Kindred Spirits

It was probably just conversation fodder, but Samiya did bring up an interesting little question. As Spider recalled, there wasn’t terribly much to her paperwork and hiring, though she assumed that was because she was something of a known quantity, fresh and tested.

”I’m not sure they care terribly much who they hire, really.” Spider gave a soft shrug and sigh, then started stretching. ”I’ve seen them put people in the ring who don’t even seem to know a single move. Like…” Spider struggled to remember the man’s name, then gave up, figuring it wasn’t important enough to strain her brain. ”This skimpy fool with blue hair. Uses pranks to wrestler - joy buzzers, trick candy things like that. Idiotic.”

Spider folded her arms and huffs, resisting the urge to go on a tirade. Her focus was quickly taken away as cell phone buzzed, giving her a reminder that her target should've been in place by now.

She turned back to Samiya and opened her mouth, wanting to respond to her last comment with the first phrase that came to her mind: ‘You couldn’t afford me’. A bit rude. Ruder than she wanted to be with someone she found marginally amusing, at least. Samiya hadn’t given Spider any reason to dislike her yet, and she figured it was best to keep it that way.

”Not sparring with someone utterly worthless would be payment in and of itself.” Spider gave a slight nod at the notion. ”I’d frankly be willing to do it today, if you don’t mind waiting a little. Unless…”

Spider tapped her chin as a slight thought occurred to her, a little idea that was worth exploring.

”...unless you might be giving me an added hand.”

Spider almost certainly had a point there – Samiya would like to say that they probably just wanted their wrestlers to be sane and intelligent enough to sign a contract that stopped them suing AFW in case of serious injury but… Then she remembered that the company employed that Sabre creature.

So, really, there wasn’t much to add. As for what she had to say about the complete lack of skill of certain of the roster, well, that was self-evident. She didn’t immediately recollect the wrestler – she used the term loosely – that Spider had mentioned but her knowledge of Tension’s staff was far less encyclopaedic than of Friction.

If that was the calibre of competition, she was quite glad about that too.

Fortunately, she was saved from the need to do anything more than hmph and shake her head by the sound of Spider’s phone alarm.

Then her eyes narrowed at the pause before the blonde answered. Perhaps she was being inordinately suspicious but the slight pause had been… Not telling but indicative that she’d been about to say something and thought better of it for whatever reason.

Still, the answer she got was fair enough and a sentiment she could definitely agree with. The trainers here were useless and she’d never been keen on sparring with potential opponents. She didn’t like to give away her tricks ahead of time.

The tattooed beauty was about to tell Spider she didn’t mind hanging around a while or arranging to meet when something else occurred to the blonde.

She wanted Samiya to give her a hand

Samiya blinked again, considering her options.

”… I might be amenable,” She allowed after a moment, ”What did you have in mind?”

Inquisitive one, Samiya was.

Not that Spider minded. Truth told, this might have been the first real conversation she’d had in a good long while. Most people were too irritating to hold her interest for very long - she didn’t watch much television, had no mind for sports outside of wrestling, and so much as one unironic usage of the word ‘hashtag’ was enough to make her walk away from someone and never speak to them again.

This, in contrast, was quite tolerable. It was far too early to use such lofty words as ‘friendship’, but she was at least open to the possibility.

Now, if she could just get the two of them on the same page. She had the feeling they were close, but not quite there. Not yet.

After slipping into her sandals, Spider started to make her way out of the locker room, ushering Samiya to follow. She grabbed a towel as she passed the rack and draped it over her shoulder, getting it wedged in tight with her neck.

Spider pondered for a moment as she slowly strolled - the steps of a woman who wanted to get some place, but wasn’t going to hurry too much to get there.

She looked up to the ceiling, then brought her violet gaze back to Samiya. ”I like to squeeze people. I like to wrap them up, I like to stretch them, I like to bend them, I like to break them.” She spoke casual, but there was a tiny hint of satisfaction underneath.  ”This is a way for me to make money while doing the things I love, and getting in some training along the way. Doing it to someone who deserves it is a welcome bonus, and since he's Tension, there's little chance of any blowback - so far as I know, he's not even allowed to get involved in Friction affairs.”

