Post by Charlotte Shimizu on Nov 1, 2023 19:51:22 GMT
Co-Written with Scribe and posted with their permission
“Charlotte, a few questions if you don’t mind?”
Charlotte eyed the interviewer with a cross of skepticism and nervousness. This was one thing that she never learned in Neo Honshu; dealing with a microphone in her face. The story was all told in the ring… not with these silly posturing things she had to do now. Worst of all, she was tired and sore and wanted to soak in a hot tub for a month. That last fall had hurt, even if she’d done all she could to protect herself once she saw Hijou dodge out of the way.
She tried to school her expression to a friendlier mien. She wasn’t the heel anymore. She had to maintain the ‘good guy’ persona. “Sure,” she agreed, knowing her smile seemed more like a pained grimace.
It was almost like her consent set off a small flurry of activity, and she was hauled over to a backdrop with the IWF logo and a reasonably sized tv monitor between her and the interviewer, who did a quick introduction and then turned back to her. “Charlotte, you just had a brutal match with Hijou, but you seemed a little surprised at the ending. Let’s watch that again.”
Charlotte grimaced but turned to watch as the last moments of the match came up. She had never really liked watching her own matches. It made her ribs ache again just to watch her landing from the failed corkscrew 450 splash.
It also wouldn't do Charlotte's blood pressure any favors to now see so clearly the visual of Hijou's lips twitching into a nasty smirk, the little war criminal flashing the camera a smile seconds after dodging her opponent's attack. This had been the game plan, and smelling blood in water, Hijou had been so quick to take advantage.
'Stupid bitch!' She'd taunted, staggering to her feet bruised and battered, but in better shape than Charlotte. Moments later, Charlotte had joined Hijou on her feet, only to be swiftly sent back down with an Overhead Kick.
That was the final lucid memory Charlotte had from the match, but with the aid of an instant replay, she was made aware of the particular disrespect paid to her in the aftermath…
Eager to twist the knife a little more, Hijou had secured her three count by merely taking a seat on Charlotte's stomach, sitting cross-legged without so much as the courtesy of hooking the leg. The way she'd then gleefully rustled an unconscious Charlotte's hair following the bell only piled insult upon insult upon injury.
She scowled at the screen, her arm unconsciously coming across her ribs as though the pressure would ease the throbbing there. “So Charlotte, earlier this week Hijou told everyone to just get out of the way when you use your preferred techniques, and she clearly wants to lead by example. Does this make you feel like you need to change tactics?” Cali Robbins asked, then tilted the microphone towards Charlotte to catch her answer.
Charlotte forced her face into a calmer expression as she turned back to the ever-present cameras and the cursed microphone. “Not at all, Ms Robbins. With no risk, there’s no reward. Hijou may have gotten out of the way this time, but she might not see the next one coming so clearly. I think Virginia Stepanov has learned that Hijou’s advice is more easily said than executed.”
Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention away. She let out a huff that was half-laugh and half-sigh that hurt her battered abdomen. There was Hannah, sporting one of her business outfits, but with the jacket open over a white t-shirt instead of a blouse… and the t-shirt, she could barely see, had Japanese written on it in red fabric paint. She could make out the katakana for “half” and she thought she saw the kanji for words relating to shrines, which made her groan. That ridiculous tagline Hannah had come up with.
“Now who’s this?” Cali queried, following Charlotte’s gaze.
Shoving her irritation aside, Charlotte beckoned Hannah over. “Ms Robbins, this is my little sister-”
“And manager!” Hannah added as she almost bounced over. Charlotte rolled her eyes and ruffled Hannah’s hair thoroughly before the shorter woman batted Charlotte’s hand away.
“Yes yes… She basically picked me up at the airport and held me hostage.” Charlotte agreed and elaborated, despite Hannah’s squeak of protest at the description of events.
“Awwwwh!” A cloying voice filled with sardonic sweetness interrupted proceedings, as Hijou stepped into the shot. She had yet to change out of her ring-gear, and she too was obviously a little sore from the battle waged moments before, though her chipper demeanour and smarmy smirk could have tricked anyone into believing otherwise.
