Rei-sing the Bar

[winner3]

Backstage in the lobby, things were bustling following the end of a LAW show. Fans had come to attend meet and greets, get autographs, merch, interact with the wrestlers- the works! Many wrestlers on the roster reveled in the chance to bond with fans, joke with them, woo them. One such wrestler was Tracy Canon.

Tracy Canon - The Circus Cat

"And thaaaaank yooouuuu for coming out tonight, babe! Catch us at our next show! I've got another match scheduled for tomorrow " Tracy said with a wink to a fan as she signed the girl's Circus Cat poster. The fan was a young woman about the same age as Tracy. Tracy interlocked her fingers under her chin and maintained eye contact after she winked at her. The girl blushed. Of course, before the fan could respond, security escorted her away. Tracy would puff her cheeks and sulk.

"Jeez, they never let anyone have any fun around here, do they? I didn't fight my way to become a champion just so that I could be a boring stick in the mud, boys!" Tracy would holler as she adjusted her tag title belt around her waist. Unbeknownst to the luchadora however, the next person in line for a signature was a woman who had been looking for an encounter with her for some time. And adorable and capable bluenette wrestler by the name of Ichika Rei!

[Violet]

Spoiler

The way to the top is hard; arduous, even. Ichika is an underdog by any means. Her record has been long but blemished. She's in no way a big name in LAW yet apart from her mother's name that she carries. Still, she has to tread this dark road filled with uncertainty if she wishes to succeed. And one girl that she has set her eyes upon in this journey is none other than The Circus Cat, Tracy Canon herself. She stands there at the very peak, along with her team, repressing any challenge thrown at them. Even with all that, Tracy still carries a laudable personality - something that seems a rarity these days. High flying maneuvers are her forte, too—a technique that Ichika had been developing to accompany the submissions taught by her mother. Going toe to toe against one such wrestler could boost her career and skills in no time.

So, there she was—standing idly by in a line of bustling crowd and fans inside the drab walls and high ceilings of a LAW conference room. It was a signing event, perchance her only shot, one that she couldn't afford to waste; eager fans continue to await behind her, so time is also of the essence. She took a deep breath, gaze locked on the floor as she tried to remember what she had been rehearsing to say up to this moment and thinking about the cruciality of the seconds that would soon come. She should make the most out of this!

"Hi, Tracy! I'm Ichika. Ichika Rei." she said, outstretching a hand for a handshake with a big smile on her face and averting her gaze to the luchadora. Her hand was cold, a little bit sweaty, and shaky; she was nervous, for sure. A feeling no smile could ever hope to hide. Perhaps, starstruck?

"I saw you have a signing event going on, and I couldn't just pass up the opportunity. A signed photograph and a match, please. The Circus Cat isn't too high up there yet to deny a request from her biggest fan, isn't she?" Ichika has none to offer for Tracy to accept. So this was merely an attempt to coax her to agree—a single question to target her humble integrity of being an idol for and only for the crowd.

[winner3]

Tracy was in her element. All eyes were on her. She was channeling the star power that came with her and her team's successes. Events like these, the autograph signings, the interviews, they were all things that Tracy, being the showman that she was, reveled in. As she flirted with and entertained each attendee, the atmosphere grew more and more tense as Ichika drew ever closer. The bluenette was a woman on a mission. Although Tracy didn't recognize her, many fans did. They knew that Mrs. Rei's presence here could really only mean one thing. When Ichika introduced herself to Tracy right there in front of the crowd, the look in her eyes and the tone in her voice echoed the fighting spirit that the woman harbored. Despite being so cordial and respectful to the Circus Cat, even Tracy would feel that Ichika had something she desperately wanted to prove.

The luchadora would take Ichika's hand and grasp it with her own gloved palm. She'd rise from the chair she was signing autographs in and stand face to face with Rei.

"She most certainly is not! I'd never deny a request from, my dear!" Tracy would say with a wink. As she held the girl's hand. She'd reach for Ichika's other hand as well, to hold them both in something of a warm gesture.

