Meeting of the Minds - Christina Morgenstern and Lily Bell

Dear Ms. Bell,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Dr. Christina Morgenstern. Through several strokes of good luck, I have found myself thrust in the exciting condition of managing an AFW roster. However, while I have extensive publications in sports psychology, behavioral marketing, and social psychology (see my CV, attached), I have woefully little experience in the business world proper, much less in the world of professional wrestling. And that is to say nothing about the rather ambitious business model that I have designed for my stable.

Which leads me to the reason for my email. Before finalizing my arrangement with AFW, I watched many bouts and researched as much as I could about the organization. Throughout my preparations, I found myself impressed by both your wrestlers’ matches and the personal touch with which you seem to guide your clients’ careers. In short: I’m a big fan.

I have recently moved to Tokyo, not far from the main AFW campus, and I have yet to fully explore the city. Would you do me the honor of meeting with me over coffee? My treat, of course. I would like to “pick your brain,” so to speak, regarding this crazy world I seem to be entering into.

Best,

Christina Morgenstern, PhD

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Christina read her email over for what seemed like the thousandth time. For someone as knowledgeable about human interactions as she was, it was an oddity to be so socially awkward. The hard part was already over -- Lily had already long since replied to her email, accepting her offer to meet and offering a location that, she said, served quite the cup of coffee. Still, Christina couldn't help but wonder if she'd said something wrong in her first email. Had she come on too strong, like an ambitious first-year undergraduate seeking a research assistantship? Or perhaps she'd somehow offended her counterpart in her request for a networking meeting. The thought made her shudder, as clear an example of overthinking as it was. After all, she'd hate to burn such a valuable bridge so early in her career.

She told herself that she hadn't ordered a drink simply to be polite, that she was supposed to wait until Lily arrived. Quite frankly, though, Christina didn't even know if she could handle a cup, as her brain seemed dead-set on racing a mile a minute anyway. Her doubts and excitement swirled in her head, heart, and stomach. She was really here, in Tokyo, living her dream of being an AFW manager! Granted, she'd only had that dream for about a year and a half, but the fulfillment felt sweet nonetheless. The next step, though, was to go from merely existing in this ecosystem to thriving in it. With any luck, networking Lily would be a huge help to her efforts. And it didn't necessarily hurt that, somewhere between the third and fifth months of researching AFW as a league, she'd harbored her fair share of admiration for the veteran manager. (Purely in a professional manner, of course.)

And so, there she sat, thumbing through her phone but really looking towards the coffee shop's entrance, waiting for her inspiration-turned-hopefully-soon-to-be-manager to enter the scene.

Christina's Business Casual Attire:

The e-mail had taken Lily somewhat by surprise. Her inbox wasn't exactly overflowing as most of her work contacts lived down the hall from her, with the exception of the suits as AFW HQ. Sure, sometimes she'd get an odd fan letter, but most of that trickled in through social accounts these days. Letting her girls manage their own social media presence was probably a mistake, but she knew her limitations. More than just being surprising to be sought out, but the achievements of her caller were impressive to say the least. Reading over her CV Lily could only glance up at her Associate's and feel a little self-conscious. A literal doctor of sociology was reaching out to her like she had something intelligent to say.

On a normal day Lily was the academic of the group, most of her crew being high school graduates at best. Liz actually had a four year degree in journalism, but she didn't talk about it much. This woman, Doctor Morgenstern, seemed to have a high estimation of Lily's talents and was terrifying. She was accustomed to being underestimated, being only able to impress and surprise with flare and competence. Being disappointed was a privilege usually reserved for her stable, not that they'd ever say it.

Parking was impossible in the city, but she wanted to make a good impression so had bribed Lamya into dropping her off. The price was steep, but she didn't trust Anne's driving after the last time. Stopped out front of the coffee shop Lily checked her look in the mirror for the hundredth time. She wore a white satin blouse unbuttoned just a little too low and showing her the edges of her lacy black bra, visible through her shirt if one was observant; a pinstriped black pencil skirt, silk stockings, and stiletto heels. Her thick rimmed glasses hung on her neckline.

