Pressure makes Rubies

[Tiamat]

Ruby wasn’t sure what to make of this invitation for help. Plenty of people here already told Ruby to be careful about the whole trust thing. At the same time though, she could use the help. Not only that, Alizeh didn’t seem like the kind of person she needed to lookout for. The cherry on top being that odds were good that her methods of help would be easier than Yang’s/Pyrrha’s. Especially since Alizeh was so open to work on anything and seemingly everything really.

Loosening herself up, Ruby finally opened up about what she needed help with. Okay, so my highflying is already pretty good. So that doesn’t need help. Striking I can use some work on, but in our match it was good enough against you. But the main thing was submissions. It always felt like I couldn’t lock you into anything. Be it from me being weak or too light. Honestly, I might’ve won if…I was good at submissions. So THERE OKAY Ruby laid out most of the plan she had going on. Even laying out some of her own insecurities.

[Bare]

So far it seemed like Ruby was actually looking amenable to the help Alizeh was offering which, given her nervous tendencies Alizeh was a bit worried about, but now it seemed like things would ultimately work out. Crossing her arms and nodding her head along as she listened to another fast paced explanation from the younger girl Alizeh would nod slightly in understanding. "Ah I see. Yeah some of it was definitely the size difference won't lie, but some of you're holds also just weren't locked in as securely as you could have, hence me finding ways out." Alizeh explained, running through a few ideas in her head before smiling slightly as she focused on Ruby's eyes.

"So what I'm thinking is that we'll run through three submissions, you're choice, and we'll spend some time with you locking me in them and me trying to escape. At first I'll shout out what I'm gonna do to get free, but then after a bit I'll go silent and leave it to you to figure out and keep the hold locked in and go until I tap or get to the ropes. Sound good?" Alizeh said, taking a few steps towards the practice ring before turning to Ruby with a more mischievous grin. "Also even if you were REALLY good at submissions, I'd have still won." Alizeh said teasingly before booping Ruby on the nose and then heading into the ring to wait for Ruby.

[Tiamat]

Somehow someway Ruby was able to find someone that help her in the things she is the weakest in. Not only that it was an opponent who had already beaten her! The irony was not lost on Ruby. Part of Yang was rubbing off on Ruby as part of her wanted to dismiss the help altogether. Good thing Ruby isn’t Yang and she accepted the help. That being said, did Alizeh have to be so thorough? Yeah Ruby lost but hearing her mistakes out loud just made her visibly cringe.Yeah, I figured it was something I would get the hang of as the match went. But I just ran out of time Ruby said with a defeated sigh. It’s never fun to admit your own faults. What’s important though is to use them as a stepping point for the future.

Alizeh would then lay out a lesson that would teach Ruby. But in all honesty sounded more like a exhibition if anything. Alizeh was willingly letting Ruby tie her up in holds and and improve her that way. At least a Ruby would be able to get some catharsis out of this. Ruby nodded along as she agreed, the rules seemed clear enough. Though Alizeh did want to add that regardless of her improvement the results of their match would’ve been the same. Uh huh, sure you would have. Maybe in the dream I’d put you in after the holds Ruby is not good a trash talk Feeling a bit cool after saying that, Ruby followed Alizeh into the ring and awaited for the final instructions before she can get started.

[Bare]

Entering the ring and turning to face Ruby the green haired girl would chuckle at Ruby's response. "Someone's pretty cocky for not being able to keep me locked in anything." She shot back with a wink, using Ruby's own description of her attempts at submissions during the match against her. In any case thought Alizeh would give one last stretch before nodding to Ruby. "Anyways, why don't you put you're money where your mouth is, three holds, best you got, bring it on." Alizeh said challengingly, not offering any other rules or conditions beyond what she had already mentioned.

[Tiamat]

Ruby and Alizeh were having a quick spat in the ring. Slowly but surely Ruby was getting out of her shell. Something Alizeh noticed, but Ruby probably didn’t herself. No not cocky just confident Ruby said as she semi hyped herself up. Ruby already was trying to keep her face filling from embarrassment. The winks for Alizeh were certainly not helping, it was like she was constantly sending signs towards Ruby.

Alizeh invited Ruby to start this exhibition off. Plainly put, putting Ruby’s money where her mouth is. Ruby simply nodded along as she started thinking of how to start this. Assuming Alizeh followed her, the most important part of this would be to just lock in the hold. So approaching Alizeh, Ruby didn’t want to start off to complex. Running the risk of just falling flat on her face to start. So motioning Alizeh, Ruby moved behind Alizeh and placed her leg over Alizeh’s. Now cranking her body back, Ruby would be putting a great deal of pressure on Alizeh in a abdominal stretch. Just for good measure as well, Ruby’s free hand was used to keep Alizeh from freeing herself.

