A Meetup at the Gym (for ClockwerkSamurai12)

[CaptainL]

When Lacey was reminded of the uncomfortable position she was in, it was enough to snap her attention back to reality, and the pain set in just a moment later, reasserting itself with a stabbing sensation through her spine. She winced and hissed under the pressure, her teeth clenched to hold back a yelp. But when she heard Arizona offer to stop, she knew the answer perfectly well. Lacey wasn't going to stop - she couldn't submit! The fact that she had made it this far to begin with was a sign she really was improving. It was a sign she really could do it - she had to believe in that fact! And she couldn't let Arizona think she didn't have what it took!

As her body tensed to try and brace herself against the hold, Lacey shook her head in defiance. "No-! Keep going...it's what I need-!"

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Arizona complies and increases pressure.

[CaptainL]

Just as Lacey had requested, Arizona wasn't going to hold back when it came to the hold. If anything, she was only going to go even harder on the green-haired girl. The more she pulled back at her legs, the hotter and hotter Lacey's body flared with pain - her joints erupting with every inch she was being folded backward in half. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut, and her teeth ground together in a grimace as she struggled to hold back the urge to scream; her hands balled tightly into fists, with her nails digging deep into her palms, all to try and distract herself. But Lacey wasn't going to tap out, she told herself. She was already committed to that - she couldn't be weak. She couldn't tell anyone she was afraid, or that she didn't have what it took - she had to be better than that!

Still, she was starting to get close to her limits. As she felt her vertebrae crackle and pop against the pressure, Lacey knew she couldn't take much more. But she reminded herself that she still wasn't going to surrender - she couldn't! Instead, she bit at the inside of her cheek, reminding herself there were other options. It didn't have to be the end! She was going to try and fight back in her own way to even out the pressure; she planted her palms against the mat, using them to brace herself as she shoved downward with her arms and shoulders to push herself higher. If it worked, she would be easing up the pressure on herself, while giving her an opening to go for the rope break. She wouldn't even need to tap out - and it would be a reminder, even if only to herself, that she had it in her to pull off such counters!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Arizona: Yer really pushin’ yer limit here kid, you sure ya don’t wanna stop?

[CaptainL]

When she heard Arizona speak up from behind her, Lacey could feel her eyelid twitch and her muscles tense. A shudder of hesitation ran through her body, causing every muscle to creak, and her face contorted in a wince as it brought all the aches and pains she'd endured back to the forefront of her mind. The cowgirl wasn't wrong. Lacey really was pushing her limit. She was forcing all the weight of her body onto her palms, and her arms had grown shaky from the strain as she fought with all her might to keep herself steady. Her back, too, was only stretched even more taut from the motion of her rise, causing her vertebrae to creak as they rubbed together. She had to suck in a breath and hold it in her lungs just to hold back the urge to cry out in pain. There was a fleeting moment where she considered heeding Arizona's words - that if she called for a submission now, this would all be over; it could stop, and she wouldn't have to hurt any more. But Lacey knew that was the easy way out. She couldn't give in to the temptation, and she couldn't take shortcuts. No matter how much it hurt, she needed to keep fighting, or she wouldn't get any better. She couldn't be a quitter now!

Shaking her head, the green-haired girl got her words in between huffs and pants. "I'm...I'll be fine..! Really-!" As she clenched her teeth tight, she reached one hand out in front of her and then the other, trying to pull herself closer and closer to the ropes each time. Her body sagged and her back threatened to give out with every inch she moved; she felt heavier and heavier by the moment - but she knew, too, she'd be a step closer to breaking the hold on her own terms, and she couldn't lose sight of that, no matter what!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Arizona: If you say so.. (She starts applying maximum pressure on the hold)

[CaptainL]

Lacey was hurting. She couldn't deny that fact - in fact, the more Arizona put pressure on the hold, the worse it hurt. But Arizona wasn't the only one applying force - so was Lacey herself. In trying to force herself up off the mat, she had added to the strain on her back, which had become a fulcrum between her and her opponent - a fulcrum that could only take on more force the more she tried to move. With every inch she dragged herself, her back creaked and shuddered, and her face contorted in a grimace of pain. But she couldn't stop now. She had to keep going. If she gave in, she'd just be showing Arizona she was weak and hopeless - she needed to show her that she had a future; that she wouldn't go down without a fight!

When Lacey looked up, no matter how much her body was shaking and her eyes were watering, she could see the rope just inches away - and with it, her salvation. If she just grabbed it, then Arizona wouldn't have a choice. She'd have to let her go. Drawing in a deep breath to steel herself, Lacey began to reach her hand out a little bit further, but her fingers came just short of the cable. Gritting her teeth, she reached out further, all while her other arm quivered beneath her. No matter how much it hurt, though, she couldn't give up. Just a little more, she told herself, and she'd have it. Just a little more...

And then, Arizona cranked at her legs even harder. At that, a searing pain shot straight through her spine, and Lacey knew she couldn't take it any more! Her grip gave out, and she dropped straight down onto the mat, howling in pain. Her arms fell flat at her sides, unable to bear her own weight any more, while her face and chest rubbed into the mat. She couldn't do it!

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Arizona releases her and looks in concern.

Arizona: Uh-oh, I think I broke her..

[CaptainL]

"O-Oww..." Lacey winced, shuddering through clenched teeth as she felt her back throbbing with the aches and pains of the hold. The Boston Crab had been bad enough, but in trying to pull herself toward the ropes despite the building pressure, she had only strained her own back more and more - and eventually, that pain was too much for her to bear. Her balance gave out, and she dropped flat on her face, her arms slack and splayed around her. They wouldn't do her much good when everything hurt to move.

Eventually, though, Lacey managed to draw enough air into her lungs to lift her head off the mat, where she huffed and shook herself out. Everything still hurt, but at least now she could move herself enough to reach behind her and rub at her sore spine. Still, she could only prop herself up on her elbows, panting for breath. "I'm...I'm okay," she groaned. "Really...I'll be okay. Don't worry about me, alright? Let's just...let's just keep going..." She hissed through her teeth as she said it; she didn't know how much of that she really believed. But she couldn't admit defeat. She couldn't let Arizona know how weak and hopeless she really was. And if she couldn't even take a Boston Crab, what hope was there for her?

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Arizona: Look kid, I know I said I’d help improve yer endurance.. but everyone’s got their limits! I don’t wanna end up breakin’ you!