L.A.W. - League of Anime Wrestling

With some

playing in the background...

"♩'Cause every girl's crazy 'bout a Sharp Dressed Man!♩"

Terrell Hughes danced through the changing room that had been given to him, one of many in the LAW-owned hotel that he and Keira were staying in. He was making the most of the energy he had in him this evening as he put on the custom-fitted drip that had been made for it, article by article.

"♩Top coat! Top hat! Woo! But I don't worry 'cause my wallet's faaaat! Black mask, slick locs!♩" Wasn't a very good rhyme -- he wasn't wearing gloves, white or no -- but he didn't give a damn about that as he moonwalked into view of himself in a mirror. "♩Lookin' sharp! Lookin' for loooove! They come runnin' just as fast as they can!

'Cause every girl's crazy 'bout a Sharp Dressed Man!♩"

Oh yeah. He was

and feeling even better. He didn't have a match on the Madison Gambit's card. Neither of them did. But they had still been invited to enjoy its amenities for the weekend, all expenses paid.

He hadn't ever been to Osaka. In fact, that first After Dark show was the only time he'd been to Japan. So the way he saw it, he was in for an adventure.

And he had a

to drive her around in. A Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe, baby! With a few modernizations to add some extra comfort to the Roaring Twenties flair. Only a rental, but it would one day be his for real. The test drive made it a goal.

Right. The car. One of the things that led to why Terrell asked the staff for a separate changing room: He just wanted to surprise her. He may not have been victorious in the Kings & Queens tournament, but he was still on the come up. By God, he wasn't going to let that stop him from going places. Everywhere she believed he could go, and the Madison was an expression of his intent to show and give her the world in return.

On the subject of surprises, she had one for him too. He'd gotten in touch with Olivia Manin, a dressmaker who was working with a lot of LAW talent for the event, and had also happened to be married to the man who made his suit and coat. Gave her Keira's measurements, favorite colors, shared the aesthetic she usually goes with, and put some of that Big Date money he'd been saving up on the table so her outfit wouldn't just be another one on the queue.

Terrell wasn't what one would call rich, but with his record, combined with doing double time on the regular show and After Dark, with a couple custom match types to his name, he was in a comfortable place financially. He'd get Keira something that would not only fit the 1920's vibe, but absolutely shine in it. He wanted to give her a dress that shimmers. The pearls. The jewelry. All that flapper magic.

It had arrived just in time. He didn't know what it looked like; after the initial talking stages, Ms. Manin had reached out to Keira to go over the rest of the details. There was only so much he could do as a man.

He had a good feeling. Whatever it was that was delivered to her, she'd kill it.

Terrell left a nice tip on his way out of the hotel. Had the valet bring the car around, and sent Keira a text letting her know that he was waiting out front. She'd find him leaning back against the car, all cool-like.

Terrell certainly knew how to treat a lady. Keira knew that already, but somehow he continued to both surprise and impress her. So much so, in fact, that she wondered if perhaps she wasn't quite pulling her weight in this relationship. If not, Terrell had not once complained, nor even shown signs of displeasure, at least that she'd picked up on. That said... she was pretty confident that Terrell wouldn't hesitate to communicate if they had a problem going on. Maybe she was overthinking it.

Regardless, now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Keira had recently returned from a brief hiatus from her wrestling career, and hadn't seen her man in person during that time away. As a result, Terrell invited her to a getaway to Osaka. Like him, she had no matches on the card. But that didn't mean they weren't allowed to travel as representatives and enjoy all that there was to offer!

And now that she was here, she was excited to take in the sights. Everything she'd seen so far as a far cry from what Keira normally did for fun, but that didn't mean she wasn't willing to check it out. And Terrell was making every effort to ensure that was the case. He'd spared no expense, if the dress she'd been given was anything to go by!

Keira stood in front of the large mirror on the back of the door in her room,

.

He'd truly outdone himself this time! The dress was lovely, perfectly fitting the time period, and it fit her body like a snug glove - it highlighted her curves beautifully, and showed off just enough skin to be tantalizing while not going overboard. How he got her exact measurements was a question she'd have to probe about later. Then again, he did have a sharp eye, and plenty of time to observe her figure. Perhaps he just did the calculations in his head. Regardless, he'd even ensured that Keira herself had a hand in the details to get it just right, and Ms. Manin had delivered! The frills occasionally tickled her legs, but not enough to be a distraction.

