Post by Ampersand on Dec 27, 2021 5:08:05 GMT
A playful electric guitar solo breaks the dark of the Ascended Wrestling Colosseum on its second PPV and final show of the year.
Richard Dweck is seen walking down the streets of Seattle, a newly arrived warrior surveying the fresh concrete jungle in which he now finds himself, the Christmas lights of the rain-soaked city casting him in electric shades and hues. As the camera swings across the street, we see Legacy, Viola Williams, picking up a cup of hot cocoa from an espresso stand. Strolling away, the camera focuses on a rose brooch whose petals have been scribbled on with black marker stuck to her pin-studded jacket. As the camera zooms out again, we catch sight of Roy Valentine standing in the Market examining pine boughs being sold by the vendors, his noble profile framed with green spines.
Valentine’s regal visage explodes in a burst of white, a snowball smashing across the screen. When it clears, Kyle Beckett is standing on the other side, smirking and rolling up another. Before he can throw it, the camera swings around to show David O’Toole on the other end of the snowball fight. There is something worryingly hollow about his eyes in the pale Winter light. It’s a quality contrasted by the frozen lake upon which Frater Perdurabo stands, pines crowding its shore, ice darkly gleaming beneath a frigid Winter night reflecting the stars and trees in a perfect, cosmic sphere. The scene is disturbed as the sphere is shaken, the images blurring. When they clear again, Mia Rayne is daintily placing a snow globe atop a grand piano which she proceeds to hammer away at with aplomb.
Firelight flickers off the living room scene of Adam and Sherah Prince sitting with Bo Fletcher, passing out Christmas gifts around a tree. Adam takes a deep breath, his eyes focused, something on his mind besides the wrapped gift in his hands. A similarly thoughtful look is on the face of SKUP9, seated in a diner decked out for the holidays, holly, poinsettias, and Santa hats abounding. His reverie is broken by a fond smile as the patrons break into Christmas carols. We then cut to Mara Lang who stands in a laboratory setting behind a round bottom flask held over a burner. Using a pipette, she releases a drop of liquid into the flask and its contents turn a vivid crimson hue. It’s one shared by the blood smeared over the Lab Rat King’s chest in ragged letters: HO HO HO! Beside him is a pile of jobbers, all writhing in pain as he hangs ornaments off of them like a makeshift Christmas tree, Hot Dropkick looking distinctly damp and barnacle encrusted. The grisly spectacle is juxtaposed sharply by Silvio Leon standing behind what appears to be a counter, hands in nitrile gloves, tattoo machine loaded with a vivid shade of green. He ducks down out of sight, the machine buzzing noisily, and when he rises again, he proudly holds up a tree-shaped Christmas cookie with intricately inscribed swirls of icing. It’s taken by someone off camera who is revealed to be Sebastian Hawke. Grinning, the Emerald City Champ has a bite of the cookie before looking at the viewer with a glint in his eye and saying, ‘Let’s see who’s halls get decked tonight!’
The Colosseum is alive with red and green in both attire and from the lights lancing through the air! Several signs are notable among the many:
At the commentary table, Artemis Direction is seated between Del Ramos and Hiro Suzuki. Artemis is dressed in a form-fitting dark green velvet dress and gleaming white pearls, Del is wearing jeans and a sweater that’s a bloody shade of claret accented with poisonous green slashes, and Hiro is in a navy suit with a candy-cane striped tie.
Artemis Direction: Happy Holidays, Ascended Army! I’m Artemis Direction and tonight I’m joined by hardcore legend and vicious vocalist Del Ramos–
Del Ramos: Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.
Artemis Direction: –and Ascended’s favorite aspiring stand-up comedian Hiro Suzuki!
Hiro Suzuki: And a Happy New Year!
Artemis Direction: We are coming to you live from Seattle’s very own Ascended Wrestling Colosseum with our first ever Jingle Bell Bash pay-per-view!
Del Ramos:Nothing like a little bloodshed to liven up the holidays.
Artemis Direction: As if there isn’t enough at family get-togethers.
Hiro Suzuki: Or at the mall.
Del Ramos: Heh! Always fun to go into the toy aisle with knees and elbows flying.
Hiro Suzuki: Well, we’re definitely going to get some warm season’s beatings tonight!
Del Ramos: I bet the Rat King still has that Krampus get-up… I wonder if we could get him back in character and have him pay a visit.
Artemis Direction: I do wonder who he’ll be facing off against tonight.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s right! Our Underworld and Emerald City champs are facing mystery opponents!
Artemis Direction: Exactly! They’ll be determined in parts one and two of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rumble this evening! Whoever wins those contests also wins the right to face off against our champs for a shot at their titles!
Del Ramos: You think Nguyen knocked out Afsah’s teeth for making her say that out loud on live television?
Artemis Direction: Oh, sweetness, we both know if she did that, he’d just start wearing solid gold dentures to annoy her.
Hiro Suzuki: Guess he’d have the Midas tongue like that, huh?
Del Ramos: Hey, Suzuki, have you ever tasted mistletoe?
Hiro Suzuki: I thought it was poison.
Del Ramos: Nah, totally edible. You should give it a try.
Artemis Direction: In our first rumble, we’ll see Viola Williams, Kyle Beckett, Adam Prince, and Roy Valentine facing off against one another for a chance at Hawke’s Emerald City Championship title!
Hiro Suzuki: Roy seems especially motivated to come out on top in this one.
Artemis Direction: Well one could hardly blame him! Knocked off of his throne, he has the chance to turn things around right away. He’s determined to show that Hawke’s win was a fluke.
Del Ramos: Good fuckin’ luck. He’s got some stiff competition to contend with. Beckett’s hot off a win against Valentine’s protege, O’Toole. He’s also friends with the gangly son of a bitch, so I can’t imagine he’s happy about the position Valentine has put O’Toole in.
Artemis Direction: Ms. Williams certainly hasn’t made it a secret she’s got it out for Valentine. She issued a challenge to him after her very first match at our last show!
Del Ramos: Seems like all Prince has to do is lay low and the competition’ll take itself out. He did talk a big game about wanting to help Sebastian.
Hiro Suzuki: If Prince wants to have a bigger influence over the direction the roster takes, getting a title isn’t a bad way to do it.
Artemis Direction: And then there’s part two of our event to determine the challenger for the Underworld Title!
Del Ramos: Heh. Now that’s my idea of a Merry Christmas. We got Perdurabo, Rayne, Lang, and O’Toole mixing it up.
Hiro squirms.
Hiro Suzuki: Anyone else feel like they all cranked up the intensity on their promos?
Del Ramos: Fuck yes and I’m all for it. Rayne’s comin’ out swingin’. She’s got the experience and I think she’s primed to avenge her sister against the Rat.
Hiro Suzuki: I dunno, I think she should be looking out for Lang. All that talk in her promo about finding new test subjects…
Artemis Direction: Well, she’d certainly think twice if she has her sights set on Perdurabo. I still haven’t forgotten what that monster did when he debuted!
Del Ramos: You mean beating the shit out of Kevin?
Artemis Direction: Yes!
Del grins fondly.
Del Ramos: Yeah, I haven’t forgotten either. What a night.
Hiro Suzuki: I gotta say, O’Toole wasn’t one I was expecting to find success with Underworld matches, but so far he’s the only person who’s ever beaten King.
Del Ramos: If he can pull it off again, he’s walking away with gold, but you just know that big, bad fucker has revenge on the mind.
Artemis Direction: All absolutely thrilling, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves, darlings!
Hiro brightens notably at the prospect of the subject moving to less bloodthirsty topics.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s right! We have Richard Dweck making his Ascended Wrestling debut! He had a bit of an unusual start to his career.
Artemis Direction: Indeed! Mr. Dweck started out as a viral Internet sensation and has made quite a name for himself since! It goes to show it doesn’t matter where you come from; you can still find success in the business.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s definitely something our competitors for the World Title both believe.
Del laughs viciously.
Del Ramos: SKUP9 versus Leon. I can see that one getting brutal.
Artemis Direction: SKUP9 learned his lesson from Zephyr Quinn. He hasn’t been pinned since! And he’s consistently been there to remind the roster not to get too cocky.
Hiro Suzuki: He’s definitely been turning heads.
Del smirks.