Spider pointed down the hall and wagged a finger. ”If he's anything like the descriptions, he'll be all too eager to entertain any woman who gives him the time of day. I lure him into the ring, convince him its all a light tussle, then go about picking him apart. That will go doubly fast if you join in, and it’ll be a good chance for us to go over our submissions and talk shop.” She took a little pause before she spoke again, making a quick decision. ”And I’d be willing to share some of the profit with you, since we’d be sharing a target. Say, 5,000 yen of my total 11,000. Does that sound agreeable?”

Spider hated sharing...anything, really, but especially money. Still securing an ally could pay dividends in the future. It seemed like a worthwhile investment.

Samiya paused a moment, considering her options, but she hardly was in a rush to get anyway. She could take the time to see what Spider had in mind. And she had to admit to being curious. Walking fast, she caught up with Spider before the blonde began talking, the taller woman moving slowly enough that the tattooed wrestler didn’t have to speed up to keep up.

When the conversation resumed, it did so with a monologue from Spider that honestly did not surprise Samiya all that much. Not viewing herself as exceptionally sadistic, she nonetheless knew that in all probability there were plenty in Friction not to mention Tension. Certainly, she didn’t flinch at the matter of fact comment; really, given what Spider had already explained, it only made sense.

She also didn’t say anything, simply listening patiently and attentively as the two women made their way through the halls. Not that she disagreed – if men were that vulnerable to a woman with a publicly available combat record and a reputation, particularly anyone who worked for AFW, they only had themselves to blame when she…

Well. Broke them. And Spider got the opportunity to practice and made money into the bargain. It was a very sensible system, she decided, her approval shown in the small smile as she listened.

For all that, she hadn’t exactly expected what came next.

An offer to join Spider for what followed. Interesting…

The offer of money certainly didn’t hurt. Wrestling wasn’t a cheap career, and Samiya ate considerably more than most people her size to maintain her fitness levels. 5,000 yen certainly wouldn’t hurt her finances.

In addition to which, it would give her a chance to hone her skills, ‘talk shop’ and get to know Spider without any apparent consequences.

Was there a downside? She couldn’t see one.

”Most agreeable. I quite enjoy breaking people too, and all those other bits along the way,” She answered with a grin, before waving at her clothes, ”Should I change? I’ve got my gear with me if this isn’t good enough.”

She raised a shoulder, indicating the bag she had slung over it.

Were Spider being completely honest - which she rarely was, really - she would admit that she was a tad worried, as Samiya seemed to be giving the proposition pause and thought. Not that she needed her new companion’s help against such a weak little wastrel, but it would be nice to do something she enjoyed with someone else who might enjoy it. A truly rare experience, given her particular proclivities.

Spider wouldn’t and couldn’t know how well the offer of money swayed Samiya’s choice, but all the same, she was glad when it came in the positive. If what Spider gleamed of her skills was true, this would be an enlightening, motivating sort of experience for them both.

So, they were on the same page, or at least in the same chapter. Now, Spider just had to determine how best to proceed.

Before she answered Samiya’s question, she opened the door and peeked inside, making sure the target was still there - which he was. Ready and waiting to be plucked. Good boy. ”You can change, yes. In fact…” She tapped her chin, and a little smile began to creep over her face. ”Let’s make this appear spontaneous. I’ll go in first, make my way to him and strike up a conversation. By the time I convince him to go to the ring, you should be back. Just come over to us, and I’ll introduce you as an old friend and suggest you join us in the sparring.”

Spider reached down and ran a hand over her thighs. Smooth, sinewy, powerful, dangerous. ”By the time we let him know what it’s really all about, he won’t be in a position to run away. Or do much of anything with his legs, I’d wager.”

Samiya didn’t push Spider for a reply. She waited, quiet and patient in the background, as the blonde checked on whoever was beyond the door. Nor when told that she should change did the dark-haired submission specialist move. She let Spider talk, let her set out what she had in mind going forward. She would have had her own ideas for how they could go about it but, in the here and now, this was the blonde’s show. Samiya was just helping out.

