Dancing in the Dark (For Tai)

As they walked, Marilyn explained about the AFW's new wrestler training program.
"Heh, well thanks for that, but you see, the AFW takes training it's homegrown rookies very seriously. Right now, Friction is home to some of the best, most talented women to ever grace the ring, you included." she added the last two words with a smile at the Canadian. "As a result when the AFW decided to bring in it's own group of rookies, the company poured a ton of time and money to train them practically around the clock. So, we're expected to do better than other newcomers have done. Winning a debut is a bonus, but not required. But we are expected to score a win at some point in our first four single matches, or get sent back for more training."

Once they got inside the bar, Marilyn looked around. She liked it, it reminded her of some of the places back home.
"You know, I love any bar that does live music." she told Ace. "Back in San Francisco there was a club that a lot of indie rock bands played at. The girl I was seeing at the time, her band was there a lot. This place reminds me of it, which isn't a bad thing. Is there going to be a show tonight?"

Looking about she nodded towards a table.
"Wanna sit there, or at the bar?"

"Maybe. I hope there is. The music here is almost always good either way"

Ace replied, before pointing out to a table that was closer to the stage.

"Boom, right there!"

She exclaimed, taking Marilyn's hand and leading her to said table, looking around as they sat down.

"So, whats your poison? My treat!"

"Whoo~!" Marilyn whooped as Ace led her to the table, sitting across the small table from the Canadian.

Once they took their seats, with Marilyn drawing a few look with her out of place attire, the purple haired American listened as Ace asked what she wanted to drink.
"Well, ok you get the first round, but I'm not sticking you with the whole bill." she replied. Considering the week she had, Marilyn decided not to waste time with beers and such. She was going all out with her girly drinks tonight.
"And, I'll start this night out with a vodka lemondrop." she said, referring to a mixed drink of vodka, lemon juice and sugar....

Ace nodded, getting up and spending a few minutes at the bar before coming back, two glasses in hand, handing one to Marilyn as she sat down.

"Right right, one Vodka Lemondrop for you, and one Mandarin Orange flavored Chuhai for me!"

She raised her glass, clinking it against Marilyn's, seeming to be enjoying herself already.

"Kanpai!"

She toasted, taking a drink.

Marilyn raised her eyebrow at Ace's choice of drink.
"Chuhai?" she echoed. "What are in those anyway?"

Taking her drink, she also called out "Kanpai!" in response to the Canadian.
"So, first things first." she said after taking a drink. "What is your real name? I mean, Ace can't be what you sign on your bills and stuff, right?"

"Chuhai's are great. See, its basically a mix between a Shochu and a Highball, in that its a carbonated drink made of whiskey and soda water, with some fruit juice added for flavoring. It's really good, and you get get them in cans pretty much anywhere!"

She smirked, taking another sip before raising her eyebrow at the next question.

"Heh, well, fair enough, I know your name, you might as well know mine."

She sat straight up, extending a hand out across the table.

"I'm Haley. Haley Cote" (pronounced as Co-Tay)

"And I'm Marilyn Uehara. There, now that we've been introduced like civilized people, drink!"
With that, she took a sip of her drink.

"So where are you from? I know you said Canada, but from the Frozen North is a large place."

"Ah, I am from the fine fine city of Toronto!"

Ace replied, taking another drink.

"What about you? I mean, I get it, America, but what part of that great country do you hail from?"

She put her drink down, rubbing her chin

"Also, Uehara? That doesn't sound very American?"

"San Francisco, California!" Marilyn announced in response to Haley's question of where she was from. "I actually grew up near Baker Beach, near the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're ever in San Francisco, you should check it out. There is a part of that beach that is 'clothing optional', and let me tell you, there is nothing like swimming naked in the ocean. Also most of the people that go there are the sort that you don't mind seeing without a swimsuit."
She winked after telling Ace that last part, and then in long drink, finished the rest of her vodka lemon.
"Whew..." she said after wincing slightly. "They make the drinks strong here! That's a good thing, really!"

"Well, I'm half Japanese on my dad's side. So, I got the Japanese last name." Marilyn told Ace, answering her second question.
"So, I've got to ask, Haley. Do you make it a point after matches to find your opponent and then leap into the shower with them?" she asked with a wry grin. "I'm not mad, it just....well it surprised me!"

Ace couldn't resist a giggle, imagining what the big beauty looked like, swimming naked under the waves. Perhaps it was time to plan a trip to San Francisco in the future...

Ace then had to blush as Marilyn brought up the...shower incident.

"Heh....um...sorry about that. Its just uh....alright, look...My first win in AFW was over this woman named Valley Doll, I fought just as hard as I did against you, and I made her tap out. We uh....flirted a bit in that match, and we DID start dating after, but it was a hard fight and she nearly had me beat, so I was really proud of it. Aside from a couple DQ's, it was my only win until I fought you..."

She took a drink, coming to the part she didn't like to think about.

"So...After Summer Splash, where we lost, we had an argument. She try to say I couldn't handle myself and I needed help. That I needed to be protected like some wet behind the ears kid...when I said I handled myself fine and that I had beaten her, despite her experience, she said that she wasn't taking the match seriously, that it was "just foreplay""

She looked down, shaking her head, holding her drink in both hands.

"I was.....well, it just made me really insecure. I mean, I fought HARD in that match, I did my best...so for her to say it was all nothing, that she wasn't even trying...it just makes me look pathetic. ...So! That's why I asked. When I beat you, I just....I just had to know. It was stuck in my head. I had to be sure, I had to be positive that you weren't throwing the match, or not giving your all....I needed....I needed my win to mean something."

She sighed again and took a drink, offering Marilyn a small smile, not really sure how to continue.