Stress Test! Raya Ashberry vs Bandita!

[CyanDimitrik]

Standard Match
Winner Declared by Pinfall, Submission, or KO

No day was normal in the LAW arena for Bandita. She remains too new to the organization to call anything expected or humdrum. Heck, her last match was a spur-of-the-moment bout with a girl making an open challenge! But tonight was going to be even more different. Even more unusual. Because tonight, Bandita wanted to have someone in her corner. Not her family, no! They were always in her corner, but in a metaphorical way. Bandita wants someone in her corner officially tonight.

So she bid farewell to her family very discreetly outside of the arena, where it's least likely anyone would see them. Hugs were exchanged, assurances that the family would be cheering from the stands were given, and once the coast was clear? On came the mask. The adhesive material neatly conformed along her cheekbones, over the bridge of her nose, and along her brows in spiky, dramatic style.

It's risky. She knows it's risky. Not the mask so much as what she has in mind tonight. Because tonight? Tonight her family is going to get to see the girl she kissed on television now in her corner, ringside, supporting her. Her highest hope is that they'd come to understand why she did it. That they'd see in the ginger what she sees. And that they'd see how happy she makes her. That they're good together. It's the safest way to introduce them without actually introducing them!

Conniving little rogue that she is.

It all started with a text message.

<<Hey so it would mean a lot to me if you could do something.>>

<<I mean it would be fun!>>

<<Fun also. But also mean a lot.>>

She realized she was typing a lot without biting the bullet and just asking.

<<I have a match coming up tomorrow night. Wanna be ringside with me?>>

<<I don't think anything will happen! I just thought it would be nice to have you!>>

<<It's OK if you don't!>>

<<Oh but totally wear that wrestling gear if you do. I know it's not a match for you but I love how you look in it. >>

Then came the big night. Bandita had made it to her dressing room and finished getting changed out into her gear; the bandeau top and false vest, the strappy bracers, her briefs-style trunks with decorative garters, the tassel boots, all in dramatic black and red. She brushed her hair out until she was satisfied with its silky smoothness, and bound it back into a ponytail with a red ribbon bow. She fluffed her bangs, and gave herself a quick look in the mirror before nodding.

Next up, she secures the flamenco skirt around her waist, cinching the sash. And the whip... that gets a pause. If her 'date' shows up, it might be a little tricky to perform her usual magic.

But she distracts herself with her bolero hat, plopping it atop her head.

There's a knock on the door. Bandita's heart suddenly races, and she spins to face it! "Come in!"

The door cracks open, and a stagehand pokes his head in. "Two minutes. They need you in gorilla," the man says in English.

Bandita deflates and nods. "R-right... gracias..."

The door shuts again, and Bandita starts to reach for the whip.

[Letta]

Somewhere in Tokyo, at the Roswell residence... Laxia sat perfectly still with her eyes closed, drawing in one slow breath after another in what was, ostensibly, meditation. In practice, however... One sapphire eye cracked open. Her gaze slipped toward the phone resting on the table. Black screen. Nothing. Laxia shut her eye again with a faint huff, attempting to banish the distraction and return to her breathing.

In.

Out.

Stillness... Then,

*Chime*

Not just any notification. That particular bell tone belonged to exactly one person. Meditation was immediately abandoned. Laxia was halfway across the room before the second chime had even finished.

<<Of course! Just tell me what you need.>>

<<Anything with you sounds fun anyway...>>

Then the actual request arrived.

<<Oh! Really? I want to see it...! Is it really okay if I come??>>

<<Your corner means... right beside the ring??>>

A brief pause.

<<No, wait... I like that! I’ll come. I’m definitely coming.>>

Then came Bandita’s final suggestion. Laxia stared at the screen.

