Best Served Cold

For all her struggles and frantic efforts to wriggle her arm free, Cass’ calm demeanor kept her in control throughout the tantrum. Eventually Gwen would slump down flat against the mat, having tired herself out with nothing to show for it except for a tighter clamping down on her arm and reassuring words from her captor.

Gwen cringed and hid her face from Cassie, too lost in sheer agony and embarrassment at having been so easily subdued that Cass felt the need to instruct her on how to overcome it…..daring to pity her, in the heiress’ mind. For someone as prideful as Gwendolyn to be spoken down towards while being handily beaten with hardly any offense to speak of…Cassie may not realize how hard of a pill this was to swallow for Gwen.

“Gaaaah!!” The sudden elevation of Cassie’s hips shot searing needles of pain into Gwendolyn’s hyperextended elbow, overwhelming her senses as she arched her back. She had never experienced such excruciating agony yet in this league, and only wished for it all to end. It was then that she was reminded of Cassie’s record for limb fracturing, so when she thought she heard a popping sound in her arm, Gwendolyn swallowed her pride and tapped out furiously on the mat.


“Enough!! Enough!!”

Cassie gently eased Gwendolyn out of the hold and vigorously rubbed the inside of her elbow before rolling back over her shoulder. She knelt on the mat with her hands on her thighs and looked over her training partner. She seemed upset.

"Good job, Gwendolyn," she said sincerely. "You're really tenacious. You have some good ideas. But really just try to focus on staying calm, especially in training. And there's really nothing bad about tapping when someone catches you. In the ring, you can sacrifice your body a little to hold out for an escape, but in training... Just tap and move on. Like... With that kimura earlier from backmount, I could've broken your arm if I wanted to. I let you get away with that one, and it's okay, but if you want to learn, you have to learn to tap first."

She stuck out her hand. "Thanks for training with me."

Cassie's hand was greeted not by Gwendolyn's but instead by a bespectacled black haired girl in a blue Primol jumpsuit. Yayoi had been watching the entire thing, fretting with each new hold the pint sized grappler applied to her employer. She let it go on as long as it could, but she wavered slightly on whether or not she should intervene sooner. Ultimately, she decided to let Gwendolyn see if she could save her own pride or, maybe, she needed to see what Gwendolyn was capable of. Either way, Gwendolyn would not be so forgiving now that she had abandoned her dear pride and every second that ticked away without someone stepping in would no doubt bruise the heiress' pride even more than pulling her away.

Grip, one hand, firm shake. "Well, the maîtresse certainly appreciates your attempts to give advice, however, her own rigorous training demands a much more refined training practice. I hope that you, Miss Cassandra, can appreciate the time that SHE has shared with you. I know you'll come to appreciate this day for as long as you're a professional in this league."

She didn't skip a beat. "Unfortunately, you'll not get to continue to sample the fruits of the maîtresse' labor any longer because she is indeed a very busy woman. Really, it's astonishing just how much she can cram into a schedule, even allowing some time to mingle with your kind."

Yayoi bowed abruptly. "Good luck in your future endeavors, Miss Cassandra." She said and looked back at Gwendolyn. "Your ten fifteen has been moved to eleven thirty, maîtresse." Yayoi said with a respectful bow. Her other hand was busy thumbing an excuse to Nikolette as to why Gwendolyn would not be there when she arrived and that they should meet later for lunch. Yayoi was very good at multitasking.

Gwendolyn rolled to her knees and feverishly started soothing away whatever lingering pains remained in her strained elbow. Her head hung low with her golden curls shielding her cringing face as Cassie offered her insights on the heiress’ performance. There were kind words and earnest advice spoken towards Gwen, yet Cassie’s cheerful good will would hardly reach her though. Scattered thoughts bounced around her mind, including the idea that if this were an actual match Cassie would have emerged victorious in record time, especially if her earlier boast about the kimura was accurate. Her composure started to crack as that cold reality settled in, her watery eyes peering up to see the extended hand in friendship offered to Gwen...thankfully intercepted by her stalwart assistant Yayoi.

It may not have been apparent to her bespectacled number one associate but her intervention could not have been better timed, the heiress’ shaken confidence mending itself while Yayoi handled Cassie with all the professionalism Gwen had come to expect by now. Yayoi’s grandiose words served not only to remind Cassie of who she was addressing but also to rebuild the cracks in Gwen’s normally unbreakable confidence. Gwendolyn owed much to Yayoi in this brief moment of weakness. She rose to her feet and took a deep breath, her regal and pompous demeanor restored as her dried eyes fixated on Cassie even while her associate spoke to her from her side and expertly managed her schedule.

“Yes...my apologies dear Cassandra, but this dalliance has taken up more of my time than anticipated. Never worry though, you’re efforts were not ill spent. This encounter has been most…enlightening, in fact I heartily anticipate the moment our paths will cross again. Until then, do take care Cassie….and please, give Shinobu my best~…” With a flick of her hair, Gwen turned her back to Cassie and proceeded out of the ring with her entourage close behind. Only Yayoi was brave enough to be at her side when the other trainers recognized Gwendolyn to not be in the best of moods. Machinations and future planning unfurled in her mind as to what her next play would be. So far Gwendolyn had triumphed in this league by procuring targets, adversities to overcome in order to cement her standing as one of the best this league has to offer…and Cassie may have just volunteered herself. All in due time…

"Okay... bye!"

Cassie waved to Gwendolyn and her... friends. Yayoi seemed nice enough, even if she was totally wrong about everything. She couldn't fault her for that, though.

She sat down on the mat with the bottoms of her feet together and looked around the gym while she leaned forward and stretched her legs. That went pretty well, she thought. She hoped she didn't hurt Gwen's feelings with her coaching. She knew how people could get sensitive when they were bested, even in training. That was okay. Cassie was just glad to help. And happy that Gwen was being a little nicer than last time.