Leaving the house is... easy? (O2A)

[Victor Wayne]

Not living through an hilarious farce all the time was surprisingly bearable for Victor Wayne. The feeling of deserved pride might have been alien but there were certainly worse things to get used to. Since he'd been in Chicago he'd started to take to the surroundings. He had even overcome some of the instinctual reclusion he'd developed after 2 years of 24 hour surveillance.

It was the instinct that would have made trips like this downstairs to the coffee window, or tea window as was the case, much more difficult only 3 months ago. The consensus seemed to be that the place had become more of a tourist trap in the last year and there were a lot of conspicuous cell phone cameras about the last time he'd been. So he grabbed a cup and headed to a common, yet less hanger-on trafficked area.

He delved into his reading list on his phone which now included things as far afield as the New Yorker, and the Helena Slade profile he'd been dying to read, and the complete Uni-Man manga, which he'd suddenly been compelled to read, although he was much more distracted with people-watching from the corner.

[Jacob Cruise]

Ah, the fresh aroma of a hot cup of coffee, nothing better. Black of course, a wise man once told Cruise that real men didn't use sugar, creamer, or any other dairy product to weaken the strength of a mans drink. Of course, that wise man also went on later in life to have a sex change operation...So eh, maybe a pinch of some Coffeemate French Vanilla Creamer wouldn't hurt anything.

"Refreshing..."

Cruise thinks out loud in a whisper to himself after taking a first sip and placing a cigarette between his lips. Styrofoam cup in his left hand, his right hand begins to pat around each of his pockets searching for a lighter..

"Hope this place doesn't have one of smoking bans goin'. Knowing my luck....Damn it!"

At that instance Cruise remembers having left his lighter on his nightstand in his room. Maybe someone else around here had a light? Not to many people around who looked very promising though...Except...Hmmm...One dark haired kid sitting alone submersed in some deep reading it appeared. Heh, as if Cruise cared whether he interrupted him or not.

"Hey! Emo! You got a light man?"

[Victor Wayne]

What?

He said, furrowing his brow in confusion. He was completely unfamiliar with the term despite the fact that he'd heard it so much recently and every time he'd thought about looking it up something just seemed to get in the way.

He tore himself away from reading long enough to give a thoughtful answer. Having smelled the interiors of a handful of Chicago bars he'd come to one conclusion.

Oh, you mean me.

Sorry, I've got nothing. Don't they make you take that outside here? Wouldn't want anyone to chase you down and uh... give you a fine and a stern talking to I guess.

[Jacob Cruise]

"Oh yeah....Fines and stern talking tos. My worst nightmare. Every night before I go to bed I pray that I don't get caught up in the middle of any of that sort of troublemaking."

The above said may, or may not have been spoken in a somewhat sarcastic tone. I will leave that to the reader to pass their own judgment on just what kind of person they think Cruise is and if he would be sarcastic like that or not.

"So Emo, you got a name? Mines Cruise, Jacob Cruise. You look familiar....Have I seen you 'round before?

Without so much as an invite, Cruise pulls a seat up next to this stranger. Hm, he never was much of the social type before. I guess without Cam around though, he has to start making new friends eh?

[Victor Wayne]

Victor Wayne. You might remember me from such programs as Virtual Wrestling Entertainment...

He said with a slight Kent Brockman.

although not recently, even with all things considered. I remember you though. All that business with Amy Rhoades, and Kincaid, and Boston*. Wonder whatever happened to her.

He clicks the lock button on the phone and puts it away, realizing he won't get through the article he was reading until later.

So, want to go first on where the hell have you been or should I?

[Jacob Cruise]

VWE! Thats it! Knew I saw ya' on the television or something before. Damn, Victor Wayne huh? You sure look different. Or maybe I'm just not remembering ya' to well. Either way, nice to meet ya'.

Putting away the cigarette, figuring he could just wait till he returned to the privacy of his room, Cruise takes a sip of his coffee and continues.

"So you remember me from that whole ordeal with Amy and Boston huh? Yeah man, Amy sure was a nice piece of a....I mean....I very nice woman. Kinda miss her....But the whole thing between Cam and Boston...whew...that was Crazy."

Cruise must be bored to actually carry on a somewhat....formal conversation this long.

"So you've been out of the limelight for awhile too huh? Well seeing as I know my story already...and its not very interesting...lets hear where you've been and what you've been doing first."

[Victor Wayne]

Where to begin?

Ohio wasn't doing it for me at the time so I had to leave. Someone there would probably tell you something like “he didn't show up for scheduled appearances,” whatever that means.

After the tell-all book thing never happened and the Broadway thing was D.O.A., I pretty much couldn't take much more. I just wanted to get off the grid. Off the worldwide TV grid at least. Most of the time I was working shows in Mexico City, doing charity work, or going back over to Europe whenever someone was willing to foot the airfare.

The preceding story has been edited for time and content. No need to share evert excruciating detail with someone he just met.

I think it's your turn.