"You look fine, Lily. Stop fussing. This isn't a date." Lamya teased her from behind the wheel.

"No, it's business, that's more important than a date... and I look like a librarian in a bad porno..."

The younger woman shook her head, "In a good porno."

Lily laughed in spite of herself, "Thanks, that's much better... Alright, I can't keep her waiting any longer or it will stop being fashionable and just be rude. Wish me luck." Without waiting for reply she leaned over and kissed Lamya on the cheek leaving a smudge of red lipstick before sliding out of the old sedan.

Smoothing herself out she walked into the coffee shop, a regular haunt of hers before early morning and after particularly late nights. She looked around for a moment before her eyes caught with one of the doctor's furtive glances and she approached, "Miss Mor- Ah, sorry, doctor Morgenstern I presume?" The woman was younger than she'd expected, but she hadn't paid close attention to the dates. Maybe she just aged unfairly well.

The longer the clock ticked past the set date of their meeting, the more Christina's mind and heart set to racing. Desperately, she looked around the coffee shop for a distraction and found one in the form of the cafe's latest customer. The psychologist's keen eye for detail allowed her to notice entirely way too much about the woman. For the most part, her outfit matched the mood of the store -- casual yet upscale. Also like the cafe, she seemed inviting, just... in a very different way. Christina's trained, critical eyes couldn't help but trace her gentle curves, couldn't help but be drawn towards the hint of black lace visible on her chest with the right angle. More than that, Christina could easily take the woman's measure thanks to years of psychology coursework and research: This was a woman who knew why she was there, knew why she was anywhere. The woman's bold dress and confident charm brought a slight blush to Christina's cheeks, at least until --

"Doctor Morgenstern, I presume?"

Oh. Shit.

The woman looked at Christina, and suddenly, everything clicked. Apparently, she didn't just get caught ogling the woman at the door. No, she'd been caught ogling the woman she'd invited here for a networking meeting! Her face went from a bloom of warm red to an inferno of blazing crimson as she made this realization. At this point, she wouldn't have been surprised if Lily simply turned around and left, scoffing at Christina's lecherous gaze.

"A-Ah... Yes, that's me. Ms. Bell?" Eager to shake off her embarrassment and (hopefully) save their meeting, she cleared her throat, stood, and bowed slightly. With a name like Lily's, her counterpart wasn't likely to get too hung up on Japanese formalities, but Christina didn't want to assume. "I apologize for not recognizing you at first -- you look... different than you do in magazines and interviews." It was true -- even in her stable's promotional materials, the made-for-TV makeup and lighting didn't make Lily look so... this.

"Erm... Shall we?" Christina gestured towards the front counter, hoping to use the brief time they'd spend ordering their drinks to gather her thoughts. Her own order wasn't anything too fancy, just a black coffee with a pump of hazelnut syrup and a packet of sugar, so it was a precipitously short amount of time before she was back at her table, sitting across from Lily.

"Thank you for meeting with me so suddenly," she quickly told her. "As I said in my email, I'm a big fan."

This wasn't the first time she had been ogled in this coffee shop, and far from the first time she'd been ogled by a business partner. She remembered one business meeting she spent curled up in the woman's lap, although that sadly went no where exciting. Seeming to take no notice of Christina's leering she flattened her palms to her lap and bowed respectfully, the gesture exposing somehow still more cleavage until one thought her breasts might just spill out. That almost never happens, except for the times when it has.

Uprighting herself Lily smiled warmly at her flustered companion, "In the flesh." Lifting her fingers to cover her lips she laughed softly, "Oh, well yes, I use different make-up for the ring, photo shoots, and... well, real life. Lighting and perspective and such." Mostly she just took Dru and Kanda's advice on make-up. "Also, most of those materials were from before my hiatus... not that I've aged a day." She offers a playful wink before moving with the woman towards the counter.

