AC James, with the help of Veronique, marches (in a heavily-limping fashion) into the locker-room backstage, post-match at Havoc, James with fire in his eyes and a sneer twisting his upper-lip. He has his right arm over the shoulder of Veronique, who acts a human crutch due to James' banged-up right knee, and in his other hand is his half of the HWA World Tag-Team Titles.

James huffs and tosses the Tag-title onto his bags nearby, then angrily turns-away from Veronique and takes a few (limping) steps away, running his hands through his sweat-soaked hair.

"At what point did I start getting left out of the circle? Huh?" James asks in a quiet, smouldering tone. his back to Veronique, "At what F**KING POINT did AC James, one-half of the Tag-champs and the rudder guiding this little grouping of you, me and Eddie, suddenly become the person to completely IGNORE when it comes to making calls? Hmm??"

"Look, AC, I only just heard....." Veronique begins to reply, cautiously approaching James.

"YOU only just heard....?!" James snaps, hurriedly hopping on the spot to face Veronique, "I should've been the one that had 'only just heard', not you! ME!! I'm the top of the food-chain in this group.......NO! In this whole f**king organisation!! So you tell me what's wrong with this whole situation, huh?!"

Veronique puts her hands on her hips, her tongue in her cheek, and she glares at James.

"YOU want to be the first to know?" she snaps in response, pointing an angry finger at James, "Then you open your eyes, open your ears, and pay some GOD-DAMNED-ATTENTION! Don't hold me accountable for other people's mistakes, ESPECIALLY your own!! You don't watch the promos, you don't watch the HWA TV feeds, then that's YOUR problem, NOT MINE!!"

James huffs and puffs in anger for a few moments as the pair have a stare-down, neither giving an inch. James then hops back a step and sighs, putting his hands on his hips and shakes his head.

"OKAY." James says, throwing his hands up, "Okay. I was out of line, V, and I'm sorry. Okay?"

Veronique glares at James for a few more moments, then nods, biting her lip.

"Just watch that mouth of yours, AC." Veronique says, with a quick point of a finger, "Because I don't have to stay here and be your verbal punching bag, comprende' 'champion?"

James stands there, nodding.

"I totally comprende, V." James replies, "vous êtes précieux pour moi. Comprendre magnifique?"

Veronique smiles a little, looking away as if a little shy as James smirks at her playfully. She nods and brushes her long blonde hair back.

"Okay, okay." she says, her mood instantly improved, "I'll let you get away with it this time, but ONLY because you're such a good sweet-talker."

"Hey." James says with a shrug and a smirk, "A man needs some other skills, y'know. I can't wrestle forever."

James looks down to his right knee and hops back a few steps to lean-against a nearby table.

"Especially with a bad wheel like this." James says, "V, it's starting to become a problem."

Veronique approaches James and rubs a comforting hand on his back, then pats James on the shoulder.

"We've got a week." Veronique says, "I'll call Pierre and get him to work on it. Until then, let's try and take it easy, comprende?"

"Entendu, V." James responds, "Good time to speak my mind."

"Like anything would ever stop you." Veronique says with a chuckle.

James nods in reply, then flinches in pain.