But that wasn't all - she'd gotten the full treatment. Gloves, pearls, heels, a sickeningly cute headband. The only shame was that her hair hid the earrings. It was a small detail though, and she was sure she'd have plenty opportunity to show them off.

The one true downside to all this was that she and Terrell had gotten separate rooms, but as far as she knew, that was purely for the purpose of letting her get ready. He hadn't seen her dress yet, and wanted that first glimpse to be with her in it. She could understand that, and it wasn't like they had to stay in separate rooms. In fact she had no doubt that, by the end of this night, they'd both end up in the same bed, whichever room it happened to be in.

At least, they would if she had any say in it. She hadn't seen him in weeks, and now that she'd experienced him, there was only so far that toys and pictures could get her.

Getting her makeup right was a frustrating endeavor. She wasn't doing much, as was normal, but she had to make sure it matched her dress, and it was a different style than she was used to. She'd been at it for the better part of an hour when she'd gotten the text that Terrell was waiting out front for her. Shit. Fuck.

Well... she wasn't going to be one of those girls who kept their man waiting. Her lipstick and eyeshadow looked... fine, she supposed. Not quite what she'd wanted, but she supposed she should just be grateful that she hadn't done one eye at a time.

From the lobby, she spotted Terrell leaning against a really nice-looking car through the glass at the hotel's front entrance. Keira wasn't a car junkie, but even she recognized that there was something special about this one. And the spot he had parked himself, there was no way they'd miss each other the moment she stepped outside. She smirked at the sight, and then took a deep breath before pushing her way through the door. Her hips swayed as she walked towards him, eyes locked on his, the loose frills on her dress swinging freely. A show before the show.

She paused about three feet away, spinning in a circle so he could see her - and the outfit he'd given her - from all angles, one hand brushing some hair over her ear to show off the earrings as well.

"I hope you're not broke," she joked with a grin, shooting a glance at the car behind him. She knew that he knew that money didn't factor into her interest in him. Her eyes narrowed as she put on her seductress face. "This dress alone must have cost at least a month's pay, nevermind the car. And don't try to tell me LAW provided that. There's no way."

Whatever his response, Keira would close the gap between them, throwing her arms around his neck and bringing her lips tauntingly close to his - enough for him to feel her breath when she whispered to him, without actually meeting his lips. "God, I missed you."

The lipstick and the eyeshadow looked as perfect as the rest of her in Terrell's eyes. Keira's shared her vulnerabilities with him as he has with her, so he knew that she didn't always feel as confident as she appeared, but with the way she walked out, he had no idea that she had any reservations about her appearance tonight. She was emitting her catchphrase with every step, in another showing that made it difficult for him to believe that those doubts were ever there.

It was just like the night they met. Even more spectacular than that, actually, with this being a style she was trying for the first time. But you'd swear that she was wearing dresses like that for all her life. She took command of it. Made all the bits and bobs dance to her tune, like this was a grand scene in a movie. All that was missing was some music. Terrell wouldn't have known what to pick out, though. He listened to older music more than most -- regarded it as superior to most of what's coming out these days -- but his mental catalogue didn't go as far back as the Roaring Twenties.

A spin, perfectly measured so his eye would be able to take her in from every angle, showing off the sheer perfection that had been created. She made it shine brighter than it was made to. As it had with that bra and that little skirt, her presence was transcendent: Other women would've looked good in it. But Keira? She made it look good.

It wasn't a surprise when he heard that Lilith Models wanted to do some shoots with her.

"This dress alone must have cost at least a month's pay, nevermind the car. And don't try to tell me LAW provided that. There's no way."

LAW had taken care of the flight and provided free luxury rooms and service, both in the hotel and the casino, but yeah, these extra touches...were a very pretty penny, let's just say. But she's worth it, and this was the perfect time to put those savings to use. Tonight wasn't just that big date he'd gathered them up for. It was also a celebration: The newest edition of Lilith Magazine has hit the shelves, and it was selling like hot cakes. The models got their copies for free, but Terrell still bought one himself in solidarity.