It was up to Spider to call the tune, Samiya was only there to dance. And, given Spider knew what she was doing, she had no need to disagree with what was set out. As the other woman had implied, the man wouldn’t know what had hit him. And squeezed him. And broke him.

She was looking forward to seeing Spider in action, that was for sure.

”A good plan,” the tattooed beauty agreed after a moment spent in thought, taking a quick glance back the way they’d come and confirming in her own mind the route first back to the changing rooms and then to the ring. ”I’ll get ready and meet you in the ring.”

A small smile crossed her own lips.

”Just be sure to leave some for me, alright?”

With that said and a friendly nod to Spider, Samiya jogged briskly back to the changing room. Once there, she began to strip her way out of her civilian clothes in preparation to don her black ring gear. She had it down to a fine science but it still took time – between that and needing to get to the ring, Spider would have more than enough to set everything up on her end.

Meanwhile, in the Tension gym, Ryo Kamiya was enjoying a light workout.

Despite what his small frame suggested, the 18 year old DID train. While he was hardly a weight lifter, wanting to keep his swimmer's build and not caring about building abs, he spent his time in the gym training to keep his body limber and flexible, and work some cardio.

Today, he had only just started, clad in a pair of gym shorts and nothing else, which was still more than he ever usually wore in the Tension building, he was doing some stretches and squats, feeling the light burn starting up in his thighs, enjoying the feeling as he started, unaware of what was heading his way.

There he was. Ryo.

Spider licked her lips the moment she saw, resisting the urge to just go at him right now and spoil Samiya’s fun. He was just so open. And inviting. And begging to be taken advantage of. Like a stupid little fly that wandered into her web and didn’t know it had been caught yet. So pretty.

She walked around his periphery, making sure to stay on the edge, avoiding his vision until the last moment. She had a way of walking quietly, of not announcing her presence, moving in the shadows. One moment she wasn’t there. The next, she was.

”Oh, my.” She giggled, a light, flirty laugh, as she watched him go. ”Not a bad set you’ve got going on, here. Mind if I cut in?”

Ryo hadn't been paying attention. He didn't really need too. It was sunday afternoon after all, and sundays were generally when the gym was the most empty. No matches held, no promotional work to be done, and despite the workaholic nature of his countrymen, it was agreed that the AFW talent deserved at least one full day off a week, and most of them, no doubt taking after their international members, chose sunday.

So, since he had the place to himself, Ryo wasn't really paying any attention to his surroundings, causing him to yelp a little as somebody was suddenly right next to him, giggling and speaking to him, making him stumble a bit.

As he righted himself and turned to see this newcomer, his jaw dropped, as he saw this just...stunningly beautiful woman, clad in nothing but a tight, form fitting, black one piece leotard, flowing white hair and just the most amazing legs, smooth, glistening thighs, with a creamy texture, the sight alone causing Ryo's groin to shiver.

"H-Hi there..."

Ryo stammered, barely able to get words out, having to mentally slap himself.

"I'm uh...I'm Ryo. Ryo Kamiya...Whats your name?"

Ryo’s reaction did not help Spider’s burgeoning desire to simply jump him and start the festivities early. Everything about it was utterly perfect - the way his jaw dropped, the astonished look in his eyes, the ever-so-slight growth in his pants. The only thing missed was drool from his mouth, and she was fairly certain she could get to that point soon enough.

He looked like he’d never seen a woman before. Though, to be fair, Spider was a rare treat.

For now, she kept things pleasant. A smile. A little chuckle. A hand on her cocked hips, accentuating her fine curves.

”Ryo. Strong name.” She tried it out a little with her tongue, letting some German flavor into her Japanese. ”Nadine.” She stepped around the machine, making her way to Ryo’s other side, ensuring that he got a full view of her body. Leave little to the imagination, always the best bet. ”Nadine Kikuchi. And you,” Spider reached over and gave him a quick flip on the nose. ”Didn’t answer my question, Ryo. Do you mind if I stretch along with you? Share some space?”