Overshadowing the Grand Duchess: Oleander (debut) vs Alena Stepanova

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Oleander smirks at her attempt to escape, and decides to increase the pressure.

Oleander: I should mention this hold is rather difficult to escape from.. but there’s a problem with walking about the edge of a razor, you might end up cutting yourself!

[CaptainL]

"G-Ghhk!!" Alena had tried her best to worm free of Oleander's clutches, but to no avail. She tried to rock herself from side to side and buck with her hips and shoulders, but with Oleander's limbs tangled around her own, she simply couldn't find the range of motion she needed to escape. Alena was stubborn, and she adamantly refused to give in until she had truly run out of options. But right now, Oleander's words, as much as they made her grit her teeth in frustration, hit her all too close to home. This was still a best-of-five match, Alena reminded herself. She already had one fall over Oleander, and she knew she'd have it in her to get another. But she wouldn't have it in her if she pushed herself too far and hurt herself in the process. If it meant saving herself...Alena would have to swallow her pride so she could hold onto her chances.

"Fine...you win this time!" She tapped on the mat, signaling for Oleander to release her. "But don't forget, we're still not done..."

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

—Score—
*Oleander: 2/3
*Alena: 1/3

Oleander would soon release Alena from her hold before heading back to her corner, wanting to take a quick breather before continuing her bout. She had to admit, the Grand Duchess was truly someone who lived up to expectations.. but she had to focus, one more submission and she’ll be able to win her debut match!

Oleander: *Thinking* Just need to hit her with my other two signatures before I can finish her off, maybe I’ll have her Embrace the Darkness once I connect Shadow Spark and Between the Lines.. not gonna lie, I’m starting to get exhausted! But I can’t show any weakness here, for all I know Cashmere could be watching the match!

[CaptainL]

As soon as Oleander released her, Alena rolled back up into a seated position. Taking a moment to stretch, she rolled her head back and forth to work the kinks out of her neck, then stretched her shoulder. Doing so set off a stinging pain in her arm, and she cupped at her shoulder to try and rub it out as her face contorted in a wince. But nevertheless, she sucked in a deep breath and pushed herself back up to her feet. Her stubbornness had cost her - in trying to push her luck, she'd just ended up taking more damage. But she balled a fist, tensing up her muscles as she locked a defiant glare onto her foe. Even if she had lost the last fall, Alena couldn't forget that she and Oleander remained evenly matched. They kept trading victories back and forth, keeping time with one another. Alena still had every bit of a chance to win this, and she couldn't back off now!

Letting out a huff, she planted her fist against her palm, standing at a ready stance. "Show me what you've got! I'm ready for anything!" she challenged - and she had every intention to deliver on that promise!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Oleander nodded in agreement while taking a defensive stance to prepare for what Alena might throw at her for this round, just one more fall and she’ll be able to get her debut victory!

[CaptainL]

With both girls getting into a stance, it was time for the next round to begin - and Alena trained a watchful eye on Oleander as her muscles tensed and her posture tightened. With Oleander standing at the ready, it looked as though the opportunity was hers to kick things off. But she was prepared for that! Even if the Englishwoman was surely watching her for any openings, this was Alena's chance to prove that her own strength could surpass anything her opponent might throw at her. Even if that hadn't quite gone according to plan last time, the second time was the charm!

"Hah-!" Pushing herself off the ground, Alena came bounding toward Oleander. Looking to show off her striking skills, she would kick one leg up as she came close, prepared to crash into her foe with a flying knee!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Oleander puts both of her elbows up in order to block the flying knee before retaliating with a leg sweep and getting into a mount position, raining down punch after punch.

Oleander: You’ll have to do better than that I’m afraid!

[CaptainL]

Perhaps Alena had let her past successes get to her, and perhaps she was beginning to grow a little bit cocky. When she saw that Oleander was going to play on the defensive for now, she took it on herself to throw the first blow. But she wasn't afraid to do that - in fact, she'd come in swinging, rushing toward the Englishwoman and kicking up her knee to aim it straight at her chest! Even if Oleander was ready, she thought, she'd just hit her hard enough that it wouldn't matter!

However, for as confident as Alena was in her own success, nothing could change the fact that she was taking a gamble. After all, when Oleander was studying her movements, she could prepare herself - and all the momentum Alena could get behind her charge could just as easily be turned against her. Sure enough, when she saw the Russian girl bounding toward her, Oleander just brought up her guard - and deflected the incoming knee aside. Alena was sent bouncing backward, moments before her foe swung her off her feet and got down into a mount to rain down punches!

Alena took a couple of good blows to the face, causing her head to snap to the side. She grimaced against the pain and hissed through her teeth - but she wouldn't let this stop her! As Oleander drew back another punch, Alena would try to swerve her head to the side, looking to slip out of the way so that her opponent's fist would just bury into the mat. Hopefully, that would leave her stunned, because Alena's next move was to sling her arm around the arm Oleander had just used to throw the punch, locking it into place in order to pull it with her as she rolled her weight over the Englishwoman's side - trying to get around to Oleander's back, and pin her arm against her shoulderblades for a hammerlock!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Oleander gets caught off guard by Alena’s hammerlock maneuver, grunting as she growls before slowing getting back on her and decides to retaliate with a single back throw! If successful, she’d be able to get behind the Grand Duchess and trap her in a rear naked choke to siphon her energy.

[CaptainL]

Now that the two girls had gone to the ground, both of them were trading the top position - neither was in any mood to leave themselves at the mercy of their opponent for long. Oleander had tried to soften Alena up with offense from the mounted position, but Alena had grabbed her by the arm, not only preventing her from getting more punches in, but also using it as leverage to flip the Englishwoman off of her! From there, she was quick to circle behind her, hooking her arm behind her back and cranking on the pressure!

But Alena wouldn't have the dominant spot for long. Just as quickly as she had assumed the position, Oleander would once again turn that back on her, throwing her over to the side before rolling behind her and grabbing her by the throat! As she was pulled back against the Englishwoman's chest, Alena's teeth clenched in a grimace, her brow furrowing and her face growing red against the crushing pressure bearing down on her. But Alena wasn't about to give up any time soon. If Oleander had taken control away from her, she'd just have to take it back by force!

She threw an elbow behind her, attempting to jostle Oleander enough to hopefully slow her down and loosen the hold. If that worked, she would attempt to roll over on top of Oleander so that the two of them were face to face, and pull herself forward to clear her airways from Oleander's arm, sliding her body up along her foe's! She would attempt to scoot up the Englishwoman's body, enough so that she could lock her legs around her waist and squeeze for a bodyscissor!