An Imperial Rose Has Thorns (for Killcarrion)

[Misfit_Alien]

Blood. Sweat. Tears.

The sounds of metal clanking, tendons stretching, and bodies hitting the mat...just some of the many common sights, smells, and sounds found here at one of LAW's premier gyms. This place had something for everyone. From the lowliest of jobbers to the main event champions. From a group of social butterflies looking to kill some time to lone wolves trying to sharpen their fangs. On this day, one of its inhabitants would be a familiar face around the locker room. With her long, flowing strands of raven-black hair falling down her backside, Akari Ito...the Sea Turtle...was putting in the hours as she worked on some deadlift reps, squatting up and down with a hefty amount of weight on either side, trying to strengthen her lower core...especially the muscles in those strong legs of hers, practically her bread and butter.

The Sea Turtle, herself...dressed for the occasion...

She was clad in her green leotard, accompanied by matching apparel, including sweatbands on her wrists, kneepads, and boots. Her soft yet intense baby blue eyes were sparkling with a renewed sense of vigor as she reached a familiar place in her heart. A feeling of ease and comfort, a sense of normalcy...and while things would never be normal again, while those feelings of anguish and heartache may never disappear, she can at least move forward on her own accord.

After a final set of deadlifts, she'd drop the bar down gently, taking care to keep herself steady as she cooled off. She reached for a towel and dried off some of the sweat lining her body and face, taking in deep breaths while doing so. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her mind was spiraling, but in a way that she liked. Akari was thinking about so many things, but these thoughts intrigued her...they MOTIVATED her. Thoughts on how to push herself further, who she'd face next, and when she could earn her next shot at a title. One step at a time, though. Akari needed to pace herself, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't brimming with energy and excitement. The best part of failure was learning a lesson, and after coming to terms with everything, Akari had several lessons she knew she had to learn. So instead of mulling around any longer, she decided to take herself back to the basics with some intensive training to get her mind, body, and spirit back in order with one another.

After a lengthy warm-up, she was feeling eager for a sparring session. Or, at the very least, finding another partner to assist with her training. For now, she'd rack the weights and place the bar back on its separate shelf before turning away and grabbing her things. Her water bottle was looking a tad empty, so she decided to fill it up first before pursuing anyone to assist in her training, rounding the corner only to nearly crash into another woman, just barely stopping herself from having a collision with the blonde who had suddenly appeared before her.


"Oh! Hey there, sorry about that. Gotta watch out for these corners, right?" She said casually, letting out a soft chuckle as she tried to lighten the mood and move things away from the near-miss incident.

[killcarrion]

The Imperial Rose, Unbridled Opulence and Elegance~...

Gwendolyn's balletic upbringing served her well when it came to thoroughly irksome moments such as these. Poised swiftness and tip-toed balance ensured that she'd deftly evade making physical contact with the droves of athletes pursuing their metaphorical "gains", as it were. Clusters of roustabouts cavorting together alongside dutiful LAW trainers hustling down aisleways between exercise machines, all of whom were sidestepped by a vexed heiress pondering as to whether anyone within this federation had perchance heard of personal space. Gwendolyn pining for the halcyon days within her prior wrestling federation and how they accommodated wrestlers of her distinguished caliber with private training facilities reserved for champions, celebrities, and those stratified amongst high society. Disquieting though the news was that such indulgences could not be included within her LAW contract upon her signing, Gwendolyn merely assumed that the hapless rabble could accommodate and part like the Red Sea once their star-stricken eyes feasted upon her beauteous transcendence~. Hence her decisions to dismiss her security guards and duteous entourage for the rest of the day in spite of their concerned objections. Begrudgingly they acquiesced to their employer's wishes and her imperial design to actually associate amongst the uncouth riffraff this fine training day, envisioning a deluge of fawning admiration comprised of menial competitors begging for autographs and mere glimpses of her sheer magnificence-

"Whoa, scuse me miss..."

