Race stands before the crowd in a suit and tie, carefully adjusting the buttons of his jacket. ?Welcome, welcome everybody. We?ve got a great show for you tonight. Ebon Ilnaren is here??

Some crowd applause and cheers.

?And the man, the myth, the not yet a legend, Sheridon Driscol.?

More crowd reaction.

?Some interesting things this week if you?ve been paying attention to the news. Overnight a rainforest showed up in the Twilight Isle. There are all ready rumors that the Keeper of Earth is being asked for strip mining rights and kickbacks for the price of fresh lumber. ?

Race throws up that signature grin as the crowd laughs.

?Tree top tea parties, or lawn darts for land rights? If you?re nature hiking, wear a hard hat. Or armor from Batten Industries. However it is a nice departure from the current deep freeze throttling the city. Even Jack Frost is currently booking a vacation to the Isle.??

Crowd laughs louder now.

?Duel of Swords Madness is upon us once again as well. Last I checked there were about ten slots left. Looks like a tough line up this year. But then it?s tough every year. There?s enough aged leather among the usual sixty-four duelists to make an entire heard of horses. Then Anubis signs up and slave market has a recession.?

Race laughs along with the crowd while rubbing his hands together.

?Among other whispers is the upcoming Fashion Week 2015.? some crowd applause at that announcement. ?Which is having a Macbeth of a year so far. One thing going wrong after another. I?d be looking at the models. Ninjas every last one of them, they turn sideways, breath in, and vanish from sight.?

Spreading his hands wide at some mixed reactions from the crowd, Race just grins more. ?After a word from our sponsors, I?ll be sitting down with our first guest. Stay tuned.? He points at the camera which fades to a commersial from RhyGreens.

Have you had your flu shots today?

Race takes a sip from his mug. "You're a former Governor, you beat Matt Simon in a cage match, and you're one hell of a lip singer. Anything you can't do?"

"Have babies," Dris replies immediately, grinning mischievously. He makes a circular gesture around his pelvic area. "Ain't got the parts for it." He tips a finger warningly at Race. "An' don't even go on about magic man pregnancies." He shudders. "That ain't right."

The audience laughs and snickers at the response.

"I agree. There are some things that just shouldn't take place..." Race grimaces and wrinkles his nose.

"You seem to be the man to contact with a lot of challenges at the Arena of late. Or at least that's the way it's looked to me. Something you've come to really enjoy, being Mr. Challenge?"

"Race, I live for challenge matches. They're the reason I signed on to assist with officiating the duels in the first place. Calling regulation duels is all well and good, but bein' the referee of a high rankin' battle royale is where it's really at. Ain't nothin' more entertainin' and nail biting than two spectacular warriors goin' at it for the glory of a title. Except maybe me, of course." Dris smiles devilishly and passes a wink off to the audience.

"True, true. Of course, there have only been a few challenges until this huge string recently. In your opinion, what do you think people want to see when they go to a challenge? I know for me, it's all about the hype and trash talking. What about you?"

"Hype an' trash talkin's all well an' good, aye, but I think the majority o' spectators these days are simply there t'cheer on a friend. Challenges don't draw in as much a crowd o' strangers as might used ta been." Dris sighs, pausing for a sip of water from his mug.

"We're 'opin' to change that, though, with our February promotionals leadin' up to the Madness Tournament that starts in March. An' didja know that at present Melanie Rostol is at present the 99th Overlord of the Duel of Swords? Should Kimone come out victorious nex' Friday, she'll go down in the 'istory books as bein' the hundreth duelist t'wear the mantle!

"I don't know about you, Race, but that kind o' history is what excites me most about these things. I like t'be there t' witness it bein' made!"

Race nods his head to that, appearing to think it over. "That's very true. Of course I'm surprised how long went before she was challenged. You'd have thought there'd be more wanting her out. Given, just everything surrounding her getting the mantle. Or was all of that just showmanship?"

Can't say." Dris shrugs, lips pursing a moment before turning up a smile right away again. "As for why it took so long fer the challenge t'come, I think it was courtesy on the part o' most. Everybody knew the Warlord Tournament was comin' up, an' what the grand prize was like t'be. Rest assured, if Kimone don' win out, there's gon' be a line of ambitious, eager challengers t'follow."

"And if she does? Would that be the start of Asian Invasion Domination of the Arena? First Charlie beat Jake, now Kimone's taking a shot at the title?" Offering speculation idly as he sets down his mug.

