A Double Interview Gone Wrong

[CaptainL]

Sitting at one end of a table in a conference room at the LAW Magazine offices, Eiji Matsumoto could already tell he had a cover story ahead of him.

The idea practically wrote itself; he was if anything amazed he hadn't come up with it before. On one side of the table, Astrid Ostberg, reigning LAW Heavyweight Champion, fresh off her successful defense against Jess Mcleary at We Are LAW. A rising star in the promotion, Astrid's popularity had been soaring ever since she won the title a year ago, and though she had spent much of her early reign abroad defending the title on the European independent circuit, that had only gotten fans even more excited to see her return to LAW for her first official defense. With a promising in-ring run leading up to her victory, and the fame of an established wrestling family preceding her, Astrid looked groomed for success.

On the other side, a woman whose fame - and notoriety - preceded her from a long, storied, and above all unforgettable career - Theresia Niedermeyer, otherwise known as Cyber Widow. A long-time veteran of the ring, Widow needed no introduction. Many wrestling fans knew her from her run in CWA in the 90s, but those who didn't had already been acquainted with her fearsome presence now that she had made a return to full-time wrestling in LAW. Even after her recent loss of the Legacy Championship to Alaina Sanders, the brutal Hell in a Cell match she had defended the unofficial title in had proven she was a fearsome powerhouse capable of going toe to toe with anyone.

Not only were these two women titans of the ring in their own right, but both had become embroiled in what looked to be a growing rivalry. Ever since Eiji had covered a match between Widow and Astrid's father Lars, and his coworker Haruka "S-chan" Seizawa had spoken to Widow about the Frankensteiner she had used to win that match, there was more attention than ever on Widow's powerful move, and Widow had seemed intent on making sure Astrid would be next in line to take it! In fact, ever since Astrid was touring Europe, Widow had made her intents on the Heavyweight Championship clear. Now, on the veteran's own recommendation, Eiji had called the two women into the office to facilitate a double interview, getting their own thoughts on the situation.

...At the moment, however, Widow hadn't turned up. It was only Eiji who sat in the middle of the table, tapping his pencil against a pad of paper, while Astrid sat beside him with her hands patiently folded on the tabletop. She tilted his head toward him, her brow furrowed. "She is still showing up, isn't she?"

"She'd better." Eiji sighed, pushing his glasses back up his nose. He thought to himself that he could use a cigarette right about now, were it not for the damned no-smoking laws inside buildings. Hopefully, the chance to speak to a legend like Cyber Widow would make up for it...

Eiji Matsumoto

Astrid Ostberg

[The Riders]

Getting herself ready for this sit down between her and the new champion, after seeing Astrid defend her title in a brutal match against that powerhouse Jess. After rewatching the match many times studying every little thing for any habit, moves that are used consistently, or how to escape her finishers and know when it is coming. She will give Astrid some credit.... just like her bull headed father she did inherit her father stubbornness and toughness to dig deep and brutal force a victory from the jaws of defeat, a mix of her own style and her father but more quicker then her old man.

Chuckling since she is going to give the reporter a happy view of her in her old outfit deciding it better to come dressed ready for action in case of violence breaking out, or to send a message with a cheap shot either way this is going to be a sit down that will prove that that title is going to be coming home with her soon. Approaching the door to the conference room about to open the door to enter before hearing voices talking from inside the room, giving a glare hearing Eiji say she better show up, before opening the door.

"I better what Eiji...? Making threats on what I should be doing hmm by the way how that other reporter doing? Hope I didn't hurt her too badly... but for you I might make a exception on doing my move on you... so you can see the move up close and personal." Widow replies to the man answer closing the door behind her and goes to sit in her seat, her eyes on the champion and not leaving hers at all.

[CaptainL]

Eiji might have grumbled at the thought of Widow not turning up to the interview, but his mood did a 180 as soon as the veteran came through the door. He turned around in his seat, looking at her with a welcoming grin and beckoning her closer. The fact that she'd come in her wrestling outfit was unexpected, but not unappreciated - it'd make for the perfect photo to accompany the article, he thought! "Ah, Mrs. Niedermeyer, please, come in..."

