Inside The Mind of Quartz: May 26th, 2024

Quartz · June 6, 2024

A blurry view follows an individual into the corner of a private locker room. The lens is blurred and stifled, turning various shades of red and black as it crashes onto the concrete ground below.

The roar of a capacity crowd filling the seats of the Pechanga Arena juxtapose the concerning visual, but accompanies a nearby TV in the corner of the empty locker room. Time has passed and the OCW faithful have moved on from whatever resulting damage is being dealt with behind the scenes. The rest of OCW Point Break continues to play out on this television, which is barely audible over the crowd.

A single streak of red falls into frame, as blood drips over the eyes of the individual dealing with the aftermath.

A sudden shutter of light brings us to a new vantage point. We see one half of Perfect Storm sitting alone in the corner of the room, wiping the streak of blood from his eyes. He looks at his fingers before looking at the ceiling confused, almost not believing that it's his blood.

He breaths heavily in the corner for a moment, the sweat combining with his bloody face to create a damp waterfall of suffering. He smirks, the blood dripping down past his lip and staining his teeth. He knows what comes next.

The locker room morphs away slowly and eerily melts into darkness, several lights filling the room in a familiar way. Ijitu Quartz' laughter becomes more outlandish, before he angrily wipes the crimson mask across his face and through his hair, brushing it back and grimacing, knowing what - or who - comes next.

Ijitu Quartz: That all you got, you gah' damn vultures!? I am not impressed!

Ijitu Quartz continues to mock the darkness as he chuckles, wiping the blood and sweat from his face, attempting to regain clear vision.

As he drags his palm across his right eye, clearly revealing the bright blue in his eye, two figures step into view.

The former OCW World Champion stares straight forward with the same chaotic anger, waiting to react.

In a cut-off black trenchcoat, a mirror of the man himself steps forward, pulling his light reading glasses down and furrowing his brow. He lifts his hand as a small black book forms in his hands.

Intell Quartz: Let's see... 2018, You fell time and again by your own arrogance... Changes were needed.

Intell Quartz: 2019... Road 2 Gold Tournament... Yep, once again.

Intell Quartz: 2021... A jaw-dislocation by the foot of your own flesh and blood. Again.

Ijitu leans up into the darkness to cut off Intell's rambling. Intell lifts his reading glasses again and holds the book open, waiting for Ijitu's response.

Ijitu Quartz: Yeah, read off your accomplishments then, dipshit!

Intell looks disappointed and shakes his head, before readjusting his glasses and continuing.

Intell Quartz: 2024... Failed to redeem himself, even by manipulating his own brother. Once agai-

Ijitu Quartz: Manipulating?! I swear to god, I will make sure none of us get out of this pit if you finish that sentence.

As he finishes his threat, Inness Quartz steps out of the darkness, his long brown beard and shaven head not concealing his legitimate concern for the man suffering on the floor below him.

Intell Quartz: Interesting... Please do not forget that all of us represent him, it's in my best interest to protect what you seem so intent on destroying.

Intell closes his book and walks forward, calmly closing his reading glasses and placing them gently in the inside of his coat pocket. He thinks for a second before leaning over the battered and bloody Ijitu Quartz.

Intell Quartz: Even you can't be so foolish to think we've made it this far without cooperation. This entire time, you have thought it's been a war between the three of us. A war of control, a war between three ideas that think they knew what was best for the body.

Intell Quartz: This kind of rebellion is unlike you, Ijitu. Of course, not in general... But towards us?

Intell smiles and slowly turns back to look at Inness Quartz, standing with his arms crossed, observing the scene.

Intell Quartz: If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were more like Inness than you thought.

Ijitu slams his head backwards into the ether, providing himself the adrenaline and grip enough to stand to his feet without assistance. He takes another swipe across his own face, smearing the blood even further, as he steps into the face of Intell. The man donning black simply smiles at him, knowing the three cannot physically interact in the Mind.

Ijitu Quartz: I am nothing like that quitter. I'm sure you have records in your little book, too, don't you?

Ijitu Quartz: In fact, even if I was, it'd be better than being a sad gaslighting, fake ass intellectual.

Ijitu Quartz: Because with him, I know he's gone to war for him. He's put the body on the line just as much as I have. What have you done?

Ijitu turns his attention to Inness, still standing silently with his arms crossed.

Ijitu Quartz: I'm not giving you shit. You're gonna have to TAKE control from me to stop me from doing what I set out to do.

Ijitu Quartz: So if you're going to do it, you better do it now. C'mon, big man! I kicked your little creep pet project Deaver in his face. I ran off that fucking leech Rust Cohle. If you're gonna do something, try it.

Inness does not respond, instead only giving a thousand yard stare as Ijitu continues.

Ijitu Quartz: That's what I thought... Because you rejected an opportunity that I never gave you permission to reject. You wanna make us out to be this weak second fiddle? I won't let you. H2O is the only one who had a shot at stopping me. He's the only one worthy of my time.

Ijitu Quartz: So if you two edgelord fucks have nothing more interesting to tell me... I'm out. I'm not letting you take control from me until I hold the tag team championships again.

Intell Quartz: Your priorities are no better for us than they were in 2018. You think you're the hero, but not a single person on the other side sees it that way.

Ijitu laughs

Ijitu Quartz: Oh is that right? And what did you do when you had control? Lose to AC Cobra?

Ijitu Quartz: That's what I thought.

Ijitu looks at each of Inness and Intell separately, before taking a deep breath and taking a step. The original locker room begins to manifest...

Intell Quartz: I am no fighter. I am a survivor. Sooner, rather than later... You will realize that your reckless pride, your arrogance? It will again force you back here... When that time comes, I will be the one to keep Quartz going.

Ijitu pauses for a second, but does not respond, instead choosing to push through the ether into the real world. The light sounds of the TV are once again joined by the roar of the crowd as Harvey Ocean comes through the door, seeing the bloody mess of a partner standing sternly in front of him.

Ijitu Quartz: I'm going to fix this... If it's the last gah' damn thing I do.

The scene fades as the two convene about their next steps.