5721/Copperpots!

Copperpots!
Date of Scene:	25 March 2021
Location:	Copperpot Diner
Synopsis:	Alison seems to have been bitten by a wrestlebug! Katsumi's there to save the day! Or perhaps more likely, feed into it!
Cast of Characters:	Alison Blaire, Katsumi Oshiro

---

Alison Blaire has posed:
It's early afternoon -- not too late for lunch, even though lunch looks a lot like breakfast from what is laid out in front of Ali -- and Dazzler is sitting in one of the booths near the back of the Copperpot. Her gaze is mostly focused out the window at the passerbys as she picks at her hashbrowns and seems deep in thought about something. There is an open notebook in front of her, with scribbled words all down the page. It looks like she might be writing poetry of some sort? Or music? If the reader is in the know, they would recognize chord notations next to some of the words.
    As the waitress comes by to refill her drink, Ali shakes her head and says, "No, not right now, thank you. I'm trying to keep it to only like, six cups today," she says with a smile and a wink to the woman, before she writes down a couple more words, looks at them and then crosses them out.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
It's such a dreary day in New York City, though. Dense, low-hanging fog obscures the skyline and sets the cityscape in a gray haze. Meteorologists say it will likely rain in the coming hours, but heck if anyone can get a good look at the sky to eyeball it. The taste of moisture is in the air, however; the scent of rain.

Sometimes a microcosm can feel like it's effecting the macro. Katsumi's personal little stormcloud overhead, albeit metaphorical, may as well be influencing the whole darn city. Dressed conservatively by her standards, the young diva is wearing a black, formfitting tanktop with skirt, fingerless 'biker' gloves, chunky boots, and as always, a black choker centered with gold coin. Add to that a breezy track jacket thrown on for the sake of windchill, and there you go!

Inhumanly magenta eyes rest transfixed on the sidewalk, effortlessly weaving around bodies as she walks. Where she's going, she isn't sure. She just doesn't want to think for a while. But upon rounding the corner of a diner, she pauses - conveniently right in front of Alison's window. Her head tilts, inspecting the name, then the interior, and decides food might be a sufficient distraction.

Shortly after, the door opens, and in steps Katsumi. She pauses, unsure if she's supposed to be seated or find her own spot, and ultimately managing to look a little lost.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire studies the girl that stops outside her window for a few moments. Cute skirt, interesting collar, weirdly aggressive boots. What's her story is the thought that seems to slide over Ali's mind, and she moves from the page she had been writing on, to a new page, scribbling down some notes before she notices that the woman has entered the diner. How convenient! She studies her for a few moments more, writing a little more, and then she tugs out her cellphone and pulls up an app. She taps a couple of buttons, and it quietly plays through a chord progression. She looks over at Kat again, then types in a different chord, and lets it run, before she nods and starts marking down notation on the new song she's writing, apparently. She does not try to call attention to herself though, just writing away for the time being.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro's gaze lands on Alison in the nook of the restaurant, conveniently when the blonde happened to be looking in her direction. Blue eyes meet reddish-purples just for a moment, and then Katsumi notes the dutiful tapping at the phone.

Blink.

"Sit wherever!," calls a server already burdened with a tray of plates. It's enough to snap Katsumi out of her distracted state.

Furtive glances are shot to the varying corners of the restaurant, then back to Alison. Is her phone doing little soundbytes? Was she looking up who she is? Is she recognizable? ...Well, maybe. Her face was plastered on the news not too long ago. With a gentle sigh, Katsumi makes her way to that little corner - not to invite herself right to Alison's table, but rather the one adjacent to it. A chair is drawn, she smooths her skirt down, and she sits. There's a beat, and she glances to the blonde with a somewhat premature level of guilt: "So, uh.. what's good here?"