Del Ramos: In more ways than one. Heh. But Leon’s shown us he’s not afraid to get ruthless. Sounds from his promo like he might be feeling a little backed into a corner. You’ll be surprised what you can find it in you to do when you’ve got nowhere to go.
Artemis Direction: Before we get into it, darlings, I heard there was a bit of a scene that played out just prior to our show starting! Let’s see what juicy little bit of drama occurred in our Ascended parking lot this evening.
The arena always buzzes with anticipation just before an event. The air comes alive with the chatter of engines in the parking lot, the hum of fans lined up by the box office, and the clanging of green roadies carefully mismanaging equipment through the performer’s entrance. There’s an icy nip in the atmosphere tonight that’s enough to freeze even the typical west coast slush into proper snow, as if Marcus Afsah had paid off the sky itself to wear Christmas attire.
Viola Williams, a beat-up old gym bag slung over her shoulder and iced coffee in hand, hurries through the entrance of the Colosseum and breathes a sigh of relief. She pulls her phone from the pocket of her pin-studded jacket to check her notifications as she makes her way inside. Moment by moment the energy inside seems to draw the tension out of her shoulders, until finally she smiles, becoming a part of the electrified atmosphere herself. Then Roy Valentine and his self-satisfied smirk swing around the corner and stop right in Vi’s path.
Roy Valentine: I heard you were looking for me.
Viola hums a response through a sip of coffee, then, without looking up from her phone, holds up a finger while she finishes sending a text.
Valentine's brow furrows in scorn, even as his eyes wander across the various pins tacked to Viola's jacket. He crosses his arms and taps one foot in frustration against the concrete.
Roy Valentine: By all means, Miss Williams. No matter the time I have ensured was made available for our little chat. Finish your conversation.
Viola Williams: Sounds like a you problem.
She takes another sip of her coffee, still not looking up from her phone. With the white-hot fury across Valentine's face, it's a surprise he isn't steaming.
Roy Valentine: My problem, insofar as it may be called a problem, is your obvious lack of respect for my business, Miss Williams. First, you flaunt obviously stolen property during your promotional material; then, without the decency to provide a reason behind your apparent obsession with me, you lay claim to my territory and level threats of violence against my person. Were I a lesser man, I might find these grounds for your immediate removal from this event, no less this programme.
A slow smirk works its way across Viola’s face as she finally tucks her phone away and watches Valentine seethe.
Viola Williams: Oh, buddy, if you can’t handle a little rivalry I think you might be in the wrong line of work.
Valentine throws his head back in laughter.
Roy Valentine: Rivalry? Even in a nightmare, I would scarce consider some precocious upstart like you a rival. If your intention is direct competition, I suggest you return once your roots have grown, little sapling. You have won a single match against an opponent with only losses to his name this year. Run along–lest you be trampled.
Viola sips her coffee and sighs.
Viola Williams: That’s disappointing. I mean, I had a feeling it was coming, I was just hoping you were smarter than this. The whole “underestimating a cute face” schtick was old after the first twenty times.
Roy Valentine: On the contrary, Miss Williams; I hope you prove an able competitor. I cannot count the number of bright-faced newcomers that have left me… wholly disappointed–not the least of whom is your dear friend, the Sidewinder. He threw himself at me with all his unpracticed might. Yet look where he stands now: at my beck and call. I daresay he has found greater success under my tutelage.
Viola’s eyes narrow as Valentine strokes his chin in a mimicry of deep thought.
Roy Valentine: But, here. Allow me to offer you an olive branch. Return my pin, and I shall ensure your defeat is not an utter humiliation, that you might begin your tenure among the Ascended without entirely disappointing the crowd.
Viola glances down at her jacket, where a Sharpied-over rose pin sits above her pocket. An idea forms, and she smiles again.
Viola Williams: This pin, you mean? Tell you what, I wanna make this match more fun for me if it’s gonna be this easy. A pin for a pin—you manage to pin me in the rumble tonight? You can have it. If I’m no threat to you, you should have no problem taking me down, right?
It’s Valentine’s turn to narrow his eyes at Viola as he considers her deal. Though his eyelid twinges in frustration, Valentine puts on a diplomatic smile and thrusts his hand forward for Viola to shake.
Roy Valentine: Since you insist on your own embarrassment, I humbly agree.
Viola eyes the offered hand and sighs.
Viola Williams: Yeah, clearly you haven’t learned a thing from the old man.
She reaches out, not to shake but to shape Valentine’s hand into a fist before tapping it with her own. A confused Valentine recoils, staring from his hand to Viola, as she brushes past him and into the arena.
Viola Williams: See you in the ring, Val.
Del Ramos: Hmm… Williams might be shooting herself in the foot there. Adding another complication to an already chaotic environment isn’t the best way to guarantee success.
Del smirks.
Del Ramos: But it does guarantee the opportunity for more chaos.
Artemis Direction: And the sooner we get started the sooner we can indulge! Let's go to the ring!
Brawn Johnson is already in the ring, gnawing on a turnbuckle pad like he's George "The Animal" Steele but it's not a gimmick. Kevin Kim is standing by with a microphone already to his lips accompanied by a perplexed look on his face.
Kevin Kim: Ladies and gentlemen, the next contest is one fall with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first, already in the ring...
Brawn isn't even paying attention. He's still munching on the turnbuckle pad like a sparerib.
Kevin Kim: ... not even worth it; and his opponent, weighing in at 235 pounds and hailing from New Jersey - Richard Dweck!
Breaking Benjamin's "I Will Not Bow" hits the PA, signaling the arrival of Richard Dweck. He walks out, clasps his hands together to crack his fingers, then turns his head side to side to crack his neck. He salutes with a peace sign, and makes his way down to the ring. As he makes his way up the steel steps, and climbs into the ring, his foot gets caught in the rope and he trips but saves himself with a somersault! He rises gallantly, spreading his arms, extending both hands with twin peace sign finger gestures, and cartwheels into a basic martial arts stance
The bell sounds and Richard starts sizing Brawn up. Richard takes the initiative and sneaks up on Brawn to deliver a bell clap from behind! The big man howls in agony, gripping his ears as he stumbles around to face Dweck.
Hiro Suzuki: Reminds me of the time I called the tinnitus help hotline.
Artemis Direction: Oh? What was that like?
Hiro Suzuki: Couldn’t get a hold of a counselor! It just kept ringing!
Wasting no time, Dweck finishes up his combo with a pair of palms to Brawn's throat. This seems to snap the giant out of his daze, allowing him to clobber Dweck to the mat with a reactionary Polish hammer. Dweck tries to scramble to the feet but the lumbering Brawn manages to get a hold of his hair and lift him to his feet.
Del Ramos: Dweck’s in trouble.
Artemis Direction: Johnson is looking to turn this around with his impressive size and strength!
Brawn's able to biel toss his smaller opponent across the ring. Brawn's lumbering medium for movement allows Dweck to ready himself; he lets Brawn pick him up by the hair once more but once he's at his feet, Dweck reaches out and twists Brawn's nose!
The announcement team lets out a collective cry of sympathy, Hiro’s hand going to his nose with a wince.
Del Ramos: HA! Dweck’s got a good head on his shoulders! You fucking do what you need to do to win!
Hiro Suzuki: Good thing that nose wasn’t twelve inches long.
Artemis Direction: Why’s that, sweetness?
Hiro Suzuki: Because then it’d be a foot!
Brawn howls like a mourning gorilla and releases Dweck, who manages to lock Brawn into a wristlock. With the hold securely in place, Dweck takes the opportunity to pepper Brawn's torso with stiff kicks, capping it off with a roundhouse that lands somewhere in the region of Brawn's chin and jaw. It doesn't take the big man down, but it certainly starts him on a stumble. Smelling opportunity, Dweck hits the ropes and hits Brawn with a STO on the rebound!
Artemis Direction: Marvelous use of momentum by Dweck!
Del Ramos: Size and weight are just things you gotta take into consideration when you’re fighting an opponent. They don’t gotta be deal breakers.
Brawn hits the mat with tremendous force and cries out like an injured moose. The advantage is firmly in hand for Dweck given that Brawn is struggling to lift his frame from the mat. It must be due to the intake of faux leather and foam padding earlier. Richard Dweck starts to feel a little chipper and panders to the crowd to illustrate himself as a possible giant slayer.