[Bare]

Prompting Ruby to get in the ring and back her words up with actions was definitely the right call, the younger girl definitely getting motivated from it and causing Alizeh to nod back at her. 'Definitely a bit more confident than she was before.' Alizeh noted with a smile as she waited for Ruby to come in and try her first move.

Soon enough Ruby would slide up behind Alizeh, ensnaring her leg and locking her in a abdominal stretch! "Ngh.. pretty good." Alizeh acknowledged before her free hand went to the girl's knee. "What are you gonna do if I mess with your leg to break your balance though?" Alizeh asked, waiting before doing anything to see how Ruby would respond.

[Tiamat]

Now Ruby had locked in her first hold on Alizeh. It was the abdominal stretch. Definitely a beginner submission, but way more effective than a Boston crab or something. A move Ruby mistakingly used on Alizeh during their match. At first Ruby wasn’t sure if this hold would be effective, but with Alizeh’s body bending and stretching against her knee. The woman had to feel some level of discomfort. Confirmation came way of Alizeh grunting in pain and even acknowledging Ruby.

Here comes the actual training part of the exhibition. Alizeh was going to mess with Ruby’s balance. As a way to break the hold. Ruby was pretty confident in her balance. It wasn’t anything like Weiss but still pretty good. So in response Ruby used her elbow and drove it into Alizeh’s side. Grinding her elbow on Alizeh’s liver. We’ll just have to stop that then. Give you something else to focus on Ruby said as she explained her thought process.

[Bare]

Starting things off with a rather basic abdominal stretch Alizeh would grunt and wince in pain, impressed by how well Ruby had it locked in, but that wasn't the purpose of this training.It was to see how well Ruby responded to trying to break the hold. First off was trying to grab Rub's leg and upsetting her balance.

Something the red head compensated for by digging her elbow deep into Alizeh's side! "Gah..." Alizeh groaned out with a cringe before nodding. "Ugh... good... But.. what if I go deadweight to take my legs from out of yours?" Alizeh wheezed out before doing just that, going limp in Ruby's arms to try and slip her legs free of the girl's own.

[Tiamat]

Ruby’s first hold had honestly been doing way better than she expected. Admittedly Alizeh wasn’t trying her all to get out of the hold. Still she was keeping the hold on records longer than in their actual match. It was a small thing, but at least she was able to hang her hat on it. This would be an even better learning experience for Ruby as Alizeh would give Ruby things to counter as she freed herself. Trying to stifle to attempt Ruby have Alizeh something else to focus on, if she’s in enough pain then the attempt has to stop right? Well Ruby was half right, Alizeh just stopped her initial attempt. Her next one though was going to make things difficult for the red headed woman.

The abdominal works twofold, as Ruby kept the hold, Alizeh fighting the hold just made it worse for her. So Alizeh had the great idea to go limp and tack on her deadweight. Nearly messing up Ruby’s hold instantly! To show this, Ruby hopped around a few paces with Alizeh just to try and keep her failing balance. Okay this isn’t going to work…What about something new then… Ruby thought out loud, she wasn’t the same girl who was committed to one hold until the end of time. Now with the experience she has, Ruby is able to recognize a failing battle and move on to something new. Don’t worry I’ll add some life real soon Ruby said confident as she grabbed the insides of Alizeh leg. Suddenly throwing herself and Alizeh back onto the mat. Ruby would spring Alizeh’s leg up. Stretching it out and latching onto it with her own legs. Locking in a near perfect knee-bar!

Spoiler

[Bare]

Training with Ruby was going pretty well so far. Already her technique seemed to have gotten better than their match which meant she had already improved somewhat on her own time. Likewise Ruby was able to counter her initial attempt at escape which was even better. Now though Alizeh went deadweight, probably the best way to escape such a hold and it looked like Ruby was at her wits end so after waiting for a few moments Alizeh was about to untangle her way free from Ruby altogether.

However before she could do so Ruby would initiate a transition from the abdominal stretch to a knee bar! "Ngh!" Alizeh cried out in pain from the sudden twist of pain. "Not bad... ugh.. But what about when... I go for.. your hands?" Alizeh said in between grunts of pain, reaching up to try and grab at Ruby's hand and pull it away as her first means of trying to get free of the hold!