4169/Interview with a Bakaneko

Interview with a Bakaneko
Date of Scene:	18 November 2020
Location:	Madison Square Garden
Synopsis:	The Bugle's photographer gets into the ring with the Punk Princess.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Katsumi Oshiro

---

Peter Parker has posed:
Madison Square Garden. He had been here a little over two years ago. A lifetime ago.

He avoided Elevator #3 to head up to the locker rooms. He had stepped out of the elevator, and then Carradine had come in from his left...
...and the rest is history.
So, he took the stairs.

The word had come down from on high, AKA JJJ. A promotional article on a hot up-and-comer wrestler to hit the press before the event. Pictures and everything.
And Peter had gotten the word, so here he was approaching the door to the "green room" and waiting outside. A promoter was going to escort him in to meet the athlete in question...

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
When Katsumi Oshiro, the Punk Princess of Japan, was told she'd be meeting some press today - solo - she was taken aback. Insofar, she'd managed to irritate everyone on her team to the point of even more ostracization than she's used to. And the premise of it - an up-and-comer? She might be insulted by that if she weren't just so surprised that they'd want someone like her instead of one of their own home-grown locals from the upcoming 'tournament'!

Granted, they may very well already have interviewed some people from the American delegation and she just not be aware of it. In fact, that's a pretty likely scenario.

Katsumi has made an effort to seem more presentable today; she isn't sure whether this will be on camera or in the press, but the General Manager told her firmly to not embarrass them. She has an image to protect, but she's on thin enough ice already. So a white button-up shirt starts the ensemble, the top couple buttons left daringly free with the sleeves rolled back just above her elbows. Foregoing the proper etiquette of tucking the shirt in, it's instead worn over a black skirt ending just above the knees. White sneakers with tall socks, black fingerless leather biker gloves, and a black choker centered in golden coin finish the 'punky schoolgirl' ensemble.

Outside the green room, the promoter in question - none other than Vincent Delaney, an American man somewhere in his thirties with slicked blond hair, white blazer, and permanent aviator sunglasses - happen to be the organizer of the event itself. "Right in here, right in here," he encourages, going so far as to graciously open the door to the waiting Katsumi. Said Katsumi quickly raises to her full height.

Peter Parker has posed:
Well...THIS guy was nothing to write home about.
Short brown hair, light brown eyes, average Caucasian face, baggy clothing (probably to hide a high-carb gut) and tennis shoes. He has a camera bag, and an earnest look on his face.

Does his mom know he's out playing photographer?

Then Delaney smiles and introduces him. "Mr. Parker, I present to you...Katsumi Oshiro, the Punk Princess. Katsumi...this is Peter Parker, from the Daily Bugle." A pause, then, if there is no instant recognition, he adds, "He's the one that gets all the pictures of Spider-Man for the paper."

Ah, yes...his other handle. Spidey's Stalker.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"'Sup," offers Katsumi in a manner far more colloquial than most might expect from a Japanese national, even with a slight upnod.

By this point, she's built a sort of love-hate relationship with Delaney. He doesn't trust her. She doesn't think particularly highly of him. Both recognize the pull the other provides. Ah, showbiz. So they're giving each other a wary look, and after introductions have been made, Delaney isn't going anywhere. He dawdles off to a corner of the room to make himself appear busy while totally-not-I-swear eavesdropping. "Don't mind me! Just a fly on the wall."

"Mmhm." Katsumi's exotic gaze follows him for a few moments before retraining onto Peter. Those eyes aren't exotic simply for her heritage, it should be noted - the irises are a near perfect magenta, marked only with traces of pale streaking. As for Peter? He looks normal enough to her, at least!

"So, Spider-Man, huh? Which one's he, again? Guy with lots of arms?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter grins. "Two arms, two legs, red-and-blue longjohns, Circle-K mouth, because it never closes."

Odd eyes. Must be contacts.

"Anyway, I was told I'd be doing a portfolio of five shots for the article, twenty total for the Bugle's website. Some basic questions, and if you want to stay 'in-character' that is sub-zero by me. I'll keep this short, you get final approval of the pictures, and I won't take up too much of your precious time. Sound like a plan?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro is nodding along to what he's saying. Five shots? She should've worn her gear. She doesn't feel like her presence is reflected at all in these bland normy clothes. Nevermind that the way she wears said normy clothes have a distinctly personal touch. She's picky.

