Celestial Aftermath (For CyanDimitrik)

[Avalyn117]

Stacy felt giddy with excitement, though certainly was having trouble shaking the butterflies in her stomach as she arrived at the door to Katsumi's place. She took a deep breath, looking quickly through her bag. "Think that's everything I need if I end up staying over... toothbrush... toothpaste... PJs? There they are!" Stacy calmed down slightly, wondering if she should have done more to dress up, standing right outside the door in her jean shorts and a black crop top. "Nah this is fine, it's just a friendly get together, not exactly a date!" She whispered, ever the awkward mess of sincerity. Stacy couldn't wait for the upcoming event, the first time she gets to watch Katsumi in action since their match and... aftermath of their match.

Stacy finally knocked on the door a moment later, 5 minutes before 8pm as they had agreed upon, holding her bag of nightwear and a small gift for Kat. "It's me Katsumi!"

"I'm not too early? Surely this wouldn't be considered LATE?! What if the gift isn't even something she likes? Do I even mention the other night? Maybe our match of course, sure she LOVED that part. She's so cool. She's so pretty. She's so...." Stacy's head swirled with similar thoughts as she waited for her host.

[CyanDimitrik]

The apartment might look extremely pedestrian from the outside. One of a few dozen, all arranged in a multi-level building. People pass it all the time, never sparing it a glance. None would expect a professional wrestler of Katsumi's caliber to be living here. But the pay is what the pay is. Until she starts making the big bucks, this is her life; relative anonymity unless she starts showing her face. Then it becomes about a thirty-seventy split on whether someone recognizes her.

Just wait, though. The PPV is gonna change things. The check attached to the appearance alone promises to make life easier.

Katsumi, for her part, is dressed a little nicer than she normally would be at this hour, as if going out. Cropped black off-the-shoulder top, fishnet sleeves, gloves, chunky boots (indeed, indoors!), and leather pants. Not really loungewear. But she's still wearing the same choker she had on in the ring - black leather, centered with a golden heart.

Her wardrobe!

This is the vision that greets Stacy when her door suddenly swings open.

Katsumi's gaze dips quickly, taking in the other girl's 'civilian' attire before flashing an approving grin and stepping back in obvious invite. "Come in, come in. Set your stuff wherever."

The interior is meticulously well-kept. Not a stain or scruffy spot to be found along the carpeted floor. Various sets of shoes fill the cubby by the door, and beyond that, the interior is split between two sections; a kitchenette, equipped with oven, refrigerator, and island counter lined with stools, and a living area, featuring a plain beige sofa, armchair, and coffee table. A hallway branches off from the living area, presumably leading towards the bedroom.

As far as points of interest go, there isn't much to see in the majority of the space aside from a flatscreen television, with one exception. The corner of the living area is dominated by a desktop computer and gaming chair, and just a little ways past that, an assortment of sturdy black cases in the unmistakable shapes of various instruments. An odd, apparently electronic drum kit rests in the adjacent corner, sticks crossing over a stool between the numerous pads.

[Avalyn117]

The door swings open and Stacy promptly freezes, her rampant thoughts completely evaporating into a 404 error as Katsumi comes into view. Stacy thought the girl looked something like a casual rockstar, the top and tight leather pants perfectly fitting her image, along with her iconic choker. "T-Thank you!" Stacy managed to get out with a quick bow, nearly hopping her way into Kat's apartment. The size reminded her of her own, though she was instantly impressed with the condition of absolutely everything. It was as if Kat was never even home... impossibly clean and tidy. Stacy liked to live a very clean life herself, but sometimes late nights turned into early mornings and scrambling to meet her growing obligations.

"Everything is... spotless... how do you manage that...." Stacy wondered aloud as she kicked her shoes off, setting her bag down casually by the side of the sofa. The rookie took notice of the desktop and gaming chair... then the various instruments, unable to hold back a soft, happy laugh at seeing this side of Katsumi. "I expected to see a few instruments, miss punk princess... didn't know you'd go crazy with your gaming setup... no doubt it'll get even better after your big match!" Stacy smiled.

Stacy felt slightly teary, emotional at standing where she stood, how much of a whirlwind her life had been the past few days.... She couldn't contain it. Stacy lunged forward, tightly hugging Katsumi. "I can't wait to cheer for you! We'll both remember it... We Are Law... what it meant when you reach the top!" Stacy said softly, giving Katsumi one last squeeze before letting go. "Ahh!" Stacy exclaimed, quickly going to her bag and pulling out a variety box of tea... and one of coffee. "I didn't know if you liked one or the other or both or neither or... so I just... got both!" Stacy winked, offering the gift

[CyanDimitrik]

"Oh. Uh," Katsumi pauses, brushing a hand over the side of her neck. "Who the Hell wants to live in dirt, huh? Best to keep it tidy."

