Artistry vs. BlazeWave - Good Vibrations

[BlackAkuma]

Match Type: Standard Tag
Match Stipulations: Victory by pinfall, submission, or knockout.

***

It was a fine day on the shores of Isshiki Beach, one of the nicer tourist hotspots you could find with a short drive out of Tokyo. The sun was out, but there was a perfect cloud-to-sunlight ratio, making it warm but not so hot as to sear the skin. Breezy weather sends in blasts of cooling air from the ocean. Children running about the beach, surfers catching the waves, people laying back and staring at the sky while rushing waves lulled them into a trance.

It was the perfect day for heavy metal. That was what LAW management thought. They wouldn’t have called BlazeWave out here for a mini-concert and a match if they hadn't.

Berserker

Theo nodded along with the bouncing crowd as they wound down on their last set of the evening. He’d expected a good turnout when management proposed this, figuring they would draw in both music and wrestling fans, but this had honestly been twice as good as he’d expected. The place had been filled well when they started, but their music had drawn in even more, and now they had a packed crowd to work with. This was exactly the kind of attention they needed, and if they followed it up with a solid win? Perfect.

After they finished up, the crowd began to disperse and moved towards the ring set up nearby, where some of LAW’s security were stationed to get them into place. They would be the first of three matches coming out for the day, part of a Summer event the promotion was putting on, and they’d be up against…

”’Artistry’?” Willy’s brow raised as he looked over the match card. ”What kind of name is that?”

Theo had actually told him the name of who they’d be wrestling a week ago, but true to form, he’d either forgotten or wasn’t paying attention in the first place, and it had gotten lost in the clutter of his mind. Either way, it wasn’t worth hectoring him. ”They’re a new team, just got in, debuting like us.” Theo busied himself with his guitar, packing it away in the case, while Lucy worked on the drums, and Willy - as usual - did everything but help. ”All women, and young, from what I hear. Figured you would be into it.”

”Eh, I guess.” Willy folded his arms and looked longingl past the ring and out to the beach. It was hard to be sure, but it seemed like some girls were having a volleyball game further down the strip. ”Would much rather hit sands than the ring, though. Way more potential out there.”

Theo was a little surprised that Willy hadn't ditched them to take a quick stroll on the beach and see who he could pick up. They were already dressed for it, with the two wearing red and blue matching trunks. Even Lucy was getting into it, too, donning her a purple two-piece. She wasn’t the type to show off her body, but the day was hot enough to warrant it, and plenty in the crowd seemed to approve. He suspected more than a few of them would be mad to learn she didn't wrestle.

As usual, she never missed an opportunity to take a shot at Willy. ”Yeah, but the women in the ring have to stay in there with you. At least until they pin you.” She did a rimshot with her cymbals, winked Willy’s way, and then moved to pack them up.

”Funny.” Willy gave her a flat glare and channeled Ben Stein for his tone. “That’s funny. You’re so funny. Theo, you hear how funny she is?”

”I heard.” Theo clicked the locks tightly on his guitar and set it aside with the rest of the equipment, carefully placing it down. He stood up, stretched, and nodded Lucy’s way. ”They’ll be here soon, if they’re not already - you good to finish up?”

Lucy gave him a thumbs up. ”Yeah, I got it. I’ll head down once I’m done packing up. Don’t let Willy get his ass kicked too much before I get there.”

”Hilarious!” Willy threw a middle finger her way and hopped off the stage, with Theo following close behind. ”Fucking hilarious!”

A couple of minutes later, they were waiting in the ring, doing a few quick stretches while the crowd settled. They’d skipped their entrances, figuring there was little point since the audience had already listened to them for the better part of an hour, and they were just waiting for their opponents to show. Theo leaned against the ropes and looked over the side, watching as the waves rolled in and swept water across the ringside area. The ring was just close enough to the ocean to leave the area around it flooded with ankle-deep water, but he didn’t see it as a problem, and the crowd didn’t seem to mind. It was a unique setup, something memorable for their first official match.

