A Test of Endurance... [Sophia & Alaina]

[thesteedman]

Sophia sat within the shower room alone. Her body ached terribly, her lower back shooting with pain. The locker room were empty of any other wrestlers, as the night was looming over. Sophia had spent a lot of time in the shower, trying to wash away the woes that plagued her since her arrival in the LAW. Her walls were lowered, her usual stoic expression giving way to the hint of despair. Steam continued to hang in the area from the scolding shower Sophia had remained in for a while to cleanse herself... the beautiful German sat upon one of the changing benches. She was clad in little clothing, wearing a strapless sports bra like top over her chest, covering her breasts. Matching boy shorts were upon her hips, whilst a towel was wrapped loosely around her waist.

Her exposed arms, and midriff glistened in the steam, and she sat leaning forwards with her head down and her arms leaning against her knees. Her time in the LAW had been slowly wearing at her resolve. She had entered the federation to pick up where she left off in the Full Metal Wrestling federation. To a large extent, she had hit the ground running, picking up a multitude of victories since her debut in the LAW. However, those victories had come at significant cost. The majority of her opponents had proved to be less than honourable, many of them perverse and going out of their way to try and humiliate Sophia Wolfe in the ring. It was not the calibre of competition she had expected here... often subjected to twisted embraces, perverse looks and often being publically groped and even kissed in the ring.

Sophia had not signed up for this... and whilst she had prevailed in her matches, the constant barrage of such antics was getting to her. Backstage had been no better... Sophia had looked to make friends, to make a fresh start, but instead she gained only enemies, most of them wicked with dark intent for Sophia. Her body and her mind were being tormented... and Sophia could feel herself falling apart piece by piece. She sat upon the bench in the changing rooms... once again victorious... but subjected to twisted and perverse antics of her opponents. Her body was left in agony, her mind strained... Sophia was beginning to wonder what she was even still wrestling for if this was what she had to deal with from now on.

[Highfly]

Alaina was in her one piece tiger print swimsuit geared up for a match in the hallway. She was ready to have a match later but she forgot to check on something she left in her gym bag. She forgot to schedule something in her phone and as much as she hated to admit it if she didn't write it down or document it she would forget about it. Walking quickly through the hallways the amazon made her way back towards the locker room heading inside to head to her locker.

She was surprised to see that she wasn't alone. "Oh! Hi Sophia, you look exhausted did you just kick someones backside all over the ring just now?" Alaina asked with a smile as she approached to sit on the bench across from Sophia hoping that the younger wrestler was up for a little conversation after what appeared to be a very tough, taxing battle between the ropes.

[thesteedman]

Sophia glanced up when Alaina entered the locker room, clad in her iconic attire, a marvel to behold still after all of these years in wrestling. It brought some relief, though Sophia blushed a little coming to find that this was the second time Alaina had caught her in a bit of a state of undress. She would have stood to greet her, but she was still feeling the effects of her last match. To say it had been a slog was an understatement... a test of endurance more like, having to put up with groping hands, invading kisses and long gruelling embraces that felt like they would shatter her spine into a million pieces.

"Alaina... It's good to see you." Sophia whispered, managing a weak smile. Her tone was very different from when Alaina last met her. That passion she had was not present at all.
"I suppose you could say that. My victory came at some cost, but a win... is a win as they say." Sophia explained when Alaina asked how she fared in her last match.
"I... should not keep you. You have a match coming up soon I believe?" Sophia mentioned. As much as she loved to be within the presence of one of her favourite wrestlers from her childhood, Sophia was naturally not feeling herself presently. She did not wish Alaina to see her as she was right now.

[Highfly]

"I do have a match but it isn't for a while. What happened out there you look absolutely drained!" Alaina said as she kept looking at Sophia as she really appeared to be spent. She also seemed to be hiding something. Alaina wasn't sure what was going on but she did have plenty of time before her match so she wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere.

"Tell me about that match, it looks like it was a banger out there." Alaina said again, smiling as she hoped to hear of what happened. Admittedly she almost always watched everyone elses matches but today she was running around backstage catching up with some people she hadn't seen in quite a while, leading to her missing out on what had happened.

[thesteedman]

Sophia managed a small smile as Alaina decided to stay with her. She wrapped her own arms around her chest, and found it hard to look upon one of her heroines still. She felt a little exposed... perhaps even vulnerable right now. It was a feeling she experienced only once before, and that was moments prior to her breakdown some years ago.
"I do not know what it is that attracts the most twisted souls to me, but it feels like all my opponents have ambitions of a most undesirable nature when they enter the ring." Sophia whispered sombrely.

"Tonight was another night like so. The opponent I fought against... She tried to humiliate me. I came to the LAW to wrestle and to make friends if I could. All I have is enemies with nearly every match I have had. Just someone else to try and avoid, another reason to be watching my own back." Sophia whispered, clearly in a increasingly depressed state.
"I apologise.... I... I shouldn't have said that. You should focus on getting ready for your match tonight. These troubles are my own, they are not for you. I will be fine." Sophia whispered, feeling ashamed of herself for letting her feelings slip out into her words.