Meticulously tidy. There's more to it than that.

Before she can add more, she suddenly finds herself glomped onto. No one ever does this with her! "Ahh!," she yelps in surprise, eyes wide and veritably frozen. And when released, she's still rather recovering, blinking innocently at the other girl and her assortment of gift options.

"Jasmine tea's good?," she suggests. "A-anyway, slow down. Relax."

At last, Katsumi turns to nudge the door shut and afford them privacy. "You found out I'm in the Pay-Per-View, huh? Yeah. It's not for a title, so- so chill, okay?" The enthusiasm risks making her nervous! She can't afford to be nervous! But when she turns to Stacy again, it's with a (somewhat forced) 'easy' smile. "This is my shot to show'em I deserve it. But- but not the big shot. Not yet."

[Avalyn117]

Stacy of course couldn't have known the full story, sure this WAS incredibly meticulous cleanliness... but its not exactly unheard of. She also didn't think her punk princess was the most predictably normal gal on the planet to begin with. Stacy loved every little bit of Katsumi she got to see... genuine and unapologetically herself... if you could get that far.

"Jasmine tea, got it!" Stacy responded, taking out two tea bags and setting the boxes aside while she put them on the coffee table. "A bird may have told me about your match, yeah! Nothing gets by detective Stacy Auguste Celestial!" she winked. Stacy made another quick move, this time grabbing Katsumi's hand softly with both of hers and squeezing. "Title match or not Kat, this is big for you! You'll win, make some noise, and you'll be in the title picture in no time! I know how much you think about it, and you WILL get there. One celebration at a time." Stacy said warmly, smiling brightly.

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi continues to watch Stacy with an almost avian interest, her head cocked slightly to the side. She seems like she's brimming with energy and uncontained, pulsing like a star, fittingly enough. Or was it nerves prompting this almost frantic kind of effervescence? The biggest reason Katsumi invited her over was to try and see what Stacy's really like; what her personality is when she's relaxed and more chill. Jury's still out!

At least she's learned her full name now! Somehow Auguste feels like a fitting name for her, even though it's so American. Or Greek. Whatever!

Her hand is snagged, squeezed, and Katsumi is staring at it. "'Kay," she says a little dumbly. She's realizing it's actually a little difficult to keep up with her.

For once, her brain registers what she just said as probably rude.

The bright green gaze snaps back up to Stacy's face. "Sorry, uh, just- still processing this." Her free hand wafts towards Stacy in vague indication. "All this. So let's just... relax a little?"

Her hand slips from Stacy's in favor of gathering the things she had set out and shuttling them to the counter. She doesn't need tea right now, and she doesn't want her brand new guest rifling through her drawers. Pun not intended.

"Come'ere," she calls as she crosses the room to the sofa. Turning, she plops herself down onto the far right end, casting her arm over the backrest as she reclines. The left leg crosses over the right. "Sit," she invite-commands, left hand patting the cushion beside her. "I wanna talk to ya. Figure you out. M'not good at being sneaky about it."

[Avalyn117]

Stacy, for her part, wasn't exactly sure what to do with all of her feelings and emotions either. These feelings manifested in the only way Stacy really knew how: energy, excitement. nervousness. The rookie of course had no intention of just rifling through Katsumi's things as she set the tea down, even in her most thoughtless excitement she knew better than that.

Kat's reply landed a bit coldly, though Stacy didn't blame the punk princess given the emotion and over all adoration she had shown in knowing Kat for such a short time. Stacy brushed it off quickly, understanding Kat's nature and deciding she needed to back off... just a bit. "Please don't apologize, I shouldn't be so...." Stacy trailed off in embarrassment, her face slightly red as she got a better grip on herself.

Stacy quickly followed Katsumi's demand, sitting next to her with her hands placed softly on her lap as she let her back fall against the cushion, taking a deep breath to center. "I want to... figure you out too, Katsumi. You... don't seem to like people doing that." Stacy said in a more serious tone, though not without empathy. Stacy had plenty she desired to say, though given her near immediate oversteps tonight, she relented. Rather than push the envelope, Stacy simply led with the one thing she knew made Katsumi feel comfortable, closing her eyes for a moment. "Did you get the match details... just a standard, non title match? Hopefully an opponent that will draw management's eyes... written in the stars or not, I'd rather you didn't wait 3 years for your chance at the top." Stacy finishes with a sigh.

