Reiko Hinomoto vs Johnny Atlas: It’s just Business.

Standard Match: Hentai allowed

It had been a while since she had been in the ring. After deciding to take a brief hiatus to rest and relax herself, the Zero Fighter Reiko Hinomoto was ready to return to where she belonged! Inside the squared circle and in front of thousands of amazing fans. It was times like these that made the dark haired girl feel nostalgic. Remembering her time in Rumble Roses before the leagues fall and closing. But she was happy with the opportunity that AFW gave her. Even if some of the matches they had were a little… strange.

Speaking of, Reiko paused in her warmup as she waited in the locker room for her signal to make her entrance. She wasn’t in Friction like she usually was, but rather their sibling show Tension. And she wasn’t facing off against a fellow female opponent but rather a male. The last time Reiko had faced off against the opposite gender, it was against a certain clown subservient to a former teacher turned dominatrix. Hopefully the match wouldn’t be as uncomfortable as that match was but Reiko couldn’t be sure how the match would turn out.

Spoiler:

Finally, a knock reverberated from her door. Looks like it was showtime. So taking a moment to psych herself up one last time, Reiko would leave the locker room and make her way to the gorilla position. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Reiko would hear her theme begin to play and a flash of red pyrotechnics. Stepping through the curtain she was met with a roar of thunderous applause. With a smile on her face, Reiko would make her way to the ring and slip in between the top and middle ropes. Doing a few final stretches, the zero fighter would step into her corner and wait for whoever her opponent was.

Idly sitting by on the sidelines was never quite Johnny's preference when it came to exploring new capitalistic ventures. But considering his gloved hands were initially tied when it came to when and against whom he'd be booked against in this wrestling league, he figured may as well get the lay of the land around AFW while biding his time. Scouting for premier talent from the shadows and eyeing just who could make him the most money-he means, who he would be of the most benefit towards from having his managerial skills at their disposal. Upon his eagle-eyed scanning of both Friction and Tensions roster listings, there was one particular flower who caught his eye almost immediately. Or perhaps he should say, one rose. Opportunities abounded when he discovered this wayward wrestling talent's name, and after greasing a few wheels and paying off the right people among AFW's booking personnel, Johnny just so happened to have himself scheduled with a match against just that specific crimson warrior.

Casino Royale:

Johnny Atlas:

Flashes of various casino themed iconography started being flashed across the gigantic screens above the entrance ramp as Johnny's theme started being played. Suits of cards and dice being rolled around as the dapper gambler appeared from behind the curtains with a snarky smile, masterfully twirling his cane around while waltzing towards the ring seemingly without a care in the world. Tipping his hat up to cast his emerald gaze at the Zero Fighter within the ring, entering through the ropes and handing off both his cane and bowler hat towards the referee as he approached the middle of the ring to strike up a casual chat with..."Reiko Hinomoto, I must have truly hit the jackpot to be matched up against you this fine day. Ah, excuse me...the name's Johnny Atlas, Talent Manager Extraordinaire. Now I know this may seem abrupt, by seeing as we don't have much time to chitchat now, what do you say we raise the stakes of this little scuffle of ours. Just with a friendly little bet I have in mind, is all~..."

Reiko could continue to do a few last minute warmups as she waited for her opponent to come out. Mind racing to think of whoever it was that set up this match with her. That was something that Reiko couldn’t get out of her head, it felt like she had been chosen specifically for this matchup, and while that wasn’t all that unusual to her thanks to her popularity not only from her Rumble Roses career but in other media as well. But despite that, Reiko couldn’t help but be suspicious when she learned that not only was she facing off against a man, but that she wouldn’t be knowing who the man was until she met him in the squared circle.

Finally after a little while of waiting, the lights suddenly died down and were replaced with lights featuring the various suits of a card deck. Music that one would hear in a casino would ring out across the arena and finally, Reiko would catch a glimpse of her opponent…and he wasn’t at all what she was expecting. She expected a large muscular man that would be ready to tear her limb from limb. Not a pale, lean ginger in shirt straps. She was even more confused when he entered the ring and after an overly enthusiastic greeting, offered a sort of bet for their match. A request that Reiko was too curious to not question. “It’s nice to meet you Mr. Atlas. Just what kind of bet are we talking about?” She asked.

The referee standing beside them, although perplexed towards the unconventional negotiations transpiring, allowed the talent manager to speak his peace and continue with his enticing proposition. A luxury Johnny felt was well earned considering the degree of influencing and forfeited funds was necessary in making this match-up happen. Reiko being a prime candidate for with his future dealings within AFW. Except that an acclaimed talent like her with as renowned a moral compass as hers may become somewhat hesitant to joining his rather unscrupulous organization. A trifling issue, he figured. The Zero Fighter, much like any of his other prospective clients, merely needed to be hooked with the right bait before being reeled in like the prize catch she is.

"Ah, excellent. Your generosity is match only by your beauty. Yah see, I'm the leader of a burgeoning talent agency beginning to take hold within AFW, and I'm searching for premier wrestlers looking to get in on the ground floor. And I figured what better way can I demonstrate all that I can do for you, except by showcasing some of the training you'd experience underneath my tutelage. A grappler of your acclaim certainly wouldn't settle for anything less than the very best, so what do you say that if I win and prove you may have some holes in your wrestling game, you sign on the dotted line and join up with me and Atlas Worldwide~..." Johnny smiling wholesomely with an extended hand. All deals are built on trust, and a friendly handshake would signify the bet is on.

Reiko continued to stretch her arms and hop from foot to foot to keep her blood flowing, but her curiosity had been peaked at her opponents words. What was this offer he had for her? And why did she get the feeling that it would be more to his own benefit than to her own.  So while she was curious, she remained guarded as the strap wearing ginger began to speak. And as Johnny spoke, the zero fighter began to see his true character. For behind all of the big words and long sentences, hie offer boiled down to this.