Of note, her English is basically perfect; the accent of a metropolitan flavor, comfortably smooth, and only the faintest lilt of something foreign coloring it at the edges.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire writes a little bit more, and then taps the phone again, and hums in tune with it. She frowns, scribbles out a line, and then rewrites it before she realizes that Katsumi has come to sit nearby. The woman glances over at her, and then grins, "Oh, sorry, were you talking to me? I can get sort of into my own world here when I'm working." If Katsumi is at all aware of American pop music, she is probably aware of Ali, who, while not as made up as one might expect, is still a pretty recognizable international musician. She replies to the question -- having heard it, just not realizing it was meant for her -- "I like pretty much everything I've had here. Though, usually I come for breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns. They make a good garbage omlette if you're into that sort of thing." She blinks, then clarifies, "It's not actually garbage, just, everything they've got laying around they toss in there. Sort of a tri-state thing. And, the Egg cremes are about as good as you can get outside of Manhattan itself."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
In truth, Katsumi has heard plenty of Ali's stuff. She's seen her on videos, the whole nine yards. But there's a disconnect between seeing someone in advertisements and on screen, versus seeing them in person. Especially when their stage presence tends to be a bit extra done-up, as the case may be with makeup and wardrobe choices. It isn't until the little melodies blend with the face at a closer proximity that wheels start turning and distant bells begin to ring. Fighting through the miasma of angst to really take in the surrounding world is a challenge, as well.

"G-garbage?," asks Katsumi, taken aback. Thankfully Alison supplies the explanation very quickly, and, well, it still doesn't sound awesome. Breakfast might be good, though. American breakfasts are so indulgent and varied. "It's fine, I didn't know you were working-"

Working? While doing a little musical ditty? Bells continue going off.

A waitress approaches, pad at the ready to take an order. Katsumi is pulled from her burgeoning inspection. "Uh, egg sandwich. Oh wait, egg and cheese." After a beat, she simply adds, "And water."

The lady nods and starts to turn, only to pause near Alison and offers a gushing, "My daughter /loves/ your music," before hurrying away!

Katsumi peers after her, then redirects that same mildly squinting, gently accusatory look to Ali. "...wait. Are you...?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Thank you! That means so much to me," Ali replies with a grin to the waitress. It's practiced, sure, but there is a fair amount of sincerity behind her voice. It's then that she notices Katsumi gawking at her, and she gives a nod, "I am, yes."
    She goes on, "I was struck by your outfit, so I was writing down some impressions and putting it to music, sorry...that's...creepier than I meant it." She says with a bit of a grimace.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro starts to say something, likely to the tune of accusing her of being a person with an actual name instead of unfinished sentence. But she's quieted again by the information she's given. Cue another blink! Katsumi isn't sure whether to be creeped, flattered, or fascinated on an anthropological level.

Mostly she's just stunned.

A glance is cast down at her attire; the most ho-hum collage of her punky devil-may-care wardrobe. It's music-worthy? Her gaze lifts again. "N-no, it's- I dunno, I never thought my fashion sense would translate into music..." After a cautious beat, she scoots her chair a little closer. "That's what you were working on when I came over...?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Yeah. I mean, your clothes helped to spark the story I want to tell anyways..." Alison replies as she moves her notebook so the woman can take a look. "It's weird where your inspiration can come from. No predicting it at all. I was stuck on another song I'm working on, and saw you, and wanted to write a bit about what I saw. So, here we are." She does not seem to mind Katsumi moving closer, and she asks, "So, you clearly know my name," -- though she hadn't actually said it yet, "what's yours?"
    As she waits, she picks up a piece of toast and takes a bite of it, and watches how Katsumi answers her question.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"I guess...," she surmises, looking once more at her threads. Sure, she wouldn't wear it at all if she thought it wasn't at least cool, but it's so plain compared to literally everything else she owns! Then again, Alison doesn't have the benefit of seeing the rest of the wardrobe. And the rest of the wardrobe in question may, in fact, not inspire much of anything.

The question gets her attention again quite suddenly. For a moment, she considers giving a fake name. But the showman in her demands - no, screams - that she give her actual name, consequences be damned. "Oshiro Katsumi," she replies. A second later, she notes, "Some people just call me Kat. Katsumi to Westerners."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kat." Alison replies, grinning, and again it seems pretty well worn, but there is a genuine bit of emotion behind her words. "I'm telling you: egg cream and garbage omelet if you want to try the eighth wonder of the world." She says this with a wink.
     She then picks up and closes her notebook, and shuts off her phone to slide it into her pocket. "What brings you to the city Kat?" she asks, tilting her head a little.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro says a little flatly, "I'll take that under advisement." Translation: Ew, garbage, no.

