A Touch of Darkness (for BlackAkuma)

[Crossedes]

What Millicent would give to have that page Alyssa had ripped out of her notebook. It took no great acuity for the empress to know that the notes discussed that shy boy in the hallway, and she would love to have her hands on that information - on anyone's information. That was precisely the reason for the task she had assigned to Desdemona, though she longed to have her fingers on all the tidbits Alyssa had accumulated over the last weeks, months, years about every pathetic soul who regularly sought therapy. So many leashes she could have tied if she knew everyone's secrets.

"I would hope so," she clarified, as Alyssa repeated her words. "An organization as large as the League would not fail to hire people of worth, I imagine, outside of the ones who made the evaluation mandatory." The redhead winked as she rested her chin on her fist to peer at the doctor. A little teasing and allure never hurt, either. "But I would grow-" She had to ponder the English word a moment. "-bored without being industrious. I just became very attached to all that keeps me busy."

Chatting, chatting. She glanced at the clock, another action that wouldn't raise suspicion for a woman who had stated she was on a schedule. In reality, she wanted to ensure she provided her little spy enough time. Fortunately, Alyssa had more questions for her, one that made her straighten her shoulders with forced pride. "I don't know what to do with much of what I have," she answered, and once again, the answer was bland enough to contain both truths and lies. "I would rather spend than have money wasting away in my pockets. I have honed my own skills, and the only way to gain more of them is to learn from those with new perspectives. There is no point in keeping my knowledge to myself when my legacy does not need to be tied to me, alone."

She paused. The German had given this speech so many times in interviews - though worded a dozen different ways - that she liked to make sure it came across as spur of the moment. "I give because of what I have to give."

[BlackAkuma]

Alyssa returned Millicent’s wink with a relaxed smile before jotting down a few quick notes about the woman’s mannerisms. Amicable, this one, eager to talk, endlessly cordial. Perhaps too much so? She chose not to read too much into it without any real provocation. There was an odd way to her, something in the back of Alyssa’s mind that she couldn't quite put a finger to.

”Evaluations like this aren’t uncommon, I assure you.” She finished up a line of writing and drew a line under it, marking importance. ”LAW attracts so many different types from all over. It behooves them to at least try and weed out any wrestlers who might grow into problems later - or, more importantly for them, lawsuits.”

Alyssa took a long sip of tea, leaned forward and tented her fingers. ”You’ve much to give, I don’t deny that. I looked through your history - over a thousand days as champion, easily. Most wrestlers would do well to have a tenth of your accomplishments, and your skill in the ring is undeniable.”

She didn’t want to flatter the woman too much, but it never hurt to show that she kept up with her patients accomplishments, tried to get a good idea of who she was dealing with going in. While she didn’t want to go into a session with strong opinions, she liked to have a picture of who was sitting across from her, even if it wasn’t fully colored.

”I am curious, though, with all the talk of giving and helping others,” A hand came to her chin, rubbing, scratching. ”If you’re into training, why not sign up as an actual trainer for LAW? You’re officially on as a competitor. Wrestlers help out others all the time, but the way you speak of it makes it sound more involved than simply meeting every now and then. I could certainly speak to someone if you’d like to help in such a capacity.”

[Crossedes]

And she wanted that page. The redhead let her eyes settle on it, figuring she had already established that she did not care much for being psychoanalyzed so her curiosity would not strike Alyssa as odd. Millicent did not spend a great deal of time on what individuals thought of her, only the wrestling community as a whole, so individual opinions did not matter. But given it had been years since she had been forced through one of these evaluations, she wanted to see where she stood in the eyes of a keen observer. It did not matter a great deal since most of the conversation had consisted of forced cordiality, but she could read between the lines, find what the woman had truly gleaned. Alas, ultimately, too much of a risk.

She let the woman praise her without comment save for an appreciative nod. The German had never seen praise as something meriting thanks - not this sort of praise, anyway, with facts being recanted to her - but common society expected it. But the empress preferred loyalty and favors as thanks rather than empty recall of what anyone could read with a ten-second search on Google. Plus, avoiding bragging and reveling in her achievements made her seem humble, which people appreciated.

Hmm. Curating her standing did tire her, at times, but it had never failed her.

Ah, and the training question. She had heard this one before, too, and her answer rolled easily from her lips, alongside a soft chuckle. "It is... less the training itself that I enjoy. It's... finding the gems. If I work with just anyone on the roster, we could clash. Argue. Some would find a chance to work with me just to have the excuse to touch me." The irony was not lost on her. "I approach them myself when I see their potential and work with them on my own schedule."

[BlackAkuma]

And she wanted that page.

The aim of Millicent’s eyes didn’t escape Alyssa. Like Storm before her and many before him, people always had some interest in her writing and tried to sneak a peek now and then. The German seemed a tad more focused on it than most, clearly not caring if her curiosity was noticed. Not a problem, of course - if the woman asked, she might even show her. But they never did, always assuming it was off-limits.

She couldn't help but indulge in a little game, however. At the top of the page, she wrote in clear English: Hello, Millicent. Big, bold letters, so any prying eyes couldn't help but notice them.

