I'm not really sure of what to say. I"ve been trying to think of what would be the right words, but I just don't think there are any. So here goes...
When this first started, it was just a small group of friends from another fed that'd known each other for a long time that decided to start their own. We didn't expect it to last for long, maybe a few shows, then we'd all collectively sort of hang up the boots so to speak.
We lasted two and a half years. Over 50 shows. More than a dozen PPVs on top of that.
Not only that, but we gained new friends...several of them, in fact, along the way who helped keep this place afloat for as long as it has.
I'll be the first to admit I didn't contribute to this place as much as I should have for a variety of reasons, but I always tried to do what I could though of course in the end it wasn't enough.
I'm sad to see the fed go. For many of its characters, this place will unfortunately be the last place in which they flourish and I had thought before now that this would be where Reya would ultimately retire. I'll of course be here, as I was in the beginning, until the fed draws its last breath, and then Reya will move on as I would like to continue forward with her (idk about Lexi's future tbh), though I'm not sure for how long. Outside of that, I'll still be in the chats and all of that. Once the fed has reached its end, the community will be all that is left. That community is important. It's like a family, for some more of a family than their RL family. I'm hoping that despite the absence of the fed that we'll manage to keep that together. I joked sometimes about having such a community (even had a name for it...HOME - Hall of Misfit E-fedders lol) but it turns out that I didn't need to create it. It already existed. I have you all to thank for that.
A few shoutouts, if I maybe obliged...
V - 5 years. 5 fucking years. That's all I'm going to say, as anything else may be potentially construed as spoilers.
Slater, Owen, Omega, Steve (who's not here but he's getting a shoutout anyway), Iser, and even yes fucking PJ
- The original "Core" of VOW, along with V, so to speak. You all started this place and helped make it what it is now. I think, despite whatever shit I may give some of you from time to time (#BlameOwen/#BlamePJ), you all deserve our thanks. In addition, it's been wonderful working with each of you individually if only in some cases for a short while.
Robinson - It's been great watching Stacy Jones go from what people probably viewed as a Paige clone to within a split second of becoming World Champion. You should be proud of that and I can't think of very many better people to deserve it. I'm also glad I was able to help you with the Robinson character grow from an Orton clone as well, albeit unintentionally, and in doing so it has led to a Twin City title reign. Not only that, but especially recently when I've been upset or down or anything like that OOC you're usually the first one that comes to me to see if I'm alright. I've really appreciated it and I just wanted to let you know that.
Logan - For a whole year I went without roleplaying. I couldn't write for shit (worse than usual) and Reya had absolutely no direction to move forward. You changed that. You gave me a reason to come back to face Mevy before you retired her. You gave me a reason to want to play again and if you hadn't? Reya wouldn't be anywhere near where she is now. I don't think you get enough credit for that. Thank you. Also, stop being so hard on yourself sometimes. Katie's amazing (I root for her so hard you don't even know) and I think if/when she does return, she's going to light up the night.
James/Nettlez - I haven't known you very long, I think our first interaction at all was on Twitter actually, but somehow we just sorta clicked. I probably spend more of the enjoyable parts of my day interacting with your characters on Twitter more than anything else. Yeah, you're totally a Dilly Bar (
), but you're our Dilly Bar now damn it lol
Kris/Thaly/Erin - I'm glad you were finally able to stumble onto one of the places I've called home. It's a shame that it's been at the end. I really wanted all these guys to see how awesome of a writer I think you are, though they still can just not here and probably not with this character. I'm still glad you're planning on sticking around OOC, though. You've always been a pleasure to talk to whenever I've had the opportunity.
To everyone I've mentioned above and everyone I haven't (Ty, Petey/Pedro, the Jons, Shane, Tony/Cas, Ace, and the list goes on), you all have in your own way made this place special. Thank you for helping be a part of building this place, raising it to prominence during my hiatus, and keeping it together until now.
In closing, I'm going to end this spiel with a video I feel somewhat appropriate. Yeah, it's Star Trek and it's super nerdy but deal with it.