"T'be fair, that invasion already started with one verra fine an' singular lady. Ye might recall Hayashibara Aya. She's challengin' fer Dockside this Tuesday, too. She was the 86th Overlord o' the Duel o' Swords about five years back. Though if we're talkin' team spirit, weren't Melanie on that IFL roster 'erself? Maybe it'll wind up bein' more like an internal fam'ly rivalry! Won't that be exciting!"

"Well Team Beat Down all but imploded. No reason Asian Invasion can't suffer the same. Though I hope not. I love their calendars."

Crowd breaks out into more laughter. Helped by the waggle of brows Race gives while looking into the camera.

"They do make some verra nice merchandise, I must agree." Dris smiles broadly and takes a sip of water from his mug.

Crowd breaks out into more laughter. Helped by the waggle of brows Race gives while looking into the camera. "Yes yes they do have very nice things."

Dris only keeps on smiling.

"Besides calling, what have you been doing? Anything people can expect to see from you, like a governor run?" Nudging playfully.

With a laugh, Dris shakes his head. "Oh heavens no. I'm done with politics." The crowd awes with disappointment. "Oh c'mon now," he tells them. "I was only in it t'give Matt Simon a challenge an' knock 'im down off 'is throne. Maybe if Ebon's ambitions get as big I'll step up to the plate again." There's some sounds of approval. One person yells a woohoo! "I said maybe," Dris says. Then he looks back at Race with a smile.

"I've been managin' the FUNDERDOME fer the most part. Somebody's gotta keep the scoundrels that patron the place in line, eh? 'Specially that Khoom. Gotta keep an eye on that one." Dris tips a wink yet again, in the if ya know what I mean way.

At the mention of the kirn a round of swoons go through the crowd. "I'd say they know the same quite well."

?Who doesn't?" Dris smiles slyly, pausing for another drink.

"Furries aren't really my thing, feel a bit awkward asking someone if they've had their flea shots." Race says with a straight face.

Dris laughs outright. "Yegods, man!"

The audience laughs along with Dris as Race smiles to indicate he'd been kidding. "What? I used to own pets. Catch them scratching themselves it's a fifty-fifty." More straight-man act as the audience laughs harder.

Dris laughs along with the audience, loud and hard with a hand touching under his ribs.

"Time for a break. When we come back, top ten things you can expect post Valentine's day!" Points at the camera with his cards before turning to look at Dris, offering him a hand while standing.

"Ladies and gentleman, and other things. Our next guest is a man who needs little introduction. My friend, Ebon Ilnaren!"

He motions to the side-stage entrance as the crowd applauds.

He stepped onto the stage, all smiles with a wave to the crowd, and takes a seat. "Thanks for having me on the show, Race."

"Good to see your new role hasn't driven you to pattern baldness and gray hairs just yet." He offers with a grin. "How are things over at the Governor's office?"

"Fairly busy, just trying to keep abreast of what's going on in the city, not always successfully... and it comes with its own headaches." Ebon chuckled softly and looked out at the crowd. "To all who voted for me, I apologize for whatever I did to tick you off."

That gets a smattering of light laughter as Race continues. "There's the Town Hall meeting on monday. Any previews about what you're speaking points will be? And will there be cookies?"

"It's a bit of a light agenda, not that I've ever been one to push heavy agendas. I'm hoping to drum up a bit of excitement for Fashion Week, and Madness of course. That's always a fun time, yes?" A low whistle escaped his lips. "On a more serious note, the effects of gang fights earlier this month can still be felt, and I'd like to see what we can think up to keep incidents like that from happening again. I've heard news of neighborhood meetings in the wake of the violence... that's a good thing. Mutual cause bringing people together." Beat. "Also, yes, there will be cookies."

"Well the gang violence isn't anything new, just that level is something we've not seen in a long while." He nods in agreement. "Last week I made the offer of aid to those families caught in the cross-fire. Of course it's hard to say which families are not involved.

I saw you entered Madness, since you brought it up. Planning on putting some money down as well?"

"Well, I thought about entering Madness, especially after doing as well as I did in the last Talon... but between my family, the job, and other committments, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to give Madness the focus it deserves. I'll put some money down on it, though, sure. Care for a little wager between the two of us?"

