Clearing the Air

(The camera opens to a fairly amateur looking green screen setup, in front of which stands a business casual young lady in her late 20's with long wavy auburn hair that water falls down both shoulders of a black shirt reading "I'm A Jaywalker Gal".  She studies her notes intently, only letting her concentrated gaze break long enough to see the man behind the camera signal that they're on.  Her studious scow quickly turns to a toothy and welcoming smile.)

"Hello and welcome to yet another Spotculture 'On The Spot'.  As always, I'm the criminally charming and compliment farming Maeve Seltzer.  Joining me today via simulcast is a man many have tried to wrangle into this very position, but as always we here at Spotculture have the scoops.  I'd like to welcome this very controversial figure right now; The Professional."

(The screen splits, revealing the Professional sitting in his suit and mask, his backdrop indicating he's somewhere within the bowels of Wrestleworld Castle.)

The Professional: It's nice to finally find an unbias platform where I can speak my mind without a crowd who keeps asking me 'why? PB, why?' paradoxically interrupting me before I can explain myself....Is that a Jaywalker shirt you're wearing?

Maeve Seltzer: Yeah, I'm a huge booster of Wrestleworld in general.  I love all of the architects.  I've got a Claudia shirt at home.

The Professional: That's nice.  You know, despite the sacrifices he's made to make Wrestleworld a thing, I do have a glimmer of respect for the man.

Maeve Seltzer: That's quite reasonable of you.

The Professional: Don't get me wrong, I know where those sacrifices Jay made are buried.  There's plenty of innocent blood on that man's hands and it does irk me that he gets a free pass just because he decides to be a nice guy all of a sudden.  I mean, my mentor, my trainer, Tony Rolland has been sacrificed on the alter of Jaywalker's ego countless times.  That's one thing I'd like to clear the air about; not all of my motivation comes from one source.  Claudia Michaels isn't some master Svengali that's duped me into believing in something.  There's no electric kool aid in Wrestleworld Castle.  We all came together because we had common enemies.  Claudia's just nice enough to foot the bill on this operation and give us a headquarters tailored with our room and board.

Maeve Seltzer: You're being very forthcoming here today Mr. Professional.  It's somewhat disappointing because we do have a game called 'quid pro quo' where you answer a question with another question.  Are ya game?

The Professional: I didn't set out to be my cryptic self today, but sure.  Shoot.

Maeve Seltzer: Why are you wearing that mask?

The Professional: Are you unaware of the pandemic sweeping the world today?

Maeve Seltzer: Ah, so for protection.  Very smart.  Do you regret losing the mask so early on in your run here in Wrestleworld?

The Professional: You mean besides because the fact that it helps me shield myself from Covid? No.  I had nothing left to hide from Nobi.  I'd built the mind games up enough that it didn't really matter if it was me under the mask.  I had to coerce him into taking it while the gun was still smoking, otherwise he would've just hated the idea of the Professional and not understand why I did what I've done.

Maeve Seltzer: Do you think Nobi understands your motives?

The Professional: Honestly? deep down? yeah.  I think he gets why I'm mad at him.  Furthermore I think he understands my stance as The Professional.  I represent every backstabbing, undercutting, career shortening, egomaniac that ever crossed our paths when we were allies, including Drake and Jones.  I think he also sees that I'm reflecting back to him what he could very well become now that he's got so many careers pulling him in so many different directions, defining who he is, what he's worth, and what he stands for.  The man that was Nobi has been lost in the red tape of PR and product endorsements.  He's more commercial than man at this point.  Why not put on a suit, a tie, and a mask and show him what the people who knew him coming up see when he pops up on their television?

Maeve Seltzer: Who is the real Nobi then? That sincere kid from way back when who just wanted to make friends and succeed in the States?

The Professional: No, the true Nobi is an opportunistic coward whose only on the scene when it benefits him.  He's left me hanging in battles that we should've both went down in.  He's managed to avoid so many blazes of glory that could've made him the man he should be today that you begin to wonder if he was the one starting the fire all along.  Let's be real, the Wild Cards have had their miscues as a tandem.  While that's not uncommon, most of them at been at the expense of Reno Dumont.  Isn't that a little fishy to you? that despite my targeting of Nobi that Reno somehow always finds himself inside of the crosshairs with Nobi nowhere in sight, or worse, the man behind the scope?

Maeve Seltzer: We all saw you jump Dumont, and we all saw the Chamber match.  Do you think Nobi's intentionally hurting Reno?

The Professional: Is a man any less guilty if he's subconsciously hurting someone to get ahead? Make no mistake, they're both in the American Dream Championship division.  Reno might want them to be in the Campeonatos de Parejas, but every time I've encountered both men in that ring, it's been in a match where they've tried to become the first champion of Claudia's division, if not a stand alone contender.  I'm through with Nobi's gaslighting.  I saw through the naive charm and phony grin that's clouding Reno's perception of the man.  I may be the only person on this entire island who truly knows Nobi.  Heck, I might be the only person in the world who sees that man for what he truly is.  That's why I've set out to expose him, and so far the evidence is mounting against the kid.

