The Path Forward: Lauren Fredericks vs. Bast - Apex Qaulifier

[BlackAkuma]

Match Type
Standard
Victory Conditions
Pinfall, Submission or KO.

***

Bast and Cersei made their way through the halls of LAW’s backstage, causing staff and other wrestlers to move aside, giving them a wide berth. Bast was used to that kind of reaction - it came with her size, her presence, just the demeanor that she gave off. But over the past few days, she felt there was a new reason - namely, her victory over the two brothers, Hiro and Senji. Cersei had wanted her to kick their LAW career off in grand style, and it seemed like she mostly succeeded. It wasn’t everyday that someone won a handicap match, much less one where both opponents weren’t bound by tagging.

It was an accomplishment, and it was no surprise that Cersei wanted to maximize their momentum off it. It was also no surprise that she had very specific ideas on how best to do that, ideas that she had shared with Bast ad nauseum, and was even doing so right now.

”And I don’t want you going too easy on her, this time. That match against the brothers was a good start, but you had so many opportunities to finish it, and you let them slip.”

”I know.”

”And if you get the submission, don’t let her go immediately. Milk it out a bit, make her scream. We want people to have a lasting impression of you.”

”I know.”

”And play to the crowd a little. Raise your fist, signal your moves, get them invested in you. You don’t have to make them like you, but at least make them notice you.”

”I know.”

This would’ve been a touch irritating if Bast hadn't won her first match, but the fact that she did and was still getting it only made it that much worse. Sometimes it felt as if Cersei wouldn’t be satisfied until she ended someone’s career in the ring, or even worse. As if there was no level of violence that she would ever say was enough. She had always been up for that sort of domination, but now that they were both on camera, it was becoming so much worse.

Resigning herself to it, Bast just nodded her head as they went along, heading towards the gorilla position for her next match. She had already decided to make this a quick one, if at all possible - the last thing she wanted to do was drag this out like the one and run the risk of doing serious damage to Lauren. Hurting some poor woman who hadn't done a thing to her was not on her list of priorities.

[Highfly]

Lauren was having her final qualifier tonight. The other two had not gone favorably to say the least. Tonight she was going to shock the massive newcomer and show everyone that she should be taken as seriously as anyone else!

As her music played the older blonde in blue came out, her thighs and backside rumbling with each step. She waved to the crowd and pumped a fist in the air a couple times as she made her way to the ring. Lauren didn't care that she was smaller or less fot or older or a total underdog. She was going to go hard.

She walked up the ring steps and into the ring before climbing through the ropes and jumping up from foot to foot in her corner.

*************

Backstage Alaina was talking through the halls exhausted from a match she won against a fellow heavyweight. She passed by a dark skinned statuesque powerhouse and her manager, glancing over her shoulder at them. Everyone was big and jacked these days, she smiled hoping she started that trend. Alaina was a big woman but damn the definition of big was changing as these women seemed mountainous!

The amazon kept walking though, wondering if this was another matchup in her future.

[BlackAkuma]

It wasn’t too much further to the ring now, with Cersei and Bast rounding the corners of the gorilla position. Though they were pushing it, time-wise, the White Queen wasn’t fretting too much over the prospect of being late for their match by a small degree - in some ways, it could be seen as a good thing. It was important that management come to see them as a big deal, and the best path forward on that was putting them in a position of supplication, conveying the message that she was the one in control here, that they needed to focus on her and Bast’s whims. They were VIPs, not to be slighted or ignored.

They were just about to enter the home stretch, when something intriguing caught her eye. A certain familiar face was smiling at them, making her way out from her last match.

She could’ve passed by. She could’ve kept walking. She could’ve done a number of things.

Instead, she stopped and turned towards the woman, calling her way from down the hall. ”Alaina?” She stepped her way with hands on hips, as Bast looked between then with confused glances. ”Alaina Sanders, correct?”

[Highfly]

Alaina heard someone calling her and she turned. It was the giants manager. "Yeah that's me." Alaina said seeing how the woman was standing. Alaina crossed her arms and stood in the hall. "Do you need something?"

[BlackAkuma]

”Hey,” Bast gave her sister a tap on the shoulder. ”What are you doing? We’ll be-”

Cersei held up her hand and stepped forward. ”Just a moment, sister. It’s important to pay respect to one’s elders.”

