Up is down, Black is white

[Masao Akiyama]

Chicago Illinois.
The Wrestle Factory.
One week ago.

Astrid Hall tests the ropes of the somewhat quiet dojo, dedicating herself to improvement before a shape hops up on the ringside stepping into the ring and the Valkyrie looks perhaps a little taken a back to see the somewhat cocky smirk of Devlin Raine gesturing around the ropes.

"Last time you were between the ropes it didn't go so well for you Valkyrie, Looked like you saw a ghost."

She frowned at him but didn't back up an inch even as Devlin nods and takes a few steps forwards she's bigger than he is but that smile never dies.

"Don't let it burn you, You're still part of the charge."

Astrid looked at Devlin quizzically before he spoke with a smirk and rested against the ropes for a little not letting her speak for now.

"NightHawk can talk you through all the holds in the world, Danielson will help bring out the best in you, you have a self-belief that few ever consider but much like me you have a flaw."

Astrid frowns and Devlin chuckles.

"You can't turn down a good challenge. Do me a favour?"

Astrid finally looks at Devlin straight even as Dev looks at her.

"Next time you wrestle, set yourself a small challenge like you used to and don't tell me you didn’t Everyone does. My challenge to you, Valkyrie is to trip your opponent with a Sleep."

Astrid blinked a bit even as she crooked a small amused smile.

"Why? Answer me that."

Devlin smiles brightly even as he moves to sit on a turnbuckle.

"Because then you'll start getting creative, start using the strongest weapon you have in there, because making yourself uncomfortable is how you grow, and you get better by facing better. Fortune favours the Bold."

Astrid shook her head and started to circle looking at him whilst Dev hops down and gives deep squat , testing his knee strength with a nod.

"Now Astrid, we’re going to roll and free spar, no big moves no nasty tricks just straight up chain and catch got me? And I want you to tell me where I go wrong or I’ll tell you where I go wrong and we're gonna go for.."

Devlin looks at the clock and smiles.

"Twenty minutes. a Minutes break every five, trust me you'll need it."

A good few minute fate that Devlin was stretching the knee out even as the shadow in the corner that had been watching spoke, the light catching on his chair even as the Accent rolled out.

"You didn't seem the teaching type Raine."

Devlin chuckles softly looking at Nighthawk, even as he mutters.

"I believe our children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way."

Nighthawk shifted the chair and himself into the light and asked with a light smirk.

"How's the knee?"

Devlin nodded with a chuckle.

"Good as new, I owe you Hawk, helping me get that second opinion. Three months was too long."

Nighthawk simply chuckles and eyes the younger man with a soft pointed voice.

"You're young and it's your first real niggling injury, plus you put the work in I dare say it's made you stronger."

Devlin shakes his head, sighing just a bit.

"Thanks for the boost, but we all know my worst enemy looks at me in the mirror every day, if I can beat that ass? I can beat anyone. But it's good to feel the burn again good to stretch it out, again thanks for letting me use the place for the rehab and passing along a little something to the boys and girls that come through here."

Devlin took the time to cross the floor to NightHawk and offered his hand with a smile.

"You're Alright."

Nighthawk took a moment and reached out to shake his hand back with a nod looking the younger man in the eyes.

"Knock 'm dead kiddo."

Devlin nodded and started to walk, not hobble, not stride but walk for the exit as he nods picking up his bag.

Time to work.

Now

We fade in on Devlin leaning back , feet up on a desk and surrounded by a beach even as the waves start to lap on the shore behind hind, coming close to hitting his set as he spoke.

“So here we are, the new world order, and it’s even more petty than the last one, by the looks The Council have the run and Verona is playing his games, Again amazing what a guy can miss in a month one month is how long I’ve been gone and already Black is white , down is up and all is distinctly a certain shade of green.”

Dev shook his head and looks to the sky even as he lets the ambience of the scene wash over folk.