The follow-up question gets a moment's thought. The consideration to lie flashes through her mind again, but winds up drowned out. It's almost as if she has an urgency to compete with a more renowned celebrity. "Came here as a part of an invitational. There was a big professional wrestling event in Madison Square Garden recently. My federation was picked to represent Japan, and I was picked to be part of that team. I've kind'a just lingered." There's more to it, obviously. And in a moment of self-consciousness, she scratches gently at her cheek just beneath one of those oddly-colored eyes.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire ahs, "I see. Well, I hope it went well!" she replies. It is clear she's not really a follower of professional wrestling. Though, a moment later, she looks over and asks, "How's it work with your outfits? I mean, it must be just like when I'm dancing in next to nothing," -- sex sells -- "but I'd figure with more...movement in other directions, you'd have to be a bit more careful of things."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro studies her a moment, then actually smiles. It's a tiny thing, just a faint upticking at the corners of the lips. But it's there. A sort of relief felt at not having to hide or worry.

"It got people talking."

The question gets Katsumi to lean back, that small smile rising into a subtle grin. "Different motivations. I mean, /almost/ different motivations. Wrestlers wear very little for two reasons. First, it's practical. You don't wanna overheat, and wrestling is /crazy/ physical. Get in the ring for a practice round, you'll see what I mean. And also, the less loose things you're wearing, the less people have to grab onto, or get snagged on stuff. Wrestling's all about using your whole body, and not much else. S'why Greeks did it naked." Beat. "I don't endorse naked wrestling. Just- just so we're clear!"

With a dainty clearing of her throat, she continues.

"The second thing is that it's like a thrill for the audience. Athletic bodies in motion, nothing but a physical contest for dominance. Like the Greeks, but more of a gladiatorial sense. And there's some, y'know, showmanship there. We're eyecandy. Like mini-deities of combat, larger than life."

Her head tilts slightly to the side. "Does that make sense?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Well, that's good then! That's all you can ask as a performer, that people talk about your performance." Ali replies, completely oblivious to why people were talking. She takes up a forkful of egg, and bites into it, chewing for a few moments as she listens to Kat speak.
    "Oh...I've seen what male wrestlers wear...I..don't mind it at all. I just meant more...well like...there are times that there is a fair amount of tape being used in my wardrobe trailer, I'll just leave it at that. I figured you must have a fair amount of the same issue." And then, she grins a little devilishly and asks, "And, why don't you recommend wrestling nude?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Cuz it's not /that/ kind'a show," chides Katsumi with a wry note to her voice and the perk of a black eyebrow.

"And with some outfits, they use that stuff. But honestly, you're getting so pulled and pushed and thrown around, there's a pretty good change that the tape's gonna be.. uh.. ripped. And that'd hurt like crazy. So the smart people wear things that are gonna be secure in place, and not wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen. Like my attire? I go between this flashy royal blue and gold set that's basically workout clothes, but made fancy, or this set of cool stuff that looks like club gear. Sexy as Hell. I should'a brought it to the event."

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire perks up a bit at that second outfit, "Let's see it? If you have a picture that is." she says, "Sorry, I'm always on the look out for new sexy outfits. I need to give the guys who get drug to my shows by their girlfriends /something/ to look at, after all." She winks, and then picks up the chocolatey drink she has, and takes a sip. "And, how long have you been wrestling? You don't look much older than like twenty three. I can't imagine it's a sport you've been in for a long time, is it?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro looks a little surprised at the enthusiasm, but this is a nice topic for her. It's comfortable. It's complimentary. It puts her more at ease, being in the spotlight in this way. She quickly plucks the phone from her pocket to begin tapping at the screen. "Okay, I'm gonna show ya. But you can't steal it. It's *my* look." She shoots her a conspiratorial side-eye, then resumes tapping. "And this picture was done for a magazine. I think it was a teaser for an upcoming fight...?"

She doesn't chase that rabbithole. Instead, she switches tracks to the other question with a giggle. "I've been in the ring since I turned eighteen. Been in the ring ever since!" Except now, what with lacking a federation.

The phone is offered over to her as she notes, "So this makes it four years in the biz'." On its screen, a semi-sultry, confident Katsumi reclines against a turnbuckle, arms resting over the ropes at either flank, bright green eyes set to the camera.

Alison Blaire has posed:
She laughs at the suggestion she's going to steal the girl's look, "I wouldn't steal it from you..." and then she pauses as she looks at the outfit, and then at the girl, and then back to the outfit, "That's...there's no way I could pull that off first of all. You looks amazing. This is a great picture of you. Do you always wear contacts when you get in the ring?" As she asks this, she scoots just a little bit closer to Kat, before handing the phone off to her.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Near the end, Katsumi has a full, toothy smile going. Right up until the eyes are mentioned; then it takes an immediate hit, dimming back with a wince.

