Cashmere’s Training (feat. Oleander, Velvet and Alena)

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Cashmere decides to go for an armbar, should Alena try anything she’d transition into a gogoplata.

[CaptainL]

Alena had given Cashmere this opening, so she should well have been ready for whatever came her way. But even then, Cashmere proved to be more skilled than she had given her credit for! It seemed the Norwegian was thinking two steps ahead. First, she threw her arms and legs around Alena's arm to drag it toward her, stretching it with an armbar. The Russian grappler threw her head from side to side, hissing and gasping under her breath from the pain that shot through her, but overall it wasn't anything she hadn't dealt with before. She had ways of dealing with it, and she started to throw some punches aimed at Cashmere's leg with her free hand. But Cashmere was prepared for that - and just then, she swung her arms around Alena's head to pull it closer before locking her leg in place over her shoulder, locking the pressure down around her throat with a gogoplata!

"Ackpff-!!" When Alena had heard that Cashmere didn't have much experience in grappling, she certainly had expected something less than this! "That's good...I don't know if you're picking up on things fast, or you've learned elsewhere, but if you know how to transition from one move to another and keep your opponent guessing, it'll go a long way!"

Still, Alena knew that if Cashmere really was a novice at grappling, she likely didn't understand the most efficient way to apply the gogoplata. If there were still holes in her technique, Alena could still escape. There was still hope for her! With her free hand, she tried to plant her palm against the mat and hold herself steady; then, she'd yank backward as hard as she could, tucking her head in to try and pull out of Cashmere's grip from behind. If that worked, she'd have room to bring her free arm under the leg over her shoulder and push it aside.

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Cashmere glares at the duchess, tightening her grip in the hopes of making Alena tap.

[CaptainL]

Alena had done her best to counter her way out of the hold. She was banking on Cashmere being new to grappling, and assumed that she wouldn't be able to apply the gogoplata at full strength. But Cashmere was proving to be full of surprises. Alena tried to push herself upward, and she tried to roll back to slip through her opponent's embrace - but Cashmere countered that in her own way, by applying more pressure to the hold! It was a duel of wits, with both girls trying to win back control at every turn, but Cashmere was staying on top - and she wouldn't allow Alena to surpass her!

Hissing through her clenched teeth, Alena fell back, her escape halted right in its tracks. Cashmere's grip came down on her with crushing force, squeezing even more air out of her lungs. Her face grew red as she sputtered and coughed. Try as she might, Alena couldn't get away - she had no choice but to accept that she was beaten.

Alena tapped her hand against the mat until Cashmere let go. Once she did, she would roll up into a seated position, gasping for air and rubbing at her neck; she winced as she touched the red marks that had been left on her skin from Cashmere's tight grip. "That...was impressive," she said. "I didn't expect you would be able to make me tap! Have you been studying elsewhere?"

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Cashmere: Like I said, Oleander taught me a few pointers..

[CaptainL]

"Did she, now?" Alena looked over in Oleander's direction - but, when she heard that Cashmere had been studying under her, she wasn't surprised. The Englishwoman had certainly given her a challenge in their match, managing to hold her own even against Alena's submission expertise, and though Cashmere wasn't quite on her level just yet, she had clearly taken a thing or two away from Oleander's guidance - lessons that were serving her well. That sense of flow, that knowledge of when to counter, and that ironclad grip - that was all Oleander. And Cashmere was carrying that banner well.

Still, with Oleander coming back into the conversation, Alena's gaze lingered a bit longer on her, and how she was looking off with a sullen expression on her face. So too, she remembered the strange aggression that had taken over her at the very last minute of their match, and how Oleander had seemed scared of what she'd done ever since. It had puzzled Alena ever since that night, but Oleander didn't seem to want to give her anything resembling an explanation. She and Cashmere seemed to be close enough - surely she'd know something more, if Oleander wasn't giving her the answers herself. Alena scooted a little closer, whispering to her.

"...Is she alright? It's seemed like something's weighing on her mind, is all..."

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Cashmere: Let’s just say zat Ollie has some personal demons to try and take control of, in more vays zan one..

[CaptainL]

"...Demons?" Now that was something that gave Alena some pause. She took a step backward, bringing a hand to her chin as she looked back in Oleander's direction. She couldn't deny it - there was definitely something that seemed to trouble the Englishwoman. She had seen it in their match, and she saw it now, as a dark cloud seemed to hang over her thoughts. A look of concern crossed her eye. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what she could say - she barely knew Oleander, after all. And she also remembered how she'd been introduced as a student of the occult. While Alena wasn't the most superstitious of people, the fact that she'd had such a change come over her so quickly and without warning - and how she herself seemed to afraid of it - did seem awfully ominous. Just what did Cashmere mean by that? Surely nothing good...

Looking down, Alena let out a sigh. "Well, I would offer to talk things through with her. But I understand I don't know her half as well as you do. She gave me a good fight, and I can't help but respect her skills. I wish there was more I could do to help. Just...tell her what I said, I suppose."

[ClockwerkSamurai12]

Cashmere: Zank you Alena, I vill let her know you said zat..

Velvet: I must say, you definitely live up to your moniker Alena.. it is decided! You and I vill face off against one another in an Iron Voman match, I von’t go easy on you just because you are younger zan me! Zat vay we can see who’s ze TRUE submission specialist is in all of LAW!! And trust me, I vill enjoy bending you until you are broken beyond repair!

[CaptainL]

Alena nodded her head to Cashmere. After her match against Oleander, she had nothing but respect for the Englishwoman - no matter what inner demons she might've been grappling with, or how literal those things might have been, no one was going to deny that she had proven herself to be a fine fighter and a worthy opponent. Certainly not Alena herself, who had been right there with her! She might have lost the match by a stroke of fate, and she might not have truly understood what it was that came over her opponent, but she still cared about Oleander. She cared about anyone who could so well live up to her example - and she hoped that she was doing well, even now. Even if she couldn't get through to her herself, she supposed this would be enough for now.

However, when Velvet announced her challenge to Alena, that quickly caught the Russian woman's attention even more! Looking up toward Velvet with a beaming grin, she stood a little taller, and as though it came to her just as naturally and instinctively as breathing she fell into a stance, balling a fist and beating it against her palm. "Is that so?" she said. "You know I'm never going to say no to a good challenge - especially not when I can test my skills against someone like you! Don't you worry - you go as hard as you want to; I'll be ready for it! Just don't get your hopes up about it being so easy..." She winked to Velvet. If she really was such an esteemed grappler, than Alena would be eager to face her head to head - and if she could take her down, it would only cement her as the icon she knew she was born to be!