"I have to say that it's wonderful to meet my new biggest fan. And I promise you that I will fulfill your request, and more if you'd like " Tracy said as she looked into Ichika's eyes with a captivating, seductive smile. The redhead would let go and pick up a small 5 x 7 promotional image of herself alongside her tag partners Katherine Hart and Aurora Estrella. She took her time signing the photo of them standing tall as the tag champs. As she did, she continued to talk to Ichika in front of everyone.

"But first, I'd like you to do something for me. It wasn't long ago that I was on the other side of this table, chasing after whatever big name I could to try to put myself on the map in this company- in pro wrestling. I can tell from the coldness and unsteadiness in your hand and from the seriousness in your voice." Tracy said as she scribbled what seemed to be much more than a simple signature.

"If you want a match with me, if my biggest fan in the whole wide world wants to prove herself, she had to loosen up, okay? Otherwise, you'll only beat yourself up for taking things too seriously and crumbling under the pressure you're putting on yourself. We wrestle because we want to prove ourselves, but we also wrestle because we enjoy it, silly. Your mom loved throwing down in the ring. She didn't need a legacy to push her. You don't either." The curvy, redheaded luchadora would once again rise. She'd hand her challenger the SWAT Cats poster with a warm smile on her face. Tracy would lean forward and put her elbows on the table. She interlocked her fingers under her chin and framed her adorable face as she took in Ichika's reaction, watching carefully as the girl took notice of the signature and the poem on the back.

To My Biggest Fan

My dear Ichika, strong and bright
I think I understand your plight.
You seek to rise! You seek to fight!
You worry Tracy may make you say goodnight!

But I promise you I'm on your side!
I long to see you succeed! To see you thrive!
Fight for yourself! Fight to grow!
Do not chase mom's shadow!

But that doesn't mean you'll give you an easy time
Beating me will be much harder than these rhymes!
We will have a great match, but I'll win. You'll see!
And then you'll have to make a poem for me!

- Forever yours, Tracy Canon "The Circus Cat"

I accept your challenge!

"Now, why don't you read that out loud for the class. Or you can take it home and post it online if you're too embarrassed, heheh~"

[Violet]

She was familiar with this. Since ever, she had been the one at this side of the autograph signing. With the eager crowd. The bumping elbows and hips of those who can't keep it in line. The noise of chatter, cheers, and random fuss in the back. Heat bubbling for having so many people packed in this tight space. And the smell of perfume and stinky colognes of many! It is an as good day as any! But the ambitious wrestler inside her couldn't help but feel a little bit of envy that she's not the one out there, signing signatures, striking poses, and giving out hugs! She doesn't hold it out to Tracy, though. In reality, Ichika absolutely adores the luchadora! She earned her fan base with her flair and personality! Something Ichika aspires to emulate. And so, that's why she's here; on a mission to throw hands with one of LAW's big names and, of all things, her idol!

"I'm glad to hear that! Isn't it our job as wrestlers, after all? To not make a fan leave unhappy and unsatisfied." She grabbed Tracy's hands tightly, showing an angelic smile. Her plan seemed to be working.

The crowd spread out, offering a wide berth from the table after hearing the decree. A new challenger. Everyone listened and looked attentively at what they have to say to each other. Hope they did that the wrestlers handle it civilly. Thankfully, that seemed to be the case as the two faces kept their poise.

But, Ichika soon lost hers... "And I myself find it wonderful to finally meet my— MOTTO?!" Ichika's face lit up like a red light! That smile, the emphasis on those words. What did she mean? Her own words were stuck in her throat as if it was wedged by a dime. Something she tried to solve by gulping as she pulled away her hands as well.

But Tracy soon cut her back by noting the coldness of her hands. It was true. She was nervous. Starstruck. Something usual for her and anyone when meeting their idols.

"Heh heh. You're right. I'm sorry. I'm still new here, that's all. That's why I am not that used to meeting big names just like you yet. I used to watch your fights on my TV and take down notes on how to improve myself with what you do. And now, here you are signing me an autograph and granting me a chance to be with you in the ring!!" Ichika scratched her head; a light blush still visible across her face.

