Queen of the Castle: Triin Liiv vs. Arlise Christiaens

[Winter]

Castle Capture
The match takes place in a prop medieval castle hall with connected rooms. Mats line the floors, and the castle is properly furnished. It also possesses a litany of era-suitable "tools" and "weapons" such as manacles, ropes, etc. Opponents start in rooms across an open hall from each other. The winner must force her opponent into her starting room, bind the opponent, and earn a verbal submission.

Arlise Christiaens understood now.

As she paced idly through her starting room - the "Conqueror's Trophy Room," they had called it - she realized how little her earlier struggles had affected her popularity. In fact, if she could judge by LAW's provision of this setting for her and her opponent, she supposed she should consider herself at the height of that popularity. She dragged her fingers softly along one of the trophy room's many props as she passed them - prop medieval weapons, prop pieces of armor, and plush seating suitable for the time. The room, a candlelight-illuminated square awash with wood and red velvet, even smelled rustic, and Arlise wished she could have lived in such a place. The style and furnishing suited her, to the point that in her leotard and wearing her intrigued smile, she surely looked right at home on the unseen cameras watching her pre-match.

Her steps eventually trailed to the more... exciting half of the room. Her gray eyes lifted to again study the features that made this room the conqueror's side of the castle - torture racks, crosses, stakes, and... other devices she could not quite properly name in their native language. She ran her hand over them, too, growing increasingly thrilled that they represented her half of this match and that to win, she would have to bring this knight across the hall - Triin - to this room and... well, make use of these tools.

The entire concept had her entire being aflutter. They had picked her for this setting, to play this almost villainess conqueror, and LAW's fans would not soon forget her participation... not if she won. And Titania must win this one to live up to her name.

Her mind trailed to what little she knew of Triin, planning strategy while she studied how the other woman might look on one of those bondage crosses, when she heard the door click - the signal that preparation had ended and that she and Triin could begin whenever they wished. The prop castle did indeed finally sound quiet, almost uncomfortably so, and Arlise sucked in a breath to gather herself, primped her hair and pulled at the butt of her leotard one last time to free it from her cheeks, and purposefully strode for the door.

It opened surprisingly easily (and noisily) despite its size as she pushed against it, and it released her into the hall to see the open mats, lined by furnishings, before her. She could hear and see the door on the other side of the hall opening, too. While she might have typically snuck a peak to see her opponent emerging... Arlise felt quite "in character." She instead stepped with grace and resolve toward the middle of the room like a would-be conquering warrior heading toward a parley, the turn of her lips dignified, even menacing.

Triin's form became more apparent to her as she neared, but a table full of... what Arlise could only refer to as "torture devices" given the setting caught her eye for a moment and set her mind racing. She caught up with those thoughts almost as quickly as they began. She needed focus. She needed to focus on this... admittedly lovely and quite knight-like woman emerging before her.

Titania scrutinized her. "You look the part, knight," the redhead told her, having to stifle a smile. "But I do not think you will feel it by the end of this."

Arlise

Attire

[Jaystar]

"Match title: Queen of the Castle.
Match type: Castle Capture."

Sounded familiar?

Triin Liiv had to say yes. But it was hardly a surprise. Finding yourself in a medieval castle - prop or not - and in a high-stakes gimmicked match tailored to the theme was actually something very logical for someone calling themselves "The Baltic Knightess" to happen. In fact, it was almost a miracle that it had taken LAW this long to set this up for her... Apparently, her last match with the ropes involved must have served as a test. And apparently, the management had liked what they'd seen. Even if Triin hadn't managed to present her skills in such a favorable light... Oh well.

That was going to be much easier tonight though, already based on what the blonde Estonian could see around her. The envelope that she had just read the match details from had been placed on top of a massive, noble wooden table. The ornate seat looking over it appeared almost like a throne, and the walls littered with portraits, coats of arms, and golden and silver embellishments made the surroundings look simply perfect. There must have been no place, no place that could have embraced better her role as a knightess!

Oh, the room did have the other part too. The part where the ropes, shackles and chains were. Oh and then, all the other stuff too. The stuff that a noble, valiant knightess would never resort to using. Well, except maybe under the direst of circumstances!

But that side of the room must had been the part of the Knight's Court - as the envelope had called it - where Triin's task was to bring her opponent tonight. The side where she was going to capture her opponent, and seal the victory. Oh, and only by using the first three items mentioned, of course.

And her opponent? Arlise Christiaens. Triin didn't know much about her, but she surely sounded like someone suiting the theme as well. The name was definitely European, and even without too much use of imagination, could have denominated a medieval combatant as well. Once again, a perfect match!

Or, that's what Triin had thought in advance. The envelope had now given some confusing signs. Apparently, her opponent's room was called "The Conqueror's Trophy Room". Now, that wasn't all that surprising in itself. A knightess was always going to be the more heroic one, and their opponent likely the more villainous one. But was her opponent called Arlise in the letter? No. She was called Titania.