She made her way over to the Amazon, wringing her hands as she approached and looked her over. It wasn’t a friendly gaze, either, one more akin to a shopper eying goods in the aisle. Appraising the Amazon, considering her, imagining things, pondering. A moment of quiet, focused reflection, that ended almost as abruptly as it started

”I just wanted to wish you luck in your challenge, Ms. Sanders. It’s very impressive that you’ve come so far. For a woman of your age.” She leaned forward for a respectful nod. ”If you’re victorious, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

She had started to walk away, then paused to look over her shoulder. ”If.”

With that one, final word, she took off, heading down the corridor. Bast stayed a moment longer, giving Alaina a blank, unreadable stare, before she turned on her heel and followed after her, leaving Alaina to make whatever impressions she wanted.

***

A couple of minutes later and the sisters were making their way down the ramp, coming down as Bast’s theme music played behind them.

Bast slid in under the bottom rope, while Cersei waited at ringside, taking her position in the corner. Looking on, she eyed her sister’s foe, took the full measure of her, and frankly? Not too impressed. Lauren wasn’t the worst specimen she had ever laid eyes on, but nothing about her spoke of a top tier competitor. Canon fodder, if she had to guess.

Oh, well. She would have to do. ”Make it fast, sister.”

[Highfly]

"Honey, it is when I win." Alaina said as the smaller woman sauntered away leaving Alaina to look at the giant. "I will see you and your mouthpiece soon."

With that the amazon turned and walked away.

******************************

Lauren watched Bast walk out and instead of looking intimidated she scowled harder. She knew the musclebound giant was judging her as was the manager with her.

Lauren nodded to Bast and as the bell rang Lauren let out a war cry rushing at Bast and stepping in to the biggest forearm smashes to the chest that she could muster! Lauren was swinging hard and fast looking to surprise Bast right off the bat, showing the crowd that she wasn't going to be intimidated!

[BlackAkuma]

Having fought for as long as Bast had, after taking on as many opponents as she had, Bast had grown accustomed to certain things. Namely, the first moments of the match, and the way he approached her…or more often, didn’t.

Every once in a while, she would get someone close to her size who would attempt a bum rush. But, most often, her opponents hung back, played it safe, and approached her the same way they would a dangerous animal they were trapped in a cage with. Slow. Deliberate. Careful.

That was not what Lauren did. At all.

Bravery, stupidity, or just plain desperation. Whatever it was, it was enough to take Bast off guard, and she wound up eating more than a few of those wild punches right in her face. Reflex kicked in after a few seconds and her arms up came up for defense, but that was all she could muster for now - the momentum was on Lauren’s side.

For a little while, at least.

[Highfly]

Lauren was just a suprised that Bast was taken aback. She must have been used to pure physical intimidation or something to that effect leaving women timid in her presence. No matter what Lauren was not going to let anyone get that impression of her. She was body shamed sometimes but called afraid? No.

Laurens strikes were hitting, and Lauren wanted to keep up with her look and style going oldschool. She grabbed Bast by the hair and began snapmaring her to the ring, trying to keep the surprised woman dizzy and in a stunned state while reeling off a string of snapmares trying to get five in a row to keep Bast on the defensive if possible as Lauren was going to try something else once her parade of snapmares had ended.

[BlackAkuma]

”Wait wait whoa hey!”

Two seconds. Cersei had turned her back on the match for two seconds, just an absent-minded glance into the audience, when all hell broke loose. When she looked back, the smaller woman was all over Bast, giving her far more business than either of them expected, pushing her back while the crowd cheered. The people loved an underdog, and this qualified, no question.

Cersei, of course, was less than thrilled. [color=#0000080]”Bast!”[/color] She slapped the ring apron. ”Samira! What are you doing?”

She was getting snapmared, that was what she was doing. Up and over, hurled around as Lauren ran wild with a series of wrestling’s most basic, but effective, move, launching her to and fro. She kept trying to rise, but was yanked off her feet each time, too dizzy and dazed to make sense of anything. Cersei’s screaming wasn’t helping, either.

[Highfly]

"Wooooooo YEAH!" Lauren shouted capping the snapmare parade. She pulled Bast up and bent down grabbing her between the legs and over the shoulder.

"Rrrraaaaaaaggggghhhhhh!" Lauren howled as she exerted herself struggling but succeeding in scooping Bast up and wobbling before slamming her down to the mat as hard as she could! Laure. was riding a wave of adrenaline and the crowd was eating it up!