“Charlotte-chan!” She greeted, her words soaked in mockery. Just as Charlotte had referred to her in that ridiculous manner before their match, Hijou now saw fit to return the favour. Though, maybe addressing her as an equal was inappropriate…
“Student…” Yes, that felt much better. “Tough Luck!” She winked.
Charlotte stiffened, her spine straightening as she looked down her nose at the shorter girl. “Perhaps it is better to be lucky than good. Do you not think so, ojou-chan?” Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest, conspicuously crossing her fingers as well. It was a common sign to ward off evil in Japan, but only Hannah and Hijou would recognize it as such. “Luck or not, kōhai, you did not do as well as you want everyone to think you did.” She abruptly dropped back into English. “What do you think, Ms Robbins? Doesn’t my opponent look tired? And I’m sure I see bruises forming on her ribcage to match mine. I think it is far past her bedtime.” A sneer briefly twitched one corner of Charlotte’s mouth, and then she turned away from Hijou, her attention on her sister and Cali Robbins.
Hijou huffed, frustrated at Charlotte's lack of respect. Of course, it wasn't like she'd done much to earn it, but in her mind the way her boot had caved in Charlotte's skull ought to have beat some into her. “Rich coming from the girl who got beat,” she retorted, joining her adversary in reverting back to English. “How'd it feel, getting your ass kicked in front of your sister?” She questioned, smiling.
A flash of anger crossed Charlotte’s face before she just scoffed. “She saw me get into worse scraps in high school when I decided to fight the entire varsity football team.”
“And when the girls superior football team decided they wouldn’t put up with you tackling them all the time… Or when the olympic wrestling boys thought they were going to teach you to stay in your lane…” Hannah added, ticking the incidents off on her fingers and clearly trying to be helpful, but Charlotte silenced her with a quick glance.
“The point is, girlie,” Charlotte went on, almost sneering down at Hijou, “I got better fights out of my cousins than I did out of you. At least there, I learned something from the beating I got. You taught me nothing I didn’t already know.”
Charlotte smirked, almost evilly, then. “Do you know why you dodged out of the way when others don’t?” Charlotte didn’t wait for the other girl to respond, instead answering the question herself like she were teaching a class. “It’s not because everyone else is stupid… It’s because they’re not afraid to take the hit. They know how to take the hit. You, Hijou-kōhai… are afraid of me. You’re afraid of the hit, afraid of losing… And because of that? You will never… ever, be a champion.”
Hijou’s blood boiled. What right did Charlotte have to be so condescending?! Who was she to comment on Hijou’s potential as a champion?! She fucking lost! It was incredibly frustrating that the girl seemed to be immune to Hijou’s powers of mockery, and so, the pint-sized psycho reverted to the only other option available to her.
“Fuck you!” She threw a punch, resuming hostilities from the match just gone as her knuckles cracked sharply against Charlotte’s cheek.
The smirk was gone, but there was still cold condescension on Charlotte’s face as she straightened up from the blow, her left hand slowly coming up to her jaw and assessing the damage. “You cannot even win with any sort of honor. You’re a disgrace to your family, to your country, and to whatever dojo had the misfortune to train you.” Charlotte spat, then her right hand shot out like a striking snake to connect a solid punch to Hijou’s solar plexus.
Hijou stumbled back, though only for a second, as she almost immediately flung herself forward once more. A sudden blur of aggression as Charlotte’s back slammed into a wall, only for her to carry on throwing lefts and rights without a care in the world. Hijou’s fists were just as busy, and the scene devolved into a mess of violence.
Losing control of the situation entirely, Cali called for security, stepping away to avoid the carnage unfolding a few feet from her. Seconds later, a sea of black-clad enforcers were upon the brawl, grappling with both girls to wrench them away from one another.
“Bakayaro!” Hijou called, her feet skidding against the floor as she tried in vain to escape the vice hold placed upon her by the three security guards tasked with restraining her. She spat on the floor, her face red with rage, all the while continuing to stare daggers into Charlotte.
“Fuzukena, baita!” Charlotte spat back even as Hannah put herself in front of her sister.
“CHARLIE!” Hannah shouted over the scuffling and screeching of the two wrestlers. “Don’t you dare get yourself fired! I just GOT you this job!”
