You're a Firework! Hanabi vs. Devine of the Valkyries

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Second match, not bad. Hanabi had a better idea of what was going on in the league now, at least. She couldn't let herself be deterred by the events in her debut match, however -- this was a chance at a new slate. At least she didn't seem to have lost many fans! After a bit of recuperation, she found herself, shockingly, in a better state than ever before, if only so she could work her way up once more, get stronger, get better. Otherwise, what was the point, really? Learn from your mistakes. That was one of the first things she learned. And even after such a rough match as that one, there was nowhere to go but up.

She bounced up and down as she heard the strains of her entrance theme begin to make its way into the locker room. Without another thought, she bounded out of the locker room, waving at the crowd. They seemed to be louder than they were when she debuted, something that heartened her. She spun before walking -- or, rather, bouncing -- down the ramp, beaming to everyone and blowing kisses as she walked. She made her way into the ring between the top and middle rope, bending over to give her loving crowd a nice view of her ass. When inside, she made a few laps around the ring, before hopping up in her corner to pump her hands up and get the crowd cheering loudly once more before hopping down and watching for her opponent.

To Hanabi’s credit, the crowd was getting behind her from the start, it seemed. They were always fast to fall in love with a new face, particularly when that face put the rest of her body in such a nice, bold display. However they felt about Hanabi’s wrestling abilities, that didn’t make them any less glad to see her coming down to the ring.

That happiness faded. Quick.

”THIEVES!”

The audience erupted into a united chorus of boos as the roar of three motorcycles was heard from the backstage area, heralding the entrance for one of Tension oldest, deadliest factions: the Valkyries. Sure enough, they appeared in their choppers at the top of the stage - Mako, the pint-sized leader, coming out first, while Stone and Devine, her favored lieutenants, backed her up. All three of them dressed up like they’d just come in from the open road. Because they had.

”THIEVES AND LIARS!
HYPOCRITES AND BASTARDS!”

Mako put the kickstand out and switched off her bike, then pulled off her helmet while Stone and Devine did the same. If she noticed the crowd, she didn’t look like it. The way she placidly stared forward, you might’ve thought she was simply at home, watching some made-for-TV movie she’d already seen a dozen time. Stone had a similar look when her helmet came off, but she typically looked that, earning her nickname as much as possible. Devine, though…

”Oh, fuck yes.” She tossed her helmet to the side and stared down the ramp at the sweet little thing inside the ring. Small. Innocent. Cute in that outfit she had going on, looking like some fetish superhero. Devine definitely approved. She’d been reluctant about this match before, preferring to be the one on the team who did most of her work at ringside. But if she was contractually obligated to do the occasional solo match, that would be fine, so long as they made her opponents look so tasty.

She licked her lips and looked between Mako and Stone, like a child outside the candy store. ”You two sure you don’t want a bite?”

Stone shook her head, but Mako - as always - had something to say. ”Not my type. Hate blondes.” She dug a finger in her ear, pulled out some wax, and flicked it onto a nearby fan who getting a bit too energetic in his taunts. Dumbass shouldn’t have leaned out so far, hit him right in the face. ”Hurry up and get your jollies. We got shit to do.”

”Have it your way.” Devine shrugged and started to saunter down the ramp, her smile getting wider with each swaying step. ”More for me.”

She reached the ring and slid on it, eagerly popping up to her feet to face her opponent. A fine looking girl with a good body, even if Devine’s eyes went down too much to really take notice of the rest. ’Hey there, princess.” Devine started to slide her jacket off, leaving nothing but a red bra for her top and tight jeans for her bottom. ”Love the outfit. Trying to impress me?”

"What the…"

Clearly, Hanabi had a heck of a start to her career. Already she was going against one of the members of the Valkyries, which had a reputation that was as long as…well, as long as her grocery list. Yet when they made their appearance, Hanabi couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. No anxiety over the fact that the three girls were rarely ever separate, nothing. She just found herself a bit annoyed over the fact that these girls had nothing better to do than to drive a bunch of motorcycles through an arena and up to the ramp. And for what reason? Intimidation? She wasn't intimidated. Coolness? Judging from the jeers that came from the audience, they weren't impressed.

When Devine made her way down the ramp and began to talk to her, Hana just stared at her for a moment. She had processed what the other woman had said, but there was a piece of her that just couldn't believe that she had even said it. "Sorry, hold up," she finally said. "You come in here with a bunch of motorcycles, strip down to…what seems to be just a bra and jeans, and you're making a comment about my outfit?" She was always a bit sensitive about her outfit -- she had designed it herself, and made the prototype after several days working by herself on a sewing machine.

"You're cute and all, and your attempt at flirting is flattering, but I really don't think you'll be down for dinner once I beat you easily in front of all these people," she commented. "You seem the type to hold a grudge, and that's just not my type."

Devine couldn’t deny that Hanabi had a bit of a point. On face, you’d be hard pressed to find two more different individuals without searching outside of their gender.

Hanabi’s outfit was elaborate. It showed off her body, sure, but it also had the mark of a true wrestler. The mask. The colors. The over-the-top, shiny look, like a superhero ripped straight from the comics. It was almost retro, in a world where fewer and fewer were going with the traditional looks. How many wrestlers wore a mask anymore?

Devine, on the other hand, looked like she’d just come out of a club. Which wasn’t too far from the truth, since she planned on doing just that, later on.

For now, business. And pleasure.

”So hostile!” Devine held up her hands and put on her most innocent smile. ”Life’s too short for grudges, sweetie. I have much better, more interesting things to do with my time.”

Devine stepped forward as the bell ring, but she didn’t make any aggressive moves. Not just yet. She wanted to run an experiment, first.