He only hoped they could say the same thing for their opponents.

Theo

Willy

[Crossedes]

"Rayna!"

The blonde, caught in the middle of popping her hips (and who popped their hips to heavy metal), froze up and tentatively turned to take in the face that her bluenette teammate was sending her way. Adel ensured that her face indicated her disgust and frustration as if the first two times she had chastised the turncoat had not been clear enough. She added crossed arms for good measure, and Rayna, chewing her lip, could only throw her arms up in response.

"I'm just listening to the music! They're talented, and they're all hot. That doesn't mean I'm somehow giving them the skill points they need to beat you by listening to them."

Sha'ree, in the middle of pulling her leg halfway over her head, looked like she was ready to pipe in and agree. Adel raised her finger, and like magic, her faint French accent decided to become pronounced. "Don't go agreeing with her! I saw you dancing too." Adel watched as the two exchanged those giggling smiles they did whenever they had decided that she, the one who always had to keep the two of them focused on the goal, was going overboard, and she tried to get out ahead of their arguments. "You two are not going to convince me that I've gone too far this time! This is our first match as a team. I don't know why they've turned it into a concert with that grating music anyway-"

Rayna broke into giggles. "Adel. It's going to be fine. You're getting worked up! You two have been training for this as hard as you've trained for anything. You're not forgetting or missing anything - least of all anything you can fix in the last four minutes before your match."

Adel hated it when Rayna was so very right about everything and pierced her right in her nervous heart with it. It took her hearing it said aloud sometimes, but that was why she valued Rayna even if she drove her crazy sometimes. The bluenette's hands wiped over her face a few times, nodding, only peeking up again when she felt a hand scratching at the back of her head. Shay's. She had always said her grandmother did that for her to calm her down. Did not have the same effect on Adel... but the sentiment was there. "She's right. We'll do our best and that will be that. If I feel ready, you should. You worked your tail off."

She had. Extra hours in their small apartment gym they had managed to put together. Training techniques to improve her reflexes and strength that she had never tried before. A retooled diet. She supposed she should stay proud of it all. "I did. And you too." But ever one to totally lose the smallest of conflicts - not totally - Adel threw her hand at the distant stage. "But this feels so unfair. They've been playing to the audience for so long, we're going to be an afterthought!"

"Not in those bikinis, you're not."

Adel felt her face going red and could see Shay's doing the same. It was not as if they wore a great deal during gymnastics, but there was something different about the exposed midriff, the straps, the context. Shay had danced in less, but Adel did not exactly come from that background. "That's another thing! I-"

Before she could roar into another tirade, Rayna had her and Shay both by the neck and pulled them into a tight hug. Adel sourly stared over her friend's shoulder for a few seconds... but Rayna had always given good hugs. When Shay sank into the hug, Adel joined her, and they all gave each other rubs on the backs before the people running the event told them they were on.

"Come on," Rayna said, grinning ear to ear. 'You're going to kill it!"

Nerves clung to Adel, but it mattered none. Their music was already playing by the time the trio reached the archway that led to the ring, and the three did Charlie's Angels proud as they posed there, Shay and Adel poised on the flanks and Rayna anchoring them from the back. She stayed back while Shay and Adel - who noticed all too clearly the cheers and the, ahem, catcalling - as they strode toward the ring. Rayna was right. Adel wished she hadn't been.

She also wished she had not been right to call the band members hot. Adel tried to avoid direct eye contact in the ring, and it took Shay motioning to her as a reminder to hop on the turnbuckle and pose for the audience.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

[BlackAkuma]

”So, we’re going in blind, here. That means we take things slow, at least at first.”

”Got it.”

”Test them out a little, get a good idea for what they can do. Nothing fancy.”

”Got it.”

”And try to keep your eyes off their chests. Just because they’ll be in bikinis doesn’t make this a hentai match, dude.”

”Got it.”

