10018/Mad Skillz

Mad Skillz
Date of Scene:	12 November 2019
Location:	Cineplex - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Who doesn't enjoy gaming before a movie? But Katsumi meets a superhero who's buddies with a fan, some talk about life priorities come up, and things get weird! But only if you make it weird.
Cast of Characters:	Bakeneko, Slipstream

---

Bakeneko has posed:
All the hype is being had over the new blockbuster, Action Man 5: ReAction. Katsumi doesn't get the big deal. But then, this isn't something that's been getting pushed in Japan so much. But between the training, preparations, and downright bizarre things that've been happening to her, she needs a distraction. Someone suggested a movie. This one seemed the most likely to give her a distraction and not inspire thrown popcorn. But who knows? Maybe she'll fling a kernel or two for good measure. Wouldn't want Action Man getting a big head, now would we?

But the biggest highlight to this little outing is the nook of an arcade on the interior. Katsumi has time. She has goofy American coins. It's not what she's used to, but she can make it work. Digital people throw hands the same way worldwide. But where she's wound up now is in the faux-seat of a getaway car, fully decked out with gear shifts, pedals, speedometer, the works.

She's not doing too hot this level. And her antics have drawn a few spectators.

Turns are being taken with too much speed, causing her to drift sidelong into buildings. Animals dart out of the way. Pedestrians shout angrily. Cop sirens are in the background.

"If you don't wanna get hit, don't be in front of a car!"

Whump.

"Points deducted?! I just helped the gene pool! GAH!"

A squirrel scampers in front of the car, causing her to swerve off of the sidewalk and onto the proper street - where an elderly lady is crossing the road. Whump.

"And /that's/ why cars come with bumpers!"

In the rearview, a police vehicle hits the corner of her sedan, forcing her into a spinout. Classic PIT maneuver. The game ends with cops pointing guns at the screen.

Katsumi sinks back into her seat and stares bleakly ahead. Then aside to some snickering spectators. "I don't wanna hear /one/ crack about Asian drivers."

Slipstream has posed:
Having his own crowd is world famous hot shot gamer, Drake Winters. Other reasons why he is famous? He was an Avenger! For a short period of time before he joined the Legion of Heroes. He's a street level type of hero though, so outside of a few shots on TV, he's only mostly known for leading Team USA to multiple Overwatch championships.

Currently at the DDR machine, a throwback dancing game from the early 2000's, he is tearing the arrows with quick stomps of his feet. He is churning through Maxx 300 on the highest setting, one hand behind him to clutch the roll bar to keep his balance. At times he will give off a blue blur of light within his movements. The score? AAA. He has a six hundred arrow streak going right now with perfects

The crowd is going insane as they cheer his name. DYNA-MITE. DYNA- MITE!

Bakeneko has posed:
The screen asking if she'd like to 'CONTINUE?' gets a baleful look from the Punk Princess. She swings a leg around the seating apparatus and smoothly raises to her full height, exiting the 'vehicle' with all the haughty superiority of a Kardashian, but with entirely more self-awareness. Her hands toss up to either side, as if to physically block out all the haters who aren't actually present. It's pure theater. She's putting on a show for her audience. They're enjoying it. She's enjoying the limelight.

The chanting catches her attention, however. She pauses and lowers her hands to her sides. "When did I get on the set of Good Times?" She wanders over, smoothing out her skirt with a few pats of her palms. And what she sees gets a bright, bubbly giggle from her. "Oh my god, DDR!"

Slipstream has posed:
When the song comes to an end and the crowd gives a cheer, Dynamite leans forward to tap his initials in with a quick drum of his feet. DYNA. He gives a few high fives to the crowd as he steps off with his legs wobbly from the workout. He is breathing heavily and his bracelet on his left wrist is blinking a bright blue color.

After blowing the hair away from his face, he looks over towards the sound of Katsumi's voice with a grin, giving a motion to the machine. "It's all yours if you want it. I need a break." He thumps down into a bench, then leans over to sign an autograph on someone's Overwatch jersey. He has a fan!