Of course, his enthusiasm was soon tempered as Widow began making threats, something that caused the color to drain from his face as he stared back at her with the thought of being faced with a Frankensteiner of his own. Haruka needed to be rushed to the hospital following her incident, and still required a neck brace around the office - and she was still young, whereas Eiji was getting along in age. He could only imagine what it'd be like if he were to take the brunt of her finisher. He fell silent, scooting a little closer toward Astrid.

As for the Norwegian herself, she looked across the table toward Widow as she seated herself. Her brows narrowed, and she crossed her arms on the table in front of her, leaning in closer. She didn't say anything, but she was well aware of Widow's brutality in the ring, and she wouldn't put it past her to strike now. To Astrid, that was the greatest betrayal of an athlete's honor, to abuse their strength against those who couldn't pick a fight with them. That Widow would even suggest such a thing was despicable - that she would, no doubt, do it if she had the chance was even worse. Already, Astrid's impressions of the would-be challenger were less than warm.

Eiji cleared his throat, then, opening the floor with a question. "Well, we should get started, huh? First things first...I know that you've made your feelings on Astrid's championship known, Mrs. Niedermeyer. Can you tell me why you think you deserve to be Heavyweight Champion?"

[The Riders]

Ignoring Eiji for now, still focused on the younger woman in front of her. "I'm shocked you didn't bring the belt with you Astrid.? Clearly your father didn't teach you much.."Getting a small dig in on the Ostberg line, she did battles with them and they were one of the main opponents that pushed for her to be banned... so small victory for now.

Thereisa turned to Eiji, as if acknowledging he is there finally before listening to his question and chuckling letting out a loud laugh from hearing he say why she deserve to be champion. Placing her hands on the table leaning forward the tense is so thick between her and the champion before she finally speaks. "There no reason to say why I deserve to be Heavyweight Champion... the fact is simple She has the title and I want it plain and simple...

"You have something you want to say Astrid... That face your making right now speaks volumes... Reminds me of your dad when he tried to beat some sense into me..." Waiting to hear with what the Champ has to say next.

[CaptainL]

Widow spoke out in response to Eiji's questions, but it seemed as though her response was directed more toward Astrid than to their interviewer. Normally, when questions like this were asked, one would expect the answers to be about one's aspirations or their belief in their own merits; their goals and what they could achieve. But Widow's response was terse and to the point. She wanted Astrid's belt on principle - and she was not in the least bit afraid to go through the Norwegian to get it.

Astrid knew a challenge when she saw one. Her brows narrowed and she leaned closer over the table, never taking her eyes off of Widow. "As a matter of fact," she said, "I do have the belt. Right here." Astrid scooted back from the table, reaching into a bag placed at the side of her chair. Out of it she took the LAW Heavyweight Championship, and she straightened herself to her feet, holding it up for Widow to see. "I left it in my bag because I too much respect for the belt and what it means to leave it out in the open where it could get stolen. Which, yes, my father did teach me, even if he never held a belt of this magnitude."

But Widow wouldn't relent. Her words had pointed intent to get under Astrid's skin and taunt her about her prior victory over Astrid's father Lars, a victory that she had already been taunting Astrid about online. The Norsewoman tensed, the corners of her lip pulled into a scowl as she clutched the belt closer to herself. She wouldn't sit down, even if she had gotten up; to do so would be to go back on her word and yield ground to her opponent. Even if they faced each other in a conference room rather than the squared circle, Astrid saw herself in a confrontation like any other.

It was Eiji who cleared his throat then, as he turned his attention to Astrid. "Well, then...I should thank you for bringing the belt with you, Miss Ostberg. It'll make for a good photo of the two of you for this article. But I should ask you, now, why do you think you deserve to be Heavyweight Champion?"

As soon as the reporter's words left his mouth, Astrid leaned closer to Widow across the table, planting her hands down on its surface. "I'll tell you why. I earned this championship through my own hard work, determination, and spirit - the same spirit that carries me to reach my peak performance every time I step in the ring, and every time I train for my next match. I don't want anyone to think I got to where I am on my name alone. I'm a third-generation wrestler, yes. But I want to be remembered not as an Ostberg, but as a wrestler - and as a champion. I wanted to have proof that I wouldn't be content to be where I was. I wanted to keep pushing the limits, and growing stronger, reaching new heights every time I could have plateaued. That's why I wanted to go after the title, to prove I belonged in the main event. It wasn't easy to get this far - I had to deal with two women in the ring to win this title - but I did it anyway, and that's because I'm always striving for success, and to be the best I can. To me, that's the spirit of a champion. That's what got me to win this belt, and why I've defended it for so long." She then looked back at Widow. "If Cyber Widow thinks that she can become a champion, then she must live up to all the work I've put in to get this far, and to keep myself on the path I'm on. I do hope she is ready for that."

