Sitting comfortably in one of the two chairs is Hans von Richtoven, fully engrossed in a small notepad placed on one of the chair arms. One hand keeps the notepad steady, while the other grips a biro, clacking the end of it between his teeth in an absent minded manner as he looks over what’s been written thus far.
In-between the two chairs, is a small glass table, on which is settled the HWA World title belt, his name already engraved on the front, gleaming in the light.
The camera moves around until it’s behind him, looking over his right shoulder, revealing the written words to be an in-work progress of Senester’s puzzle.
The voice of HWA interviewer Mike Anderson comes from off camera.
(Mike Anderson): I’d replace that with an ‘o’ if I were you.
Mid-way through his words, he places his left hand onto Hans’ shoulder, leaning over to look down fully on the notepad, Hans’ head turns up as he does so.
(Hans): Had free time on your hands to work it out have you?
(Mike Anderson): Some of the people I’ve interviewed today have the verbal equivalent of diarrhoea. I just set them up with something and let them go.
He smiles as he takes his place opposite Hans in the other chair.
(Mike Anderson): So yeah, I’ve had the free time.
Hans returns the smile, as he changes the words on his notepad.
(Hans): *Mutters*And make that a ‘d’… and that one a ‘u’…
His biro flies over the notepad.
(Mike Anderson): Got it?
Hans nods, setting down his biro, as he focuses on the deciphered words.
(Hans): Thou who solves thy words can be spared the wrath of God.
He raises his eyebrows as he sets down the notepad.
(Hans): Ominous, to say the least.
(Mike Anderson): I’ll say! Ready to begin though?
(Hans): Yeah, let’s go.
The set lights dim at this stage, causing Mike to glance off screen, nodding as instructions are passed to him. Hans meanwhile settles himself into his chair, and smoothes out any creases in his trousers, as the sound of the HWA Round-up theme begins to emanate from the speakers.
Mike swivels his seat towards the camera.
(Mike Anderson): Good evening, and welcome to another edition of the HWA Round-up with me; Mike Anderson. Tonight, we’re honoured to have with us the new HWA World title holder himself; Hans von Richtoven.
Hans nods his head towards Mike, as the lights brighten on the pair of them.
(Hans): Thank you Mike, a pleasure to be here as always.
(Mike Anderson): First off, many congratulations on the win.
He gestures at the World title belt.
(Mike Anderson): How does it feel, to be able to look at that and go, ‘that’s mine’?
(Hans): Indescribable.
(Mike Anderson): Oh go on. Try!
(Hans): Well… *Laughs* No, really I…
He shrugs his shoulders as he focuses on his title, shaking his head slowly as he searches for the words.
(Hans): Erm… I guess, joy, at being able to achieve what, when I first joined the HWA at least, I thought would be always a step too far. Satisfaction, in that I done it my way. And I guess there’s a little bit of pleasure mixed in there too, as I beat Eddie K for it. Comprehensively at that I might add.
(Mike Anderson): You certainly went into ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’ on the back of strong words, and some good wins to back them up. In particular, when asked over the potential for it to go to a deciding match, you said, ‘it can, but it won’t’… and it very nearly turned out that way, but why didn’t you take advantage of what Butch Parker and Senester did?
(Hans): Because I couldn’t have looked myself in the eye if I won my World title in that manner. Did I need outside help to beat Eddie K any of the other times I’ve beaten him? No. Did I need outside help to beat ‘the man’ AC James when I faced him? No. Would I like to be seen in the same light as Curt Evers? No. For those reasons, and many more besides, I could not, and would not, have taken advantage of the situation, even if Eddie was to somehow have retained and we were doing this for the purposes of hindsight.
(Mike Anderson): You mentioned that you took some pleasure in beating Eddie. Care to elaborate?
(Hans): Well it’s a man who, as I’m sure many of you will remember, placed Vanessa in harms way during his sham title defence, and who has done nothing to warrant being mentioned alongside those that have held this title before him with his actions… or lack thereof. I also don’t really care for the man…
He smirks.
(Hans): As if that wasn’t obvious enough already… but aside from that, it’s the knowledge that when I’m done with this title, people will struggle to look past what I’ll have achieved to look at the pathetic footnote of what came before me.
(Mike Anderson): Some might say that’s quite an arrogant stance you’re taking there Hans…
Again, another shrug of the shoulders is the immediate response.
(Hans): Look at what I achieved with the All-Star. Do people talk of the achievements of the man I beat to gain that title? No. Do people talk of the achievements of the man I lost the title too? No. They talk of what I achieved with that title. ‘The greatest All-Star champion of all time’. I shudder to think how many times I’ve heard that on people’s lips over the past few months.
He leans to one side in his chair, propping himself up on his elbow.
(Hans): Seriously though. Look at what I achieved with the All-Star, and keep that in mind while I go about eclipsing that over the next few months.
(Mike Anderson): Only a few months?
(Hans): Well once what I have in mind gets approved, it’ll be tough to look beyond that timescale.
(Mike Anderson): Nothing you could say to us I suppose?
(Hans): Afraid not Mike, I’m not going to take a leaf out of Bryan Deas’ book, sorry.
(Mike Anderson): The longest reign, if memory serves, is still that of Buff Bridges, and that was close on, if not just over, one year. Surely it’s something to aim for?
(Hans): Of course it is, but while Buff for the majority of that reign had Senester on his side, I most definitely do not.
(Mike Anderson): Speaking of someone who until recently had Senester on his side; Butch Parker. Any thoughts you’d like to share? Have you spoken since ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’?
(Hans): No we’ve not. I… I’m taken aback by it now that it’s out in the open. I mean… Diana…
He exhales.
(Hans): I can see why he did it, his sister meant the world to him but then there’s what he did en route to getting her back and…
He holds his up his hands in front of him, palms towards Mike.
(Hans): I don’t know. There’s still as many unanswered questions as there was before what happened, happened.
(Mike Anderson): Would you find it in you to forgive him for what he’s put both you and Vanessa, not to mention your brother through?
(Hans): I don’t know… the things we’ve both done for Senester are certainly nothing to be proud of, but he has blood on his hands now, and…
He trails off, as he thinks on what to say.
(Hans): We’ll speak when we’re both ready for everything to come out.
The look in his eyes make it clear that that’s all that’s going to be drawn out of him on that line of questioning.
(Mike Anderson): What about your brother; Heinrich. He’s been the vocal one over the last few months, pressing you to take a similar stance towards Butch, and has had numerous altercations with him. How’s he taken these revelations?
(Hans): Honestly, I’m not sure. He’s been shaken up by what happened to Ricky Evans, but I get the feeling he’s using it to remain tight lipped on a few things. Family means a lot to both of us, but things are a little bit more black and white with my brother.
To be continued…
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