This was exactly why he recommended that she take them up on their offer when they reached out to her. He knew that she could make herself a star there, like she's been doing here in LAW before she took that temporary step away. And lo and behold, his Lady's on the

(Just pretend it's not a bunch of gibberish. The AI tried, lol.)

"I've been saving up, for I don't know exactly what. Your birthday, a big win, celebrating you being put on the cover of a top alternative fashion magazine...! Knew you could do it!" Terrell stood up straight, his eyes locked right onto her, held captive. He was smiling one of those smiles that could light up a room. Congratulatory, but even more than that, it was pure joy at having this vision right here in front of him again.

His arms went around her at the same time that hers went around him, a hand finding its place on her shoulder so he could get his thumb tracing those idle circles she likes. He held her extra tight, communicating with action what she put into words. This was a good thing for her, and he wants nothing but the best for her. But damn, he is definitely not going to be in a rush to let her go again.

He immediately started losing himself in her eyes. And with her being so close to him, with every single word, every single movement of her lips bringing her within what, millimeters from meeting his? There wouldn't have been any resisting it if he tried: He gently pulled her the rest of the way over and then some, pouring those hours upon hours of "I missed the unholy hell out of you" into a kiss that was a long. Time. Coming. The kind of kiss that lights your soul on fire. God, he needed that!

After...he didn't know how long that lasted. The only thing he had on his mind was feeling her. Time didn't factor into it. After however long, it was back to falling into that loving purple gaze. "Took the words right out of my mouth." He couldn't find any that could properly convey the depth of that sentiment, but that? That ought to do.

And for a few moments, he just held her. Got his fill of that closeness he'd gone too long without. And then it hit him. His eyes turned to the starry skies. "I've got a good feeling about tonight." That was already true in the days leading up to this, but now that they were here, having this moment together, it was well and truly sinking in: "Everything's coming together just right, you know? You going supermodel. The two of us being here, just in time for this whole Madison thing. Even the wind is perfect." The one and only thing that was missing was the Intergender Championship belt. It was hard for Terrell to face Keira after his elimination from the Kings & Queens tournament, even through a computer screen.

He never forgave himself for letting it slip through his fingers the way he did. But he wasn't going to dwell on that tonight. His eyes came down to look her over again.

"That dress. This suit. The car. We're gonna kill it! And tonight is gonna be something to remember." It shined through in his smile and hung off of every word: This was a promise. Terrell had his plans, but there was something more to it. Some intangible, unexplainable thing that he could just feel down to the core of his being.

With that said, he went to open the passenger door for her. "Shall we?"

Right from the first glance, Keira could tell that Terrell was enraptured by her outfit. Or, rather, her in the outfit. He was a stickler for details, that one in particular. Not that Keira was complaining, of course. But his reaction always did wonders for her confidence, and tonight was no exception. And if his eyes didn't tell her what she needed to know, the kiss that followed sure did! Time meant nothing as they made up for what they'd lost, until it was over, still somehow far too early.

"Everything's coming together just right, you know? You going supermodel. The two of us being here, just in time for this whole Madison thing. Even the wind is perfect."

For the briefest of moments, Keira thought she caught the corners of his mouth straighten out, but she blinked and he was smiling wide again. She had a guess as to what he might have been thinking in that moment, but she wasn't going to bring it up now. She'd told him all she needed to after his loss and elimination from the tournament. She'd keep an eye on it, see if she could tell whether or not it darkened his evening again, and if she decided another few words of encouragement might be appreciated, unless something truly drastic happened that spoiled things, they could wait until the night was winding down; no need to cut open that wound when things were otherwise going so right.

Keira nodded politely as he opened her door for her, the fuckin' gentleman that he was. It was the little things like that, things that Keira had never given a single damn about in her life, that put a smile on her face whenever Terrell granted her the experience. She'd always been an 'I have hands, I can open my own doors' kind of girl. But Terrell didn't do it to score points with her. He did it because he knew how to treat a woman, and that above all else, was what she so loved about him.

That was to say nothing about her modeling vacation! Another thing Keira has never in her life considered; she had no intentions of being the world's newest dress-up doll, being made to wear pretty dresses and tiaras and makeup. But Terrell encouraged her to go anyway; not because she was a girly girl, but because he knew she would succeed while keeping true to herself. And, as often was the case, he'd been correct.

Speaking of which...