However, the remark on staying 'in-character' gets a surprised blink before her gaze sharpens on him. "In-character?," she repeats back to him. One jet-black eyebrow lowers while the other arches. "Don't know what you're talkin' about." Her arms raise to either side in grandiose display, fingers splayed and head canting forward. There's a faint upticking at the corners of her lips, however. "What you see is what you get, Parker. I don't come out dressed like a pirate, or a Chewbacca." Her right hand swings inwards, thumb jutting towards her chest, "I come out at /me/! Katsumi Oshiro. The Punk Princess doesn't become a model citizen just because the lights go off!" The hands move then to prop at her narrow hips, elbows tilted back while her back arches in such a way to emphasize her svelte figure, but not so much that it may appear intentional or practiced. "You're talkin' to the real deal." Her eyebrow perks again. "Feel me?"

Of note, her accent is near flawlessly metropolitan English. There exists only a faint, occasional lilt to hint towards her Japanese heritage.

"Now," she continues, wisking a hand through silky bangs, "you don't have to worry about takin' up my time. My schedule's clear today."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, thinking about Crusher Hogan. He's doing pretty good these days, working as a trainer in a Brooklyn gym.

"Sorry. Some American wrestlers, they put on a show for the cameras. Good guys, bad guys. If I was insulting, I apologize."
He did get a sense of something, though. "If you would prefer to wear something else for the pictures, I can wait. My day's kinda wide-open, as well. Done with my college courses for the day." And he doesn't have to work at KordCo today, either. "But if you'd like some now, and the rest in something different, I think it would add appeal to show some variety."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"It's fine, dude." Suddenly, Katsumi leans forward to gently jab at Peter's shoulder. "I can tell you weren't talkin' s***. Now, you put someone in front of me saying wrestling's fake? I might DDT their head through the floor. Give the people on the level below us a really ugly chandelier. But this?" Her hands raise in an animatedly lackidaisical shrug. "Eh!"

She turns to survey the room in detail then, noting the look she's getting from Delaney. In a show of maturity, she sticks her tongue out at him. When her vivid gaze returns to Peter, it's with a positted, "You tell me, Takeshi-san." He may not get the reference. "You're the one in the business. And while still in college, which is kind'a badass."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter smiled. "I'm a little out of Beat Takeshi's league. I'm a blue-collar, working-class teenager from a quiet burg in Queens. If anything, my greater talents lie elsewhere. But, enough about me." He stands up, then raises the camera. "Let's take some pictures while I ask questions. What's it like being a female wrestler where you come from?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Eyebrows raise. "Look at you, being all multicultural and s***," says an honestly impressed Katsumi. "Score one for the college boy."

Cagey remarks about his greater talents lying elsewhere could be either taken completely benign, or not-so-platonic to a female client. But Peter's insofar been a perfect gentleman. Her mind doesn't so much as entertain the possibility that he was tossing a line. But he breezes past it so fast, she doesn't have much of a chance to tug the thread anyway!

"Pictures. Right. Uh.." Katsumi pauses to glance over her left shoulder, then off to her right side. "This room sucks. Pictures of me are usually like action shots, or in front of the federation logo if I've got the belt or something. So, um.." The first sign of uncertainty creeps into her pixie features as her gaze drops sheepishly to the floor. "..you might have to be a little more Takeshi than normal. What're we, uh, going for?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looked thoughtful. "Well, punk is street. What say we go down to the ground level? Pictures of you in the arena, maybe a couple standing on the turnbuckle...and then some out on the street near the subway entrance, maybe in front of the wall of posters that clubs use?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Mm'yeah, could do that," considers Katsumi. "Some shots down on the street level could be cool. I wish I didn't dress like Sunday school for this, though. Ugh."

She motions down over herself, indicating the conservative-by-her-standards attire. "This is the s*** I wear to interviews. Not to fight in. And it sounds like we want more of the fight-y, rawr Oshiro," she says, raising her fists and issuing a couple stiff fake-jabs at the air, "and less the," she pauses to place her hands against her lap and bends forward steeply at the waist in traditional bow, "here-is-my-resume Oshiro."

Her back straightens again with a sigh. "If you're serious, I'll grab some other clothes, and we'll do this right. Get my attire, grab some good street clothes I can freeze my ass off in, and you can say you spent the day with a star." Beat. "Foreign star." Another beat. "A star not a lott'a people in America have heard of."