Those eyes. That constant reminder that she's not herself anymore, or something has been changed, or her life's been hijacked by some 'greater being'. Her oddly-hued gaze lowers to the table. "No. My eyes are naturally green. Or were. Now they're this color. I dunno why." She knows how they changed, but she doesn't think she'll ever understand the 'why'.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire seems a bit surprised at that admission. She ohs quietly, "Oh..I see. Well, I like the color." she reaches up and brushes a little hair out of Kat's eyes, "It's deep, and part of what got me looking at you to start with." And, the form fitting skirt. But, she does notice how the joy has fallen away from the young woman, and she says, "I mean, you can get contacts to make your eyes green again if you'd like, you looked really great with green as well." she attempts to salvage the situation.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro tenses when the hand nears her face, then stares at it once it's clear what she's doing. At last, she exhales a sigh and shakes her head. "It's not the same. Artificial color, y'know? Those greens were mine. Grew'em myself. And y'know how rare it is for an Asian girl to have green eyes?"

She twists her lips slightly, then shrugs her shoulders. "Sorry. I've had a while to deal with the change, just... makes me moody, I guess. And I'm trying to not be that today."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I won't bring it up again then." Alison replies briskly, before she leans back in her booth and asks, "Why don't you come join me over here?" She scoots over a little, perhaps to give the woman room, or maybe just so she has space to get out to join her. "And, maybe sometime I'll come by and let you see about getting me in a wrestler's getup." she adds with a wink.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro's expression turns a little apologetic at the assurance she won't bring it up again.

Perhaps it's a desire to be sociable, or perhaps it's a sense of obligation for being a nuisance with her own insecurities - whichever the case, Katsumi lifts from her seat and moves in to sit beside Alison. The two couldn't possibly look more mismatched.

"You're wanting gear?," she asks, curious. "Why would'ja want that? Planning on expanding your career or something?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Oh, I don't know about changing careers...but...perhaps the right outfit might fit in with a song or two, or a video, or something. Wrestling is so...primal. I think it would be great to do something with it, y'know?" Alison asks, before she takes a bite of bacon, and then says, "But, I don't mean to bore you, or keep you if you have somewhere to be. But, if not, maybe we could go somewhere and discuss this a little further...?" she suggests.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro shakes her head quickly, scattering her bangs briefly before they settle once more about her face. "Nono, I'm not bored! In fact, I don't really have anything to do right now. I'm just... dealing with stuff." The mention of discussing it somewhere else gets an amused look, however. "I ordered food, yo," she chides. "I'm eatin'."

Speaking of, and rather conveniently timed, the waitress has returned with Katsumi's sandwich and water. Didn't take long to prep it, really! So while Katsumi is lifting the food, she refocuses on Alison.

"It's /so/ primal. Nothing but... strength against strength, skill against skill, muscle to muscle, all that. Pure athleticism. And winning a match is like..." She pauses to bite the sandwich, then purrs a little, "Mmh." Whether that's for the elation of winning, or a testament to the value of the sandwich may be difficult to determine.

Alison Blaire has posed:
Alison Blaire laughs lightly, "My apologies, I missed your order." She scoots a little deeper into the booth, so that her back is up against the wall, and fiddles with her chord progression app for a few minutes while Kat eats. She hums through a couple of progressions, and then after a moment seems to realize what she's doing, and finally replies to Kat about the primal aspect of it, "I'll admit...it sounds...interesting," before she bites her lower lip, perhaps not wanting to venture anything more than 'interesting' at the moment.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro opens her eyes from the purr of an exhale to look at Alison and her bit lip. An eyebrow perks faintly at her, but not one in confusion - just subtle, even playful accusation. "Interesting, huh?," she asks. "You ever watch wrestling before?" She takes another bite of the sandwich and chews while giving Alison a chance to respond. But already her cellphone is out again, tapping at the screen. She has something in mind.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Of course! I mean, not a lot. Just whatever was on TV whenever I ended up somewhere it was playing. I've also followed -- or been followed by -- wrestling productions with my concerts, so, I'm aware of what it's like. Don't think I've ever seen a live match though. I suspect that changes the experience quite a bit." Dazzler muses before she takes another sip of her drink. She then looks curiously over at Kat, "Going to show me a clip of you in the ring?" she asks, smiling.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro nods while she's biting the sandwich again, then shakes her head, then sets the phone on the table. The title on display seems to suggest it's Katsumi's intro video. She just taps it to let it play; starting with her dramatic, if slightly animated logo. It moves quickly to a couple 'normal' shots of the girl in question, and concludes with a brief sizzle reel.

