Post by alyadmirer on May 8, 2016 20:52:19 GMT
Jungle Training rooms, 11.56pm
AUTUMN SAMMAIN:
Completing the last of her kick drill, Autumn Sammain gritted her teeth and sent a quick pair of low kicks ‘pwak-pwack’ing into the heavy bag. Finally giving herself pause after completing the gruelling routine, Sammain brushed her loose hair out of her eyes and let out a long breath. She had been alone in the gym for at least 15 minutes by her reckoning, and even someone as dedicated to her craft as the Joshi Phenom had to stop sometime. Especially as the upcoming exhibition match was against some green girl from the minor leagues whom she’d charitably agreed to educate since her last proper fight against that Californian bimbo had barely seen her break a sweat. Autumn began undoing the Velcro on her training gloves when her ring-honed senses picked up a movement of the door to her left.
“Autumn Sammain”
The voice was unmistakably female and sounded loosely British, but there was no apparent tone or inflection. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, Autumn recognised the speaker immediately, and this was quickly confirmed when the other woman moved silently forward into the pool of light around the training area. Upwards of six feet tall and dressed in grey muay thai boots, simple white leggings and a black sports bra, the newcomer’s face spread into a stunning smile.
Autumn’s eyes widened. The woman in front of her was one whom had met several times, all of them memorable and all of them taking place several thousand miles away. Unable to keep the shock from her voice Autumn responded “Astrid? What the hell are you doing here?”
ASTRID WHITE:
Astrid White’s smile vanished, her face as blank as her voice as she spoke. “Ms. Sammain, I was told you would be training here and wished to train also.”
Autumn paused, remembering the odd precision of Astrid’s speech and rephrasing accordingly. “I’m surprised to see you here in Bangor, Astrid. When did you leave Tokyo?”
“Anceline De Cyr has been quite persistent in inviting me to visit and demonstrate what I can do for this organisation. I arrived thirty minutes ago, but no employees were available to greet me. Eventually I was able to find a maintenance worker who directed me here.”
Autumn had yet to remove the surprise from her face. “Anciline wants you to join a developmental league?”
“Yes.” The single word was delivered flat and no elaboration seemed to be forthcoming.
“And you are aware that this is the equivalent of one of our dojo leagues, not the main roster?”
“I am yet to meet with Mme De Cyr but she has offered a substantial short-term retainer to, as she puts it, ‘show her I have what it takes’. She has offered me a match in order to judge my abilities first hand.” As she spoke, White pulled on her own training gloves and moved up next to the heavy bag.
“And you really came all the way…” she trailed off. Astrid’s oddness was almost legendary amongst Autumn’s friends and former colleagues in Japan, but almost all agreed that she was a difficult and potentially dangerous woman who should be avoided wherever possible. Despite this Autumn had found herself quite liking the directness and unwillingness to compromise which the other woman displayed, and she had an understandable appreciation for those who left home to show their skill to the world. But leaving a skyrocketing career and going all the way back to developmental? However, it was Astrid’s choice to make and Autumn had been feeling the call of a hot shower for several minutes now. Bending to collect her towel and locker key, the Dragon of Tokyo simply asked “do you know who they’re planning on feeding to you yet?”
“Mme De Cyr’s most recent communication mentioned a Demetria Andrews. I found little information or video of her during the flight over, but I understand she is a former FAWN star.”
“Good luck, Astrid. I’m sure you’ll do the Joshi tradition proud.” Now ready to leave, she nodded again to the taller woman and stepped past her. She was reaching out to push the door when…
“‹Ms Sammain, I have a question for you if that is acceptable.›”
The question was asked in Japanese, the language both woman were ostensibly more comfortable in. Autumn looked back over her shoulder. Astrid hadn’t moved a muscle.
“‹Go ahead.›”
“‹I understand from your questions that you feel I have been foolish to leave Japan for what has been offered. I am due to meet De Cyr following my match. I intend that she will make me a full member of FAWN immediately. How would you advise I do this?›”
Taking a single step back towards the training area, Autumn thought for a moment then said “‹In the ring, just show her that you are a class above whomever they put in front of you. You may have to make a statement. That should not be hard for you. When you meet Anciline, remember that she is one of the most spiteful women I have ever known and will try to make use of you if she thinks she can. You might choose to do her dirty work to get what you want, but know that in the long run she will always get the best of any deal.›” Autumn turned away again, then looked back over her shoulder again. “‹The best thing you can do is show her you are simply too good to not have in the main event. That’s what I did…›”
Autumn finally pushed open the door and left, hearing a murmured ‘thankyou’ just as it swung closed. Behind her, Astrid assumed a striking stance and began her daily training session with the heavy bag.