"I didn't think all the slots were filled yet?" A random sound goes off followed by a digital 'Giggity'. Race turns around to look off stage. "Hey! That's my line!"

"To my knowledge, they aren't... get your slots while you can, folks!" Ebon gestured towards the audience with a pointing finger and an eager expression. "Who knows, maybe you, too, can beat G!"

"Or be the one, behind the one, behind beating G!" Jumping in on the act with a grin.

That got a big laugh out of Ebon. "Ah, such memories! But seriously, whether you're a duelist, a gambler, or just a spectator, Madness is not something to miss!"

"I've thought about entering a time or two, but doubt anyone wants to see me throw a weapon at someone and then run around the ring screaming like a girl." He takes a sip of his water.

Having already been in mid-swallow himself, Ebon barely managed not to cough it back up with laughter. "Oh, I don't know. That might be worth a few gold to see." He leaned away from Race, out of swatting reach, and flashed a grin. "Sorry, I've been spending too much time around my kids. The silliness is contagious."

A smattering of laughter comes with Ebon's sputter, which Race jumps in on, offering him a napkin. "Knowing this town, doing just that might get me my own action figure from Fytco."

A smattering of laughter comes with Ebon's sputter, which Race jumps in on, offering him a napkin. "Knowing this town, doing just that might get me my own action figure from Fytco."


"Oh, I can see it now! What sort of accessories would it have?" Ebon turns to regard Race, sipping from his mug.

"Is rugged handsomness an accessory or a super power?" Flashing a grin to the crowd for a decent laugh.

Ebon may or may not have rolled his eyes, it was hard to tell, but he did chuckle. "Super power, of course. That and sheer awesomeness... oh, wait, that's me."

"Really? You went with that joke?" He shakes his head, even as the audience is laughing.

"Sorry." He took another drink of water. "Although, thinking of accessories, what about Fashion Week? You going to do anything on the show around that?"

"I'm sure we'll come up with something. But the folks behind Fashion Week are having their own issues from what's been leaked to the media." Nodding to all of that. "It's Fashion Week. How can we not do something?"

Race looks to the crowd with an 'Am I right?'. Receiving applause. And a thumbs-up from Ebon.
"Governor, duelist. And proprieter or a pretty well to do orphanage. Anything else you hope to add to your titles?" Shifting the discussion back to Ebon himself.

"Well, I do play a fairly decent piano."

He mimed playing a little air piano. "But really, I'm just happy to be who I am, with family and friends. Titles were never really my thing."

"You just pick them up along the way..." grins fully as the crowd jumps in with a light chuckle.

"Stage manager's giving me death glares. Got one last thing to do, Ebon..." Race looks at the man with a knowing smile.

"Yeeeees?"

"Are you familiar with the actor, Willian Shatner?" An eyebrow climbing high.

Ebon nodded, a quizzical-yet-amused expression on his face.

"We're going to play, or rather you are...'What the Shat!'" Game show musci goes off with flashing lights as the crowd laughs. "In this game I'm going to draw a card out of a hat, depicting a scene you are to act out. Or over-act out. In true Shatner style."

"Oh, this ought to be fun."

A runner brings out a red velvet hat. Race gives it a shake which makes several scraps of paper pop up and out but not scatter all over. "Hmmm, hope it's a good one." He eyes Ebon as the audience snickers.

He reaches inside and digs around a moment before taking out a paper. "Ahem..." clearing his throat dramatically and starts unfolding it. Overhead there's a drumroll.

..."Vacuuming during an earthquak!"

"Hmmm. A challenge." After a moment, he stood up and began miming running a vacuum cleaner across the stage, until... he suddenly lurched violently and stumbled to one side, then staggered the other way. "What's... happening! It... must be... an earthquake!"

With slow, deliberate steps, as if forcing himself back to where the vacuum was. "Have to... finish... the carpet! Save... the ship!"

He struggled to keep his balance as the massive earthquake continued to rock the stage, and then... "What? Jammed?! HOOVER!?

The audience is going insane.

?HOOOVEERRRRRRRRRR!"

"I can't even..." as Race is having fits of laughter along with the audience.

Finally he clasped both hands together in a double-fisted slam to the vacuum cleaner, the classic Kirk finishing move, and staggered back to the couch. "It was... fun." A wink to Race.

?That's our show! Goodnight everybody!" Race tosses his cards into the air, turning to Ebon with a grin as the show goes to it's last commercial and announces next week's show.