Despite what Willy said, Theo had the impression that he did not, in fact, get it. His parter was just lounging in the corner, eye-fucking with some overenthusiastic fan he’d found at ringside. More than a little annoying, and he already saw that there might have been too many distractions around. How well Willy did in just about non-music related was inversely proportional to how many females were within viewing range.

He was about to grill him and try to get his head in the game, when their opponent’s theme started up and his attention was brought to the entrance. Sure enough, the trio came out, and he took it as a good sign that he wasn’t getting too many dominant vibe from them. LAW’s mixed league had more than a few maneaters, women who lived to throw guys like them around like ragdolls, and no one on Artistry seemed to fit that bill. Just three women, out to wrestle.

And cute, too, if he was being honest. A sweet looker with blue hair, an exotic beauty with long, brown hair, and a buxom blonde rounding out the pack. It might not have had anything to do with the match, but he wasn’t blind.

Willy, of course, put it in blunter terms. ”Huh, they’re pretty fucking hot.” He rubbed his chin and took a step forward as they got into position. ”I think I’ll start up, if-”

”Yeah, no.” Theo shot his arm out and stopped him dead in his tracks. ”I got this. Just hang back for now. And pay attention.”

Willy grumbled at that, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue, thankfully. He slipped to the apron and took up position while Theo went to the middle of the ring, hopping on his bare feet. When he reached the middle, he waved towards their opponents and prepared to meet whoever they would choose to start with. ”Hey! I’m Theo, he’s Willy. Nice meeting you guys.” No reason to begin with trash talk. He could keep this cordial.

[Crossedes]

Adel sighed through her smile for the crowd. She couldn't ignore the two attractive men endlessly. "Are we sticking with our plan?" Especially considering the plan Shay mentioned as they both met after their journeys to the turnbuckle involved her going first. They had discussed their scheme, and it made sense. Adel was lightning in a bottle, and - despite her apprehension that their training might fail them - she believed she could outpace almost anyone. That would leave their opponents wearied and prone to slow reactions to Shay's kicks, scissors, and power. It was logical, strategic. "If things are still eating you, I can start-"

"No!" Adel interrupted, and her eyes settled on the two men as she spoke. It took everything in her not to glance below their chests. But the chests were enough. Hot... indeed. She had to wet her drying lips, and when she looked back at Shay, she could tell that her face had turned red again by the small smile on the dancer's face. "And no! None of that. They're not even my types." Though they could give Michaelangelo's David a run for its money. "Let's not change things now."

"Okay." Shay pulled her into a hug and patted her stomach. "Good luck." The dancer had the audacity to leave her alone...

...with the gentleman in blue. He would be her first match, then, and he wanted to be familiar and friendly. Adel straightened her shoulders and avoided looking at anything below his neck as she strolled over. "Hello, pleasure." The French slithered its way into her voice again. It helped her appear... aloof. "Adel." Her hand went to her chest. "And Sha'ree. You'll hear from Rayna early and often, too." And speak of her, she was already slapping the apron and starting a clap and Artistry chant along one row of bleachers.

Her mannered training made her feel the pull to say more since he had been so friendly, and with the ref taking her time getting in place, Adel cleared her throat. "Your playing was... very good." She did not mind metal that much, actually...

[BlackAkuma]

Okay, starting off. What was Theo up against?

He gave his opponent a look over, head to toe, as she approached, trying to get the best read on her. Athletic, but not too big, so he would enjoy the power advantage, no question, though she might have been quicker. Could be some trouble if she outpaced him, but he could adapt. There was a certain poise to how she carried herself, a regal air, though he wouldn’t say she appeared snobbish. Just pristine. Dignified. Refined.

Yeah, it was good that Willy wasn’t starting them off.

”Adel, Sha’ree, Rayna.” He nodded to each of them, stopping for a moment on Rayna - it seemed like she was already drumming up the crowd, making her little cheer section. He smirked, then focused back on Adel. ”Cool. Let’s do this, then.”