The idea of someone trying to work with Millicent simply to touch her was enough to bring a small, dark chuckle out of her. ”I can’t say that would surprise me, no.” A little overt flirting, but she rarely cared about subtlety, as her outfit proudly showed. ”And it’s hard to argue results. There’s no shortage of voices singing your praises, your triumphant championship battles, your great matches. I particularly enjoyed watching your performance in a battle royale a few years back. Can’t recall the venue off-hand.”

Alyssa wrestled with the name for a few moments before deciding it best to move on. ”I’m sure there’s no shortage of men and women eager to stand under your learning tree. But what about you? What do you seek in your pupils? A reflection of yourself?”

[Crossedes]

So Millicent did have her undivided attention. It would have taken far less sharp eyes to miss what Alyssa wrote atop the page, and the redhead offered a bland purse of her lips, a sign she was at least mildly entertained. Perhaps she would be bold enough before she left to simply reach over, slide the notebook to her side of the desk, and read whatever she wished to read. Perhaps she wouldn't indicate that she had that much interest in the meeting. There was no telling quite yet. She supposed she would await Desdemona's report to determine just how far she should push matters.

Ah, Alyssa didn't ignore the overall product it seemed. Millicent had worked in promotions that lacked vast coverage in the Eastern world, and while she did not know how long Alyssa had been in Japan, she would still give her credit for having claimed to have watched her performance. Picking that particular event out over all others told the German that she had indeed watched it and didn't merely bring it up because of the information she could find online. "Ah, yes. Porto. The Pavilhão Rosa Mota." She took pride in how well she mimicked the proper Portuguese intonations - she could speak it, a bit, though not nearly as well as Spanish.

She assumed Alyssa was headed somewhere with her praise, and she was right. Actually, this question she could not recall being asked, and frankly, she had not taken a great deal of time to determine precisely how to best address it. She did, however, know herself. "Not exactly like myself. I would grow tired of talking to myself all day," she began, with a smile to make it clear it was in jest.

"But the same... ambition. The same need to be challenged. Ones that are not too prideful to listen to advice but also not timid enough to shy from speaking their minds. If they look very nice posing in photos with me, I would not complain." The last one she said in clear jest, too, despite the truth of it.

[BlackAkuma]

Alyssa caught the response, saw where Millicent’s eyes went, and her smile widened by a millimeter. Maybe two. She always did love the little games when she had the chance to play. The German seemed sharper than most, showing the kind of acuity that came from a life full of learning experiences and hard knocks. She could probably write a thick book about her life already, and it was a shame that Alyssa lacked the time to give it the deep dive it deserved, but this tête-à-tête would suffice.

Alyssa hummed at the mention of the event, and not wholly because of the soothing way that its name danced off Millicent’s tongue. ”I’ve always loved a good rumble. Such a unique match - the athleticism, the surprises, the challenges, the alliances, the betrayals. Rarely a dull moment. It’s everything that makes wrestling wonderful in a convenient package.” She recalled her own experiences in the match with a fond sigh, thinking of the time she’d come close - achingly close - to securing such a win herself. It had always bothered her, but perhaps it was for the best. She was in a better place for now. ”I envy you, I will not lie. My own time between the ropes was far less fruitful.”

She let that thread dangle out there, a rope Millicent could tug if it suited her, and moved on to things she found curious.

”Ambition.” She repeated the word with a reference tone, almost as if it were holy. To women in their profession, perhaps it was. ”That can be useful. Dangerous. It can push people to do all sorts of things, great and terrible.” Her eyes cast off to the side, sifting through memories momentarily before she came back to focus on her patient. ”Do you ever worry about what someone might do with the knowledge you give them? Is that a concern?”

[Crossedes]

Given that smile, perhaps Millicent would opt for the first option - taking the notebook and reading it, cover to cover if she so wished. She rarely abandoned an opportunity to enhance her circle of knowledge, to know precisely what people thought about her in addition to what they thought about each other, and if Alyssa wanted to tease her about it, well, the German rarely let a good tease go unanswered. She would wait, though, and do the claiming later, once she had given the woman plenty more to write, for better or worse.

"I would not have taken you for a connoisseur of that... chaos," she admitted, leaning forward with her chin resting on her fist. A little push, a little pull. "But I suppose it is something of a social ball all its own, changing by the moment, all working off the fortune of you or your allies pulling the right number from a hat." Of course, it helped if that hat, the people in control of the "random" nature of a rumble match, could manipulate the numbers with a small, subtle application of intimidation. That part, she would not add. "But I could have taken one look at those arms and shoulders and judged that you had wrestled. Was that here or elsewhere?"

It did not take the empress much effort to determine that something had come of Alyssa's mention of ambition. She might choose to dig for that nugget of information later and tucked note of it into her well-organized brain. At the same time, she answered, barely pausing to think. "No. A mentor could drive herself mad thinking of what the smallest tidbit of information could trigger in-" She rummaged through that organization for a tactful word. "-her understudy. They will do with it what they choose. I think of it no differently than a trainer teaching a new wrestler an armbar. I do not tell her to visit the bar that night and break an arm."

