Oil, Ego, and Shine

[RockRye]

For Teenwrestler

The early morning light filtered through the gym’s tall windows, bathing the mostly empty space in a calm glow. It was the perfect time for Calista Petridis to center herself and focus. She had touched up her ginger hair before coming, and it fell in a ponytail past her shoulders, the shine catching the light. Her makeup was light, just enough to bring out her green eyes and her soft cheekbones, a little effort she put in to feel sharp and ready for the day.

Her workout partner today was the sole tackle bag, standing sturdy but no match for her energy. Calista drove into it again, her form sharp and deliberate as she practiced takedowns. The bag hit the mat with a dull thud, and she paused for a moment to straighten, adjusting her ponytail and catching her breath. Her eyes flicked around the gym as she walked to grab her water bottle. It wasn’t empty, but the few figures scattered across the space gave her something to think about.

The woman on the treadmill seemed laser-focused, earbuds in, her pace relentless. Calista imagined her as a secret agent training for a mission, the kind of character who would appear at just the right moment to save the day. Near the free weights, a stocky man in a worn tank top looked like he hadn’t slept well, but he powered through his set with grim determination. A tired single dad trying to stay strong for his kids, she decided. Her gaze flitted to the younger guy doing pull-ups, his form almost comically exaggerated as he gazed at himself in the mirror. A classic action star, maybe.

Her wandering thoughts brought her face-to-face with her own reflection in the wall-length mirror. She studied herself for a moment. The green workout gear hugged her just right, highlighting the strength in her toned arms, the definition of her abs, and the power in her legs. She turned slightly, inspecting her posture and how her figure resembled that of someone who fought for a living. Her eyes lingered for a second on her ample bosom, and she tilted her head slightly, amused at how it sometimes seemed to grab attention before anything else. But what she saw most was someone who fit. She wasn’t the strongest person in the gym or the most seasoned, but she belonged.

Then, her eyes caught movement. Across the room, a man, a tall and undeniably attractive one, had turned his attention her way. At first, she thought it was just a passing glance, but when their eyes met, there was a certain intent in his gaze. Her brow arched slightly as he started walking toward her.

Her imagination flared up again. Was he a gym regular with a rehearsed pick-up line? A trainer coming to critique her technique? Maybe he was just curious about her. Whatever the reason, Calista found herself doing a quick double-take, a flicker of uncertainty before her confidence kicked in. She let a wide, welcoming smile spread across her face as she stood taller, ready to meet him head-on.

“Morning,” she greeted him as he approached, her voice friendly, steady, and just a touch curious.

[Teenwrestler]

Being the new person in the LAW gym was by no means an easy task. All eyes were usually on the person who was unrecognizable by the usual folks coming and going in the gym, and any wrong move by the newbie could end up in disaster by the more "veteran" wrestlers and gym goers of the organization. Many of the new recruits would just silently find a corner to train, going the young lioness program or just work out during "demon hours" of the night but some choice to shine and express themselves during the day, unafraid of anyone who might judge or otherwise belittle them. Of course, another reason why it was tough for the newcomers was that some veterans would often intimidate or otherwise bully them- perhaps in the hopes of picking up an easy victory at the expense of someone just starting their wrestling career.

It was too early for all that though, Daisuke was already in a foul mood thanks to a headache but he felt that after his morning coffee and a good work-out, things would get better. He was wearing a plain white gym shirt, shorts, sneakers and sun glasses. A gym bag hanging across his shoulder and a cup of coffee in one hand. As he approached towards the work-out area, his sunglass shades met contact with a unfamiliar woman. At first, he was to simply ignore her until she actually came out of her to approach him and greet him good morning.

Daisuke audibly groaned after taking a sip of his coffee. He would remove his sun-glasses and inspect her from head to toe, he certainly didn't remember seeing this face before. "Morning....and you are?" he asked, still sounding as if he would rather not be chatting with his nobody. He heard a couple of new people joined LAW recently, and perhaps this was one of them?

[RockRye]

Calista’s warm smile faltered just slightly as she noticed the man’s cool demeanor when he stopped in front of her. Behind his dark shades, it was hard to tell if he’d been looking at her at all or if she’d let her imagination run wild again. She pursed her lips briefly, silently blaming herself for jumping to conclusions. But she wasn’t the type to let a moment of uncertainty linger. She’d faced far more intimidating audiences during her time on stage, and minor embarrassments didn’t scare her.

