Zero To Hero

[killcarrion]

Taking time off from work was usually unthinkable for the youthful police cadet considering the valiant work ethic that's practically ingrained into his psyche core fundamentals, but thankfully the captain of his precinct was accommodating when Lloyd requested a short sabbatical from his assignment within LAW. It was just a few days off to get his thoughts straightened out and center himself before resuming the task that was assigned to him. Sleuthing out lawbreakers within this wrestling organization ended up becoming complicated in ways he didn't anticipate considering he assumed that drug pushers and low-level street thugs with arrest warrants were the worst types of criminality he'd end up confronting. International assassins backed by underworld mob bosses weren’t exactly covered within his police manual, neither was being seduced into compliance on a national stage. The Demon Of The East's captivating liplock and confidence shattering words being the primal takeaways from the unfortunately viral match that caused his furlough in the first place. Memories of that day were replayed several times in his mind as if he couldn't escape it. Not that Lloyd would ever have an opportunity to forget about the embarrassing spectacle thanks to his fellow police officers joking about how Lloyd has all the luck in the world and leaving pictures of the luscious finale taped all over his office workspace when he wasn't looking...

Lloyd Bannings

...but after some thoughtful introspection and remembrance of the lawful legacy he's carrying, Lloyd opted to get right back on the metaphorical horse and continue tackling this assignment one day at a time. The conundrum in regard to how he could ever hope to confidently confront the shadowy demoness and ultimately bring her to justice remained, but he had to believe that the answers would come to him with time. And he absolutely knew he wouldn't find the solution squirreled within his bachelor apartment while feeling sorry for himself. Lloyd's request to return back to active duty came with an unexpected caveat though as his captain assigned a fellow officer of the law to aid him in his justice-minded endeavors. Unfortunately it was a new recruit that he'd never been acquainted with, but Lloyd was appreciative for the assistance all the same. LAW officials accepting the arrangement on the conditions that they square off in the ring as last-minute replacements for some kind of promotional beach match. Lloyd certainly wasn't keen on introducing himself to his new partner on the same day they would be locking horns, but he'd begun to accept that everything about this assignment would be unorthodox to say the least. The luxury hotel accommodations for LAW talent were located right beside the beach, which he opted to begin strolling down as the day went on. Taking in the beautiful weather with a carefree smile as he watched all the beachgoers enjoy themselves...

[Cosmos]

"A...beach match?"

Elie tensely nodded. Then she remembered that Tio couldn't see her colleague and friend over the phone.

"T-That's right. It's all very last minute. I only found out this morning." It had prompted her to leave the LAW associated luxury hotel and vent her frustrations and anxiety as she walked along the beach. "I knew I was going to be working alongside a detective when I agreed to work the LAW case, but I didn't think we'd be facing each other so quickly." A blush spread across her cheeks. "Or...with so...little...clothing."

"In my experience Elie, wrestlers are hardly accustomed to wearing much clothing to begin with."

"Y-You know what I mean, Tio!" She burst out with clenched eyes and closed fists. Followed by a dejected sigh. "I'd honestly rather ride the Horror Coaster at Mishelam Wonderland than go through with this. If I had any choice in the matter." The silence told the platinum haired girl that her admission had stunned Tio. It was no secret that Elie's biggest fears were related to all forms of supernatural terrors and ghosts.

"Perhaps it would not be so bad, were it not for..." The voice on the other line trailed off.

"What? Not for what?!" Elie repeated. "I'm not stupid, Tio! When I mentioned his name earlier, you reacted strangely. Be honest with me. Do you know him?"

"I've certainly had...interactions with him." The genius prodigy admitted. "Lloyd Bannings. Age 21. Arrived at the police academy shortly after graduating high school. Has a cat named Mishy. Suffered his first loss against the masked demoness Yin a few days ago. He's..." Tio seemed to be struggling to find the words. "I wouldn't necessarily call him a deviant. Yet with the large female following he attracts, some speculate that he is a playboy. And he seems to have a knack for finding himself in highly compromising, suspicious positions with unsuspecting ladies. Take the aforementioned Yin for instance. During her match with him, he 'claimed' to accidentally fall onto her chest. And then once she pinned him, the pair engaged in a rather...sensual kiss-".

"STOOOOOOP!! I don't want to hear another word!!" Elie protested with a squeal. "What if he tries something salacious on me? A hand in the wrong place, or if he wants to oil me up before we start...oh, this is a nightmare...!" The girl was so fraught with peril at the prospect of what awaited her against this nefarious man, she didn't actually concentrate on where she was going, or who was ahead of her. She walked right into another beachgoer who was following the winding trail down from the hotel, the difference in terrain elevation meaning that Elie bumped her forehead right into their chest. Stumbling backwards and falling down upon the sand, her phone landing beside her.

"Ohhh...goodness, I'm so sorry! T-That was on me, not looking where I was going..." The girl rubbed her forehead, the glare from the sun obscuring her vision of her victim as a result of her clumsiness. Her knees upon the ground, legs spread beside her hips. The pink swimsuit she was wearing for her upcoming match left little imagination when it came to her impressive cleavage. Meanwhile, her bikini bottoms revealed her smooth, slender thighs that seemed to reflect the sun's rays off them...

