A Contest of Champions (For Highfly)

[CaptainL]

Her successful title defense still fresh in her mind, Astrid beamed with pride as she looked out over the rolling sands of the beach before her. It was a perfect day, and she had it booked for a special occasion, as the LAW executives had called her out for a beachside autograph signing. Astrid knew that as one of the league's top champions, she had her part to play as a public face of the company, but she was happy to live up to those expectations. She was always eager to make a fan's day and to put her best foot forward - it was, after all, what her idols growing up would have done, and she was committed to following in their footsteps.

Spoiler

As Astrid walked across the shore, she turned a few heads in her red bikini, showing off her curvy figure and the toned muscles that had established her as a powerhouse in the ring. Already a good crowd had turned up waiting to see her, and she waved her hand to them, getting a cheer in return. "Hey, everyone!" Astrid called. "Glad to see you all here. Ready to get this started?"

[Highfly]

Alaina heard of the autograph signing at the beach and she was asked to be part of it. Alaina was dressed in a white bikini, sunglasses and hat as she approached her area.

Alaina saw a familiar face as she approached realizing she was placed next to Astrid of all people! Alaina really liked Astrid, but she also couldn't seem to beat her and Alaina wanted one more title run before the hourglass sands ran out in her career.

Alaina smiled as she approached getting ready for the fans to line up. "Well well, congrats on the title defense champ." Alaina said as she sat down as she looked over at Astrid. "You are really tearing it up right now."

[CaptainL]

Astrid knew that there would be a few other LAW stars present at the event, though as a reigning champion she naturally had the top billing. She hadn't looked too much into who else would be there - and she realized this shortly after looking over the lineup, because if Astrid had read up on things further, she surely would have known Alaina would be here! Smiling, Astrid got into position just beside her fellow heavyweight.

"Well, look who it is!" Astrid said with a laugh, leaning in to clap her hand against Alaina's shoulder. "And still quite a sight, if I do say so myself," she added. All jokes aside, Astrid still had a lot of respect for Alaina. She knew how committed the veteran was to the sport, and she had been a big influence in shaping Astrid's career path in pursuing wrestling. If anything, she was proud to be here beside Alaina, and even more proud to hear her congratulate her.

"Thanks!" Astrid cheered. "It was a tough one, but I knew I had to go the extra mile. I'm sure things are only getting started from here..."

[Highfly]

Alaina was glad that Astrid was happy to see her. The two exchanged greetings and the fans nearby grew as the crowd seemed to want to get an autograph from the champion herself. Alaina figured she had some fans there but knew that with a title came fanfare non-champions could only hope for. Not to mention the setting and the fact that Astrid was quite a few years younger than Alaina.

"Oh there will be plenty of tough matchup coming. Hopefully I can get a shot while you are still the champion." Alaina said with a shrug. "I have a feeling that title will be yours for quite a while."

The amazon sat down and the fans started to come in. Astrid was right next to her so the two could talk in between autographs, pictures and the like. Alaina was signing away, smiling and chatting up the fans happy to see them. She knew Astrid felt the same and that she would be very busy today.

"It looks like you have been working out quite a bit, hit the gym since we last tangled didn't ya?" Alaina said to Astrid as the fans kept coming.

[CaptainL]

"Yeah...so do I." Astrid looked off into the distance, the smile growing across her face as Alaina's words sank in. While she was happy to be here on the beach on a perfect day for it, and the thought of living up to her promises to herself in fulfilling the duties of a champion was one that never failed to give her tingly sensations, Astrid's thoughts weren't on the event itself. She was merely honored to be in the company of Alaina once again. Watching Alaina's matches as a girl, Astrid never thought she would ever see the day where the Amazon was praising her face to face. It was like a dream come true.

The fans stepped up, and as Astrid saw just how many had lined up to see her, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Well! I see my appearance proved more of a draw than I was expecting..." Astrid was nonetheless eager to greet each of the beachgoers with a smile, signing autographs and even snapping a few pictures. It was a whirlwind of activity, as pens, papers, and booklets flew, and she barely had the time to greet each fan before it was time for her to welcome the next. But she would still try! These people were here to see her, and she wasn't about to let them down!

In between signings, Astrid occasionally glanced over at Alaina, noting what her fellow heavyweight had to say about her. She smirked, flexing a bicep to her in a display that got a few cheers from the gathered crowd. "Oh, of course! I have to keep in shape if I want my strength to carry me to victory...besides," she added, "when I saw we'd be at the beach, I wanted to make sure I'd look my best for it."

