For Reals (for Herotica)

[CyanDimitrik]

Immediately following this match...

Katsumi!

Katsumi was the first to exit the main arena, leaving Tess battered and beaten - and perhaps more than a little humiliated - in the ring. But the Punk Princess was excited. On cloud nine, veritably! Surely management took note of that one, that she did everything they could've hoped for. The Young Lioness rookie was in tears, loudly begging for mercy, trying to tap out in a pin... what more could they want?

No one was waiting backstage to greet her. Nothing new there. But it wasn't hard to find a stagehand to seize by the arm and ask where Tess's dressing room is. He seemed justifiably hesitant to tell her, but those arms are just so delightfully twistable! It didn't take much convincing!

Now, why is Katsumi dutifully marching for Tess's room, still in her wrestling gear? Because she has a thing or two to say to her! And because the match was great! Obviously the blonde would think the same thing, right? And upon freely letting herself into the room, she takes a moment just to absorb the setting - before finding a towel and trying to brush off some of the excess sweat. Win or lose, wrestling is an incredibly physical affair. People get sweaty! Tess won't mind! Probably! And once done, the towel is tossed aside onto a counter carelessly.

Finally, Katsumi takes up waiting for Tess to arrive by assuming post beside the door. Specifically with the intention to pounce her the moment she's moved into the room past her. For funsies.

[Herotica]

Tess

Having finally, and with some help, dragged her beaten body out of the ring, Tess heads to her room, dreaming wistfully of a shower, food and sleep. She needs to recover, and to process all the emotions of the match, the pain, the shame, even the distracting sensuality of the way Katsumi held her. She couldn't do any thinking now, she was far too tired, too sweaty and do goddam hungry.

The though of warm pizza occupies her mind fully as she wanders backstage.

Stumbling into her room, Tess's eyes scanned the sofa for her towel and payed attention to very little else.

[CyanDimitrik]

At last! The door opens, and in walks poor Tess, unawares she's about to be beset by Katsumi like a recurring nightmare. The worst kind of Katsumi is a Trapdoor Katsumi.

Spring!

The punkette pounces at the blonde's back, attempting to wrap her arms around her shoulders in a cheerful hug. "Hey~!," she greets, her tone energetic, upbeat, and probably way too close to Tess's ear. "That was great!"

And if she's managed to hold onto her for this long, she now releases her to step back. Fists plant to hips, beaming ear to ear. "Didn't miss me too much, did'ja?," she asks, the question playful and teasing.

[Herotica]

Tess's entire body freezes as an altogether too familiar pair of hands clasp around her shoulders, her fear subsided along with the hold, making her slowly aware she's not on fact under attack.

She turns to find a far too joyful Katsumi inside her room.

"Hey, I hope your not here to gloat, you've put me back in my place, and yes I know, I run my mouth, but trust me pain is quite the lesson! But yeah I had some real moments of fun"

Tess decides to return the smile, the match is over, she can't be annoyed with her, it was her job to give her the real deal.

"If you want to impart some wisdom, you might have to shout, there's a shower screaming my name. Your welcome to use it too.. I mean after I'm done!"

She blushes and hurriedly grabs her towel and almost sprints to the bathroom, avoiding Katsumi's eyes.

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi's quite pleased to see the reaction from Tess. Not at all like some of the others - all angry and whatever, go figure! Tess seemed to be operating on the same wavelength as Katsumi. It was a wrestling match. Barbarism must be expected. At least from Katsumi! And Tess hardly seemed bothered by it after the fact!

It's disarming enough that it gets a quiet giggle from the punkette. She links her hands behind her back, her shoulders swaying. "I mean, I totally could gloat, but I mostly wanted to- buh- h-hey, wai-"

Tess is already rushing off to shower! Katsumi blinks owlishly, left behind in her gear. No, of course she hadn't assumed she was invited to participate. She wouldn't have, even if she were! But now she's left standing awkwardly in Tess's room, unsure what to do with herself. After a few seconds, she shouts, "I'm not gonna shout at you!"

Which, yes, completely defeats the point.

[Herotica]

"Fine, just wait one minute, I'm a quick washer"

Tess shouts back, hitting the warmth of the water and drowning out any further responses. The water feels amazing, it's healing all her pain, but enough, she fights the urge to stay too long instead quickly lathering up and getting rid of all that sweat, she's soon out and standing in the bathroom doorway, tying to put on an air of confidence, wrapped up in a large towel, as she uses a smaller one to dry her hair.

"Hope you survived those two minutes alone"

She gives Katsumi a grin.

"So what did you want in the end? If it's food based I'm a strong yes by the way."

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi is left alone with the chance of snooping around Tess's personal belongings. As if she'd pass up the chance. Anything left out in the open, the Punk Princess helps herself to sifting through. If she didn't want that happening, she obviously shouldn't have left her alone! So it's Tess's fault, you see. An unattended Katsumi cannot be held responsible for her actions.

When Tess emerges again, Katsumi turns to look at her, noting the towel with a small smirk. She moves along to the wall again, leaning her shoulders back against the cool surface. "Really couldn't wait, huh?," she chides. "I came by to make sure you weren't, like, hurt. But I was pretty sure you were fine. I didn't nail ya with that, y'know," she pauses to pantomime a fist thumping into her palm vertically, "piledriver."

"And no one's gonna be forgetting your debut for a while! So you made a big impression!"

[Herotica]

Tess eyes Katsumi curiously, she could've sworn the girl was hiding something... But her visit seems to be in good faith.

"I am hurt, but no less than I should be after a tough match, yeah I'll be honest, I got real scars when that piledriver was coming, not sure how much more my body could take!"

"But you beat me fair and square, I just hope I didn't make anyone think I was some sort of jobber or weakling... I'm pretty new and I don't really how much work I'll have to do before I start winning"

She grins at Katsumi, despite all the pain she seems like a friendly enough sort, maybe someone she could have give her a pointers and prepare her for the big leagues.

"Well I hope your right, any impression is a good impression!"

[CyanDimitrik]

Surprisingly, Tess seems unflappably positive about the experience! It's such an enormous contrast to the shrieking, pain-stricken girl she left in the ring, it's almost jarring! Is this what other people experience with Katsumi, she wonders? Kind've interesting, seeing the shoe on the other foot.

She lifts her shoulders in a drawn, relaxed shrug. "Nah. Not weak or anything like that. You were fightin' me. Anyone wold take the L going up against me." She shoots her a wink, still playful about the situation.

"Not gonna lie, though, it's kinda weird talkin' to ya when you're just about naked! So I should, uh," she begins, thumbing towards the door next to her. "I was trying to catch ya before ya changed'n all. I get all jazzed up after a match, and it's cool to see you're not miserable about it or whiney."

"But just to, uh, double check! You're not hurt, right? Nothing broken?"

[Herotica]

Tess is happy her confident appearance is convincing, she's gonna have to scream real loud into the pillow after Katsumi's gone.

"Well you aren't a young lioness so I can't kick myself too hard for losing, though I doubt I'll ever start liking it!"

"Yeah sorry, any warning and I would've greeted you a little fresher and more dressed, yeah I try to limit my 'whineyness' to the ring. Don't worry the only thing that took some some permanent damage was my ego, but I've been told that's due..."

Tess realises the towel may be offering Katsumi a little too much skin and slides back in the bathroom to cover up more.

"But I'm sure we'll meet again, I intend to burst out of the young lioness program with a bang, and I hope you'll be here to see it!"