to face me, everyone, and took on all except Rage, because of the night I won the title and his little comments that even a blind man could read what he was hinting at about me, and James Tuscini cause I haven't got a chance with both of us with titles and defending. But everyone else, I've faced and beat. I can't remember the last time I lost a match, all in the name of respect and not one has said they respect me.

He sighs as he shrugs his shoulders.

J2H: I can do anything bro, anything, I have beaten the best, I have beaten the world, I could beat anyone who steps in an SCW ring and still not get the respect I deserve, or get that c.... asshole to get behind me as champion. One more day as champion, breaking a record, it's not gonna change that, so why bother?

Austin breathe deep, thinking about his next move before swiftly hitting J2H with an opened hand smack across the back of the head, causing J2H look at him with anger in his eyes.

J2H: What the fuck was that for?

Austin: Because Ah didn't spend hours of mah time turning ya in to a rassler for ya ta cry like a whiny lil' bitch. Ah've been there, ah ask mahself the same question ya asking yaself now. There's ah reason ya a champion, an' that's 'cause ya the best at what ya do. In years t'come, kids breakin' through an' wantin' to be a rassler will look where ya started an' see where ya ended. They ain't gon' give a fuck that ya wasn't respected by everyone. They're gon' give a fuck that ya never gave up when people were against ya. Y'all won over the fan, if the fuckin' babies in the back can't handle that. Fuck 'em. This is ya title and ya earned it. Y'all go out an' put a show on, fuck those jealous bitches in the back. This is why ah trained ya J, t'be at this point. Words can't break ya an' neither can these. Y'all give up now, ya just become that lil bitch who bought his way in to rasslin'.

J2H nods his head slowly

J2H: You're right Austin. Fuck them, it's my title, they haven't got it from me yet and they won for a long time yet. Thank you.

Austin: Always happy ta help when ah get ta smack ya round that melon.

J2H looks at a grinning Austin, his eyebrows lowered as the scene fades



The early morning sunshine breaks full on the pool area as J2H is seen in shorts, with the SCW World championship on his lap, sitting on a sunlounger and looking around. The camera moves in closer towards the young man, who has a confident look on his face as a line of sunshine cuts his body in half. He looks around the area, just the staff starting to set up the pool area can be seen around him as SCW wrestlers grab a few extra hours of sleep. The camera moves in to his face as he starts to talk.

J2H: This is where you shut up and listen while I talk. Put down ya phones, tell ya mother to shut the fuck up and listen.

He inhales sharply.

J2H: As you can see, I've been more than a busy boy this week, I've been doing all I can to see this show, I've had a wave of emotion run through me and that ain't no pun. I've gone from confidence, to doubts, to looking a damn sight clearer in to what is really laying in front of me. I'm in a place where not many people get to, where most of this piss poor roster can only ever dream of being. I'm already there, I'm already at the top, I'm already looking down on the rest of the mortals knowing that could never be as good as me.

J2H points his thumb at himself

J2H: I'm already there at the cusp of greatness so it shows I'm already a million times better than these clowns in SCW but I have that chance.

He raises a finger.

J2H: That chance to step in to uncharted territory, where no one has been before in the history of SCW when it comes to the World championship. I have the chance to stop chasing a record and become a record. I get to be the man that every champion after me, has to match up to, I get to be the one who holds the record for the longest ever World Champion. There's people on that list of champions who have had more than one chance. Kevin Carter, Nick Jones, Goth, Sean Jackson, Simon Jones, Gabriel. Six men who has held this title twice, twice, two attempts to do what has taken me one attempt, and then there's that guy who's wedding I am being forced to go to later today, by his bride to be, Mikah.

A look of disdain crosses the champions face, his feelings lately towards the man have become very public, even if understated on how much he really detests him.

J2H: Drake Green.

A sour look covers J2H's face as he turns his head a little before turning back towards the camera.

J2H: Well Drake, being the hero he was to you before he sold out for his last run, had THREE attempts at being a champion, three attempts and his life highlight is marrying Mikah today. He, for all your cheers, had three attempts to do what I'm about to do on Sunday. I only ever needed one chance to do it, just one.

He rolls his shoulders back.

J2H: You could say Spike Staggs only needed the one to get this far, but did Spike Staggs have to beat everyone to get the belt to start with? No, he had to beat Nick Jones. Nick Jones was good, but Nick Jones wasn't as good as every man in SCW to start with, and I beat them all, before beating that whiny little bitch Goth who had to go backstage and sulk about it and question everybody. I did that, and became the youngest world champion of all time to do that at the age of twenty one. At the age of twenty two, I could become the man to hold that title for the longest time. Amazing when you look at people like Nick Jones and Spike Staggs who came here after already becoming legends, where I had to work for years to become a legend. I am a self made SCW legend so it seems fitting a home grown legend should become a record holder here.

A wide smile plasters itself over J2H's face.

J2H: Just that one man stopping me. Just Despayre in between myself and God like status and that's you Despayre.

J2H flicks his hair behind his ears.

J2H: We've come different paths. We've walked down different roads just to both be here, we've travelled from different places. When it comes to life, I was given the advantages, I knew who my family was but like you, I never really saw my father, but that is where similarities end. We both found our way in to the ring, we both found ourselves fighting over this title, but you had the advantages when it came to wrestling, didn't you? You had Synn on your side from day one, a man who had been training someone before you in the form of your big brother Gabriel. You had a man helping you, who took a boring bastard like Rage and turned him in to a wrestler, a man who revolutionized the career of Shane Boswell, turning him from a fun loving drunk to the sin of Pride.  

J2H looks down the camera.

J2H: Yeah, I do my homework.

Cockiness fills the camera as J2H smirks at it.

J2H: You were brought out of the Asylum and encouraged to be a wrestler by your former wrestler daddy so he can live vicariously thought you. His influence got you the breaks in wrestling I could never imagine, he got you title after title because hey, second generation wrestler, he had to be good right? Daddy did that for you, but I didn't have that.

He sharply shakes his head.

J2H: I didn't even come close to that, I had to buy my way in to this company, I had to spend money to be in the ring and have opponent after opponent beat the hell out of me because they could take liberties with the new kid, and I was just a kid. I didn't have my daddy to run back to because my daddy couldn't give a fuck about wrestling, my daddy wasn't there to support me like your daddy was Despayre. People looked down on me constantly, but you walked in and they looked at you with respect from day one. I never got that then, I don't get that now. You didn't have to work for it and I still have to work for it, yet we're in the same fucking place right now.