Hiro Suzuki: Dweck better be careful about getting too cocky.
He feels a tug at his boots - it's Brawn!
Artemis Direction: Oh dear…
He manages to get to his knees and he is now trying to foolishly use his smaller opponent to lift himself up. Dweck frees himself with a few fists and a knee to Brawn's head, freeing him up to move behind the big man and lock in a dragon sleeper. While in the hold, Dweck throws a few knees into Brawn's back and neck for good measure. Whether it be through assumption or savant knowledge, it's almost as if Dweck knows Brawn won't tap. He releases his opponent, only to hit him with the RDDT! He goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-
Big time kick out by Brawn!
Artemis Direction: Johnson has no intention of making this a cake walk for our newest signee.
A little bit of frustration is visible on Dweck's face, he clearly thinks that was supposed to end things. He doesn't give Brawn any opportunity to recover. Dweck gathers all his strength and hits the Epic Trifecta! Brawn is left confused as to whether he needs to clutch his gut or his shoulder but either way, Dweck hooks both legs and makes sure his body weight is leaning on the same side of Brawn's body that the affected shoulder is on.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Kevin Kim: Here is your winner by pinfall, Richard Dweck!
Artemis Direction: Wasn’t that a stunning debut! Mother may have to retire to the divan to recover, darlings!
Del Ramos: I’m not goin’ anywhere. Not with our first free-for-all coming up.
Artemis Direction: Well, don’t spoil your appetite, my violent delight, because before we get to that, it sounds like there’s something going on backstage between Ms. Williams and our World Champ.
In the backstage area of the Colosseum, Silvio Leon is pacing, breathing even and almost meditative. He looks focused, and seems so much in his own private world that he nearly walks right into Viola Williams as she rounds the nearby corner. He holds up his hands to catch her before they collide, expression apologetic as he releases her again.
Silvio Leon: Jeez, sorry! I’m kinda in the zone right now; I didn’t mean to run you over.
Viola's gaze flicks over him in his ring gear, then quickly back up with an embarrassed laugh.
Viola Williams: No—my bad. Don’t let me interrupt.
Silvio Leon: You're not interrupting. If anything I should probably not let myself get too far into my own head about all this.
Viola Williams: Hey, you’ve done it before, you can do it again. Seriously, don’t sweat it.
Silvio Leon: Thanks! I’m not taking SKUP lightly. The only reason his fight with Mara was a draw was because of her shenanigans.
He brightens, while she hesitates.
Silvio Leon: But, hey! How about you? Excited for your match? The rumbles are gonna be wild.
Viola Williams: Oh yeah. The only thing more fun than tossing someone bigger than me around the ring is getting to do it three more times.
Silvio grins and offers a fist bump.
Silvio Leon: Lookin’ forward to seeing it! I know you’re gonna do great. Give Valentine one for me, huh?
Viola scoffs and rolls her eyes. She’s about to respond—when something overhead catches her attention. She pauses, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Viola Williams: Uh, Sil?
Silvio blinks and gives her a little lopsided smile.
Silvio Leon: What, you gonna leave me hanging–
His gaze follows hers and he freezes.
Silvio Leon: …Oh, uh…
Above them suspended by a ribbon is a sprig of mistletoe.
His gaze snaps back to Viola, the Oracle suddenly extremely aware of the fact she is dressed in a festive little number involving a miniskirt and crop-top sweater done in rich, green velvet and trimmed with fluffy white fur.
Silvio Leon: You… um, hey, you know you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m not gonna be offended.
She watches him flounder for a moment, still trying to bite back a grin, and raises an eyebrow at him.
Viola Williams: And what are you gonna do, keep waiting around here until someone else comes along?
That lopsided smile turns into a little laugh as he closes the space between them and reaches up to touch her chin. The smug confidence of her smile falters, giving way to the anticipation underneath. As he tilts her chin up and draws closer, he leans in gently, noses almost brushing as he rests his forehead against hers.
Silvio Leon: Well, if you insist.
Closing his eyes, his lips touch hers softly, almost chastely. She hums, then pushes up on her toes to get closer. Silvio’s eyes open briefly in surprise, but they ease closed again after a moment and he finds the hand touching her chin unfolding to cradle the side of Viola’s face. Holding a second longer, he draws back, something warm fluttering in the pit of his belly.
As Viola rocks back onto her heels, it’s impossible to miss the color tinting her cheeks. Still, she gives Silvio a small, satisfied smile.
Viola Williams: Merry Christmas, Boy Scout.
Silvio smiles back and taps her nose.
Silvio Leon: And a Happy New Year, Funshine.
Artemis Direction: Well, isn’t that sweet?
Hiro Suzuki: Huh. Del, are you sure mistletoe is edible?
Del Ramos: Absolutely. We’ll go backstage after the show and you can try some.
Hiro Suzuki: Well, I have to say I’m berry excited about the prospect!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, the following contest is Part One of Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Rumble! All fighters for this match will start in the ring! Fighters are eliminated when they are thrown out of the ring over the top rope and touch the floor on the outside. The winner is the last person standing in the ring! Later tonight, the winner of this match will face Sebastian Hawke for the Ascended Wrestling Emerald City Championship!
The Ascended Army roars in response!
Kevin Kim: Introducing first!
Lights fade on the first quiet bars of Centuries then flare to life with the swelling of the music; Viola Williams steps out in a green velvet skirt and crop top, both trimmed with white fur. She grins and starts making her way down to the ring, nodding her head to the beat and taking in the reactions from the crowd with unabashed awe.
Kevin Kim: From Baltimore, Maryland, weighing in at 160 pounds, she is Viola Williams, LEGACY!
She turns to a nearby camera and gives a small salute, then taps her thumb to her forehead twice with an open hand—a small sign to her dad back home. Then she picks up the pace, jogging, then running until she gets to the ring and climbs up onto the ropes. She turns to the audience and throws her arms out, grinning and pumping her fist at the response.
Artemis Direction: With the rules as they are, a pin between Viola and Roy won’t count for anything for the outcome of this match.
Del Ramos: It ain’t about winning. It’s about making a point.
Kevin Kim: And our second entrant into the Rumble!
"Warriors" by Aaliyah Rose begins to play over the PA system and yellow lights strobe and pulse to the beat as the Princes of Power, "Adorable" Adam and "Iron Man" Sherah Prince, and their manager, "Beautiful" Bo Fletcher, step out onto the stage.
Kevin Kim: From Prima Porta, Italy, weighing in at 206 pounds, he is the ‘Adorable’ ADAM PRINCE!
Adam bounces and dances to the music for a moment, showboating for the crowd, before the trio make their way down the aisle. Upon reaching the ring, Sherah climbs the stairs and continues up the outside of the turnbuckles while Adam slides into the ring and ascends the ropes on the opposite side. The two of them look out over the audience, pointing at the fans and pumping their fists in the air. Adam’s companions offer him luck, high-fiving and fist bumping, before exiting the ring.
Hiro Suzuki: Adam talked a big game about helping out Sebastian Hawke after what Mara Lang did to him.
Artemis Direction: It’s a complicated situation, certainly. What happened to Sebastian was traumatic! Kidnapped and experimented on all in the name of increasing his pain tolerance? If anyone needs support, it’s Hawke.
Del Ramos:: We’ll see if this Prince kid can put his money where his mouth is.
Kevin Kim: Our third Rumble entrant!
“Stick to Your Guns” hits and Kyle stands at the top of the entrance ramp, bent slightly forward and arms crossed. He drops the hood of his jacket and throws his arms out wide, letting out an excited roar to the crowd. He looks around to take in the arena before striding down the ramp.
Kevin Kim: From Brisbane, Australia, and weighing in at 91kg, he is the “Culture Clash,” KYLE BECKETT!
Kyle ascends the ring apron, looking out to the arena again, and climbs to the top of the turnbuckle. His “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” is answered with a resounding “Oi oi oi!” from the Ascended Army.
Hiro Suzuki: Beckett’s run with Ascended has been impressive.
Artemis Direction: He and O’Toole have a fascinating dynamic. I wonder how they’d do on a team together.
Kevin Kim: And our final entrant for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rumble Part One!
