Something Clever! - For Bare98

[CyanDimitrik]

Whew. Okay. Catalina's not a newbie. She didn't lose to an actual rookie. She didn't wrestle like a rookie, but still. She had to be sure!

But then she gaijin had to go and ask that question. The fact that Katsumi didn't expect that is clearly written on her already-flustered face, her eyes widened to a point of overtaking the majority of her facial real-estate. Her intention was to distract herself from her own dark, self-loathing thoughts, and in retrospect, she could say that's mission accomplished. But now she's gone and opened a whole new can of worms in her rambling.

Catalina? The girl's cute as a button. Sweet face, kind personality, spunky. Tight body, tan skin, very pretty. Did she want her splashing onto her again into a pin? Feeling the other girl's bare stomach crashing over hers, then the persistent feel of her body lying across her... Does she want that? Well. Maybe. Kind of.

Katsumi worries her teeth over her bottom lip for a second, her own cheeks starting to burn. Oh god. Think of something. Anything! Something clever to say!

"Th-that's not why I said it!," she protests suddenly. "I was just, uh, sharing! Besides, I'd rather be the one splashing you for the pin!"

So there! Right?

"N-now you say something."

[Bare]

Tilting her head cutely in response to Katsumi's sudden silence Catalina would wait patiently for Katsumi to process her words and respond in kind to her. But Katsumi wouldn't keep Catalina waiting long and responded in a way that seemed very in character for her, making Catalina giggle softly in response to Katsumi before nodding.

"Hehe, noted, but it won't so easy for you to do that." Cat said airily with a smile before humming as she thought of what Katsumi then asked her. "Hm like a secret? Well.. for what its worth I really liked fighting you... not so much any particular move but you were very... fiery. It made me warm and fuzzy inside hehe. You're just... very exciting and inspiring... I like that a lot about you." Catalina said with a soft smile while looking directly at the woman.

[CyanDimitrik]

It was about the most clumsy segue ever, and Katsumi was just hoping the spritely foreigner would throw her a bone. And true to Catalina's evident sweet nature, that's exactly what she does. Though the exact answer has her head tilting in comical fashion, bright vivid green eyes studying her.

At first, it seems just kind of flattering. Fiery. She likes fiery. It's not a word people often use to describe her punkish ways. It makes her feel a little more liked than hated. But in very short order, she almost mentally doubletakes. Warm and fuzzy feelings inside...

Why, those sound like the burgeoning flitters of attraction.

Exciting? While fighting her? Also a new one. But the one that takes the cake is the final adjective thrown in: inspiring. It leaves Katsumi innocently blinking those exotic eyes.

The guitar is gingerly set aside, its neck propped against the back of the bench. Katsumi scoots herself closer to Catalina's side, inch by inch, enough to brush her arm to hers.

"Inspiring?," she asks, her voice a little softer in tone as though she thought it may be some embarrassing secret her contemporary and rival might prefer kept silent. "You like that about me, huh..?"

[Bare]

Catalina wasn't sure if what she said was quite what Katsumi was looking for. It was all true and genuine, but she didn't know if perhaps it was too much of a mouthful or too personal a thing to get off her chest to the woman. Despite the growing closeness between them, both literal and metaphorical, they still knew relatively little about each other, and Katsumi's silence was starting to make Cat just a bit anxious.

So much so that she didn't even notice just how close Katsumi was until their arms brushed against one another. Blinking with a slight dusting of pink across her cheeks Catalina would turn to Katsumi who was starting right at her with intense emerald eyes. "Mhmmm yeah.. You're... confidence too." Catalina said just a little meekly, a bit of nervousness creeping in her. But not from being uncomfortable... but from a bit of attraction with how close Katsumi was...

[CyanDimitrik]

"Oh...," Katsumi says, immediately feeling a twinge of guilt.

She wasn't feeling particularly confident earlier tonight. She was getting all morose, the old self-loathing starting to creep back in. She had been doing better with that lately, but the quiet times with nothing to do had a bad tendency to tempt it back in.

But here's this girl, cute as can be, saying she likes her confidence. She doesn't deserve that, does she? Her gaze betrays her, lowering briefly before lifting again to the Argentinian.