She offers a toothy grin, somehow colored with sheepishness.

"Deal? I'll even actually answer the interview question you asked ages ago!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nodded. "Deal." He glances to Delaney. "It'll look better in print and on the website. 'Royal Rumbler.' Kinda catchy, eh?"

He looks back to Katsumi. "I'll head down to the ring, set up a few things to get the right kind of pictures. I have another camera which might work better there."
Peter nods and bows slightly to Katsumi. "I'll see you in the ring, Punk Princess."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro exhales a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Cool."

She watches him bow in silence, another owlish blink to follow. When he straightens up again, he's met with a bright peal of giggles. "That always looks so weird. You don't have to do that! I'm on /your/ terf! But if anyone asks, I'll tell'em Peter Parker checked all the right cultural awareness boxes," she teases.

Delaney rolls his eyes before his cellphone goes off. Aside to Parker, he calls, "I'll make sure the workers know you're coming. Talk about the set a little too, if you can!"

As it is, the ring will have to be constructed quickly for the sake of the shoot. So a little extra perk for the workers would be great! Not that he expects Peter to know the ring has to be constructed and deconstructed in this way.

Katsumi starts for the door, happy to leave Delaney behind on the phone. "So the ring, then! I'll get into my gear first."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, gives a wave, then heads down.
Again, using the stairs.

They do work fast, though. Peter watches them raise the metal frame for the mat, roping off the square mat, and hooking everything up. He stands in the ring, feeling a little deja vu.
Some good, some not-so-good.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. The fearless, confident jackhole wearing the rough ski mask was long gone. Peter was what was left. Best to keep moving forward, just like what Rocky Balboa said.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
It took Katsumi a little longer to get to the arena. She had to get back to her hotel room, gather a few things, and then hurry to Madison Square Garden with a duffelbag. And the moment she's let onto the grounds, she beelines for the lockers. It takes a couple minutes more, but soon enough, she's making her way into the arena - a vision in blue and gold, bright smile worn. Her hands link neatly behind her neck, eyes affixed to the ring up ahead. And therein, she spots Peter.

Unable to resist, the punkette snatches up a folding chair along the way and quickly collapses it into its flat, delivery configuration. The remainder of the distance to the ring is covered with a sprint and wicked smile, right up until she reaches the apron whereupon she bodily throws herself into a slide beneath the bottom rope. The momentum carries into a charge with the folding chair, intending on startling the poor young man, but with zero intention to actually swing.

Peter Parker has posed:
If Peter saw it, he might be able to fake surprise, but he was too busy monitoring the drone that was currently moving along the periphery of the ring.
He doesn't see her, but it does, turning to take pictures, one after the other, of Katsumi's rush towards the ring.

He hears the SHUUSHHHH of her body sliding into the ring, turning towards her...
...but does not look startled, even as she winds up. It like he knows there will be no swing to come.
His irises dilate slightly, but otherwise...she might as well have walked up to him and held out her hand to shake.

"Hey, that's a good pose. Photo."
There is a tiny flash of light to Peter's left.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro's advance halts on her right leg, chair raised. She blinks twice, stunned. "Dude, you got /way/ too much chill." Despite this, the wicked smile has shifted into a bemused, more sincere grin. The chair is lowered, then slid right back out of the ring to clatter noisily on the perimeter. "The drone saw me, right?," she asks, neck craning to look up at it. "And I mean, probably knowing I won't clobber a guy who's supposed to be taking my picture... whatever, details!"

Refocusing on Peter, she links her hands neatly behind her back. "So, turnbuckles, right?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peer nodded, and she could hear the slight whirr in the air as the drone came around...

...and it's the size of a matchbox. A glossy red spider that was the size of an ACTUAL spider, looks at Katsumi with a clinical eye.

"I think that we should try both angles. Down low and aiming up to enhance dominance, as well as from above and to the left, to give the position of looking down on the rest of the ring."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Along came a drone-spider, to hover beside her, and Katsumi - well, whatever she was thinking about is promptly derailed. "Whoa, whaaaat?," she asks, her voice reaching a youthful pitch as she examines what she believes is not a standard drone. In fairness, she's not a drone enthusiast. She wouldn't really know. But it's definitely quirky!