"I've got one more surprise for you," she said immediately as Terrell got into the car. She'd gotten so lost in his embrace that she'd forgotten all about it, until the car door closed and the spell was broken. She reached into her new purse; it barely fit, but she managed to curl it enough and managed to not bend any pages in the process. As she held it out to him, she tried to catch sight of his reaction. "I know you've seen it already, and I know you've probably already bought a copy, but I wanted you to have this one in particular."

The object in question was her free copy of the magazine; the difference being, she'd slapped her autograph in a bright lavender sharpie on the cover with - to her, anyway - surprisingly readable cursive. Right in the negative space between her arm and her body; she figured Terrell would appreciate not having the writing over the better parts of her photo.

"I owe this entirely to you," she said, gesturing to her photo on the cover. "Thank you for convincing me to just do it." And she leaned over for one more kiss before they got on the road.

"So, now that we're here... I think I want to start with food."

Truthfully, Keira was a bit overwhelmed by all the sights and available options. She wasn't quite sure where to begin; she considered asking if Terrell had a preference, but after taking a beat to think about it, she thought it probably made more sense to discuss how to spend the evening over a meal; it got that inevitable hurdle out of the way early, and more importantly, it would give them time to chat and catch up.

Terrell, it seemed, agreed anyway; he directed her attention towards a jazz lounge, and they found a table where they could look over their meal options. Keira ordered a glass of red wine off the bat; if there was ever a night to treat herself, this was it.

"So," she started, throwing a smirk Terrell's way. "How'd you survive without me?"

Thirteen letters in some lavender cursive. To outside eyes, it was a simple autograph. But to a sentimental man like Terrell, it changed the entire picture. It was as personalized as one could hope to have it, with an effort of love making the final result of her penmanship a shining example of the excellence he'd always said it to be, especially in comparison to his own. His spelling, grammar, and vocabulary were all solid -- he had a liking for English in school -- but his printed handwriting was atrocious. Something you'd expect from a six year old. And cursive? Even worse.

He's been putting in a lot of work to change that. It wouldn't happen as much following his loss at the tournament, but Black Severin would still be asked for autographs often enough during his outings. That his fans he maintained stuck with him after that letdown meant a lot to him; he aimed to get his writing to a state where those who showed off their autographed merch on social media would be able to do it with the utmost pride. And to that effort, he'd asked for Keira's help. She didn't think hers was much better, but...Yes. Yes it is.

Especially here. It transformed the copy he held in his hands into a rare treasure. One-of-a-kind.

"I owe this entirely to you. Thank you for convincing me to just do it."

One more sweet kiss for the road. Terrell locked eyes with her, already finding himself so lost that the hand that reached for the steering wheel would grab nothing but air, requiring a second attempt. That got a little laugh out of him. This woman could be a real danger when she wanted to be. First with a missed green light in traffic during that drive to Milwaukee that really got everything started, a tree during a walk out to grab some ice cream, then a bush during the walk to a concert venue...If she kissed him when he had something in front of him, he was going to miss it.

"All you really had to do was just that; just head on up there, and be natural." Not a single word of that was bull. The woman beside him is a world class beauty. The perfect combination of good looks and heart. It wasn't anything to thank him for, really. She would've found herself on the cover of something sooner or later.

It made him feel like a black Peter Parker.


Aaand, there they are. The Madison Gambit.

Terrell was in the same boat as his Lady, taking a moment to just take in the sights. All the 1920's wonder and hustle and bustle, with none of the rides in the back of a police cruiser for being black on a Friday night. There were two separate entrances up front: One for the wrestlers, and one for everyone else. And boy, he felt for those in that second line. It was like looking at a line for the Roxbury, or Disneyland during Christmas.

Arm-in-arm, the two walked down the red carpet that had been laid out, having some extra peps in his steps. The place was shining, cameras were flashing, and the fans were showing love for them both. That dress! That suit! The car! It was going exactly as he said it would, and he was feeling like The Man. A megastar! He couldn't have been smiling any wider or any brighter if he tried!

He would wave and give his heartfelt thanks to the people. Something to show his appreciation, without letting himself get sidetracked. He followed the signs once they were inside, looking for...the jazz lounge seems like a good bet. Terrell had no experience with places this big and fancy, but the jazz lounge felt like the perfect place for the start he had in mind for this date. Something away from the noise. Slowed down, and relaxed. A feminine voice emanating through the speakers smoothed its way on in through his ears and touched his memories...No way. No way.

