A Dance With The Siren (Black Severin vs Siren Serena - Standard Match)

[DSX93]

Severin stared at his vulnerable opponent on the other side of the ring. Seeing her in such an awful state with the knowledge that he was the one responsible for it still had him feeling guilty, but at this point in the match, enough damage had been done to his person to have that inner pragmatist calling for him to get in there and end this thing now while she was still choking on the air itself. His feet were actually starting to listen to it too, until he was a couple steps in.

Then his ribs pulled him back into the ropes, told him that they needed a break, and that they were damn well going to get it.

This resulted in a lull in the action, but the audience didn't mind one bit. These two warriors were leaving it all in the ring, and that was exactly what they paid to see.

"This is wrestling!"

Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

"This is wrestling!"

Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

Severin leaned back with a big smile on his face that persisted in spite of the pain. Chants like that don't come easily in wrestling, but he was getting them in the first real match of his career. But of course, he didn't do it alone.

He clapped along with them, though not as strongly nor for as long as he would've liked to, raising a thumb in silent acknowledgement and thanks to his opponent.

[PurpleMage]

Serena was quite open and she knew it, but her body wouldn’t move unless her breathing would go back to a normal air income. She looked at Severin, expecting the worst in form of another move coming from the man who would surely try to seize the victory, but just when it looked like he was going for the kill he stopped on his tracks and rested against the ropes with a hand going to rest over his ribcage. It looked like Serena wasn’t the only one that suffered some damage affter all. It would seem at that stage in the match that both wrestlers were running on fumes and that anything could still happen in terms of a final result.

With the match on a stalemate the action was still until any of the wrestlers recovered and could properly move. The crowd, however, was so pleased with what they were seeing and chanted in unison, rooting for both fighters and cheering for their favorite. Serena couldn’t help but feel invigorated by this. The blonde had come to L.A.W. to make an impression and making everyone chant in awe was a pretty decent milestone to get there. Of course it wasn’t exclusively on her but also on her rival. Severin had entered the ring a complete mystery but now he was going to exit a more than decent prospect for the male roster.

Getting some strength back and finishing her coughing, Serena could notice Severin clapping at the rhythm the crowd would dictate. Then he gave the Siren a thumbs up in acknowledgement of what they had achieved together. "He is definitely something else." Serena responded with a grin and some nodding before getting back on her feet. “Leave the clapping for them, we still have work to do." After that she would go meet him in a guarding stance, analyzing his guard patterns. If she wasn’t capable of breaking that solid guard she would take the fight to the mat once again. Threatening with a strike at any time, she would close the distance and then go for his legs, attemprting a double leg takedown that would get him on the mat so she could mount him and transition to something more effective.

[DSX93]

Serena was right. It was time to get back to it.

A wave of relief washed over him as he stepped forward. There were no hard feelings on his end about everything that's gone down in this match, and he'd avoided doing anything that would create any on hers.

Since it had worked out so well thus far -- aside from the punishment he took while the D'arce had been applied, that is -- Severin decided that he would stick to grappling. In his current state, didn't see his speed and agility being of much use for the rest of this match anyway.

But of course, she would see that coming and would be equipped to keep it from happening. Every time he tried to make an approach, a jab or kick, and sometimes just the threat of either would meet him, pushing him back to square one.

He really should've let that choke go after those first few punches. Or even better yet, he shouldn't have fucked around when he was trapped between her legs. He could've maybe used some more Capoeira to throw her off or something.

Never again.

Yet somehow, he knew that if they were to meet up in this ring again, that it wouldn't be that easy. The Siren wasn't going to let it be that easy.

He finally slipped up when she followed up one feint with another. Made it look like she was setting up a shot at his ribs, which had him backing away and focusing on those alone. And that's when she made the push for the double-leg takedown.

She would get it, but not before he could put his foot down -- or his legs around her waist, rather -- and block her progression toward the full mount that he knew she'd be looking for.

Okay. Now what's the next move? Should he be proactive, or should he see what she does? Wait for a counter opportunity?

[PurpleMage]

Despite the damage that both wrestlers had sustained and how exhausted they were, there was some sort of wrestling pride and camaraderie between them, and the two of them were aware of the good show they were putting so that would push them to go beyond their limits. There was also the fact that it didn’t look like any of them wanted to get a loss that night, so they would fight on to take that win home. Serena’s strategy played out well and she managed to take down Severin with his back on the mat. However, when she had to get a mount going and secure an advantageous position Severin reacted in accordance and locked his legs around her waist, preventing her from moving further in the hold. It was a pretty solid defensive move, but the Siren still had the initiative. If allwoed to, Severin could switch positions and be the one on top but the blonde didn’t want that.

“Sorry Severin. I think I’ll pass on this one. You see, I’m the one that does the riding...” As she said this, both of Serena’s arms would try to wriggle between her hips and her rival’s legs. From there she would use all her strength to pry Severin’s legs open and escape. Luckily for Serena most of the damage she had taken that match was done to her legs, so she could use a decent amount of strength. With this in mind, the Siren got an opening and quickly rolled backwards to get her escape and some space, just in time to use the surprise to her advantage and grab one of Severin’s legs to quickly lock a figure four leglock on him!