He takes a deep breath.

J2H: I got here the hard way, you didn't. I got here by working harder than everyone else here, people would still rather see you. You got the advantages and I still end up better than you, cause I got the fucking gold and you got the disappointment. Believe me on Sunday, it will be the exact same way.

J2H lifts the title belt from his lap and places it over his shoulder.

J2H: I heard what was said about me by your little stuffed bear...

A rapid blink comes from J2H's eyes.

J2H: Never thought I'd say that, but yes, I had the good life, but this isn't about my personal life, this is about my wrestling life and you had the advantage over me and you're still second best to me. A question was begged at me by that voice. What to do next, what to do after I beat you for the second time, what to do when my name becomes immortal with SCW history?

He smiles as he shrugs his shoulders.

J2H: Quite frankly, anything the fuck I wanna do.  

Once again, his arrogance translates to his face.

J2H: The creative guy will probably try bring in fifty new names and put them all in a match against me so that they can take the title from me, but not even that matters. By then I'll be God. By then, I'll be who you all look up to, by then I will be the person everyone really wants to be, I will be the best SCW has EVER seen. Truth is, if I wanna keep going, and going and going and beat everyone for a year, I will. If I wanna walk out on the next Climax Control and put the belt in the middle of the ring and say the first person to come to the ring to get the belt can have it.... Then expect Travis to run down to the ramp, or the Acquins, or anyone else so far below me to come take it and celebrate like they actually earned it. Or I can just throw it in the crowd and whoever catches it can become champion. It's my choice. I can even sit there and go title vs title against James Tuscini, whoever beats the Yawnomatic 5000 in Rage, and Ben Jordan and Jamie Dean at the same time and take each and every title at the same fucking time, I can do it. I can do it with confidence cause I know for a fucking fact that after Summer XXXTreme IV, history will be made because I will be walking out of the ring....

J2H holds up one finger.

J2H: A record breaker...

He quickly holds up a second finger.

J2H: A champion...

And now a third finger.

J2H: And a SCW God...

A smirk crosses the champions face.

J2H: That's the way it is Despayre, that's the way it will always be. You will always be in my shadow and come Sunday, I will pin you not once, but twice to prove it. That Despayre, is real talk bitch!

J2H stands up and walks off camera as the scene fades out.



An OOC note for you all: I challenged myself at the start of this roleplay to mention every active member of the SCW roster in this RP, plus a couple more. I think I hit it. If you took the time to read this, hope you didn't mind and thank you for reading. If you didn't read it, you'll never know you had a cameo in a J2H promo

[Despayre]

 The weather was nigh on perfect as the Sun Princess coursed through the waves of the Pacific Ocean, having left the coast of California only five days ago. Many on board had openly wondered whether or not the recent hurricane forecasts would dampen the spirits of this event for Sin City Wrestling -- dampen, get it? Huh? Hunh! Try and make a weather joke around YOU people...! Anyway, for all their worries and frets, they had little to nothing to be concerned about. Aside from some light drizzle the first day set out, Mother Nature had certainly proven that she had been on the side of all the Superstars and Bombshells of SCW, and the many fans who had joined them on this annual summer excursion. The sky was a bright blue that brought a sense of calm to all who were looking up at it from the ship's deck, either walking about casually, sunbathing by the pool, or taking advantage of this warm weather by jumping in the Riviera Pool on the ship's deck where there was a three hundred square foot movie screen, or one of the two other pools spaced strategically throughout the ship. There was not a cloud to be seen by any, which only brought about a further sense of calm and pleasure to those on board with no fear of their enjoyment of the bright weather to be diminished. The temperatures over the Pacific was even on the side of the passengers, being no higher than in the lower eighties thus far.

So why then was the star of this here promo, and soon-to-be challenger for the SCW World Heavyweight Champion aka Despayre, holed up in the suite he was sharing with his father, as opposed to running around outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and interacting with the fans and his friends? It was a question that had his family and friends most concerned. This was an event that Despayre had taken great joy in all the previous years he had attended, being one of the select few in SCW that had been on each and every Summer XXXTreme Supercard since its inception.

Despayre stood at the patio deck of his suite, watching as the ocean passed him and Angel by. His teddy bear companion was seated snugly on the deck chair, perched on a cushion with a large sun bonnet over his head, shades protecting his eyes, and a Mai Thai nestled in his paws with a silly straw. With his hands on the glass, Despayre had eyes only for Angel as his buddy was making the most out of the luxuries of this trip. Why just yesterday Angel had ventured down to the spa for a full treatment, knowing that he'd have to be at his healthiest and look his best when he was in Despayre's corner for his match against J2H. Secretly Despayre figured he just enjoyed being primped and preened by the young ladies who worked at the spa. (Angel had a way with the ladies, you know!) Despayre knew full well that Angel would much prefer being outside on the main deck, by that great big pool with the girls wearing their teeny tiny bikinis, showing off their great big.... he'd like to be by the main pool. Truth be told, so would Despayre himself. Not for the bikinis, mind you! But that was usually where he'd find his friends like Melody at, if she weren't too busy with James. All of the rest of the Sins were most likely there, such as Rage, Shipman, and even Kittie, Shane and Fantasia. But not him, and that was why Angel was here instead. Angel was not about to leave Despayre on his own where he would be prone to drown himself in self-pity.

Well, more so than he already was.

That's the hallmark of a true pal. Some of the others had come in to try and get him to come out and enjoy the sunshine and play in the pool, maybe even take in an activity or two, but he was unrelenting. If he were to go out to the pool or the theater or one of the many other features this ship offered, he'd undoubtedly be accosted by fans and reporters and god forbid, that Zelda Clark girl, asking him all about this Sunday's match for the grand prize of the Superstar division. And given his recent mood, that simply was not a topic of discussion that Despayre felt like breaching at the time. Even Synn and Gabriel came to him to try and get him to loosen up a bit and enjoy himself, but as he knew would happen, they tried bringing up his match and how he had recently been feeling about it, and Despayre had quickly shut them down. It hurt to do it, too. Synn was the greatest person Despayre could ever know. A boy always felt that way about his father -- or at least he should! And what could be said about Gabriel that hasn't been said already, time and again? Despayre loved him like a big brother, and was loved in return. It was why both of them were showing such concern over his mood swings, and continued every so often to try and get him to go out. Unsuccessfully thus far. The only place Despayre had allowed his parents and friends to lure him out to with any regularity was to eat at one of the ship's many restaurants or luxurious dining area.