Adjusting her posture with an effortless grace, she stood a little taller, letting her confidence shine through once more. A quick brush of her hand smoothed an errant strand of ginger hair back into place, and her smile softened into something more refined yet still inviting. If this was going to be an interaction, she’d ensure it was a memorable one, like she always did. It came with stage acting.

“Calista Petridis,” she replied smoothly when he asked who she was, her voice carrying an easy warmth and the slightest Greek accent slipping into the words. “I’m new to LAW. I've only been here for a few weeks, actually.” Her green eyes flicked over him briefly, taking in the coffee cup in his hand. A small smirk tugged at her lips.

“You look ready to hit the weights,” she said, her tone light and teasing, “though I’ll admit, the coffee is a bold pre-workout choice. Should I expect you to crush it out here or be the guy who falls asleep on the treadmill?”

She tilted her head slightly, her curiosity shining through despite her playful jab. “And you are…?” she asked, her voice still carrying its inviting lilt. Whoever he was, he clearly wasn’t a morning slouch, and Calista’s interest was piqued enough to push past the initial coolness.

[Teenwrestler]

The wrestling prince was certainly not a morning person and he was cursing himself in his mind for forgetting his headphones. This entire conversation could have been avoided if he had simply avoided looking at her direction or even stopping to respond to her greeting. At first glace he thought she was some Irishwoman, the green and the red really fit that stereotype but when she spoke, he noticed the European accent slipping. She mentioned that she was Calista and he vaguely recalled that name from one of the new wrestlers that had joined. Great, another rookie wrestler trying to make a name for herself by hitting the gym in their first few days, no doubt looking for new friends or rivals so that they could get into the thick of things already.

"Right right....you're that actor or theater lover who thinks you can wrestle" he said, chuckling a bit while rolling his eyes before taking another sip of his coffee. Calista seemed really interested in him though, for some odd reason. His body language and attitude would have been enough to drive anyone away but she seemed rather intrigued. "Hmph, I expect you to....know your place. That's all" he would say, not impressed by her little light hearted taunt.

"Daisuke. Daisuke Takeuchi" he would say, at least dignifying her with a response when she asked him his name. "Anyways, the make-up area and Jacuzzi are over there. I actually came out to do some mat-wrestling training, so if you'll excuse me- I have to do some real training, unlike you" he said, gently bopping her nose with his index finger.

[RockRye]

Calista’s easygoing demeanor began to crack as the man—Daisuke, she managed to catch somewhere in his self-important tirade—dismissed her with an infuriating blend of arrogance and condescension. Her smile faded entirely, replaced by a tight line as her jaw clenched. Each dismissive word hit harder than she wanted to admit, poking at old insecurities she’d worked so hard to bury. Her stance shifted unconsciously, her shoulders squaring and her chin lifting. Calista didn’t back down easily, but this man was testing every ounce of her patience.

Then he reached out and tapped her on the nose.

It was as if a switch flipped. She stepped back instinctively, her hand brushing her nose as her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. Her body tensed, her muscles coiling like a spring. She’d wanted to keep things civil, but that was the last straw.

“Are you done?” she snapped, a sharp edge to her tone. She stepped closer, her fiery green eyes locking onto his. “You don’t know me, and yet here you are, acting like you’re some authority on what I can or can’t do. Let me tell you something. You don’t get to decide my place. I do.”

Her words spilled out with precision, each syllable sharp and deliberate. If her rant sounded rehearsed, that was because it was, partly. Theatrical training had left her ready for moments like this, and she’d even prepared versions of this speech for those who doubted her along the way. It wasn’t the first time someone had questioned her, and she doubted it would be the last. But now, it felt like the perfect time to say it.

Her voice grew firmer, her words clipped and precise. “I’m here to work. I’m not going to let someone like you make me feel small. Not today.”

She gestured toward the mats, her boldness unmistakable. “I’ll be using those mats for the foreseeable future, and if you have something to prove, you’re welcome to try and stop me. Otherwise, stay out of my way.”

With that, she turned sharply on her heel and strode toward the training mats, her every step radiating defiance.

[Teenwrestler]

Perhaps Daisuke just used up his free pass when initially his rudeness was brushed off by Calista and she kept things light hearted. However, as he continued to look down on her and undermine her status as a wrestler, the switch flipped and she was no longer a calm and friendly face. The orange haired woman would lose the smile and begin to square her shoulders and lift her chin, quickly letting him know that she wont tolerate the disrespect any longer. The Greek woman stepped forward and Daisuke realized that, he was not going to back down either. The two would meet each other face to face, almost butting heads as they went nose to nose and glared into each others eyes.