“This week, I find myself In the unenviable position of facing Spike Kane and Mike Lazlo whilst working alongside the man who put me on the shelf in the first place, Ryan Shane and I have plenty to say to everyone.”

Devlin considers his next words carefully.

“Now there’ s every possibility this match could turn into a cluster, and I think that what people want, I mean Spike and Mike they don’t see way to eye and ordinarily I’d be chomping at the bit to face either one of them in a match, the pedigree of my opponent’s speaks for themselves really but their actions? “

Devlin chuckles softly.

“If that’s what legendary is supposed to be then I’ll pass and take my chances on doing something different. Because you boys are letting us all down with that childish little spat of yours I mean lets take Mike Lazlo."

Devlin waves to the camera as he speaks grin on his face.

"Hi Mike ,you’re the lucky first I guess, All your seeds and words and actions and still in the end I bet you won’t be able to put your little spat aside, I mean Maybe my words might fire you up, maybe you’ll get this strange idea that only you should be the one to put boots to Spike Kane, but realistically Mike? You have hovered around the Imperial title doing jack squat a
nd expecting the world to bow and scrape and tell you how good you are.”

Devlin shakes his head and smirks before settling down.

“As of late you haven’t done a damned thing to earn my respect as of late, but you’ve dangerous, so I’ll put the hurt on you if I have to, because unlike you? I’m a Professional.”

Devlin sits a little higher and smirks, cracking knuckles as arms then spread.

“All Bloody Hail the all-powerful god of extreme! Man Spike.. it’s been a while huh and I –know- you must be spoiling to come get me hell I-wanted- you to, I still do get your kid to one side so I could see what it was like when Karma wasn’t making you it’s personal punching bag.”

Devlin takes a moment seems to look back and points at the screen.

“Oh, wait I don’t think it’s down with you in a professional sense I mean, the council runs circles on you, Verona backstabs you, you turn on Lazlo and prove just how much the IWF are deserving to lose despite what you say about fighting for you."

Devlins words gain a touch of fire to them

 "Heck.. If you’d have turned around and looked me in the eyes and said Hey, Devlin We need all hands on deck? If ANY of you had decided to reach out for help instead of waging a personal crusade? You’d have been surprised how many of us would have stood up.”

Devlin sighs and hakes his head.

“But that’s the thing with you, head buried in the dirt of another place You think because the foundation of the IWF is something you helped form that it owes you a favour, it doesn’t,. you are great people, yes but you know You both now better than anyone you have to constantly work and earn the respect you collect like the currency you spend, so yeah Spike You’re –damn- right I wanna face you, you’re damn right I want to beat you and your damn right that I really don’t give a hoot about what you think about me! Because If the IWF need anything right now it needs people who are willing to stand up and say no, Jayson Matthews, Andrew Jacobson ….Pandora Freeman ,Astrid Hall , Shea O Hara …Me Bob Pooler there are people here who see this place as our –home- Spike and a house divided? Cannot stand…Bring your worst Blood God …”

Devlin shook his head and sighed,

“And finally, my partner Ryan Shane, the man I face at Legacy for a title I really feel I let slip from my grasp”

He smirks.

“I hate that I have to sit next to you when all I want to do is face you , right now to try and make right what I feel was my own failing, but I’m gonna be the bigger man here. If the IWF demand I work with you? I will work with you, I will make this match the talk of the night, I will help you make people watch this and go ‘holy heck if this is what they’re like together…it’s gonna be a war’ we are going against two of the biggest names in the IWF ledger and I will not let you weasel out of this and I sure as hell won’t let you let me take all the punishment, you are proof of what happens when a man seizes control of his own destiny. Do me proud Shane or prove how unworthy you are of this whole shindig.”

Devlin takes a breath and nods

“Sacrifice I make my return, the IWF , my home and I make my mark once again, I intend to make it with my hand raised in victory, nothing else.”

Devlin caps a salute to the camera with a smile

“Ciao”

Fade out