Despayre was quite forlorn to discover there was no Panda Express to be had onboard. This was something that would be addressed when he filled out his feedback card once this trip was over!

So that left Angel. Good ol' loyal and trust worthy Angel. At least he never tried to force the topic of his World title match on him. Slowly, Despayre pulled the patio door open and set foot outside. He glanced down at the teddy bear and asked meekly, "Can I join you?" Whatever was left said between the two was between them and them alone. Despayre did smile and say a whispered "Thank you." as he sat down on the deck and dangled his legs through and over the rail, and propped his chin on his arms as he watched the ocean...



"Really? He said that?" Margaret Young, the mother of Despayre, asked as she sat opposite of Synn inside of the ship's library. It was one of the select few places on board of the cruise that Synn felt would be safest for a private talk that would not having prying ears listening in. Anywhere else on the ship, be it the restaurants, poolside or restaurant, and you risked fans or a wrestling reporter like Zelda Clark overhearing a piece of gossip to be passed around.

Ever since being reunited with her child only a few short years ago, thanks in part to the efforts of Gabriel, Margaret and her mother had been a guest each year on this cruise. This year, however, Victoria had taken ill with a bout of the flu and was unable to attend, leaving her daughter to enjoy the time with her son as best she could. Despayre has been quite concerned with this sad fact of life, at least until he discovered the cafe had internet access and he could converse with his Grandma via Skype on his dad's laptop. Wasn't as good as having her there in person, but it was better than nothing. Privately, Synn and Margaret had been disappointed when Victoria could not accompany her family. They felt quite sure that if anyone could bring Despayre out of his grim mood, it would be his beloved Grandma.

Synn nodded from his own cushioned chair, his arm laying heavily on the armrest and his chin propped on his curled hand. His and Margaret's chairs were side by side, resting back against the red backdrop of the library's wall where a number of book cases were stretched to the interior's ceiling, filled with literature for the enjoyment of any. With windows open to allow in the sea air, to Synn, this part of the ship was the epitome of the lap of luxury, and his personal favorite of all the features offered. Had he the choice, this would be where he'd spend all of his time while onboard. Yet such was not the case this time around.

Synn had difficulty admittedly discussing the situation. To date, he had handled his son well enough ever since he had freed him from his captivity in the Broodmoore facility in Canada. With the assistance of Gabriel and yes, Angel, Despayre had turned from what amounted from a wild animal to a healthy young man. Just one who happened to have certain mental and behavioral issues. This recent situation, however, had given him pause and cause to question some choices he had made over the past.

Synn finally spoke up and said, "Yes. Joshua was quite adamant about not wanting this match against James. He didn't care about the fact it was for the world title, either. As a matter of fact, I dare say that nugget of information made him want the match even less."

Margaret clasped her hands in her lap and propped her leg over her knee before she said, "I admit I know very little about wrestling. As a mother I cringe whenever I watch and see Josh take a hard fall or get hit by someone bigger than he is. Half the time I'd like to climb inside of the ring when that happens and clobber the bastard doing it, myself."

"Mother's prerogative." Synn smiled, causing Margaret to do so as well before she went on with what she was saying.

"The only thing I know is that Josh enjoys it. I know he loves traveling. He enjoys seeing new places and meeting new people -- well, sometimes." She corrected herself, knowing Despayre did not always enjoy the prospect of meeting strangers. More so, he tended to avoid doing so as anyone he did not know tended to put him on a nervous edge. But..." She frowned as if she were trying to understand something foreign to her. "This is another chance for him to win the World Championship." She shook her head. "Isn't that something that wrestlers are supposed to want?"

"In most cases, yes." Synn answered. "But I think it's safe to assume that we both agree Joshua is not like most people. For him, the World Championship was neither a priority nor a concern. If truth be told, he'd compete exclusively in tag team matches if he had his own way. But that's not an option for him right now and the only other alternative would be a forced retirement." He folded his arms across his chest and continued, "And that isn't an option. Our son is still far too young to even consider such a thing. I don't want that for him, so I've been pushing for him to move on to bigger things."

He exhaled softly and unfolded his arms. "Sadly," Synn admitted. "I think perhaps I've been pushing too hard recently."

"Is this about what he said to you and Gabriel?" Margaret asked.

"I can't deny the fact that I've been pushing Joshua to extend himself past the limits of tag team wrestling." Synn replied. "Even against his own objections. At first I just sat back and let him have his own way..."

"Shocking." Margaret mused, but her light hearted manner did not have the desired effect. Synn continued without batting an eye.

"In AWA Joshua won the International title, a championship he gladly relinquished when he and Gabriel captured their World Tag titles. Then here in AWA, I convinced him to give himself a chance at the first Gauntlet match to crown the first SCW Champion. I still think that he could have went further had he not been immediately pitted against Gabriel himself. Sneaky little guy jumped over the top rope and eliminated himself so that Gabriel could be the one to move on."

"I can't imagine where he picked up such a sneaky trick." Margaret said, and this time she was rewarded with a smirk, perhaps one of pride, from Synn.

Synn then said, "After that, with the exception of the Internet title, it was strictly tag team wrestling for him. That is until Gabriel retired, Big B left and Rage had other endeavors. Gabriel and I went to work on him to get him to try again when they held another Gauntlet match for the vacancy." He shook his head. "I swear to god I thought he had that match until James eliminated him. Then the lad kept winning match after match to put him in contention but kept turning away every chance he was being offered."

"Until Tokyo?"

Synn nodded in the affirmative, "Christian and Mark would no longer take 'no' for an answer. They declared Joshua the number one challenger and said he would be facing James for the title, whether he liked it or not." Synn leaned back and rubbed his jaw while looking at her. "And you know what the end result of that was."

Margaret nodded and sighed, "I do. Every single one of us pumped him up. Made him believe that he simply couldn't lose."

"And we got him convinced to believe just that." Synn added. "And then James won, and it about crushed Joshua. It felt like we let him down by engaging him to believe everything we said, and he feels he let us down when he didn't live up to our hype."

