When Drifter met a Shadow Lord - [GASTER/Drifter]

[thesteedman]

Katherine was still feeling ashamed when the two lightweight wrestlers moved to the side whilst they waited for their hot drinks.
"I'll pay you back. I promise. I... just... I get paid at the end of the week." Katherine tried to assure Clara. The Drifter hadn't realised just how bad her funds were right now. It was always a struggle coming towards the end of the month, though it seemed this particular time of the year had been rougher than most if she could not even afford two coffees. All at once, Katherine became very aware of how it probably appeared to Clara. Though Katherine was in good shape and health, her clothing had certainly seen better days. Though clean, there was plenty of wear and tear in her coat and clothing, with her sneakers looking far past their prime. She was in need of a new wardrobe, that much was clear.

Katherine could have explained it all away with little white lies, but it wasn't in her to do so, especially to someone who could become a potential friend in what was very foreign land to her. Luckily it did not take too long for the coffees to come, as Katherine listened to Clara who easily played down the entire scenario. When the worst of the anxiety passed, embarrassment soon took its place, though Katherine was able to regain a significant amount of composure. What had become sheer panic fizzled to a feeling of slight discomfiture.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for that. I just panicked a little when I found nothing in my little wallet... like I said, I will pay you back. Worse case, how about I get the coffees next time?" Katherine spoke, regaining some confidence. She realised if she made a big fuss, there might not be a next time, and thus tried to play it cool... once again without trying to make it all looked forced.

The two LAW wrestlers managed to claim a small table in the corner of the coffee store, settling down. There was a hint of redness on Katherine's cheeks that betrayed she was no doubt still a little troubled over the paying incident, but she managed a smile as she took her seat, finally glad to be sitting down and more comfortable.
"Sorry about that... Dammit I can be so Canadian at times... You asked me a question and I totally blanked you by accident." Katherine spoke, taking a small drink of her coffee. She remembered instantly that she hated coffee from that first near smouldering sip. Katherine realised she was such a klutz today, something she knew often happened around someone she took a liking to.

"I uhh.. No, Irelia was kind enough to take me to her home that night." Katherine began to explain, reluctantly taking another dreaded sip, hoping her sour expressions were subtle and small enough not to notice. There was a small delay as Katherine turned away from Clara. As nice as it was to study her beautiful features, Katherine was a little hesitant to continue the story, knowing what it would probably reveal about her. She did not wish to put off Clara, but at the same time she felt the need to be truthful, something imperative for a friendship.
"I'm... kind of in-between places right now honestly. Irelia is generously letting me stay with her at the moment." Katherine finally continued, scratching the back of her head.
"She's a really great person, but if there's one thing I found out about her that night is that Irelia is really quite intense. I've been trying to like... sleep on her couch so I'm not in the way, but she keeps making me fight, or rather spar for it." Katherine spoke, beginning to loosen up a little more, becoming more visibly relaxed.

"If I lose, and I've kind of lost a lot against her since staying there, she has me share the master bed with her. I mean... It's... Well... It's cool and all, but it's really intense. I mean... I don't want to be a burden to her you know? At least when I do lose, Irelia has nice tasting lip balm and stuff... and..." Katherine paused, realising what she just said and how that would come across. Katherine bit her lower lip, giving an awkward glance to Clara as she realised she went a little too far into the story than she had intended.
"She's a good friend!" Katherine spoke in a manner as if she was interrupting someone.
"I have no idea how I will be able to pay her back but I'll find a way. Anyway... I'm taking over the conversation here... I'd like to know more about you, the genius behind the Shadow Lord. What made you get into wrestling? What brought GASTER to the LAW?" Katherine politely questioned, gently trying to steer the conversation away a little from what she just said.

[Vc0m]

"God...you make me sound like I am part of the mob or something. It's just coffee.", Clara laughed, not bothered whatsoever about paying for Kat's coffee...but curious about the redhead's lack of funds...

She didn't pay attention before but the Drifter's clothing looked...pretty old. It had seen some wear and tear, and it seemed like it has been worn for several weeks...or even months now, albeit regularly cleaned.

Clara stared at Kat with slight curiosity for a little while before realizing how creepy it looked for the Canadian, as she shook her head, both at her thoughts and at Kat's apology:

"Really, it's nothing! We'll see what happens next, but just know that you don't owe me anything"

Soon enough, the duo sat down at the little table not too far from the counter once their coffees were done. Clara laughed at Kat apologizing once more. It was stereotyping...but she could definitely tell the girl was Canadian, something she had even lampshaded herself, as Clara slurped on her icy latte.

The two women continued their earlier conversation, as Kat explained that Irelia took the redhead to her house, Clara noticing that the redhead wasn't particularly enjoying her coffee as she paused her story for a little bit.

