Nothing to do with Luck - Audrey Trovita vs Johnny Atlas

[ThurmanMermanPlx]

Match rules:
No DQ
Hentai allowed and encouraged
Takes place in a

Audrey didn't recognize the place she'd arrived at for her latest match. Casinos were never really her thing. She wasn't even sure this was an officially sanctioned LAW arena... but then again, who the hell was she to question it? They seemed to have all manner of absurd locales to perform in, many of which were... questionable in nature at the best of times. Hell, they held matches within people's personal bedrooms that counted as official.

In what information she was able to find about her latest opponent, Mr. Atlas owned a casino... perhaps this was his own venue they'd be competing in... but the outside sure looked... well, not sleazy, but certainly not a fancy, higher-end place one would expect to be dishing out millions of dollars in winnings on a regular basis. Regardless of the appearance, a casino felt like an odd place to host a wrestling match... but again, Audrey herself had had a match in a public shower, so things could always be weirder.

That didn't ease the feeling that Audrey was walking into a wolves' den, but there was nothing to be done about it. She'd been booked here, so she just had to trust that she wasn't going to be drugged and dragged behind a slot machine the moment she entered.

She had no idea if they'd even grant her a locker room, so she'd come pre-dressed

. That definitely made it awkward walking in the door - she was just about the least modestly dressed girl she could see. The crowd made her uneasy, but it wasn't the first time she'd gotten this kind of attention.

She'd all but sprinted when she'd finally spotted the bar counter (hidden behind the wrestling ring that looked to have been hastily set up, safety concerns be damned), and therefore someone to ask about procedure. But Audrey had barely blurted out her name when the guy jabbed his finger towards the ring and returned to whatever drink he was pouring. No fanfare tonight, apparently. After asking permission to drop her gym bag behind the counter for safekeeping (and getting a shrug and a grunt in reply), Audrey meekly headed for the ring. There she waited, standing awkwardly in the farthest corner from the steps - but far enough from the ropes to avoid stray hands. Those barricades were awfully close...

With nothing else to do and uncertainty of the moment dancing around her brain, Audrey tried to tune out the jeers she had already begun to recieve and awkwardly begin pre-match stretches, hoping that her opponent didn't take long to show himself... and that she'd found the right venue.

[killcarrion]

Never let anyone tell you that cavorting with society's fetid underbelly doesn't come with its fair share of advantageous perks and privileges. This was just something Johnny would oft repeat to his mobster colleagues whenever they asked as to how he continuously managed to secure lucrative contracts with respected organizations like LAW who routinely bankrolled some of his endeavors alongside occasionally supplying a steady pipeline of challengers, such as those booked for tonights "entertainment". The charismatic conman understood their curiosity considering that not just any enterprising businessman could wind up possessing several underground gambling establishments, both legitimate and decidedly not, in such a short span of time and achieve a certain level of success most mobsters strive for. But Johnny knew better than to show his entire hand and reveal the tricks of his trade. Sometimes all it took to befriend the types of corporate executives helming LAW was a dapper smile, friendly banter, shared drinks...and the incentive that a refusal to play ball with Mr. Atlas may coax him into airing any dirty laundry on them to national media outlets. It's amazing what you can across throughout his time spent as a notorious information broker cavorting with crime bosses, ganglords, and even worse...politicians. Just one of Johnny's trademark pearls of wisdom. But hey, you didn't hear that from him...

Mr. Atlas

Be that as it may, Johnny embraced any opportunity to step out from behind his expensive desk as the casino boss and...overindulge himself, so to speak. Grandma Atlas always did say to enjoy the little things in life, and booking himself into tonight's festivities was his way of unwinding after a solid month of paper work, upstanding managerial duties, and occasionally bashing some metaphorical skulls in the boardroom or hiring goons to do the same duties but within isolated backalleys. Henchman within the audience spying Audrey scramble around the casino called Mr. Atlas to inform him that the show was on, and the Dapper Gangster strolled through one of the backdoors with his derby hat and twirled cane, rallied applause and slot machines being the cacophonous backdrop behind his commanding stride towards the ring. One continued onward as he approached the middle of the ring to have a little chat with his esteemed guest, tipping his hat in a cordial gesture. "Well, look at that. A fellow emerald-eyed ginger~...Ugh, perhaps we can bond over the blasphemous stereotypes we have to endure. But it looks like there's a little fire in those peepers mixed too. Well, I hope you were treated warmly and greeted with the type of cordial hospitality this respectable gambling den is known for..." The bartender whom Audrey interacted with coincidentally hocking a loogie into a spittoon to a high-pitched ping sound...

