Description: It's been too long since Sagat was a member of Shadaloo - it's certainly time to bring him back into the fold. But first, a test of Sagat's strength, not from Vega - but from Adon. To manipulate the other man, Vega leans on his need to be the best.
Some days, it was good to be the king.
In this case, it was good to be the Emperor. Adon sat at the top of Wat Arun, or the Temple of the Dawn, reclining in his chair as the tournament raged beneath him. It was a very symbolic tier system. The older and more talented champions rested near the top of the temple. Each level below them was a lower level Muay Thai practitioner, until the bottom. Those at the bottom layer fought their way up. When no one else was below you, you fought your peers, and then fought up. Eventually, the warrior would make their way up to Adon... for their honor fight.
Adon wouldn't just trounce though. He would reward them. Twisting his body around, he dangled his legs over the right armrest of the throne as he dangled his head back into the chest of a rather bored-looking girl. "SMILE." Adon barked, inciting the girl to follow the orders. Hmph. Some people had no respect for Muay Thai.
"... Are you really certain you wish to do this? ...Hmph. Very well."
Eventually, Adon might be distracted, the Emperor hearing his subjects' cries and screams, fighting and sounds of battle quite normal - but the silence that begins to crawl up each and every level might be noticeable. This would be because Vega, the Dictator of Shadaloo and former Lord of Thailand has chosen to make his way up - and those that fight and try to bar him from moving on are met with swift pain and unconciousness, at best.
Deliberate but not slow, he makes his way towards the high peak that Adon has decided is 'his' place. There are a few marks on his face as he comes into view, the lucky strike or allowed hit that Vega gave to a warrior before blasting them away with a strike or an application of 'Psycho Power'. None of this matters, really - for him, it's barely even a warmup. He chooses not to call out to Adon - instead, he just lets the growing silence become his calling card, those left behind on the steps he steadily climbs in no situation to be shouting, screaming or otherwise making noise.
hat sounded strange.
Adon raised his head up from the chest of the young concubine. Eyes wide, he readjusted himself in his throne. Sitting erect and keeping his eyes shut, he listened carefully to the sounds of the fight. It started normal, the pacing was aggressive, but steady. Suddenly, though, it was moving too fast, to frantic. Something was either very right... or very wrong.
Rising up, Adon walked steadily towards the edge of the high temple, positioning himself to look down. There was someone who was tearing up the temple... much faster than he should. It was a slow, steady pace, yes. But that was not the pattern one fought up. Sagat? No. The glare wasn't bright enough. Narrowing his eyes, the God of Muay Thai begins to put together the shape of the man who was working his way to him.
Adon just stood there, arms crossed. Grinning broadly, he thought only two things to himself. Don't show fear, and don't back down. Adon was going to show everyone he would meet Vega face to face... Even if it might kill him.
Methodical. An elbow here, a Psycho-imbued fist there. It's just one of those things that takes time to appreciate. He's careful enough not to /kill/ anyone, though there's certainly a snap or two where one person or another annoys him enough that his takedowns involve enough force to break bones. All in all, Adon will be able to have his tournament, another day. A few months from now, perhaps.
At the end, Vega stands before Adon, unbowed, slightly bloody - scrapes and red on his knuckles and cheek. He folds his arms together, glaring at the 'Emperor' with narrowed, white eyes. His lips are thin, drawn into a line - and then he smirks, just a bit. He motions to the fallen behind him, his voice soft - words for Adon alone. "Are you better than the rest of these? Sagat would have walked through them far faster than I did. Do you expect him to come and challenge you?"
Adon stares at Vega, suppressing his fear with sheer bravado. Vega could tear through his men... it didn't mean he would. Sagat had the came conditions. Adon could not act like a coward in any shape or form. As such, he did only thing he knew was appropriate.
"As the Emperor of Muay Thai, VEGA, I am always expected to take CHALLENGERS. Sagat just knows his PLACE." Voice still as haughty as ever, Adon takes a step back, positioning towards his throne. Walking towards it, he just keeps his grin going. "Though, I do ASK why SHADALOO seeks to DISRUPT my INTERNAL AFFAIRS. Unless Muay Thai is your new FAVORED ART?" Adon plops down in his throne lazily, leaning back to watch Vega with an all-too-goofy grin.
Ah, Bravado. How Vega loves it. It's always amusing to 'feel' below the surface, to see the real emotions beneath. He doesn't do anything to show that he sees it, though - instead, allowing Adon this sop to the girls about. Let them see how 'brave' he is in the face of Shadaloo's dictator. Let them see him stand up towards Vega, the self-admitted Warlord of Thailand. It's a credential boost, and it'll probably score more points with them later.