Kat continued, explaining that Irelia was nice enough to let the redhead stay nights at her house...but putting a really weird caveat on top of that. Although in other context something like this would sound creepy, despite the described woman's intencity, it seemed like the Drifter did enjoy sparring with her housekeeper by night...

The story would suddenly head into...quite a spicy territory, Clara raising her eyes at first...before lowering them, her face turning slightly sultry for a split second, as she took one more sip of her coffee, as the flustered Canadian tried to clarify her earlier words:

"I am sure she is, Kathy...", Clara smiled...and laughed. Even if her language made it seem like she didn't believe her new friend, she 100% did.

Shortly after that, Kat would turn the conversation into the Shadow Lord's direction, asking her what got her here, both into wrestling and into LAW:

"Well...for how I got into wrestling, my sister's parents...wait hang on...", Clara realized she started from the wrong foot with her sentence: "My adopted sister's biological parents, her mom especially, were pro wrestlers. After our parents told us about that, both of us got really interested in that, and it just went on from there. Wrestling school in teenage years...and right before we turned 18, there was a wrestling promotion that opened up in Newcastle...and a ton of hijinx ensued that made me come up with the GASTER character"

"Shortly after that, I learned my pen pal was in Japan, and said she was actually making decent money in promotions here. So I moved here, at first to make it a surprise...but then I just kinda accidentally let it drop I was in Japan", Clara would laugh.

[thesteedman]

Katherine listened keenly, wearing a small yet pleasant smile upon her already beautiful features as Clara explained the origin of her enthusiasm for wrestling. It was certainly a jump to go from wrestling in England to Japan, quite a daring thing to do. It spoke volumes about Clara's character and how far she was willing to go for her passion. Katherine took another sip of her coffee as she listened, managing to take the unpleasant taste a little more in her stride now that she was getting used to it. It was certainly not a drink for her, but she did not want to come across as ungrateful for it.

"I'm guessing you've been here ever since? That's good, otherwise we wouldn't be having this coffee now." Katherine added, keeping that smile when Clara finished, settling her coffee cup down on the table with both hands around it. If there was one good thing that came from the hot beverage, it certainly warmed the hands.
"I... saw a rerun of your match against the Baroness when I was training in the gym last night. That was such a great win you picked up. That punch you did to knock her on her ass, I don't think I've seen such a good strike in a long time, and punching is kind of my thing. The way you just dropped her with that hammer..." Katherine spoke, letting a little excitement slip into her voice as she mimicked the strike GASTER pulled off against the tyrant of a woman that was the Baroness.

Naturally, Katherine was quick to remember just exactly how that match ended the moment GASTER was declared the winner, and her smile dropped with her hands quickly returning to embrace the warm mug below her.
"What she did afterwards... that wasn't right at all." Katherine whispered, having watched with discontent when the Baroness continued to beat down and crush GASTER long after the rightful winner had been declared. She looked towards Clara to gauge her expression over the ordeal, biting on her own lower lip gently.
"If I had known she was going to do that, I would have tried to help you. I think most people would. I can't stand bullies, and that's all she is, a bully. I wouldn't worry too much about her, she's probably more hurt than you are because you bested her." Katherine said, taking another sip.

She managed to reform that smile again as she reached out and tapped Clara on the hand gently.
"Besides... you bought me coffee. As far as I'm concerned, I owe you big time. If she ever tries to pull something like that on you again, I'll be there to give her a right hook of my own... and believe me I can throw a good hook." Katherine declared cheerfully.

[Vc0m]

Clara laughed at Kat's remark at her staying in Tokyo. It was true, at first it was just to have fun with her friends...but the longer she stayed, the more popular she had gotten within Japan. She barely ventured beyond her native LAW, and now, there she was, drinking coffee with a cute Canadian colleague.

Then the conversation went at Clara's match vs the Baroness...and as the Drifter began explaining all that happened the day before...Clara shook her head in disbelief:

"Punch...? I did that?"

In truth, Clara struggled to remember the ending of her match vs Baroness. She only remembered that she had won...and that Stephanie attacked her afterwards. How she won...and indeed, the fact that she dropped her foe with a stiff punch escaped her memory...

As Kathy reminded Clara of the beatdown afterwards, Clara felt a tingling at her spine, despite the fact that the painkillers were still within her body. This was something that the Brit never wanted to experience again...and if offered any potential match vs Baroness, Clara was going to refuse it. Her well-being was more important than getting revenge on a crazy woman like her.

"I...I appreciate it Kathy...I hope to never face her in the ring again...", Clara would say in a calm tone to her friend, as she explained that she'd have her back had she been free.

As Katherine mentioned that she'd have her back the next time something like this happened, Clara would cheer up: "Well...then I can go challenge her right now then. The two of us will take her down!"

