Post by Astrid Hall on Apr 5, 2017 19:19:17 GMT
“First of all, before I say anything else, I just want to give my deepest thanks to Kate Steele. She truly brought it all to the ring last night, and I saw a fire and spirit within her that was simply a joy to work with and stand against. I hope that the flame I saw in your heart last night never fades, Kate, and I truly believe that you have the strength within you to rise above all of the struggles you have faced over the past year and come back stronger than ever before. It was a true honor to stand with a woman with such a warrior’s spirit in my debut match in the main roster of the Imperial Wrestling Federation, and I look forward to seeing you tear your way through your journey. I hope that you will find a way to enter the Iron Maiden, as I deeply anticipate the chance to face you in battle again. Skol, sister! You are welcome in my mead hall any day you wish.”
She raises a goblet of amber liquid in toast to the camera before drinking deeply, smiling with jubilant relish before throwing the goblet victoriously to the ground.
“Now! On to the future! As Kate Steele walks her road into whatever future she chooses for forge, I look ahead to the next episode of Monday Night sacrifice, where I will again be tested by a woman of reputation – The Strong Style Southern Belle, Alicia Lukas. Where by battle against Kate Steele was an honor, this… this is going to be a pleasure. You hear a lot about a woman who comes in with a big mouth, talking all day about how great she is and what she’s accomplished. You hear a lot about her from the people she’s trained with, and just because she’s been fighting in Japan for a few years doesn’t mean that I haven’t had the chance to take my measure of her character. Where Kate Steele’s raising herself to new heights by building herself up… Alicia Lukas makes herself feel tall by tearing everyone around her down. And that? That just… that won’t stand.
Alicia Lukas might have a lot going for her. She’s strong, she’s ruthless, she’s an athlete… but she’s also a bully. She spends her time tearing others down and walking with underserved arrogance, already striding through the IWF like she owns the place. Well, I have news for you, Cupcake – I don’t care what accolades you might say you might claim to have earned. As soon as you walk into the Imperial Wrestling Federation, none of that matters. We play harder and rougher than any other company in the world, and no amount of outside training can prepare you for what the IWF has in store for you – and it looks like I’ve been given the job of giving you your first lesson. So when we meet in the ring at Monday Night Sacrifice, I’m going to show you what happens when a woman likes you steps into the ring with a REAL warrior."
Emma was woken by her phone ringing. She wasn't used to being woken up before her alarm - she usually made a point about being an early riser on work days. For a moment she wondered who might be calling her now, before sunrise... but she realized she knew who it had to be before she even took the phone into her hand. Only one woman was crazy enough to make this kind of call, she didn't even have to look at the caller ID.
"Astrid, do you know what time it is?" she yawned crankily as she sat up in bed. "This had better be important."
"Urgent beyond belief," Astrid replied gravely from the other line. "I need your help, Emma. Help that you are now the only person I know and trust enough to give. Can you meet me somewhere? As soon as possible?"
"Oh no, Astrid, please tell me you don't need bail money."
The Norsewoman laughed heartily. "No no, nothing so grim! Someone bailed on me for something important, and I require your aid in filling the needs that she left me with. I need someone of strength and integrity... and someone who isn't afraid to get their hands a little dirty."
Emma paused. "... You're sounding like you're going to NEED bail money."
Another laugh. "This is all perfectly legal, I assure you," she insisted earnestly. "Will you help me? It's important."
Emma sighed and got out of bed. "You're going to owe me for introducing me to this time of day, Astrid... but if it's really that important, I'm on my way. Where am I going? And what... though I dread to ask... will I be doing?"
Astrid sighed with relief. "Thank you, Emma. I cannot express how important this is to me. Thank you. I am testing you the address now. I'm so glad that you'll be able to be my squire for the joust."
"Okay, sure, I'll be there," Emma replied blearily as she hung up the phone. Then she blinked. Twice. "Wait... what did she say?"
"Done!"
Emma had never expected to include 'helps put on heavy plate mail' in her job description, and had never expected the process to be so complicated. Fortunately Astrid knew her armor like the back of her hand, and talked her through the whole process. About fifteen minutes later, they were finished... and the final product was something that even Emma had to admire. It was a mix of typical European knight's armor and Nordic mail, blending the protection of the first with the aesthetic of the other. Emma had never considered what a Viking Knight might look like, but now she'd never have to - the answer was right in front of her.
