Description: She once traded away the Ladies' Team for a microphone. Now she's got to get the band back together--starting with Vanessa and Chun-Li.
It's been quite some time since the name 'Rose' has been bandied about. Even though she'd returned some time ago, she'd done so quietly, interested in keeping a low profile despite word of Vega's diminishment and even Geese Howard's death. (Not that she believes it.) And she would have gone on continuing to be low-key... but even Rose cannot hide from everything. Nor would she. When the envelope appeared in her mailbox, she knew things were afoot. Chizuru would, of course, know how to get in contact with her...
But as Chizuru is the organizer of the tournament, it is probably not wise to expect her to be fighting in it. Therefore, Rose has taken it upon herself to form a new team for the purposes of the King of Fighters--and she's started with a couple of old... acquaintances, friends... allies. So her own envelopes went out, unmarked, one to Vanessa, one to Chun-Li, a simple, cream-colored card with the letters 'YFCC' in flowing, lavender script, and the time and the date.
The YFCC, it must be noted, has been cleared--unusual for the afternoon, but not terribly so. Still, the (again)-rebuilt building seems odd without the echo of kiai, the sounds of pads being hit, the voices of instructors... Rose sits at a folding table, in the lobby, with two other chairs at the table, and, of course, some tea. She would prefer wine, but... it's a bit early, even for her. Besides, clouding the mind is better done when business is not at hand.
Yes, Geese is "dead", just as Shadaloo is "destroyed" which is why a few weeks ago they sent a "lady" to "tear off Vanessa's boobs".
Also her arms and legs, but Vanessa knows where her priorities lie. Either way, having spent a few weeks on the mend from that fiasco in China, reporting on the revival of Shadaloo to various agencies who have apparently not felt it a matter of urgent enough to tell anyone /else/, and the usual matters of drinking and carousing and occasionally spending a precious few moments with her daughter, Vanessa...well, shows up.
She expected to start seeing invites as soon as the invite from KoF itself showed up. She wasn't sure who to expect; she'd done Dash a few good turns, but he'd gone and ducked into a hole or something. Seth and Ramon hadn't been /out/ of their holes in approximately forever. Chizuru is /running/ the thing, so she's out. But when she got one from Rose (it had to be Rose, she figures; Alma isn't quite fruity enough to use lavender ink. She thinks. And she heard he died or something) she figured that wouldn't be a half bad deal!
Thus it is that at the appointed time and in the appointed place, Vanessa shows up in her usual affair - slacks and a simple babydoll tee with a blazer thrown on over-top. Vanessa hasn't really believed in business dress in years. She raises one black-gloved hand, flipping a casual wave of her fingers in Rose's direction, grinning. "Hey! Long time no see!" she says, gliding over to the chairs set up. It's quiet, she thinks. Nobody else is here. That never happens. She knew it'd be serious, but to dismiss /everyone/?
Yesterday, Chun-Li was in Estonia. Today, she is in Japan. This is why she is the last to arrive. She's still got a sporty but well-used duffel bag over her shoulder when she walks in. The bag does not seem overfilled, or even close to it. She must travel light.
The YFCC is a place that remains mostly foreign to the World's Strongest Woman. Its odd silence goes unnoticed, because there's nothing to compare it to in her memory. Maybe she's not young enough to hang out there. Or maybe she just hates the kids.
Being the last to sit down at the tea table, Xiang Chun-Li is quick to apologize. "I apologize," she says, fulfilling that mission. "My flight was delayed more than I expected it would be. I hope you don't mind me being in my fighting gear." It's true: Chun-Li is in her fighting gear, the qipao, the tights, the spiked bracelets. How did she fly with those on? Or did she take them off, stow them, and then put them back on after landing? And did she really fly in her fighting gear? Commercial?
Chun-Li pours herself some tea daintily, with exquisite manners. She's looking at that and not the other two when she says: "I trust this is about the King of Fighters?"
"There are things that are not suitable for the young to hear, Vanessa," replies Rose, placidly, raising her cup to the boxer-cum-special agent-cum-housewife. "I'm glad you could make it, though. And you, Chun-Li--thank you for coming." Rose's glass tilts towards Chun-Li, and she gestures to the seat that Vanessa didn't take.
