Description: After losing an impromptu exhibition match on Sound Beach in Southtown, Arika makes good with the wager and accompanies Drake back to his home fed in Rhode Island. While preparing pre-match, an interviewer pops in on a nervous Arika and she flubs the 'wrestling' name she's chosen for herself. It gets quite a bit of laughter, but it works... she hopes...
So, Drake has a slavegirl for a whole entire week. How awesome is that? Dramatically defeat the girl in a random beach exhibition match, and she has to be a slavegirl for an entire week! Huzzah and hooray.
So what has Drake decided to do with his slavegirl? Why.. well.. nothing particularly daring. No, instead he's just going to see about testing what he thinks is a natural talent for professional wrestling. He'll be making a special temporary return to his home federation in Rhode Island, and the officiates over the federation are only too thrilled to see a popular wrestler like him make a guest appearance and match-up. Especially now that he's become even more famous since taking his leave. So they've set aside an area for Domino and his teammate - the one he'll be wrestling tonight just for the audience's benefit.
So Drake is currently wandering the halls backstage, robe tied securely about his body, and hood bunched up behind his neck. He's just pacing down the hallways towards the room Arika's been loaned for the evening. He stops by her door, expecting her to still be in there, and knockities upon it. The model wears a bright, rather excited smile, and even the knock itself is chirpy.
As disappointing a loss it was for a girl that was so sure she was going to win, he -really- turned that entire match around. Too bad it wasn't televised, the stations would have loved the dramatic match.
Dragged all the way to Rhode Island, Arika is nervous. Not just because this is Drake's home fed, but because this is where his parents are. She's... never met parents before. Especially not parents of someone she cares for so much as she cares for Drake. It's causing her already frazzled nerves to frazzle even more. Because of this, she's changed outfits at least six times, uncertain of what to wear for this exhibition match. She's also had pro-wrestling tapes going all day on the small television in the room just so that she can -try- to pick up pointers.
All this stress is almost worse than the first record contract Femme Fatale got!
At the knock, she jumps. Literally. Adjusting the armbands so that the fringe hangs properly she takes a quick look in the mirror. Makeup looks fine, but she brushes on a little bit of gloss to make her lips shine. Taking a deep breath, she makes her way to the door and opens it. "Yes?" Blinking she smiles and begins to relax. "Drake. Er... I mean Domino..."
Domino gives her a 'look' when she calls him Drake, then cracks a grin when she corrects himself. "Just wanted to come by and see how you were doing." His right arm lifts, setting his elbow along the doorframe to lean casually... and perhaps preening a little in his robe. "Holding up okay? And by the way... want me to introduce you with a different name?"
"I'm bloody nervous," Arika admits. While the accent is decidedly British, it's not Cockney. Blushing she takes another deep breath and looks directly at him, a nervous smile on her face. "I... what do you think is appropriate? Should I have a 'stage' name? What would you suggest? I've never given thought to something like that before and..." She rushes across the room and shuts off the television before turning to face him again. "Is it even alright that I'm here? I'm -foreign-."
Domino starts to respond, only he pauses when she turns to take off down into the recesses of her room. He leans aside to spy wrestling videos on her loaned t.v., and he snickers under his breath.
Oh, what has he done to the poor diva?
The model settles against the doorframe again, and his head inclines. "It's -fine-. You're like a novelty. Sexy, in-your-face little British spitfire. Also a teammate." He then lifts his left shoulder to shrug. "Come up with a handle quick if you wanna use one. Otherwise, don't sweat it. Your name's plenty enough."
And about that time, an interviewer and cameraman spy the duo, and they start down the hall in their direction.
Right. Just a teammate. Just the 'slave' for this week because of their wager. Arika exhales a sharp sigh, keeping her eyes upon his face. At this point, it's the only thing keeping her calm. "Considering the name I chose to sing with isn't really -that- far from my real one, do you -honestly- think I can come up with something quick?" Pacing back and forth across the room in a nervous manner, she continues to watch him. "Oh, bloody 'ell... there's people coming this way."
Pause.
"I can't do this. This is too much..." What the heck is wrong with her? Arika straightens her back, peers past Drake and then nods once. Life is for living, not worrying about things. No matter what happened in Thailand, or how she's changed, she can't forget that. "Right, then. How does 'Punk Princess' sound?" Oh, sure. It's about as lame as she can get, but it's the first thing that pops into her mind.