Synn extended his hand and picked up a small decanter of Cognac, pouring a small sample into two glasses that rested on the foot table before them. He passed one to Margaret and kept the other for himself. He had a taste before he went on, "Poor kid didn't talk for days, except for when he told me about his head hurting and I had to take him to the hospital. I think he was hoping that it meant he could stop wrestling, but the moment the doctor cleared him, I found out that Mark and Christian wanted him to have a rematch with James. Their match got a five star rating with some wrestling newsletters and they hope this match will top the first."

"I don't imagine he took it well." Margaret observed, and Synn took another swallow and shook his head."

"He did not." He said. "That was pretty much when he started to shut himself down and isolate himself. The only real social interactions he had anything to do with was Roxi and Keira's wedding, doing his duties as Mikah's 'Man of Honor,' and going over to Missus O'Heaney's. I think he kept going over there more often than not because she's the only one who wouldn't discuss wrestling with him."

Synn glanced up and pointed a forefinger towards her from the hand holding the glass, "Which is why I was hoping you might have better luck reaching him about this than I have."

Margaret had just taken a sip from her own glass when she frowned and lowered her hand. "Unless you can get this title match canceled, I don't see how I am going to be of any help. Josh has been distant from me as well, knowing that you and I talk. What makes you think that I can do something that you can't?"

"Because," Synn sat back in his chair, kicking an ankle over his bended knee. "With the exception of yours truly, every boy needs his mother."



"Are you sure this will work?"

"Of course! You can't just sit around here and vegetate! You need to do something constructive to exercise your mind, too. What better way to accomplish both than by hunting?"

"Yeah but what can I possibly hunt with a fishing pole?"

"Last year you used a fishing pole to try to catch a merman."

"Yeah but it didn't work, not even with using my iPod as bait! That guy was too slippery. I was lucky to get that picture of him through that low porthole."

"Yeah, merfolk are tricky individuals. Especially the guys. Don't let the stories about the gals fool you! The mermen are the ones to worry about."

"So if I'm not after a merperson, what am I after?"

"It's a big ocean! There has to be a sea serpent in there somewhere!"

Despayre just nodded, satisfied by Angel's logic and reasoning before he turned back to the rail on his patio. He was now seated on one of the chairs, his feet kicked up and on the middle rail, while in his hands he held a fishing pole that had its end line dangled over the side and somewhere in the ocean's blue waters below. How lucky was it that Angel had the foresight to bring this along just in case there was a chance to fish -- for sea serpents!

So intent was he that he almost hadn't heard his cabin door open -- almost. He cast a glance back over his shoulder to spot his father and mother both set foot inside of the suite, before he returned his attentions to the task at hand. "Great." he mumbled between pursed lips, having a very good idea over what was to come. Synn and Margaret glanced about the suite before they noticed the object of their mutual affection was outside, and their curiosity became peaked at what their son was doing -- this time.

"Joshua?" Synn called from inside the suite. "What are you doing out there?"

"Wondering why folks don't knock before entering someone's room, mostly." He replied, perhaps with a touch more heat to his tone of voice than he intended. The effect, however, was immediate. Margaret blinked, having never heard her baby boy speak like that to, well, anyone. Synn simply stared out at his son, caught off guard but still aware enough to reply, "Joshua, this is my room too. I don't need to knock to enter."

"Oh right." Despayre frowned. He then looked at Angel who was now poised on his pillow, watching the ocean to help find any signs of sea serpents. "I guess he got us there." And he went right back to what he had been doing before the arrival of his parents.

Inside of the suite, Synn gave Margaret a knowing look of pleading and without a word being said between them, he turned and set foot outside, shutting the door behind him. Margaret watched the door for only a second before she turned and her attention was right back on her son. This indeed was a bit of a pickle that she and Synn found themselves in as parents. Until just recently, Despayre had been the most happy-go-lucky and innocent of souls that she had ever been graced to have in her life. He had always gone out of his way to behave and have fun, lavishing adoration upon especially his father, when everything just sort of went South in the past number of weeks. Since then, her son had started acting every part of the disgruntled child not getting his way. He grew distant, pouted, and started to sass those around him. Much like he had just done towards Synn, his own father. And if Despayre would do that to someone he loved as much as he loved his dad ... well, all she could say was that she prayed he was right about a boy and his mother.

She walked across the suite, unable to help but notice how large and luxurious it was -- even compared to her own room that she was quite happy with. She slid the patio door open even further than it was, causing the ocean breeze to gently whip away at her floral print sun dress.

"Mind if I join you?" She asked, and she paused in wait until she heard a faint, "I guess so." come from her boy. Only then did she step outside and take note that there were no more chairs available. She then risked the chance at further earning Despayre's ire by gently picking Angel up from his cushion and having a seat on the chair previously occupied by the teddy bear. But just so Despayre would not speak up, at least hopefully he wouldn't, she then placed Angel on her own lap and held him.

"Catch anything?" She finally asked, taking advantage of the fact her son was capable of absolutely anything in this world. She'd heard stories told of his antics from Synn and Gabriel, and even a few other members of the Sins, but she so rarely had the opportunity to see first-hand what he was capable of.

"Not yet." Despayre answered meekly, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "Did Dad ask you to talk to me?"

"He just doesn't want you to be mad at him, sweety."

"Yeah, well ... it's a little late for that." He replied, careful to keep his eyes on the ocean and not his mom. Moms had a way about them to make you feel guilty about absolutely anything, even if you hadn't done it. That wasn't a tactic that Despayre could afford to fall victim to. He went on and said, "He should have thought of that before he decided to make me fight James again for the title."

Margaret said, "Your Grandma and I watched that contract signing Joshy." She shook her head. "It didn't look like you had any objections."

"Yeah, well. I had to keep up appearances." Despayre groused. "He knew I didn't want to do that match. He knew."

"How, Joshy?" His mom asked. "How would he know unless...?"

Despayre interrupted, surprisingly so considering it was his mom he was talking to, "Oh I don't know. Maybe because I only told him every single time the subject was brought up. I didn't want to enter the Gauntlet. He and Gabriel bullied me into doing it anyway. I lost. Then they wanted me to have a title match against James in Tokyo. They wouldn't leave me alone until it got signed. You were there! I even told you that I didn't want to do it! Only I did, and I lost again. Just like I'm gonna lose again this Sunday."