"His place? He's forgotten it, Adon - and that's why I am seeking you out." There's that grin again, a shark's predatory gaze. "I want you to challenge /him/. You know he won't come here - and you know why." There's a moment, where Vega debates swaying it out loud - but no, this he speaks to Adon's mind alone. After all, the truth doesn't need to be spread about. <<He will not challenge you, because he sees you as a lesser opponent - he always has.>> He breaks the silence then, with words again, for Adon and those still concious. "I believe that you can beat him - the question is, will you take that step? He's too prideful to make it himself - what will you do? Rest on your laurels as you do today?"
Adon's pride suddenly came in conflict with his judgement. Initially, the fact that Sagat forgot about Shadaloo was vital: important to his status. He was safe here as long as he went through the rituals and acted as the Emperor of Muay Thai should. But Vega... Vega complicated things. If it was any lesser of a man, he would just punch him in the face. And through him from the top of the temple. But no. It had to be guy who could hover and destroy you with mind beams.
And then Vega insults him. In his head. The rage swallowed inside Adon swiftly came to surface. "Sagat is a COWARD not to challenge me." The red-haired Jaguar spits out, shooting up from his throne. "And I have no REASON to challenge HIM. His DISGRACE is none of my concern, and if he THINKS he is better than ME, then he should recall his LOSS." Easing back down, Adon looks off to the side. "Besides. He is OLD blood. If Muay Thai is to have a NEW God, then it will be through it's OWN process, and it's own TRAINING. Tell me, Vega. Who cut you? He may be the one who should be GROOMED."
Adon just smirks, inviting Vega to respond.
Sigh. It is always /so/ difficult to get people to do what you want - to lead them to where they need to be for you to complete your plans. He'd tried to be subtle, and said subtlety was thrown back in his face, in a loud and boisterous manner. He shakes his head in amusement, bemusement. It really was just like trying to get Sagat to do something. "Sagat sees no challenge in you, Adon. All this, all you have here.." He waves his hands about, to encompass the arena, the 'tournament'. ".. All it is, is an attempt to cover up the fact that you know you're second best. You say 'everyone will come' and you challenge the people that are here - but when you're told about a challenge, you bluster and declare that he has to come to you. Let me tell you something.."
Vega walks closer, ignoring the question about who'd cut him - honestly, he doesn't care. For what it's worth, it's one of the broken men on the line just below Adon - those fighters who came close to the 'Emperor of Muay Thai' in skill. His eyes flare dangerously. "The challenges you seek out are the ones you learn from. The ones where you expect power to come to you - those are never fufilling. True power doesn't find you - you find /it/."
"Are YOU claiming I am second BEST?" Adon's temper began to flare. Vega wanted him to fight Sagat. Why? Adon began to suspect that there was no way out. Vega had him. His blustering was in fact a way to keep bigger fish from fighting him. Bigger fish, but not the biggest fish. Vega here... he was the biggest fish. And he was calling him out to take on a shark. And what could he do? Be a coward?
Growling, he lowered voice. "Fine. I'll challenge him. If only because if an IDIOT like YOU lacks faith, my SUBJECTS may SUFFER the SAME CONDITION." Looking like his just swallowed a sea urchin, he directed a finger out. "Now LEAVE. Your PRESENCE DISPLEASES ME." Adon just stands there, glaring. He was going to think of a way out of this. Where Sagat... Sagat doesn't get the upper hand in this.
Much, much better. Vega's grin fades, and slowly settles into a self-satisfied sort of grimace, the kind he wears when things have worked out the way he wishes them to. "I'm claiming that it is what Sagat thinks - what /my/ opinion is, well - that truly doesn't matter, Adon. It is what your students and yourself believe that is important." With that, Vega allows the growling, grumbling 'God of Muay Thai' to order him back and away. Vega turns his back on the warrior, and looks towards the steps. Such a long way down - the path lined with the fallen bodies of his students.
"I look forwards to seeing what occurs, Adon. I do think you have it within you to prove yourself the victor. I think it shall be an interesting battle, all told." Vega begins to make his way downwards, leaving the field of battle and cedeing it to Adon. There's no need for Vega to fight the man - after all, he needs Adon to be at full strength for this fight. No matter how it ends, the fact that it occurs is enough for Vega, Lord of Shadaloo.
Adon follows him to the edge of the top floor. Vega's opinion did matter. He was playing a game, and he was pitting Sagat and Adon together for something. The problem? He did in a way that Adon couldn't back down. And Adon swallowed that bitterly. Ikari Warriors. Why did he have to kick out the Ikari Warriors? God, was this biting him in the ass.
"If I did it once... I can do it again." The God of Muay Thai grumbled, looking over his fallen warriors. Shambles. His entire army. Shambles by one man. And him... already disgraced.
Damn you, Vega.
Log created on 20:47:57 01/04/2009 by Vega, and last modified on 02:17:40 01/16/2009.