<<WHAT?! I’m not even wrestling! I’m wearing normal clothes. Completely covered up..!>>

Naturally, this declaration proved somewhat flexible. Because beneath the long coat wrapped securely around her by the time she entered the LAW arena was, in fact, the very wrestling attire Bandita had asked for. Nobody needed to know that yet. Unfortunately, navigating the sprawling arena proved considerably less graceful. By the time Laxia finally found the correct corridor, she was walking rather faster than dignity normally permitted, breathing a little harder after navigating what felt like half the building. Then she saw a staff member stepping away from one particular locker-room door.

Bandita’s.

Laxia slowed. There was nothing remarkable about the door itself. It belonged to an ordinary locker room, no different from dozens of others scattered throughout the arena. And yet, It felt different now. Perhaps because of what another locker room had come to mean only days earlier. Perhaps simply because Bandita was on the other side. Preparing. Getting ready for her match. Possibly in the middle of changing. Possibly without her mask. Laxia stopped several steps short.

“...”

That last thought was enough to make her swallow. This was her private space. She should knock. Obviously. A perfectly ordinary thing to do. So why was her hand suddenly hesitating in midair? Laxia shook her head briskly, as though physically dislodging every troublesome thought before it could grow roots, then drew one quiet breath and stepped forward. Her knuckles hovered against the door. Once. Twice. Then finally..

*Knock. Knock*

“Bandita...?”

[CyanDimitrik]

She said she wanted to come. She indicated she would! But she hasn't seen her. Something must have come up. It had to've! That's the only logical, reasonable explanation for why she isn't there! The thought that Laxia just didn't bother to show or even let her know she wasn't coming hadn't entered Bandita's mind. Only the crushing disappointment that something that held her up, and she'd not get to go out to the ring with her.

Why did it matter so much?

Bandita wrapped her slender fingers around the handle of her whip.

It mattered because it was her. Because every time she sees her, her heart feels lighter. Because she wants to share her joy with the world, with her fans, with her family. If they can all just see how they are together, they'd understand. It's only sensible! And at the pit of her heart, she needs her family to accept her. To see her the way she sees her.

Bandita's gaze hoods. She smirks.

Okay, maybe don't see her quite the way she sees her. That would be weird.

Another knock on her door. The girl heaves a sigh and hangs her head, annoyed that her whimsical train of thought over the pristine princess has been derailed. But before she can grumble at the stagehand, another voice breaks through. It's her!

She immediately rushes for the door. The whip is left behind.

The door opens, but Laxia has only a moment to react before a flying luchadora impacts her, arms wrapped around her shoulders in an embrace. This is starting to become Bandita's normal way of greeting her. But it's patently hers, and patently genuine elation. Her head tilts to press a firm kiss onto her cheek, offsetting her hat in the process by tilting it askew.

"One minute!," shouts a stagehand at the display.

Bandita will quickly release in a panic. "Aahh! No time! Where's my-- aah!" The girl flounders, her hands raised at first, then rapidly patting herself down in search of something. She's unable to find it at first, but then remembers! The counter!

She takes one quick step into the room, then pauses to look back at the ginger. She gives her a quick look-over, and her gaze freezes on the coat. A stare in disbelief. She reaches out to snag her fingers into the shoulders, and with a firm yank and noisy *PLUFF* of fabric, removes it from Laxia's figure! Dramatic reveal!

"Meet me at gorilla! Go, go!," she urges, then dashes back into the locker room with the coat.

The two barely had time to even say hello. In fact, they didn't!

-----

The arena lights dim.

As spotlights swirl around the capacity audience, the massive screens come alive with scrolling, sunbaked text:

VIVA
BANDITA

The music finds its beat, and right on cue, the curtains are thrown back and Bandita emerges under the converging spotlights to the excited crowd. She isn't opting for her typical vaguely mysterious airs tonight, however! She presents herself with arms spread wide, the brim of her hat tipped back to show her bright hazel-green eyes and eager smile! And in her company, the pristine aristocrat she'd wrestled quite recently in a grueling match!

The audience hasn't forgotten the kiss she stole from her! And seeing the two together brings fascination and excitement on a different level, whistles mixing in with the noise.

Bandita suddenly looks back to Laxia. "Stay back a second!," she calls to her, loud enough to be heard over the pumping music.

