Phoenix, Arizona
The Phoenix Zoo
The hands of Twisted Sister slammed against the bars of the cage, or as the zoo keeper's preferred to refer to them as...
Zoo Keeper: We would rather they be called what they are; enclosures.
The female had informed the small quartet, as the trio of the Metal maniacs had earned for themselves this bit of a treat, escorted by their ever-present business manager and "mental health" specialist, Doctor Kraven Moorehead. But as the good Doctor, hands clasped behind his back, gazed at the menagerie of animals surrounding them on all sides, he also kept a close watch on his charges, knowing full well the dangers they posed when going out into the public eye, as well as any possible ramifications. Twisted Sister's hands gripped the bars of the jaguar's "enclosure" so tightly that her knuckled turned white, while her manic eyes were wide with excited glee, staring at such a wonder of nature -- as well as anything that was locked up that just so happened not to be her. Across the lot, not more than ten feet away, her tag team partner, the renowned Iron Maiden (the only person it seems who made Twisted Sister seem 'normal') stood rigid, her arms held straight down at her side with hands clenched into fists, while her long, curly black hair dangled past her face and shielded her eyes. She waved ever-so from left to right on the balls of her feet. This very simple act alone would ward many from coming any closer, fearing that perhaps the lunatic was at risk of losing whatever mental stability she had going at the time. However the good Doctor was not worried. Having known and treated Iron Maiden for so long, he was aware that this was in fact her excited state of mind, not agitated.
Big difference.
And Anthrax? The man who for all intents and purposes, appeared to be the most stable of the Metal Maniacs, simply stood behind his two female counterparts, staring at the zoo keeper with a smile on his face. Without the garish face paint that had become his trademark inside of the wrestling business, Anthrax actually was quite a handsome young man. But it was true when it was said that appearances could be deceiving, and this was no truer than when this enigma was concerned. His so-called 'normalcy' or the appearance of, was what many thought made him perhaps the most dangerous of the three of Doctor Kraven Moorehead's patients. Only time would tell.
The zoo keeper however noticed his attention on her and she cleared her throat.
Anthrax: Feeling a whee bit guilty?
Zoo Keeper: I beg your pardon? Guilty about...?
Anthrax smiled wider, his brown eyes filled with glee.
Anthrax: You wouldn't insist on calling them 'enclosures' if you didn't acknowledge what they actually are.
Sensing that his patient was on the verge of causing the zoo employee a sense of discomfort, Doctor Kraven Moorehead stepped up as Anthrax giggled like a schoolboy.
Anthrax: Call them whatever you want, but the fact is that they are cages!
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: My boy...
Anthrax: Cages....
The zoo keeper started to turn aside to avoid any further discussion with this tourist.
Zoo Keeper: If that'll be all....
Anthrax: CAGES!
Doctor Kraven Moorehead 'shooed' the worker away and she was none too happy to oblige and scuttle away to help someone else wandering the zoo and looking at the animals. Anthrax watched her hurry away with a smile, and felt the doctor's hand rest on his shoulder. His smile became more subdued as his eyes drifted down to the doctor's hand.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: You had a very busy past few weeks my boy.
Anthrax smiled. I did, didn't I? I won! I WON!
Doctor Kraven Moorehead patted his shoulder and let go as they started to move as Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister went in search of more animals to amuse themselves by. Not too hard a mission as the Phoenix Zoo was filled with everything from an Arabian Oryx to Chilean Flamingos and much, much more.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: That you did, and your very first win. Congratulations. But I was more referring to what happened last week.
Anthrax: Ohhh! Lovely, lovely Sammi Marlowe.
He giggled and shifted a sidelong glance to the doctor.
Anthrax: Do you think she noticed me?
The doctor at least had the good grace to clear his throat with a slight sense of discomfort.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: I would find it hard for her not to have, my boy.
Anthrax air pumped a fist.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: After what you did to her gentleman friend, I would be hard pressed for anyone not to have taken notice.
Anthrax's eyes opened wide as he watched Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister screech in glee at the sight of some colorful flamingos.
Anthrax: He wasn't very gentlemanly, was he? No. Nooo! He needs to learn how to treat a lady. A gentleman doesn't manhandle a lady, does he?
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: A gentleman also does not spit Asian mist into a lady's eyes.
Anthrax: True!
He turned to smile at the Doctor.
Anthrax: How fortunate for me that Sammi's sister isn't a lady, hm? Heh heh!
Anthrax turned back as they found themselves in the enclosure that housed squirrel monkeys. Doctor Kraven Moorehead sighed audibly and shook his head.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: Be that as it may, it was still an action that has cost me a great deal of money in fines.
Anthrax: Money was meant to be spent.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead: And ... I had to talk Mark Ward and Christian Underwood out of suspending you. The rare time the two of them agreed on anything.
Anthrax suddenly pointed at the monkeys off-camera and laughed aloud.
Anthrax: HA! Look at what THAT monkey's throwing!
Anthrax took off like a shot for a closer look and Doctor Kraven Moorehead stared after him, knowing his work was indeed a challenge where 'this one' was concerned.
Doctor Kraven Moorehead's Expert Diagnosis: "This weekend Anthrax faces a new challenge in the form of perhaps one of SCW's greats; James Tuscini. The man's career thus far has been nothing short of impressive, and I relish in the opportunity to see young Anthrax test himself against a man of such prodigal skills. Thus far, Anthrax has had an impressive showing to call his own, having faced the likes of Josh Woodrum and Joshua Acquin. Granted, Anthrax's match against Woodrum was not a victory, but given how the match went down, I would call that a win by technicality. And Mister Acquin? I dare say we all saw what happened at High Stakes VII when Anthrax was asked out to 'play.' Indeed, Joshua Acquin had asked for a playmate for that event, and it was an error in judgment that I am certain he will remember."
"But what about you, Mister Tuscini? A former two-time Internet Champion and two-time Roulette Champion. Truly impressive feats for all to agree, and now you face a new challenge inside of the ring in the form of my patient, my charge. If you are smart, you would have paid close attention to the past exploits of Anthrax, both inside the confines of the wrestling ring as well as outside. He is quite capable of far more than meets the eye, and to gloss over that simple fact would spell out your own impending doom once that bell rings. Your size advantage? It matters little, just ask Josh Woodrum who is larger than even you. And even Mister Acquin had a slim advantage in size over Anthrax, and it did him little to no good."
"The future is bleak, Mister Tuscini. Or to be more precise, your future is bleak. And should your manager, Uncle Pinky, try to intervene in order to save you? Well, let's just say that it would be a very, very bad idea to do so. The countdown has begun. The circus has arrived, Mister Tuscini."
"It's time to send in the clown."
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