By that point, she's swallowed the next bite. "I could show ya a match, but you can probably Google that stuff yourself. And yeah, seeing it in person is waaaay different. A lot more raw."

Her head tilts slightly.

"I've seen you perform on videos'n stuff. You want my honest take? Like, if I were gonna suggest some gear for you?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Of course!" Ali replies, as she watches the highlight reel play out, and says, "Oh, I like those cat eyes, that's really a nice touch.." before she glances over at the woman -- after seeing her pin her fair share of other ladies -- "I mean, sure I'd like to know what you think. It's not like I have a plethora of professional women wrestlers around to ask about that."

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
"Okay, so you still do the.. like.. pastel colors and stuff?," Katsumi asks.

The sandwich is fully set aside as she pivots on the booth, tucking one leg beneath herself to face her fully. "I think I saw once where you did like a star or something around an eye? It's been a while. I dunno. But the white threads, that sort'a retro-glam vibe, I'd lean into it. It's, like, fun! Think Ultimate Warrior meets Xanadu. Everything in white, either with pink or blue accents. Proper boots, maybe some bands on the biceps with tassels, brief-style bottoms, halter-style top. I /know/ it's mega-f***ing-skimpy, but everything about it screams confidence and unapologetically wild, right? And you either leave your hair free, or wear a headband. But don't tame that mane! No ponytails or braids or anything!"

Alison Blaire has posed:
The notebook turns into a bit of a sketchbook as Kat speaks. Ali isn't a great artist, but she's passible when need be. She draws a quick sketch of the outfit that Kat describes, and makes some notations about the coloring. "I did use to have that star over my eye. A David Bowie tribute. Dunno if it's too late, or too soon to bring that back..." she muses, and then finishes her sketch and shows it to Kat, "Something like this?" It's an approximation of what she described, and Alison asks, "What material do you have your stuff made out of?"

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro watches intently while she works, nodding along. The design itself is quite simple, but that's part of the point. The mention of Bowie gets a small snicker and shrug. "You have really pretty eyes. Honestly, I'd probably just let the outfit and maybe your hair have the colorful accents. Bodypaint can do weird things in a match, and I forbid you from wearing glitter."

The sketch is reviewed in full, and she eagerly nods. "Yeah! Like that! Show off *all* the leg and *all* the midriff. People wouldn't be able to take their eyes off'a ya, and it gives that 'gladiator glam' dealie."

The question on material, Katsumi isn't so quick to answer. "Ah.. my top's made out of whatever sportsbras are. The bottoms are like the same material. You want it snug."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I don't need glitter, don't worry." Dazzler responds with a bit of a smirk, before she ahhs, "So, like a lycra? As opposed to like a taffeta?" Apparently she knows enough about costume design to have an idea about what materials she would be working with. "And, thank you. I like them too. But I think I can do it without bodypaint, the star that is. And I wouldn't actually be wrestling anyone. That would..not go well. For me," she says a bit sheepishly.

Katsumi Oshiro has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro stares blankly at the mention of taffeta, clearly lost on that topic. The most she knows is her workout gear feels the same against her skin as the gear she wrestles in. And it has just enough support and just enough flexibility. "Uh... sure!"

Katsumi shrugs her narrow shoulders. "I still wouldn't use makeup or whatever. I mean you can, but I wouldn't. But I dunno, I could see it, so..." Another shrug follows, horribly indecisive. "Thinking of doing like a music video like this, then?"

At last, the other half of the sandwich is lifted in preparation for nomnation.

Alison Blaire has posed:
It's then that her phone buzzes and Ali looks down at it, replying somewhat distractedly, "Yeah, I think a video, or convincing cute wrestlers to come see me try on a handful of skimpy outfits..." before she seems to realize just what it is s he's reading, "Oh, shit! I forgot I have to be downtown in twenty minutes. I hate to run, Kat it's been great talking with you, but, I gotta run." She starts gathering up her things, "Text me, here's my number," she rattles off a list of digits, "Don't let anyone else get that number, I don't want to have to change it again." She also, doesn't repeat it. Better hope you got it right the first time! And then, she blows a kiss, and practically runs out of the cafe to grab a cab.