Lord Have Mercy!

From backstage, Clyde Gastin was finishing adding tape to his wrists. In the locker room, he sat alone, clad in long black tights, matching pads on his elbows and knees, matching black boots. trying to ignore the what could happen if he lost. He was excited though. He was a veteran and had denied his chance at the big time over and over but now it was here, his chance at the world title against an undefeated and very experienced wrestler. Butterflies were all over his stomach but he was ready. If his career died tonight, it would die with no regrets. He tried to push out all his doubts, all his worries about Mercy, the questions he had for her ever since seeing her with the always horrible Brittany Luuve. He had sent her tickets to tonight's show and hoped she'd be there to cheer him on. Maybe they could celebrate afterwards. Maybe. He didn't want to be pushy but he knew he had to make a move and just tell her...

"Gah...!" He shook his head, no time to be thinking about stuff like that. His love life HAD to wait. It was time to wrestle the biggest match of his career.

He shot up from his bench and made his way out of the locker room and stepped into the hallway putting on his black sleeveless denim jacket that exposed his tight abs and a pair of mirror sunglasses on his face to complete the entrance attire while he waited for Eliza, taking a deep breath as he leaned against the wall, trying to keep it together.

"Wonder where she's at..." He muttered to himself, expecting Eliza, they were going to go on soon.

Mercy had gotten to Kyoto a little earlier in the day. She knew that Clyde would be prepping for most of the day and took time to do a little bit of shopping and catch up with the few people she knew in the Tension office. She had been waffling about whether or not she should come though. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, but since it seemed like Clyde had gotten a new girlfriend and because f how busy she was with Brittany and her other blossoming relationship, she had all but resolved not to show up. She would send him a good luck text and congratulate him if he won, but that was it. However, when Clyde sent her tickets, she knew she had to go. She was even a little glad. Maybe she was glad she didn't have to make a choice, but she was glad nonetheless.

Once it was nearly show time, she decided to go backstage and greet Clyde personally. She slipped through the backstage area until she was near the entrance position. She managed to catch Clyde walking and rushed up to him, calling out.

"Clyde?"

She looked him over as she appeared in front of him and smiled. She looked him over and... "I got your ticket! Thanks." She chirped and smiled genuinely. "Um..." She then turned her head. "I just wanted to wish you luck before your match. You look... um..." She looked him up and down. Dumb was the word that came to mind but that wouldn't do. "Like Motley Crue?" She said, raising her eyebrow. He would probably take it as a compliment. She smiled weakly.

Clyde had his mind dead locked on Riera and the title. Right now he was already thinking up strategies, his opening moves, playing it safe, watch her striking and be weary of her kicks and punches...

Suddenly he heard his name from a voice he could recognize from a mile away. His heart stopped beating as this pink haired goddess stepped in front of him. "Mercy!" He exclaimed quickly, opening his arms to hug her before stopping himself, putting his arms down at his side before hurriedly taking off his glasses and brushing his hair back to try and look nice.

"Yeah no problem! I'm.... Really glad you came..." He said as he ran his fingers through his hair, turning away slightly, feeling like a shy virgin as he would put it. But he couldn't help it, Mercy melted him so much and seeing her here to watch him tonight meant the world to him. He just wished he could let her know that.

"Thanks a-..." He stopped only to pause very quickly before looking down at his attire. He might not have shown it, but inside, she cut him. She cut him deep.

"Mercy. Motley Crue wouldn't..." He stopped again, seeing that weak smile and he returned the look with a very cringy face.

"You don't like it." He said dryly before perking up. "Well GQ doesn't exactly have a 'wrestling' section you know! Heh." He mused while scratching the back of his head. He was nervous enough, now Mercy was here!

"H-How have ya been... It's been a while..." He finally managed to ask.

Mercy smiled awkwardly as she saw the first stages of the hug. She would have given it, but she was honestly grateful that she didn't have to. "Yeah." She said smiling. "Thanks for sending me the tickets. You didn't have to do that, I..." She paused. She was going to say she still worked for the company but ignored it.

"Ehhhh...." Mercy left the comment alone and just politely laughed at his attempt at a joke. He always tried so hard and the effort was, at least, cute enough to giggle at.

"I've been alright!" Mercy chirped and smiled a bit more. "I've been, uhh... Well, I've been busy." Mercy said. "You know how it is? That's why I never really, um..." She perked up a bit.

"What about you, Clyde?" She said. "Finally got your big shot! You must be excited?"

"Well I... I uh... I just wanted ta'." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck, hoping he wouldn't have to spell it out for her.

"That's great!" He'd say, hearing her cheerful response on her current status, listening to Mercy intently as it sounded like she was going to probably tell him why she never called. He would frown just slightly as she seemed to try and change the subject. For better or worse, the title he had been hunting finally wasn't on his mind.

"Yeah, I'm very excited. I'm like... Really nervous. But uh... What were you gonna say?" He asked curiously.

Mercy smiled. "I don't think you need to be nervous, just careful." She said. "I haven't seen a ton, but I did see a little bit. That Reria's..." She paused for a moment and then decided just to say it. "Well, she's kind of a bitch." Mercy smirked.