"Thank you again, Miss Ostberg!" Eiji lowered his microphone from where he was recording what came out of Astrid's mouth. "For my next question, we'll go back to you, Widow. You're a veteran in the mat world, how do you think that's shaped where you are today?"

[The Riders]

Thereisa breaks out laughing hearing Astrid little speech about having respect for the title and all the hard work she put into the belt, each word coming out of her mouth makes the older woman chuckle at how fake it all sounds. Wiping her eyes from laughing to hard, before saying a small dig at the woman "Oh yes all that hard work you put in... when you fled with the belt and went on your little tour defending it in companies with lesser known talent... so yes that most have been very hard for you Astrid defeating lesser known talent to make yourself look good." finishing her reply with a fake clap.

Looking at the title belt.... the prize she is hunting for to reclaim glory that was taken from her rightfully, to he considered champion again dominating the new Era as she should have rightfully had before her reign was cut short... before taking her eyes off the belt glaring at Astrid while listening to Eiji ask her another question.

"How it shaped me.... " Thinking it over before a cruel smirk appears on her face at the thought. "Let just say that I perfected the Frankensteiner... I made it a move to be feared I ruled with an iron fist and made sure that in my Ring I rule and my opponents are my prey..." she says leaning forward again her hands on the table a look in her eyes that means every word she says "You know what was funny about fighting your Father.... I tried to break his neck after telling me that I should be humble to be wrestling etc etc, Your to naive if you think that you have a chance against me Astrid.. you may be good but Sweetie I'm better them you.."

[CaptainL]

Astrid heard Widow's laugh, and it only made her angrier. Her brows narrowed into a glare as she snorted under her breath like a bull ready to charge, her palm pressed up against the surface of the table as she leaned in closer. Even on the other side of the table, she was trying to get as close as she could to getting in Widow's face. "You mean when I was off defending my title across Europe? When I had a match every week for the better part of a year, all while traveling from one city to the next? I elevated the prestige of this belt by defending it across continents, and I don't mean to brag, but I imagine this has played no small part in the growth of LAW's audience. I would think you would know, Widow, as a former world champion yourself, what it's like defending your belt across the globe."

"That's enough, Astrid," Eiji cut in, raising his hand to silence the Norwegian. He then turned to Widow to record her answer to the next question, but once again she seemed to look straight through him. Her response was no doubt intended for Astrid's ears as much as anyone's, as she issued her challenge and her threat to the blonde, and sure enough, Astrid grumbled under her breath, clenching her teeth as her hackles rose.

"Very well," Eiji replied, then turning to Astrid. "And as for you, Miss Ostberg, you haven't been wrestling as long as Widow here, but your family name is a prominent one in the business. How do you think that has shaped where you are today?"

Astrid leaned in to get close to the microphone, but she too turned her attention to Widow, looking her in the eye. "While I'm making a name for myself, I understand the legacy and the importance of what came before me. My father, my uncle, and my grandfather were all wrestlers, and they all stood up for the integrity of the sport, and for themselves as athletes. They took wrestling as seriously as their own way of life - because it was their way of life. It made them what they were, and they held themselves with the responsibility they were owed, because they knew better than to compromise their name or their honor. I intend to hold myself to their dedication and strength - but most of all, I intend to hold myself to their integrity." She took a pause before finishing her thought, making sure that the implications sank in for Widow. "I only wish that some would feel the same."

"As lovely an answer as any," Eiji noted. "Back to you, Mrs. Niedermeyer. I know you've got plenty of moments in your career worth boasting about. Out of all of those, which would you say you're most proud of today?"

[The Riders]

Every word is meant to anger... to prod and poke at Astrid mentally, testing the woman to see if she either going to crack and back down...or get so mad and try to attack her. "Did I touch a nerve dear? Some great way of Elevating the prestige for the belt... you did a good job making it look like a JOKE.." in that same mocking tone of voice, as if talking to a child instead of the Heavyweight Champion much to her pleasure cause it is the sign of not respecting Astrid as Champion at all but more of a place holder or paper champ at best in her eyes.