"Go on...make a move" he whispered whereas she let out a passionate rant, letting him know that he was no one to tell her what she could or could not do. Her words seemed rather theatrical indeed, making him smirk a bit as he suspected that this bravado was nothing but an act by someone who was well trained in the art of acting and drama. Still, he words meant nothing to him and her actions really disappointed him when she told him she would be using the mats and started to march towards them.

"That's right...keep walking. I'll give you a week or two week tops before you quit and go back pursuing some other career. People like you don't belong on the mats, you have no chance of ever beating someone like me." he said to her while she had her back turned towards him. With that, he would turn away, starting to march towards the locker room area as it seemed Calista wasn't going to pursue this argument any further.

[RockRye]

He dared her. Her hands flexed at her sides as she wrestled with the impulse to lash out. As angry as she was, she wasn’t about to start a scene in the middle of the gym. That wasn’t who she was. Calista prided herself on her control; she didn’t want to gain a reputation as someone so explosive that she couldn’t hold herself back in public. No, she was better than that. She could say her piece and leave it there.

And that’s what she was going to do. She turned on her heel, ready to walk away, hips swaying with purpose as she dismissed him with every step. But before she’d made it more than a few strides, his voice cut through the air again, dripping with smug superiority.

Calista stopped. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. Her reflection again caught her attention, and she turned slightly to glance at herself in the mirror. She saw her bright green eyes narrowing with determination, the slight flush of anger coloring her cheeks, and her strong, athletic frame standing poised and ready. This wasn’t about impulsive anger, she decided. It was about proving herself, not just to him, but to herself as well.

She turned back around, meeting his gaze with a flat, steady stare. Her earlier fire cooled into something sharper and more deliberate. “Fine,” she said, her tone calm and measured. “You want me to prove myself? Let’s do it properly.”

She crossed her arms, her posture confident. “I’ll show you exactly what I can do. Pick your match type, whatever you think gives you the best chance. I’ll choose the victory condition. Fair terms, rules made by both of us.”

Her lips curved into a faint, self-assured smile as she added, “But when I win, I don’t want any excuses. No running your mouth about luck or flukes. Deal?”

She waited, her eyes locked onto his, her challenge hanging in the air.

[Teenwrestler]

Both had said their piece and were now ready to go back to their daily lives. However, Daisuke couldn't help but get one last dig in, which was the straw that broke the camel's back. Calista would take a good look at herself in the nearby mirror and it was clear that she was holding back alot of anger and pent up emotion. She did not want to make a scene in the public area of the gym especially because she was the new restler on the block. However, she was not going to let Daisuke run his mouth and disrespect her like that. A fire lit in her belly and she turned around once more to face the prince, who was ready to leave the scene as well. However, when hearing her speak again, he would turn back as well.

He raised his eyebrow at that proposition, it was certainly an interesting one but she was not worthy enough to face him in the ring in front of the LAW crowd just yet. "Heh, you're not good enough to have a official match against me yet, Ms. Ginger" he mocked but her confident attitude was getting on his nerves so he had to do something. "But......" he said, dropping his gym bag and placing his coffee cup on a nearby table as he walked up towards her, face to face once again.

"There is nothing stopping me from embarrassing you in a match here in one of the matted wrestling rooms here" he proposed. "Heh, you sure are brave....or dumb. Fine then" he said, as she gave him the prerogative of choosing the match type while retaining the ability to choose the victory condition. "Meet me in wrestling room #1 in 30 minutes. Take a shower, change into something appropriate- do your make up to look and smell your best....because we are going to have an oil wrestling match" he said.

"Now then, what's the victory condition and yeah, no excuses. The better wrestler will win" he said, oozing with confidence.

[RockRye]

Calista’s nose wrinkled slightly as Daisuke called her “Ms. Ginger.”

The nickname disgusted her more than she expected. It wasn’t just the patronizing tone; it was the sheer audacity of it, the way it seemed to reduce her to a mere trait instead of acknowledging her as a person. She didn’t understand why some people were so prone to downplay others, and the thought ignited a flicker of resentment that she couldn’t entirely hide from her expression. Still, her determination remained steadfast, even as he finally accepted her challenge. When Daisuke told her where to meet him, Calista straightened up with the confidence of someone whose victory was an inevitability. She gave him a curt nod, ready to stride out and prepare herself. But then, he added the kicker.

Oil wrestling.

For the first time, Calista faltered, though she did not outwardly show it. Her mind instantly flooded with unwelcome imagery: the slick, gleaming oil coating her body, the slippery contact as they grappled, the undeniable intimacy of it all. It wasn’t the wrestling she’d trained for, and it certainly wasn’t the kind of match she’d ever pictured herself participating in.