The referee, clad in a pinstripe bikini, called for the bell, and Theo immediately dropped down into his ready stance, knees bent and arms ready to grapple. ”Oh, thanks. You like metal, huh?” He moved in, inching towards her, trying to see if she would go for a collar-and-elbow tie-up. It would be in his favor if she took him head-on, so he didn’t bet on her trying, but if he could bait her into trying something dangerous…

[Crossedes]

Air filled Adel's head, pushing in past her busy mind, for long enough that she could lapse into thinking she was meeting a pleasant young man on the beach. He might strike her as generic jerkish metal jock number sixteen - that had been Adel's experience with rock musicians - so his friendly greeting lowered her haunches enough that she found herself more at ease. He didn't seem the type to thrash her around the ring like he had thrashed on the guitar. "Very cool," she responded before reality dropped right back on her head.

Between the bell, the cheer, and his falling into a fighting stance, Adel lurched to do the same, looking sloppy. She quickly straightened out her back and perfected the positioning of her feet, breathing a sigh of relief that he did not dive at her in the three milliseconds she had lapsed. But he was pushing closer - and still holding a conversation. "Ah..." Adel tried to concentrate, but her nature pushed her to answer and clarify, all the while trailing back with short steps.

"It's not my first choice of music, but I can admit that when it's live-" "Adel!" Shay's voice broke through the crowd's cheers, alongside a clap of her hands. "Ropes are behind you!"

...That would make sense with how many steps she had taken while she had been speaking. Having no desire to get caught up against those ropes, she did take Theo head-on, but with a feint back and to the side that became a sudden explosion into a leaping kick aimed for his torso.

[BlackAkuma]

Booooooooooooooooooring.

If there was one thing Willy hated, it was sitting on the sidelines. He’d never been a big fan of it back when he was playing football, and he found that now, as a wrestler, he liked it even less, which was a problem considering he was in a tag team. He’d much rather be on the inside, getting nice and cozy with the little doll Theo was making friends with. Or, better yet, her even hotter friend on the other side of the ring.

For now, though, he would just have to hang back, lounge against the ropes, and stretch out a bit, making sure the ladies got a good look at him. He spent no small amount of time in the gym to get a body like this, might as well take the opportunity to advertise.

He looked on as Theo pushed Adel back to the ropes, taking step after step and controlling the ring. Willy would’ve just laid her out with a lariat and got her on the ground, but no, his buddy had to be the gentleman, taking things slow and easy, and he wound up eating a kick to the stomach for his troubles. The blue-haired babe laid it into him, too, hitting hard enough to make an audible smack. It sent him back a step and left him groaning as he took the first hit of the match.

Maybe it was just what he needed to make him realize this was a match, not a dance. Theo shook it off fast enough and returned fire, coming at her with one of his fancy MMA-styled kicks, a low sweep aimed at her ankles. Not Willy’s style, but he’d been knocked on his ass enough times by them to say how effective they were. The Frenchie was destined for the mat.

[Crossedes]

Shay knew that Adel's perfectionism lasted only as long as there were no attractive and chivalrous people in sight. Having heard the two having a hurried but friendly conversation in the ring, she had known Adel might back her way to the ropes without thinking before being given any proof. But as in many cases, Adel possessed rare body control and athleticism, the type that led to dozens of individual accolades as a gymnast. Just when the dancer thought she had painted herself into a corner, the bluenette exploded. She always pulled something brilliant out of her hat in the end, and Shay rhythmically clapped.

She glanced across the ring at Theo's partner - though not too long of a look with the way he was stretching. A bad distraction. But she did glance at those broad shoulders, the burly arms and chest. He looked like an imposing bastion to topple, and Shay wondered if Rayna, the biggest of the three of them, shouldn't have volunteered herself for this matchup. Shay would have to figure him out, and she nibbled her lower lip, nervously anticipating the challenge.