"Yes, you're right, this is about the King of Fighters... Ah, would you care for some tea, Vanessa? Or would you prefer..." She reaches under her folding seat, and slides out a six-pack of Heineken, with a dry smile. "It's a bit early for me, but I understand that others' tastes may differ..." She leaves drinks to be done as necessary.
"You both are aware of the history of the King of Fighters tournament. It has never been... 'just a tournament'. I suspect that this one, like all the others, has something behind it... and given its past history... we would be foolish to ignore it. I propose that we enter... together."
Well it's only two of those at any given time, anyway.
She gives Rose a brief wry look, but apparently finds the statement too true to sass. "Been lying low too long anyway," she admits, shrugging and flopping down in her seat, glancing over-shoulder as Chun-li appears. The one and only, she thinks. Looks pretty uptight. Guess they can't all be as crazy as Travedi. She flexes her gloves as she notes, "Don't think anyone here's gonna complain about fightin' gear." Vanessa's not /actually/ in her iconic fighting outfit, but this one is pretty close. Though she does wonder about those bracelets, those things look nasty. Did she seriously get through customs with those things? Private flight, maybe? Or maybe she just has her own jet. Vanessa never did get her pilot's license...
Ahhh, so much to do. Eyes travel back to Rose, who has produced cany. "Hah! You know me too well~" she teases, and snaps a can off the six pack, opening it with entirely too much practice.
Rose is about done with the introduction by the time Vanessa's done with slamming half the can down. "Always with the machinations," she agrees. "Did you ask Chizuru what the hell she's thinking? Or is she not answering her phone?" They /used/ to be on a team with her, after all. Never actually.../fought/ together, but still... "I swear these tournament runners all seem to go nuts as soon as the idea hits them..." ...A grin. "What I mean is I'm in, of course." Glance over to Chun-li, fine red eyebrow cocking high. Thoughts? Her face asks.
Chun-Li props up her teacup in two hands, holding it like it contained some kind of valuable mystery. She watches Vanessa receive and then attack her beer without comment -- whether she approves or disapproves, she's too polite to make obvious.
But there's a proposal on the table. Vanessa casts her vote, and then it comes to be Chun-Li's turn to speak: "I would be remiss to hesitate," she says. "Of course I will join."
There's a small smile from the Most Dangerous Woman in the World, as if the whole issue was really that simple -- like the fighting world might actually just be about fighting for once. Then she sips her tea quietly as punctuation.
Rose's response to the teasing of Vanessa is an enigmatic smile. "Of course I do, dear," is all she says, regarding the beer. As for Chizuru, Rose shakes her head. "No. I've attempted no contact with her. If she wants to make her plans known, then she will; I would not insult her by intimating she is in over her head." Though Rose believes she is, of course. Setting it aside, she covers her thoughts with a sip of tea--Earl Grey, hot--and observes the two women before her. Vanessa and Chun-Li are both in, good. She fears that their full power will be needed for this...
"As you will know, the rules stipulate this year that we have at least four members." Again, a dry, quirky smile. "I would not wish to break the rules... have either of you any thoughts on a potential fourth member? Perhaps someone you are mentoring?" There -are- some possibilities out there, of course, but Rose, for whatever particular reason she has, is somewhat attached to the idea of a 'Ladies Team', and so she adds, "While, of course, I would not reject any suggestions, since I -am- planning to register us as Ladies' Team again..."
Vanessa pretty much looks like the party girl of the bunch, but other than drinking in the middle of the day and lazily holding her can by the rim with the pads of her fingers is at least not one of those annoying drunks who /cheers/ every time. Though she does have her arms spread across the back of her chair, lazy-like.
She nods at Chun-li's assessment. Quiet on Vanessa's comments, but then, she doesn't have the context she'd need, perhaps. She nods at that, and then swings her regard to Rose.
"Not even asking, huh? Information is key in something like this, Rose, don't forget that." /That/ is advice from a life long ago. "Still...well, if we're gonna do this the hard way, that's cool." She grins. "I can do the hard way."
She hums, tipping her beer back for a more leisurely drink, this time, considering. She manages not to put her feet on the table. Just barely. There's that little twitch that says she only just realized she shouldn't. "All my guys are quiet," she admits. ... "And male. Though I guess Travedi wouldn't look bad in a dress..." She rubs her chin, thoughtfully.