[ThurmanMermanPlx]

Un-(?)fortunately for Audrey, she knew little and less about Johnny Atlas' under-the-table dealings, and had she ever found out, she'd say she was better off not knowing. She was already a living ball of nerves and anxiety, stretching pre-match in the ring half for something to do, and half to keep herself distracted from watching more than a few individuals in a crowd that she wouldn't want to meet in broad daylight, much less in a back alley somewhere. This kind of life would eat her alive if she were forced to live it daily, and she knew it, and that was without know just how deep Johnny's connections went.

Would it surprise her, however, to learn that she had been booked in a place like this quite intentionally? Not at all. It was exactly the type of place that drew exactly the type of crowds that enjoyed exactly the type of matches she was beginning to become known for, much to her annoyance. But there was usually one thing that consistency brought with it in her favor: familiarity. She couldn't quite place a finger on it, but being here unsettled her, more than one might expect given the atmosphere, and she didn't understand why... she'd been in front of plenty of crowds like this before, so why should this time be any different? She was still safe here, despite the general atmosphere, right? There were still cameras around to record their match, and therefore keep her from vanishing mysteriously overnight... weren't there?

Just as she shook her head to aggressively chide herself for thinking such things, scattered applause from the crowd caught her attention. Perhaps someone had won something at one of the slot machines...? But no, it didn't take long once she began to look around to recognize her dance partner for the evening, strolling in complete with derby and cane. The anxiety remained, but tempered a bit by relief with the confirmation that at least she hadn't gotten herself lost.

And really, how many casinos had wrestling rings in the center of the room, anyway?

Mr. Atlas tipped his hat, and while Audrey was in no state to even think of offering a handshake, she had enough respect to offer a small, polite bow in return. Audrey's eyes darted quickly to the barkeep and back again as she was addressed, a very tiny but nervous smile creeping onto her face... perhaps this evening wouldn't be as dreadful as she'd worked it up to be in her mind.

"I've gotten rather used to the stereotyping, to be honest," she replied with a light shrug. "But it's fine, it's worth it to look this good." Audrey didn't flaunt confidence often, but there, she hadn't needed to fake it. Looks were one thing she knew she was good for. "Anyways, er..." How to politely not throw the barkeep under the bus...? "I got where I needed to be, with a little assistance," she said with a small nod. It wasn't really a lie, anyway. Not that she'd really needed the help to find the ring itself, but her own fears about being lost had been proven unfounded by that bartender before she fully acknowledged it.

With that, Audrey stood there with her hands clasped behind her back. With the process being so informal up to this point, she wasn't quite sure where to go from here. Was there still a bell, or did they just... begin? Nerves kept her from taking the initiative - and perhaps a hint of respect out of being a guest in Johnny's establishment, but mostly the nerves - and she instead waited to see how things unfolded.

[killcarrion]

A veritable people pleaser. That's how Johnny often portrayed himself whenever shaking hands with the high rolling whales at the Blackjack tables of his more luxurious establishments. An accommodating businessman who is just as likely to be seen in luxurious mansions smoking Cuban cigars with guffawed laughter alongside men of societal import, just as he could be found within derelict warehouses overseeing criminal activities with the strategic tactics of a mindful chess player. Whomever he needed to be for the situation, Johnny could flip a switch and blend in seamlessly as a means of achieving whatever goals he sought~...and for now the ideal portrayal was one of a cordial and sophisticated gentleman. One who was associating with his fellow ginger. Naive, spirited, chipper, and appeared positively petrified ever since stepping one toe into this vicinity. Masterful though Johnny was at reading someone's body language and facial expressions, it's not like he exactly needed any of those specific skills to notice the anxious eyes and rattling knees as if a loud sound was all it would take to have the redhead sprinting for the hills.