Conqueror Titania. Triin had to bite her lip. Now, she didn't complain. She wasn't disappointed. She wasn't put off at all. But it did sound something else than what she had initially been mentally prepared for... Somehow more ominous - appealing and ominous. And by now, her mind was filled with anticipation over meeting her rival for the night.

Suddenly, the anticipation peaked as Triin realized that a large, squeky door was opening somewhere - and it wasn't into her room. The Conqueror must had been on the move. Thus, it was the prime time for the knightess to make her appearance.

Grabbing the handle of her signature (mock, prop, plastic) sword, which the rules stated in the envelope made abundantly clear she was allowed to use to her heart's content tonight, The Baltic Knightess headed for the door. Opening it firmly, Triin stepped into the central hall, trying to give out as stoic and confident appearance as possible. Immediately spotting the other figure roaming in the room, the blonde nailed her eyes on her, and began approaching the center of the hall to meet her enemy in the middle.

Naturally, the closer Triin got, the better look she could get of her opponent. And naturally, she had to immediately begin assessing her appearance, attire, form and physique as an opponent.

And oh my. Things just kept on getting increasingly perfect for this match. This Arlise, or Titania, or Conqueror was the perfect foil for the theme. Especially against a knightess like Triin... Her red and black, and admittedly incredibly hot attire provided a stark contrast with Triin's blue and white one, and the amazing red color of her hair gave her a villainous aura. The stay-ups sported very apt decorations, and her physique... Well, note to self: better not get caught in those clutches.

Stopping just shy of her opponent, Triin took a moment to stare Arlise deep into her eyes - while also unable to avoid taking a few glances along her body. The blonde could find confidence in finding herself slightly taller... But the redhead seemed to have a bit thicker, and admittedly, likely a stronger figure too.

The battle tonight probably wasn't going to be easy. But then again, it never should have even been easy.

The Conqueror finally decided to address her opponent though. And despite of not being a woman of many words, this time Triin found it appropriate to respond. "Spare your words. They won't save you from getting slain in battle." the blonde replied in her stoic tone, before taking an abrupt step backwards, and raising the sword in front of her as if in a stance all ready for battle!

Triin Liiv - The Baltic Knightess

[Winter]

She hated to admit it, so desperate to stay in character and make the most of this opportunity to advertise her very essence as a wrestler, but Arlise's scrutiny did not leave her wanting.

The woman ticked many boxes for her - the height and the figure not least of all. Arlise had already encountered a dose of particularly long, particularly dangerous legs in the form of one of her newest friends, whom she suddenly remembered she needed to call sometime, and Triin's would have no doubt captured Arlise's gaze for far longer if the blonde's words had not drawn her attention. It took effort for her to avoid a sly smile at the retort, but her lips only quivered with the hint of that smile. That Triin fell into a fighting stance, weapon in hand, helped.

That Arlise needed to figure out a way to counter that weapon also served as an apt distraction from any more wanton thoughts. Right, it made sense that she would have one, and the match organizers had urged them to use anything available to them that was not bolted down - the only truly dangerous things were bolted down, Titania imagined. One glance had told her the knight had not brought any actual metal, but the redhead did not care to take a knock on the head from a slab of plastic, either.

She stepped back, too, and a glance to her side revealed... a halberd? She palmed it - bamboo. So a long kendo stick with a plastic blade on the end. Clever. Arlise picked it up and... realized she did not know particularly well how to wield it. She had participated in few matches indeed that required weapons, and she had never relied on them beyond a few instances when she had to level one at an opponent to avoid taking a hit from one herself. She imagined Triin had the advantage, here.

But she squared up nonetheless, wielding it as best she could, and with no ref to signal them to begin, she simply offered a subtle nod that she stood ready to begin the match, too.

Then she swung the bamboo-halberd low, for Triin's calves. It did not sing a particularly pleasant song as it tore through the air, clearly not intended to be wielded like an actual halberd... but maybe she would surprise her.

[Jaystar]

Admittedly, for a moment there, Triin did feel a little silly for taking up such a prepared fighting stance, supported by her sword, while her opponent seemed very ready to take the knightess on with her own hands (and legs). The redhead did manage to exhume a more appropriate air for a wrestler right at this moment, while Triin looked more like a martial artist skilled with weapons. Which, to a degree might had been true. But really, the surroundings and circumstances of the castle should have completely redeemed Triin's concerns. Wasn't she the one more appropriately prepared for this type of battle ahead, after all?

The air was expectant. Triin was waiting to hear a reply - especially after such witty and apt words that she had come up with - but the conqueror remained silent. She was clearly assessing the situation, assessing her opponent... And the sudden unpredictability of what was going to happen next did start filling the blonde knightess with some uncertainty again... And allowed her to take a third and fourth look at her opponent's attire and body.