Drake opens his mouth to reply again, but.. oh crap. Interviewers. They want hype. Bad show! Arika's a newbie! Before he knows it, a microphone is jutted between them, and a squat, balding man interposes himself between model and diva.
"Domino, a wrestler you all know and love, has just returned to us from his explosive career in the world of street fighting with the prospect of an exhibition match," explains the man to the camera, wide-eyed. He then thrusts the mic in the wrestler's face, but Domino seems hardly phased by these antics. Quite used to them, really. "Domino! Do you have any intentions to stay with us?"
"Not at this time. Just here to remind people who the best fighter is." And Domino thus winks at the camera, smiling roguishly. "Not that anyone could've forgotten by now. I look forward to seein' my fans again." Pause. "But as far as staying here? Not yet, guys. I might show up more often for exhibition matches, but I can't stick around at this time."
"Does this mean you could possibly return to us full-fledged?"
"Sure. Still got my eyes set on the title belt, after all."
"Awesome! I'm sure this glimmer of hope is going to live on for a very long time to come. But how about your opponent, here. Tell us a little something about yourself!"
And the microphone is thrust in Arika's face.
Bad show? Arika's used to microphones being shoved in her face. Hey, it's the life of celebrity right? Not to mention all the tabloids she managed to make it into back in London... but this is different. Having watched a few of the pre-match interviews, she just really can't bring herself to be all 'YEAAAAH... RAR!' and up in the face of the interviewer. Besides, Drake has been acting all civilized so she sees no point in it.
Nervous smile is quickly replaced by something a little bolder; stronger and more confident. Flashing this at the camera she draws both arms behind her and stretches. Deciding to keep her voice with the softer British accent she says, "What is there to know, luv? Just a simple girl from London, England, trying to make her way in the world." That's right, she's a fresh, fresh face in the wrestling world. No point in saying she's -not- a pro-wrestler, right?
"I think it's very lovely of Domino to allow this match to take place in his home federation. There's no doubt in my mind who the fans around here will be cheering for tonight, I just hope that I wind up with some myself by the end of the match." Winking at the camera, she blows a little kiss and lets it go with a small finger wave.
Glancing side-long at Drake, she nips her teeth into the right corner of her lower lip and chews on it all nervous and innocent like, hoping that she's making a good showing for him.
She's definitely establishing herself as a baby face. Almost timid-sounding, even! The smile is confident, but the words are a little... lacking in edge. The interviewer picks up on this, but he doesn't comment on it right away. Domino, meanwhile, grins slightly at her. -He- finds it pretty cute. It's like she's -trying- to be a professional wrestler... but she's too soft just yet!
"But Domino! Aren't you the leader of the Shooting Stars, and isn't this your own teammate?," asks the fanatic interviewer.
"Yes, and yes," replies Drake casually. He turns over to lean his back against the doorframe, and his arms lift to fold over his chest. "Second teammate I brought in, and one of the best fighters I've seen. The question is, how well can she do in the ring?" He shoots a critical look over to the blonde. "Does she have what it takes?" More of a querry to Arika than to the interviewer.
"And by what name are we going to get to know this wrestler?," asks the interviewer, thrusting the mic at Arika again.
Babyface. Femme Fatale. Punk rock diva. Arika has many 'appearances', though quite truthfully her timid-sounding voice is because she's trying her hardest to hide the nervousness that lurks beneath. Fighting in the League or during SNF is quite different than something of this caliber.
"Oh, dar... Domino, you should -know- just how -good- I am in the ring," she says flirtily while shooting a wink at the interviewer. Hope is that the interviewer -and- the viewers will take it in the absolute wrong way.
Given little time to come up with something other than what she quickly spouted at Drake earlier she shrugs her shoulders in a confident and nonchalant manner. "Princess Arika." Okay, so it's not what she said to Drake, but though she -is- a punk princess all the time, she can't hide behind that persona always! Immediately after saying it like that though, she flushes a little. Red rises up in her cheeks, tinting them just enough so that it shows on camera before she steals another glance at Drake to see what his response is.
Her flirtation is not lost on any degree; not on the reporter, and not on Domino. The dark-haired model smiles a bit wryly to her, and has -so- many things he could say to tease back at her. But this is her turn to speak up and develope herself a little more for the viewers at home and in the arena.
Except composure can go right to Hell when Arika gives her ring name. Princess Arika. Arms unfold, right hand slips over his lips, and Domino turns his head away from the girl - but towards the camera - ducked down, eyes squeezed shut, just BARELY stifling laughter. Good laughter though, from his lighthearted appearance.
