Victory conditions: submission or disqualification only
Special conditions: the loser becomes the slave of the winner for a while
Contirued from here
“Listen, since you're here, can you at least not keep quiet like a fish?" Nerissa asked.
After that question, she sent two consecutive punches into the punching bag, followed by a high kick as dessert. Returning her foot to the floor and taking a deep breath, she turned around and looked at the woman sitting on the bench. In any other situation, Victoria would have been sitting in this place, but this time…
“If you called me to replace Victoria, then you made a mistake with the time,” Charlotte said in a flat voice. “I'm not in the mood for conversations lately.”
“And yet you agreed, and you're here,” Nerissa smirked. “Maybe deep down you really want someone to listen to you?”
“Putain de merde... what a nonsense...”
The Native American woman went to her locker and took a towel from there, after which she wiped the sweat from her forehead. In fact, she called Charlotte for two reasons. Yes, that's right, Victoria still refused to talk to her, while Nerissa was used to the fact that the Englishwoman was always with her in the locker room before a match. And the second reason was that Charlotte had become so self-contained that she was seriously worried about her friend.
“You don't have to hide your depression from me, I know you too well,” Nerissa said. “You do realize that shutting yourself away in your empty school won't make you feel any better, right?”
“You do realize how hypocritical your words are?" Charlotte raised her eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?”
“After that match, you pretended to be okay at first, refusing to talk to Astrid and me,” Charlotte curled up one finger. “Then you became depressed yourself, trying to suppress your feelings with alcohol and sex." She curled up another finger. “And then you decided to focus on your career, but not for the sake of your career itself, but just for the sake of not thinking about her." Charlotte curled her third finger. “You're not trying to solve your problems, instead just pretending that there are no problems." Charlotte tilted her head slightly to the side, looking into her friend's eyes. “So isn't it hypocritical of you to give me advice?”
Nerissa pursed her lips and even clenched her fists. In fact... Charlotte was right, but…
“No, at least I'm actually trying to solve my problems!” She blurted out. “I know how you feel right now!” Her body even started shaking. “You lost four matches in a row, including the title match, thus becoming the biggest loser in our team!” Her breathing quickened. “Why I know how do you feel? Tell me, do you know who was the biggest loser before you?!” She asked. “Me! Me, who lost three matches in a row, including the only rivalry that was important to me!”
The Native American woman forced herself to grit her teeth, while Charlotte looked away. This made Nerissa cool down. She took a deep breath and closed her locker. In the silence of the locker room, she headed for the exit. Nerissa hoped this conversation would go differently, but sometimes we can't know in advance how exactly it's going to go. She only stopped when she reached for the door handle.
“Charlotte,” she said, a little quieter than before. “You are a great fighter and an amazing woman.” She wasn't good at these things, but now she felt like she just couldn't keep quiet. “I know what you went through seven years ago and how much effort you put into becoming who you are now." Nerissa turned around, looking into Charlotte's eyes. “I believe that one day you will become a great champion who will inspire hundreds and thousands of others, I really believe in it." Nerissa smiled to her friend. “But you have to pull yourself together and start moving forward, because that's the only way to become a champion.” Nerissa looked pointedly at her friend. "And think about your motivation."
Without saying anything else, she walked out of the locker room, followed by stunned Charlotte. Heading down the long corridor, Nerissa put her arms behind her head and stretched. She must have really softened up. Nerissa has always been a proponent that everyone should solve their own problems on their own, because after all we all have our own problems.
Or... maybe she didn't become softer, but just became a better person?
She decided to think about that later. Instead, she entered the waiting room and stood in front of the curtains. Today she has to meet with one very annoying woman, for whom there was no place in Nerissa's life at the moment. Thinking about it, she smiled, and then cracked her knuckles.
“I'm going to take everything I want!” She told herself.
Entrance Music
Attire
Just like last time, the lights in the arena did not go out, but, as always, the powerful bass of the Echidna's music theme struck the ears of the audience. Without hesitation, she came out from behind the curtains, a wide smile from ear to ear on her face. Licking her lips audaciously, she raised her right fist above her head, for which she would have been applauded.
At that moment, she felt some relief.
Last time, the audience greeted her as if she were an unknown debutant. She couldn't blame them for that. Try to lose the rivalry first, and then be kicked out of the tournament in disgrace because of two defeats in a row. Your popularity will surely rush to the baseboard level. So Nerissa was really glad that she was greeted more warmly today than last time.
Without stopping, she quickly reached the ring. First, she jumped onto the apron, and then jumped over the ropes. Perhaps some people have a question, why didn't she use her classic and soul-thrilling entrance? Well, Nerissa still didn't think she deserved it. At first, she intended to regain her big name.
Standing in the center of the ring, the Echidna bent her arms at the elbows and showed the audience two signs of the horns. After receiving the last round of applause, she allowed herself to smile once more, and then headed to her corner. Pressing her back against the turnbuckles, she placed both hands on the ropes at her sides. Well, she just had to wait for Cora.