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro's merriment continues right as he approaches and makes his genuinely friendly offering. "Hahah, f*** no! You looked like an epileptic octopus!," she reports. "Don't get me wrong, that's like, the /best/ game to train you how to p*** off elderly downstairs neighbors, but come on!" By this point, she's giggling behind some fanned-out digits. But her smile has reached the corners of her eyes. The irises of said eyes are an odd, extremely pale sort of lavender hue. "Do Americans really think that's dancing? You guys have, uh, Just Dance and s***, right?," she asks.

Her mirth has waned a little, the wide smile subsiding into a grin and her fist propping against her cocked hip. She's rather unfazed by his autograph-signing. After all, she's a celebrity, herself. Just in a very different arena.

Slipstream has posed:
"Nah, I don't think people consider that dancing. That's trying to stay alive." Drake says with a laugh as he rubs at his legs. "I was playing one of the hardest songs you can play on the game there. Usually I'd play something slower if I was going to put some actual movements to the arrows and make it look like I was dancing. It's just muscle memory for me."

She looks kind of familiar. From where though? He isn't up on the wrestling scene unfortunately. It's not his kind of nerd. "Where do I know you from?"

Bakeneko has posed:
"Your dreams, probably," lilts Katsumi airily. "Besides that, I'm Katsumi Oshiro." Her smile takes on a more impish, cocky flavor. Her free hand lifts to whisk through her silky black mane of hair. "Punk Princess of the NLF, and currently runnin' wild on your nation's soil to beat down the world's best in the Four Corners inter-continental event!"

Her head turns slightly to open this part to the wider audience in general, "Held at Madison Square Garden, coming soon." Tongue-in-cheek advertising.

Back to the other guy. "And you! I saw that special effects stuff going on with your legs." She points accusingly at the limbs in question. "You're one of those, uh.. metas. Right? Meta humans? God, that's such a weird phrase. Like you changed your stats around to game the system."

Slipstream has posed:
Taking his phone out, Drake casually taps her name into a search bar, then lets out an amused noise in his throat. "Oh! You're a wrestler! I have seen you before on TV, yeah. My buddy Zapp loves you. He's really into it. I've watched a few shows with him." Forced to most likely.

As he is called out for his powers, he chuckles. "I'm a meta human, yeah. I have speed based powers. Few times I almost lost my balance so I had to correct myself. I kinda live in a world of speed now and doing things slower sorta tricks my body." He gives a long stretch of his body, giving her a casual glance. "What about you?"

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro totally knows what he's doing. She's seen it happen before. So she takes a moment to adjust her bangs, to fluff her hair a little, smooth out her already-smoothed skirt - and there it is, that realization. She points a fingergun at him. "That's the one. Zapp has two things. A goofy name, and good taste."

So this dude has speed powers. She could do /so much/ with speed powers. She's pretty sure she'd be kicked out of the ring if she had superpowers at all, but still, that would be huge. Talk about unstoppable. So is she jealous? Yeah. She is. But she pushes that down, as she feels like she's being challenged!

Or he believes she has powers. Either way! He's given her the greenlight to do a little self-promotion.

"I know how to disable a person five ways from a standing position off the top of my head. Few more, if we don't care about injuries!," she claims, her chin uptilting a hair. "I can electrify a crowd, beat any b**** in the ring, /and/ have fun while I'm doing it! And to top it all off? I'm hotter than a jet engine," she emphasizes, running a palm along the slender curvature of her waist.

Translation: I'm totally human without superpowers.

Slipstream has posed:
"Zapp is his Overwatch name. His real name is Julio. We just call each other by our bnets. I think we just get used to it." Drake grins as he watches her put on a show of strutting and chest puffery. He folds his arms over his chest some, chuckling. "You're really humble too." He tags on to her list of accomplishments.

"Is this /you/ or is this the character you play in the ring? I'm curious." He's not going to contest the hot part. She /is/, obviously. Any red blooded guy would think that.

Bakeneko has posed:
"You're d*** right I am!," Katsumi agrees with the point on humility. Whether or not she's taking a self-aware jab might be hard to tell. She plays it so straight.

The next question, however, seems to crack her stride. Eyes widen, and she blinks owlishly at him. Just once. Once blink. Then her arms fold over her modest bust, a scowl setting to her features. "You callin' me fake, champ?," she asks, her voice taking an edge. "What you see is what you get. I'm the new standard for real in the business. Paid for my right to run my mouth with fights. Blood'n sweat, as you people like to say. But not tears. I'm no b****."