The moment she's confident Laxia has moved back a few extra feet, Bandita launches right away into her dance. Her right hand raises with the coiled whip, her bare thigh slipping through the slit of her skirt, hips rolling, her face turning in a demure way askance the cameras. Then with a flourishing whirl that causes the skirt to flare dramatically, the whip unfurls with a sharp *SNAP* out before her!

Sets of brilliant pyros begin firing off along the edge of the stage! The dance is punctuated with the cracking of the bullwhip, every spin ending in a crisp *SNAP*. The braided length of leather swirls in serpentine fashion around her body like a dance partner, ending in another hard *SNAP!*

*SNAP* *SNAP* *SNAP*

The volume levels of the audience become a steady roar with the display, several rows near the stage bathed in deep orange light from the flames.

With a deft flick of the wrist, the whip recalls into a tumbling coil before being caught in her hand again. Then the girl half turns to look towards Laxia, her smile brilliant and her free hand reaching out to her invitingly. Whether Laxia takes the hand itself or sees it as a call to step in at her side, Bandita intends to lead the duo down the ring in a confident, feminine stride, hips asway.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall!," begins the announcer.

"Making her way to the ring!"

"Standing at a height of five feet, seven inches!"

"Weighing in at one hundred and seventeen pounds!"

"And accompanied by Laxia! Von! Roswell!"

"La Bonita Bandoleraaaa~!" The announcer really went for it on the Spanish. Bandita always appreciated that.

"BAAAAANDIIIITAAAA!"

The spunky rogue trots up the metal steps at the corner of the ring, foregoing her usual entry. Instead, she pushes up the top rope and sits on the middle, creating a sizable gap for Laxia to enter first. Only afterwards will she swing her legs over to nimbly slide into the ring herself and begin to walk half the perimeter of the ring, arms raised to usher in waves of praise and enthusiastic adoration. It's a quick rush up the next set of ropes to perch upon the top cables straddling the next turnbuckle. Her free hand sets over her lips, giving way to a blown kiss out over the roaring crowd.

At last, she hops down the considerable height to land with a bounce on her tasseled boots. She makes her way into her corner, expecting Laxia to follow - and once there, tries to pass her whip to her. As well as her hat. And her skirt, once the sash is loosened.

"I'm really, really glad you came," she says amidst the process. "It means a lot! And you look so amazing. As beautiful as 'de day I met you!"

[Letta]

The knock had barely landed, Laxia’s voice scarcely following it, before the door flew open as though Bandita had been waiting on the other side all along. “Sorry I’m late..! I got a little los- t'wah?!” She never finished. Just like during their date, Bandita launched herself into Laxia with both arms, wrapping her up in a wholehearted embrace. Laxia staggered half a step beneath the impact before her balance caught up with her, surprise melting almost instantly into a warm smile. Then came the kiss against her cheek. Sweet. Familiar. For the briefest moment, Laxia simply let herself enjoy it.

“You know, today I-”

No chance. Bandita was already scrambling. Hands patting herself down. Eyes darting through the room. Looking for something, anything before suddenly swinging back toward Laxia. And stopping. Her gaze traveled slowly from top to bottom. Laxia noticed. Naturally. She shut her eyes and lifted her chin with all the practiced dignity of someone preparing to deliver a lecture. “What? I already told you I was going to wear whatever I wanted, so if you have something to say about my clot-”

PLUFF!

“....Eh?” Before she could finish, Bandita hooked her fingers into the shoulders of the expensive coat and yanked. For something that had probably cost more than several people’s wardrobes combined, it surrendered with astonishing ease, peeling away like gift wrapping to reveal... Laxia’s signature ring gear. “.....” One hand remained raised. Her mouth remained slightly open. Her argument, however, had completely ceased to exist. And before her brain could catch up, Bandita had taken the coat with her and disappeared back into the locker room. “My... my coat...” Laxia remained exactly where she was for several long seconds, utterly poleaxed.

