FREE REIGN
ReVival heads backstage and finds the Queen of the Ring walking through the hall on her way back to her office. The angry look on her face from her encounter with Paxton Ray hasn’t faded, but the promise of a few moments’ peace to re-center herself is sure to do wonders.
Of course, she’s not going to get it, because as recent history has proven she can’t have nice things.
Troy rounds a corner and looks down the corridor, spying Enemigos IV and V standing on either side of her door, and the Universal Champion waiting in front of it. She throws her head backwards and lets out an audible groan of annoyance, which makes all three men’s heads turn her way.
Lindsay Troy: What. What could you possibly want?
Cancer Jiles: Free reign.
Lady Troy bellows from her diaphragm. The whole bit almost exhausts her. Then she smiles, satisfyingly.
Lindsay Troy: Try again, Pizmo.
Cancer Jiles: (shrugging) Worth a shot. Say, I noticed we’re still using the old advert for COOLOSSUS. You know, the dumber, stupider, sillier, misspelled one that nobody cares about.
And there goes her smile.
Cancer Jiles: I thought we agreed to go with the fresh, hip, much COOLER one that is actually marketable and gets the people going. What gives?
E4 suffers another fainting spell. E5 luckily catches him.
Lindsay Troy: Funny, I don’t remember us having that conversation at all. In fact, let me tell you what I do remember, since I was just thinking about it the other day. I remember when Balaam almost killed you.
A sigh.
Lindsay Troy: If only I knew then what I know now….
The Champ gasps for air, as if the Mask of Malice himself were choking the life out of him yet again.
Cancer Jiles: Well, if you won’t give me that I want something else. It might surprise you to know it is something other than free reign, too.
Lindsay Troy: I’m on the edge of my seat.
Cancer Jiles: I want a fair shot to defend the UNIVERSAL TITLE.
The Queen tilts her head to the left, confused.
Lindsay Troy: Come again?
Cancer Jiles: I don’t want that insect — that deplorable Samoan Slob — to be anywhere near my match at COOLOSSUS. I don’t want him as a part of my safety entourage for my grand entrance, and more importantly I do want him inside the ring for my MAIN EVENT.
The Champ thrusts his finger towards the ground, as if that is supposed to help his argument.
Cancer Jiles: Timo’s cheated me enough, and I can not trust him. Not to mention he has too much yolk in his eyes. Glasses or not, he’s really a liability to us all.
The Queen rolls the imaginary yolk from her eyes.
Cancer Jiles: We need someone dependable; who doesn’t stand inside the shadow of doubt.
Lindsay Troy: In other words you’ve tortured and robbed Timo so badly you no longer trust him to do the right thing, and you want me to make it right by removing the Senior Offical from the biggest match of the year?
Cancer Jiles: If that’s how you want to see it and I get my wish, yes.
Lindsay Troy: Uh huh. And who might you suggest in his stay?
No hesitation.
Cancer Jiles: You. I want you to be one to count my three. Honor, dignity, competition… they all trust you to do the right thing even in the darkest of moments. Plus, I want to look into your eyes and revel as your soul leaves your body.
If looks could kill, the Maestro would be a pile of ash at Lindsay’s feet.
Cancer Jiles: Calm down. I’m just kidding. Besides, I know you don’t have a soul to begin with. Hell, it’s why I can trust you.
The Queen of the Ring remains unamused. Her Champion on the other hand has stolen her smile and made it his own.
Cancer Jiles: Think about it. You do this for me and who knows? Maybe I’ll start pronouncing things the right way.
Confident, Jiles turns on his heel and glides off towards COOLYMPUS. The Enemigos follow silently after him, leaving Troy alone once more.