[Jacob Cruise]

Me? Well.....

Cruise takes a dramatic pause, as if he had to think of something interesting to say...

Basically my tag team partner and best friend skipped out on me at the end of last year. During that same time period...though I hate to admit it...I kind of....just a little bit...fell deeply in love with the aforementioned Amy Rhoades.

He takes another sip of his coffee...

And well....One thing led to another...I got in over my head. Started feeling things I didn't want to feel. Started hurting people I didn't mean or want to hurt....Until finally...I snapped and took of for Mexico.

I lived it up there for a bit. I mean, holding the tag title for as long as me and Cam did last year allowed me to stockpile a bit of money...But when the cash finally started to run low, I returned to the states and started to do a few small odds and ends type jobs to support myself. The call of the ring beckoned though...So, here I am...making my return. Haven't heard from Cam. Don't know where Amy is...So, I guess for the time being...I'm just back here to do what I love to do.....Kick some ass...and take some names.

Cruise begins to swish the liquid inside his cup around a bit. Staring down at the table top as he begins to dwell a bit upon the past....

[Victor Wayne]

That's what you want to hear. You dive right back in and if that wears you out no one's watching you sleep or go to the bathroom and you can take a little vacation if you want. Maybe Vegas. I bet it's your thing.

Oh how he loved being cryptic. Cruise would probably enjoy unraveling that one more than him just blurting out the answer.

Let me know when the time comes. I can probably get you a deal.

Don't worry I can see how much fun you're having dredging up the “lost” bits of your career. Why don't I just ask the expert, where he likes to drink to relative obscurity south of the Rio Grande?

[Jacob Cruise]

"Um....."

Was Cruise really this desperate for a friend? This guy was just a tad bit on the....uh...weird side.

"I....uh, just about anywhere I guess."

Yes, Cruise is a bit of a simpleton. Big words used in a fancy order that are pronounced elogantly...well, they tended to confuse him. Perhaps a few to many brain cells drank away...

"You mean where do I like to drink at down in Mexico, right? If thats the question.....The answers quite simple....Anywhere that serves ANYTHING with a high proof for a cheap price."

Cruise pauses for a moment...

"So uh...what about you? Where do you go to get your drink on a little....Maybe rub up on a couple of unsuspecting girls and such? Ya know, where do you head off to for things like that? Coffins, abandoned houses, raves?....What kind of place do you dig?"

[Victor Wayne]

One, why not all three at the same time. I mean come on, death, European dance music, creepy anonymous faux hook-ups, that just sounds....


Right.

Victor seems to swoon at the thought.

Two, you completely forgot the mall. You know, the gawking at the consumer herds, complaining about poseurs outside the high end boutiques, smoking cloves in the parking lot because of those god-damned rent-a-cops, this is our struggle.

He strikes a pose that suggests solidarity and shedding a single tear for the cause, but can't keep a straight face as he does.

Or you know, I could go to the same places as you and do better for having a masterfully cultivated image. Whichever reality helps you sleep at night.

Sweet, sweet banter. He'd had precious few opportunities for it in the land of the over earnest and he would relish the opportunity here.

[Jacob Cruise]

"No offense bub.....But if you walked into the type a' joint I normally hang around....You'd probably get a boot up the ass and your head through a wall....No offense of course, you seem half decent to me....But the type of fella's that associated themselves with my hangouts....well, their not exactly the most friendly towards...um....people with your fashion sense."

This kid seemed a little off his rocker, but then again most of Cruise's friends weren't what you would exactly call 'normal'.

So Vic, being previously with the VWE....and being here now...I'm guessing your a GCW superstar eh? Hows that treating ya?

[Victor Wayne]

Great, actually. Everyone's actually been pretty cool. Although I didn't really come in with any expectations so anything seems like a warm welcome. The success feels nice for a change, quiets down some of the stuff you hear.

He said finishing off his drink (which I did not forget he had).

Like just because a guy wears eyeliner he can't wreck your shit?

[Jacob Cruise]

Cruise almost busts out laughing as Victor mentions the eyeliner. It was nothing that had to do with Victor at all, just a bunch of past memories that had suddenly hit him.

"Hey man....I'm not saying anything about your guy-liner. I use to have a former employer who was basically famous for it...and he was a hell of a guy for the most part. In all honestly, being a wrestler here and all...I doubt that you would have any trouble whoopin' the asses of the sorry excuse of drunks that tend to flock around me...Just wouldn't want you to be put in that situation though..."

"Anyways...."

Cruise stands from his seat, finishing off what little warm liquid he had left in his cup.

I think its time for me to be hitting the ole' dusty trails. But ya know what, I think I'm going to put you on my EXTREMELY short list of people around here that are half decent. So, if you need anything man...Just track me down. Hell, it shouldn't be to hard to find me around this place.

Cruise, not being much for handshakes and what not, simply nods in Victors direction.

"Take it easy Emo...and I'll be seeing ya' around."

With that, Cruise turns and makes his departure.