Late as usual. She was probably going to blame it on traffic again. Maybe Vincent should just text his Victoria and see what was taking her and Ace so long. He and Cassandra had been waiting for about twenty minutes now.
“Hey, where you at?”
“Traffic, be there soon.”
“Okay...well, try not to take too long.”
“Yeah sure, see you soon Vince.”
With a sigh, he rolled his eyes slightly, and looked at the fiery red-haired girl with him.
[Vincent] Sorry Cass, Guess Victoria and Ace are stuck ion traffic. They should be here soon though.
[Cassandra] Can’t we order our food, then they can when they get here?
[Vincent[ We could, but Victoria would probably get upset. She finds that sort of thing rude.
[Cassandra] Well, I find her tardiness to be a bit rude.
[Vincent] It’s really not that big of a deal.
Cassandra grumbles, and goes back to her menu, leaving Vincent wondering slightly why she was she worried about ordering if she hadn’t even decided yet. Or maybe she had and was just double checking. Whatever it was, his thought process was soon pulled from his own menu by the familiar voice of his sister.
[Victoria] Sorry we’re late….did you guys already order?
[Vincent] No, not yet. We were waiting for you.
[Victoria] Well that was stupid, you should have just ordered,
Cassandra stares daggers through Vincent.
[Vincent] But..I…No, you know what. Nevermind. Let’s just get our orders in and enjoy dinner.
[Victoria] It’s nice to see your full face you know.
[Vincent] Yeah, well I’d look a little silly going out to dinner with half my face painted.
Everyone agreed with that statement.
[Ace] Hey, so congratulations on the big win!
[Vincent] Thanks Ace, and good luck to you on Isle as well. You’re a part of this family now and I know you’ll do us proud over there.
[Cassandra] Yes, best of luck to you Ace.
[Ace] Thanks guys.
[Victoria] Well, we should probably order then right? I imagine the two of you are hungry, I know I am.
[Vincent] Would you say you have a lion-sized appetite?
The other three stare at Vincent and his shit-eating grin with blank faces.
[Vincent] Yeah sorry,..that was pretty bad...anyway, have you decided Cass?
[Cassandra] Yeah, I’m going with the Chicken Sandwich, and fries.
[Vincent] How’d I guess? I think the Big Head Joe Burger, and fries. What about you Ace?
[Ace] I think I'm going to agree with Cassandra, Chicken Sandwich and fries. Victoria? What looks good to you my love?
[Victoria] Fish and Chips for me.
With everyone locked in their decisions, Vincent waves over one of the wait staff and everyone’s order gets placed and sent back to the kitchen with their respective soda orders.
[Ace] So, what are the future plans for The Revolutionaries?
[Vincent] Well, we never make any official decisions without consulting with Renee, but we all know Havoc will be back, and who knows what else is lurking around the corner? Imperium looks like they might be becoming a problem.
[Victoria] Well, where there’s a problem, we’ll be there to solve it.
[Vincent] I agree, but we can’t set anything in stone without talking with Renee first.
[Victoria] And before that can happen, you both have this Championship Showdown to worry about.
[Ace] It’s sure to be a showcase of Dystopia’s finest champions.
[Vincent] Not all of them. If you ask me, a real champions showdown would include Matsuda as well.
[Victoria] Well, she’s busy with Thor. You’re telling me you’re upset Matsuda ISN’T in the match?
[Vincent] I said that I wanted to be an honorable champion if I won, and I intend to keep my word. The Champions Showdown is a great idea, but if I want to be the bets champion Dystopia has, then ALL champions should be included. I were Matsuda...I’d be a little tufted they didn’t include me, and maybe push my title defense to the next show.
[Victoria] Well, be that as it may, I think we should just let Cloud handle that as she sees fit. Just worry about who IS in the match.
[Vincent] Yeah, I know..I’m just saying, a match with all four of us would tear the house down.
[Cassandra] What about you Victoria? Are you ready for your next match?
[Victoria] As ready as I can be. Jacoby Spencer is no walk in the park. His pain threshold is through the roof. I know I have what it takes to overcome however, and I will.
[Ace] Of course you will babe.
[Vincent] Foods here!
Sure enough, the staff has returned with their order in tow. Everyone has their selection placed before them, and Vincent asks for one rule before they eat.
[Vincent] So, now that the foods here...can we maybe NOT talk about WWH for a while?
[Victoria] Agreed.
Ace and Cassandra seem to have no issues with that idea either, and the two couples enjoy a nice human conversation, over some of their favorite diner food.
----------
The cameras open on a closeup of the Affliction Championship resting on the shoulder of Vincent Lyons Jr., as the cameras pull back we see Vincent seated on a throne much like the one Havoc would sit on, his eyes staring daggers into the camera, smile on his face.
