The door to a rather large room swings inward as a young woman carrying a handful of papers in her hands that has her attention. Behind her, a young woman confidently walks into the room, her hands working off the pair of dark riding gloves before she tosses them towards the woman who has put down the papers and looked up at the brunette. Ivy bobbles both gloves and catches them to pull them close to her chest. Lady Apple Coren in a rather tight pair of riding pants and silk blouse under a dark suede jacket doesn’t even glance at the woman as she moves to a bar to splash a liquid from a crystal decanter that sends rainbows sparkling around the room before setting it back down and strutting to a large curved sectional where she sits back. Ivy lays the gloves on the table inside of the door then turns to Apple before picking up a blinking cell phone and a closed ipad that she flips open with one hand and moves to perch on the edge of the chair facing the young lady.
Ivy the Assistant: As you requested earlier I have your diary right here my lady. Later this afternoon you have a fitting with the dressmaker for your come out ball gown. Then you have a dinner invitation with your father…oh wait…
Ivy checks on the blinking phone where multiple emails can be seen on the screen she swipes at. Sitting there, Apple takes in the slight gold colour of the wine in her glass without looking at the phone.
Apple Coren: You don’t have to say it Ivy, Daddy dearest has a very important meeting in London and begs for a rain cheque. As per usual I am sure.
Ivy the Assistant: But my lady, your father is quite busy. His job means that he is front and center for…
Apple Coren: Please Ivy, he doesn’t need to have you defend him. He gets off on the use of his name and title. They don’t call him Whiskey Wills for nothing you know. Besides, I really wasn’t wanting to dine with him either if I’m honest. So if that frees up my evening, let’s make plans to go to the pub and judge people while they scream over the world cup.
Ivy the Assistant: I am sorry my lady but you are not free this evening as you have a skype interview for that wrestling company you work for now. A Miss Pussy Willow is going to be calling an hour after your fitting for your gown.
Apple doesn’t seem to react as she sips at the wine and then leans forward to set the glass on the dark wood of the accent table in front of her.
Apple Coren: So the night of slumming is out then?
Ivy the Assistant: I am afraid so.
Apple Coren: Bollocks!
As the word escapes her, the butler in a stuffy starched suit steps into the room to announce the dressmaker was waiting for her ladyship in her room. Apple smiles at the butler and pushes herself off the sectional to move towards the door, stopping to motion for Ivy who grabs her ipad and phone and follows quickly. Moments later, Apple walks into a room that is dominated by a large four poster bed with a rich red satin duvet and matching curtains surrounding it. Resting across the bed is an elegant aquamarine gown that has a slight shimmer in the material that is caused by the dying light from outside. Standing beside the bed, the dressmaker and her assistant wait nervously for the reaction from Apple who advances to the bed.
Apple Coren : I do hope you have captured the look that I am going for. Elegant with a touch of scandalous.
Pulling off the riding jacket, and tossing it to the side, Apple’s hands reach upward, her fingers toying with the buttons of her blouse as she turns and walks towards a folded rice paper screen with a painting of the estate done in watercolour across the panels. Standing behind it with just enough backlight to tantalize, Apple removes her blouse and lets it drape over the frame and motions with her hand to have the dress brought to her. The dressmaker snaps her finger to send her assistant scrambling to carry the dress to the young aristocrat and help her put it on. The dressmaker’s assistant holds up the dress as Apple grabs the hem and tosses it over her dark head and wiggles her way into the garment.
Apple Coren: I say, you did excellent work this time.
Apple steps out from behind the screen and moves to the large mirror to one side of the fireplace in her room. Holding out her arms, she spins slowly in the silken organza dress that flares ever so slightly at her ankles. Ivy clasps both hands together in front of her, her eyes wide and her voice breathy as she begins to speak.
Ivy the Assistant: Oh my lady, that dress is bloody brilliant!
Apple spares only a cursory glance at the gushing assistant before she turns back and gives the dressmaker a sickly patentedly poisoned smile.
Apple Coren: It is all right I suppose but you do have to tell me if anyone else has had any notion of the lines of this dress. I simply will not share the same look with anyone that night of my come out.
Ivy the Assistant: That would never do will it. I am sure the dressmaker has kept to the terms of the NDA she signed. Haven’t you ma’am?
The dressmaker nods as she moves to make a few adjustments to the garment as Apple stands in front of the mirror and watches as the assistant takes notes as the dressmaker makes comment after comment. Finally the fitting is done and Apple once more moves behind the screen and removes the creation and hands it to the dressmaker assistant. Ivy had been busy picking out another outfit for her ladyship which she hands over the screen to Apple. Pulling the clothing towards her, Apple begins to change once more as she speaks over the screen to her assistant.