Then they stepped into the lounge. Way.

The redheaded German songstress stood on stage, wearing a tight, low-cut, shimmering dress with a slit up the side. It showed two things: One, that she was embracing the Jessica Rabbit comparisons, albeit with her own touch. It's been a meme for years. And two: She still had it at fifty.

And she knew that.

The woman responsible for the theme song to one of his favorite shows as a kid, through to his teens: "Lady Constantine: Believe". Keira was a very observant type, catching little things in his expression even with the mask on. Terrell knew she'd see the recognition in his eyes, so he'd take her on a trip back to his childhood and early teens as they found a table.

He watched this show religiously, never missing an episode through its five year run. The draw was the magic and the illusions. With their kid brains having totally bought into the idea that Lady Constantine was Actually going from place to place walking up buildings, flying, getting crushed by steamrollers with no real damage to her person, and what have you, he and Beatriz spent so much time trying to do the safer magic. And for a time, he would be convinced that he was just starting to learn the secrets of human flight. It was just him being light on his toes, but it felt real to him.

He revisited those days with a smile, getting so much into opening that window to more of him that the woman on stage wouldn't receive so much as a second glance.

A waiter would eventually come around to take their drink orders. Red wine? Sounds good to him.

"So, how'd you survive without me?"

"It was hard." He started with a chuckle, but man. "I know it was my idea for you to go, but yeah. It was like..." There were so many that he could use to describe the experience, and they all made sense in his head, but he needed to pick and choose the right ones to get it out there. "So different. Those video chats with you were the best part of the day to me. But at the same time, they were the hardest, because..." He reached for one of her gloved hands and took it in between his own, drawing idle circles on the back of it with his thumb. After having been without her physical presence for as long as he'd been, he was really starting to get it. Keira had effectively described this as having a soothing effect. He was feeling it too, now, just from doing it. "I really missed this. The kisses, the touches, holding you, hearing your voice -- the audio didn't change anything, but it was like...I could still see you and talk to you, but it wasn't the same. And I had those days where it was killing me."

It felt good to say that. Not a word of it was a complaint. Just him expressing his feelings, something he'd learned not to do in his previous relationships. It hardly ever went over well: Most times, he'd either be ignored, shut down, or put down. That prediction he'd made about this evening, for one thing, would've gotten him some version of, "You're such a girl." And it wouldn't be a joke, which would've been just fine. There'd be an element of disgust there. And considering the guys he'd be dumped or cheated on for, guys like his brother Devon -- more traditionally masculine types who don't do emotions -- it made him start to wonder if there might be some truth to the advice of putting a lid on that and leaving all the expression to women. Only talking to your boys if you really had to air something out.

His mother and Beatriz would both tell him the opposite, but the results at the time spoke for themselves. The Devons, Adrians, and Jays of the world had no worries. They drowned in female attention. Hell, even his father was still a player when he and his mom met. He would settle down, but not before playing around on her once first.

But his time with Keira has been a completely different experience. From the very beginning, before they even had their first date, she's been exuding safety. Acceptance. Patience. It's been the freshest air he's ever breathed. She was living proof that the third time's the charm. He could talk to her about anything.

Speaking of which, he hadn't actually answered her question.

"The thing that kept me going, though? I knew how good it was gonna be when you got back. Whatever town we were in, we were gonna paint that motherfucker red. And that when we call it a night, well..." Terrell stood up, taking his chair with him as he circled the table to get closer to her, wrapping an around around her shoulder when he sat back down and pulling her close. His eyes would peer into hers with a sultry fire. "I have been waiting to give you an up close view of this body I've built. I've been feeling like a new man ever since I came back with it, and I've been getting better week by week. You thought I looked good in those matches? Wait until you feel me. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I'm gonna do to you."

Self-assurance, passion, hunger, and the promise of a long, long night ahead. All of it had welled up in his very soul and poured into every word, straight from the heart, but also designed. To do what? Plant a seed deep into that of his lover. He wanted her mind racing with possibilities the entire time they were here.

