A Puerto Rican Mummy in Japan

As Carmen sat in the AFW offices filling out paper with the one hand she had that was still functioning, she couldn't help but think how much she missed her father. For the obvious reasons, of course - he wasn't perfect, but he'd raised her the best way he could, or at least what he thought was the best way. He was stern, but fair. He listened to her. He was finally starting to tolerate her orientation, which she saw as a big step for him. She had the good feeling their relationship was on a positive keel.

But his home was in Puerto Rico, and that's where he was going to stay. He had responsibilities at the gym there, people to train, things to do. On top of that, Japan really was not the place for an old-fashioned sort like him. He'd be happier on their own island, not this one.

With all that in mind, she particularly missed him in times like these. Back when he was managing her, he would have done all this paperwork. Now, it was all on her. Yay.

The fact that she could just barely move her hand wasn't helping things. Her right hand was covered in a cast and her left one was taped up, able to curl and grab things with only a little pain. Good enough to write with, even though she was right-handed. She would have liked Army to come along and help her with this sort of crap, but he was occupied getting ready for an upcoming match. The only other person she knew all that well was Lorenza, and she didn't even live on this side of town. It was just her, a large stack of insurance papers, and a receptionist that looked like she wanted to be there less than Carmen did.

You wouldn't think that applying for some time off would be that big of a nuisance, but it was - management was starting to get a little weary. This was the second time she'd been hospitalized after fighting Lorenza, and the second time they had to pay for her treatment. Sure, it wasn't rare for a wrestler to end up needing some care, but this was the second time it had happened in her quite short wrestling career. That made her start to look like a liability. Lawyers didn't like liabilities.

It took a good while to straighten everything out, and when she finally emerged from the offices, she was stiff as a board. She stretched out as the noonday sun beamed down on her, getting some of her many kinks out. The red A-shirt she was wearing let it cascade all over her tan skin, save for the numerous parts of her arm that were bandaged. Patches of skin, covered here and there, a rather big one covered up part of her right eye. A few of her bruises were exposed, still healing. She looked like she had been through the wringer, and she had - as much as she loved fighting Lorenza Saldano, she was glad she probably wouldn't have to do it again for a little while. She wasn't sure her body could take it.

Today was a big day for the short Californian as he made his way to the AFW offices with his dog. Charlie was clad in an old pair of chuck taylors, cargo shorts and a Back To The Future t-shirt. Today he was there to sign off on a few things allowing him to prepare for his third match. He was really looking forward to having a match scheduled again.

"All right big guy, once we drop off these forms we're going to go to the park ok?" Charlie said to the dog walking next to him on a leash as if it were a regular conversation with a human. L.C looked up and barked twice before shaking his head and looking forward again. "Yeah, I know its taking a while but you'll be fine you big baby."

As Charlie rounded the corner he saw a woman who looked familiar, and he couldn't recall initially where exactly he saw her. After a moment he realized it was Army's sister, who was ringside when Charlie picked up a part skill, part dumb luck win against Army. "Uh, hey whats good?" He asked politely as he approached.

It took Carmen a moment to recognize Charlie, too, but not because he looked all that much different than the last time they met. She had a rising headache all of the sudden, made pattern recognition a bit tricky. She greeted him with a smile and pushed past the pain when the realization hit, actually glad to see him again. She'd hoped they would have a chance to talk more - aside from Clyde, he seemed like one of the more genuine nice guys Tension had to offer.

"Charlie." She scratched her head with her cast. It was good for that much, at least. "Charlie Haines and dog." She waved down at his pet, too. Surprised they let him into the building, but maybe the Japanese were just less picky about that sort of thing than just about everywhere else she'd ever been to.

She dropped down, giving the dog a little pet as best she with her aching hands. "Cool seeing you again, loco." She worked the dogs ear a bit, searching for the sweet spot. "Who's this handsome devil you got along with you?"