"If you're ever in a championship match at a big PPV, we're going to have to incorporate this into the entrance," she commented warmly. "This is badass, Astrid. You really take this stuff seriously, don't you?"
"As seriously as anything," Astrid replied. "I was training for this before I became a Wrestler, recall. The life of a warrior has always called to me, but I have no desire to fight in the wars of politicians and businessmen. Should the call come to defend my home, I will do so against any foe... but this is the life I thirst for. Fighting not to conquer, but to inspire. To entertain. To bring joy and hope to people in a time when those things seem so hard to find. We live in a culture, especially here in America, where woman are too often told that they cannot be strong, that they cannot be warriors. I strive to show them otherwise. And to live by a warrior's code, of course."
Emma frowned. "...Warrior's code?"
Astrid nodded. "Live with honor, fight with courage, defend the defenseless, stand against Evil," she replied, looking serious for a moment. "Words to life by, my friend, in all things."
The sound of horns rang from outside the tents, and Astrid was again beaming brightly. "That's the call!" she declared excitedly as she slung her shield over her back, the axe on her belt and her helm under her arm. "Time to bring joy and inspire the families who came with feats of strength and heroism. After the first tournament I'll buy you lunch with the victor's purse."
"And what if you don't win?"
Astrid laughed again. "Come now, Emma - you know me better than that!"
"Few times in my career have I had the chance to stand against a woman who so proudly declares themselves an ally to evil. Few times have I had the chance to meet evil in battle, and have the chance to show the fans of the IWF that even in this world, that Heroes can - and do - triumph over villainy. And you, Alicia Lukas... you are a villain. A woman of evil and cruelty, who preys upon the weak to show your dominance over others. You're coming to the Imperial Wrestling Federation to try to exert that dominance, that cruelty over the Diamonds division...
And I won't let you.
The bane of every villain is a hero, and I have fought for years to be that hero for the IWF and the loyal fans who stand with us week after week. You can come here full of fire and arrogance, but at the end of the day I'll always be here, waiting and ready. You can come here, you can skip the Diamonds in the Rough tournament, you can skip right past Developmental, you can do all of that - that's fine. But if you want to try to dominate the Diamonds, to run roughshod over division that so many honorable women have fought and bled to build? Then you're going to have to come through me first, Cupcake.
Bring. It. On."
She raises a goblet of amber liquid in toast to the camera before drinking deeply, smiling with jubilant relish before throwing the goblet victoriously to the ground.
“Now! On to the future! As Kate Steele walks her road into whatever future she chooses for forge, I look ahead to the next episode of Monday Night sacrifice, where I will again be tested by a woman of reputation – The Strong Style Southern Belle, Alicia Lukas. Where by battle against Kate Steele was an honor, this… this is going to be a pleasure. You hear a lot about a woman who comes in with a big mouth, talking all day about how great she is and what she’s accomplished. You hear a lot about her from the people she’s trained with, and just because she’s been fighting in Japan for a few years doesn’t mean that I haven’t had the chance to take my measure of her character. Where Kate Steele’s raising herself to new heights by building herself up… Alicia Lukas makes herself feel tall by tearing everyone around her down. And that? That just… that won’t stand.
Alicia Lukas might have a lot going for her. She’s strong, she’s ruthless, she’s an athlete… but she’s also a bully. She spends her time tearing others down and walking with underserved arrogance, already striding through the IWF like she owns the place. Well, I have news for you, Cupcake – I don’t care what accolades you might say you might claim to have earned. As soon as you walk into the Imperial Wrestling Federation, none of that matters. We play harder and rougher than any other company in the world, and no amount of outside training can prepare you for what the IWF has in store for you – and it looks like I’ve been given the job of giving you your first lesson. So when we meet in the ring at Monday Night Sacrifice, I’m going to show you what happens when a woman likes you steps into the ring with a REAL warrior."