Apple Coren: I believe Ivy that you said that I will be having a rabbit with someone from Sin City wrestling? Who is it and whyever am I wasting my time talking about what is obvious hmm?
Ivy the Assistant: Says here my lady that you will be talking to someone named Pussy Willow.
Apple looks over the screen as she wrinkles her nose as the name of famed SCW Interviewer Pussy Willow hangs in the air. Ivy spares a look up with a shrug as she nods much to the scorn of Apple Coren.
Apple Coren: And I suppose she is some yank that had a mother with some kind of weed fetish and a father with a love of…animals of the feral kind.
Ivy the Assistant: I bet she was named after those pussikin bushes I have heard about in the States.
Apple gags slightly at the cutesie voice her assistant is using. Stepping from behind the screen in just a lacy bra and a pair of leather pants that does nothing but accentuate the long legs of the young aristo, Apple lifts up the British flag tee over her head and lets it settle at her midriff. Looking at Ivy, Apple moves to the door and stops.
Apple Coren: So when do we need to skype this interviewer? I find that I am rather ready for a quick nosh before this interview and I really need to rest before I have to begin packing for my trip to Texas for this next show. By the way, have you noted that in my diary and have you made the arrangements for the flight there?
Ivy scrambles with the Ipad, her fingers swiping quickly across the screen.
Apple Coren : Oh nevermind Ivy, I am sure you will make sure that is all taken care of for me. Now I am ready to head to the sitting room for this Skype thing. On your way down there, please do go belowstairs and bring me a snack. I will meet you in the Rose sitting room.
Apple sweeps out of the room and moves towards the large staircase. Ivy follows behind, passing Apple to head towards the servants’ stair. Apple softly hums as her hand glides along the railing of the staircase as she moves downwards and then disappears through a doorway that takes her towards another part of the house.
<img src=http://canadian-spitfire.webs.com/appledivide.png>
Apple Coren is resting on a chaise as she nibbles on a small blini with a small scoop of caviar. Beside her is Ivy who is setting up the Skype on a laptop that is sitting near a rather large screened television. A black cable runs between the laptop and the screen while a camera is focused on Apple who spares a glance at the television then ignores it once more. Finally, a Skype window lights up on the screen with a window in window look of Apple as she tugs lightly on the tee and fluffs her hair. Suddenly the sound of a ring from the screen is heard as Ivy nods towards Apple and presses answer on the laptop. The image of Pussy Willow fills the screen.
Pussy Willow: Ummm hello?
Her voice is slightly intimidated as she takes in the white rose and gold accents of a large fireplace behind Apple who offers Pussy a tight smile as she addresses the image of Pussy.
Apple Coren: It is a pleasure Ms Willow I am sure.
Pussy Willow: You can call me Pussy.
The smile fades slightly as Apple replies through her teeth.
Apple Coren: I could but heaven forbid. So Ms Willow, I am given to understand I have to do this interview to introduce myself to the fans of Sin City Wrestling? I thought I did that when I first came to a show. I am sure that they already know just who I am and I suppose that I really don’t care if they do know me. All I care about is the battle. It is a bit of a lark you might say.
Apple’s smile again brightens as she reaches for a cut crystal glass that holds a dark amber liquid. Ivy holds up her thumb in support that Apple waves off while Pussy is speaking.
Pussy Willow: I guess then that question can’t be asked. Okay, so tell me Apple why you decided to join SCW?
Apple Coren: Growing up Ms Willow…
Pussy Willow: It’s Pussy
Apple glares at the screen for a moment before continuing as if Pussy hadn’t interrupted her.
Apple Coren: As I was saying, I grew up here in this estate after my mother passed and my father became the eligible darling of the jetset. You would suspect that with the boarding schools and rich life I lead I wouldn’t dare dirty my fingers with something as low as wrestling. But then Davis…he is the butler…he would bring me belowstairs and while he worked he set me before the television where he would watch wrestling. Of course at the time, women were just starting to become mainstream and not just the sideshow entertainment. I fell in love with wrestling when I was watching it. After a while, I decided to join this small little training school in Blackpool during my gap year. Daddy thought I was busy doing something for the little people in some forsaken town but no, I was learning what I needed to become a wrestler. And I am not one to brag but my teacher said I had talent and well the rest is history.
Pussy Willow: So you are just out of this training school and you decided you wanted to be a bombshell with SCW?
Apple Coren: Naturally when one is as skilled as I am, one naturally goes to the company that is the best and I have it on very good authority that Sin City Wrestling is one of the best independent promotions. It was a natural fit for me so I approached the company and they gave me a contract.
Apple puts her two hands behind her head and leans back on the chaise in comfort as Pussy looks down below the camera angle and the sound of rustling papers is heard. She looks back up and gets a serious look on her face.