She watched as his shoulders drooped in defeat already, and it tore at her heart as another.

She said, "Joshy, why do you think you're going to lose?"

"Because it's what I do." He huffed, his voice resolute in the belief behind his words. "At least against James I do. I can't beat him. He knows it, and I know it."

"You beat him once before." Margaret offered. "In a tag team match. Your father showed that match to me once."

Despayre sighed, "That was different. He sucked then. Everybody beat him. Heck! Even Angel beat him a couple times!"

Despayre then cringed and sheepishly turned his head towards the teddy bear and looked down, almost ashamed. "Sorry. I didn't mean that." He then turned his head and exhaled. "Great. Now I just insulted my best friend." He then took a few moments to collect himself, and as he did so, Margaret simply waited. So long as he was talking, that was a good thing. Despayre then found his voice once again and said, "My point is, James came back a whole lot better. He tried taking the Internet title from me in a match."

"But he didn't win?" Margaret pointed out, only for Despayre to retort, "Yeah but neither did I! Neither of us could beat the other! Not until we had our World title match and who won? It sure wasn't me!"

"Joshy..."

Despayre didn't let her interject her thoughts into his now growing tirade. "And now, thanks to him, I have to do it all over again! It was bad enough losing once in a match, but this time I'm going to have to lose twice!"

Margaret said, "You might not lose, though."

"Yeah." Despayre nodded, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's what everybody said to me last time. Turned out great, didn't it?"

"But Joshy..."

"Mom, please?" He looked at her and his gray eyes were unwavering behind the innocence she still found there. "I just want to fish with Angel. 'Kay?"

She exhaled softly through her lips before she yielded. "Okay." She said, not wanting to pressure him any further and risk the same end result of what had occurred between him and his father. She stood up and slowly approached him from behind so as not to alarm him, and kissed him on the scalp.

"Alright." She whispered and she sat Angel back onto the chair before she took her leave, closing the patio door almost all of the way to afford her son his much needed privacy. Once out in the ship's hall, she found Synn waiting.

"Well?" He asked, but all she could give him in answer was letting her arms fall helplessly to her side and a shake of her head. Synn hissed, "Damn it." Between clenched teeth.



The funny thing about Despayre was that as shy as he was around the Bombshell roster of SCW, that also was complimented by the fact of his growing popularity with the femme fatales that earned their living inside of the six-sided ring and beyond. From wrestler to hair dressers to reporters, Despayre's fun attitude and innocent charm had endeared him to many women in SCW circles. What else can be said about a young man that charmed two of the most despised females in SCW history (at the time at least!), namely Delia Darling and Mikah alike? They just grew to adore him, and when it became common knowledge through the locker room grapevine that something was wrong with the 'backstage darling,' then concern became inevitable.

Time had passed and a collective effort by those that cared about him the most had finally lured Despayre out of his shared suite and outside where there was sunshine a plenty and many fans who came close to approaching him, but were shooed away by his friends until they believed he may be ready for an autograph or photo op. Despayre burned easily in the sun, that much was common knowledge. He got his fair skin from his mother and as such, his father had managed to coerce him into wearing sunscreen a plenty and seat himself beneath one of the tables shaded by a patio umbrella stand as he played cards with Kittie, Fantasia and, yes, Angel. He was not yet comfortable enough to get into the pool, a fun act that he usually loved.

Baby steps.

At a table nearby, Gabriel watched him carefully, seated alongside his wife Odette who was holding their son, Lucas, on her lap. Also at the table were Rage, Shipman, and Margaret. They conversed between themselves, but there was not a one of them that didn't steal a gaze over at the table to ensure Despayre was going to be alright. If they had made another error in getting him outside in the fresh air, they wanted as much advance notice as possible.

Odette turned her attention from feeding Lucas to address Rage and asked him, "So why aren't you over there, playing cards?"

"Are you kidding me?" Rage sneered. "Despy cheats!"

"Excuse me?" Margaret looked absolutely affronted, feeling the immediate desire to defend her son against such an accusation. "What a thing to say!"

"Easy, Margaret." Synn sat back and fitted his shades back over his eyes. The bright sun and clear, blue skies were not his forte. He preferred gray clouds, claps of thunder and rainy skies. He said, "It probably wouldn't be half so insulting if it weren't true."

Margaret looked at him, puzzled, until Synn explained, "Little guy held a poker game backstage a few weeks back. Played a whole host of men and women. Walked away with a win each time until Rage there pointed out that it was Joshua's deck of cards they were using."

"Hey!" Rage defended himself. "I lost thirty bucks because of that rigged deck!"

"You got off easy." Gabriel laughed. "I understand Despy took Ben and Jamie for about a hundred!"

"Where would he learn to do something like that?" Margaret asked, and almost immediately all eyes turned towards Gabriel who just smiled, not even feeling the need to object or defend himself. "Kid's a quick study. I'm proud of him."

Rage was the first to start to raise his voice at this particular revelation, perhaps to demand Gabriel pay him what he lost to Despayre, when a new voice casually inserted itself into the conversation.

"Excuse me, Synn?"

Heads at the table turned to find one of SCW's premiere talents, the Bombshell extraordinaire, Roxi Johnson, standing there. She was wearing a swimsuit but curiously held a covered dish in her hands. Synn was not a people person, not really although he could be incredibly charming if he so desired. And that was usually just to get what he wanted. He stared at her as if he was waiting without invitation for her to speak up, when Gabriel took the initiative.

"Since the big lug there hasn't the decency to make introductions," Gabriel swept a hand from Roxi to Margaret. "Roxi, you know everybody else. This is Despy's mom, Margaret."

Roxi smiled and exchanged brief greetings with Margaret before she turned her attention back to Synn and said, "Keira and I heard that Despy wasn't feeling too well regarding his match...."

"Wait a minute." Synn interrupted her, holding up his hand to forestall anything further from being said. "Where did you hear this?"

Roxi just shrugs, "Word spreads."

"Christ..." Synn almost spat, not appreciating that his son's personal troubles was now the fleeting gossip that seemed to spread amongst the dressing rooms each and every week. Before he could say anything further to dissuade Roxi from discussing the issue, it was Odette who piped up and she asked,

"Was there something you needed Rox?"

"Well no, not exactly." She then held up the covered plate and said, "But I did take advantage of one of the ship's cooking activities to make Despy a little something." She looked at Synn. "Maybe make him feel a little better?"