[thesteedman]

"That I do not doubt! Anyway, don't worry about her. You beat her once, I bet you could do it again." Katherine spoke, still wearing a pleasant smile as she made a little mock motion of shadow boxing to help spur on Clara into a lighter mood. Katherine could tell from the slight shifts in Clara's expressions when she spoke of the matter that she was still uncomfortable about what happened. It was certainly a terrible thing that happened, one that put a shadow over what should have been a fine victory. Katherine was happy to move away from the subject, though she hoped Clara's spirits were lifted a little after her words of encouragement.

"What's next for the Shadow Lord than? You've beaten a very dangerous Middleweight wrestler, where does GASTER go from there?" Katherine wondered. In a light jest like manner, Katherine's face turned a little more concerned and stoic, as she leaned back in her chair.
"It's not facing me I hope. I don't think I'm ready for the full force of GASTER the Shadow Lord!" Katherine yelped, finding a perfect balance in her tone to show she was joking. She managed another beautiful smile, Katherine very much unaware of her own splendour, breaking the facade as she leaned forwards once more.
"Seriously though, you'd kick my ass everywhere. Or arse... as you Brits say." Drifter mentioned with a pleasant giggle.

"It's.... kind of why I mentioned a spar earlier. I was wondering... you know, when or maybe if... you're up for it sometime in the near future... when you're feeling up to it... perhaps you could show me the ropes a little? I'm good at hitting things and latching on and bending limbs when I need to... but actual wrestling.... it's all so new to me." Katherine confessed.
"I've watched you wrestle and... well... you make it all look so seamless and cool. I... I'd be esatic just to get half as good as you are in the ring." Katherine added, feeling a slight blush starting to form on her cheeks as she couldn't help but admire Clara's work... but quietly more admire Clara herself as the beautiful woman sat before her. Katherine was quick to try and regain her cool as it were, though she could not deny she certainly liked Clara, finding her delightful and attractive.

Katherine didn't even dare however to mention such feelings, making the assumption that Clara was not of the same sexual orientation as herself. Katherine often kept quiet about the fact that she was a lesbian and had been since a young teen... although she accidently let slip earlier as much given what she mentioned about herself and Irelia.

[Vc0m]

"Hehehe...y-yeah...", Clara conservatively laughed. She disagreed with Katherine's notion that she could defeat the Baroness a second time, but stayed silent on that for the time being...

"Oh! Hmmmm...", Clara gave a bit of a thought to Kathy asking her about where she was going from here. Her answer was almost ready, but she wanted to word it a little better. As she was thinking, the redhead would make a quick joke:

"Hahahah, well, not unless you are partaking in the lightweight tournament", she stuck her tongue out at Kat, summing up her future plans the best she could with the answer to Katherine's joke: "And don't sell yourself short. LAW rarely hires wrestlers of no skill, I noticed...", Clara tried to ease Kathy's thoughts...thinking back that she was quite the same way when she came to LAW just a year ago. As the conversation continued, she couldn't help but be enamored a little bit with the still relatively rookie wrestler, finding her completely adorable...to the point of wishing she could give her a small peck on her cheeks, before shaking her head, and dashing those thoughts away...but not before they gave her a similar tint of red on her cheeks to the ones Katherine had on her face...

As Kathy explained her wish for a spar with Clara, the Brit's eyes lit up at the prospect, not noticing the slight blush on Drifter's cheeks: "Absolutely! I would be glad to help you improve, Kathy!", she smiled with determination at her new acquaintance...and now, possibly, a friend and sparring partner!

[thesteedman]

Katherine noticeably beamed, clearly pleased to hear that Clara would be more than willing to give her some pointers with a spar. She took another sip of her warm coffee, managing to better fight the unpleasant bitterness now that her taste buds were slowly beginning to adjust to it. Even her dislike for coffee could not rid her of the beautiful smile that had fashioned on her lips.
"That's great. Thanks so much. I'll have to grab your number so we can sort out a good date for it." Katherine spoke, barely able to contain her excitement. Whilst it would be good to potentially roll around the canvas with Clara, the chance to actually be given good pointers and shown how to wrestle actually reigned over those more fantasy thoughts. Though Katherine had a lot of heart, and a damn good left hook, it would only get her so far in a match. She had to content with the ring itself and than a professional opponent who knew how to utilise the battleground against her. Clara could help her overcome such difficulties.

"Really though, it means a lot. I won't be in the tournament myself, I just... don't think I'm ready for that yet. With your help though, maybe I might be able to make the next one. Katherine whispered, her smile becoming more modest and gentle now.
"Until then though... I'll be expecting you to keep the belt warm for me." Katherine added, with a slight jest present in her tone. The look in her eyes however suggested she meant it though, clearly having faith in Clara to prevail in the tournament. She even reached across to give Clara's hands a reassuring light squeeze with her own to show further encouragement. The girl could best Middleweights after all, able to fight above her own weightclass had to mean she had at least some advantage in the Lightweight Division Tournament. She managed a slight giggle before taking another sip... her expression this time revealed she wasn't enjoying the drink so much, but she covered it up bringing up a new subject... one she would not deny she had been thinking about for some time since they sat down.