"There you have it!," announces the interviewer, stepping away from the two and more in the foreground of the camera. "Our returning celebrity, Domino, versus the newcomer, Princess Arika! Back to you, ringside!"
And the camera's red light blinks off, camera deactivated. The interviewer looks to the two fighters and gives a thumbs up, then scurries away with his camera man.
Drake bursts into laughter.
L-laughter? Granted, Arika was expecting a -little- bit of snickering at her slip-up, but...
"Drake!" The blush that was previously heating her cheeks is now full-fledged and she buries her face in her hands. "Lud. I'm so embarrassed. I cannot believe I just said that!" Obviously the laughter is getting to her and she clenches her fists. "You can stop that about any time now, darling. The poor interviewer and his little follower have left and we're by ourselves and I really didn't mean to say that..."
Domino just laughs and laughs and laughs. He can't contain it! But after she gets huffy, he manages to calm himself down enough to explain it.. albeit with moist eyes and a broad, amused grin.
"No, no, no! It was -perfect-! Adorable, even! I just can't believe you gave -that- as your name, either! But you make for a -great- lil princess!"
And Domino takes a moment to rub at his laugh-teary eyes.
"Aheh.. anyway.. just depends on how you wanna play yourself up. You seemed like the biggest face, like, -ever-. Almost timid, in fact. I know you're nervous about this, and that's probably why... but Princess works pretty well for that. Even if you wanted to take on more of an edge or an attitude, Princess works fine. You've got yourself a keeper, Gorgeous."
Pause.
"Or should I say Princess."
"Oh."
Yes, that's it. Just 'oh'. The blush deepens again and then Arika laughs, albeit nervously. "It feels a lot better knowing that you're laughing at it's perfection and not my flub." Granting him a dazzling smile, she tosses her head back and hmphs. "I should throw on a dress over this and tear it off in the ring... wait no. That might be entirely too much and... how do you put up with all this stress? This is more nerve wracking than performing in front of a large crowd!"
The pacing resumes and then she begins to talk herself up again. Surely she's only nervous because his parents could show up at any time, right? But it's not as if they'd -know- how she feels. It's not -that- obvious, is it?
It's absurdly obvious to her 'owner', though. Domino just lets himself right in after her and shuts the door behind him. He then moves up behind Arika and lifts his hands to set them over her shoulders, rubbing over them gently to massage the stress out of her.
"That's what you're doing, you know. Performing in front of a large crowd. I think you're nervous because you're anxious. You actually like this, don't you?," he asks. "I can tell. It's because you're a natural. It's why you picked a perfect name for yourself in a snap. It's why you even have a good entrance stunt idea off the bat. What you need to do, Miss Halburn, is have fun with it. The fight'll be real... with some embellishing, maybe... but you should have fun with it. No one is expecting anything from you. Just so long as you fight hard and put on a good show."
Anxious? Performance anxiety? Bah! Absurd! Arika's never had performance anxiety! Never a moment of stage fright! The diva melts into the gentle massage and lets her eyes fall closed. Smiling softly she 'mmms' and whispers, "That feels nice. Relaxing." Which is the point, she supposes.
"Do you really think I'm a natural? Think I can do this?" Now he's talking her up, and it's working. Calm settles over her and she starts to get into a fighting frame of mind. "We'll have fun. Want to make another little wager?"
Domino continues working over her shoulders gently, filling in for her manager at the moment. "I think what I saw on the beach was awesome. I know that you can do this. You might need to get used to how some things are done... but yeah."
At the querry of a wager though, Domino pauses the massage. "Uh.. well.. we could. But only if you announce it in-ring."
Arika's eyes snap open at the mention of announcing it in-ring and she pulls away from him a little. Great. Nerves are all wonky again now. "In-ring? I... I have to announce it in-ring?" Oh GAWD. Her normal wager just seems so pitiful to be doing that and she smirks. "Should it be a surprise then, or...?" Though she's got no idea what to wager.
Attention flits back to the wrestling and she nods. "Run things down for me. Can I use any of my normal attacks? What would be frowned upon? I need to know this so I don't violate any rules..."
Domino inclines his head and sets his hands to his hips. "Well, unless you wanted it to be -private-. But wagers are always big and entertaining in the ring. Though... sometimes they result in one wrestler having a very bald head..." His expression screws up momentarily. "Anyhow, if you wanna make a wager in the ring, go for it. Just play it up."