Slipstream has posed:
"You sound like you're in character, because there is literally no way you walk around in the real world acting like that." Drake says with a chuckle as he tilts his head to one side. "I'm sure the wrestling part is pretty real, but I also know that Hulk Hogan's real name was Terry and he didn't walk around grunting and howling at people in a cafe when ordering a coke."

"But I'm sure you're definitely kickass in what you do. It's very entertaining and fun to watch. I can see why it's been around as long as it has. So, you're going to be wrestling in America now? This a new contract or just visiting and hanging out?"

Bakeneko has posed:
"You see a ring around here, buddy?," Katsumi challenges, perking a slender black eyebrow at him. "A referee? Cameras?" A few people are holding up their cellphones for video recording. She catches it at a glance. "...Nevermind that one. You get the point. Anyway, you can talk s*** about the Hulkster as much as ya want. But I'm lettin' you know right now." She lifts her left index finger. "Don't you mess with my boy Randy Savage."

The question provides a diversion from that train of thought, however, and she crinkles her nose at him. "Pffsh, no. I'm here for the Four Corners event. To represent Japan - sort of. It's mostly about me being better than England, Russia, or America's best female wrestlers."

A couple 'ooo's roll up from the crowd. Katsumi gives a smug smile and nods, "Ah-huh, you let'em know I said so, too!"

Back to Drake, she asks, "You gonna watch it?"

Slipstream has posed:
"Randy Savage is awesome. No one ever talks shit on the Macho Man. He and Ultimate Warrior were the kings of silver age wrestling. I've seen the holovid archives of them and they were so cool." Drake grins at her as he clicks his tongue around his teeth.

"So, here for an event. I'd be down to go if I could get my buddy Zapp in. He'd freak the hell out if he had a chance to watch you. I bet he'd show up in one of your shirts and face paint or something and lose his mind. Prolly propose to you too. So if you're into chunky latino guys who are champion Overwatch players with an easy six figure salary, he's your dude."

Bakeneko has posed:
The mention of a six figure salary instantly gets a small swallow. But Katsumi's mind snaps back to where reality meets experience. Money isn't everything. She /had/ money. More than she could have ever spent. She gave it up to be where she is now. And perhaps ironically, losing the money was the easiest part of the price tag attached to that decision.

Getting a little lost in that painful memory, she ducks her head and quickly lifts a hand to brush at her bangs. It's a pretty obvious fidget. But when her eyes lift again, she's refocused; good to go. "I'm sure he's got.. the /best/ pickup lines..," she says in what should be an obviously diplomatic attempt, her eyes uplidding a little, "..he might have to just be okay with watching. Don't tell'em I said that about his name, though." She does actually care about fans. Despite what she said earlier is almost certainly on video, if not streaming to some enthusiast websites. "Butyeah!," she adds quickly, the words almost tripping over themselves, "Drag Zapp to the show! We're almost sold out, and time's almost up on it! But I'm sure someone with..." Cheshire grin. "...super speed shouldn't have any trouble."

Slipstream has posed:
"Heh. Zapp is like literally a dipshit when it comes to ladies. His super power is being a virgin. It's hilarious and sad at the same time. I've tried to wingman for him a few times but I usually get punched in the face. My one and only pick up line is... yo baby, on a scale of one to America, how free are you tonight?" Drake is all grins as he says it. "It never works. But I get a laugh or two. But, yeah, Zapp and I will pop over I guess. I got nothing to do and I know it'd mean a lot to him. You cool if I get a selfie with you?"

Bakeneko has posed:
"The best pickup line I've heard? 'Hey, go out with me. I'm not your ex.' That's a f***ing Chad right there," Katsumi snickers.

The question of a selfie gets a bright, unrestrained smile. "Hell yeah, I live for that stuff!" In a heartbeat, she's positioned herself beside the taller male. The bright smile is replaced with a more typical, confidently cocky smile, and she tosses up a sideways V-for-victory. "Bam."

Slipstream has posed:
"That's a real Kappa there." Drake says with a grin. "Does it work on you?" He asks with a lift of his brows.