She ignored Clyde's attempt to steer the conversation back to what she was saying before and kept going. "I saw that match you did commentary on. I guess if you're wearing boots, you should be ok." She said, referencing Reira's constant exploitation of Ninjette's bare feet.

"Uhhh, that cowgirl chick is pretty crazy though..." Mercy said, eying Clyde. She'd had seen Belle in all three of her television appearances but that was because they all involved Clyde. "Um, I'd get a restraining order, if I were you, Clyde." She said, though it was hard to tell if she was joking or serious.

Clyde saw Mercy pause and tried to finish her sentence. "...Kind of a bitch?" He'd say before chuckling in amusement. He didn't show it, but he was a little dissapointed Mercy avoided why she hadn't called him, he hoped she didn't just forget about him, but he didn't want to pry.

"Oh?" Clyde perked his head up before showing off his wrestling boots. "Yeah I should be fine in that regard." He muttered while he patted the ground with the front of his toe.

"Belle. Yeah she's..." Clyde paused and thought about it. Belle was crazy but she clearly cared about him, but went about it in an entire wrong way! "Yeah...." He added again his eyes narrowed. He had hoped Mercy wouldn't find out about Belle, the way the girl acted around him, she could have gotten the wrong idea.

"I trusted her to take care of Ninjette while I kept Reira from breaking her ankle and she goes and busts her jaw anyway! Like, what the hell!" He huffed in frustration. "A restraining order might be appropriate." She said she didn't mind if he was in relationship, but Clyde wasn't going to trust that crazy cowgirl around Mercy.

"I can handle her though." He assured as he flexed an arm for Mercy and gave her a teasing grin.

Eliza had been rushing through the hallways of the Tension arena, a light pant on her lips as her legendary lower limbs carried her through the place to her intended destination. She was clothed in one of her usual dresses, though this one had far more elaborate trimming. In her hands was a mask and fan, another fan was held between her teeth. And in the mind of the dancing passion she was wondering about what Mr Gastin had done here.

Upside was that Clyde was getting a title shot, downside was well....Eliza didn't wish to think about that. Reira was one who in the eyes of the dancing passion was ill-suited to be a title holder, they were meant to be the ones who set the example. If Clyde could pull this off it would be one for the bards, a fantastic story to tell. But at the same time, the price of failure was indeed steep. Eliza knew what she had to do, seek out Clyde and offer her support.

Thankfully the British woman had been in Tension long enough to know where everything was, so it wouldn't be too long before she got there. Her steps were heard down the hall, rapid and lithe. She quickly got through the door into the locker room as she moved the second fan from her mouth to her right hand.

"Clyde! I!...." Eliza shouted as she entered, only to turn silent as she saw another woman in the room. The dancing passion's gaze quickly turned to her as she quietly caught her breath.

"Ah. Ms Mercy I presume? I'm Eliza Harenwood, nice to meet you." Eliza said, giving a small bow to the woman. Well Eliza had to admit, she was expecting someone a little bit taller. But there wasn't much time to think on that, Eliza coughed before stating "I um, trust I'm not interrupting anything? I can wait outside if it's required...."

Mercy grinned at Clyde's cheesy attempt to show how tough he was. She was about to respond when the beautiful and elegantly dressed Eliza walked in. Mercy's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the woman. She had vaguely knew who the girl was before, but she thought she recognized her as someone Clyde had been around lately. She didn't like it, not one bit and, worse yet, she looked down at her own clothes. She was just wearing a white, long sleeved blouse with black trim and a pair of black pants. How could she compete with a dress like that and such well done hair? Her pink locks were treated well, but they just rippled softly down past her shoulders with no flair at all!

Mercy tilted her head when Eliza said her name and bowed so formally. She didn't return the bow and just looked awkwardly at Eliza. "Uh, yeah... Mercy Wrenn. Nice to, uh... meet you... too..." She said and then looked back at Clyde.

"No, you're not interrupting anything..." She muttered. "I just came here to wish Clyde good luck." She then paused. "Why are you here?" She said with a slightly accusing tone as she looked from Eliza to Clyde.

Clyde heard the clicking from a pair of shoes come clacking down the hall and didn't think much of it at first. All his attention was so much on Mercy that everything else was secondary. But Eliza's sudden entrance smacked him out of it and the cowboy sharply lifted his head up as Eliza called out to him.

"Eliza?" Clyde muttered and blinked twice, noting that she was wearing a much shorter dress in comparison to long elegant ones she usually wore. He watched her notice Mercy and bow for her, earning a smile from Clyde.  So formal of her! Though, he could hear the awkwardness in Mercy's voice, he figured if he explained that Eliza wasn't exactly 'modern', that feeling would clear right up. Maybe.

But honestly, Clyde was just as surprised as Mercy probably was. "Good ta' see ya, Eliza! Ya' come here ta' watch me win the gold too?" He asked with a bright grin. All he was missing was Charlie, Bonnie and Duffy!