Her stomach twisted, a mix of nerves and revulsion churning inside her. She didn’t find the idea appealing, not for wrestling, anyway, and she couldn’t help but think of how messy and impractical it would be. Gross.

But Calista was nothing if not composed. Years of acting on stage had taught her to mask her true feelings, and she called on that skill now. She lifted her chin, offering him a cool, almost indifferent smile. “Fine,” she said evenly. “I’ll be there. And I’ll have a victory condition ready for you, but you can wait to find out what it is.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strutted out, each step measured and deliberate. She didn’t dare let him see the slight hesitation in her movements, the product of nerves she refused to acknowledge.

_____________________________

Calista’s lips pressed into a thin line as she adjusted the straps of her green bikini in front of the mirror. The garment fit perfectly, emphasizing her toned physique and giving her an air of confidence she usually appreciated. But now, all she could think about was how much more of her bare skin it left exposed, and how much that meant her body would come into contact with his. Bare, oily skin.

The thought made her grimace. It wasn’t as if she had any better options; wearing anything else would just get ruined by the oil. Gym clothes? Ruined. A full bodysuit? Completely impractical. No, the bikini was the only viable choice, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. The idea of wrestling someone like Daisuke, all smirks and arrogance, in such intimate proximity wasn’t appealing. It was infuriating. Still, Calista knew how to compartmentalize. She exhaled sharply and gave herself a final once-over in the mirror. It wasn’t ideal, but it was functional, and she’d find a way to turn the situation in her favor.

She’d decided on her victory condition during the shower: a submission match requiring two verbal submissions to claim victory. It played to her strengths, allowing her to focus on her agility and technical skill. Besides, she wasn’t naïve enough to believe she could win without grappling in the oil, something she would just have to push through.

Her footsteps echoed purposefully down the hallway as she made her way to the designated room. With each step, her resolve hardened, her focus sharpening to a fine point. She wasn’t going to let Daisuke's arrogance or the circumstances shake her. Reaching the door, she paused for a brief moment, her hand on the handle. The faint scent of oil wafted through the air, and she could hear the faint creak of mats inside. She straightened her posture, adjusted her bikini straps one last time, and pushed the door open, stepping confidently into the mat room.

The scene inside was simple yet charged. The mats sat under the overhead lights, and Daisuke stood there, awaiting her. Calista met his gaze with one of her own, full of determination and just a hint of disdain.

"Ready to see what I can do, Mr. Arrogance?" she said coolly, stepping onto the mats with an air of unshakable poise.

Calista

[Teenwrestler]

He figured he would pick a match type that she would most likely not be well trained in. Something that would shake her confidence and give him an advantage in, and who knows? Perhaps she would even outright refuse the match type and would put him in an even more "mightier than thou" position over her. She was the one who challenged him and so backing down from anything would only look bad on her. After telling her about the match type, he could sense some hesitation on her part because of her brief moment of silence. However, her facial expressions didn't give that away at all as she remained as stoic as ever while the two glared at each other. After a brief moment of silence, she agreed. However, she kept the victory condition to herself as if that would make him worry.

He shrugged his shoulders and watched her walk away while he would stay there in silence. After she walked away, "Heh, damn rookie" he muttered under his breath before grabbing his stuff and started to make his way to the locker room to get prepared. Daisuke was definitely not worried, he had no reason to be. There was no way this Greek woman could actually wrestle! In any case, he would begin getting ready. Stripping out of his gym clothes, he would head to the showers to freshen up. After he was done with that, he would put on a pair of his wrestling briefs and nothing else as he made a few calls to get the room booked and send some lavender scented oil bottles that the wrestlers usually use for such matches.

Figuring it was time to head to the agreed area, the prince put on a pair of flip-flops and made it to the room first. He kicked off the flip-flops just outside of the room before heading inside, getting familiar with the matted floor as he would jump up and down, do some light stretches to warm up. Finally, he grabbed a bottle of the oil and began to gently pour it on his palms before lather the substance on his chest, bicep, abdomen and thighs as he massaged them to spread around his toned figure.

Daisuke

His toned frame now glistening under the lights as the door opened and his opponent made her way inside. "I almost thought you weren't going to show up" he said, rolling his shoulders as he would approach her. "I doubt you can really do anything, but lets not beat around the bush anymore Calista. What's the victory condition? So I know exactly what I need to do to beat you and make you quit LAW before your career even begins" he said, staring her right in the eye.