"So...," she says, a little more quietly. Her tone takes a coy note, her gaze half-lidded. "...what's it gonna take to get you back in the ring with me? Now that we know a little more about each other, I think we could stand to get on the mat for another round. Don't you~?"

Catalina knows Katsumi has a soft spot - or predisposition - towards body splashes. Katsumi knows Catalina has a crush on her - or what sounds like one. This almost feels more like a date! But in wrestlespeak.

[Bare]

Catalina raised an eyebrow at the brief word from Katsumi and the following look of... sadness? guilt? it was hard for her to tell but she was starting to feel at least a little bit concerned. Raising a hand up she was about to say something before the dark haired woman turned back to her with a.. very interesting expression. All to ask about a rematch but in a tone that made it sound like something.. more.

Swallowing a lump in her throat she didn't even know she had Cat would nod softly to Katsumi. "S-Si I'd like that quite a bit Katsumi. I'm sure it'll be just as fun as our first match." Catalina said, gaining some of her confidence back as she gave a firm nod and even pumped her fist, the thought of getting back into the ring with Katsumi definitely something that got her blood pumping!

[CyanDimitrik]

Was their first match fun? It was a little frustrating for Katsumi, but she couldn't really be mad at Catalina. She was just too adorable. Too guileless! Not quite free-spirited, but just bright. How could she be mad at that? And in the end, Katsumi really did want a shot at payback. And now, the tone has shifted between them to something that felt definitively more flirty, more attracted to each other. It adds a whole other layer to the contest they're planning to engage in. Even the way Catalina accepts the challenge has Katsumi cracking a grin.

With her gaze hooding impishly, Katsumi leans in enough to nudge her shoulder against the other girl's. "Any stakes ya wanna put on the table?," she prompts. It's a daring proposition, and fully intended to try to probe a little more into Catalina's feelings about the whole angle - and specifically, her.

[Bare]

Catalina was admittedly quite excited about the potential rematch against Katsumi. Not only was the woman quite easy to get along with but Catalina knew from the first bout that she was an even better opponent. Plus admittedly seeing the grin on Katsumi's face in response to Catalina's acceptance of the match. Although admittedly at the shoulder bump and insinuation of potentially adding stakes to the match made the girl blush and look down a bit. "Welllll maybe.. loser buys the other dinner? I've never been overly fond of the more intense stipulations some other people use if I'm being honest." Catalina said, even starting to twirl her finger in her hair a bit as she did so.

[CyanDimitrik]

Despite her earlier mood, Katsumi is feeling considerably lighter. And seeing Catalina's shy response to the intentionally provocative question earns a pleased giggle as she relents, leaning back again. "Yeeaah?," she drawls. "Think you're gonna even be up for dinner after I squash ya flat?" She's hoping to get the other girl's eyes on her again. And if she succeeds, she'll be met with a playful bobbing of an eyebrow.

Bob-bob-bob.

"Buuut, fine! If that's what'cha like, I can let ya buy me dinner after. Sometime. Maybe not the same night, 'cuz.." She motions with a hand; she'd already explained this part, donchaknow. "Otherwise, straight match between us. You'n me. In the ring. In our gear. Ready to throw down."

Suddenly, Katsumi lifts to her full height again, lifting the guitar with her. "I'll talk to some people and get it in motion. Hell, might even make a thing out of it. Make it more fun'n exciting." She takes a few steps, dipping a hand to briefly draw a fingertip along Catalina's chin, if permitted. "See ya between the ropes, tiger."

[Bare]

Despite offering a more shy and reserved response then how she had been speaking earlier, all due to the more intimate and provocative nature of what Katsumi was leaning towards, she gave what seemed to be a satisfactory answer. Or at least one that had Katsumi bobbing her eyebrows up and down which made Catalina blush slightly again before the woman continued, saying she agreed and making Cat nod eagerly.

"Yeah sounds gr-....eat." Cat said, her excited response dying slightly into stunned silence as Katsumi got up, and drew her finger tip to her chin, tilting her head and making her breath hitch. "I.. uh.. S-S-Si." Cat mumbled out, and probably would have followed Katsumi where ever she went if she kept leading her along with that finger under her chin, but presumably Katsumi would remove it to walk away and, embarrassed as she was to admit it.. she definitely watched the woman's gait and swaying hips as she did so.