HWA Message Board: What Did I Witness?

The scene opens out onto Hans’ office in the HWA Academy.

You’ve just observed the ‘promo’ by Professor Hoff, having decided on your lunch break to see what has been said by anyone on the roster ahead of the latest Havoc.

It seems as though many are busy ahead of the matches, keeping quiet on social media and preparing.

’Most unlike some of them…’

But here you are, on the leather sofa at one end of the room, the TV across from you having just concluded the promo. You sit there, taken aback by what you’ve witnessed.

It’s elaborate, sure. Shocking?

Yes, you’d admit that.

High budget?

‘The wonders they can do with AI today.’

You think of the technology that Disney showcased with The Mandalorian…

‘What was it…? Ah, the Volume.’

You stare at the screen, one eye brow arching up, skeptical.

It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. The budget for HWA was smaller than that of the days of your last tenure.

‘And we’re not being bankrolled by Senester…’

That was a good thing.

But, nevertheless the budget was smaller. Offset by the rapid growth in the digital space however. Even just thinking about the size of the cameras held by the team that Roderick or Mandy had you shaking your head at times at the opposing jump in quality that had occurred over the years.

‘Can see every pore on my face.’

Yes, this was more akin to a poor horror film, going for cheap thrills and violence rather than plot or suspense.

’Surely not a snuff film as an actual promo?’

That thought takes a while to dissipate, your eyes still locked onto the TV all the while, further disgust at the thought of your opponent taking root.

’And to get someone to stand in for me…?’

Well, someone of your approximate height and size… eminently doable, even for someone as clearly deluded as your opponent.

Speaking of delusion…

You reach down beside you, fishing your iPhone up and swipe it open, loading up the camera app and ensuring that it’s facing towards you on the video option.

Pressing the button, you start.

’Professor… that was…’

Your lip curls upwards, disgust evident as much as the bile rising at the back of your throat is not.

’... that was quite the performance, jah? But if you thought to…’

You just find yourself shrugging, unable to articulate any clearer.

’Actually I’m not sure what you were trying to prove. That you’re insane? Jah, in welchem das ist clear.’

You find yourself shaking your head gently from side to side, carrying on.

’I don’t think I’ve seen someone try to be so… so unlikeable in a very long time. Sure, we have Tobias, jah? No-one would bat an eyelid if he ends up on the wrong end of a beating… und Herr Chaos went out of his way until recently to act on the things he said he’d do… though not always of course…’

You can’t help it. The smirk flutters across your face almost involuntarily at those words.

’But you Professor… how you’ve found yourself with a contract… perhaps our Canadian friend has a point, jah? Murdering someone on camera… jah, das ist neu. But perhaps I’d put more stock into it if you then didn’t ramble on about going backstage to find mein frau… good luck with that Professor.’

A roll of the eyes as you say this.

’But allow me to make clear one thing Hoff. Whatever it was you did there…’

He gestures behind him, towards the TV, not that you can truly tell of course, but it’s clear what he’s referring to.

’It doesn’t scare me. It doesn’t intimidate me. It just makes me determined more than ever to put an end to you. You slunk into das HWA, und in that time, I’ve not seen anything that concerns me in-ring. I can beat you. Ich habe bereits. Even if you took all das time that you spend in that lab of yours und spend it in a ring, you don’t match up.’

A finger jabs at the screen.

’Mad scientist is a fresh take given the cast we’ve had in this federation before, I’ll grant you that. But the cheap thrills und laughter? It doesn’t mask for long that you’re a runt compared to me. David und Goliath is just a tale mein freund, this match won’t end the way the bible goes.

Your lips are but a thin line now, your stare boring into the camera.

’The only life choices being regretted will be yours und yours alone Hoff.’

You stab another finger at the screen, before hitting the record button, ceasing the recording.

You slump back into the leather sofa, fingers tapping as if on auto pilot as you upload the video to the HWA YouTube site.

Yes, tomorrow will be another day of training, all the better to keep your mind off other things… though frankly right now, you were in truth grateful to Hoff. He’d focused your mind, even if it was going to be to his ultimate detriment.

A smirk again forms, as the ping of the upload completing occurs.

Yes, he will regret what he’s saying and doing.

End scene.