Her second question warrants a bit more consideration. Domino exhales a puffy sigh upwards, ruffling his bangs. "Alright. There aren't any -rules- that you don't already know of. Three-count pin, shoulders on the mat. Win by tapout submission, or otherwise signalling the ref that you give up. Or if the two of us go down for ten seconds, that's a draw. Those are always -seriously- lame, though. As far as chi goes... it depends. Projectiles aren't too popular in the ring unless you can play'em up or if they look -really- impressive. S'how I get by with the Domino Helix. People love that move, even in the wrestling ring. Foreign objects... you can sneak'em in. It's -usually- dirty, but sometimes necessary, and even expected to 'even' out the match. The ref's supposed to get rid of'em when he sees'em, but doesn't always. Sometimes they kind'a just look the other way or whine about it. Oh, also, if you're outside the ring for over ten seconds, you're out." Pause. "Questions?"
"Play it up, alright..." So, barring a teasing wager where she tries to steal his hand in marriage, Arika has absolutely -no- idea what to wager. "Private wagers are fine too..." Oh bloody Hell, she's all nervous again. Terrified of doing something 'illegal' in the match. This so isn't her fighting style!
"So the rules are similar to what we use in training?" She can work with that. "No kicks, right? But certain punches are allowed? I can play up my energy attacks, you -know- I'm good for that but I'll try not to use them regardless."
As for other questions, she has just one. "Are... are your parents going to be out there?"
Please say no. Please, -please- say no....
A slender obsidian eyebrow quirks. "Actually, you can kick. Nothing wrong with that. But yeah - primarily go for grapples, submission holds, throws... those things. That's what makes wrestling wrestling, after all." Domino then shrugs his shoulders again at her. "No idea. If they heard I'd be in town, it's entirely likely. Probable, in fact." Pause. "Bet they are, actually. Probably front row, too."
Innocent smile.
"Whyfor?"
Hands settle to her face, and she groans quietly. Great.
"Okay, I -can- do this," she mumbles softly under her breath. Gently rubbing her hands over her face (but being mindful of her makeup), Arika turns to him. "Whyfor?" Pause. "Because they are your -parents-, and we... well I know we're -not-... but parents assume things and..." A second pause and she exhales an exasperated sigh. "I've never liked someone enough to -want- to meet their parents and your mother is going to -hate- me."
Oh, Mrs. Vyril might not hate Erica Halburn, but she'll very likely hate Arika Fade. No doubt about it in the diva's mind.
"It's not a big deal. It really isn't. I'm here to try my hand at this professional wrestling... I need to focus on that..."
Domino bursts into soft laughter again, and his arms extend to loop around her shoulders in a light, comforting hug. "C'mon, Arika! You're gonna be fine! Sure, you might be compleeetely in love with me, but I'm sure my parents will like you. You're an adorable little spunky thing, after all," he flirts playfully. But he then withdraws from her. "Got anything else to ask? It's almost time to get goin'..."
"I'm glad you're finding this all very amusing..." This is more or less muttered while he hugs her, and when he lets her go, Arika sighs. "Just one more question. Just -how- are you going to introduce me to your parents?" She really can't say him saying 'Hey Mom. Hey Pop. This is Arika, great girl, teammate, hang around with her a bit. Date her on the side, y'know'. Maybe he'll just say 'teammate' and throw off her game. Arrgh! It's so very nerve wracking! "Other than that? Good luck. Not that you need it, but it seems appropriate to say."
Domino backs up to the door, hand setting to the handle. "You're assuming I'll introduce you to my parents?," he asks demurely. He winks an eye at her playfully, then turns to quickly whisk himself out the door.
Zing.
What a way to lay an insult and make a point at the same time. Arika just glares after him and sets her hands to her hips. "I assume that after I -win- they'll want to meet me, yeah." HMPH. Oh, look at that. The snobby princess attitude is already rearing it's head and she's not even in the ring.
A few moments are given for him to get away from her 'room' before she heads out into the hallway herself and attempts to remember where the ring is. Turning down the wrong corridor, she's pointed in the right direction again and there she waits in the hall. Waiting to be announced or whatever it is that is being planned.
God. Why is her stomach so full of butterflies? This match isn't -that- important! She wasn't even this nervous when a team of her peers (and the term is used loosely, except for Drake's involvement) went up against Geese Howard, for crying out loud!
Log created on 19:38:52 07/08/2007 by Arika, and last modified on 14:11:04 07/09/2007.