Charlie was glad that Carmen recognized him, even if she appeared to be very under the weather. "He's Little Charlie, or L.C for short. How's everything going? You look like you've been through hell." Charlie said. He figured she was in some sort of crazy match... or car accident.

"Being all wrapped up sucks. My leg looked like King Tut's for a while, it wasn't cool at all." Charlie added, trying to empathize. He didn't wish any serious injury on anyone especially if they were the active sort. It just took all the fun out of, well, everything. Charlie wanted to ask about Army, but he really wanted to make sure that Carmen was all right. At least, as all right as someone bandaged up could be.

"Little Charlie. Poco Charlie." She poured her accent all over that last one, seeing if he liked that anymore than the standard flavor. Dogs responded well to Hispanic accents. She'd read that, somewhere.

"And yeah, I'd say it's not as bad as it looks, but it is as bad as it looks. Hell, might be worse." She managed to throw a weak smile up his way, before she turned back to L.C. and gave his nose a tweak. "Had a Backstage Brawl with this girl I fought way back when I was still boxing. Lorenza Saldano, tough bitch, blue hair. We ripped each other to shreds, you should see her."

Actually, no, he shouldn't. Lorenza was Friction and liked to keep away from Tension dealings. Still, it was a nice thought.

"Damn. I've never really had a rivalry with anyone like that before, thats pretty intense!" Charlie said. "My soon to be former roommate had a nasty fight with someone when she started her Friction career though. I swear you ladies are all nuts, I guess thats a big reason I am more comfortable fighting guys." Charlie said. Carmen seemed way more laid back than a lot of people he'd met in the AFW, so someone would have to be very angry, demented, or revenge driven to go at Carmen like that Charlie figured.

"So... how is Army holding up? Has he had any other fights?"

Carmen wished she had a good comeback for that, but the truth was that Charlie had a point. AFW did have more than its fair share of crazy women, and anyone who watched even one episode of Friction could tell you that. She'd been lucky to avoid so much of the insanity that plagued the league, though how long that would hold up was anyone's guess.

"Eccentric, Charlie. Not crazy - eccentric." She gave L.C. a final pat and stood up, her back cracking along the way. "And Army's doing fine, thanks for asking. Fighting you let out some of the steam - he's okay fighting women, sure, but it's been too long since he had a chance to really scrap with one of the guys. It was good for him, appreciate it."

She had to thank him. Army was too bullheaded to do it himself.

Its all good. I mean, I feel better about fighting guys. Don't take it as me thinking women are any less of athletes or anything. Hell right now Alaina would give me a hell of a run, but the way she's improving give her two months and she'd kick my ass all over a ring. I've just never hit a woman and I want to keep it that way as long as I can." Charlie said, surprised at how open he was.

He figured it was likely due to Carmen's apparent normalcy. She wasn't too much of a loudmouth, she didn't have overtly and totally pathological violent tendencies, as well as she was just plain easy to talk to.

"Relax." She gave him a little slap on the shoulder. It wasn't like his attitude was all that weird - if anything, she would have been surprised if he didn't have a little problem hitting women. He seemed like way too nice of a guy to get any charge out of it. A gentleman. The door-holding type.

"You don't want to hit women, that's fine. But, ah..." She folded her arms and leaned her head to the side. His niceness was good and all, but reality would have to play a part, too. "This is Tension, man. Anime Female Wrestling. You're only going to get so far wrestling with other men all the time. That's not what people are paying to see when they come here. So, sooner or later..."

"Yeah, I know its gonna happen sooner not later. It's just my upbringing I guess." Charlie said. It was all about his upbringing. However it wasn't what his parents taught him, more so it was him seeing what he didn't want to be. "I'd feel better if people understood it wasn't something I got off on, its strictly an athletic competition for me."

Charlie wasn't sure if this made sense to Carmen. He wasn't sure if she'd be so exposed to the wacky side of AFW that things normal people would say seemed out of place. Charlie just shrugged and smiled. "You must think I am nuts."