Quite Impressive, but the Holy Lands... by the void (Posted: 3/13/02 2:33:20 am)

The slow, sad violin plays as the arena goes black. The darkness lasts around 30 seconds, and the violin never stops, finally, in a dim blue, several lights return and the void in laying outside the ring against the steps.

She looks up, looking half bored by the crowd. She sighs then picks up her microphone.

the void: Hey...

She puts the microphone back down rubs her left eye wearily.

the void: You know, I really wanted to delay this, I was enjoying my time off, but sometimes a girl's just got to put her foot down.

Ruth gets to her feet.

the void: Now, I'm not here to discuss Management, Duffs and Carter can wait, I'll pay them a visit later, but for now, I just want to do a favour for an old friend of mine.

She starts to walk around the ring.

the void: I'm an old fan of TXW, say what you will about Duffer's people skills, he knows how this business runs, and I think he done a good job here.

Ruth stops at a ringpost and looks it over as she speaks.

the void: You know, I remember the days when Phom and Incendiary had all those terrible fights over the Crusader title. I took a few bumps in my time, but those two could take them week in and week out.

She keeps walking on.

the void: Phom was an interesting guy. He certainly wasn't bright, but his mind was just as tough as anyone's when it came to willpower. Maybe that's why he and I got along so well, tough little minds willing to destroy our bodies. He, for a much nobler purpose, I admit. But self-destruction is self-destruction.

Ruth looks dow at the tracks on her arm, sadly.

the void: Much nobler...

She makes it back to where she started from and runs her hand along the barrier.

the void: You know, last time I was down here this thing had broken me in half backwards. Times change.

She steps nearer to the ring.

the void: Like I was saying, we got along rather well, sometimes I'd help him put together a promo, and he'd carry a box for me. Kind of sweet, I guess. But not the kind of stuff we really wanted to share, we had a certain image to keep.

Ruth Johnson leans over and pulls a small briefcase out from under the ring.

the void: Not to take anything away from him, of course, one wrong move and he'd have probably shown that brains don't always defeat brawn and there'd be another Johnson six feet under.

She puts the case on the apron.

the void: I miss him.

Ruth sighs sadly then opens the briefcase.

the void: After he first fought Incendiary in that Cell, I remember just watching in horror. What they could do to each other... Anyway, later that week I spoke with Phom. He loved that title so, I just hated to see anything hurt him on a level he may not have understood.

She leans against the apron before continuing.

the void: I never trusted him. Incendiary, that is. So I got a new belt made, Phom always carried the real belt with him, of course, except during title matches, when he gave it to me for safe keeping.

Ruth looks out, through the crowd.

the void: It wasn't that he liked being called a Crusader so much as he he loved THAT belt. I guess my point's rather easy to see by now, but all that fuss.. Incendiary, TWF, John's nephew, the pawn shop, the all of it, all of it was for nothing. All you people have been running around on some big crusade, but I've got some bad news for you, the Holy Lands are east of here. Each and every Crusader has fought hard and long just for a little piece of history, to touch the belt that those two men sold their souls and bodies for. Still not a one of those men has ever touched it.

She spreads the cloth away from inside the case and pulls out the original TXW Crusader title belt, complete with blood stains on the right circle.

the void: This is it guys, I've had it safely tucked away for so long now. Impressive, nice try, but, you've got nothing more than what little Duff ended up with. Even this is here rather worthless because, to my knowledge, there's only one belt called Crusader any more and that belongs to sage Sawyer, even if anyone had this, it wouldn't do them any good. Well, except Phom, that is. Well, you see, I just thought the bickering had gone on long enough, I'll be holding this for my friend.

Ruth carefully sets the belt back in the case and locks it.

the void: Anyhow, good evening, everyone. And Impavid, be a dear, if you see Important, tell him his 'mommy' still hates him...

Ruth smiles and the arena goes black.