She then took the picture from Tracy's hand and looked behind the back. There, she saw something unexpected. In the time being they were talking, Tracy managed to write a poem for her. A surprised look surfaced on her face. It was no different to a child given a puppy as a gift!

Ichika then proceeded to recite the poem in front of all. Down to every line, every crook, and every rhyme. Down to the line that says, "You worry Tracy might make you say goodnight." Chuckling, she did with the crowd.
Down to the heartfelt second stanza where she even needed time to pause. It was true. It must have looked that way outside. But for her, Asai's shadow was just too damn big. Shoes that are so big to fill that she might have come across as rash and restless chasing for some success. Down to the very last lines where she seemed unfazed with a smirk on her face. Unlike the crowd's loud murmurs of shock and intrigue.

And finally, "I accept your challenge." The hand that held the promotional pic then went down to her side, clasping the poster tightly but making sure it would not wrinkle. She approached the luchadora.

"I must say, I love your poem! Which makes me want to make sure that you'll make me another one after I beat you. Maybe something more romantic, yeah?" She winked; her nervousness had surprisingly dissipated by now.

"Here's to a good match!" She outstretched her hand across the table for a handshake with a bright smile on her face.

[winner3]

Tracy could relate all too well to what Ichika was feeling. It was only a few years ago that she was standing where Ichika was now. Cutting in front of and bumping into others to get even one second of time with her heroine Katherine Hart. As she looked into the blue-haired beauty's eyes, Tracy could sense that Rei would be working for quite some time to fill her mother's shoes, to find her own way to carry the torch and continue her mother's legacy. But she could see so much more than that within Ichika.

Tracy raised her eyebrow when her new number one fan accepted the challenge. Just as she had hoped, this grandstanding, the poetry, the confident/flirty attitude that The Circus Cat had come to be known for- it had served to calm Ichika's nervousness and fears, not strain them. By the time her challenger was ready to shake her hand, Tracy could tell that Ichika was focused. She even started talking a big game, already considering what she wanted to hear from Tracy "when" she won!

"Ohhhhhohoho~, I like you, Ichika. You're a much stronger girl than you let on at first, you know? And that's exactly why Mama Tracy's gonna whup ya! With love of course!" Tracy said as she stood up on the other side of the table and put her hand forward to accept Ichika's handshake. The redhead would stick her tongue out at Rei.

The fans and paparazzi that had stepped to the side earlier moved ever so closer to get good pictures of the handshake the pair were exchanging.

"You're gonna be big someday. Maybe even as big as Asai was. But if you think you're enough of a wrestler to get by The Circus Cat by the tail already when you're still a rookie at LAW, you'll be writing me love letters and much much more after our match, I promise ya!"

[Violet]

Standing there with her posture narrowed, her arm outstretched, and her chin tipped up with a grin upon her face, Ichika was ready. More so than before, she was confident. Something she felt that Tracy radiated with her poetic, flirtatious machinations. She held a bright light to the future. This chance is going to be big for her. She recognized something with Tracy that might help her turn a new leaf in her career and lead her path to greatness. A stunning match where she'd see herself proving that she got what it takes. And Ichika held no doubt that Tracy's going to deliver to be the perfect foe for it.

"As much as I'd like to see you try, Tracy, It's gonna be me where all the whupping would come from in this match! - And aaalllll with love-. I feel like a champ could use being humbled once or twice, don't you think?" Ichika smirked and winked. Her hand met theirs in the center then shook. Tight and firm.

The cameras shuttered in droves. The crowd cheered. Reporters that happened to be there started jotting down notes for the headlines. The challenge surely would fill the tabloids the next day.

"We'll see about that, Tracy!" She giggled.

"We will see!" Ichika started backpedaling away but still kept her glance at the luchadora. The crowd parted and made way.

"I'll be waiting for you in the ring. Before then, you should train hard. You'd need it. I won't go easy on you. And probably brush up on how to write love poems too!" She chuckled and wink.