Taking his phone out, which is rather expensive and top of the line, he flicks his thumb across the glass, then leans in to her as he snaps a selfie of them. Afterwards, he taps along the glass to send the picture to Zapp.

He holds up three fingers ... two ... one...

DING!

OHMYGOD! OHMYGOD! THAT IS FREAKING KATSUMI OSHIRO! HOLY CRAP! OOOOH MYYYYY GOOOOOOOOD!

"Yup. Huge fan."

Bakeneko has posed:
"Nnnooot really," drawls Katsumi as she waits for the picture. And once done, she giggles and tilts her head to watch the screen. The response gets yet more giggles. "Ohmigod, you should send him a video message saying you're going to see the show." She squints at his screen. "Hey, but next time, easy on the flash. My eyes are all weird." She points a delicate finger towards the lavender hue of her irises. "Making me look like a ghost or something!"

She didn't recall there being any flash, but that'd be the explanation for it. Right?

Slipstream has posed:
"I didn't have any flash, but I can edit it for you." Drake says as he taps on the phone, pinch and zooms in, then hits the tool to remove red eye as he taps along it. "You can record him a video if you want. I think it'd make his day. Zapp is a real pure dude. He'll probably save it and make it his ring tone or something afterwards. It's adorable."

He launches the video app and hands it over to her with a grin, then lifts a hand as he waves to someone calling out his name. "Heck yeah, man! We beat Korea's ass!" He calls back, giving him a thumbs up. Korea. The hardest country to beat in Overwatch. Consistently been a top tier team. They got toppled at the world cup and gave the US the gold for the first time in a few years.

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro is a little unsure, but takes the phone. It doesn't matter, after all. The video is set, and she raises it to record a selfie, apparently fine with doing little shout-outs to fans. If Japan does anything right, it's...

...wait for it...

...fanservice.

However, before she even hits to record, she's paused. The shout about Korea doesn't even hit her ear. She's focusing intensely on the screen, then the tiny camera lens, then the screen. She then tilts the phone towards Drake, apparently trying to catch his eyes on it. "Hold still."

Slipstream has posed:
"Hmm? You're done already?" Drake says as he gives a fist bump to another fan, making his fist explode with a few wiggles of fingers in the air. Turning around, he strikes a pose for the camera, flashing her a grin. "Is this my good side?" He asks her curiously.

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro offers a weak smile, but no answer to his mirth. She peers at his face, then the screen. This is repeated a couple times. Finally, she just looks back to him directly. "What color are my eyes?"

Slipstream has posed:
"Uh, you got like lavender eyes? Contacts?" Drake says as he trots over to lean forward and look into her eyes. "Kinda grayish purple?" He reaches out to take the phone from her, then snaps another picture of her, then turns it around to show her as he zooms in. "Why, what's up?"

Bakeneko has posed:
All the confidence, bravado, and arrogance on display before seems to melt away in realtime at his answer. Her palms raise to quickly rub at her eyes, and then some pictures are taken. She gets a look at them, and a quiet, distressed noise creeps into the back of her throat. "That's.. not.. I'm not wearing contacts. My eyes are green." She points at the picture, then back up to him. "Y-you're not f***ing with me, are you?," she asks. Despite her phrasing, there's no strength behind her voice. She's frightened.

Jet-lag doesn't normally last this long or hit her this hard. She doesn't randomly faint. She originally thought maybe she'd taken a hit too hard in the ring, and might've suffered some career-ending damage. But that doesn't change a person's eyecolor. This is actually scary.

Slipstream has posed:
"No, I'm not messing with you. I'm not that kinda superhero. That's more Spiderman's gig of smack talk." Drake says as he squints his eyes at her a bit, then looks down to the picture. "You should see a doctor maybe and ask what's up with it. You can see just normal right? No color blindness or anything else? Did you get hit in the face recently or struck in the head that could have damaged you and caused this?"

Bakeneko has posed:
"I'm a professional wrestler, I get hit in the head all the time," Katsumi replies flatly. "But I've never heard of it changing someone's /eyes/ before.." She presses her palm against her eye repeatedly, as if that might somehow restore its natural, brilliant green color. It never does. "Nnh.. um.. a-anyway..," she quietly reaches for the phone again. "I've gotta, uh, send that message."

Bottle up that dread. Think about anything else. Focus on something besides the potential end of her life's passion.