"Oh how sweet." Margaret enthused, and she looked at Synn who turned to Roxi and nodded.

He said, "Thank you, Roxi. Joshua is right over there. Just ... don't expect too much, alright?"

Roxi winked, a smile on her face, one that just screamed of confidence. She turned and walked over to the next table where Despayre dropped the cards before him and smiled, prompting Kittie and Fantasia to both groan. Despayre won again! Roxi cleared her throat and Despayre glanced up, shielding his eyes with his hand so that he might see who the new arrival was.

"Oh hi Roxi!" He smiled. "I'm winning at cards! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard that you were feeling a little blue." She said, placing a free hand on his shoulder and his face immediately fell. Even out here and surrounded by his friends, he still couldn't escape that particular topic! She then set the covered plate down in front of him and said, "So I made you a little something, hoping it would make you feel better."

Despayre sighed as she slowly started to pull the cover off the dish, "Roxi, I appreciate the effort and all but you really can't - HOLY SOCKS! IS THAT CHOCOLATE CAKE!?!?

Roxi smiled, satisfied at having earned the desired reaction. She leaned in to whisper in his ear, "With a pudding filling." And if the cake alone didn't make Despayre's mouth drop wide, the mere mention of pudding certainly did! Despayre's eyes were as wide as the plate the cake was sitting on as he stared at it unabashedly.

"Feel better now?" Roxi asked, and his eyes still staring at the glorious mound of chocolate coupled with cake, Despayre held up a thumb and forefinger narrowly apart. "Little bit?" Roxi asked with a bemused smile, and when he nodded, she gave him a quick cuddle and said, "That'll do for now." And she turned and left the table's side, Despayre calling after her...

"Thanks!"

"Thank you, Roxi." Synn stopped her with a hand on her arm. "But if he has a sugar buzz reaction, you get to watch him."

Roxi just chuckled and gave the shoulder of Despayre's dad a squeeze and took her leave, having accomplished what she had set out to do. Synn frowned and looked at the others around him before he spoke, "I was being serious."

"It's a start." Gabriel pointed out as he tapped his forefinger against his chin in contemplation. "And it gave me the opening I needed for my own idea."

"And what would that be?" Synn asked.



"A magic show?"

Despayre sat at the table with his friends and family surrounding him. They had all gathered in the Sun Princess's Marquis Dining Room for the evening meal, and food was always a good way to make the little guy relax. Even at such a diminutive size compared to other professional wrestlers, Despayre sometimes amazed his friends and family with the amount of 'chow' he was capable of putting away. All of the Sins and their family were gathered at the oblong table in the elegant setting, with Despayre in the middle of his mom and dad, and Angel in a high chair on Margaret's left so as to remain close at hand. So relaxed was he that he did not even bat an eye when a handful of fans had asked for his and Angel's picture together, which he obliged perhaps surprisingly to those closest to him.

Despayre asked, "Why would Angel and I wanna go to a magic show unless...?" His face suddenly brightened. "Are you gonna be performing!?"

"Unfortunately not, Despy." Gabriel answered, putting on his best forlorn expression. "But that's why I need to go. Check out the competition and all that, you understand?" To that, Despayre nodded with awe. Of course he understood! Gabriel was the absolute greatest magician in the history of magic! Why, he'd probably give ol' Merlin a run for his money! You know, if Merlin wasn't a myth and about a gazillion years old by now.

Despayre just shook his head and huffed, looking around to the others for agreement as he said with a heavy trace of indignity "The nerve of this place hiring someone else to perform magic tricks! I bet he does the fake ones too! Not like the real stuff you do'd!"

"And that right there is also the reason I need you to go with, Despy." Gabriel stressed by pointing at him with his fork. "You've got a good eye for things I might miss. Can I count on you?"

"You can count on me!"

"For god's sake..." Rage turned to Kittie. "Tell me somebody is going to record the hell that's about to be raised?"



The Vista Show Lounge was filled to capacity for this most enjoyable of entertainments aboard the Sun Princess, and right there at a small table in front of the stage, was the aforementioned Gabriel and his little cohort in mischief making, Despayre! Of course if you asked Gabriel, what he had a notion was to come was anything but mischief. It was 'scoping out the competition' but more importantly, to lighten Despayre's mood to one more considerable towards what was to come this upcoming weekend. A renowned magician in his own right (unless you ask for Despayre's opinion), Alex Ramon stood atop the stage, having greeted the audience to much applause. Even Gabriel politely applauded a fellow magician, but not Despayre! No siree! There was something, after all, to be said for loyalty!

At the forefront of the stage's center was a chair perched upon a platform. As Alex motioned with his hands, three lovely young women, his assistants no doubt, emerged from behind the curtains, dressed appropriately for what could have been a stage performance in Las Vegas. Glittering head dresses and bikini tops and matching silver, mini skirt bottoms, they sashayed across the stage and Alex took the hand of one and escorted her up the dais and sat her onto the chair.

Alex walked around the chair, calling out, "You will see that there are no wires! No mirrors!..."

Despayre said loud enough to be heard, "But I bet if someone looked behind the chair they'd see a false head!"

"Despy..." Gabriel made a shushing motion, although Despayre's reaction was exactly what he had hoped for. There were scattered laughs but Alex glanced down in their general direction with a sour expression on his handsome face.

Alex then shook it off and continued, motioning for his other two assistants to pick up a large sheet and they separated the ends and stood before the chair. They then stepped back and around, covering the third assistant in the chair completely, preventing her from being seen at all. They lowered the sheet just enough to show that she was still there, before covering her once again. The two assistants stepped away and Alex gave the chair a magical wave, and with the added touch of some stage "lightning," he whipped the sheet off and the assistant was gone! The chair was empty! There was much applause and fanfare from the crowd when...

"Check the platform!" Despayre called through cupped hands around his mouth. "That's where she is!" He looked around at some of the surprised faces at his outburst and up into the stare of Alex and he shrugged, "What? Well it is!"

Alex started to growl beneath his breath at whoever this was giving away a secret of the stage. He turned and picked up a can of soda from a small table to refresh himself and started to take a drink when the can slowly started to float away from him and he reached forward and clasped it again with both hands. There were a handful of scattered laughs from those watching, and when Alex carefully started to open his fingers -- the can floated straight up into the air, prompting the stage magician to make a mad grab for it and he grasped it again with both hands! Alex looked at the fans and gave them his best perplexed expression when there was a call from down front...

