AV 15 Hardcore Title Boiler Room Brawl: Adrian Kytes(c) Vs. River Styx

Adrian was mid-way down the corridor, seeing a green sign which kind of looked from a distance like a man running for a door, or a fire... it was kind of far away and her face had been ground into the concrete not too long ago, so it could have been anything. Worth a shot, right?

Unfortunately for her, she would have to wait on finding out what that sign was as she had to deal with a light tube spiking her in the back. The impact knocking the already wobbly cosplayer flat on her front with a grunt of pain, slowly turning around to find out what just hit her "A Light tube?" She asked "Who throws a florescent light tube?" Honestly.

Bullseye.

Styx had been ready to throw as many light tubes as she had to in order to take Adrian down, but there was no need. Her first one hit its mark, so she could use the others for more productive, personal pursuits.

”I do.” Styx grumbled out the answer to Adrian’s rhetorical question as she limped after her, occasionally staggering as she got used to the pain in her ankle. She was going to be feeling that for days, so it was only fair that she give her opponent something to equal it. Probably in the back. She was really in a mood to dish out spinal pain, for some reason.

Styx pulled another light tube out and tossed the box away. ”Might like this more.” She lifted the light tube over her head and swung it down, looking to smash it across Adrian’s midsection.

Adrian had just amount managed to push herself up on to her hands and knees before the glass, metal and various chemical tube smashed down on top of her jacket, forcing the cosplayer back down, flat on her front as the light tube shattered over the cosplayer's spine. She'd seen light tubes be used in matches before and always tried to avoid matches with them, getting glass everywhere was not a fun time, anytime. At least the black vest stopped it from shredding her skin, but River had many more light tubes to use.

”See?” Styx took a wobbly step back and admired the view. Adrian Kytes, face down, covered in shattered glass. She wished she could get a picture of it to hang on her wall. ”More traditional. Thought you’d like it.”

She started to reach for the box again, when she caught sight of the area behind Adrian, where she’d been trying to head to. It was a little ways away, but it looked like it might’ve been leading to some sort of fire exit...and victory. The hardcore championship was only a minute away, and if she made a break for it, she had a decent chance of winning before Adrian could stop her. The ankle would slow her down, but…

Best not to take chances. Styx stepped over Adrian’s body and reached down, wrapping her beefy arm around the cosplayer’s neck from behind. She lifted the smaller woman up with ease and started to squeeze away, trying to put her into a basic - but effective - sleeperhold.

"...I don't..." Adrian moaned as the glass shards sprinkled around her, it could have been worse, it was about to be worse as the bald brawler decided that the simple holds were the best as she hoisted the cosplayer back on her feet.

A muscular arm coiled around her neck as Adrian instinctively tucked in her chin to stop herself from being choked, the pressure on her jaw from trying to keep River off like this was excruciatingly painful, and might have only guaranteed a broken jaw as well as death by asphyxiation for her efforts if her plans failed, but it was buying her time, she could use the pain to focus and fight back.

Putting both hands on River's arm to try and relieve some of the pressure, the cosplayer tried to turn around so she was at least side on to the bald brawler, giving herself enough room to let go with one of her arms, and use it to slam a loaded elbow pad into River's ribs.

”C’mere, c’mere…” Styx muttered as she pulled Adrian into her clutches and kept her wrapped up tight. She was hardly a master of submission moves, but that was the great thing about the sleeper: all she needed was a big arm, a lot of strength, and a complete lack of concern for her opponent’s wellbeing. Nothing fancy to memorize, nothing complex to do.

The success of the move was somewhat contingent on her ability to keep Adrian still long enough to properly cut off her circulation, though]. Even for someone with her power, that was easier said than done. Bitch was slippery.

”Guh!” And there was the pain, a sharp elbow in the ribs. Hard, too, Styx had taken enough elbows to realize when one had an abnormally damaging impact.

”You loaded your elbow?” She didn't drop the hold, but it lost most of its power as she coped with her burning bones. Still holding onto Adrian, but not enough to choke. ”What the fuck?”

...really, Styx wished she’d thought to do that.

Adrian's ploy worked like a charm. She had wanted to save the surprise loaded elbow for a shot to the head, but using it like this was working well enough. "Oh no!" The champion grunted as she fired another hard shot to River's mid-section "Someone is using a concealed weapon in a no-dq match." She said sarcastically as she tried to twist herself into slipping out of the headlock. River had always complained at the lack of weapons in the Hardcore Division, now Adrian was wearing one she wanted to complain.

And there was still more pain to come, as Adrian blasted Styx once again. Same spot, worse pain, and she was definitely working with a broken rib now. Awesome.

Styx wanted to throw a retort back after Adrian’s little remark, but she was unfortunately finding it a tad difficult to breathe at the moment. ”Damn it…” She cringed and let go of Adrian, moving away from her as fast as she could manage...which wasn't terribly fast at all. As much as she absolutely loathed retreating away from anyone, let alone the little shit who stole her title opportunity, she didn't have much choice in the matter. She was aggressive, not stupid.

Styx backed away and made her way to the nearest safe spot she could see: a men’s bathroom, off to the side.She pushed the door open and stumbled in, trying to buy time.

Adrian was ready and raring to go to work on the Bald Brawler, a little payback for all the torture River had put her through. Not just during the match, but throughout their whole feud. She was just in position to really start hammering away on her vicious opponent's sides only for River to pull something very unexpected. She retreated, leaving Adrian to swing at nothing but air. "Wah!" She cried out as her elbow hit where River was just a second ago, causing the former cosplayer to stumble forward as River limped off in a tactical withdrawl.

Now this seemed like the perfect opportunity for Adrian to escape.  River was leaving the hardcore champion to her own devices, and she could just about still walk at a somewhat normal pace while using the walls for support. But the last time Adrian turned her back on River, she got a light tube in the back. Not one to intentionally repeat the same mistake, she gave chase,limping along the corridors in hot pursuit. Even if it did lead to ugh, the men's bathroom.

The bathroom was surprisingly pristine all things considered, likely because it was in a part of the building only a few people actually hung around. Shiny floor, a couple of grey stalls, urinals, twin sinks, decent space to work with.

All Styx wanted was a few moments to breathe before she went after Adrian, but since the hardcore champion was hot on her heels, it didn't seem like she'd get that. That was fine, though. It was time she brought out her own party favors.

Styx reached into her pocket and slide her fingers into the knuckle dusters, making sure she got a firm, tight grip as she pulled them. The second Adrian came in, Styx would have a brass-knuckled uppercut waiting for her stomach.