Heavy operatic guitar blares through the stadium. The screen follows a trail of twisting, thorny vines as they wind over a pitch-black floor towards the foot of a marble throne. As the thorns begin to engulf the stone, the camera rises to reveal Roy Valentine lying sideways across his marble seat, legs pitched over its arm. The plants trace a deferential space around Valentine, but utterly consume every inch of bare throne. When the vines finally stop twisting, Valentine snaps his fingers, and the all-encompassing wall of green bursts into bloom, red and gold roses spelling out the name, “ROY VALENTINE”.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, weighing in at 219 pounds, he is ROY VALENTINE!
Valentine then makes his entrance in the flesh, struts on stage under a shower of crimson petals. Alongside him stalks his steel wall of an assistant, Anastasia Keller, metal clipboard in hand. Valentine holds a scarlet “Valentine Velvet” rose at his heart, which he tosses into the crowd on his way to the ring, all the while blowing kisses to the adoring--or, perhaps, disgusted--Ascended Army.
Del Ramos: Heh! I can’t wait to see Roy let loose. Guy’s gotta bring the pain if he wants to win. He’s got at least two people who wouldn’t mind punting him out of the ring, and I doubt Prince is too amenable to the dude, either. We could be seeing a handicap match here.
Viola and Roy only seem to have eyes for each other, the pair immediately locking up as Adam and Kyle begin trading blows!
Artemis Direction: Seeing as the winner of this competition has another match later tonight, ending this as quickly as possible has got to be on the minds of all our fighters.
Del Ramos: Fat chance of that happening. This is an opportunity at a title - none of these fuckers is going down easy.
That seems to be the case with Adam and Kyle, the latter of whom nails the former with a forearm smash that sends him staggering back a step. Undeterred, Prince returns the favor with a stiff forearm lariat that causes Kyle to stumble back into the ropes! Sensing opportunity, Adam bolts forward a few quick steps before nailing Kyle in the chest with a running drop kick! For a moment it looks like the audience is about to see its first elimination, but Kyle clings to the top rope, flipping over to land on the apron outside! The Ascended Army lets out a cheer as the Culture Clash swiftly hops back up onto the top rope before sailing through the air and nailing Prince with a crossbody!
Artemis Direction: Beckett seems determined to continue his winning ways!
Hiro Suzuki: He’s got to be feeling confident about his recent victory over O’Toole.
As the two begin to climb back to their feet from the canvas, Legacy and Valentine are having a slobberknocker of their own.
Viola plants her feet and gives Valentine a shove—for a moment he looks surprised that he’s moved at all, though it’s quickly replaced with a pitying smirk as he lashes out to grab her by the arm and wrench her in for a short clothesline! Viola hits the mat, but she’s quick to roll aside and hop back to her feet, and makes to run at him, arm outstretched for a lariat.
Artemis Direction: Ms. Williams showing she’s not going to let anyone keep her down!
But she’s telegraphed it just early enough that Valentine sees her coming, catches her, and flips her in a decisive hip toss! Once again she takes the bump on her back—but on the bounce she hauls herself forward, and she lands on her feet in a low crouch! As she rises—to the cheers of the crowd and Valentine’s amazement—it’s Legacy’s turn to smirk with a theatrical sigh, as if she’s bored with this. She’s quick to do something about it, landing a few swift blows to keep him disoriented, then sweeps him up for a thunderous sidewalk slam!
Hiro Suzuki: Y’know, Williams has a lot of muscle for somebody her size!
Artemis Direction: You’re just learning what every girl already knows, darling. The best things come in small packages! Usually labeled, ‘Zales,’ ‘De Beers,’ or ‘The Shane Company.’
Valentine quickly shakes his disbelief, and makes to pounce, with Williams barely scuttling out of reach. She doesn’t get much distance before he lashes out again, but she’s able to keep one step ahead—a staunch, sidewinding defense that’s proving absolutely infuriating. With a frustrated growl Valentine makes a bigger lunge—but Viola is just far enough away to give herself space to launch and land a Juggernaut Punch!
Del Ramos: HA! BREAK HIS SKULL, WILLIAMS!
Across the ring, Adam managed to find his feet before Kyle did, and is already in motion against the Culture Clash, coming at him with a forearm smash that almost sends him right back down to the canvas! Prince flits to climb the nearest post, and as Beckett stands he’s hit with a missile dropkick to the chest!
But as they both hit the ground, close to one side of the ring, something about the landing surprises Adam, and he’s much more unsteady as they both get up. Sensing an opportunity, Kyle explodes forward with his own forearm smash, sending Adam over the top rope before he can catch himself!
Kevin Kim: Adam Prince has been eliminated!
Kyle pumps his fist, then pivots to catch Viola laying Valentine out with that discus lariat—and before Valentine can recover, in dives Beckett! He lands another crossbody, laying out Valentine before yanking him vertical, offering him to Viola as a gentleman might a choice morsel at a fancy dinner party. Williams hoists Valentine up onto her shoulders in an impressive fireman’s carry, and grinning waves Kyle in with her free hand—he takes a moment, the wheels turning, but he brightens and nods. Legacy turns, adjusting her hold, and falls for a Samoan drop, just as the Culture Clash appears alongside to deliver a swinging neckbreaker at the same time! The Ascended Army erupts!
Artemis Direction: Look at that! I think you were right, Del dearest. We may very well be seeing a handicap match here!
This is a bridge too far for Valentine—just before Viola can find her feet, Roy surges up to catch a surprised Kyle by the shoulders, and roughly shoves him across the ring. Kyle stumbles and trips, and in a bid not to knock his head into one of the turnbuckles he lands hard and awkwardly on his side. Before he sees Beckett fall, though, Valentine has dived for Williams. Immediately she shifts from smug to scrappy, and the two trade harsh blows—but Valentine has the high ground, and does not let Williams regain her footing. When he senses an opening, he hauls her up to send her to the ropes, and on the return flips and sends her straight down to the canvas! He follows with an elbow drop for good measure, and snares her in a crucifix– Godric Smith comes in for a count!
Hiro Suzuki: Looks like Williams might be about to lose that bet!
ONE!
TWO!
But Legacy heaves and twists—and now she’s pinned Valentine with the crucifix!
Artemis Direction: Don’t speak too soon, Hiro honey!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
With a grin Viola leans into the hold one second longer before releasing—and immediately gets pulled to her feet by Valentine, positively livid. Again he sends her to the ropes near one corner—so she ricochets to the adjacent side, trying to build some momentum to land another strike. But before she can do anything, Valentine catches and hip-tosses her with great force over the top rope!
Kevin Kim: Viola Williams has been eliminated!
Del Ramos: Williams might have won her bet, but it looks like it may have cost her a title shot.
Valentine doesn’t have time to celebrate, however, as Beckett looks to capitalize on the distraction, going for a spinning back heel kick that Roy has the wherewithal to catch! Kyle immediately goes for an enzuigiri, but Roy releases him, bending backward to avoid it before snapping back up like a spring to deliver a backhand chop across Beckett’s chest! The Culture Clash cries out and rocks back on the ropes, but doesn’t go over, returning the favor with a chop of his own! Before Valentine can recover, Kyle’s hands shoot upward, seizing the back of his opponent’s head and smashing it with a knee face breaker that he calls the Reality Check! Stunned, Roy staggers away from Kyle, seeing stars before collapsing into a heap on the canvas!
Artemis Direction: Why, if I’m not mistaken that’s a little maneuver Davie taught Kyle!
Looking to take another page from his friend’s book, Kyle climbs to the top rope, seeming to set up for O’Toole’s Avonis Cliff-dive! Roy appears to catch on to this as he begins to come around, his hazy expression beginning to slowly resolve into fury. The Ascended Army is on its feet as Kyle prepares to take to the skies, when, fueled by righteous indignation and more than a little adrenaline, Valentine lets out a roar, rising from the mat! Kyle gets off the turnbuckle, but Roy is already charging at him, and just as the Aussie’s boots touch the canvas again, Valentine has hit him with a short arm clothesline that sends him over the top and onto the mats outside!
Kevin Kim: Kyle Beckett has been eliminated!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner who will go on to face Sebastian Hawke later this evening for the Emerald City Championship, ROY VALENTINE!