And didn't she hear he gets shots of Spider-Man? Is it ironic that his drone is spidery? "Did you get this from Spider-Man?," she asks bluntly, an index finger raised to tap at the delicate surveilance equipment. "It's all spidered out."

Immediately following the question, she's easing back to the turnbuckle. Boot-heels place upon the bottom ropes, and she backwards-climbs her way to the third tier. Legs spread, the tight cables gently dipping beneath her feet, Katsumi stands with perfect, practiced balance facing the ring from her lofty position. "You wanted me facing this way, right? Not out?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter smiled. "Might as well try it both ways." He looked down at the seats beyond the ring.

"Truth is...he kinda got it from me. Those greater talents I spoke of? Technology's kinda my wheelhouse. I use it to get good pictures of him, because I get vertigo and can't be where he is in time if I follow in person. But the drone goes everywhere."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Why aren't you selling those things, then?," asks Katsumi as she preens atop the turnbuckle. Shoulders back, body slightly arched to counterbalance the ropes, sleek figure only further on display as she teases back the silky blueblack hair. A few bangs fall coquettishly over an eye, despite her efforts. "Seems like you take good pictures, but your heart's not in it."

Her hands lower again, arms hovering at mid-height as if ready to pounce something in the ring.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter steps to one side. "This is more of a pay-the-bills job. My pay-for-college job is as a lab tech. Don't worry, though, you're my priority right now, so I'm not going to misrepresent you in the press."
The drone slides around Katsumi, occasional flashes of light signify the pictures being taken.

"I don't think you ever answered. What challenges are there for a female wrestler in Japan?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
As the flashes continue, Katsumi organically shifts the poise from one to the other; from an upright angle to more of a crouch, one hand gripping the rope at her side.

"Ya better!," she laughs in response to his assurance of not misrepresenting her.

As to the question? It gets a genuine and thoughtful pause. Her smile dims until it's only a straight line, her eyes narrowing without focusing on anything really in front of her. "I don't really know. I think it's different for a lot've people. In Japan, female wrestlers can be idolized like pop stars. So there's a lot of pressure to keep at your best, or really bring something to the table. 'Cuz if you don't, you wind up replaced, or wearing out your welcome."

A hand lifts to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Also a thing in Japan is that we're way rougher. A lot more legit. Americans? They'll hold back. But we do strong style. If you see me land The Heartbreaker, that girl's gonna be wearing a bruise for a while. And girls aren't usually super into getting beaten up. So it takes a special kind of chick to do what we do. Puffballs need not apply."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods thoughtfully, having remember to kick the audio on for the drone. "Got it. When did you know you had the gift for this? Everyone has gifts, but when did you know this was yours?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
That question earns a smile and immediate answer: "When I was a kid."

Katsumi adjusts her footing on the turnbuckle, favoring one foot over the pad. "I can't remember if I first saw professional wrestling when I was still in the orphanage or after I got adopted. But I know I was young. And God, I loved it. And when you see something that you're gonna have a knack for, something just... clicks in you. Know what I mean? Like a switch gets turned, and you're like, 'Yeah, this, this is the thing I'm meant to do.'"

At this point, she nimbly pivots on the turnbuckle pad to face outwards, a clear demonstration of her comfort and ease in that precarious position.

"If we're talking about when other people first knew? That was the open tryouts. I don't think anyone expected a random eighteen-year-old with no training to be able to pull off snap suplexes and romero specials..."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods thoughtfully. He has the look of understanding that "click" Katsumi talked about.

The drone rises up, circling Katsumi, snapping pics of her ease at being at the top.

"Okay...I think we have enough ring pictures. Want to head out the side door that way? It leads right to the place I was talking about." He points as the drone moves to hover above Peter's shoulder.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro hops backwards to land nearly on her feet in front of the turnbuckle, then turns to Peter. "Sure, sounds good. Hey. Is this where Bonesaw wrestled?," she asks abruptly. "He's like the best meme to ever come out of America, and I dunno if he totally fell off the planet or what, but it'd be cool to know where he did his thing."

She bobs neatly from one boot to the next as she asks, "Should I swap into something a little more civilian?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks thoughtful. "Sure. Got your hardest punk wardrobe. I'll wait for you outside." He grins and waves before heading for the door, the tiny drone flying after him obediently.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Ah-! But Bonesaw!," Katsumi persists, to no avail. She pouts at his fleeting image before slipping between the ropes and delicately dropping to the grounds. From there, it's off to the locker room. She didn't exactly do anything that justifies showering, so the swap is going to be quick and easy.