"Ha, indeed it is worth it. Oh, but come on now. You're starting to make me feel self-conscious with all that apprehensive dread you've got going on. Try to loosen up a little, shake off those jitters, get that competitive adrenaline flowing. Hey, no matter what...you have my word that there's nothing that could take place within this ring that wouldn't happen at any other LAW sanctioned official fighting arena~..." Johnny's comforting words coinciding with him handing off his cane to a worker at ringside, although perhaps less reassuring should Audrey come to the stark realization of just what exactly was deemed permissible in your typical LAW match. The conman also being intentionally mindful not to mention what unfortunate fate could befall Audrey should she venture outside of the ring considering that several of the disreputable revelers within the gambling establishment had pictures of their faces pinned on the walls of government agencies. Felonious hoodlums and noted mobsters who were wanted for nefarious criminal acts that Johnny would rather not go into detail of since he might just end up incriminating himself in the process.

Johnny whistled in the general direction of one of the empty blackjack tables, compelling the dealer to nod in affirmation and start strolling apathetically towards the ring. Crooked cigarette puffed as he took off his dealer's shirt to reveal a pinstriped referee's shirt underneath. The "official" entering the ring and foregoing the prototypical traditions of checking for weapons on the competitors and insisting on an honorable fight between them. Instead, he stretched out his sore back and scratched his stubble beard as the same bartender in the distance groaned from lifting a ring bell and hammer out from underneath the bar table. An affirmative clanging signified the match's official commencement as those who weren't playing blackjack, roulette, or in sequestered isolation at the slot machines, were now gathering around the ring. "See? It's just like any other match you'd see on television. Now whaddya say we get this dance started? I'll even promise to take it slow at the beginning. Scout's honor~..." Johnny spoke with a charming smile as he approached in a grappler's posture, seemingly attempting a collar and elbow lockup with no strings attached...

[ThurmanMermanPlx]

As he spoke, Audrey did in fact attempt to relax, taking a deep breath and forcing her shaking limbs stiff. He was right, after all; she'd been put through some dramatic wringers before already, and aside from there being some secret rule that allows slot machine winners to turn the match into a handicap or something, she'd probably seen it all.

Of course, that sort of surprise would be something that might happen in any other LAW arena too, and given everything else Audrey had endured so far, she wouldn't put it passed them and whoever was booking her matches to come up with something absurd like that... okay, so maybe she hadn't seen it all just yet... And just like that, Audrey had gotten into her own head again.

But Johnny had been quite the gentleman, which was more than she could say for a large portion of her past opponents, and she wasn't about to overlook that. Doing her best to drown out the unease she'd been feeling since arriving, she resumed her pre-match stretching. Surely, if they were going to let spectators into the ring, that would be something that she, as a competitor, would have known beforehand, right? ...Right?

Thoughts of finding herself outside the ring, and what may happen to her in that scenario, never even crossed her mind.

Audrey simply nodded to the... referee, intending for an honorable fight anyway. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of his cigarette, and was rather grateful that he hadn't decided there was a need to pat her down, so she mercifully kept what distance she could. By the time the bell rung, Audrey had calmed down just enough not to jump at the sound; she was startled, for sure, but the only sign of it would be the sudden widening of her eyes and immediate head turn in the direction of the barkeep.

And by the time she found her voice to respond, there was a flicker of fire in her eyes. "Okay, but fair warning, I have no problems taking advantage of any ground you give me." It wasn't a lie, and Audrey considered her warning to be enough to not be seen as sneaky if she managed to pull him down or trip him up.

In most matches, Audrey would avoid a flat-out lockup. Her strength was by and large one of her weakest aspects as a fighter, and being rooted in one spot robbed her of the speed advantage her smaller frame granted her in exchange. But her opponent tonight was not a man rivaling the Hulk in size; he had a height advantage, but that was all. So, deeming that enough of a non-threat, she accepted his lockup, with the intention of attempting to slip behind him and wrench his arm behind his back at the first opportunity.