“Charlotte, a few questions if you don’t mind?”
Charlotte eyed the interviewer with a cross of skepticism and nervousness. This was one thing that she never learned in Neo Honshu; dealing with a microphone in her face. The story was all told in the ring… not with these silly posturing things she had to do now. Worst of all, she was tired and sore and wanted to soak in a hot tub for a month. That last fall had hurt, even if she’d done all she could to protect herself once she saw Hijou dodge out of the way.
She tried to school her expression to a friendlier mien. She wasn’t the heel anymore. She had to maintain the ‘good guy’ persona. “Sure,” she agreed, knowing her smile seemed more like a pained grimace.
It was almost like her consent set off a small flurry of activity, and she was hauled over to a backdrop with the IWF logo and a reasonably sized tv monitor between her and the interviewer, who did a quick introduction and then turned back to her. “Charlotte, you just had a brutal match with Hijou, but you seemed a little surprised at the ending. Let’s watch that again.”
Charlotte grimaced but turned to watch as the last moments of the match came up. She had never really liked watching her own matches. It made her ribs ache again just to watch her landing from the failed corkscrew 450 splash.
It also wouldn't do Charlotte's blood pressure any favors to now see so clearly the visual of Hijou's lips twitching into a nasty smirk, the little war criminal flashing the camera a smile seconds after dodging her opponent's attack. This had been the game plan, and smelling blood in water, Hijou had been so quick to take advantage.
'Stupid bitch!' She'd taunted, staggering to her feet bruised and battered, but in better shape than Charlotte. Moments later, Charlotte had joined Hijou on her feet, only to be swiftly sent back down with an Overhead Kick.
That was the final lucid memory Charlotte had from the match, but with the aid of an instant replay, she was made aware of the particular disrespect paid to her in the aftermath…
Eager to twist the knife a little more, Hijou had secured her three count by merely taking a seat on Charlotte's stomach, sitting cross-legged without so much as the courtesy of hooking the leg. The way she'd then gleefully rustled an unconscious Charlotte's hair following the bell only piled insult upon insult upon injury.
She scowled at the screen, her arm unconsciously coming across her ribs as though the pressure would ease the throbbing there. “So Charlotte, earlier this week Hijou told everyone to just get out of the way when you use your preferred techniques, and she clearly wants to lead by example. Does this make you feel like you need to change tactics?” Cali Robbins asked, then tilted the microphone towards Charlotte to catch her answer.
Charlotte forced her face into a calmer expression as she turned back to the ever-present cameras and the cursed microphone. “Not at all, Ms Robbins. With no risk, there’s no reward. Hijou may have gotten out of the way this time, but she might not see the next one coming so clearly. I think Virginia Stepanov has learned that Hijou’s advice is more easily said than executed.”
Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention away. She let out a huff that was half-laugh and half-sigh that hurt her battered abdomen. There was Hannah, sporting one of her business outfits, but with the jacket open over a white t-shirt instead of a blouse… and the t-shirt, she could barely see, had Japanese written on it in red fabric paint. She could make out the katakana for “half” and she thought she saw the kanji for words relating to shrines, which made her groan. That ridiculous tagline Hannah had come up with.
“Now who’s this?” Cali queried, following Charlotte’s gaze.
Shoving her irritation aside, Charlotte beckoned Hannah over. “Ms Robbins, this is my little sister-”
“And manager!” Hannah added as she almost bounced over. Charlotte rolled her eyes and ruffled Hannah’s hair thoroughly before the shorter woman batted Charlotte’s hand away.
“Yes yes… She basically picked me up at the airport and held me hostage.” Charlotte agreed and elaborated, despite Hannah’s squeak of protest at the description of events.
“Awwwwh!” A cloying voice filled with sardonic sweetness interrupted proceedings, as Hijou stepped into the shot. She had yet to change out of her ring-gear, and she too was obviously a little sore from the battle waged moments before, though her chipper demeanour and smarmy smirk could have tricked anyone into believing otherwise.
