A bang of drums, trumpet and piano came alive. A red animated pentagram appeared on the Titantron with sigil markings floating inside the arms, then also moving in a circle around the Pentagram. A wolf symbol took up the middle and downward-pointing arm.
No signalling of grand entrance so much as the vibe of a big band, playing instrumental. After an opening wait, a grey-haired, wolf-eared and with a decadent suit of black, white, red and green to contrast the blue of her eyes and a scar dashing her cheek—, leaned, frolicked, jumped and smacked her feet together, gave an introductory graceful bow to the crowds and pranced to a spot on the stage, then raised her arm to open a pocket-watch, pointing to it. From her pocket, she then drew some party poppers, jumped and released confetti over Maisilyn's head who emerged from the floor on a lift.
herself posed with hands in her pockets, a 3/4 profile towards one section of the crowd. At her cue, both Maisilyn and Maze tapped their boots in sync. Their fingers snapping snapping to an alternate beat, then let her shoulders go loose and bounce. Mazikeen let her head dip one way, then double-dipped it, then went to the other side, bouncing on the ground.
"Feel your bones a shakin'~" Maisilyn sang in this rich, british-accented timbre tone that occupied the middle range of mezzo-soprano. Mazikeen cupped her mouth, then whistled with the same flow and tune of Maisilyn's last lyric.
"Your temperature's a risin'~"
Then Maze did it again with complete rehearsed perfection.
They broke down into a strut with an initial spin, clap, then descended the ramp in a finger-snappin' strut.
"The grove begins to move you~"
Maisilyn spun around, then took a step towards the barricade. A spotlight went on her and a woman of about late-twenties with a TV shirt depicting her favourite Joshi wrestler. "I said the grove begins to move you~" She drew a rose with her business card in the petals, placed it between her teeth and bit the stem. The lovely woman shielded her showtime-worthy face, poor thing—although the eye contact between the finger-gaps and seeing her lean towards the barricade said she was here and ok with this. ( Thank goodness ). So even with the woman being a shade of red, she started to mimic and play along, weaving to Maisilyn's opposite side with a little bob and weave. The two played up the moment for a good beat, with Maisilyn closing the range to mere two inches. The woman jumped, then bit the stem extending near Maisilyn's cheek, taking it and Maisilyn grinned ear-to-ear.
Ooh, did the crowds cheer for that!
"It's the Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
Maisilyn ascended the ring steps, with Maze rolling under the bottom rope after feigning a chomp at the rose'd woman. Maisilyn walked the apron, holding the top rope and leaning towards ringside.
"When you see those fires burnin'~" Maisilyn touched her ear, then leaned one way.
"Well you see those fires burnin'!"
"Your fever is a rising~" Then the other ear, putting her rib against the ropes.
"Your fever is a rising!"
She scaled the turnbuckles, mounting the top with her boot. Maze got inside the ring.
"An the drums begin a poundin'~"
"An the drums begin a poundin!"
Maisilyn pointed to a specific crowd member that gave a zealous enthusiasm to the line. She hopped into the ring afterward, adding three spins until her back was against Maze's hands, who shoved her.
"It's the Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
Maisilyn turned around, grab Maze's wrist then tugged.
"Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
The two of them linked arms and went around in a circle a few times, waving to the crowd in opposite directions before Maisilyn dipped Maze.
"Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
King of Swing
herself posed with hands in her pockets, a 3/4 profile towards one section of the crowd. At her cue, both Maisilyn and Maze tapped their boots in sync. Their fingers snapping snapping to an alternate beat, then let her shoulders go loose and bounce. Mazikeen let her head dip one way, then double-dipped it, then went to the other side, bouncing on the ground.
"Feel your bones a shakin'~" Maisilyn sang in this rich, british-accented timbre tone that occupied the middle range of mezzo-soprano. Mazikeen cupped her mouth, then whistled with the same flow and tune of Maisilyn's last lyric.
"Your temperature's a risin'~"
Then Maze did it again with complete rehearsed perfection.
They broke down into a strut with an initial spin, clap, then descended the ramp in a finger-snappin' strut.
"The grove begins to move you~"
Maisilyn spun around, then took a step towards the barricade. A spotlight went on her and a woman of about late-twenties with a TV shirt depicting her favourite Joshi wrestler. "I said the grove begins to move you~" She drew a rose with her business card in the petals, placed it between her teeth and bit the stem. The lovely woman shielded her showtime-worthy face, poor thing—although the eye contact between the finger-gaps and seeing her lean towards the barricade said she was here and ok with this. ( Thank goodness ). So even with the woman being a shade of red, she started to mimic and play along, weaving to Maisilyn's opposite side with a little bob and weave. The two played up the moment for a good beat, with Maisilyn closing the range to mere two inches. The woman jumped, then bit the stem extending near Maisilyn's cheek, taking it and Maisilyn grinned ear-to-ear.
Ooh, did the crowds cheer for that!
"It's the Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
Maisilyn ascended the ring steps, with Maze rolling under the bottom rope after feigning a chomp at the rose'd woman. Maisilyn walked the apron, holding the top rope and leaning towards ringside.
