Round Two

Carmen was getting to the point where she loathed coming down to Friction headquarters. There were a variety of reasons for this, and as she left their main offices in a huff, she had a hard time figuring out which one was the biggest.

Maybe it was because she had to travel to Tokyo, which meant that anything involving the Friction offices  required a day long adventure. Maybe it was because, even though she was a champion, she never got the feeling that they acknowledged her as such. They made her wait. There was always some sort of delay she had to deal. Any business with them felt like they were merely lowering themselves to speak with a lesser champion, like the lowest Tension belt wasn't even up to the fledgling softcore championship’s standard. Maybe it was the general snubbing that came from Lukretia’s staff, as if the idea of Tension even existing was anathema to them.

Maybe it was just the combination of everything. Regardless, when they called her over to discuss a possible crossover match, she knew it would be bullshit. Lo and behold, it was.

”Of all the stupid…” She muttered as she made her way through the halls, not even caring that she was attracting some attention from the crowd. The idea they'd posed was a good one at first, suggesting a match against Adrian Kytes. Hardcore. Perfect, fine, great. She liked Adrian, respected her, and they would've had a great bout.

The only thing she wasn't down for was the stipulation they'd demanded, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo: A piñata match. A piñata match.

Carmen groaned at the thought of it. She’d turned it down, hard, so hard that they'd wondered why. She tried to explain it to them. She failed, spectacularly, and it all ended up with her getting angrier than she ever wanted to and storming out. She was glad she'd decided against wearing her business attire for this meeting, instead opting for some jeans and her red Tension t-shirt. It wasn't worth the trouble.

That lead to the present moment, where Carmen was storming out and shaking her head, looking for the exit so she could start the long train ride home. She desperately needed to go the gym and work out her frustrations on the first punching bag she saw. Or Army, if he was around.

Now, if only she could find the exit out of this damned building…

Still a new gun in the arsenal that was AFW, Diana's characteristic of avoiding the introductory paper work had finally caught up to her, to the point where AFW officials were outright refusing her further matches until she bothered to sign on the dotted line. Doing whatever it would take to keep the fight going, Diana didn't take long to respond, arriving at the designated Friction offices, filling out the correct forms and leaving before anyone even had chance to say hello. Time at the office was less time at the gym after all.

Clad in her typical casual attire, red baggy shirt, denim jacket and black jeans, she'd rush down the corridor at a somewhat aggressive pace: she didn't have anywhere to be, just wanted to be anywhere but here, and the staff seemed to quickly recognise it, moving out of the way of the Italian amazon forcing her way down their office like a tank.

After crossing through what seemed like a maze of corridors, evidently forgetting the way in and taking a much longer route, she'd huff, as she'd turn a final corner, eyes trailing up from the ground to straight ahead of her, where she spotted the only person in the building who could actually peak her interest, hell, probably one of the only people in the world right now the way she was feeling.

"You gotta be fucking kiddin' me.."

It took Carmen a moment to register just who this was that she’d ran into. Part of it had to do with the fact that her biggest memories of Diana were when she was wearing considerably less clothing and when they were both trying to maul and maim each other, and part of it was because she had a dozen things on her mind, and it never even occurred to her that she’d cross paths with the crazy woman again.

But when the realization sunk in, it sunk in hard.

Out of pure reflex, Carmen jumped back and raised her fists, going into a boxing stance. There were a couple of AFW employees around the hall, but they all scattered the moment they saw the scene, not wanting to be anywhere near this potential trainwreck. She hardly blamed them.

She looked left, she looked right, and she didn’t see a single referee, but with someone like Diana, that didn’t necessarily mean anything. ”What are  you doing here?” Her voice was equal parts surprise, aggravation, and flat of anger. ”You didn’t have enough the last time I put you down?”

