mal·ice
/maləs/
noun
the intention or desire to do evil; ill will.
The scene opens to reveal Iris and Essence in Essence's basement which is lined with wrestling mats. Essence has her hair back in a ponytail and is wearing a sports bra and tights.
Iris brushes her hair out of her face and glances over at her cousin before looking back at herself. For once, she's abandoned her eccentric attire for a much more reasonable white tank top and a pair of lycra shorts.
"Is it cold down here, or is it just me?"
Essence covers her chest self-aware. She looks down at the floor.
What are you trying to say, Iris?
A puzzled look comes over her face as she looks over at her suddenly defensive cousin.
"Huh? I just mean that it's kind of cold down here. But I am used to wearing at least two layers of clothing so..." she starts before trailing off into incomprehensible mumbling. After a couple seconds, her eyes grow wide and she gasps in revelation.
"Oh no, nothing like that!"
Oh.
Essence removes her hands from her chest and smiles. A cool breeze comes through and Essence shivers.
Maybe I should don a jacket.
Essence walks over and grabs her jacket and throws it on over. She zips it up over her chest.
So what's first, cuz?
"Alright, first thing's first. The lock-up. Which, incidentally is not the best thing to do with someone much heavier than you but oh well."
Iris steps forward and gets into position, reaching her arms out away from her body.
"Now come and grab my hands, cuz."
Essence steps forward slightly hesitantly. She grabs her hands and begins pushing back at Iris.
Now what?
"Now, since we're dealing with larger opponents, odds are we can't overpower them."
Iris smiles.
"So instead..."
She pulls her right hand away from Essence and pulls Essence's right arm straight. Then, grabbing the inside of the pulled straight hand with her free right hand, she yanks down and Essence rolls forward, landing back first on the mat.
"You try to get them off their feet as soon as possible."
Ooof!
Essence begins taking deep breathes. She is trying to remain calm. She leaps back to her feet and looks ready for more.
Be careful... I don't want to transition without being prepared.
“Right. So, how about you try it on me? Pretend I'm Maverick."
Iris stretches her arms for a second before returning to the position.
Essence locks up once more and does the exact move that Iris had been teaching her.
How about that, Iris?
Iris gives her student a round of applause.
"Good job Essy! Though here's a big lesson."
She falls backward until she's holding herself up only by her neck and shoulders and locks her legs around Essence's neck. Pushing herself up so she's supported only by her hands, she twists forward, once again taking her cousin off her feet.
"Never let your guard down," she says with a giggle.
Essy hits the mat hard and keeps tumbling over. Her momentum finally stops as she hits the wall and is breathing heavily. She throws a punch that hits the wall. Her whole upper body is racked with heavy breathing as sweat begins to fall down her face.
Then an awkward silence follows.
"Well then."
Iris pushes herself to her feet and slowly backs away from her infuriated cousin or, more accurately, whatever hellbeast is currently possessing her cousin's body.
Essence uses the wall to flip herself around and to her feet. She stares across the room at Iris. Her eyes blink slowly as she stares at Iris.
Well, hello there. What a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance, Miss... Oppenheimer is it?
Iris is taken aback by the question, and backs obliviously into the wall. Smacking the back of her head against the wall, she winces before shaking her head and clearing her throat.
"Yes. Iris Oppenheimer..." she racked her brain, trying to put a name to this set of behaviors. "And you are... ?"
The now brightly smiling 'Essence' cheerfully giggles in a high tone. She places her hands together and swings them from side to side.
My name is Edith Edwards. You may call me Eddy. Rhymes with Needy.
She giggles again before taking in her surroundings.
My, my. What were we doing down here in this damp and dank place? Wrestling or play-pretending as lesbians in a weird dungeonous basement.
Her giggle is heard again, but something seems distant and maniacal about the way in which she laughs.
Iris recoils as the sound of 'Edith's giggling penetrates her ear canal. Stepping forward hesitantly, she tries to think of the right words to describe this situation.
"Well, Eddy, Essence and I were wrestling. I guess more accurately, I was training her."
Wrestling? Tst tst tst tst.
Her scolding tone is down pat although her false sincerity seems to be pure evil.
How ridiculous. How about we instead go up to Little Essence and my room to do some knitting? We can make sweaters for everyone for their birthdays this year!
She smiles largely as she softly giggles once more, infuriatingly so.
"Umm... or we could not do that. See, it's kind of our job. We're professional wrestlers."
I am no professional wrestler! I am going to be the greatest house-wife to my adoring husband, Edward.
She sighs before meeting the eyes of Iris with cold malice.
Now... let's knit young lady.
"Right, probably should've clarified. Essence and I are professional wrestlers and uh, you just happen to be inhabiting her body right now so if you could give it back that would be nice-- wait a second Edward?"
Yes. My sweet, loving companion Edward. He fills me with such joy and bliss.
She sighs once more. Eddy reaches out and grabs the ear of Iris and begins dragging her towards the door.
I don't believe I said dilly-dally. It's time to knit our beloveds some fine fabric.
SMACK!
Iris just slapped the taste out of Eddy's mouth! She turns away aghast! She turns back with surprise on her face.
Why you little ingrateful...
She begins breathing heavily as her shoulders slowly rise and lower. She takes a seat on the ground deeply breathing.
Finally it stops and silence fills the void once again.
Iris stands where she was when she slapped Eddy, focus switching between her hand and her seated cousin. She doesn't dare move. Or make eye contact. She tries to speak, but any words she tries to form become incomprehensible drivel.
The girl on the floor looks up at Iris and with a faint smile tells Iris that Essence is back in the house.
I'm sorry, cuz. For whatever just happened.
Iris sighs in relief.
"Oh thank God you're here."
She reaches down and helps Essence to her feet.
Essence stands up and suddenly feels the warmth on her face from the slap.
Ow! Did you slap me Iris?
"Maybe just a little bit. Though in my defense I was being dragged by my ear to go knitting."
Iris giggles.
"Why, does it hurt?"
Essence rubs it softly for a moment before taking her hand down.
No. It doesn't hurt at all. Can we please do some more wrestling?
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