-----

She did eventually find Bandita again at gorilla position. Not that there was time for anything resembling a proper greeting. Stagehands moved around them in a blur, checking cues and waving performers into position. Laxia pointed at herself with one finger, brows lifting in a silent- Me too? The response was an impatient gesture toward the curtain. Apparently, yes. And then Bandita’s music hit. The two stepped onto the stage together. The reaction was immediate. A swell of cheers rolled through the arena, noticeably louder when the crowd realized exactly who had emerged beside Bandita. Laxia glanced toward the luchadora amid the noise. She had seen this entrance before. But watching it from inside the ring had been one thing. Standing beside her while it happened was something else entirely. Here, every movement felt sharper. Every cheer struck louder. Every little change in Bandita’s expression was close enough to catch before the cameras ever could. It felt less like watching an entrance, and more like being invited into one. Then Laxia remembered what came next.

The whip.

She had watched Bandita’s routine before and found it difficult enough to look away from across the ring. Now she was going to see it from only a few feet away? There was absolutely no chance she intended to miss that. “Mm-hm!” Laxia nodded readily when Bandita told her to stay back. Her feet, however, proved considerably less cooperative. One step backward. Perhaps half of another. That seemed far enough. Probably. Then her eyes dropped toward the coiled whip. A curious thought slipped in. How had Bandita become that good with one, anyway? Practice, presumably. A great deal of practice. With targets. Hopefully only targets. Laxia swallowed. Perhaps some questions were better left unanswered. The performance began.

SNAP!

Laxia flinched. She had heard it before. Knowing it was coming did absolutely nothing to make the crack of the whip less startling from this close. SNAP! Her feet quietly shifted another few inches backward. Then another. Apparently, the strong desire to witness the performance up close had certain practical limits. By the third sharp report, Laxia had somehow acquired considerably more respect for Bandita’s original request for distance. Yet fear did nothing to diminish the spectacle. Pyrotechnics erupted in time with the music, orange light washing across the stage as Bandita spun through it all, every flourish ending in another perfectly timed crack. Leather seemed to dance around her rather than simply obey her, coiling and unfurling with an ease that made the entire display feel effortless. Laxia found herself smiling. Bandita wasn’t merely good at this. She was born for an audience.

When the routine finally ended and Bandita turned back toward her, Laxia caught her eye and gave a small, approving nod, the smile on her face saying everything the noise made impossible to voice. Well done. Then Bandita reached toward her. Laxia stepped forward to meet her. Side by side, the two began down the ramp, acknowledging the crowd as they went. Laxia found herself responding more naturally than she expected, small waves, smiles, an occasional glance toward Bandita as though checking her rhythm before matching it. At ringside, Bandita climbed the steps first and held the ropes apart for her. Laxia paused just long enough to offer a grateful smile and nod before slipping through. Once inside, however, she immediately turned the attention back where she felt it belonged. One arm swept outward toward Bandita in a graceful presenting gesture, inviting the audience to give tonight’s actual star even more noise. And they obliged.

As Bandita bounded effortlessly up the corner, Laxia’s expression briefly tightened with concern, eyes following her as though half-expecting gravity to suddenly remember its responsibilities. But when another wave of cheers crashed over the ring, that concern softened into something unmistakably proud. She watched Bandita soak it in. And smiled. Only when the entrance had finally run its course did Laxia follow her into the corner, where Bandita began passing over the various pieces of her entrance attire. The whip. The hat. Then, after loosening the sash, the skirt. At last- they had enough time to actually speak.

“Of course I came..! Thank you for asking me.”

Then Bandita complimented her appearance. Laxia looked down at herself before giving the luchadora a distinctly mischievous glance. “You’re only saying that because of the ring gear, aren’t you~? And here I was supposed to be completely covered up...” She lightly bumped Bandita’s arm a couple of times, teasing rather than accusing. Then her expression gentled. “Do your best out there, okay~?” A beat. Her smile grew warmer. “I’ll be right here beside you. You can do this.”