Slipstream has posed:
"You are looking kinda freaked out Katsumi. Don't worry about the video." Drake says as his voice softens. "Maybe you should take care of yourself and get it looked at." He reaches into his bomber jacket and pulls out a blank card, then scribbles his name on it. "Here, give me a call if you need anything. I'm apart of the Legion of Superheroes now, so you can easily get ahold of me."

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro looks authentically disappointed that the idea of sending a video message is being shelved. She likes doing things for fans. It's a big part of the appeal to what she does. But she also knows he's right. Her head isn't in the right place anymore. And the weight of it is starting to sag her shoulders. "Yeah, I should...," she pauses.

Her head tilts at him.

"You're a f***ing /superhero/ now!?," she balks. The card is taken, she squints at it, then back at him. She was giving a superhero crap. Granted, she did the same with Pezzini, but that was different. She's more like a Skullgirl.

Slipstream has posed:
"... yeah. I was an Avenger. For like a year with Iron Man and Captain America." Drake says with a laugh. "I go by Slipstream. Named after Tracer's plane in Overwatch. But now I'm on the Legion and I kinda live on a spaceship and I hang out with dudes from the thirty-first century. It's actually really cool."

He gives her a nudge to the shoulder. "We'll do the video later, maybe even have you meet Zapp in person. I'm over due to watch him have a celebrity meltdown."

Bakeneko has posed:
"THE ACTUAL F***!," Katsumi blurts. "Spaceships!? Captain F***ing America!?" Everyone knows who Captain America is, even the Japanese. Kind of especially the Japanese, given when he debuted. She wobbles a little from the nudge, then clears her throat sharply. "You know I was just giving you the business, right? Not actually trying to, uh, start supervillain s*** with you. Right?"

Sassing and teasing regular people? Even people with weird alien-robot-parasites? That's fine. That's her wheelhouse. But with people who are basically overpowered cops? No, she wants to try to keep from creating any complications with them, or making them angry. That'd be a quick way to ruin her participation in this upcoming event! Or get her fired.

Slipstream has posed:
"Yeah. The Cap. Everyone knows him. He's pretty awesome. He's like everyone's big brother." Drake laughs softly. "And it's cool. I don't care if you fuck with me. I figured this was all in character for you and I enjoyed it. You really hype it up and got me interested. It's cool." Rolling his shoulders upwards in a shrug, he gives himself a long stretch of his body. "Sides, I'm sorta more a sidekick than a big deal. I'm very fast and that's it."

Bakeneko has posed:
"Yeeaaah," says Katsumi slowly. "In character."

It wasn't. She really is like this normally. It's worked wonderfully for her as an in-ring personality, but it's murder on her interpersonal skills. But hey, if it keeps her from being scorned by spacecops, they can call it whatever the Hell they want.

Her hands lift to run through her hair again, drawing the bangs back from her eyes. "Uh... well, just having powers is cool. So don't talk yourself down."

Her gaze flits about the arcade briefly, then back to Drake. "So you guys don't have like a Club Sega in the States?"

Slipstream has posed:
"I don't know. I'm from San Francisco, then moved to New York a few years ago with my Overwatch Team. Most of my life has been playing the same game for twelve hours straight seven days a week. Now that I'm taking a break from my gaming career and focusing on being a Legionnaire, I'm trying to see more of the world." Drake laughs. "And I've traveled a lot of it too. The UK, Korea, China. I just never left the gaming rooms or the hotels. Just work work work. What's a Club Sega?"

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro is, rare as it may be, completely silent throughout that explanation. But by the end of it, her expression is caught somewhere between disgust and disbelief - as if he'd just deposited a dead bird on her stoop, then asked for payment. "You've been-.. but-.. you've been to Japan, right?," she asks. "Club Sega is only like the biggest and best arcades around. I've not seen anything like it in America any of the times I've visited! Multiple floors, divided by genre, nothing but gaming goodness! I just- you just- wait just a minute!"

Well, this was a fair means of distracting from her problems, it seems. She fishes out her own cellphone and rapidly taps at her screen. In no time, she's producing pictures of the establishment. "See?," she asks, offerin it over to him.