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi could immediately tell the energy in the room had shifted. She's dumb; she's often clueless socially, but energy is palpable to her. She feeds on it. And she'd gotten very acquainted with Stacy's bubbly, bursting, celestial level energy. It was overwhelming, even awkward to try to acclimate to, but at the same time endearing. Because it felt so extremely Stacy.

In short, Katsumi feels like she just dimmed a candle.

Her gaze flicks down to her lap, hesitant, then back to Stacy. "It's a hardcore match against a chick named Catherine. Saw'er picture, she's... she's built. Not like a gross Hulk or something, but really muscled. I think beating her is gonna be a, a really solid statement. Really good step forward."

She glances downwards again briefly. When her eyes lift to Stacy again, it's accompanied by a gentle scooch across the couch cushions to get closer to her. She's not good with this kind of thing, but hopefully a little body language will fill in where words don't come so easily. And in the event that they don't, she's determined that Stacy doesn't deserve to feel in the lurch.

"I'm gonna be honest with you. Honest as I can," she starts. "I suck at this. At- all this. Not wrestling, that's the one good thing I'm good at." Beat. "Wrestling and music. Two things I'm good at. But everything else, I'm just the worst. So if I say something that's-- that's like-- really mean? I don't mean to. I'm stupid. Hit me, okay? I'm tough, I can take it. I just... I'm sick'a saying stupid things and really hurting people I don't mean to."

Her gloved hands fidget together over her lap.

"And I really don't mean to with you. Unless it's in the ring. Or fun-times. You get what I'm saying. Right?"

[Avalyn117]

Stacy tried to put her whiplash of emotions aside as she listened intently to Katsumi explaining her match. "Catherine... got it. You just have to win and make a statement, you've already had so much success that they can't ignore you much longer!" Stacy smiled, trying not to betray her nervousness as Katsumi took control of the situation, gently moving closer to the rookie. Stacy was determined to keep her hands to herself for the moment, moving them to her lap with a quick, nonchalant pat.

Stacy's resistance crumbled down upon her like an avalanche however as Katsumi spoke. The Starlight Sprinter found herself fighting back tears as they threatened to flood her eyes. Stacy was emotional by nature, but with Kat it seemed... impossible not to show that side of herself. "She's always so genuine even if she... really doesn't want that side to be on display." she thought.

For a brief moment, Stacy stayed silent, trying to figure out just how to respond without putting poor Kat back in an awkward place. "Hey... come on... I know that. You've been through a lot and I know you don't want anyone to get to you, to pry at that part of you and make you uncomfortable and I'm... just not here to do that." Stacy smiled softly as a cheek rolled down her cheek against her will.

Stacy made a fist and slowly aimed it at Kat's shoulder, barely making contact. "I won't need to hit you, and I don't need you to show me everything that makes you uncomfortable... just be you... focus on wrestling, focus on music, and I'll be here." Stacy smiled, resting her head against Kat's shoulder softly. "I'm not here because you can't do this alone, I'm here because I want to be. Whatever I am... I don't want to be a distraction... keep your focus... I'll hit you for real if you don't become champion." Stacy sighed quietly.

[CyanDimitrik]

Katsumi internally winces at the sight of the tear. That's something she's just going to have to get used to, it seems. Because she recognizes that Stacy is trying to self-moderate - it's kind of like her when she tries to self-moderate. It's a challenge. But the fact that she's trying is endearing, and if Stacy hadn't already leaned in to put her head on her shoulder, Katsumi would be scooting close enough to bump leg to leg with her.

The last thing she says, however, gets a sudden and unexpected snork-giggle from the punkette. "Thattagirl," she says, a little more eased. "I like a girl who'll threaten me with a good time."

Katsumi takes a moment to consider everything in the present: Stacy, their surroundings, her guest's fashion choice, her own. And with an almost dismissive air, she begins plucking at her gloves to loosen them and cast them away onto the coffee table.

"So. Stacy Celestial. Hell of a last name. Is it real? Or is it like a stage name?," she asks. "It sounds like something out of a fantasy book. And why LAW? What made ya wanna come all the way to Japan? America not hardcore enough for ya?"

Somewhere in the midst of those questions, one of Katsumi's newly-exposed hands has found its way around the other girl, lightly settling into the smooth groove of her waistline.