During their entrance, Keira had been overwhelmed by the sights. That same self-consciousness crept back up, especially in response to the gathered crowd. She never took issues with that before a match - even reveled in it! But this was not a match, and she certainly wouldn't be wearing this dress to one. Terrell, though, seemed to be enjoying the attention without a second thought, waving and chatting with them. Keira's response by comparison was far more subdued; a cautious wave and a small grin that she could only hope looked more confident than she felt. Which was silly, all things considered, and she knew it. There was no reason for it; but, again, the whole experience was new and overwhelming, and by the time she would have thought to show more outward enthusiasm, they'd already swept into the venue.

For the briefest of moments, Keira followed Terrell's gaze towards the singer on stage. Definitely cute. She couldn't blame him for staring. She reminded her of another cute green-eyed redhead with a preference for lavender, and for a moment, Keira wondered where her friend was now. She shot Terrell a sly grin, only to catch something in his eye; the woman on stage was familiar to him somehow. Had they known each other once?

He, of course, saw the question in her eyes and explained. No, she was just some childhood tv star that he and Beatriz used to enjoy. And from the way he spoke, it was a big part of that childhood. She couldn't blame him; cartoons were less Keira's thing, but though she couldn't remember a whole lot about her own childhood, she definitely had her own interests.

Moving on from their childhoods, Terrell took her hand as he answered her question, eyes closing as his fingers worked that magic she so loved. But she only allowed herself a few moments to show her appreciation; after staring at him through a screen for so long, she needed to take him in now. She nodded along with a knowing smile and a sparkle in her eye, understanding completely; she truly appreciated that he was so open and honest with her about his feelings. It wasn't just Terrell, it was something that a lot of men she'd known had difficulty with. Knowing that he was so comfortable with her to tell her his feelings - not to admit them, not to confide in her like they were some secret, but just to openly discuss them - made her happy. And, when the situation called for it, made her feel better about confronting her own emotions to him, in turn.

"Oh, believe me, I know what you mean. It would have been really nice to have you there. Would have done wonders for my nerves. I was a wreck by myself." She put her free hand on top of his; again, only for a moment, but enough to convey weeks worth of missing that physical contact. "Not that I didn't miss it all for its own sake, too." And she'd back that up that later tonight.

Apparently, he'd had a similar thought. She leaned into him when his arm found her shoulders, her eyes seeing the fire in his and catching. And his gaze was nothing compared to the heat in his words. For a moment, her eyes went slightly wide with surprise, but her grin slipped into that familiar sultry one he would have seen a dozen times by now.

She'd known that Terrell leaned heavily towards the more submissive side, even from their very first encounter. It had caught her off guard in that meeting and though it resulted in a loss in her debut, the time since had been more than worth every moment. And, for the most part, that dynamic worked for them. Their relationship was going strong, even after weeks apart, as though they'd never been separated.

It was, however, sometimes a challenge when it came to Terrell's matches. And he'd been working hard at improving that, both before and after the tournament. He'd kept her informed of his activities and progress the whole time she'd been gone.

And here, now, he was doing more than promising to show her later how far he'd come; he was actively doing so. His very words themselves had a confidence to them that she wasn't used to seeing.

Not that Keira wasn't looking forward to the physical proof, of course.

"I can only imagine," she admitted. He'd done what he intended to do; her mind was racing with possibilities, but she truly had no idea just what he may have decided would be met with approval from both of them, and she was eager to find out. "I know they're not results, because I know you're going to keep working on it, but you know I can't wait to feel the progress you've made for myself." She nudged him playfully with her shoulder.

Even though he was the instigator here, the end of the night would have a permanent spot in Terrell's mind as well. This night -- the first night they'd spend together after their time apart -- was something he'd been working towards. Along with his physique, he'd been honing this new aspect of his being that she'd awakened. Familiarizing himself with it and picking up new tricks, both physical and mental. Figuring out the best combinations of things, more of those special somethings that only she would get to experience.

Terrell had opened his mouth to speak, but a waiter had approached their table before he could, delivering their wine and taking their orders for dinner. His was simple: A surf and turf platter. Shrimp and chicken tenders, both fried. A regular choice of his that never fails. He didn't think they would have that on their menu, but when saw the option, he knew he had to try their make of it.

