Tempest Tournament Semifinals: Ren Hitasaki Vs. Gwendolyn DuPont Bettencourt

After being declared the victor in her match against Mystis, Ren didn't have a lot of time to prepare for round two in the Tempest tournament, but she was ready enough. She was in a no-disqualification match, which was the best thing to her. She loved these matches, especially since she could go all out. Ren's music popped and she ran out towards the ramp, grinning and waving at the fans...they were starting to cheer for her ever since she'd won her first match in the AFW. She ran down the ramp then, one hand extended to high five any fans at the barrier as she then made her way around the outside of the ring, even taking pictures with some of them, hugging others, even giving a kiss to their cheeks. Once she'd made her way around the ring to greet the fans, she slid into the ring and made her way to her corner, climbing up to take a seat lazily on the top turnbuckle, waiting to see her opponent...she hoped that the girl was cute.

For all the of the upbeat cheerfulness Ren's entrance had brought out of the audience, the mood would become an immediately uptight affair with the Imperial Rose’s sovereign theme emanating from the speakers. The echoing vocals and orchestral opera heralding the entrance of the magisterial aristocrat, striding gallantly through the curtains to the overwhelming greeting of visceral booing.

The dignified heiress with Victorian-esque blonde curls would saunter haughtily down the ramp, basking in the resoundingly negative reaction with Queenly waves towards her numerous detractors. Her accompanying four man entourage keeping the incensed rabble at bay by acting as a human barrier on the sides of their illustrious employer. The practiced cadence by which she carried herself exuded class and sophistication, strolling down the ramp and up the stairs into the ring in a manner more akin to strolling down a red carpet. For all of their vitriolic spite, Gwen's position as one of the premier talents in the league was nevertheless becoming further cemented by her controversial but still substantial Entropy title reign and subsequent victories...

Including the unmitigated demolishing of her previous and adorable opponent. Her fiery eagerness to reign victorious in this tournament having been fanned by the decisiveness of her first round victory, smirking confidently as she performed several elongated leg stretches on the top rope. Once sufficiently limbered up, the heiress would turn to approach the middle of the ring with a benign and wholly unimpressed expression towards Ren.

"Opportunities such as these, to face your exalted superiors, come but once in a blue moon, my dear. I rarely have the time for the common people, so do at least attempt to stand on ceremony when in my presence~..." Gwen scolded with her arms folded across her chest in an authoritarian tone of voice in regards to Ren's lackadaisical posture on the top turnbuckle.

Once she saw the other girl's entrance start, she crossed her arms over her chest and watched as the female came out from the back with a little entourage. She was even cuter than she could have thought, but seeing that she almost appeared to be a queen of some sort, she decided to be more proper, climbing down from the turnbuckle before lowering herself to a knee, bowing her head in respect to the woman with a soft smile. "It's an honor to be in your presence, your grace..." She did know how to act in the presence of anyone that was of royal descent, but she hadn't realized she was fighting someone of such descent. She'd have to be careful not to hurt them then...at least, too badly.

"I do apologize for my posture, I had no idea that I was going to be in your presence..." She looked up to Gwendolyn, as if asking for her forgiveness. She sounded quite truthful, which, to her credit, she was.

Whether it was blatant pandering to her boundless ego or a wholly truthful acknowledgement of Gwen's superiority, the heiress was nevertheless pleasantly taken aback by Ren's unexpectedly respectful mannerisms. All too often her opponent's wouldn't have the strength of character to prostate themselves before Gwen and conduct themselves properly in her presence. Her assessment of Ren rising substantially as a result, smirking downward towards Ren and allowing her opponent to bask in her radiance and issue her due apologies.

"Ah, you were unaware you say? Well, I'd imagine that marks this as an occasion to celebrate then, doesn't it? Gifted with the privilege of my divine company whilst also testing your mettle in the ring against one such as myself..." Gwen chimed while placing her finger tips on her chest and glancing skyward before returning her attention back towards Ren. "Gwendolyn Dupont Bettencourt. A pleasure, I'm sure~..." The heiress softly introduced herself in her posh vocals while extending her dainty hand towards Ren with her palm pointed downward. Offering her opponent the opportunity to greet her properly and respectfully by kissing her hand and perhaps even performing a curtsy for Gwen once Ren's back on her feet~...

She smiled calmly and just looked to the woman...she was much cuter than she had expected, especially for someone of such a royal descent. She took the woman's hand in her own and pressed her lips to it, placing a soft kiss on the back of the woman's hand, before standing to her feet. She didn't wear any sort of skirt or anything that she could grip, but she offered the woman the best curtsy that she could in her attire. "It is an honor, indeed...I am Ren Hitasaki, and I look forward to our match..."

Minor grievances with Ren's lackluster curtsy aside, Gwen smiled primly throughout her respectful opponent's courteous gesture. Not since encountering her fellow aristocrat, Akiha Kosha, has Gwendolyn been in the company of an individual who adheres to grace, civility, and treats her with due veneration. She remained to be pleasantly surprised in regards to how thoroughly she was enjoying the company of her Lightning Tournament adversaries.

"As am I, my dear~...Though the highest form of honor you can show me is by proving yourself to be an adequate challenge. Perhaps then we can discuss future endeavors~..." Gwen said while taking a few steps back and circling the ring opposite Ren, the ringbell sounding off in the distance. The heiress gradually eased towards Ren with her hands extended before attempting to grab Ren's wrist and apply a twisting arm wringer while stepping to her side.

She just stood there and smiled calmly, just looking to the woman who she was going to be facing. And potentially beating in the match, but if she were to lose she wouldn't argue too much. She did the same as her opponent, backing away and slowly circling the ring, then she approached slowly, but she was somewhat surprised as Gwen grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm, wincing a bit as Gwen started to take control already in the first few moments of the match...

Not that proper greetings were set aside, the heiress could attend to business at hand. After successfully dashing in and catching Ren's wrist, Gwen would reaffirm the hold with several torquing strains of the arm wringer. Making sure to keep Ren arched over from the twisting pain in her arm, the heiress gleefully smirking down at her throughout it all.

Once Ren was bent over to a certain degree, Gwen would attempt to make a smooth transition into her next maneuver. She would drop down to one knee and grab on to the back of her opponents neck and her hair, yanking her up and over Gwen's shoulder for a textbook snapmare that would flip Ren over and either land her flat on her back or seated on her rear.

"Agh!" She cried out while Gwen continued to strain her arm, though after a few moments she felt Gwen grab her neck and hair, and knew what was coming...she was then flipped forwards over the female's shoulder, yelping slightly in surprise as she landed flat on her rear end, though she had enough cushioning there to make it a softer landing. "Oww..." She groaned, though she had a feeling whatever was coming next would be even more painful.