"When you see those fires burnin'~" Maisilyn touched her ear, then leaned one way.
"Well you see those fires burnin'!"
"Your fever is a rising~" Then the other ear, putting her rib against the ropes.
"Your fever is a rising!"
She scaled the turnbuckles, mounting the top with her boot. Maze got inside the ring.
"An the drums begin a poundin'~"
"An the drums begin a poundin!"
Maisilyn pointed to a specific crowd member that gave a zealous enthusiasm to the line. She hopped into the ring afterward, adding three spins until her back was against Maze's hands, who shoved her.
"It's the Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
Maisilyn turned around, grab Maze's wrist then tugged.
"Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
The two of them linked arms and went around in a circle a few times, waving to the crowd in opposite directions before Maisilyn dipped Maze.
"Queen of Swing~"
"Queen of Swing!"
Maze's back had arched. The moment she had was enough to pull a little triangle and metal rod from her coat pocket, then give a little ding into Maisilyn's microphone to punctuate closer to the routine. Maisilyn nearly cackled, but instead just pulled her up, combed her hair back, then rested her arm across Maze's shoulder before giving a mutual bow to the crowd. When she straightened up, she spoke.
“Hello, you lovely swingers. My name is Maisilyn Madison, though my regulars prefer to call me Boss.” Her tone, now at normal and casual tone with a London accent. “I know you pay to see wrestling—so I’ll make this brief for you.”
Maze clapped her hands and stomped her feet, then gestured at Maisilyn enthusiastically to make all the crowd members listen.
“From Hotel Madison to all the wonderful producers, bookers, executives for making cooperation possible, thank you for your ceaseless efforts. To the wrestlers I welcomed into my home both from my supercard and those who utilized my accommodations for all sorts of purposes, you have my eternal gratitude. You humoured this lowly woman with your time and physical sacrifice to make our show... aahhhh, just wooonderful~."
She gave a two finger salute towards the back. “Still—it is because of you and your openness to shake things up that I even had the chance. So, what's mine is yours, loves. Visit me anytime.” There was a pause. The crowd gave her some light applause. Maze tucked herself under Maisilyn’s arm, draping it across her shoulder, then signed ‘Thank you’ five times, turning with Maisilyn so she could.
“Now that concludes all I planned for tonight. However—I have a surprise.”
She grabbed Maze by the shoulders, then ushered her forward. “For too long—this amazing and pious companion, my personal security guard, has kept her talents hidden from you all. She has foiled the plots of drunk hecklers, stopped thieves and even nearly foiled the likes of Dot and Spectre. For all that she is, I’ll sum it up in one word: incredible. So please, welcome her into your arms, your roster and let it be in this ring where she can shine with all her ferocity and dare I say—perfect beauty. Meet: my Mazikeen.”
Maze curled her toes, but beamed a mischievous grin. She wagged her finger, spun out of Maisilyn’s grip, stomped her boot, then gestured with two arms at Maisilyn to present her. She retracted her arms, then did this repeatedly, then began marching dramatically so she could do this even more—admittedly feeling warm in her chest while doing so. The crowd responded with glee and doubled their noise in due time to play into the mute’s games. She marched up to Maisilyn when done, crossed her arms, then made a shit-eating grin.
Maisilyn sighed dramatically, clearly feigning disappointment. “Tsk, tsk. Alright, you. Fine.” She turned to the crowd, then Maze pulled her coat off her shoulder to show everyone a little something. That this hotelier was actually quite fit and strong. Her arms shaped the sleeves she wore. Her shoulders were defined and pushing against the red and striped striped dress shirt. Maze kneeled, then gave her three firm punches against her abs which didn’t really move the Hotelier.
Maisilyn, albeit holding her breath and holding composure stoically, stroked Maze’s head.
“You can count me in as well. Some may call me crude because I fancy a good bare-knuckle brawl, a headbutt, a kick or two and a favoured submission or three. It’s true, I am less than even the lowest of professionals — but with your help alongside my colleagues, I’ll learn to better defend my employees, my home and find a warm place amongst your local talents. If you’ll have me, then I would like to wrestle for you with all that I have. What do you say?”
The crowd thought about it. Maze made fists, then started to profusely nod at the crowd, trying to influence their response with her pseudo-telepathetic energy brimming from her chipped fang. When they didn’t respond immediately to Maisilyn’s mental cue, she nodded. "Till next time.”
She turned to Maze, asking for her coat, then the crowd started to give a round of applause.
Maisilyn, now feeling her heart skip and her face pink, suddenly turned around and enjoyed a warm response that she wished for in her younger days when she tried to make a second swing revival. It struck her like a black spiced rum. Strong—pungent, but with a pleasing aftertaste that only needed a bit to get used to.
She covered her mic, moved it, then looked at Maze who had an expression of smug victory.
“Happy now?” She said, which Maze noded profusely. Maisilyn donned her coat, then the two made their exits to the remainder of the chorus of what they entered with, the instrumental carrying them to the back with periodic waves, salutes and one more chomp at the woman who had Maisilyn’s rose.
Till next time, love.