[BlackAkuma]

The change in posture didn't go unnoticed, as Millicent leaned forward in rapt attention. She didn’t like to let too much of her past slip into these sessions, choosing to keep the focus on her patients. Still, it could serve to let them know that she came from a similar background, and that she could relate to their experiences on a personal level that few in her profession could boast. It was one of the main reasons she had been hired, no harm in using it.

”Oh, I love chaos.” She answered without a pause, as if she’d been asked the same question so many times it was a reflex. ”When things are orderly, when they’re neat and slow, people have the chance to put on masks. It’s easier to pretend, to hide, to fabricate. But when you put people in a hectic situation, where they have to think on the fly and make a dozen pivotal choices every minute, those walls fall. You see where the real loyalties lie, what their true values are. It’s a fascinating petri dish.”

At the mention of her shoulders and arms, Alyssa looked down at them, as if to ensure that Millicent’s assessment was correct. ”Elsewhere. Back home in the UK, many moons ago. Don’t bother trying to rack your brain, I promise you’ve never heard of it or me. Strictly small time.” She rolled said shoulders, limbering up. ”I do try to stay active and keep my skills sharp, whenever I can find someone to spar with. In truth, though, I was a subpar wrestler at best. Most of my advancement came from outside of the ring.”

She let that thread dangle, hanging out in case Millicent wanted to yank. ”So you give them the tools to succeed, but what they do with those tools is up to them. A pragmatic way of looking at things. It’s certainly noble of you to give without expectation of repayment. Bringing others with you at the mountaintop.” She ran a curious finger along her chin, with a hint of mischief. ”And if they should ever decide to push you off that mountaintop, to use those skills against you for their own goals, would that trouble you?”

[Crossedes]

Millicent had found the first point on which she and Alyssa disagreed. But most people did not put so much thought into themselves, into what they presented, into what every moment in front of a camera could mean for them. The empress had learned well how to hide intentions amongst chaos - in fact, she found it freeing. One could excuse so much, blame others, chalk intentions up to mistakes when chaos surrounded her... she supposed that was precisely why she succeeded so well in those sorts of matches. Of course, she said none of that and scarcely paused at all. Alyssa didn't need to hear any of it. Only so much of her machinations did she ever reveal, even to her underlings. "And now you work to avoid chaos," she commented, referring back to her mentioning the company's desire to avoid any issues with new wrestlers merely to have something to say. "It is a very curious position for a doctor of the mind."

A doctor of the mind who had indeed wrestled. No, Millie could produce no memory of having seen her wrestle, even on promotional material. Few had the drive needed to become regionally known. But she did find herself curious, if only because she needed to maintain a thorough curiosity and an engaging conversation. "I will keep that in mind about your sparring. I like a variety of opponents, whether you believe yourself talented or not. I am sure any understudies I find will be through here from time to time, as well." All true, that much. "Did you start with the League after your ring career ended, or did you work your way here?"

The German would have to put this "no repayment" business to bed. She knew that no one could present the facade of an entirely selfless person... not one who worked with such relentless drive. "I would not say I am not repaid. Everyone with the talent to become a success will carry my name with them for the rest of their careers. It's a legacy of its own." For someone who cared only about challenge and reputation, about achieving heights never before seen and having her name breathed every time wrestling entered the conversation, she needed no other repayment.

Ah. And a good follow-up question. She had the sense that Alyssa wanted to catch her with that one. Fortunately, she could smile in response. "I don't share with them everything," she assured. "But if they find their own way, they may have the opportunity they want. My only hope is for them to fight fairly in some thanks for my help."

[BlackAkuma]

At the mention of sparring, Alyssa’s eyes slipped to the side, glancing toward the mats she had set up in her office, still fresh and unspoiled. She installed them after she convinced management they would help - after all, she could help a wrestler relive crucial moments in the ring, and put them into the positions they either feared or craved. She would be lying if she said she wouldn’t mind the chance to try that with Millicent, especially after seeing some of her dominating wins and witnessing what her impressive body was capable of. Those legs, in particular, were a work of art.

”The latter.” She eased back into her chair, almost starting to feel as if she was the being scrutinized. Millicent was a curious woman, no doubt. ”After I left wrestling, I went into therapy. I’ve always found the science of human interactions fascinating, I was eager to study it and doing so made me a rare commodity. There are many therapists, many wrestlers, but people with both skills?”

It wasn’t said as a brag, but a fact. She knew her worth, and there was little sense in pretending otherwise. They were both here because the powers that be thought they had something of value to add to the product.

Growing more satisfied by the moment, she leaned forward to jot down a few quick notes, reminding herself to keep an eye on Millicent’s activities, to watch her and see what impact she had on the LAW community. She would wager that this wouldn’t be the last time her name was uttered in this office. ”It’s good that you’re so ambivalent, so giving. So many of the more storied wrestlers are afraid of passing the torch, or they only do so in a way that furthers them, that pushes their agendas. If that’s not a trap you’ve fallen into, well, more power to you. I am curious, though,” She tapped her pin on a bullet point. ”You’ve studied LAW before you joined, surely. Has anyone caught your interest? Any baby birds you’d like to take under your wing?”