”Let’s not start off on the wrong foot, sorry if I gave a bad impression.” Devine extended her hand, offering it for a shake. ”Rosalita, but everyone calls me Devine. Let’s have a good match, eh?”

There was something off about…well, everything that Devine was saying. Everything about Devine reminded Hana of the bullies that she fought off when she was in school. And here she was, talking as if she were trying to be friendly to Hana. She didn't trust it. She didn't trust the two girls that still stood at the top of the ramp. And she didn't trust Devine at all. But perhaps the best way to get through this and get the girl to reveal her true colors was to play along.

"Oh? Is that so? So when I beat you fair and square, you're not gonna have your friends over there run in to kick the shit out of me?"

Then again, playing along wasn't always her strongest suit.

When the bell rang and Devine stepped forward, Hanabi tensed. Visibly so. But then her opponent stuck out her hand like it was an olive branch, trying to offer a shake. Every muscle in her body was screaming at her not to take the bait (because it had to be a trap, right?), but this was her shot at "playing along". She moved forward, taking the girl's hand with her own to shake. "Call me Hanabi. Maybe I'll tell you my real name afterwards." There. Now she was playing nice.

But she was still ready for the worst.

Devine was finding she had a hard time not bursting out in reckless laughter.

Hanabi was right to not trust her, but it was cute how she seemed to think she understood the deal, here. She seemed familiar enough with them to be weary, but not enough to be weary of anything specific. It was always fun to educate a newbie on the pecking order around Tension, and Devine had her own, special way of doing it.

Despite her trepidation, though, Hanabi took the handshake, like Devine knew she would. She was one of those types. The noble fighter. The hero. Gallant and honorable and oh-so vulnerable, when it came right down to it.

It was probably predictable and a little cliche on top, but asking Devine not to do what came next would be like expecting a scorpion not to sting: it was in her nature. ”Maybe you will.” She gripped Hanabi’s hand tight. ”Maybe you’ll scream it.”

Without warning - though Hanabi probably wouldn’t need one - Devine yanked the blond forward and lifted her leg up in the same motion, trying to hit her opponent with a sharp knee to her quite-exposed belly.

The attack was something Hanabi was expecting. Honestly, it was like the first page out of the heel playbook: take advantage of your opponent at whatever means necessary. It didn't mean that she had a chance to dodge it; no, Devine clamped down on her hand to keep her in place before yanking her straight into the knee! Hana released the air in her lungs with a sharp grunt, and her grip loosened on the other girl's hand significantly. But not completely. After a moment, she would tighten on her hand and grin up at her. "Or maybe you will," she replied.

With that, she moved to yank Devine in, but rather than go for a knee to her stomach, she moved to catch her in her arms and squeeze, as if going for a bearhug. But rather than keep her like that, she'd fall backwards, releasing the girl midway in a snap suplex! So long as that succeeded, she would move to get back up, grinning down at her opponent. "What's wrong, sweetie? Thought you wanted a good match!"

Hook, line, and sinker.

Devine couldn’t help but have a little laugh as her knee sank into Hanabi’s stomach, bending her over and going deep. The crowd didn’t approve, but frankly, it couldn’t have mattered less to her. Their little heroine had left herself open, and she’d taken advantage. The bell had rung, so she had no right to complain.

And to Hanabi’s credit, she didn’t. She acted.

”What-” Before she could react, before she could make another move, she was pressed in close to Hanabi’s body. Admittedly, it felt good, the way their breasts slid against each other and their hips slapped.

What didn’t feel good was getting flipped backwards with Hanabi’s suplex and dumped hard on her back, much to the crowd’s delight. Hanabi seemed quite pleased with herself, the way she was looking down on her, but Devine felt like she could change that.

With a sneer, Devine shot her leg up and tried to hit Hanabi in the head with an overhead kick.

Hanabi couldn't help but smirk as the girl slammed into the mat, shaking her head to herself. The crowd roared as Devine was dumped on her back, making her smirk broaden into a grin. She had proven right off the bat that while she may be like any one of those ~typical faces~ and take her attempt at an olive branch, she was not going to be caught off guard when Devine tried to stab her with the branch itself.

Of course, it didn't help that Devine managed to hit her in the head with an overhead kick.

She stumbled back with a soft yelp, but still kept to her feet. No, she wouldn't let herself fall over that easily! She growled softly, waiting for the other girl to start moving to try and get to her feet. That way, she would be able to run forward -- and go for a shining wizard, attempting to knock her back down on the mat before she could even get any momentum.

"No no, you stay down!" she said. "I didn't say you could get up yet!"

Kicking Hanabi in the face was immensely satisfying for some reason, one that Devine had trouble vocalizing. The woman had this smugness to her, this air of superiority that was rubbing her in the wrong way. There was simply no way she’d be looked down upon by a chick dressed up like a superhero-themed stripper, especially with Mako and Stone watching from up the ramp.

Devine rolled over to her stomach, fully intent on getting back and giving Hanabi another kick in the head. Looking forward to it, in fact. She might have even done it, too, if not for the boot in her face.

As Devine learned then and there, Hanabi wasn’t the biggest woman in Tension, but the bitch could move. She crossed the ring in a heartbeat and introduced the Valkyrie’s face to her knee, cracking her right on the nose with the hellish blow. Devine had only been off her back for a few seconds before she was put down again.

Clutching her face, she rolled away towards the corner and grabbed the ropes with her spare hand the second she was near, sloppily pulling herself. ”Shit, [/i]shit![/i]” Devine cursed and spat as she rubbed her face. Nothing was broken, but it stung all over, and it felt like her nose was knocked out of place, somehow. ”Fucking bitch! You fucking...fuck!”

So much for the gentle approach.