[Highfly]

Alaina listened and nodded along recalling her younger days. The start to her career she was doing simple, straightforward wrestling although the amount of vile, violent women she came across was surprising. She simply put them in their place when she faced off with them. It wasn't until she traveled more that she ran in to the more pervy women. That was harder to shake off. She remembered just being shocked at how some women approached wrestling.

"I understand completely. Look, not everyone is like that. When you do come across on of the violent psychopaths or one of the more grabby pervy women just stay away from them. Do you have to watch your back? Yes. Should you let it make you absolutely paranoid to where you just don't trust anyone here? No. I also will be fine tonight, I have been ready for this matchup for a while." Alaina said as she kept listening to Sophia. "Keep your head up no matter what. Don't let any of the scumbags or weirdos out there intimidate you or keep you from being you."

[thesteedman]

Sophia listened to what Alaina had to say, and it sounded like she spoke from experience. It was difficult to imagine the famous 'Amazon' ever really having trouble however, having watched her since her own childhood. Sophia hoped Alaina was right though... thus far her experience within the LAW had been outfight miserable. Though largely victorious in the ring and picking up big victories, it felt like she was losing a war in spite of winning the battles.

Kira Scylla had been the first to come for her, having a particular interest in her physically, actively pushing for prisoner of war matches against Sophia's will, whilst using underhanded tactics during their series of matches to try and throw Sophia off. Soon, Alcina began to stalk her... and Sophia was very aware she might still be coming for her after an ambush the German not dare speak of. According to Alcina, Sophia was now marked, and ever since, the German was always cautious about what was around the next corner.

Mia Hoffstetter and Beserk Liger made no attempts to hide their thoughts nor perversions upon Sophia, going out of their way to publically humiliate her and get their hands upon her. The list was growing... and the latest two to join the ranks were the Twin Ancestors of Isis, remembering all too well just how far the sisters went to humiliate and vandalize on Sophia's reputation as a strong and proud wrestler. What happened after the match when both sisters teamed up upon her and took her away, Sophia dared not even speak of. She just wanted to forget about it all.

"I know what you are saying Alaina... but... I am finding it troublesome. I'm... I'm not a legend nor a super hero like you. It is difficult to prevent these twisted souls from being me... when I don't even know who I am myself." Sophia spoke, not even being able to keep eye contact with Alaina. She wrapped her arms around her own chest defensively, biting on her lower lip firmly, knowing if she did not she might well up. Sophia tried to stand, but winced in clear pain before she could, coming to settle back down on the bench again.

"My apologies Alaina. You do not need this right now. I will be fine I am sure. I... I will take your words to heart." Sophia whispered, though her tone was lacking confidence, not making the most reassuring of cases.

[Highfly]

Alaina smiled and laughed a little when Sophia called her a superhero. "Listen I dress up like Wonderwoman for charity events sometimes but I am just the same as you. Really at this point I am a crazy old person trying to wrestle like they were younger I am not at all as great as you describe me. I have a pretty big target on me too. Karen Starring went out of her way to ambush me for a while until I kicked her flabby ass all around the ring." Alaina said recalling some events from earlier in her LAW run.

"You will be fine and whatever this place throws at you I know you can handle it. Do you know when your next match is or who it is against?" Alaina asked, tilting her head. She was curious if Sophia would actually be able to get a match against a more normal wrestler instead of a lunatic.

[thesteedman]

Sophia managed what looked like a bit of a sad smile when Alaina spoke words of encouragement to her. The German was clearly at a low point in her early career in the LAW. Still... it was nice to finally be able to talk to someone for the first time. Especially a childhood hero like the Amazon! Sophia never dreamed she would get to meet and greet with one of the all time greats. It was just a shame about everything else that was going on right now. It was certainly a test of endurance both physical and mental that Sophia had not anticipated in the federation. Despite all its honours, the LAW had a dark side, and Sophia had fell right into the deep end of it.

"I am sure you are correct. I know not what match I have next, but hopefully things will begin to change in the near future. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me again. It is always an honour to speak to you Alaina. You should probably get ready for your match, I fear I have already taken up too much of your time." Sophia added, keeping that weak smile. Alaina could see that Sophia was not herself at all. She looked distant, unfocused. The first time Alaina chanced upon her in the pool, there was a pride and determination within her eyes. It seemed Sophia's current run against the more twisted members of the roster had certainly left a mark upon her confidence and character.

[Highfly]

Alaina shook her head and stood up. "Come on out with me, watch my match right at ringside and afterward we can leave the arena together. You need to cheer up somehow and I am sure we can think of a good way to pull that off." Alaina said as she got off the bench. "I still have time before my match though and you look banged up. Sit still for a minute before we head out into the arena." Alaina said as she moved behind Sophia.

Alaina gave her a little back and shoulder rub to try to ease her muscle aches at least. The rest would come later as she allowed Sophia a chance to just mentally unwind without worry of being attacked. "Okay, lets work out some of those kinks and then you can watch me put on a little wrestling clinic before we head out and do something." Alaina said not really giving Sophia an option to say no to her suggested ideas.