Her eyes shot back in time to see Theo's leg swinging at Adel's. Adel was fast... but the kick was faster than Shay would have expected from a male with his physique. Adel was surprised too. Shay watched her step back and try to hop over it, but she didn't get the needed lift in time. Her legs became as useful as flying bowling pins. "Ahh!"

Adel, however, never ceased to amaze. The proximity of the ropes became a boon - the bluenette grabbed the middle one on the way down, held on, and had enough agility and arm strength to yank herself back up before she hit the mat fully. She remained completely unbalanced, and who wouldn't be, but Shay gaped as her friend managed to prop on the toes of one foot and throw the other one out at Theo's stomach to keep him at bay. It was not much of a kick, but Adel deserved a trophy for managing it at all. "Yeah yeah yeah... good good."

[BlackAkuma]

, fresh off getting everything packed up, came strolling down the ramp with a water bottle in hand as the battle started to heat up in the ring, only getting a passing glance from some of the security staff. They’d seen her playing with the guy, knew she was with them, and wouldn’t be giving her any hassle. She wasn’t a wrestler, after all, and mostly just showed up to give them ‘moral support’. That, and watch Willy get knocked the fuck out. More of that last thing, if she was being honest.

In the ring, she could see Theo mixing it up with the blue-haired girl, getting into the swing of things. He knocked her down with that sweeping kick and moved in to follow up, but the woman was faster, way faster than he’d guessed. She grabbed the ropes, bounced back, and came at Theo with a kick to the stomach that Lucy couldn't have replicated on the best day of her life. Whoever she was, she had skills, and it was enough to leave Theo staggering back for the moment.

It was a fun watch, but Lucy was a little more interested in the bevy of lovely ladies hanging around the ringside area one of whom was hanging around at ringside. Hot blonde, fit looking, probably the other two’s teammate. Theo had mentioned that Artistry was a threesome, hadn't he?

She didn’t say anything as she rounded the corner but gave the blonde a sly look over, liking what she saw. Lucy was careful not to get too close, you never knew what these wrestlers were about, but she decided to put on a little show. Casual stroll. Smile her way. Friendly nod. Put a little bounce in the step, lean against the barricade and-

”Ow, fuck!” She hissed as her bare skin on her ass touched the sizzling metal. The barricade had been sitting out in the hot sun all day, and it had picked up no small amount of heat, as metal was want to do. Should’ve seen that coming.

[Crossedes]

"Ar-tis-try! Ar-tis-try! Ar-tis-try!" Whew. Ranya would have loved to keep the chant going, but her throat was getting tired. The crowd also became more interested in the match's theatrics than in making like a school pep rally, so she and a few enthusiastic people around her age in the front row were the only ones keeping the chant going. Figuring she had done her best work as a wrestling manager, the blonde's sweetest smile came out before she settled on the apron, giving Adel her undivided attention.

And she should be. She caught the tail end of her avoiding the fall, whooped and hollered while she pulled herself upright enough to kick blue trunks away from her. It looked like it was taking Adel time to realize she had pulled the maneuver off herself. Blue trunks was busy getting his bearings. Yep, everyone involved was shocked by Adel's athleticism - a common occurrence.

Rayna only barely noticed an approaching figure's eyes on her. Oh - it was their drummer. Rayna had liked her. Talented, great choices in sprucing up her look with color. Hot in that bikini, too, and the smile didn't leave someone with Rayna's boldness wondering if she wasn't invited to look back. She propped up, trying to look inviting herself when she realized the mistake that the other woman was making far too late. She raised her hand-

Ow. On the ass too. The blonde could only cringe for her. "Yeah, I wouldn't have recommended that," Rayna said, wink and finger gun cocked. "I've got some lotion if you-"

The pounding of feet in the ring drew her attention. Adel, taking advantage of the breathing room she had, turned and leaped onto the middle rope, using it as a springboard to launch herself at blue trunks and swing a kick towards his head. "Hell yeah, Del-y! Get him girl!"