Maeve Seltzer: I may be the only person out there willing to give you that benefit of a doubt.  You've been wronged by many people on the Wrestleworld roster.  You've even fought battles against Claudia Michaels herself, so why go after Nobi of all people?

(The Professional looks off camera momentarily.  He covers his microphone and laughs under his breath momentarily, before ripping off his mask, revealing his sadistic grin to the camera as his eyes start to glass over.)

The Professional: Why?...hah, I feel like I've done a lot to answer this question today, but in true fashion I did kind of dance around it didn't I?

Maeve Seltzer: ...

The Professional: You want a real question in response? Fine, here we go.  Here's a riddle for you, Maeve.  I want to see if you can solve it with the help of your dirt sheet viewers out there.  What makes April Song, Claudia Michaels, Stephanie 'Cloud' Matsuda, Drake Jaeger and Tiberius Jones different from Nobi?

Maeve Seltzer: I don't quite know.  Outside of a shared past as coworkers elsewhere, it doesn't seem as if there's any real connection or correlation with those five names.

The Professional: Exactly.  I'll tell you what they don't have in common; me.  April Song didn't know me from Adam in that old locker room, despite knowing my work and appreciating my struggle that is.  Likewise Stephanie Matsuda had nothing to do with me either, but she knew who I was and what I stood for.  Claudia saw me as her exes little clone and nothing more, and Drake and Jones...well, Drake and Jones weren't shy about telling anyone how much my continued existence annoyed them.  As recently as the past two weeks, all five of them have told me that under no terms or condition were they ever my friend.  Some of them liked the idea of me, some of them treated me as an afterthought, and some straight up hated my guts and probably still do.  Isn't it funny that, despite inspiring four of them in one way or the other, be it to do good or harm, that none of them ever even bother to learn my real name?  Nobi does.  Nobi knew my hopes, my fears, my dreams, and was probably the only person to ever call me Andrew in that other place.  That even goes for the other Stuffed Crust guys, they knew PB and that's the mascot they rode hard until it quit spitting out gold.  It was never personal for them.  It was never personal for anyone other than Nobi.  Even with Drake and Jones, I doubt they even cared if I lived or died so long as I was out of their way.  

Maeve Seltzer: ...and what about Claudia?

The Professional: Claudia never put me on a pedestal.  She never tried to wipe me off of the face of the planet for simply climbing the same ladder as her.  With her it was never personal, one way or the other.  She wasn't some misguided youth like Erica Ford whose whole career hung in the balance of my every move. She was a vet when I met her, maybe the only one to ever tell me the truth despite how harsh it might be.  She told me how HBB was before he cast me aside after all of his grooming to make me the next him didn't live up to his lofty expectations.  She told me what I was capable of accomplishing in no uncertain terms. She even saw my near career ending injuries coming from a mile away.  Why do you think I took her side after the kid who rode my coattails to the top left me to die in obscurity?

Maeve Seltzer: Would you be here with the Underworld if you weren't being paid?

The Professional: With them? maybe not, but Nobi would've afforded me another client to be here if Claudia hadn't swooped in first.  It wont be long until Reno catches on that I'm not trying to drive any wedge between he and Nobi, and that I'm only acknowledging one that already exists.  I'm just trying to pay it forward and show him what Claudia showed me so many years ago.  Maybe six months from now, in an alternate timeline, he would've given me a ring when Nobi left him high and dry after exploiting him to rob Claudia of her championship.  In truth, I lucked out landing an Architect as a client.  My price tag wasn't initially steep, but I'd be lying if I said that Claudia hasn't added a few zeroes at the end of it to keep my loyalty in check. Oh, I'm supposed to Jeopardy this bad boy aren't I? wait, does that count?

Maeve Seltzer: Uh, yes.  One final question and then I'll let you go back to whatever Professionals do in their off time.

The Professional: Is that the question? Would it surprise you if I said we balance our books?

Maeve Seltzer: No, that wasn't the question.  The final question revolves around something Violet said heading into your match.

The Professional: Hoo boy, this dirt sheet's getting scoops from schizos now....I know we're in quarantine, but that seems desperate...

Maeve Deltzer: You, Robbie, Claudia, and Wraith are all sharing the same-

The Professional: Castle? Were you going to say castle? because that's the only thing I'm sharing with Robbie.  

Maeve Deltzer: I-I mean-

The Professional: I'm a man of class and professionalism.  To insinuate otherwise is slander, and I'll have you know that my lawyer will be in touch with one of the lively thirty-five living in Violet's head.  I hope for her sake that one of them is legal council.  As for you, Ms. Maeve, I hope your company has a contract with Lloyds of London, because this Viewtube channel's going to need a lot of coverage after I hit it hard with a litigation! Oh wait, that wasn't a question was it? How 'bout this; what bits of furniture do you like in your house/studio? I need to make sure I get something of sentimental value once I liquidate your assets!

(The Professional shoves his hand into his web cam and quickly shuts off the feed, leaving Maeve staring dumbfounded into the camera with her jaw on the ground.)

Cameraman: hey...HEY! you're still on.

Maeve Deltzer: That'll do it for this week's 'On the Spot'.  Make sure to like this video and subscribe to Spotcult-