Diana merely stood still, as her presence seemed to spook Carmen. It was pretty evident Carmen wasn't at all afraid of the tone Italian, just wisely aware of the fact that she could pounce on her at any moment, especially considering she was actually putting the idea through her head, almost licking her lips at the thought of another near-fight-to-the-death.

She'd instead flick her hair back, pulling her head up somewhat so she could try to literally look down on the woman, as she'd step close, hands to her hips. As she got closer, she'd take a single step past the champion, so that she was looking side on, a dark smile on her lips. In a weird change, she looked to be the calm one, where as Carmen looked like she could try to floor her any moment.

"Jumpy..?" She'd mutter, rolling her eyes down, meeting the champions.

After Diana didn’t immediately attack, Carmen dropped her guard. Hardly because she trusted the woman, but more because she knew her style - if the crazed Italian wanted to attack her, she’d be doing it already. Regardless, Diana was still an extremely creepy woman who she had a particular distaste for. This was not helping her mood.

”Cautious.” She brought her arms and followed Diana’s gaze, looking her over. Fit as ever, no surprise. ”You don’t strike me as the sort of person who learns her lessons well.”

Carmen put her hands on her hips, as she centered on that cocky, evil little smile on Diana’s lips. Considering what happened the last time they met, she was far too sure of herself. You’d almost have thought she was the one who came out on top, by the way she carried herself.

”Do you see something funny, Accera?” She canted her head to the side, as if getting a different angle on her former opponent who make her look less crazy. It didn’t.

Eyes rolling up her foe, Diana couldn't help but once more check out the woman who'd knocked her clear out in their first encounter. Even dressed like she was ready for a lazy Sunday, Carmen still looked toned as hell, befitting of a champion. Pound for pound, if Diana and Carmen ever went head to head in non-physical athletic competition, the safe bet would easily be on Carmen, most likely running rings around the heftier, more solid Italian. That been said, the two would never compete in such fashion-no, if these two women ever competed head to head again, it would of course be a physical bout, where Diana's musclier frame would come into play, not to mention her savagery, matching with Carmen's controlled, cardio based style like chalk and cheese.

Diana would take a few slow steps forward, building up speed somewhat, as she simply gave a dark laugh under her breath at the champion. Carmen was of course forced to accept every and any championship challenge given the stipulations surrounding around her belt. That been said, Diana didn't appear as if she was building to take another swipe at the woman, mainly because given their surroundings and Carmen's attire, it seemed like it would simply be a inconvenience. In a weird way, Diana wanted as positive a relationship she could get with someone who'd already proven they could consistently give her the thrill she seeked. That been said, if Carmen dared or challenged her now, Diana would not refuse.

"I see a AFW champion dressed like she just left the bargain sale.." chuckling lowly at her own joke, Diana would slow down her pace once a little distance was created between the two, to see if this apparent jousting of words led anywhere.

Between her and her brother, Army, Carmen was the more level-headed one. Always had been, always would be. She prided herself on control, on doing the smart thing, on thinking things through. It was the main reason she’d managed to survive in Puerto Rica’s male-dominated boxing atmosphere. She had to be better not just physically, but mentally.

But there was something about Diana that was getting under her skin, bolstered by the foul mood she’d fallen into. The way she was so cocky and confident, despite being beaten. The way she threw her little taunts, and that swagger in her hips. A part of her wanted the Italian to take a swing at her, would’ve enjoyed the chance to act out her aggression, relieve the mounting tension. She was a fighter, after all, and a good match always helped take her edge off. This was her yoga.

Yes. She was about to have an Army moment.

She watched Diana move from her, then took a step towards. Her another followed, then another, until Carmen had slowly sauntered over to her rival’s side.

”My gym. 1:00 AM. Dress to wrestle.”

Carmen trusted that her tone and the heated look in her eyes conveyed the message well - they were going to have fight. Not on the books, no referee, no crowd - just the two of them. In case it didn’t though, she threw in one, final remark. ”I’m wiping that stupid smile off your face, tonta.”