Slipstream has posed:
"Yeah, I've been to Japan, but we don't get to actually /do/ anything in Japan. It's literally work and grind. When you're being paid to play at a high level of a singular video game, you don't get a chance to have much of a life." Drake admits as he takes a look at the video that she gives him. "I literally would go from plane to hotel, to scrims, to contest, to hotel, to plane, and then on to the next. It's brutal. This seems kinda neat though."

Bakeneko has posed:
"I know! You said that!," Katsumi reminds plaintively. "And it sounds god**** miserable! S***, even when I travel, I have time to look at things!"

As if to demonstrate her point, the Japanese girl steps back and spreads her arms to indicate the theater around them. She accidentally whacks a person in the process, who grunts at her. "Ah! Sorry! Have less of a giant head next time!"

She refocuses on the guy with superspeed. "You still traveling around like that? Because it seems like someone with your, uh.. powers..," she says, the idea still a bit foreign to her, "..would be able to find the time to enjoy junk."

Slipstream has posed:
"Well, now I live on a spaceship with a bunch of other superheroes, so I guess you can say I'm traveling. I'm not playing on a pro level anymore." Drake laughs. "And my speedy powers is quick bursts at a time. Like I can do about .. I dunno, thirty yards at a time in sprints. It's not like I'm The Flash and can go for days."

"My life is a lot slower now when it comes to enjoying life, but just a lot faster when I'm on the ground." He hands the phone back to her.

"But I made a lot of money with my winnings and the fact I was so insanely dedicated to my craft."

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro takes the phone back with a pouty frown. "Still sounds miserable. What's the point in being rich if you miss out on everything else?" She looks at the phone, then slips it back into her skirt. "I guess I get it. If you /really/ loved what you were doing, I mean." Her arms fold against her torso again, oddly-hued gaze shooting off to the side.

Slipstream has posed:
"Because now I'm stupid rich from never spending my money, and also having an insanely popular stream. I can enjoy life as much as I want now, while I'm young. I'm living my best life." Drake eases himself on to the bench, stretching out his legs as he gives a few wiggles of his feet.

"But I loved what I did. My level of competitive is crazy. I'm great at talking shit and playing head games with my opponent. I lived for those moments. When you hit that perfect stride and you hit every single shot." He makes finger gun motions. Pew. Pew. Pew.

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro levels a flat look on him. "Alright, I get it, you're fabulously wealthy, successful, young, and have superpowers. Anything else ya wanna add to that? Take supermodel jacuzzi baths while you're at it? Gold-lined socks?," she chides.

She loves what she does and sacrificed everything to have it, but she can't exactly claim all of those things. Or any of them. Except maybe the 'young' part. She'll fight anyone who says otherwise there!

Slipstream has posed:
"Oh yeah, because nothing says chick magnet like pasty skinned nerds that play video games all day. You think hot superhero girls go for a barely sidekick like me?" Drake asks with a laugh. "You stand next to Captain America or Superman for a few minutes and you disappear real fast."

He runs a hand back through his hair, blowing some strands away from his face. "But you're kinda like the next big thing in wrestling right?" He asks as his brows lift upwards. "So you're gonna be hanging out in hot tubs with The Rock and throwing money around at the strip club soon enough."

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro crinkles her button nose and shakes her head quickly. "Work your way up, doofus! Start with regular chicks, /then/ go for the ones with superpowers! And - hello - I'm a girl in an arcade? Hot as Hellfire, and totally existing in front of you!" After a beat, she lifts her hands quickly. "Just to be clear! I don't date anyone whose a** I can't kick. I'm a walking fetish. I know that. I've gotta know I can pump the brakes if I really need to."

And then she's right back to folding her arms indignantly. "And the Rock looks like a shaved gorilla. I'm too much of the edgy loner type."

Slipstream has posed:
Smirking at her, Drake rolls his eyes upwards. "I dated a Green Lantern and she cheated on me with a God, then I dated a normal girl and she dumped me pretty quickly." He doesn't seem too bothered. "Yes, you are existing in front of me, and I'm not sure if I'm intimidated by you yet. But if you ever wanna throw down, I'm up for embarrassing myself."