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Richard Dweck is seen walking down the streets of Seattle, a newly arrived warrior surveying the fresh concrete jungle in which he now finds himself, the Christmas lights of the rain-soaked city casting him in electric shades and hues. As the camera swings across the street, we see Legacy, Viola Williams, picking up a cup of hot cocoa from an espresso stand. Strolling away, the camera focuses on a rose brooch whose petals have been scribbled on with black marker stuck to her pin-studded jacket. As the camera zooms out again, we catch sight of Roy Valentine standing in the Market examining pine boughs being sold by the vendors, his noble profile framed with green spines.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
Valentine’s regal visage explodes in a burst of white, a snowball smashing across the screen. When it clears, Kyle Beckett is standing on the other side, smirking and rolling up another. Before he can throw it, the camera swings around to show David O’Toole on the other end of the snowball fight. There is something worryingly hollow about his eyes in the pale Winter light. It’s a quality contrasted by the frozen lake upon which Frater Perdurabo stands, pines crowding its shore, ice darkly gleaming beneath a frigid Winter night reflecting the stars and trees in a perfect, cosmic sphere. The scene is disturbed as the sphere is shaken, the images blurring. When they clear again, Mia Rayne is daintily placing a snow globe atop a grand piano which she proceeds to hammer away at with aplomb.
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Firelight flickers off the living room scene of Adam and Sherah Prince sitting with Bo Fletcher, passing out Christmas gifts around a tree. Adam takes a deep breath, his eyes focused, something on his mind besides the wrapped gift in his hands. A similarly thoughtful look is on the face of SKUP9, seated in a diner decked out for the holidays, holly, poinsettias, and Santa hats abounding. His reverie is broken by a fond smile as the patrons break into Christmas carols. We then cut to Mara Lang who stands in a laboratory setting behind a round bottom flask held over a burner. Using a pipette, she releases a drop of liquid into the flask and its contents turn a vivid crimson hue. It’s one shared by the blood smeared over the Lab Rat King’s chest in ragged letters: HO HO HO! Beside him is a pile of jobbers, all writhing in pain as he hangs ornaments off of them like a makeshift Christmas tree, Hot Dropkick looking distinctly damp and barnacle encrusted. The grisly spectacle is juxtaposed sharply by Silvio Leon standing behind what appears to be a counter, hands in nitrile gloves, tattoo machine loaded with a vivid shade of green. He ducks down out of sight, the machine buzzing noisily, and when he rises again, he proudly holds up a tree-shaped Christmas cookie with intricately inscribed swirls of icing. It’s taken by someone off camera who is revealed to be Sebastian Hawke. Grinning, the Emerald City Champ has a bite of the cookie before looking at the viewer with a glint in his eye and saying, ‘Let’s see who’s halls get decked tonight!’
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock!
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock!
The Colosseum is alive with red and green in both attire and from the lights lancing through the air! Several signs are notable among the many:
RECLAIM THE THRONE, ROY!
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A SKUP9 CHAMPIONSHIP!
KRAMPUS FEARS LRK!
LANG’S ON THE NAUGHTY LIST!
At the commentary table, Artemis Direction is seated between Del Ramos and Hiro Suzuki. Artemis is dressed in a form-fitting dark green velvet dress and gleaming white pearls, Del is wearing jeans and a sweater that’s a bloody shade of claret accented with poisonous green slashes, and Hiro is in a navy suit with a candy-cane striped tie.
Artemis Direction: Happy Holidays, Ascended Army! I’m Artemis Direction and tonight I’m joined by hardcore legend and vicious vocalist Del Ramos–
Del Ramos: Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.
Artemis Direction: –and Ascended’s favorite aspiring stand-up comedian Hiro Suzuki!
Hiro Suzuki: And a Happy New Year!
Artemis Direction: We are coming to you live from Seattle’s very own Ascended Wrestling Colosseum with our first ever Jingle Bell Bash pay-per-view!
Del Ramos:Nothing like a little bloodshed to liven up the holidays.
Artemis Direction: As if there isn’t enough at family get-togethers.
Hiro Suzuki: Or at the mall.
Del Ramos: Heh! Always fun to go into the toy aisle with knees and elbows flying.
Hiro Suzuki: Well, we’re definitely going to get some warm season’s beatings tonight!
Del Ramos: I bet the Rat King still has that Krampus get-up… I wonder if we could get him back in character and have him pay a visit.
Artemis Direction: I do wonder who he’ll be facing off against tonight.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s right! Our Underworld and Emerald City champs are facing mystery opponents!
Artemis Direction: Exactly! They’ll be determined in parts one and two of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rumble this evening! Whoever wins those contests also wins the right to face off against our champs for a shot at their titles!
Del Ramos: You think Nguyen knocked out Afsah’s teeth for making her say that out loud on live television?
Artemis Direction: Oh, sweetness, we both know if she did that, he’d just start wearing solid gold dentures to annoy her.
Hiro Suzuki: Guess he’d have the Midas tongue like that, huh?
Del Ramos: Hey, Suzuki, have you ever tasted mistletoe?
Hiro Suzuki: I thought it was poison.
Del Ramos: Nah, totally edible. You should give it a try.
Artemis Direction: In our first rumble, we’ll see Viola Williams, Kyle Beckett, Adam Prince, and Roy Valentine facing off against one another for a chance at Hawke’s Emerald City Championship title!
Hiro Suzuki: Roy seems especially motivated to come out on top in this one.
Artemis Direction: Well one could hardly blame him! Knocked off of his throne, he has the chance to turn things around right away. He’s determined to show that Hawke’s win was a fluke.
Del Ramos: Good fuckin’ luck. He’s got some stiff competition to contend with. Beckett’s hot off a win against Valentine’s protege, O’Toole. He’s also friends with the gangly son of a bitch, so I can’t imagine he’s happy about the position Valentine has put O’Toole in.
Artemis Direction: Ms. Williams certainly hasn’t made it a secret she’s got it out for Valentine. She issued a challenge to him after her very first match at our last show!
Del Ramos: Seems like all Prince has to do is lay low and the competition’ll take itself out. He did talk a big game about wanting to help Sebastian.
Hiro Suzuki: If Prince wants to have a bigger influence over the direction the roster takes, getting a title isn’t a bad way to do it.
Artemis Direction: And then there’s part two of our event to determine the challenger for the Underworld Title!
Del Ramos: Heh. Now that’s my idea of a Merry Christmas. We got Perdurabo, Rayne, Lang, and O’Toole mixing it up.
Hiro squirms.
Hiro Suzuki: Anyone else feel like they all cranked up the intensity on their promos?
Del Ramos: Fuck yes and I’m all for it. Rayne’s comin’ out swingin’. She’s got the experience and I think she’s primed to avenge her sister against the Rat.
Hiro Suzuki: I dunno, I think she should be looking out for Lang. All that talk in her promo about finding new test subjects…
Artemis Direction: Well, she’d certainly think twice if she has her sights set on Perdurabo. I still haven’t forgotten what that monster did when he debuted!
Del Ramos: You mean beating the shit out of Kevin?
Artemis Direction: Yes!
Del grins fondly.
Del Ramos: Yeah, I haven’t forgotten either. What a night.
Hiro Suzuki: I gotta say, O’Toole wasn’t one I was expecting to find success with Underworld matches, but so far he’s the only person who’s ever beaten King.
Del Ramos: If he can pull it off again, he’s walking away with gold, but you just know that big, bad fucker has revenge on the mind.
Artemis Direction: All absolutely thrilling, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves, darlings!
Hiro brightens notably at the prospect of the subject moving to less bloodthirsty topics.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s right! We have Richard Dweck making his Ascended Wrestling debut! He had a bit of an unusual start to his career.
Artemis Direction: Indeed! Mr. Dweck started out as a viral Internet sensation and has made quite a name for himself since! It goes to show it doesn’t matter where you come from; you can still find success in the business.
Hiro Suzuki: That’s definitely something our competitors for the World Title both believe.
Del laughs viciously.
Del Ramos: SKUP9 versus Leon. I can see that one getting brutal.
Artemis Direction: SKUP9 learned his lesson from Zephyr Quinn. He hasn’t been pinned since! And he’s consistently been there to remind the roster not to get too cocky.
Hiro Suzuki: He’s definitely been turning heads.
Del smirks.