AUTUMN SAMMAIN:
Completing the last of her kick drill, Autumn Sammain gritted her teeth and sent a quick pair of low kicks ‘pwak-pwack’ing into the heavy bag. Finally giving herself pause after completing the gruelling routine, Sammain brushed her loose hair out of her eyes and let out a long breath. She had been alone in the gym for at least 15 minutes by her reckoning, and even someone as dedicated to her craft as the Joshi Phenom had to stop sometime. Especially as the upcoming exhibition match was against some green girl from the minor leagues whom she’d charitably agreed to educate since her last proper fight against that Californian bimbo had barely seen her break a sweat. Autumn began undoing the Velcro on her training gloves when her ring-honed senses picked up a movement of the door to her left.
“Autumn Sammain”
The voice was unmistakably female and sounded loosely British, but there was no apparent tone or inflection. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, Autumn recognised the speaker immediately, and this was quickly confirmed when the other woman moved silently forward into the pool of light around the training area. Upwards of six feet tall and dressed in grey muay thai boots, simple white leggings and a black sports bra, the newcomer’s face spread into a stunning smile.
Autumn’s eyes widened. The woman in front of her was one whom had met several times, all of them memorable and all of them taking place several thousand miles away. Unable to keep the shock from her voice Autumn responded “Astrid? What the hell are you doing here?”
ASTRID WHITE:
Astrid White’s smile vanished, her face as blank as her voice as she spoke. “Ms. Sammain, I was told you would be training here and wished to train also.”
Autumn paused, remembering the odd precision of Astrid’s speech and rephrasing accordingly. “I’m surprised to see you here in Bangor, Astrid. When did you leave Tokyo?”
“Anceline De Cyr has been quite persistent in inviting me to visit and demonstrate what I can do for this organisation. I arrived thirty minutes ago, but no employees were available to greet me. Eventually I was able to find a maintenance worker who directed me here.”
Autumn had yet to remove the surprise from her face. “Anciline wants you to join a developmental league?”
“Yes.” The single word was delivered flat and no elaboration seemed to be forthcoming.
“And you are aware that this is the equivalent of one of our dojo leagues, not the main roster?”
“I am yet to meet with Mme De Cyr but she has offered a substantial short-term retainer to, as she puts it, ‘show her I have what it takes’. She has offered me a match in order to judge my abilities first hand.” As she spoke, White pulled on her own training gloves and moved up next to the heavy bag.
“And you really came all the way…” she trailed off. Astrid’s oddness was almost legendary amongst Autumn’s friends and former colleagues in Japan, but almost all agreed that she was a difficult and potentially dangerous woman who should be avoided wherever possible. Despite this Autumn had found herself quite liking the directness and unwillingness to compromise which the other woman displayed, and she had an understandable appreciation for those who left home to show their skill to the world. But leaving a skyrocketing career and going all the way back to developmental? However, it was Astrid’s choice to make and Autumn had been feeling the call of a hot shower for several minutes now. Bending to collect her towel and locker key, the Dragon of Tokyo simply asked “do you know who they’re planning on feeding to you yet?”
“Mme De Cyr’s most recent communication mentioned a Demetria Andrews. I found little information or video of her during the flight over, but I understand she is a former FAWN star.”
“Good luck, Astrid. I’m sure you’ll do the Joshi tradition proud.” Now ready to leave, she nodded again to the taller woman and stepped past her. She was reaching out to push the door when…
“‹Ms Sammain, I have a question for you if that is acceptable.›”
The question was asked in Japanese, the language both woman were ostensibly more comfortable in. Autumn looked back over her shoulder. Astrid hadn’t moved a muscle.
“‹Go ahead.›”
“‹I understand from your questions that you feel I have been foolish to leave Japan for what has been offered. I am due to meet De Cyr following my match. I intend that she will make me a full member of FAWN immediately. How would you advise I do this?›”
Taking a single step back towards the training area, Autumn thought for a moment then said “‹In the ring, just show her that you are a class above whomever they put in front of you. You may have to make a statement. That should not be hard for you. When you meet Anciline, remember that she is one of the most spiteful women I have ever known and will try to make use of you if she thinks she can. You might choose to do her dirty work to get what you want, but know that in the long run she will always get the best of any deal.›” Autumn turned away again, then looked back over her shoulder again. “‹The best thing you can do is show her you are simply too good to not have in the main event. That’s what I did…›”
Autumn finally pushed open the door and left, hearing a murmured ‘thankyou’ just as it swung closed. Behind her, Astrid assumed a striking stance and began her daily training session with the heavy bag.