Her own order is horrifyingly high octane and luridly sweet, the calories absolutely showing in her curves. But it seems to be ready faster than one would expect, as if the barista had started making it as she walked in the door. It pays to be a regular.

Returning to their table she took up a seat across from Christina, crossing one soft leg over the other below the table. Idly she stirred her coffee, her eyes fixed on the doctor with patience and curiosity. "Oh, I'm used to meetings on short notice. Things change fast around here... But I'm flattered. I never expected I'd have such a prestigious fan." Or such a pretty fan. But she left that part unsaid for many reasons.

Sitting across from Lily, Christina noted that they appeared to be about the same size, which was a small wonder given her own rail-thin body and Lily's... rather curvaceous one. Deciding that this brief musing would be the last word on her counterpart's curves, Christina set herself to conducting business.

"Ah, yes, I suppose I do have a reputation to precede me." Christina learned long ago to never discount her own achievements, especially not to aggrandize those of another. "You'd be surprised how much more attention you get in a field such as academia simply for being 25 years younger than most of your colleagues. But in this realm, I am but a beginner." She giggled wryly at the observation, a light, airy laugh that belied her nervousness about the situation. Perhaps this was Lily's talent at work; Christina felt quite comfortable already. "You are the expert here, no?"

"Which brings me to why I asked you here." An awfully presumptuous way to cut to the chase, she knew, but Lily struck her as the type of person who wouldn't take such a shift too seriously. "I'm sure you may have gotten the memorandum that the AFW office sent out about us, but I've founded a new stable here, Team Stanza. While I didn't model Team Stanza after your stable, we do share many... philosophies." They were another reason that she asked to meet with Lily, but Christina didn't want to lean into her ambitious plans too much, even if she'd alluded to them in her earlier email. Her odd business plan could wait until they'd established a rapport.

"I want my girls to get exactly what they want out of being an AFW fighter. If they want to win, then I'll support them until they get a belt. If they simply want to have sex in front of a camera, I'll book them with the most sensual women I can find. But like you, I want them to pursue their interests in a... creative manner. Stakes, stipulations, gimmicks. But I don't want my wrestlers to feel like I'm using them for ratings." Christina furrowed her brows, looking out a nearby window in contemplation. The question went unsaid, but she hoped it was delivered nonetheless -- how could she balance her responsibilities as an entertainment manager with her desire to develop friendships with her wrestlers?

Lily sipped at her coffee, blowing across its surface quietly as she let Christina speak her piece. A smirk curled the corners of her wine red lips as she was referred to as an expert. She felt like a perpetual novice so it was strange to be thought of as an authority on her field, but with so many girls struggling to self-manage it shouldn't be a surprise. It was why she had gotten into this line of work, why she had spent so many sleepless nights working on her degree. It wasn't a doctorate, but she was getting her mileage out of it.

Setting her drink down she canted her head slightly to one side at the mention of their aligned philosophies. She hadn't been aware that her heart was worn quite so on her sleeve, but then again it was difficult to hide it. Her eyes dropped, a flash of apprehension or guilt overtaking her features at the mention of using them for ratings. Fidgeting slightly in her seat she seemed uncomfortable before regaining her nonchalant bearing.

"Ah" She said simply after a pause, "That is a difficult needle to thread, as I've learned the hard way." There as another moment of thoughtful pause, a sympathetic smile crossing her features as she looked at Christina and tried to see herself when she first arrived in this city. "Gaining their trust takes time... and understanding. For a long time I felt more like a babysitter than a manager." She laughs softly, her eyes distant in memory.

"I think I earned a lot by walking my talk, as it were. Because, your wrestlers..." She's inclined to say "girls" but remembers that Tension exists, "they're risking a lot when they get into the ring. Their health, their reputation, their dignity... Being at ringside when you know a match is going to be rough on them, or waiting in the wings when you know they don't want you there but you know they'll need you there; these things matter. But I think getting into the ring with Ari Nagawa and King helped." She laughed sardonically, invoking the names of the #1 Friction Hentai contender and a Tension hardcore specialist with a bad reputation. "Not that I recommend the latter. But the point is, they have to know you've got their back and you're willing to risk just as much as you ask them to..." Her words trail off, realizing that she's been rambling and reminiscing without giving her interlocuter a chance to speak.