Del Ramos: In more ways than one. Heh. But Leon’s shown us he’s not afraid to get ruthless. Sounds from his promo like he might be feeling a little backed into a corner. You’ll be surprised what you can find it in you to do when you’ve got nowhere to go.
Artemis Direction: Before we get into it, darlings, I heard there was a bit of a scene that played out just prior to our show starting! Let’s see what juicy little bit of drama occurred in our Ascended parking lot this evening.
The arena always buzzes with anticipation just before an event. The air comes alive with the chatter of engines in the parking lot, the hum of fans lined up by the box office, and the clanging of green roadies carefully mismanaging equipment through the performer’s entrance. There’s an icy nip in the atmosphere tonight that’s enough to freeze even the typical west coast slush into proper snow, as if Marcus Afsah had paid off the sky itself to wear Christmas attire.
Viola Williams, a beat-up old gym bag slung over her shoulder and iced coffee in hand, hurries through the entrance of the Colosseum and breathes a sigh of relief. She pulls her phone from the pocket of her pin-studded jacket to check her notifications as she makes her way inside. Moment by moment the energy inside seems to draw the tension out of her shoulders, until finally she smiles, becoming a part of the electrified atmosphere herself. Then Roy Valentine and his self-satisfied smirk swing around the corner and stop right in Vi’s path.
Roy Valentine: I heard you were looking for me.
Viola hums a response through a sip of coffee, then, without looking up from her phone, holds up a finger while she finishes sending a text.
Valentine's brow furrows in scorn, even as his eyes wander across the various pins tacked to Viola's jacket. He crosses his arms and taps one foot in frustration against the concrete.
Roy Valentine: By all means, Miss Williams. No matter the time I have ensured was made available for our little chat. Finish your conversation.
Viola Williams: Sounds like a you problem.
She takes another sip of her coffee, still not looking up from her phone. With the white-hot fury across Valentine's face, it's a surprise he isn't steaming.
Roy Valentine: My problem, insofar as it may be called a problem, is your obvious lack of respect for my business, Miss Williams. First, you flaunt obviously stolen property during your promotional material; then, without the decency to provide a reason behind your apparent obsession with me, you lay claim to my territory and level threats of violence against my person. Were I a lesser man, I might find these grounds for your immediate removal from this event, no less this programme.
A slow smirk works its way across Viola’s face as she finally tucks her phone away and watches Valentine seethe.
Viola Williams: Oh, buddy, if you can’t handle a little rivalry I think you might be in the wrong line of work.
Valentine throws his head back in laughter.
Roy Valentine: Rivalry? Even in a nightmare, I would scarce consider some precocious upstart like you a rival. If your intention is direct competition, I suggest you return once your roots have grown, little sapling. You have won a single match against an opponent with only losses to his name this year. Run along–lest you be trampled.
Viola sips her coffee and sighs.
Viola Williams: That’s disappointing. I mean, I had a feeling it was coming, I was just hoping you were smarter than this. The whole “underestimating a cute face” schtick was old after the first twenty times.
Roy Valentine: On the contrary, Miss Williams; I hope you prove an able competitor. I cannot count the number of bright-faced newcomers that have left me… wholly disappointed–not the least of whom is your dear friend, the Sidewinder. He threw himself at me with all his unpracticed might. Yet look where he stands now: at my beck and call. I daresay he has found greater success under my tutelage.
Viola’s eyes narrow as Valentine strokes his chin in a mimicry of deep thought.
Roy Valentine: But, here. Allow me to offer you an olive branch. Return my pin, and I shall ensure your defeat is not an utter humiliation, that you might begin your tenure among the Ascended without entirely disappointing the crowd.
Viola glances down at her jacket, where a Sharpied-over rose pin sits above her pocket. An idea forms, and she smiles again.
Viola Williams: This pin, you mean? Tell you what, I wanna make this match more fun for me if it’s gonna be this easy. A pin for a pin—you manage to pin me in the rumble tonight? You can have it. If I’m no threat to you, you should have no problem taking me down, right?
It’s Valentine’s turn to narrow his eyes at Viola as he considers her deal. Though his eyelid twinges in frustration, Valentine puts on a diplomatic smile and thrusts his hand forward for Viola to shake.
Roy Valentine: Since you insist on your own embarrassment, I humbly agree.
Viola eyes the offered hand and sighs.
Viola Williams: Yeah, clearly you haven’t learned a thing from the old man.
She reaches out, not to shake but to shape Valentine’s hand into a fist before tapping it with her own. A confused Valentine recoils, staring from his hand to Viola, as she brushes past him and into the arena.
Viola Williams: See you in the ring, Val.
Del Ramos: Hmm… Williams might be shooting herself in the foot there. Adding another complication to an already chaotic environment isn’t the best way to guarantee success.
Del smirks.
Del Ramos: But it does guarantee the opportunity for more chaos.
Artemis Direction: And the sooner we get started the sooner we can indulge! Let's go to the ring!
Brawn Johnson is already in the ring, gnawing on a turnbuckle pad like he's George "The Animal" Steele but it's not a gimmick. Kevin Kim is standing by with a microphone already to his lips accompanied by a perplexed look on his face.
Kevin Kim: Ladies and gentlemen, the next contest is one fall with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first, already in the ring...
Brawn isn't even paying attention. He's still munching on the turnbuckle pad like a sparerib.
Kevin Kim: ... not even worth it; and his opponent, weighing in at 235 pounds and hailing from New Jersey - Richard Dweck!
Breaking Benjamin's "I Will Not Bow" hits the PA, signaling the arrival of Richard Dweck. He walks out, clasps his hands together to crack his fingers, then turns his head side to side to crack his neck. He salutes with a peace sign, and makes his way down to the ring. As he makes his way up the steel steps, and climbs into the ring, his foot gets caught in the rope and he trips but saves himself with a somersault! He rises gallantly, spreading his arms, extending both hands with twin peace sign finger gestures, and cartwheels into a basic martial arts stance
DING! DING!
The bell sounds and Richard starts sizing Brawn up. Richard takes the initiative and sneaks up on Brawn to deliver a bell clap from behind! The big man howls in agony, gripping his ears as he stumbles around to face Dweck.
Hiro Suzuki: Reminds me of the time I called the tinnitus help hotline.
Artemis Direction: Oh? What was that like?
Hiro Suzuki: Couldn’t get a hold of a counselor! It just kept ringing!
Wasting no time, Dweck finishes up his combo with a pair of palms to Brawn's throat. This seems to snap the giant out of his daze, allowing him to clobber Dweck to the mat with a reactionary Polish hammer. Dweck tries to scramble to the feet but the lumbering Brawn manages to get a hold of his hair and lift him to his feet.
Del Ramos: Dweck’s in trouble.
Artemis Direction: Johnson is looking to turn this around with his impressive size and strength!
Brawn's able to biel toss his smaller opponent across the ring. Brawn's lumbering medium for movement allows Dweck to ready himself; he lets Brawn pick him up by the hair once more but once he's at his feet, Dweck reaches out and twists Brawn's nose!
The announcement team lets out a collective cry of sympathy, Hiro’s hand going to his nose with a wince.
Del Ramos: HA! Dweck’s got a good head on his shoulders! You fucking do what you need to do to win!
Hiro Suzuki: Good thing that nose wasn’t twelve inches long.
Artemis Direction: Why’s that, sweetness?
Hiro Suzuki: Because then it’d be a foot!
Brawn howls like a mourning gorilla and releases Dweck, who manages to lock Brawn into a wristlock. With the hold securely in place, Dweck takes the opportunity to pepper Brawn's torso with stiff kicks, capping it off with a roundhouse that lands somewhere in the region of Brawn's chin and jaw. It doesn't take the big man down, but it certainly starts him on a stumble. Smelling opportunity, Dweck hits the ropes and hits Brawn with a STO on the rebound!
Artemis Direction: Marvelous use of momentum by Dweck!
Del Ramos: Size and weight are just things you gotta take into consideration when you’re fighting an opponent. They don’t gotta be deal breakers.
Brawn hits the mat with tremendous force and cries out like an injured moose. The advantage is firmly in hand for Dweck given that Brawn is struggling to lift his frame from the mat. It must be due to the intake of faux leather and foam padding earlier. Richard Dweck starts to feel a little chipper and panders to the crowd to illustrate himself as a possible giant slayer.