Elie

[killcarrion]

Even though watching pedestrians mill about the community was how he spent his rookie days as a patrolman, Lloyd always did consider people watching to be a relaxing pastime whenever he needed to unwind after a stressful day. Albeit ready to jump into action should the need arise for an officer of the law, he was nevertheless thankful that he wasn't exactly on the clock today. It enabled Lloyd to unwind a tad as he casually strolled through the sun-drenched beach and appreciated the sights of families playing in the water and-*Ring*-Lloyd balked from his cell phone ringing, now digging it out of his pocket after reading the caller was a co-worker of his. "Hey Jona. What's up? Don't tell me the chief caught you trying to hack into another government database behind his back. Cause if it is..."

"Sheesh, that was only the one time, ya know? And is that how you greet the mastermind cyberhacker of this or any generation? I'm just calling to see if you need any assistance skewing the rules of the match in your favor. For the right price, I could hack LAW's mainframe and change the match rules to whatever I-"

"NO, Jona. Don't even think about it. The conditions of your parole explicitly state that you must refrain from anymore cyber-criminal activity. Besides, I need to prove to myself that I'm ready to be back in the ring and tackle this assignment again. And didn't you say you had your own match you were preparing for-"

*THUMP*

Lloyd backpedaled a stuttered step from the accidental collision, a young lady bonking her head into his chiseled pectorals and plummeting to her backside. He immediately said goodbye to his cyberhacker co-worker before hanging up his phone. "M-My apologies...I should have been watching where I was walking and..." Profound apologies being exchanged with both sides embarrassingly talking over the other's blathered words as a panicked Lloyd now noticed the stranger's cell phone beside him. The detective reached down to pick it up and offer his other hand to the...platinum haired knockout knelt before him. Only now ascertaining the svelte perfection of the beachgoer he'd collided with, a shimmering radiance to her curvaceous figure thanks to the sunlight which all captivated Lloyd into a gawked silence. Thankfully he eventually summoned the willpower to jostle his head out of his stupefied trance and commence hefting the enchanting lady back to her feet in one commanding yank. "S-Sorry about that. My name's Lloyd and I was yammering with a friend on the phone and completely lost track of myself there for a minute. You'd think with a beach this vast there'd be no need to worry about things like this, heh. O-Oh, here's your phone back, Miss..." The bashful detective offering Elie her phone back, the overheard chatter of Elie's friend asking if she was alright now filling the awkward silence between them...

[Cosmos]

Nursing her throbbing forehead, Elie cursed herself for neglecting to watch ahead of her. She could hear that her victim was just as apologetic as the platinum haired girl was, their babbled words mixing with each other. Colliding just as they had done. At the very least, she was relieved that they were good about the affair, even if she'd have preferred to avoid bumping into someone altogether on the beach. It seemed they had been equally distracted by a conversation on their own phone, swiftly hanging up and bending down to collect Elie's phone up off the ground with one hand, the other reaching to offer her aid in climbing back up on her feet. It was when they leaned down and obscured the harsh rays of the sun above that Elie got her first real look at the individual. She felt her breath catch in her throat. He was...incredibly handsome. Toned muscles that seemed to rippled like the waves on the ocean. Sleek pectorals. Chiselled abs. Chestnut, soft hair that matched his sincere eyes. Somewhat of a babyface, but that just added to his charm. With his physique blocking the sun's glare, it gave his body an eclipsed sort of effect that only served to make him look more attractive.

For several seconds, all she could do was stare, a flushed shade of pink on her face matching her attire for the upcoming beach match. Which only intensified once she realised he had been stunned into silence, much like her. Until he finally broke the awkward scene by helping her to his feet. "N-No, it's quite all right, really..." She waved his concern away, until he mentioned his name. Her embarrassment gave way to surprise, caught off guard. "W-Wait. Lloyd?" Her viridian eyes began to narrow, suddenly suspicious. He seemed to be the right age as what Tio had suggested. "Lloyd...as in, Lloyd Bannings? The man who salaciously wrestled with the masked demoness known as Yin only a few days ago?" In a blur, her hand had swiped her phone from Lloyd's fingers. "Apologies, Tio. An urgent matter has arisen. I'll contact you later, okay?"

"Um...if you're sure, Elie. I think Jona just finished with his own call, so I'll go make sure he ceases slacking while he's working next to me. Best of luck for the match." The platinum haired girl made sure that her friend and co-worker had disconnected before she continued. She surveyed Lloyd with a look of distrust, eyes boring into him as if attempting to discern his true nature.

"I certainly hope that was an accident, Lloyd. I would hate to think you had...ulterior motives." Elie emphasised her words sternly. "After all, as you rightly said, this beach is quite vast. Quite the coincidence, bumping into your opponent for today's match like this. And the name is Elie MacDowell, although I question whether you deserve to know it." She paused, a sudden thought occuring to her. "Wait...is this beach match condition your doing? You thought after locking up with one girl, you decided to have your way with another innocent young maiden? Ensuring she'd be wearing as little as possible for you as you planted your face into her chest yet again?" She folded her arms, her chest squeezed tightly behind them as she sighed. "What was Chief Sergei thinking? Assigning me to work with a suspect deviant like yourself?" Her face returned to glowering at him, clearly wary of the detective.