"So... I have to ask. You must have quite a lot of fame on your shoulders now. I imagine that will only rise when you compete in the tournament for the Lightweight title. I know you wear the mask when you're GASTER but I imagine with the Internet people know who is behind the dreaded Shadow Lord. You must get a lot of requests for autographs and stuff when people recognise you? I bet all the boys come lining up too." Katherine enquired, leaning forward on her seat with a cheeky grin forming on her attractive features.
"I bet someone as pretty as you has got a secret boyfriend stashed away behind the scenes." Drifter asked... a purposely loaded question to get around the reality of what she really wanted to know. She felt a little sly asking such a question, but her tone kept the mood pleasant and near joking none the less... she wasn't so brave as to ask Clara directly what she really wanted to know. She expected Clara to brush the question aside and Katherine would not chase if she did so.

[Vc0m]

"Sure! I think I have a piece of paper and a pen somewhere...", Clara would reply, grabbing said objects from her bag to copy her phone number to give it to Katherine.

As the talk went back to the direction of the LAW Lightweight tournament, Kathy would explain that she feels she isn't quite ready yet for the tourney. And with the first round of the tourney in a month, it seemed that the Drifter would truly not partake in the tournament this year...

As Kathy joked about Clara winning, the Brit laughed...before her expression slowly turned sad. She remembered that her back was still injured...and that even after she would heal, she'd have very limited time to train for the tourney. Clara drank a bit more of her latte, trying to soothe her worries...before realizing in her head that a coffee was probably not the right drink for this...

Thankfully, either intentionally or not, Katherine would switch the subject slightly, onto her fanbase:

"Surprisingly...I only had one instance of someone finding out who I was under my mask...", Clara would explain...as a vicious blush returned to her cheeks as she remembered her gym spar with Asuka from last year...before shaking her head, choosing not to mention Asuka for right now to Kathy as she was trying to pay attention to Kat as she continued her questions into...a spicy territory.

"Heh...I have a few girls I have quite intimate...relationships with...hahaha...", she nervously laughed: "But I don't think I truly have a boyfriend or a girlfriend."

[thesteedman]

Katherine managed a warm and gentle smile when Clara handed her the piece of paper with her number on. It was a pleasant notion in which she realised she was making a friend. Katherine near beamed but tried to not look too pleased about the situation. It had been a while since Katherine had any friends. Her old crew were a bad bunch that got her into a lot of trouble, and ever since she left prison and all those troublemakers behind, she had been unable to make any friends. There simply wasn't any time to given how desperate Katherine had been to accumulate funds for the orphanage and the family she had wronged way back when. Coming to Japan was a fresh start, and already she had met Irelia who was kind enough to give her a home to stay in for now when she felt like she was reaching her lowest point, and now she was making more friends in Clara, finding she was very much enjoying her company.

"Wow! I have to say I'm surprised. A beautiful girl like yourself not having a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I thought someone would have taken you by now. Although I'm curious about the lucky girls you have a little thing going on with, you'll have to tell me a little more about that sometime." Katherine giggled, keeping the smile as she noticed Clara's nervousness on the subject. Katherine gave Clara's hand a reassuring squeeze with her own to indicate she was only teasing. She wouldn't press too much, though it was a little devious and perhaps more cute to see Clara squirm a little over such personal questions. Katherine had found out something however that she wanted to, Clara seemed to like women. Though curious about her intimate relationships, Katherine did not wish to push the subject any more. The two had just met after all, and Katherine wanted to keep things casual for the time being... though the news of no girlfriend was certainly something interesting.

"Thanks for your number. If you want we can hang out too in-between some training sessions if your up for it. I do owe you a drink after all, I wouldn't mind paying that debt off. Plus... you seem really cool and stuff. Just be good to hang out with a friendly face." Katherine whispered with a modest smile, looking a little nervous after her suggestion.

[Vc0m]

"U-uuuummm..."

At Kathy's comments about her romantic life, and potentially talking about it, Clara got very red in the face, before Kat let the Brit know that she was simply joking, calming her with a careful squeeze of her hand. She giggled at the situation...while still red in the face. Still...why did she feel like that this wasn't quite the question she answered to Kathy? Still...the look on her face told her that she got the information she wanted to get, and she didn't think she spoke of something that was too "spicy" with her.

With that, the conversation for the two girls slowly started to wrap up, with the redhead thanking Clara for her phone number:

"Oh! Certainly. I would be happy to hang out, both for spars and just as friends. You really don't owe me a drink though", she smiled at Kathy, very happy to hang out more with her new friend and LAW colleague.