Chun-Li sets her teacup down and adopts a thoughtful frown. "I haven't taken on a protege in ages," she confesses. "Not since Rock Howard, during Strolheim, and I imagine he's got his own plans for the tournament." The World's Strongest Woman is silent for a moment, and touches a finger to her chin, reflecting. She seems very zen about the whole thing. Either that, or she is totally bored and doesn't care. But knowing her reputation it is probably just zen.
"I will, however, keep my eyes open." Chun-Li smiles again, placidly. "I would love to see a young fighter given the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfill her potential -- there must be someone out there in need of such guidance and support." Is she thinking about winning the tournament, or is she thinking about harvesting a sidekick? "Much like the Sakazaki girl, on the Ladies' Team of old."
She is not actually suggesting Yuri, though.
Rose nods, then glances at a clock over the doors. "Mmm. Unfortunately, the evening classes are just about to start; I've taken away enough of their valuable time by commandeering the place." Rose stretches her arms up over her head, then nods. "A young fighter... that is a possibility, for certain. Perhaps one we can begin to shape into the next generation of..." She pauses, hesttating on the word 'heroine'. "... those who do what needs to be done," she finishes, smoothly. "Vanessa, do feel free to take the beer with you--I wouldn't want any of the children to find it, and I'm reasonably sure no one here will drink it." She bought it for the boxer, anyway.
"And do please keep in touch; I shall be scouting for likely prospects as well, though we will, of course, need to vet them... perhaps some testing of some sort. I'm sure we can think of something appropriate. Thank you both. I'm sure that our efforts will work to contain some grander scheme--I do not believe that Geese Howard is dead... or that Vega lies dormant. Such people..." She trails off, as the doors swing open, admitting the first wave of students and instructors.
Vanessa frowns a little, nodding at Chun-li's admission. So nobody's got any actual ideas. Well if Chizuru wasn't running this thing she'd just ask her!! But that's not gonna work...hmmm, what to do...
Vanessa is too energetic to look very zen; thoughtful and analytical, sometimes, but not...quiet. Her neck cracks to one side, bones crackling loudly within. "I'll keep lookin' too. Maybe Dash'll be available? ...wait, dammit, guy again." Maybe she can get an Ikari to hop aboard...
She nods at Chun-li, though, raising her drink as if in toast to the idea. "Oh yeah, three of us? Best role-models in the /world/." It's a little sarcastic, but the sarcasm is probably mostly directed at herself. She laughs, though, lighthearted. "I'm sure we'll find someone, though. You're not wrong, some younger eyes and fists might do us good."
Rose starts dismissing them. Vanessa grins, nods, and proceeds to suck down the whole rest of her beer in one go. Manners are for younger women. "Nice save," Vanessa teases of Rose sidestepping the moralizing. "Kind of a mouthful, though." She slides, smooth as silk, to her feet, that whole-body grace of someone who's had the fighting movements hammered into her every bone and sinew. "Thanks," she adds, grabbing the beer up by two fingers.
Vanessa pauses, though, at Rose's dismissal...and as students and teachers start to wander in, she lowers her voice.
"Your instincts are right on that last one," she says. Rose won't want to talk this kind of business now; she just gives the woman a deadly serious, meaningful look, and nods at her grimly. Vega's alive. Shadaloo's still kicking. Vanessa knows that for certain. But unless called back to clarify, she spins on her heels, and starts wandering toward the door, no doubt to carouse at one of Southtown's many fine watering holes.
Vanessa gets up and spins on her heels before Chun-Li can do what she does next -- which is to be eminently sensible about things. She takes out a business card (her vigilante organization has business cards) and writes her personal e-mail address on it.
It is literally something as bland as 'xiangcl@gmail.com' or something. Disappointing in so many ways.
"Keep in touch. For my part, I agree with Vanessa -- the sooner we start, the better." Chun-Li stands, hefting her bag once more, and wading through the kids. "Take care -- and thank you for the tea."
Log created on 18:59:43 10/13/2010 by Rose, and last modified on 19:25:04 10/16/2010.