Christina's face reddened at the thought of rolling around with Ari and blanched when Lily mentioned King's name. Both of their reputations preceded them. "Ah… I don't have any delusions that I could do what you wrestlers do. I don't think I've so much as thrown a punch before." She giggled again mentioning this, but it was the truth. In school, her classmates were all usually far older (and bigger) than she was, and getting caught up in the squabbles of your juniors was just sad, even if she was closer to their age. By the time she was old enough to go to parties and bars, she'd also been experienced enough to use her acumen in psychology to diffuse situations.

She took a sip of her drink before leaning back, a finger on her chin. "But I have a group interview scheduled for our team with a rather… unscrupulous journalist from AFW Magazine whose writings border on tabloid journalism. Two of my wrestlers have experience with the media, but the others don't. Still, they all seem to trust me enough to guide them through it. Maybe that's a good sign." She laughed wryly, the imposter syndrome setting in as she sat across from a veteran of the industry. How many journalists, reports, bloggers, and other media members had Lily brushed off in her time?

"Still, what you say makes sense. It seems to come from personal experience," she mused. "I won't pry, but thank you for sharing nonetheless. Hearing how you talk about these wrestlers of yours... it's clear that you've become quite close to them, haven't you? I can only hope that I may get so close to my own stable members..." She hoped so desperately to become friends with the four girls she'd brought onto her roster. After all, they were all in the same boat, traveling to a new country in pursuit of some dream or another that could only be found at AFW. "How did you come across them, anyway? Not that I'd ever think of replacing these original four I was lucky enough to convince, but I do wonder how someone like you got started in this business." Christina blushed as she realized that her last few words could be interpreted as flirting, but hopefully Lily would understand that she'd meant someone with her business savvy. After all, not all women of talent would want to work for such an organization as AFW.

Lily took a slow, thin sip from her coffee as she listened and mulled over the younger manager's words. A confident smile turned up the corners of her lips at the talk of throwing punches, and about the first signs of trust between them. But the smile faltered at the mention of how obvious it was that she and her team had grown quite close.

Thankfully the dialogue moved on before she was called on to discuss just how close they'd gotten, which was closer than she had ever really intended to get. Setting down her cup she allowed herself a small, polite laugh at the question of how she found her girls. "It may sound trite, but you can find anything on the internet these days. A few were camgirls whom I reached out to, others reached out to me... Lamya had gone viral on social media after she was expelled for beating up a classmate who picked on the girl she liked."

Her nails drum softly on the ceramic mug, "But you asked how I got started in this business, which is quite another question." Her focus lifted from her mug, looking serenely at Christina with a crimson smile, "I was an exotic dancer and mud wrestler at a sleazy club. Saw too many girls getting taken advantage of... in the business sense. So I started helping them renegotiate, and soon I was persona non grata. So, I leaned into my fetish and called on a few contacts in the industry and... here I am."

Leaning forward slightly she lets her legs stretch out, feet absently brushing against Christina's ankles under the table, "Which leads me to wonder: What brings a smart girl like you here? Surely you could have some swank uptown practice or a consulting job for an ad firm." Most of her stable told the same story, they were either here after being cut off from their family, or their family cut them off after they found out how they made their money. Parents weren't quick to brag about their daughter the mediocre sex-fighter.

"Social media and a fair bit of luck, then? Sounds quite similar to how I found my own roster. Brooke was a model looking for an exciting career change, so after rumors of her discontent found their way online, it was just a matter of emailing her. Julie was already somewhat well-known for her talents in combat sports and rather... risque online presence, so she was a natural fit. Louise was a bit harder to track down, and Leonie's name was actually passed along to me." Christina ran through her fingers as she listed off how she'd met each of her wrestlers. She was deep in thought, trying to make sure she didn't forget anything about how she'd met her first four wrestlers, when she felt Lily's foot brush against her inner ankle. Blushing slightly, Christina uncrossed her legs, moving them a little farther from Lily... but also allowing access to more of her inner leg. The move represented her conflicted feelings about the touch -- physical affection was very uncommon for Christina, but something about the slight brush felt oddly exhilarating in a way she didn't know whether or not to like.