“Charlotte-chan!” She greeted, her words soaked in mockery. Just as Charlotte had referred to her in that ridiculous manner before their match, Hijou now saw fit to return the favour. Though, maybe addressing her as an equal was inappropriate…
“Student…” Yes, that felt much better. “Tough Luck!” She winked.
Charlotte stiffened, her spine straightening as she looked down her nose at the shorter girl. “Perhaps it is better to be lucky than good. Do you not think so, ojou-chan?” Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest, conspicuously crossing her fingers as well. It was a common sign to ward off evil in Japan, but only Hannah and Hijou would recognize it as such. “Luck or not, kōhai, you did not do as well as you want everyone to think you did.” She abruptly dropped back into English. “What do you think, Ms Robbins? Doesn’t my opponent look tired? And I’m sure I see bruises forming on her ribcage to match mine. I think it is far past her bedtime.” A sneer briefly twitched one corner of Charlotte’s mouth, and then she turned away from Hijou, her attention on her sister and Cali Robbins.
Hijou huffed, frustrated at Charlotte's lack of respect. Of course, it wasn't like she'd done much to earn it, but in her mind the way her boot had caved in Charlotte's skull ought to have beat some into her. “Rich coming from the girl who got beat,” she retorted, joining her adversary in reverting back to English. “How'd it feel, getting your ass kicked in front of your sister?” She questioned, smiling.
A flash of anger crossed Charlotte’s face before she just scoffed. “She saw me get into worse scraps in high school when I decided to fight the entire varsity football team.”
“And when the girls superior football team decided they wouldn’t put up with you tackling them all the time… Or when the olympic wrestling boys thought they were going to teach you to stay in your lane…” Hannah added, ticking the incidents off on her fingers and clearly trying to be helpful, but Charlotte silenced her with a quick glance.
“The point is, girlie,” Charlotte went on, almost sneering down at Hijou, “I got better fights out of my cousins than I did out of you. At least there, I learned something from the beating I got. You taught me nothing I didn’t already know.”
Charlotte smirked, almost evilly, then. “Do you know why you dodged out of the way when others don’t?” Charlotte didn’t wait for the other girl to respond, instead answering the question herself like she were teaching a class. “It’s not because everyone else is stupid… It’s because they’re not afraid to take the hit. They know how to take the hit. You, Hijou-kōhai… are afraid of me. You’re afraid of the hit, afraid of losing… And because of that? You will never… ever, be a champion.”
Hijou’s blood boiled. What right did Charlotte have to be so condescending?! Who was she to comment on Hijou’s potential as a champion?! She fucking lost! It was incredibly frustrating that the girl seemed to be immune to Hijou’s powers of mockery, and so, the pint-sized psycho reverted to the only other option available to her.
“Fuck you!” She threw a punch, resuming hostilities from the match just gone as her knuckles cracked sharply against Charlotte’s cheek.
The smirk was gone, but there was still cold condescension on Charlotte’s face as she straightened up from the blow, her left hand slowly coming up to her jaw and assessing the damage. “You cannot even win with any sort of honor. You’re a disgrace to your family, to your country, and to whatever dojo had the misfortune to train you.” Charlotte spat, then her right hand shot out like a striking snake to connect a solid punch to Hijou’s solar plexus.
Hijou stumbled back, though only for a second, as she almost immediately flung herself forward once more. A sudden blur of aggression as Charlotte’s back slammed into a wall, only for her to carry on throwing lefts and rights without a care in the world. Hijou’s fists were just as busy, and the scene devolved into a mess of violence.
Losing control of the situation entirely, Cali called for security, stepping away to avoid the carnage unfolding a few feet from her. Seconds later, a sea of black-clad enforcers were upon the brawl, grappling with both girls to wrench them away from one another.
“Bakayaro!” Hijou called, her feet skidding against the floor as she tried in vain to escape the vice hold placed upon her by the three security guards tasked with restraining her. She spat on the floor, her face red with rage, all the while continuing to stare daggers into Charlotte.
“Fuzukena, baita!” Charlotte spat back even as Hannah put herself in front of her sister.
“CHARLIE!” Hannah shouted over the scuffling and screeching of the two wrestlers. “Don’t you dare get yourself fired! I just GOT you this job!”
Well howdy there pardner.