Not So in the Past: Alaina Sanders & Arlise Christiaens

[Winter]

The further backstage Arlise Christiaens wandered after her victory, the sweeter it seemed to become. Perhaps it was having the time to sink in, without the crowd whose adoration she returned or the handful of employees who had briefly congratulated her on her exit from the ring.

This was her first victory in the most renowned of promotions.

A most contented smile remained on her face while she strolled her way back to the locker room. Tonight, she would revel in her victory, and...well, actually, she may revel tomorrow, as well. And the next day. For the next few days, perhaps. She still had not acquainted herself properly with the city, having spent most of her time unpacking and training in preparation for this very match. The redhead felt quite excited by the prospect of allowing herself a few days of relaxation and fun on the town in celebration, and her smile deepened.

First, however, she wanted to shower, though she was taking her time in getting there. In a pleased fog, she passed a mirror and stopped, taking a second to note her still-glistening skin and the few red marks that her slight attire revealed, the battle scars from her match that would likely be gone in a few days. Lise admired it all, but did not linger long, striding past and cutting down the next hallway as she started, ever-shameless, the process of peeling out of her outfit down to her black, sporty underwear.

Lise stopped when she spotted the rear view of someone...incredibly familiar. In conversation with one of the backstage hands.

Only once Lise analyzed the situation, pushing aside a touch of disbelief at her luck, did she realize she gaped at Alaina Sanders.

She stood there half-dressed, unable to pry herself from the spot.

[Highfly]

Alaina was chatting away as usual dressed in her one piece tiger print swimsuit, kneepads and boots. Tina had the night off, and Alaina hoped someone backed out of a match so she could get in the ring tonight. She had just watched a good match on TV while waiting for word of a cancellation.

As she talked to a couple stagehands one pointed behind her saying that a fan was here. Turning around Alaina saw the victor of the match she just watched.

"Hey there! It's Arlise right? That was some impressive work of you I'm just saw on TV!" Alaina said cheerfully as she approached the woman, waving and smiling. "I'm Alaina by the way. Are ya new to LAW?"

[Winter]

Of course, Arlise had both seen and heard that Alaina Sanders had opted to restore her career in the ring with LAW, and yet, as she peered at the woman, it still seemed strange that she should be here, appearing to wander backstage to ask questions of the stage hands. Lise would have imagined that someone with her history would spend all her time in promos, interviews, merchandising for the company, rather than lurking the hallways.

She looked very good still, from behind.

Never one to watch much in the way of television, Lise had not watched the Amazon often, but she was certainly one of the few she would bother to watch. In fact, when she had first forged her dream...

Before she could finish putting together her thoughts, the veteran was turning to her, and the distant stare of the Belgian slowly corrected itself, sliding from Alaina's hips up to her face. The distance remained for a second...until she realized she had best answer. It would not be a fine first impression should she bumble over herself, and Lise was never one to be intimidated by celebrity, even one whom she had thought of as quite something.

Especially not one who had just seen her win over a larger opponent.

"Yes," she greeted, giving her warmest smile and tucking her attire under her arm. She forgot that she wasn't exactly presenting her finest ring figure. "And I thank you. I'm incredibly glad to know you were watching and enjoying my work."

The woman introduced herself, but Lise offered her a slight shake of her head. "Don't doubt...I certainly know who you are. No one should call themselves a fan of the sport and claim they don't know you." Her eyes slid down to the older woman's figure again, with a sense of appreciation. "The outfit should serve as enough hint."

This was to be a...conversation, was it not? Instead of simply a brief greeting. Alaina sounded interested in her. "Yes, actually...that was my first match."

[Highfly]

Alaina smiled and nodded as Arlise spoke, shrugging when she said people should recognize her. "I did my best and had a nice career. I came back here last May right about the time it burst on scene trying to make a comeback. Having a family is great but I just suddenly felt an itch to come back ya know?" Alaina said, trying to puff herself up. "Not quite as lean as I used to be but I added some weight.... hopefully not junk weight."

Alaina smiled and looked Arlise over. "It looks like you take the gym pretty seriously, you managed to pull off impressive slams against a lady who weighed over 170lbs in your debut. If ya ever want a workout partner just let me know. I always love hitting the gym with different people, ya learn all sorts of fun stuff that way." Alaina said as she stood there with Arlise making small talk.

After a little bit of back and forth Alaina stood folding up her arms and tilting her head. "What made ya get into wrestling in the first place?"

[Winter]

"No, it's far from it," Lise assured. "Trust another woman when I say...you truly look magnificent." Admirably magnificent, at that. Certainly, she was a more full figure than Lise could remember watching when she was younger, but as one with plentiful curves of her own, she certainly thought they were admirable. Should she look so appealing when she reached middle age, she would be pleased.