Lily’s next question came as a somewhat similar surprise to Christina. Not because she didn’t expect the question itself, as it seemed only natural for a mentor to want to know about her mentee. No, it surprised Christina because she didn’t have an answer ready for it. It had been some strange mix of impulse and ambition that drove her here. Clearly, though, something about AFW was unique, more than just a novelty to her. If it wasn’t, then Christina wouldn’t have moved across the world and thrown away a life of permanent demand for her talents. She wouldn’t have reached out to those four hopeful women who she’d promise to prepare for their new careers. She wouldn’t be talking to Lily right now with aspirations to not only survive but thrive in this strange new world.

Taking a moment to think about exactly what it was that made AFW so interesting, the psychologist-turned-manager swallowed and nodded. “You are right, of course. Many in the corporate world would pay a pretty penny to employ somebody claiming the ability to predict how customers and competitors alike might act. And they’d pay even more for somebody who has the resume to back that claim up.”

“I have made a living off of noticing trends and patterns, as well as predicting what might happen next given those data points. Sports, business, entertainment -- my mind would attach itself to whatever caught its interest, write a few papers, and then move on to the next thing.” She was careful while summarizing all of this, as it was all easily found in the CV Christina had provided to Lily, and she didn’t want to be seen as a braggart. “But these are not idle, passive, merely academic interests. I genuinely enjoy watching sports, and of course, I myself fall prey to the very marketing techniques I’ve written about. AFW is all of these passions -- how to develop a team to conquer its opponents, how to take an international market by storm, how to put on a show -- in an infinitely more sensuous way than any other." Christina furrowed her brows a bit and looked away in contemplation. "... Also, I wanted to piss off all the people who wanted me to be stuck in a stuffy physics lab until I was 70."

"So yes, probably a stranger path here than most... but that aside, I'm starting to see your business acumen more wholly." Taking on a sly smile as she steepled her fingers together, Christina decided to challenge her counterpart, not even considering how the attempt might be seen as a flirt. "Perhaps you did not intend it, but you asked me something slightly different than what I asked you and, as a result, got more insight than I did. I know how you got here, and you know why I'm here. I'd like to even those odds... So, Lily Belle. What keeps you coming back?"

Feeling the shift in Christina's legs, withdrawing from her touch, Lily let her feet slide back under herself for a moment. Pushing too much all at once was a bit forceful and might scare her off if misapplied. Instead she interlaced her fingers, set her elbows upon the table, and rested her chin upon her hands as she listened to Christina's answer.

The story of how she met her girls was rather familiar sounding, the gathering of wayward souls looking for a new way; whether that was a way forward or a way out changed depending on the individual, but they were all trying to get somewhere. Then she recounted her credentials and how that aligned with what AFW represented, which felt like a fairly sterile response until to the end. Both intimating the value in the sports sensuous nature as well as her defiance of expectations. Lily's smile only deepened.

A tiny motion of her feet slipped them from her shoes, letting a silk sheathed toe rise up and out to brush against the inside of Christina's knee. This was too obvious to be construed as an accidental touch and was a bit risky, but hopefully the risk was worth it. "What keeps me coming... to AFW? Well, I suppose..." She paused in thought as her foot caressed Christina's leg, "The short answer would be that I'm kind of a slut. But to be clearer, I started stripping to cover my debts. Then mud wrestling because it sounded fun: and it was. The sensual thrill on conquest and being conquered. So, when I moved on from dancing and those bills kept coming I decided to lean into my passions. I was never good enough to rely on my wrestling alone, but I could play in the ring a little and lift up other girls like me. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"