The waiter had read the room, so to speak: Answered any questions, took their orders, made it quick and efficient. The sort of scarcity that came from respect for their time, rather than rudeness. When he was off to relay their orders to the kitchen, Terrell would raise his glass. "Here's to a beautiful night, and many more to come." After clinking their glasses together, he'd take his first swallow. It was the best wine he's ever had. Smooth, flavorful -- there wasn't a lot of artificial additives. He could really taste the fruit.

"It's funny: You say you were a wreck, but you were over there kicking ass, just the same." Here, he was referring not only to the work Keira did for the cameras, but also a run-in she had with some aspiring Miss Thing. Marcela, she said the name was. Another model who came in from Brazil. A real haughty type: Had a great look, knew what she was doing, and she did it well, but she was feeling herself too much. Appointed herself the queen bee, and started pushing some of the other girls around.

Keira, of course, wasn't standing for that. A confrontation led to an exchange of blows, and it turned out Marcela didn't have the hands to back up her mouth. For a while there, it was sounding like Lilith was going to be giving both of them the boot, but the other girls spoke up, and in the end, only Marcela had to pack her bags.

And what's more, Keira was given the shoots that were about to go to her. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Easy breezy, beautiful cover girl.

Keira, too, had been looking forward to tonight for a long time, virtually since the first night she'd spent on her trip. She hadn't planned out anything in particular, only a vague notion of spending their first night reconnected with some kind of steamy celebration. She had nothing for what form it would take, only that she'd intended to make it happen. It came as no surprise that Terrell wanted the same thing. What was a surprise was how strong he came on. It wasn't much, definitely not overbearing, but coming from Terrell, this level of confidence and eagerness to show himself off may as well have been national news. Keira, of course, was glad that it wasn't; because that meant she had him to herself.

Their waiter returned before Terrell could reply. Keira decided that she wanted something light; something filling, but that wouldn't keep her feeling sluggish for the rest of the evening. On the other hand... once Terrell ordered, she couldn't resist getting the same. She wasn't big on shrimp, but her date could have her portion. The chicken, however, suddenly sounded lovely.

Keira didn't have anything to add to the toast - at least, not without starting a list - so she smiled, nodded, and tapped her glass to his. She then eagerly tasted her own wine; sweet and fruity. Perfect.

It took a moment for Keira to recognize what Terrell was referring to. Her photoshoot, for sure, as that along with her uncertainty over it had already been a topic of discussion. She grinned again at him, but was unsure of what to say; they had already discussed it, after all.

And then, as her mind played out the trip, it came to her.

"That bitch!" she exclaimed the moment she'd realized, perhaps a little too loudly for the atmosphere. She shook her head and looked around, as if she were pretending to look for who had spoken up. Then, using her proper indoors voice, she continued. "I swear, it was like being back in high school and getting into a fight with the head cheerleader. What a prissy little shithead, as if her looks gave her some kind of authority over everyone else. Not just the other girls, but the photographers and everyone. Brainless bimbo, really! Felt great to knock her down a few pegs. Honestly, at the time, I would have told you it would have been worth it if we'd both been cancelled over it."

She'd gotten suddenly very warm, and she realized she'd gotten herself worked up. She turned to look Terrell in the eye, sheepish smile on her face, her voice once again settling into calm. "Of course, now that it's done, of course I'm glad that's not what happened... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have exploded like that. I don't want to drag the mood down when we're doing so well building it up."

Her expression shifted, that slightly embarrassed wince transforming into a sly, but curious, smirk. "So, why don't you tell me where this newfound confidence came from?" Her hand came up to rest on his chest. He'd had muscle before, but she could feel even through his suit that he'd gotten even bigger. And he was sure that this wasn't just her thirst tricking her brain into imagining it. "I'm excited for the demonstration, of course, but we don't need to talk about how you got there while we're doing it."

As she wanted for his reply, she casually reached back for her wine, only taking her eyes off him to ensure she didn't topple the glass as she went to pick it up.

Terrell raised a hand to his mouth to cover his smile, using his thumb to fiddle about with his goatee as he joined in on Keira's act. He hadn't meant to stir her up like that, and he took no joy in seeing her angry, but there was something about her passion that just...touched him. What it was directed towards. How it could drive her, and what it could drive her to do, to be precise. She's righteous. Unafraid to make a stand, to hell with the consequences.