Hiro Suzuki: Dweck better be careful about getting too cocky.
He feels a tug at his boots - it's Brawn!
Artemis Direction: Oh dear…
He manages to get to his knees and he is now trying to foolishly use his smaller opponent to lift himself up. Dweck frees himself with a few fists and a knee to Brawn's head, freeing him up to move behind the big man and lock in a dragon sleeper. While in the hold, Dweck throws a few knees into Brawn's back and neck for good measure. Whether it be through assumption or savant knowledge, it's almost as if Dweck knows Brawn won't tap. He releases his opponent, only to hit him with the RDDT! He goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-
Big time kick out by Brawn!
Artemis Direction: Johnson has no intention of making this a cake walk for our newest signee.
A little bit of frustration is visible on Dweck's face, he clearly thinks that was supposed to end things. He doesn't give Brawn any opportunity to recover. Dweck gathers all his strength and hits the Epic Trifecta! Brawn is left confused as to whether he needs to clutch his gut or his shoulder but either way, Dweck hooks both legs and makes sure his body weight is leaning on the same side of Brawn's body that the affected shoulder is on.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING! DING! DING!
Kevin Kim: Here is your winner by pinfall, Richard Dweck!
Artemis Direction: Wasn’t that a stunning debut! Mother may have to retire to the divan to recover, darlings!
Del Ramos: I’m not goin’ anywhere. Not with our first free-for-all coming up.
Artemis Direction: Well, don’t spoil your appetite, my violent delight, because before we get to that, it sounds like there’s something going on backstage between Ms. Williams and our World Champ.
In the backstage area of the Colosseum, Silvio Leon is pacing, breathing even and almost meditative. He looks focused, and seems so much in his own private world that he nearly walks right into Viola Williams as she rounds the nearby corner. He holds up his hands to catch her before they collide, expression apologetic as he releases her again.
Silvio Leon: Jeez, sorry! I’m kinda in the zone right now; I didn’t mean to run you over.
Viola's gaze flicks over him in his ring gear, then quickly back up with an embarrassed laugh.
Viola Williams: No—my bad. Don’t let me interrupt.
Silvio Leon: You're not interrupting. If anything I should probably not let myself get too far into my own head about all this.
Viola Williams: Hey, you’ve done it before, you can do it again. Seriously, don’t sweat it.
Silvio Leon: Thanks! I’m not taking SKUP lightly. The only reason his fight with Mara was a draw was because of her shenanigans.
He brightens, while she hesitates.
Silvio Leon: But, hey! How about you? Excited for your match? The rumbles are gonna be wild.
Viola Williams: Oh yeah. The only thing more fun than tossing someone bigger than me around the ring is getting to do it three more times.
Silvio grins and offers a fist bump.
Silvio Leon: Lookin’ forward to seeing it! I know you’re gonna do great. Give Valentine one for me, huh?
Viola scoffs and rolls her eyes. She’s about to respond—when something overhead catches her attention. She pauses, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Viola Williams: Uh, Sil?
Silvio blinks and gives her a little lopsided smile.
Silvio Leon: What, you gonna leave me hanging–
His gaze follows hers and he freezes.
Silvio Leon: …Oh, uh…
Above them suspended by a ribbon is a sprig of mistletoe.
His gaze snaps back to Viola, the Oracle suddenly extremely aware of the fact she is dressed in a festive little number involving a miniskirt and crop-top sweater done in rich, green velvet and trimmed with fluffy white fur.
Silvio Leon: You… um, hey, you know you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m not gonna be offended.
She watches him flounder for a moment, still trying to bite back a grin, and raises an eyebrow at him.
Viola Williams: And what are you gonna do, keep waiting around here until someone else comes along?
That lopsided smile turns into a little laugh as he closes the space between them and reaches up to touch her chin. The smug confidence of her smile falters, giving way to the anticipation underneath. As he tilts her chin up and draws closer, he leans in gently, noses almost brushing as he rests his forehead against hers.
Silvio Leon: Well, if you insist.
Closing his eyes, his lips touch hers softly, almost chastely. She hums, then pushes up on her toes to get closer. Silvio’s eyes open briefly in surprise, but they ease closed again after a moment and he finds the hand touching her chin unfolding to cradle the side of Viola’s face. Holding a second longer, he draws back, something warm fluttering in the pit of his belly.
As Viola rocks back onto her heels, it’s impossible to miss the color tinting her cheeks. Still, she gives Silvio a small, satisfied smile.
Viola Williams: Merry Christmas, Boy Scout.
Silvio smiles back and taps her nose.
Silvio Leon: And a Happy New Year, Funshine.
Artemis Direction: Well, isn’t that sweet?
Hiro Suzuki: Huh. Del, are you sure mistletoe is edible?
Del Ramos: Absolutely. We’ll go backstage after the show and you can try some.
Hiro Suzuki: Well, I have to say I’m berry excited about the prospect!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, the following contest is Part One of Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Rumble! All fighters for this match will start in the ring! Fighters are eliminated when they are thrown out of the ring over the top rope and touch the floor on the outside. The winner is the last person standing in the ring! Later tonight, the winner of this match will face Sebastian Hawke for the Ascended Wrestling Emerald City Championship!
The Ascended Army roars in response!
Kevin Kim: Introducing first!
Lights fade on the first quiet bars of Centuries then flare to life with the swelling of the music; Viola Williams steps out in a green velvet skirt and crop top, both trimmed with white fur. She grins and starts making her way down to the ring, nodding her head to the beat and taking in the reactions from the crowd with unabashed awe.
Kevin Kim: From Baltimore, Maryland, weighing in at 160 pounds, she is Viola Williams, LEGACY!
She turns to a nearby camera and gives a small salute, then taps her thumb to her forehead twice with an open hand—a small sign to her dad back home. Then she picks up the pace, jogging, then running until she gets to the ring and climbs up onto the ropes. She turns to the audience and throws her arms out, grinning and pumping her fist at the response.
Artemis Direction: With the rules as they are, a pin between Viola and Roy won’t count for anything for the outcome of this match.
Del Ramos: It ain’t about winning. It’s about making a point.
Kevin Kim: And our second entrant into the Rumble!
"Warriors" by Aaliyah Rose begins to play over the PA system and yellow lights strobe and pulse to the beat as the Princes of Power, "Adorable" Adam and "Iron Man" Sherah Prince, and their manager, "Beautiful" Bo Fletcher, step out onto the stage.
Kevin Kim: From Prima Porta, Italy, weighing in at 206 pounds, he is the ‘Adorable’ ADAM PRINCE!
Adam bounces and dances to the music for a moment, showboating for the crowd, before the trio make their way down the aisle. Upon reaching the ring, Sherah climbs the stairs and continues up the outside of the turnbuckles while Adam slides into the ring and ascends the ropes on the opposite side. The two of them look out over the audience, pointing at the fans and pumping their fists in the air. Adam’s companions offer him luck, high-fiving and fist bumping, before exiting the ring.
Hiro Suzuki: Adam talked a big game about helping out Sebastian Hawke after what Mara Lang did to him.
Artemis Direction: It’s a complicated situation, certainly. What happened to Sebastian was traumatic! Kidnapped and experimented on all in the name of increasing his pain tolerance? If anyone needs support, it’s Hawke.
Del Ramos:: We’ll see if this Prince kid can put his money where his mouth is.
Kevin Kim: Our third Rumble entrant!
“Stick to Your Guns” hits and Kyle stands at the top of the entrance ramp, bent slightly forward and arms crossed. He drops the hood of his jacket and throws his arms out wide, letting out an excited roar to the crowd. He looks around to take in the arena before striding down the ramp.
Kevin Kim: From Brisbane, Australia, and weighing in at 91kg, he is the “Culture Clash,” KYLE BECKETT!
Kyle ascends the ring apron, looking out to the arena again, and climbs to the top of the turnbuckle. His “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” is answered with a resounding “Oi oi oi!” from the Ascended Army.
Hiro Suzuki: Beckett’s run with Ascended has been impressive.
Artemis Direction: He and O’Toole have a fascinating dynamic. I wonder how they’d do on a team together.
Kevin Kim: And our final entrant for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rumble Part One!