Finally though, the redhead took a step back, getting Triin to relax her stance a bit... Before she suddenly realized that the conqueror was grabbing hold of something from the side. The Estonian's eyes grew wider immediately when she realized what it was. A halberd? She had just... Picked it up from there? From that table?

Only then did Triin realize that she had paid way too much attention on her opponent and her body, and way too little on the table by their side. There were lots of weapons and various... Devices, many of which Triin couldn't even immediately recognize, and many of which she recognized only from some more... X-rated stuff. Purely coincidentally, of course! But the realization did force her to take quite a few looks and glances towards the table, which inevitably deteriorated momentarily her stance and preparedness for the battle.

Soon enough though, Triin did notice Arlise's nod. And she understood that it was the sign of starting the battle. And she did nod back.

But what she had failed to be prepared for was the immediate swing of the halberd with its superior reach.

"Gahh!"

Suddenly, the plastic blade of the halberd struck Triin's calves, sending the knightess onto her knees! Sure, the impact wasn't all that painful, but it did manage to catch the heroine off guard, and erase any of her subtle height advantage, now kneeling in front of Conqueror Titania...

But the Baltic Knightess wasn't about to just stay still and defenseless. If the conqueror wanted to use weapons, that's what she would get! Thus, the heroine quickly swung her sword into the redhead's side, before repositioning it, and trying to smack it vertically across the villains' chest! And well, if the plastic wouldn't turn out to make much of an impact... She could still repeat the move, if only in order of trying to force her foe further away!

[Winter]

Oh... Arlise took note of those wandering eyes.

She let the moment settle before attacking, tracking the blonde's gaze. Triin took special note - perhaps even surprised note - of all the "tools" available to them, the redheaded conqueror's faux-halberd the least among them. Titania did not have an opening to act on that knowledge... yet, but she tucked the note in the back of her mind and stuck to her original plan.

Her rather ugly swing did land a blow on Triin's knees. It didn't feel particularly satisfying with the stick bending and bouncing back into shape on the follow-through - somewhat like swinging a pool noodle - but the thunk from the relatively harmless halberd head hitting Triin low certainly sounded good, in an almost slapstick sort of way. No doubt LAW with their many resources planned to create a more violent sound in the postproduction, but for the time being, the two of them had to thunk their way to an opening.

Arlise attempted to look like a proper weapon's master by swinging the halberd around to knock Triin on the head, but Triin appeared much more skilled with her own harmless weapon. Before the Belgian beauty connected, the woman's plastic sword struck her in the side solidly enough to give her a start, and without a weapon particularly well-equipped for defense, she did nothing to block the follow-up strike to her chest, too, which stung the side of one of her breasts. She hissed in discomfort, but considering the strikes came from an item a ten-year-old could have snapped in half, she pushed through.

But Triin kept hitting her. Eventually, Arlise gauged that the blonde wanted to keep her away, and the redhead would have none of it. Tossing aside her halberd, she tried to catch the lovely woman's "sword" wrist, then she took another step closer and made the same effort with the other wrist, hoping to struggle her way into grappling distance with the more slender knight.

[Jaystar]

Starting like this was a mixed bag, really. Yes, Triin always enjoyed a chance to show off some of her fencing prowess. Yes, the weapons were very appropriate for the surroundings and the occasion. Yes, she felt momentarily very good of the way she was possibly getting the upper hand now by relentlessly targeting the conqueror's cleavage with her sword, apparently prompting the redhead to ditch her own weapon of choice as a result.

Then again, these weapons were plastic. They were clearly meant to be more just props, rather than something to get actually used. Surely any excessive use of them could easily lead to difficulties with the suspension of disbelief among the viewers... And this was a wrestling match after all, not a martial arts contest. Besides, Triin had a creeping suspicion that some of the other 'tools' she had just spotted on the adjacent table were probably much more than just some simple props...

The knightess was planning to ditch her own sword too as soon as she could get Titania to retreat, something that seemed imminent after her abandonment of her weapon... But it soon turned out that the heroine was wrong. Instead of retreating, the conqueror took a step or two closer - and grabbed hold of the wrist of her sworded hand! The grip was harsh and activated the Estonian's reflexes, causing her palm to open wide and her sword to drop down to the floor! The knightess had gotten swiftly disarmed, and before she could even fully realize what had happened, Arlise had caught hold of her other wrist too!

Looking back up towards the Belgian's face, Triin could immediately recognize that she was in a precarious position here... Kneeling in front of the conqueror's strong-looking body, with her wrists under her opponent's control. Her instincts told her to try at least getting back up to her two feet again before the redhead could try to push her any further... And if she managed to regain her footing, hopefully then managing to deliver some kind of knee strike towards Titania's midsection despite their close proximity... Otherwise the conqueror could easily manage to take advantage of the blonde's own disadvantaged position!