Of course, his other thumb would draw those calming circles on her shoulder. There would be no judgment in his eyes, his smile remaining warm and loving. "It's okay. You've got a big heart, and you're just being passionate. That's one of the things I love the most about you, Kei. That passion -- the way you look out for people, the stand you take for what's right...It warms the heart. It's inspirational; it's a part of what keeps me pushing." To continue being the man who's worthy of being on the right side of that passion. And of course, she was an example to follow.

Her touch, hand laid over his heart, expanded his smile. What was it that brought the changes in him?

"Well, there's already that discovery I made about myself when we had that match." He'd already told her about it. What her reactions to everything he did, especially after he was on top, did to and for him. He'd never felt sexier before. More like a man. Before that night, he normally would have been uneasy, if not afraid of taking control like he did. Things just hadn't worked out well in previous attempts, and it had him thinking that the role just wasn't for him.

But with her, he liked it. Everything just came together so easily, and so perfectly. During those nights where he'd give her her own personal encore, he'd just operate in the manner he thought was hot. Did, in spirit, what he would've liked to have done to him. What she would do to him, when it was her turn.

"That new energy I'd play around with...It was something like what you do. I start putting more of that into how I go about things, if that makes sense. And it was a big part of it, yeah, but it wasn't entirely in Hentai. That sure, dominant me was an experiment. It was something inside that I wasn't really sure that people really wanted to see, and I guess I'd buried it, but...it was. And it was so freeing to be putting more of myself out there. And it was taking me places too. It won me matches, and I'm looking back on them on the site and reading the comments, and people are loving it. Even after the Kings and Queens Tournament, I've still got a whole base behind me, just wanting to see me keep being me."

For a moment, there was a flash of disbelief. Of his old self who didn't see this happening in a million years. "It was exactly what Ryan -- my Ryan..." He wanted to clarify. There was a Knight in LAW who he owed a good round of drinks, at the very least. "Saw happening for me. I didn't think so before, but after getting into LAW, and after meeting you, my entire life has been looking up. I used to be a guy who didn't like taking risks, but taking risks here is exactly the thing that's brought me this far. And I know that if I keep it pushing, I can make it to the top. Break down ceilings and walls." Ceilings and walls that the higher-ups put in place to keep the men away from the main event.

"And between the training that I've been doing with you, Beatriz, and Ace -- met him a few days ago. And that's one hell of a story, but yeah...With all that, it's like I said before. I've been getting better and better. In body, in mind...I can feel it." His took his eyes off her to look at nothing in particular. Nothing that was here right now. But a ways off, into the future.

"One of these days, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna make Ryan proud."

Just as quickly as she riled up, Keira felt herself relaxing back into calm, in no small part thanks to those reassuring circles Terrell traced on her shoulder. God, it felt so good to have that back after being away for so long! She missed his touch... and if they weren't already in for a night of excitement, she might not have argued with herself over the building arousal the sensation was providing. It was a long time coming, yes... but there was no question of "if" at the end of this night, but rather "when". And so, she tried not to focus on the dirty thoughts that his touch brought for now, and rather more on the soothing presence he provided.

Of course, Terrell's little inspirational speech helped, too. She turned back towards him with a smile. It was a bit awkward, being praised so, and especially for something she considered basic human decency, but well, the world had proven a thousand times over by now that 'common sense' wasn't actually as common as life tried to make it appear.

She rolled her eyes (playfully, of course) with an even wider grin as he brought up their first meeting. Keira was quite pleased to have had such an effect on him, even though she'd also told him before that she wanted him to do what he wanted, not just what he thought she wanted. He'd told her about his past, and that anxiety wasn't something one just got over on a whim, especially after only one encounter. It was refreshing, however, to be reminded that he was more and more comfortable with it the more they'd hooked up. She'd never been anyone's personal safe space before, but it was a role she would not give up easily, if ever.

"It's definitely hard learning to take risks when you've been punished for less in the past. For what it's worth, I'm really proud of how far you've come." He'd praised her, after all; turnabout was fair play. With that, she leaned in close to rest her body against him; it wasn't too awkward with their faces so close. "And I'll tell you what, if this Ryan was half the man you make him out to be, I'd bet my modeling career he'd also be as proud of you as I am."