Pussy Willow: You did sign a contract and now you have been booked in a match for the very first time and you will be facing someone that has been in SCW for a while and is pretty good. And she is also the fiancée of a former champion and the soon to be stepmother of our current Bombshell Roulette champion, Seleana Zdunich.
Apple Coren: And I should be concerned why?
Pussy looks surprised as the question is turned back on her.
Pussy Willow: Well, she has wrestled in SCW longer than you…
Aple nods as a serious look comes over her face.
Apple Coren: AND?
Pussy Willow: Her fiancée has been a champion a couple of times and is her trainer. And her step daughter to be is a champion too.
Pussy looks as if all that information should have Apple running for the hills but Apple just yawns and then addresses the camera with a look of confidence.
Apple Coren: I am sure that Seleana is more than capable of getting in the ring and thinking that she is going to be able to overcome the pure class that I am going to exude in that ring. Let me tell you something Ms Willow…
Again Pussy pipes up to remind Apple of her name which only garners an eyeroll before Apple speaks again.
Apple Coren: I have always liked the fact that no one thinks that I as an aristocrat would be capable of dirtying one’s hands with something as low class as wrestling. However, just because I am nobility doesn’t mean I do not know how to fight given the fact that girls in boarding school tend to have quite the rows with town girls at the pub.
Apple stops for affect, her fingers fluffing her hair as she does.
Pussy Willow: Are you saying that you are a streetfighter?
Apple Coren: What I am saying, Ms Willow, is that if you think that one isn’t ready to do what it takes to win, that is the moment that you realize you are laying on your back wondering what the number of the lorry that hit you is. I am not saying that I can’t be a lady because we both know that I was born to that. I am saying that despite my nobility, I am a winner in that ring. I will do what it takes to continue to rule over the little people that make up the bombshell division in Sin City Wrestling. I don’t suppose that you would be willing to send a message for me to my opponent, would you?
Pussy Willow: Yeah I suppose I could pass on the message.
Apple nods as she leans towards the camera, her legs crossing as she places her elbows on her knees.
Apple Coren: Brilliant! I want you to tell Seleana that I am quite sorry that on Sunday at that little theme park in Texas will have a new sideshow. Let me see if I can make a comparison for Seleana. I believe that Mr Jeff Foxworthy says it well when he says that you know you are a redneck when…
Apple pause for a moment trying to think of the last part of the quote. Her finger rises to tap ever so lightly against her nose before a smile breaks over her face and she continues.
Apple Coren: Ah yes…you know you are a redneck when some one yells HoeDown and Seleana hits the floor.
Pussy had taken a sip of some kind of liquid as Apple speaks and with the comment, a stream of misted liquid covers the screen blurring Pussy.
Pussy Willow: Oh my god that is like sooo rude.
Apple Coren: Rude maybe however, I have the feeling that I am closer to the truth because the truth is I don’t really think that Seleana is a lady in the real sense or the nobility sense. After all, she is just a low class, working woman with no chance on Sunday for the win. Because Ms Willow, I am coming to bring class to the bombshells. Between you and me, we both know they need it…rather badly. And let one begin with a win over Ms Zdunich.
Apple once more begins to relax as she motions towards Ivy but is stopped by a final question from Pussy.
Pussy Willow: Do you have any last words for the fans of SCW?
Apple pauses for a moment then a sly look crosses her face.
Apple Coren: They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away but an Apple on Climax Control Sunday means one will be sent the doctor’s way.
Pussy looks slightly confused as she thinks about what Apple had said.
Pussy Willow: that rhymes but sounds awkward.
Apple Coren: Bollocks…fine, let my last words be this…This Apple is rotten to the core and that means my opponent will feel the Unhappily Ever After
Pussy Willow: Wow, you are really confident that you will pull out the win?
Apple Coren: Ms Willow, I am surprised that you aren’t confident that I will win.
As she speaks, she points at Ivy who leans into the shot to mouth the word “Sorry” as she disconnects the call and turns to Apple who has made another blini and caviar.
Apple Coren: I say, that was rather exciting talking like a real wrestler. Just imagine how much more exciting when I win my first match. Now I am sure that I have some time on my hand to head to the pub. Call the car round, will you?
Apple gets to her feet and brushes off the crumbs of the snack as she moves towards the door as Ivy picks up her phone and dials a number. Lady Apple leaves Ivy and heads towards the door of the house, pulling it open as the butler appears with a boy’s folded wallet that Apple slides into a front pocket of her pants, a small silver chain attaching to her belt loop to softly bounce against her hip as she spins and exits the house as the sound of tires can be heard on the gravel of the drive. Stepping onto the drive, Apple motions for the driver to exit the car before she slides behind the wheel and pulls away from the house with a spray of gravel and red taillights fading into the night.