With that said, she started to walk away, bumping shoulders with Diana as she went. A part of her warned that this probably wasn’t the best idea, but for once, she just ignored it.

Diana's eyes immediately shot up, as the champion threw a challenge the Italian was a little too shy to throw herself at the current time. She resisted a smile, trying to hide the fact that this is what she wanted. In fact, she'd switch her body langauge and tone, if anything making the challenge seem a inconvenience to her, as she pulled back her head once more, bringing her shoulders up. She understood the challenge completely, but decided to take a swipe at pissing the champ off. After all, a furious Carmen was a Carmen so much more likely to come at her like a wild animal.

"1am? For a match? Are you fucking seri.." She'd cut herself off, meeting the eyes of Carmen. She already looked pissed off enough, no need to work her further. Instead, Diana would smile, even more so after her further taunt.

She'd wait for Carmen to pass her, pressing shoulders, neither giving way as they uneasily grinded over the other. "I'll happily put you to sleep..."

Carmen didn't say anything more. She didn't look back at Diana or reply with something snippy. She did absolutely nothing else as she walked away from the Italian, giving her nothing to latch on to. Carmen was sure the two of them could've swapped insults all day, but she had more important things to do. Like ensuring that she got in enough rest to be 100% when the time came.

The rest of the day went by quick enough. Carmen got some good sleep, managed to clear her schedule and take care of a few appointments. When the clock rolled past midnight, she simply told Army that she had some late work at the gym to handle - true enough - and off she went.

With only a few minutes to go before 1:00, Carmen stood in the middle of a boxing ring in her gym, ready to go. She’d only turned on a few lights, not wanting to attract attention, so the ring was just lit well enough for two combatants to do what they had to. As for Carmen, she decided to dress a little less than normal - Diana wrestled in her bikini, so it felt fitting that she do the same on this rare occasion, donning a black two piece. The only other thing she had on was tape, circling her fists and feet, all the protection she needed and wanted for this.

Now all she needed was an opponent, and Carmen knew she’d be coming soon. The 24/7 warmed up with a little shadowboxing as she glanced between the unlocked door and the clock, her heart racing every step of the way. The last battle with Diana had been one of the most harrowing, intense experiences of her life, and now that they both understood each other better, the battle would only be more heated.

No referees, no rules. Just a fight.

It seemed Carmen didn't fancy continuing their trading of insults, a fact that didn't exactly annoy Diana. She was more action over words anyway.

Leaving for the small apartment she'd been renting since her time in AFW, Diana too made sure to have adequate rest. Being a early riser, Diana would train throughout the mornings usually, dealing with matches or the bureaucracy of been a professional wrestler, finding opponents, filling out forms, a schedule she suspected bared similarities to Carmen. You can never train too much after all.

She didn't even bother knocking on the gym, immediately letting herself in despite it of course been past the gyms usual hours. She didn't hear a sound besides her own footsteps as she'd pace to the central area, the same ring the two had fought in before, albeit briefly before their ring match turned into a all-over-the-gym fight. Eyeing up her foe, eyes meeting, she'd stand where she were, before stepping forward, beginning to remove her own jacket.

She opted not yet to speak; they'd already talked too much in her opinion, a challenge and a acceptance were the only words she ever cared to hear. Sliding her top up and over her free flowing hair, exposing her hefty chest already clad in wrestling bra, Diana would slide under the ropes, standing across from her foe, clad still in her jeans, soon to be removed, as she kicked off her shoes.

She took a quick scan of the gym, tilting her head, before turning back, eyes meeting once more, a smile shooting across her lips. Alone. Good. Even without a referee, it went without saying that neither were the sort to resort to dirty tricks, such as eye pokes, or low blows, in part rendering the need for a referee null. But then again, there'd be no-one to stop one of the wrestlers perhaps going too far.

Merely staring at her foe, hands to her curvy hips, she'd simply see if there was a response from her champion foe, before she'd slide off her jeans ready to begin.