If Reiko agrees to the wager and loses, then she would be leashed into an unwanted contract with Johnny’s management. Something that the zero fighter had no intention of accepting. “That’s a kind offer Mr. Atlas. But I’m fine just where I am in the league at the moment. And you know, you’ve only been saying what would happen if you win. What do I get if I beat you? Or was that not a thought that crossed your mind?” Reiko questioned as she made her way to the center of the ring with her hands on her hips. The bell finally ringing for the match to start.

Retracting his arm from the unanswered handshake, Johnny inwardly offered kudos to the fabled rumbling rose for possessing sharper instincts than he initially assumed by questioning him further about the deal instead of blindly accepting his conditions. Ordinarily, wrestlers allowed their rambunctious egos or short tempers make this decision for them and inadvertently play right into Johnny's hands. No worries, though. An expert gambler of his caliber knows all about having to put his own poker chips on the table in order to win it big. It all just meant he needed to further grease Reiko's wheel before he'll get her name on the dotted line.

"Oh call me Johnny, please~...Well I suppose if you beat me you'll win the self-satisfaction of another victorious triumph alongside the cheering adulation of the masses. But if that doesn't pique your interest, consider my services at your disposal for one whole month. Publicity and speaking engagements handled by myself, no contract signed and free of charge. Exposure like that isn't exactly easy to come by, and being defeated by a mere manager certainly proves you're in dire need of all the help you can get. So, is that a yes?" Johnny asked after tugging down on his gloves as the bell clanged in the distance offering a rudimentary collar and elbow tie up.

During her time in Rumble Roses, Reiko had learned very early on to trust her gut. Especially when it came to shady characters and opponents. A certain dark skinned nurse was quick to come to mind in that sense. So when she heard this ginger guy in front of her begin to speak in his suave sort of way. The zero Fighter’s gut was immediately warning her that this guy was nothing but bad news. Especially when he began to speak about bets and what he would get from her if he won, without uttering a word of what happened if the opposite rang true tonight.

It was only when Reiko actually mentioned such that Johnny would begin to say what the zero fighter would get if she won. Though the way he spoke told Reiko that the Orange haired man didn’t believe a word he was saying. Already feeling assured in his victory against the former Rumble Rose. “Let’s see how this match plays out first hmm? Only after I win will I consider your offer about taking on your services.” Reiko replied before raising her arms and locking up with her opponent. Immediately she would try to overwhelm him and push him back against the ropes. Though, Reiko didn’t know if this would work or not. It all depended on how strong Johnny was.

Johnny would seamlessly interpret from their brief negotiations that this wasn't Reiko's first interaction with unscrupulous individuals within the wrestling world. And here he was assuming the fabled Zero Fighter was going to be just another gullible pigeon ripe for the catching, but Reiko here seemed to harbor suspicions right from the start. Luckily for him, Johnny was used to being cross-examined underneath the judgmental lights of an interrogation room and could therefore endure Reiko's outright skepticism towards his true intentions. Although the prospect of financing all of those lavish services free of charge certainly raised the stakes in Reiko's favor...

"As you wish, Reiko. Regardless of the outcome, I consider it an absolute honor to lock horns with the legendary Rumble Rose herself~..." Johnny stated before interlocking their arms together, accepting of the fact he was just going to have to play the long con this time around before he could attain Reiko's sacred signature on one of his contracts. His slender frame arches into the lock-up that practically had their foreheads meeting until Reiko would abruptly start to gain major ground in ushering him backward, until the huckster would swivel them around so it was Reiko now backed into the corner turnbuckle. The breakup issued by the referee would be adhered to...only for Johnny too attempt a slicing breast edge chop.

Every time Johnny opened his mouth, Reiko couldn’t help but feel her skin crawling up her back. It wasn’t because he was creepy or anything. As much as she hated to admit it, her opponent was actually rather handsome. Yet every time he spoke, the Zero Fighter swore that there was poison dripping with every word.

Thankfully though, Reiko had full intentions on shutting the ginger up as she slowly began to push him back step by step. Soon enough, Reiko had her opponent pinned against the corner with her continuing to push against him until the referee finally stepped in to separate the two of them.

Yet, just as Reiko released her grip and began to step back. A sharp pain would shoot across her chest! ”AGH!” Reiko cried out as she stumbled back with her hands on her chest in pain. Yet just as quickly, her face would turn thunderous as she would suddenly dash forward and send her boot straight into Johnny’s chest to send him back into the corner! But she wasn’t done as she would follow up by running up his body before grabbing his head and falling backwards so that she could flip him over her head in a monkey flip!

Reiko may have had the suave faction leader confused with someone else entirely since poisoning adversaries was an underworld technique he himself never dabbled with. His minions, on the otherhand...well, he couldn't keep track of their actions 24/7, could he? Johnny does in fact possess a non-lethal concoction of his own design should he be in need of some extra incentive whenever a match is going downhill, but a swarthy gangster/gambler never shows every trick up all his sleeve this early into the game. Although one particular trick he showcased just now was allowing Reiko to seemingly out-muscle him back to his corner turnbuckle.

A tactical ploy intended to lull his adversary's defenses and make them think they've gotten the better of him before bringing the proverbial hammer down with a satisfying crack against the beautiful Rumble Roses's pert breasts. "Ouch, hope that doesn't sting as bad as it sounds." Johnny smirking from what he intended to be an opening volley meant to leave her stunned, but instead served to only a poke a particularly ornery bear. One who punted Johnny in his breadbasket back into the turnbuckle before pitching him backward ass over tea kettle in a monkey flip that had him slammed onto his spine, afterward shuffling back up to a grimaced seated position.