Leaning back with that smug look on her face before rolling her eyes at hearing her future opponent speech about her family, and honor, and integrity nonsense. Just waiting for the chance to make a smart comment about her family and their wrestling line, but waiting her turn into the other woman is finished speaking before making her comment. "Oh that sounds sweet... did you prepare that speech in your locker room Astrid? Cause that sounded as fake as your wrestling family line.... Lars was decent at best same with his brother... and your grandfather..." leaning close again "I would have broken his neck to if he ever got into the ring with me..."

Making sure each word she say's has equal bite in them wanting to let Astrid know she means every word. Before hearing Eiji ask about what moment in her career she would boast about. Laughing and taking pride in what she going to say.

"Breaking Yoko neck is one... Little twit thought she was going to replace me... as the Ace of the company well I made sure that didn't happen... Winning the belt would be second since my reign ended pretty soon due to someone family sticking their nose in my business.." giving Astrid a glare remembering her being banned from wrestling cause of her family. "I do take pride in putting Lars in his place but fate gave me another chance.. Cause I can break yours Astrid and take what rightfully should be mines.

[CaptainL]

Astrid leaned over the table, her eyes fixed on Widow in a hateful glare. Her teeth were clenched, her fingers were curled tightly into a balled fist, and her body quivered as she listened to the veteran's taunts. Disrespecting the title that Astrid had worked so hard to win, and that she swore herself to live up to the duties and responisibilities of one who held it, was one thing. But when Widow had the gall to go after Astrid's family, it was making the Norwegian's pulse race as she struggled to hold back the urge to strike out at her. Were she not in a boardroom, with the expectations of professional conduct put upon her, Astrid suspected she would have thrown a fist at Widow then and there. Even now, she was having a hard time holding herself back from it!

With Eiji turning to ask Theresia another question, Astrid resolved to sit back down. She sank into her chair, but she kept her eyes locked on Widow with a cold, unblinking glower. She grasped at the edge of the table to try and ground herself, but as she listened to Widow brag about her reckless use of her finishing move in the ring, taking pride in how she had ended the careers of other wrestlers with it, it only made Astrid's heart quicken. Her father and uncle had both been among the wrestlers who spoke out against Widow after she had ended the career of Yoko Harmageddon, and they had taught Astrid that anyone who would intentionally injure an opponent without remorse had no place in the ring. Widow still hadn't learned her lesson - and if anything, Astrid was next on her list! The blonde's brows narrowed, her nostrils flaring like those of a bull, as she sat tense and unmoving.

"Now, Miss Ostberg," Eiji said, turning the microphone in Astrid's direction. "What would you say is the-"

Astrid wouldn't answer that question. She wasn't even listening. There were far bigger things on her mind - and at last, things had reached a boiling point where there was nowhere for the champion's rising emotions to go than explosively outward! Suddenly, Astrid jumped up from her seat, slamming a hand down on the table that caused the reporter to fall silent before she jabbed a finger across at Widow.

"FINE, then!" she exclaimed. "If you want to break my neck so badly, I'd like to see you try! You want to challenge me for the title? Why don't you stop beating around the bush and schedule a match? If you're that set on beating me, prove you're not spewing empty threats!"

[The Riders]

As soon as she saw Astrid posturing up Thereisa knew she had her beaten, thinking to herself on how easily it able to prod wrestlers and get them all upset and angry that they make mistakes. In Astrid case she already proved that just a few biting remakes and insults about her family or her title and Thereisa could string her along any way she wanted to at this point.

"Tsk Tsk... Your not being a very Honorable Champion Astrid very Heel like if you ask me What would Lars think of you right now seeing you acting this way..." Enjoying herself way to much but win the smaller battles to win the war... and that leads to the title the only thing that Widow wants right now. [color=#0"000FF]"Look at you scaring poor Eiji like that are you Alright Reporter-san..[/color] Going over to make Sure he is out of harm ways.

Finally getting up from her seat walking around the table to waiting for the younger girl to come face to face with her, her hand on her firm hip waiting as if she doesn't view Astrid as a threat at all. To be fair your whole line wasn't special at all, what they should have did instead of wasting away in the wrestling scene... was to go back where they came from and stayed there, Your little reign going to end Astrid and your career as well.. Name the time and place."

Doing a slit neck motion with her thumb across her neck.