Bakeneko has posed:
"Dude, come on. Unless you faked, super speed is gonna trump my f***ing amazing-but-totally-human skills," Katsumi chides. "Or you could just /really/ suck at what you do, I guess. But then you'd be a crappy superhero." She props a fist to her hip and perks an eyebrow at him. "But you have my permission to be intimidated by me. S'only natural. I'm a force of nature." Her free hand lifts to whisk through her hair again, deliberately preening to accompany the boast.

"But I /can/ help you out. The kind'a girl who'd go for you because you have money isn't the kind you'd want, anyway. Deep pockets, plus a greedy b****, equals one busted piggy bank. But you've got /powers/. And you live in /space/. Leverage /that/. And if they're holding out thinking Superman's gonna look their way, screw'em! She's just letting you know she's a self-obsessed psycho up-front. Give'er a thank-you card and keep fishing!"

Slipstream has posed:
Shrugging his shoulders, Drake laughs. "I get a girlfriend and she becomes a target to bad guys. That's not exactly something I want on my conscience if something happens. It's cool though. I'm not worried about falling in love and being happy. I'm more focused on being healthy and trying not to get iced out on the battlefield." He gives her an amused look.

"To be honest, I don't have girls chasing me for clout, or chasing me at all. I don't mind slipping through the cracks and being in the background. It helps me laser focus on what is important and that is saving lives."

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro cants her head to him, expression dubious. "Girls aren't chasin' you because you're being too.. uh.. s***, what's the word." Her gaze drops for a moment, then lift again quickly. "Aloof! Had to think of Elves. Don't you judge me. Anyway, you can't act like it doesn't matter. You've gotta at least make it look like you're open to it!"

She suddenly blinks.

"Why the Hell am I giving a superhero dating advice? What even. This is /so/ not my expertise."

Slipstream has posed:
"I don't know why you're giving me dating advice either." Drake laughs. "I'm not even looking for a girlfriend. Sides, this is No Fappy November. The only joystick I'm grabbing is the one on my console. Month is halfway through! I can do it! I can be /strong/."

He is obvious hilarious in his own mind. "I'm not worried about dating at all. I got the rest of my life ahead of me to find my Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel or whatever if she is out there. I'm not tripping."

Bakeneko has posed:
"Dude. No. It doesn't count if it's not /you/ doing-," Katsumi cuts herself off, brow knit. "Oh my god, this is /not/ my wheelhouse."

Her hands raise, palms rubbing against her face as her cheeks start to color. This may be the one day, at long last, that someone has found a limit to her shamelessness. Who would've expect this, of all things, to be it? When her hands lower, she looks somewhat self-mortified. "I'm gonna stop picking at your spinster status. Promise." She gives her cheeks a couple brisk pats. Refocus!

"Which one are you seeing?," she asks abruptly. "Action Man sounds awful in, like, the best ways, so.."

Slipstream has posed:
"What? Movie? I dunno. I wasn't planning on seeing one. I was just here to crush some high scores and stomp some arrows. I guess I could see one." Drake says as he tilts his head up to the marquee and squints. "Uhh... Deeper Tides. That's the one with the big ass shark I think? It's like a better Jaws someone said. I'd probably see that one. It sounds like a movie that wouldn't fuck up my monthly challenge. You know, one of those teen romance dramas."

Bakeneko has posed:
Katsumi Oshiro uplids at him when the conversation inadvertantly goes right back to him and his pledge to not self-abuse. "Yeeaah," she drawls. "I'm pretty sure unless huge veiny guys are your jam, you're safe."

She begins backwalking from the arcade sectionof the theater to tilt her head and check the time. "And I should get going. Theaters here probably pack out on the regular. Maybe. New York is still a big deal, right?" She doesn't genuinely care whether or not it is; it just happens to be where the event will be taking place. "But hey, you keep.. not... doing that...," she says in a stilted, awkward cadence. "...and the superheroing thing. Which may or may not have some crossover there. I dunno. This turned so f***ing weird."

Slipstream has posed:
"It's only weird if you make it weird. Wait until you get Thor drunk and he starts talking about the good old days and the wenches." Drake says as he tips a wink to her. "Anyways, call me." He says as he brushes a salute across his brow to her, then pushes off one foot as he blinks out of sight in a blue streak, followed by another down the street, then another until he is gone.

A small business card floats in front of her in a tail spin in the air. It has his number on it in drying black ink.