Gwendolyn's thought bubble being popped by the janitor splatting a soaked mop right at her dainty feet, whistling a merry tune as he cleaned the premises with a deadpanned heiress gawking towards him and the abject lack of acknowledgment her grand entrance was receiving. Adorned in her figure accentuating sports bra and shorts with her imperialistic nomenclature literally written all over her, Gwendolyn stamped off in an exasperated huff and clenched grip upon her water bottle. It is inconceivable to her that a multi-time champion such as herself could go unrecognized in this day and age. Unbeknownst to her though that the reaction was moreso delayed than non-existent. Several wrestlers in the background performing double takes and whispering among friends to confirm the identity of the prudish snob navigating her way through the labyrinthine exercise machines before- "Tch..." Gwendolyn narrowly avoided yet another collision with tensed apprehension akin to a startled cat, but easing down with a huffed breath and aggravated intonation to her sophisticated vernacular. "YesYesYes. Corners, and what not. Pardon my potentially preposterous query, but these are indeed the LAW training facilities, are they not? I'm beginning to wonder if perchance I'm mistaken when it comes to finding the location where wrestlers associate with each other, engage in exercise regiments, and so forth..." Gwendolyn posited with a perplexed expression as she scanned their immediate surroundings with an index finger propped against her chin.

[Misfit_Alien]

When the regal-looking blonde spoke, Akari was a little surprised at how posh her voice was. The woman spoke as if every word she said had its own net worth. Every syllable was drenched in refinement and splendor, even as she asked such a silly question. The Sea Turtle tilted her head, unsure as to what the woman was getting at, as her eyes darted around the room for a moment. This led the Japanese woman to speak up in response, trying to catch the blonde's attention.

"Yeah, this is LAW's official gym, open to all its competitors and such-...quite a diverse crowd." She said casually. "Are you new here?" Akari asked quizzically, curiosity getting the better of her as she wanted to figure out what this woman was about. "I'm no employee or anything, but if you're looking for a quick tour of the area, I don't mind showing you around." She said, offering her assistance with a warm smile and a friendly attitude. "I'm sure we wrestlers will be able to 'associate' and 'engage' with each other just fine." She said, chuckling a little as she reused the blonde's own words in a lighthearted, comedic fashion to try and lighten the mood.

"The name's Akari Ito. Nice to meet you." She said, offering a handshake.

[killcarrion]

Appreciative though Gwendolyn was from being assured that her navigational prowess remained impeccable, the nettling vexation of her bewildering predicament persisted. The abject lack of obsequious admirers and sycophantic enthusiasts showering her with praise was a notable cause for concern until the cordial stranger began addressing her directly. Gwendolyn diverting her attention from their bustling surroundings towards this perplexing social individual and appraised her with a judgmental inquisitiveness. Obviously an experienced athlete whose flowing raven-hued locks matched the deluge of congenial banter, but whose subpar assessment of Gwendolyn as an unknown rookie earned Akari a prudish pout. "Hmph, as it just so happens, I am in actuality..." Gwen's imperious introduction being upended by an abrupt realization, the heiress thunderstruck with brilliance as she alleviated the cadence in her vocals and noticeably softened her uptight stance. "...new...here. My profound apologies for narrowly colliding with you earlier, you may address me as Gwen...ith. Gwyneth, like the actress~..." A demure smile accompanied her acceptance of Akari's offered handshake with an elegant touch behind the firm reciprocation. "I suppose my feeble attempts at blending in with such a robust roster rife with seasoned competitors were always doomed to be folly. Still, fearing that I may end up hopelessly lost, or worse, find myself stumbling into the Men's locker-room, a tour of this establishment would be most appreciated. If I'm not imposing, that is~..."

[Misfit_Alien]

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Gwyneth." Akari replied, smiling back at the blonde...whose verbose manner of conversing led Akari to assume that she might be some royal, high-class type of gal. She had to be British or, at the very least, European. With such an 'extensive' vocabulary, Akari couldn't see it any other way. "The way you talk-...it's a bit familiar." She said. Was she finally catching on to who she was actually in the presence of? Not at all. "Are you British, by chance? I have a cousin who's Half British, and she's got a similar accent. Not to disrespect you, or anything, but it's rare for me to interact with talent from Europe. Most people you'll run into here are commonly from Asia...Japan specifically...or America. Still, there's a fair share of variety all around. You never know who you'll bump into~" She said with such a casual, cool tone, further emphasizing the comical nature of this encounter...and perhaps stinging Gwen's ego all the more as Akari still hadn't picked up on her newfound acquaintance's true colors.