[Vincent] Nearly two long years, and I finally did it. I dethroned the Nightmare King, took the last relic he had left and sent him away in a whimper. Now I sit before you on his throne, as Affliction Champion once again.
He glances proudly at the championship on his shoulder.
[Vincent] It’s going to be different. No cheap tricks, no distractions from my sister. Just me being the champion I was born to be. My first act of business? Winning this so-called Champion Showdown.
Vincent makes clear air quotes when using the words “Championship Showdown.”
[Vincent] I say it that way, because..where is Stephanie Matsuda? Could Thor not have waited a week? Seems a shame she doesn’t get to represent the International Championship. My sister thinks I’m crazy for wanting another competitor in this match and maybe she’s right. I just want to be the best Affliction Champion I can be and that means taking on ALL champions.
Vincent shrugs, and relaxes himself some more in his chair.
[Vincent] No use crying over spilled milk I suppose. Just worry about who I am in there with, because they’re two of the greatest champions WWH has to offer, and one of them is my friend. Renee Jonae, who’s has quite a year in WWH. Winning Shogun, becoming a two time Women's Champion. She has become one of the very best WWH has to offer, and I’m just glad I’m on her good side. I don’t think I need to explain much to Renee about this match. We’re teammates, but like she told my sister we’re also rivals. Friendly rivals I’d like to believe. We fight for the same cause. This match of course, is strictly business.
Vincent casually glances at the championship for a moment.
[Vincent] Now Zolton, you need not worry. This won’t turn into any sort of two on one situation. The Revolutionaries are better than that, it just really isn’t what we’re all about. You’re arguably the top champion going into this match. It’s certainly not me, even with this championship on my shoulder I still feel like the underdog in this match. We all have something to fight for. Zolton, to prove that the World Champion is indeed the top champion in WWH. Renee is fighting for women all around the world. I’m just fighting to show that The Affliction Championship should not be seen as secondary. That I am just as good the two World Champions. I mean I’ve beaten Zolton a few times in the past right?
He shrugs again, pausing for a moment.
[Vincent] He’s a whole new animal now though. I can see the change. Zolton is more focused and dangerous than he’s ever been. Thats why he’s the champion. I can’t sit here and say he doesn’t deserve it. He does, but I won’t let that stop me from winning this match for Team Affliction.
He proudly pats his championship, ready to represent for the fans choosing to support him in this upcoming match.
[Vincent] I don’t just mean fans of The Revolutionaries, or even fans of The Lyons Twins.I'm Going to be fighting for MY fans, fans who pick Vincent Lyons Jr as their favorite member of The Revolutionaries. Those who have been part of my pride since day one. It’s them that kept me going, it’s those fans that I refused to let down and it’s them I regained this championship for. I did come close, to giving up…
Vincent sighs, letting the feeling of the moment set in.
[Vincent] I was gonna walk away, had I lost. Not forever or anything, just…..go away for a while. Maybe go on a walkabout. Just do the whole “journey of self discovery”. Let Victoria represent the family as she works on her own journey, and then return later hopefully better than I was.
He glances at the championship on his shoulder again.
[Vincent] it would turn out, I didn’t need to do any of that. I got that feeling of self discovery when I defeated Havoc. A champion once again., but it feels different this time. I feel more Like I earned it. Rather, I feel like I truly deserve it this time around.
He stands looking proud, and very much more like a champion than in his previous run during the start of his career, and glances at the throne behind him shaking his head.
[Vincent] A champion I may be, but I’m not so arrogant to call myself a king. I claim no throne. I am just a warrior of honor. I neither desire or need any throne. This championship on my shoulder is enough proof that I am on top of my game right now. Renee my friend, you best come prepared for a fight. Same goes to my old pal Z. Been a while since I got to call you that. I don't even really need to tell either of you that do I? We’re all champions here. We know what to expect from each other. Only one of us can be the best champion however, and that one is going to be Vincent Lyons Jr.
Vincent walks off frame, and the camera stays focused on the empty throne for a moment, as Vincent comes back into frame walking backward.
[Vincent] Did you think I forgot about you Havoc? Because I can tell you here and now that I know. I know you’re lurking and I know you’ll be back. You have issue with Zolton and I both. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out you just might stick your little nose in this champions affair. I know you’re waiting for the time to strike and try to reclaim this championship. Hear me now and know that I will be ready. So when you do decide to strike at the CHAMPION, you better...BE PREPARED.
Vincent looks back at the throne once more and smiles.
[Vincent] As for this throne? Like I said..I won’t be needing it. Like both your championship reigns, it shall be reduced to nothing but ashes.
The throne bursts into flames behind Vincent, and he smiles once more before walking off camera, as the scene focuses on the burning flames before finally fading to black.