[Highfly]

Alaina smiled and nodded, chuckling to herself a bit. "I mean you look great, but not sure if you look amazon great." Alaina said with a wink, flexing her arm at Astrid. "I know you look good and are strong but you know how much strength I have." She added. She was happy for Astrid and proud of her, but Alaina's own pride stepped up a bit and she postured not one to be out-done by the upstart successful champion. Alaina kept smiling and the fans cheered as they saw her get up and flex her arms as well as her legs before striking a pose looking right at Astrid.

[CaptainL]

Alaina had come back at Astrid's boasts with those of her own, but the Norwegian only met them with a chuckle as she leaned in closer to her side. "As a matter of fact..." Astrid teased, "I do know that first-hand." The crowd cheered louder as Alaina struck a pose, her swimsuit showing off the powerful muscles that rippled through her body, but Astrid had a barb of her own to show her. "Though, was that strength enough to beat me in our little spar?~"

Astrid didn't mean anything malicious by it. She leaned in to playfully prod at Alaina's side with her elbow, demonstrating that she was only teasing. But no matter how much she respected Alaina, Astrid was still a competitor at heart, and she was always one to push herself to new limits and to seek new challenges she could prove herself through. Escalating matters further, she placed her hands behind her head, shaking out her blonde hair and thrusting her chest forward to display herself to the crowd, which cheered louder still. A few of the fans began chanting the names of one woman or the other, voicing who they supported.

This wasn't lost on the Heavyweight Champion. With a grin on her face, she looked back at Alaina out of the corner of her eye. "Seems like the fans are enjoying this," she said. Then, she looked back over at a stage set on the beach not too far from where the autograph session was being held, where a banner proclaimed a bikini contest later that afternoon. She elbowed Alaina's side, looking back over in that direction to draw her attention to it. "Maybe we should put this to the test between us?"

[Highfly]

Alaina raised an eyebrow up as Astrid spoke. While she didn't mean anything by it Alaina did recall quite well the loss in the gym. She was silent for a few moments after when she looked back at the banner. A bikini contest. Alaina felt like at 45 she was the underdog in that between her and Astrid. If it were a lifting challenge or fitness contest she would feel a bit better about her chances. Still, she had failed to measure up to the now heavyweight champion once. She wasn't going to back down or lose this contest as well.

"You know what... if that is what you want then consider it done. I am not going to lose to you again Astrid even if this contest isn't in the ring I won't be outclassed across the board." Alaina said with a wink. "Consider it me starting my build to come and earn a shot against you in the ring." She added smiling and looking back at the sign then at Astrid.

[CaptainL]

As soon as Alaina signed on to the plan, a grin crossed Astrid's face, and she gave the veteran a pat on the shoulder approvingly. "Hah! I knew you would. If I know one thing about Alaina Sanders from all the matches I saw on TV as a girl, it's that she'd never back down from a challenge..." She winked to Alaina. Even if this sort of contest wasn't the kind they were typically used to going up against one another in, Astrid was honored to be in the presence of a wrestling legend once again. Being by her side at an autograph signing was one thing, but Astrid truly shone when she was out to prove herself, and her competitive streak shone through. What really excited her was facing Alaina as a rival, not just as a fan. From the sounds of it, Alaina was getting fired up all the same - and that was just the way Astrid liked it.

"It's just for fun, of course," the Norwegian noted, "but I'm still going to give it my all. And I'm sure the fans will enjoy it too." She turned her attention back to the gathered crowds, signing a few more autographs, but as time passed the numbers began to dwindle, and soon the event was coming to a close. Some of the other participants at the signing were heading home - but for Astrid, the fun was just beginning.

"Alright! Let's go!" Astrid gave Alaina another pat on the arm before she turned off to the stage. By this point, the organizers of the contest were getting set up with lights, and a few bikini-clad beauties had started lining up at a desk to sign up. Astrid fell in behind them, and before she knew it, she came to the front of the line, where a shorter man looked up toward her and Alaina, dwarfed by their size and their accomplishments alike.

"Ah...can I help you-?"

[Highfly]

Alaina stood next to Astrid and smiled. "We are here to sign up for the bikini contest. I hope all these twenty year olds are ready to be put to shame by a woman closer to 50 than 40." Alaina said with a grin, puffing her chest out a bit as she looked over at Astrid. "After this, I am going to put ya on notice. I am coming for that belt ya have and I will beat whoever gets in my way to earn that shot." Alaina added, looking very serious as she spoke.

Alaina meant every word of what she said and as the two women signed up and were moved over towards a stage Alaina was practicing a few poses as she walked, getting ready to give this her all even if it wasn't the most serious competition. She gave everything her best no matter what it was, it is just how Alaina did everything. "You better not lose the title before I get my shot." She said half jokingly, giving Astrid a wink.