"Ah, I shouldn't get so caught up in all the details-...at the very least, we should walk and talk! That way we're burning a couple of calories while getting to know one another." She gestured for Gwen to follow her. "To start with, you'll notice that LAW houses a LOT of facilities. Given the wide range of talent they employ, there's something for everyone...whether you're a champion boxer or a fledgling judoka, there's gonna be some form of equipment here to help you train, with plenty of space to do so." She said, waving her hand along to gesture at the many types of machines, tools, and environments suited for different types of exercise and styles of fighting. And to think, this was all only on the first floor. "Not to mention, there are plenty of classes being taught by staff and willing volunteers around the clock. I tend to frequent a gym closer to my place, but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a helpful backup option. It just tends to get crowded and noisy, especially when someone noteworthy comes along...sometimes, people will even bring in paparazzi to stroke their own egos, flaunting an entourage. Everybody's gotta be a somebody, I guess-..." She said.

Someone noteworthy, hm? If only someone like that truly were around...

[killcarrion]

"Ah ha...I see you've quite the ear for accents. I do indeed pridefully regard myself to be as British as a spot of Earl Grey, specifically Kensington and Chelsea to be precise. It is precisely as you say. One never knows as to whom they will collide shoulders with in a heralded establishment of such renowned variety~..." Brimming with hospitable wholesomeness and cordial politeness, Gwendolyn upheld her veiled subterfuge which only showed signs of cracking when Akari was seemingly on the cusp of ascertaining her true identity via her unmistakable vernacular...but was succinctly curtailed once Akari started prattling on about her cousin or whatnot. The raven-haired strangers congenial demeanor and offered jaunt around this foreign facility had struck the heiress as an opportunity to familiarize herself with her newfound environment and become acquainted with the caliber of talent within merely by playing into the role of plucky newcomer seeking tutelage, overwhelmed by the breadth of ones surroundings. For now though Gwendolyn was continuing to play it by the metaphorical ear as it were, further weaving her tapestry of deception until inevitably a taut yanking upon a loose thread would unravel her duplicitous chicanery...

"Yes, let's~..." Gwyneth merrily accompanying Akari shoulder to shoulder throughout the expansive facility, a wafting hand directed towards each secluded area of the fitness center specializing in the form of martial arts and fighting techniques as detailed by her affable tour guide. One forlorn boxer kayoed with a concussive haymaker and a judo practitioner tapping a submission from an armbar hyperextending their limb to an excruciating angle as the unlikely pairing casually strolled by each chaotic interplay. A flare of indignation sparked within Gwyn as Akari needled the lack of stardom currently occupying the facility, and how pretentious it is when those supposed celebrities are accompanied by fawning entourages and shutterbugs. "AHEM...that, does sound like quite the vexing circumstance..." Gwyn's feigned smile withholding her simmering temper, balking down at the water bottle she'd crushed with her viced grip before swiftly hiding it behind her. "Well, you say as such, but I'd wager I've been in the company of one such acclaimed superstar this entire time. The name Akari Ito is practically synonymous with LAW as a proficient newcomer destined to attain championship gold in spite of recent...unfortunate setbacks, which I profusely apologize for bringing up if those are particularly sore topics for you."

[Misfit_Alien]

"Oh, you're too kind. I'm sure you'll be a star one day too. You've got the look for it!" She said, complimenting Gwyneth's well-trained body. Even if she was new here, she certainly wasn't inexperienced. It made Akari think for a second about her background. However, she didn't have much time to dwell on it as Gwyn 'unintentionally' poked at a rather sensitive subject for the Sea Turtle...her loss at the hands of Kyoko Akan for the Middleweight Title.

Yes. A 'setback'...