Emma was woken by her phone ringing. She wasn't used to being woken up before her alarm - she usually made a point about being an early riser on work days. For a moment she wondered who might be calling her now, before sunrise... but she realized she knew who it had to be before she even took the phone into her hand. Only one woman was crazy enough to make this kind of call, she didn't even have to look at the caller ID.
"Astrid, do you know what time it is?" she yawned crankily as she sat up in bed. "This had better be important."
"Urgent beyond belief," Astrid replied gravely from the other line. "I need your help, Emma. Help that you are now the only person I know and trust enough to give. Can you meet me somewhere? As soon as possible?"
"Oh no, Astrid, please tell me you don't need bail money."
The Norsewoman laughed heartily. "No no, nothing so grim! Someone bailed on me for something important, and I require your aid in filling the needs that she left me with. I need someone of strength and integrity... and someone who isn't afraid to get their hands a little dirty."
Emma paused. "... You're sounding like you're going to NEED bail money."
Another laugh. "This is all perfectly legal, I assure you," she insisted earnestly. "Will you help me? It's important."
Emma sighed and got out of bed. "You're going to owe me for introducing me to this time of day, Astrid... but if it's really that important, I'm on my way. Where am I going? And what... though I dread to ask... will I be doing?"
Astrid sighed with relief. "Thank you, Emma. I cannot express how important this is to me. Thank you. I am testing you the address now. I'm so glad that you'll be able to be my squire for the joust."
"Okay, sure, I'll be there," Emma replied blearily as she hung up the phone. Then she blinked. Twice. "Wait... what did she say?"
~~~
An hour later, with rays of morning sunlight streaming through the trees, Emma walked incredulously through the entrance of the Clark County Renaissance Festival. It was larger than she had expected when she started seeing the signs, and she walked with an odd sort of amazement as she passed by stalls manned by blacksmiths, leatherworkers, toymakers, and dozens of other wares based on the medieval to renaissance eras. The public hadn't been allowed in yet, so the dirt streets were fairly empty, but Emma couldn't help but feel a sort of wonder as she saw all of the people - many of them volunteers, no doubt - bustle about in full costume readying their stalls for opening. The air was filled with music and laughter as street performers took their spaces and strummed their instruments, and a few stages were being prepared for all manner of shows - comedy acts, knife throwing acts, fire dancers, jugglers, musicians, short plays, crafting demonstrations, and combinations of any and all of those together. The tantalizing smells of food struck Emma's nose as she walked, and saw signs for meat pies, giant turkey legs, soup in a bread bowl, and much more. She knew that Astrid spent a lot of her downtime traveling to these things across the country, but Emma had never gone to one with her... but was now grudgingly beginning to see the appeal.
With the directions of a Jester at the main gate - words she never thought would be an accurate description of her morning - she found her way to the Lists, where horses were being brushed and set with brightly-colored barding. Flags, just as colorful, flapped merrily in the light morning breeze as she walked through the field over to a series of tents a few dozen yards from the stands, where she looked for the black and turquoise emblem that Astrid used both in the ring and at these fairs. Finally finding it, she stepped inside to find Astrid beaming at her gratefully, wearing simple white tunic and breeches instead of the athletic gear Emma was by now so used to. She was polishing an honest to god battleaxe, with a thick wooden shield with steel around the edge resting against her legs. A suit of armor hung on a mannequin behind her, shining bright with what was clearly loving attention.
"You made it!" Astrid exclaimed with a voice full of joy and relief. "Thank Odin for that. The first tilts start about half an hour after opening, and we're expected to mingle with the crowd a bit first and give the occasional display of martial prowess."
"When you said you needed me to be your squire..." Emma replied slowly. "I somehow convinced myself that you didn't mean that literally. You actually brought me here to put on your armor and hand you lances. You're absolutely insane. A nerd, and insane."
Astrid beamed in her unfathomably charming and friendly way. "Come now, Emma. My armor is larger and heavier than anyone else's, and none of the other squires here can fill Erika's job. You're the only woman I know and trust to be able to handle such weight."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Your flattery won't make me say yes."
"I'll buy you a giant turkey leg and a flagon of mead."
Emma smiled, eyes sparkling. "Two flagons."