Heavy operatic guitar blares through the stadium. The screen follows a trail of twisting, thorny vines as they wind over a pitch-black floor towards the foot of a marble throne. As the thorns begin to engulf the stone, the camera rises to reveal Roy Valentine lying sideways across his marble seat, legs pitched over its arm. The plants trace a deferential space around Valentine, but utterly consume every inch of bare throne. When the vines finally stop twisting, Valentine snaps his fingers, and the all-encompassing wall of green bursts into bloom, red and gold roses spelling out the name, “ROY VALENTINE”.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, weighing in at 219 pounds, he is ROY VALENTINE!
Valentine then makes his entrance in the flesh, struts on stage under a shower of crimson petals. Alongside him stalks his steel wall of an assistant, Anastasia Keller, metal clipboard in hand. Valentine holds a scarlet “Valentine Velvet” rose at his heart, which he tosses into the crowd on his way to the ring, all the while blowing kisses to the adoring--or, perhaps, disgusted--Ascended Army.
Del Ramos: Heh! I can’t wait to see Roy let loose. Guy’s gotta bring the pain if he wants to win. He’s got at least two people who wouldn’t mind punting him out of the ring, and I doubt Prince is too amenable to the dude, either. We could be seeing a handicap match here.
DING! DING!
Viola and Roy only seem to have eyes for each other, the pair immediately locking up as Adam and Kyle begin trading blows!
Artemis Direction: Seeing as the winner of this competition has another match later tonight, ending this as quickly as possible has got to be on the minds of all our fighters.
Del Ramos: Fat chance of that happening. This is an opportunity at a title - none of these fuckers is going down easy.
That seems to be the case with Adam and Kyle, the latter of whom nails the former with a forearm smash that sends him staggering back a step. Undeterred, Prince returns the favor with a stiff forearm lariat that causes Kyle to stumble back into the ropes! Sensing opportunity, Adam bolts forward a few quick steps before nailing Kyle in the chest with a running drop kick! For a moment it looks like the audience is about to see its first elimination, but Kyle clings to the top rope, flipping over to land on the apron outside! The Ascended Army lets out a cheer as the Culture Clash swiftly hops back up onto the top rope before sailing through the air and nailing Prince with a crossbody!
Artemis Direction: Beckett seems determined to continue his winning ways!
Hiro Suzuki: He’s got to be feeling confident about his recent victory over O’Toole.
As the two begin to climb back to their feet from the canvas, Legacy and Valentine are having a slobberknocker of their own.
Viola plants her feet and gives Valentine a shove—for a moment he looks surprised that he’s moved at all, though it’s quickly replaced with a pitying smirk as he lashes out to grab her by the arm and wrench her in for a short clothesline! Viola hits the mat, but she’s quick to roll aside and hop back to her feet, and makes to run at him, arm outstretched for a lariat.
Artemis Direction: Ms. Williams showing she’s not going to let anyone keep her down!
But she’s telegraphed it just early enough that Valentine sees her coming, catches her, and flips her in a decisive hip toss! Once again she takes the bump on her back—but on the bounce she hauls herself forward, and she lands on her feet in a low crouch! As she rises—to the cheers of the crowd and Valentine’s amazement—it’s Legacy’s turn to smirk with a theatrical sigh, as if she’s bored with this. She’s quick to do something about it, landing a few swift blows to keep him disoriented, then sweeps him up for a thunderous sidewalk slam!
Hiro Suzuki: Y’know, Williams has a lot of muscle for somebody her size!
Artemis Direction: You’re just learning what every girl already knows, darling. The best things come in small packages! Usually labeled, ‘Zales,’ ‘De Beers,’ or ‘The Shane Company.’
Valentine quickly shakes his disbelief, and makes to pounce, with Williams barely scuttling out of reach. She doesn’t get much distance before he lashes out again, but she’s able to keep one step ahead—a staunch, sidewinding defense that’s proving absolutely infuriating. With a frustrated growl Valentine makes a bigger lunge—but Viola is just far enough away to give herself space to launch and land a Juggernaut Punch!
Del Ramos: HA! BREAK HIS SKULL, WILLIAMS!
Across the ring, Adam managed to find his feet before Kyle did, and is already in motion against the Culture Clash, coming at him with a forearm smash that almost sends him right back down to the canvas! Prince flits to climb the nearest post, and as Beckett stands he’s hit with a missile dropkick to the chest!
But as they both hit the ground, close to one side of the ring, something about the landing surprises Adam, and he’s much more unsteady as they both get up. Sensing an opportunity, Kyle explodes forward with his own forearm smash, sending Adam over the top rope before he can catch himself!
Kevin Kim: Adam Prince has been eliminated!
Kyle pumps his fist, then pivots to catch Viola laying Valentine out with that discus lariat—and before Valentine can recover, in dives Beckett! He lands another crossbody, laying out Valentine before yanking him vertical, offering him to Viola as a gentleman might a choice morsel at a fancy dinner party. Williams hoists Valentine up onto her shoulders in an impressive fireman’s carry, and grinning waves Kyle in with her free hand—he takes a moment, the wheels turning, but he brightens and nods. Legacy turns, adjusting her hold, and falls for a Samoan drop, just as the Culture Clash appears alongside to deliver a swinging neckbreaker at the same time! The Ascended Army erupts!
Artemis Direction: Look at that! I think you were right, Del dearest. We may very well be seeing a handicap match here!
This is a bridge too far for Valentine—just before Viola can find her feet, Roy surges up to catch a surprised Kyle by the shoulders, and roughly shoves him across the ring. Kyle stumbles and trips, and in a bid not to knock his head into one of the turnbuckles he lands hard and awkwardly on his side. Before he sees Beckett fall, though, Valentine has dived for Williams. Immediately she shifts from smug to scrappy, and the two trade harsh blows—but Valentine has the high ground, and does not let Williams regain her footing. When he senses an opening, he hauls her up to send her to the ropes, and on the return flips and sends her straight down to the canvas! He follows with an elbow drop for good measure, and snares her in a crucifix– Godric Smith comes in for a count!
Hiro Suzuki: Looks like Williams might be about to lose that bet!
ONE!
TWO!
But Legacy heaves and twists—and now she’s pinned Valentine with the crucifix!
Artemis Direction: Don’t speak too soon, Hiro honey!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
With a grin Viola leans into the hold one second longer before releasing—and immediately gets pulled to her feet by Valentine, positively livid. Again he sends her to the ropes near one corner—so she ricochets to the adjacent side, trying to build some momentum to land another strike. But before she can do anything, Valentine catches and hip-tosses her with great force over the top rope!
Kevin Kim: Viola Williams has been eliminated!
Del Ramos: Williams might have won her bet, but it looks like it may have cost her a title shot.
Valentine doesn’t have time to celebrate, however, as Beckett looks to capitalize on the distraction, going for a spinning back heel kick that Roy has the wherewithal to catch! Kyle immediately goes for an enzuigiri, but Roy releases him, bending backward to avoid it before snapping back up like a spring to deliver a backhand chop across Beckett’s chest! The Culture Clash cries out and rocks back on the ropes, but doesn’t go over, returning the favor with a chop of his own! Before Valentine can recover, Kyle’s hands shoot upward, seizing the back of his opponent’s head and smashing it with a knee face breaker that he calls the Reality Check! Stunned, Roy staggers away from Kyle, seeing stars before collapsing into a heap on the canvas!
Artemis Direction: Why, if I’m not mistaken that’s a little maneuver Davie taught Kyle!
Looking to take another page from his friend’s book, Kyle climbs to the top rope, seeming to set up for O’Toole’s Avonis Cliff-dive! Roy appears to catch on to this as he begins to come around, his hazy expression beginning to slowly resolve into fury. The Ascended Army is on its feet as Kyle prepares to take to the skies, when, fueled by righteous indignation and more than a little adrenaline, Valentine lets out a roar, rising from the mat! Kyle gets off the turnbuckle, but Roy is already charging at him, and just as the Aussie’s boots touch the canvas again, Valentine has hit him with a short arm clothesline that sends him over the top and onto the mats outside!
Kevin Kim: Kyle Beckett has been eliminated!
DING! DING! DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner who will go on to face Sebastian Hawke later this evening for the Emerald City Championship, ROY VALENTINE!