[DSX93]

Of course. Of course this perfect woman would make a reference to his favorite position.

And the way she went about her escape...! The effort on her face made it readily apparent that it wasn't her intention, but he couldn't help but be captivated by how she worked nonetheless: Her squeezing those sweaty, athletic arms between his legs also had the effect of pushing her breasts together, which, in that tight, low cut top meant that there would be a lot of jiggling going on as she wiggled about to make room for herself.

Good Lord, help me! Please!

Severin was tired. His head was throbbing, as was the thigh that took that round kick. His chest still stung. The mere act of breathing was painful. He was running on fumes and barely holding himself together, and he still wanted this woman. Hers was a nickname well applied.

The inadvertent distraction allowed for an easy application of the Figure Four, but the man wouldn't be so spellbound as to forget what he needed to do from there. It was a counter he'd seen time and time again, and one that was simple enough:

Roll the two of them over and push himself off the mat, turning the pressure on her instead.

[PurpleMage]

The figure four leglock set up worked really well, Serena sitting on the mat while getting some real damage going now that both of them were exhausted and in pain. Holds of this level of intensity were more than capable of forcing a submission way earlier in a match, so now they were a serious threat to be considered. The only thing Serena needed to do was squeezing a little harder, just a little more so she could break the barrier of her rival’s willpower and make him submit. She would prove everyone and herself that she was more than capable of that.

There was some fact that Serena had overlooked though: no matter how painful and effective the figure four leglock was it could also be easily reversed. The Siren noticed her rival shifting his weight to attempt a reversal but she couldn’t do much more than watching as tables were flipped on her. “N-no! Wait! Aaaagghh!!” Suddenly Serena was on her stomach and terrible pain was coursing through her legs. She needed to get out of there soon or she was done for. The pain was getting close to being unbearable so a solution was in order and fast. The ropes were too far away for a crawl since the blonde wouldn’t have the strength to do that or the stamina to endure the heavy toll that would cost. She only had one choice and it was to break the hold by sheer strength, untangling her legs and achieving an escape. Somehow, in between cries of pain, frustration and exhaustion, Serena managed to save herself and her chances for the match.

The Siren’s legs were feeling like jello at that moment. She wasn’t even sure about being capable of standing on her feet, but she had to. The match was still going and there was hope for her. If she could get some serious damage done in a small amount of time the match would be hers, and if there was somewhere Severin was hurt more than anywhere that was his rib section. Ignoring all the pain and alert signs coming from her legs, Serena rushed to her rival to force him on his feet just before slipping behind him and locking an abdominal stretch she intended to be the final move for the match! There were signs all over that showed how precarious Serena’s situation was though: her body would twitch now and then and the hold would weaken with that motion and the blonde was panting in a way that showed her pain and exhaustion, but she wouldn’t give up. “Damn it, you did great. Just… tap out...” said Serena tightening the hold, half acknowledging Severin’s efforts and half a hint of how desperate her last shot was.

[DSX93]

As Severin turned around, he knew: If Serena were to find herself able to get out of that hold, it was pretty much as good as over for him. The mere struggle of pushing past her resistance to roll her over felt like it had hurt him at least half as much as it hurt her to be in the reversed hold. And despite the screams, he would come to realize: The match would not be ending here. He hadn't done anywhere near enough damage to her legs for her to tap out here.

And just as predicted, she would get out of the hold. Without even needing to drag him to the ropes to do it. And the match would not end there.

And yet, he pushed his way through the grasps of the invisible hands that were reaching up to keep him pinned down on the mat. Every single inch was a test. And he would keep passing. And passing. And passing.

And then it turned out that he didn't need to do it himself. The blonde beauty behind him was happy to lend a hand. Right into a goddamned abdominal stretch, that is.

All of a sudden, his lungs had all the oxygen in the world to scream bloody murder, like he'd just been caught by a pack of zombies or set down in the path of four Titans. Whatever trouble Serena had maintaining the hold, he didn't see. Pure, unbridled agony was all there was in the world he found himself in. That, and the words she had for him.

The mere mention of tapping out brought him within centimeters of doing just that.

It would really be that easy. That's all it would really take. Just a few taps, and it would be over. There would be medical staff at the ready to help him to the backstage area, each and every last one of them being the very best that the multinational organization's limitless money could buy. And they'd give him the very best painkillers that could be bought with those same limitless means.

And all he needed to get there was a few taps.

NO!

He couldn't! He had a promise to live up to! A mission to fulfill!

He's given up too much and come too far to go out like that now!