With the directions of a Jester at the main gate - words she never thought would be an accurate description of her morning - she found her way to the Lists, where horses were being brushed and set with brightly-colored barding. Flags, just as colorful, flapped merrily in the light morning breeze as she walked through the field over to a series of tents a few dozen yards from the stands, where she looked for the black and turquoise emblem that Astrid used both in the ring and at these fairs. Finally finding it, she stepped inside to find Astrid beaming at her gratefully, wearing simple white tunic and breeches instead of the athletic gear Emma was by now so used to. She was polishing an honest to god battleaxe, with a thick wooden shield with steel around the edge resting against her legs. A suit of armor hung on a mannequin behind her, shining bright with what was clearly loving attention.
"You made it!" Astrid exclaimed with a voice full of joy and relief. "Thank Odin for that. The first tilts start about half an hour after opening, and we're expected to mingle with the crowd a bit first and give the occasional display of martial prowess."
"When you said you needed me to be your squire..." Emma replied slowly. "I somehow convinced myself that you didn't mean that literally. You actually brought me here to put on your armor and hand you lances. You're absolutely insane. A nerd, and insane."
Astrid beamed in her unfathomably charming and friendly way. "Come now, Emma. My armor is larger and heavier than anyone else's, and none of the other squires here can fill Erika's job. You're the only woman I know and trust to be able to handle such weight."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Your flattery won't make me say yes."
"I'll buy you a giant turkey leg and a flagon of mead."
Emma smiled, eyes sparkling. "Two flagons."
"Done!"
Emma had never expected to include 'helps put on heavy plate mail' in her job description, and had never expected the process to be so complicated. Fortunately Astrid knew her armor like the back of her hand, and talked her through the whole process. About fifteen minutes later, they were finished... and the final product was something that even Emma had to admire. It was a mix of typical European knight's armor and Nordic mail, blending the protection of the first with the aesthetic of the other. Emma had never considered what a Viking Knight might look like, but now she'd never have to - the answer was right in front of her.
"If you're ever in a championship match at a big PPV, we're going to have to incorporate this into the entrance," she commented warmly. "This is badass, Astrid. You really take this stuff seriously, don't you?"
"As seriously as anything," Astrid replied. "I was training for this before I became a Wrestler, recall. The life of a warrior has always called to me, but I have no desire to fight in the wars of politicians and businessmen. Should the call come to defend my home, I will do so against any foe... but this is the life I thirst for. Fighting not to conquer, but to inspire. To entertain. To bring joy and hope to people in a time when those things seem so hard to find. We live in a culture, especially here in America, where woman are too often told that they cannot be strong, that they cannot be warriors. I strive to show them otherwise. And to live by a warrior's code, of course."
Emma frowned. "...Warrior's code?"
Astrid nodded. "Live with honor, fight with courage, defend the defenseless, stand against Evil," she replied, looking serious for a moment. "Words to life by, my friend, in all things."
The sound of horns rang from outside the tents, and Astrid was again beaming brightly. "That's the call!" she declared excitedly as she slung her shield over her back, the axe on her belt and her helm under her arm. "Time to bring joy and inspire the families who came with feats of strength and heroism. After the first tournament I'll buy you lunch with the victor's purse."
"And what if you don't win?"
Astrid laughed again. "Come now, Emma - you know me better than that!"
"Few times in my career have I had the chance to stand against a woman who so proudly declares themselves an ally to evil. Few times have I had the chance to meet evil in battle, and have the chance to show the fans of the IWF that even in this world, that Heroes can - and do - triumph over villainy. And you, Alicia Lukas... you are a villain. A woman of evil and cruelty, who preys upon the weak to show your dominance over others. You're coming to the Imperial Wrestling Federation to try to exert that dominance, that cruelty over the Diamonds division...
And I won't let you.
The bane of every villain is a hero, and I have fought for years to be that hero for the IWF and the loyal fans who stand with us week after week. You can come here full of fire and arrogance, but at the end of the day I'll always be here, waiting and ready. You can come here, you can skip the Diamonds in the Rough tournament, you can skip right past Developmental, you can do all of that - that's fine. But if you want to try to dominate the Diamonds, to run roughshod over division that so many honorable women have fought and bled to build? Then you're going to have to come through me first, Cupcake.
Bring. It. On."
Well howdy there pardner.