The redhead nodded, her still somewhat sweaty hair falling into her face. She should have expected someone so noted for her work ethic to be able to notice a dedicated worker, even with those same curves hiding her work. "Well, I am certainly not the type to believe that one can succeed with talent alone. I-"

That was...an offer to work in the gym with someone of Alaina's experience? How could Lise possibly turn down that offer? "Of course! I would be a fool to turn down your offer."

This woman appeared...genuinely interested in her. It was not that Lise expected all celebrity to be of ill social grace, but this was a pleasant surprise, and she found her already-loose tongue freeing itself as the conversation continued.

Though she did not particularly want to talk of her past. She would not need to, as she closed her eyes and recollected. "Honestly, it was not very complicated. I had a passion for the sport, and to be one much like you, in fact. And to beat one like you" Lise smirked. "There were many times I thought of getting your head stuck between my legs..."

Getting one headscissor on an opponent so impressive would have thrilled her, years ago.

Now, they were peers. And Lise did not notice the undertones behind what she said to that peer.

[Highfly]

Alaina blushed a bit and bowed to Arlise. "I do my best and thanks for the compliment. I want to be fit to succeed after all." Alaina said, hearing soon after that Arlise would be interested in training with her. That brought a smile to Alaina's face.

However, it was the next comment that made Alaina raise an eyebrow. "Well honey, I keep pleasure relegated to alone time with Charlie. Also I promise I can power through the worst you can throw my way." Alaina said as she stepped up to Arlise, standing chest to chest with Arlise, the Amazon's hands on her hips.

[Winter]

Slowly giving way to a rare moment to beam as the idea of having such a professional - whom, as she had said, she had often daydreamed of fighting in her earliest days, before she had become more of a focused professional herself - willing to train with her became more of a reality, Lise considered how much this could benefit her. The redhead's own techniques had been developed...but for Alaina to be so sculpted and fit while in her forties meant she certainly had some fine trick up her sleeve that gave her the edge over many women who would have either lost too much weight to retain their power and figure or became much more round. Her goal was to continue to enjoy this industry as long as her health and fitness allowed her...and if she could wrestle into her forties, she would be thrilled. And the key might be a few tips from Alaina Sanders, a true honor, really.

As her mind dwelled on the possibilities, she...quirked her own eyebrow. Pleasure? Charlie? That was her...mate, yes? Several times Lise blinked at Alaina as the veteran stepped closer, rather certain that she had missed something, utterly devoid of how the comment about her scissor-punishing dreams of Alaina sounded. But as the older woman offered a challenge and came so close that Lise could only see her eyes and note that they were mere breaths apart...a fire quickly spread in her chest. Her raised eyebrows slowly knit to betray the sense of daring that arose at their proximity and the sudden challenge...and whatever its relation was to the pleasure comment.

Her own hands slipped to her full hips, and her trademark, subtly vain smirk returned. "I believe you know that I don't doubt your great skill in any sense...but I can assure you, it's not so easy to pry yourself free from my legs, or from any of the holds I would call my own."

[Highfly]

She had confidence, and Alaina respected that. The amazon smiled and didn't move an inch as she kept a focused stare aimed right into Arlise's eyes.

"I am more fit than the gritty butumpu lady ya just took out. I will slam ya so silly that your offense simply won't measure up. You are very good, but I am great honey. They don't induct ya into any halls of fame for being mediocre." Alaina said with a hint of pride in her voice.

"Let's say we have ourselves a match, and once I show ya what it's all about in the ring we'll train whenever you like because I find as much time as possible to stay close to what I was in my prime."

[Winter]

Lise...quite liked this. The suddenness of the challenge. She knew that Alaina was known for being a considerably fiery competitor, but she found herself sufficiently pleased that the woman would want to escalate their bold exchange into a match so quickly.

That did not mean she would let the doubts of her prowess stand...

"But they do induct you into the Hall of Fame if you defeat the legends...even if they are a few years past their primes. I doubt anyone has tested your limits in quite a while...the way I can." With the utmost confidence, Lise did not falter in her gaze into the older woman's eyes, seeing how far this could be taken. What resulted from these encounters...and other things, of course...was why she so enjoyed this sport.

And a match it would be. "I accept," she stated, without hesitation. "I need to see those old dreams fulfilled, after all, when I force you to tap to me."

[Highfly]

Alaina smiled and nodded to Arlise. "You better do your best, because I can do more in between those ropes than anyone you have ever faced in your short career young lady." However, when Arlise said that she would make Alaina submit the amazon let out a laugh. "Hahaha! You have gusto girl, I will give you that. Why don't we make it a submission match? I can slam ya around for a while and make you tap out just to show ya what I am made of." Alaina said with a raised eyebrow.

If Arlise accepted the condition Alaina would be a very happy wrestling mom. She tended to see cocky rookies the way she saw her twins at home. Full of energy, curious about how far they could push limits.... and sometimes in need of someone to set them straight.