"Is that the trick with the fake invisible finger???"

"Alright..." Alex stepped across the stage, scooping up the stage microphone along the way, and ended up at the edge of the stage and right above where Despayre and Gabriel were sitting. Alex said for all to hear, "Ladies and gentlemen! It would seem we have an amateur magician present -- and I don't mean Gabriel, either."

"Ooooooo!" Was the general reaction from the audience, taking umbrage at the dig at the former two-time World Champion and famous Las Vegas Strip magician himself. The smile on Gabriel's face became non-existent at the insult but if that was bad, the look on Despayre's face was absolutely murderous at someone having insulted HIS Gabriel! Alex's eyes remained on Despayre, however, and he said, "I was going to ask for a volunteer from the audience for my next two tricks, but I think we have an expert right here. Young sir?"

Alex extended his hand in Despayre's direction and the young grappler's eyes opened wide, and his cheeks flushed pink at the attention suddenly lavished on him by this phony baloney magician. Despayre's first instinct was to crawl under the table and hide, but even with all the eyes now focused on him, the desire to stand up for Gabriel all but caused him to forget his stage fright. He slowly stood up, causing the audience to applaud, and he, with Angel in his arms for good luck, scrambled up on stage without the aid of the steps.

"Very good." Alex said, happy that he had goaded this know-it-al onto the stage where he could have a bit of payback at his expense and save face, thus killing the proverbial two birds with one stone. He turned to the back and motioned with his finger, "Ladies?"

And onto the stage two of his able bodied assistants wheeled a large crate onto the center stage, with a mechanic's circular saw residing on top of it. Hoping that this trick might scare some sense into the little interloper, Alex turned to Despayre and asked him, "You're familiar with this trick?"

He held the microphone to Despayre who stared at it for a second, then frowned and asked, "Is this the one where I hide in part of the false leg while someone else sticks out the other end?"

Gabriel snorted back his own laughter as others around him were not so successful. Alex's cheeks deepened to a dark hue of red before he found his voice ands spoke, "No, young man. You simply climb into the box on that end, and I'll saw you in half. Okay?"

He was somewhat satisfied at watching Despayre swallow quite obviously before he nodded in agreement. "Very good!" He smiled for all to see, and was thought of as phony up close, as he and his assistants guided Despayre (and Angel) around to the back of the crate where the lid was opened up. Despayre very carefully climbed up the steps to nestle his way into the box, snug and comfortable. Once laying inside, flat on his back, Despayre watched with interest as the assistants closed the lid over him and Alex turned to the crowd.

"There we go!" Alex clapped his hands together. "Now ladies and gentlemen, I will..." But his words were cut off as the crowd was laughing heartily. Alex frowned and turned around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Despayre's head was emerged from one end of the box ... and the fuzzy legs of a teddy bear were sticking out of the other!?

"Oh for...!" Alex turned and stomped around to the box and lifted the lid, looking at Despayre with a raised brow. "Care to try again?" He asked rather hotly.

"Okey dokey!" And Despayre scrunched down into the box to the point the audience could not see him. After a moment, his feet emerged from the far end of the box -- and Angel's head poked out of the other! Gabriel almost fell out of his chair laughing, as his own response was quickly picked up by everyone else around him! Alex tried valiantly to save face, turning back around to the audience with a phony smile and he applauded Despayre as well, as if this had all been a part of making his magic act a form of Vaudeville comedy!

"Well perhaps this isn't the right trick that my new assistants and I should be performing tonight." He turned his head and growled through clenched teeth as the female assistants helped Despayre and Angel back out of the box, "It seems that there is something faulty with the box!" Despayre blinked at that little nugget of info, and he turned and leaned over at the waist to hopefully inspect it, but it was quickly wheeled away by two of the assistants, and replaced just as quickly by a time honored tradition amidst magicians the world over: the vanishing cabinet!

"Oh I love this trick!" Despayre exclaimed, prompting Alex to respond with a hearty, "Greeeeat!"

Alex walked over to the cabinet and opened it up for all to see, but he had to hold an arm out to prevent Despayre from taking the initiative to run up into the inside of it himself. "Whoa there my new found friend! Not just yet! There's an art to these things." Alex then turned the cabinet around so everybody could see the inside and exterior in plain view, before he turned the open end again towards the crowd and motioned with his hand. Despayre didn't even need any further prompting as he scurried up the steps and stood in the cabinet -- facing the wrong way.

Alex cleared his throat and Despayre exclaimed, "Oops! Sorry!" And he hurriedly turned around, a beaming face staring at Gabriel for a confidence booster, and Angel nestled against his thin sternum. Alex then shut the cabinet door against him and turned to the crowd, "And now ladies and gentlemen, what you once saw is no longer there!" he waved his arms oh-so dramatically and then opened the cabinet door -- and indeed it was empty!

Gabriel nodded, his lower lip jetted out in admonition, when he suddenly started laughing again, almost palm facing himself! One by one, everyone else joined in on the merriment and by now, Alex was fuming. He was unaware of what was so funny as he was a serious performance artist and did not appreciate it when his act was being made light of so what...

But as he leaned over to see what was so funny, he felt the presence of someone else directly behind him. he cast a glance back over his shoulder, only to find Despayre leaning over as well to hopefully see whatever it was that Alex was looking at. Despayre then looked up into his eyes, smiled, and gave him a wave when Alex threw the microphone down and stormed off-stage. Despayre watched him go with wide-eyes before he turned to the laughing and cheering audience and he gave them a sweeping bow before hurrying offstage to where a now standing Gabriel greeted him with a hug and pat on the back!



"So, are you feeling better?"

"A little bit. Mom and dad was right. It helped a lot getting out of the room."

"Taking part in a fancy magic act had to have helped boost the ol' confidence level up a few notches, eh?"

"Well for me, sure! But did you see how pale Alex looked when he left the stage? the way he kept going red and then pale, why I think he must be coming down with something."

"I understand that he demanded to be dropped off at the next port so he could go back to the states the first chance he got."

"Is that so? Boy! He must be worse off than we thought!"

"And you? Are you ready for what's to come?"

"Well I would be if I could find a fork to dig into this cake Roxi made me! But I think the question is, is mom and dad ready for the sugar rush I'm bound to get off this sucker!"