With gritted teeth, Severin reached in deeper than he thought possible and grabbed onto reserves that he didn't know existed. And with a mighty roar that he didn't think himself capable of producing, he hooked the leg that she had draped over his thigh and pushed in a wild, last-ditch attempt to get her on her back. If by some miracle he was able to get that done, he'd shut down his brain so he could push past all the damage he'd just incurred so he could focus on doing his damnedest to keep that leg hooked and her shoulders down on the mat.

[PurpleMage]

Serena had managed to overcome every challenge Severin had issued. No matter how hard the man would fight Serena fought back even harder, showing resilience and strength alike, but most importantly showing a strong willpower. In a match like the one that was taking part aspects like physical prowess or endurance were really important, but when push came to shove and both wrestlers were battered and pummeled after taking several moves like Serena and Severin were it would be all about who had the willpower to stand up and keep going, to overcome anything in order to get the win, and that was a battle Serena didn’t plan to lose.

The Siren could feel the exhaustion and the bad situation her rival was in. After the blonde's focus on hurting Severin's abdomen now that she trapped him in an abdominal stretch Severin's predicament was pretty obvious to anyone who had a minimum of awareness. In any other circumstances Serena could have maintained that hold for as long as she wanted, but at the moment she was too winded up and she could feel her control slipping. The Siren reassured herself. "Come on, just a little more and he will tap!"

However, it looked like Serena had misjudged Severin's willpower. When it really looked like the man was considering tapping out the man roared in a primal way, like a barbarian of old issuing a challenge, and Serena felt herself rolling on her back. He had managed to roll over and ger Serena's shoulders against the mat. "Shit!", Serena thought to herself as the referee kneeled besides them. "ONE!" There was little thing she could do. Not only she was pretty tired, but the pin she was trapped in left few options to move. "TWO!" It looked like she was done for. The match had slipped away between her fingers.

"N-not like this... NO!!!"

It couldn't end that way. Within the final count and with a last ditch effort Serena focused not in breaking the pin but in using her legs to push against Severin so they would keep on with their rolling, switching sides and making the Siren the one standing with her rival pinned against the mat in a maneouver that earned an impressed "WHOOOOAH!!!" from the crowd, crowd that started counting in unison with the referee.

"ONE!!!"

[DSX93]

The world moved in slow motion as Serena fell. In the very way he was aiming for, at that. Realizing this, Severin emptied his mind as best he could and putting his all into what was easily the longest count of anything in his life.

One...

Two...

His eyes went wide as the referee's hand came down for the three.

He was going to do this! That dramatic finish, the comeback from out of nowhere, it was going to be his!

Or so he thought, before Serena got them rolling again. When he was laid there on his shoulders, with his legs hovering over his head, he knew: Not today.

"TWO!!!"

Everything he had left had gone into that pin. In the Siren's grasp, her strength replenished and elevated by her own desperation, all he could manage as all the pain came rushing back was a weak kick of his booted foot.

"THREE!!!"

And yet...

He had never been so relieved to hear that magic number before. With its utterance, he would finally be allowed to rest. He'd be going to the back as a loser, but he'd be the loser who gave it his all. That was something he could take pride in.

[PurpleMage]

If asked about how she did it at that moment to reverse the pin, Serena wouldn't have been able to give a proper answer. It didn't have much to do with strategy or planification bit with pure instinct. Severin had pulled off a master move in the form of a surprise pin and at a certain moment her brain stopped thinking in a rational way and just went to some instintive reaction, as if her fighting spirit had taken over, and it worked wonders.

From there came the longest three seconds in a lot of time. Serena was running on fumes, barely capable of standing, her muscles strained to the very limit but she was still alive and pinning Severin. The count ended and just after three Serena released her rival. One could say the quick release was a sign of true sportsmanship and it was, but it was also true that Serena just wasn't able to maintain that pin for another instant. The bell rang and the announcer proclaimed her the victor but she wouldn't stand. Instead she woulf be kneeling next to Severin too afraid of her jello legs failing her if she stood on her feet. The referee came and lifter her arm and Serena would throw her head back and close her eyes basking in the roars of approval of the crowd and the feeling of victory.

After some instants Serena got on her feet, she gave a short victory lap as a sign of respect to the crowd that had been supporting both wrestlers for all the match's length and then she started her way out of the ring. After all, spending more time celebrating just a regular win (and one obtained by the skin of a tooth) could be seen as disrespectful boasting and Serena was also too tired to do that, so she walked the ramp and before disappearing backstage she just raised her fist in a salute to the people who were chanting her name.

Backstage, she rested against a wall, massaging her pained leg. A doctor arrived in a rush and almost startled her. "Miss Thomas? Are you feeling well?" The blonde would nod, dismissing the doctor's worries with a gesture of her hand. "Yeah yeah, just gonna be pretty sore in the morning." The doctor looked much more relaxed after hearing that. "Good, remember to rest well and come to my office if you feel something strange tomorrow. I will be checking your rival now." The doctor ran away to the stage while Serena rested a little. She wanted to wait for Severin and it looked like she would have to wait a little longer so she would take the chance to rest.