Soon, Peter is joined once more by Katsumi in differing attire. This time, it's a pair of black hiphugging short shorts, looped with a belt featuring a feline head-shaped gold buckle. Combat boots climb to mid-calf. And up above, black fishnet clings to her torso over what is clearly a dark purple bikini top, all sleeveless. The black gloves and choker has made a return to complete the ensemble.

Peter's met with an impishly confident smile to match her stride, one hand resting at her hip.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods thoughtfully. Yeah, that outfit is kinda scary, and her muscled body gives it that much extra menace. He points over to a wall that is covered with posters for PANZIE and WILLIE NYLE and BIKINI CARWASH in various hotspots, all of them either power-rock or power-punk.
"All right...give us some strong stances here, and then we can go to the railing for the subway."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Strong?," asks Katsumi, her head tilting faintly to the side. Indeed, her style has never been to behave physically imposing to opponents. She's toned; a physical specimen, but she's not bulging or rippling in muscles. She's tall for a Japanese girl, but isn't turning heads with her height. Her appeal has always been the dichotomy between her appearance and behavior; pretty, severely cute, girlish on the outside, a vicious punk on the inside.

As such, Katsumi turns to lean back against the wall, presenting Peter with her right side in near-profile. Her left leg raises to prop her boot against the wall behind her, and her arms raise to fold behind her head, deliberately pulling her body taut and into a slight, provocative arch. Her head is turned faintly in his direction, lips slightly parted, and watching him through the corners of her half-lidded eyes.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, the drone moving up above his shoulder. Again with the little flashes of light, but much less noticeable in the open.

"All right, Miss Oshiro. Now, give me cranked up and defiant."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
The little flashes are easy for her eyes to tolerate, at least. No risk of breaking focus! But when he seems content with the presentation, she breaks the facade with a giggle. "This is like the weirdest thing ever..," she murmurs. She's used to presenting herself in certain ways for an audience and opponent, but for a camera? It's odd territory for her! "Okay. Cranked up and defiant."

Katsumi leans off the wall and considers the approach. Then she squares herself more directly to Peter and folds her arms over her modest bust. Her chin uptilts, lips thinned into a defiant moue, and eyes slightly narrowed.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. The contrast between her natural looks and the air of defiance translates well to the eye, and he gets some good shots there.

"Okay...last batch." He walks over to the subway entrance, pointing to the railing. "Lean against this. We can get you, the subway, and the skyline behind you framed perfectly. Give it a natural, relaxed stance this time. Whatever feels natural."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro follows after Peter, her hands now neatly linking behind her back in a manner entirely more relaxed than her attire might suggest. And as they approach the railing in question, Katsumi turns around to lean her hip back against her, her elbows overtop. The posture is languid, once again carelessly accentuating her figure. "Leaning back or forward? Either way, it's gonna look suggestive~," she giggles.

"And hey, you totally didn't answer me about Bonesaw. Don't know about'em?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter smiled apologetically. "My knowledge of wrestlers ended with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. And lean back. Less predatory, more confident. Doesn't look like you're trying too hard. Let them wonder what you're thinking."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"As you say, Takeshi-san~," Katsumi jokes. She shrugs her shoulders to ease just that small amount of additional tension out before sparing a hand to free any remaining tangles of hair, allowing the smooth tresses to hang free and play in any errant breezes that happen by. And then the elbow is right back to propping on the railing.

"Any other questions for me, then?," she asks conversationally.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter aligns the drone, and the flashes come again, evenly spaced.

"Do you see any similarities between the heroes of the wrestling ring and superheroes...?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
This question gets a giggle from Katsumi, followed with a quirked eyebrow. "Yeah. Real easy. I'm not either one!" No one would ever declare Katsumi a hero of the ring. She's most often the 'villain'. And she obviously doesn't have superpowers, so what could she really say about it?

Peter Parker has posed:
Bit of a dodge of the question. But she is entitled to her opinion about herself.

"All right...I think we have all the pictures we need. I'll grab the best 20 and send them to the Entertainment department. But I will be sure to portray the most honest pictures of you."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"The most honest?," asks Katsumi as she leans off the railing. That's a genuine question. She has no idea what that must mean. But it sounds artsy.