"Ah, don't be sorry, that moment exists cause of my own mistakes-...You can't beat me up about it more than I've done to myself already. It was my own fault, but every failure is just another lesson. As you said, an unfortunate setback...but setbacks are temporary. I'm sure I don't need to tell you the obvious. The real defeat is in giving up, and all that-..." She said with a smile on her face. Truth be told, Akari was still reeling a bit from that loss. She was over it, but there was always that little thought in the back of her mind that asked 'what if' when she was in the shower, eating dinner, or trying to fall asleep. Fantasies were common...dare to dream, after all...but these scenarios didn't help Akari. It only punished her needlessly. There was no going back, only moving forward, but when you're that close to the mountain top, you can't help but wonder what would have happened if you just steadied your footing a little better.

Akari then realized something, her eyes widening as she looked back at Gwyn...had she finally realized who she was in the presence of?

Not at all-

"Say, Gwyn, I was curious. How much experience do you have with wrestling? You say you're new here, but you look like you've got some experience under your belt. Your body looks to be in great condition, so you're certainly no slouch~...Have you wrestled on the indies before this? Or do you come from a different style or practice?" She said, asking about her newfound acquaintance's background. "Actually, that makes for an even better question-...what brings you to LAW in the first place? Everyone's got their reasons, of course...just curious." Akari asked. It was true that many were contracted here for a VARIETY of reasons, most famously to be 'the best', but some were stuck in contracts or just here for easy money. Gwyneth didn't seem like the lazy, passionless type, however. She seemed like someone who wanted to BE somebody, to reach for greatness, and fight with the best of them to prove why she deserved to be at the top, holding onto the tantalizing, gilded prize that awaited all at the peak of the mountaintop.

[killcarrion]

Contemplative ruminations abounded as Gwendolyn was being escorted throughout the facilities multi-layered accommodations, meticulously taking note of the caliber of athletes LAW apparently has underneath their employ. *Scouting the competition*, Gwendolyn believes is the layman term most apt for this fortuitous excursion. Examinations critiquing certain athlete's shortcomings...mindful examinations of other wrestler's techniques...all calculated together to form scrutinzations enabling Gwen to notice weaknesses and formulate strategies should the day ever come where she is fated to best any of these competitors within the squared circle. However, the affluent heiress needed no such clandestine observations to know of Akari's grappling proficiency and heartbreaking misfortunes in regard to certain championship ventures mired in failure. Performing her due diligence via researching LAW's title scene beforehand told Gwendolyn a tale of harrowing adversity with a certain Sea Turtle as the woeful protagonist. Akari's earlier introduction confirming Gwen's suspicions as to her identity but opted to bide her time before playing this conversational card. "Resilient and unshaken, possessing a spirit of unyielding endurance in the face of adversity as they trudge onwards through yonder hardships and tribulations life showers down upon them~...*giggle*...I see one's apropos moniker as The Sea Turtle was not chosen carelessly..."

Gwendolyn's theatrical wordplay and flattering tease accompanied a smile matching Akari's warmth, but she was nevertheless taken aback by the topic of conversations swerve into a spotlight shined upon herself. Unaccustomed to having her physique complimented by anyone whose paycheck she didn't sign. "Ah, yes well...Suffice to say when it came to enlisting the tutelage of distinguished trainers and skilled coaches...money was of little import. And I suppose one could say I possess some...minuscule, experience within other wrestling federations. None of which that a competitor of your esteemed caliber would be aware of...apparently. As for the reasoning behind becoming a contracted talent here... " A thoughtful pause was taken as Gwen diverted her eyes to the side, contemplating the question earnestly before returning her attention to Akari with a smirk. "Once upon a time, I was informed in no uncertain terms by those whose opinions I cherished that noblewoman of mine own regal prestige have no place in a wrestling ring, convinced that naught but failure awaits me should I embark on this endeavor. Suffice to say that such unmitigated drivel provided ample motivation to prove those detractors wrong. I decided long ago to achieve success and perfection in whatever undertaking intrigues and captivates me the most. And where else can I seek to hone my wrestling talents than amidst the creme of the metaphorical crop, so to speak~.."