"I wasn't talking about the cake buddy, and you know it."

"Oh. *sighs* You mean my match, Sunday?"

"Yes. I know you aren't anxious to talk about it but buddy, it's going to happen. Whether we like it or not."

"I know, but for the record I don't happen to like it."

"I know, and I know you're angry at your dad for making you go through with it, but you understand why he did it. Right?"

"Well he says he did it because it was what was best for my career."

"Uh huh. And...?"

"And I think that's a load of baloney. If anyone would know what was best for my career, it'd be me, myself and I."

"Despy ... Joshua..."

"Uh oh! You called me Joshua! This can't be good!"

"You know I've never sided against you before, and I'm not going to start now..."

"But...?"

"But ... I can kinda sorta understand why your dad wants you to win the World Championship."

"You can?"

"Of course! Every father wants his son to eventually surpass him, and if you win the world title, you'll accomplish something that even your dad never did. He never won the World Championship in any of the promotions that he competed in. And you've made a big name for yourself in tag team wrestling. Four World title reigns combined! Not too shabby! But now he wants you to experience bigger and better things. He wants your name to live on in infamy! Face facts buddy. Right now there's nobody for you to team with, and even if there was, you've done all you can in tag team wrestling. Anything else would just be a broken record, a repeat performance. You deserve better and that's what your dad has been trying to stress."

"I dunno..."

"Well I do. James has been a terrific World Champion, hasn't he?"

"He's been the best... well, second only to Gabriel of course."

"Of course! And if he's that great, if you beat him, that'll mean that you're even better!"

"But we said all this last time and I lost."

"Everyone loses now and again. It's a fact of the business. You went how many years before you were ever pinned in a singles match? And if you were going to be pinned, well, there's no shame in being pinned by someone like James. Especially in a world title match!"

"You think so?"

"I know so!"

"But, I don't like losing!"

"Good! Nobody likes losing. You just remember that feeling when you step into the ring with James on Sunday. It'll make you fight all the harder to keep from experiencing it again!"

"What's going on?" Margaret whispered as she had come to wish her son a fond goodnight, when she saw that Synn, Shipman, Rage and Gabriel were gathered outside of Synn and De4spayre's suite door, with the door itself slightly ajar.

Synn looked back to her and with a lilt of his head, indicated what was going on inside and he said, "We're only getting one side of the conversation, but I think Angel is giving our boy a pep talk."

Margaret blinked, looking between all four men, until she asked, "What does that mean?"

Gabriel looked at Despy's mother and smiled, "It means I think we're going to be alright."



"You think? No, allow me to correct you: We are going to be alright! As a matter of fact, I dare say that this Sunday we are going to see the crowning of a brand new World Heavyweight Champion!"

"Please, allow me to explain. How long have all of you known Despayre? A few years at the most? Well I've known him since practically the day I adopted him as my own, which puts me at a better advantage than anyone else out there in knowing just what this guy is capable of. Sure, if you've been paying close enough attention, you probably noticed that Despayre has recently been acting strangely. He's been down on himself and not liking his own chances at besting J2H and walking away from Summer XXXTreme IV as the new World Champion. Well I am here to tell all of you, and you too J2YH if you're watching, that you best not let this fool you. Right now I'd say Despayre is behaving as his own worst enemy, but that isn't going to be any sort of advantage for the champion once that bell rings. Try to remember, if you will. The last time these two met, Despayre wasn't overly anxious to lock horns with J2H, nor the idea of dethroning him to become the World Champion. And what happened? We all witnessed a Match of the Year candidate, and one of the select few matches to ever get a five star rating from some of those rags that fancy themselves as wrestling purists and expertise. Well, where Despayre and J2H are concerned, they were right. Don't look too much into it. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."

"And yes, I will be the first to admit that it wasn't Despayre who walked away from that match as the winner. It was J2H who retained his championship. But the real story was that afterwards, we saw a show of mutual sportsmanship displayed, something we just don't see often enough in this business. After everything said and done against one another, both before and during that match, those two young men hugged, and why? Because the fight that Despayre put up was what finally earned the respect of one of the best World Champions that SCW has ever had! That's why! But deep down, that match, its ending, and that very display is going to serve as a catalyst for what's to come this Sunday when they go at it once again in a Best of Three Falls match for that same World Championship."

"I'll tell you what is going to happen. Despayre is going to walk into that match, remembering exactly what happened the last time. J2H's win over him in Tokyo will make the champion more confident I am sure, but that loss is just going to be like throwing gas on a fire where Despayre's determination is concerned. He has suffered maybe two pinfall losses in his career, one of them being to Gabriel in the first ever Blast From the Past event, and the second being to J2H. He didn't like the feeling of either loss, especially when there was so much riding on the match held in Tokyo. He felt like he let his family and friends down who wanted to see him win, and more to the point, he felt like he let himself down. He is not going to want to share in that experience again, and he is going to take the fight to J2H even harder to make sure that it doesn't happen this Sunday!"

"J2H, you know what Despayre is capable of inside of the ring. This is your third singles match together, and the fifth time you've been in the same ring overall. Despayre pinned you in a six-man tag team match, and the first time you wrestled one on one, it was for his Internet Championship and that encounter ended in a very rare thirty minute draw! We all know what happened in the third match, so that just leaves the fourth and perhaps, final match between the two of you this weekend."

"Despayre is a fighter, that much you have to admit. Back him into a corner, and he'll fight like a wild animal and come out swinging. Take a cheap shot at him at your own peril because he will certainly fight fire with fire, and sometimes you don't even have to make the first move. Inside of that ring, Despayre is a literal force of nature. Just getting a hold of him is like trying to get a grip on greased lightning! Ask anyone who's been inside of the ring with him. he'll run circles around you, lickety split, and take to the air without a care in the world. And god help you if you give him cause to feel as if he's under threat there, Champ. Once that happens, all bets are off and Despayre reacts like a caged animal who feels hurt or threatened! He'll fight you tooth to claw to better protect himself, and woe be to any official who tries to get between the two of you."

"Some say that Despayre is destined to rule Sin City Wrestling as a World Champion at some point in his career, and I would have to agree with them. And I also happen to think that his time will come this Sunday. Some experts classify Despayre as a brawler. Others say he's an aerial artist. I disagree."

"Despayre simply is."