Description: Cammy sneaks into Ingrid's apartment to send the psion a message: Lord Vega has not forgotten about her. Will this intrusion lead to combat and property damage, or will level heds prevail?
It's evening in Southtown, the sun having set only minutes ago with the last vestiges of light gleaming on the horizon. Despite the darkening sky there are many people who exit their homes, heading to clubs, raves, gambling dens and other bastions of nightlife which thrive in a city as large and diverse as this. If you ever want to meet an interesting variety of people you simply need to head out onto the streets at night and follow someone interesting. And this is just the sort of thing that Ingrid is used to doing, having a slight edge by being able to pick those excited and in the mood to have fun. Tonight, however, she has opted to stay in and get some rest.
Not quite getting ready for bed she's currently hand washing some dishes, having recently decided she should learn to cook for herself with mixed results. Her apartment is spacious and luxurious, for Japan, with a modern entertainment system, fairly expensive furnishings, and an off set bedroom with an expansive though underutilized closet. Indeed the entire space of the apartment gives the impression that the white haired young woman is either a neat freak or doesn't spend very much time at all in her home, occupied though it currently is. The sound of running water in the sink and light scrubbing can be heard as she takes a quiet enjoyment in this simple menial task, her mind occupied not with her own thoughts but with the vast array of feelings felt by the people in the apartments surrounding her own, playing a bit of a guessing game as to what they might be doing.
Shame it's a huge apartment block, the traditional method of ingress in such home breaking situations is the window after all, but when someone lives in a skyscraper, while it is still possible of course it suddenly becomes a lot more of a hassle.
These are the thoughts running through Cammy's mind as she pads along the corridor outside, the one with the security cameras in it. Fortunately she has her usual red cloak, covering up the incriminating Doll uniform, and the Doll is swift, the cloaked figure only popping up on a bored security guards screen briefly, and that only the back of her head.
She comes to a halt by Ingrid's door, and reaches out, to lay a white hand upon the door gently, closing her eyes momentarily, head cocked to one side. In part listening, in part sensing the minds nearby - for Cammy has a small fragment of Lord Vega's psycho power within her, enough for a few minor parlour tricks. She narrows her eyes as fingers dip into the voluminous pocket of her cloak, drawing out a skeleton key. It seems there is someone in there - presumably Ingrid - she thinks, as she unlocks the door and steps silently into the apartment.
The door is quietly closed behind her, with a barely audible click, and Cammy stands still for a moment, head still tilted, a look of concentration on her face as she listens. Then she silently pads towards the sound of running water.
With such expensive apartments you'd think security would be very tight, with many eyes looking at vast arrays of monitors surveying every square inch of the building. That, however, couldn't be further from the truth. The simple fact is that there have been so few break ins, and so few robberies because this is assumed, and as such the owner of the building has felt free to cut down on security. While there will inevitably be a recording of the back of Cammy's head, there is next to no one monitoring the cameras set about in real time.
As such there's nothing at all stopping Cammy as she uses her key on the door, and if by some misfortune someone would come out of an adjacent apartment they would likely give no comment, so little being known about the occupant by neighbors.
Ingrid herself is another story. While she can't detect the psycho power instilled in Cammy, she can detect her presence and emotions. It is therefore plainly known to her that someone is outside her door, and soon after inside her door. Despite this knowledge her actions do not immediately deviate, the Norwegian quietly finishing up scrubbing a pan, the sound of plastic scraping metal heard now above that of the water and giving tell someone is certainly in the kitchen.
With the task of washing complete she quickly dries the pan with a hand towel, setting it on the counter and then turning about, drying her hands with the same towel just in time for the uninvited guest to come into view. "Good evening," she greets in a rather friendly tone considering the circumstances. "I must say you are rather bold. Would you like a cup of coffee?" With a small smile she waves a hand towards a half full pot, looking to it and then back to the hooded figure. When she does she seems to flinch slightly, perhaps having caught a glimpse of the uniform worn beneath the obscuring red garment.
Cammy arches a brow at that. Well, thats a first, whenever the Killer Bee is found in someone's apartment she's usually met with fists and boots, or maybe some begging for mercy. Tea and crumpets, though, thats a first. Well, not tea and crumpets precisely but as close as it'll get in Japan.
Then she actually smiles a thin smile. "Tea would be better. But coffee will do." she replies after a moment, flat voiced. The flinch does not go unnoticed, and to further develop that flinch she shrugs off the red cloak, letting it casually lie across the sofa, revealing the blue turtleneck/leotard, combat boots and yellow tie of Shadaloo's elite assassins. And maybe the blue lightning bolt designs on her legs are a little reminiscent of the wings on the Shadaloo skull.
"You are the one known as Ingrid, yes?" she asks, watching her like a hawk as she moves around the kitchen. While she seems happy to watch, she also seems ready to deal with any funny business, cries for help, or anything tiresome like that. Tense, ready to dodge flying kitchen knives. It would make it a more typical greeting.
Ingrid becomes significantly more tense when the cloak is shrugged off, instantly recognizing the Doll uniform, even if not the specific one. She almost says as much, but decides the look on her face probably says it without needing to. After a pause she turns to a cabinet, opening it up and retrieving a modestly sized cup, into which she pours coffee before walking closer to Cammy and setting it in the counter closest too her, not going so far as to hand it directly to her.
"I am Ingrid, yes. And no doubt you are an underling of the infamous lord of Shadaloo." Letting this hang for a moment she motions back towards the coffee, regaining her composure when the Doll does not immediately begin attacking her once in close proximity, equally aware as Cammy that between any two normal people that is exactly what would happen. "Had you called ahead I could have had tea prepared, but I'm afraid while I do enjoy tea my time in Japan has not shifted my preference away from coffee. In fact I might have even been able to cook a little extra as well- but then I am sure your visit here is something more then social, is it not?" Her arms fold quietly across her midsection as she quirks an eyebrow.
Cammy frowns at being called a mere underling, she's held in such high esteem by the Master, or so she thinks, that she's well beyond underling status. "I am the Killer Bee. Lord Vega's Doll Zero. The master holds me in high regard. He even let me wear his hat for a while." she explains, with a hint of emotion edging into her toneless English voice - pride. Underling, fah!
One hand snakes out to take the coffee cup, and she holds it up to her mouth, though she doesn't actually drink it, instead continuing their little chat. "I was not expecting you to be so composed, but we have never met, so I was not sure what to expect. I bring a message from the Lord of Shadaloo himself, to you.".
There is a slight pause. "Unusually, it does not necessarily involve the application of pain.". She looks over the apartment for a moment, before blue eyes return to Ingrid. "Which is nice. You have a nice apartment, it would be a shame to see it wrecked.".
At this information of the importance of the intruder Ingrid's eyes open a little wider, "Truly? Then I should take much more stock in what it is you have to say. I know it would have been foolish of me to think that I was no longer under threat, but if I am again a priority..." That would change things.
After thinking to herself for a moment she takes in a breath and releases it. "Very well, I'd like to hear what he has to say that he would not bring it to me himself, but would still dedicate an important resource for- doubly so if the point isn't to be beaten into me as it has been in the past." That said she looks around the apartment and nods, "Thank you, furnished this one myself. It would be such a bother to have to replace it all, as my renters insurance specifically excludes combat damage."
Cammy swells a bit at that, she's not above a bit of flattery. Yes, she's very important, dammit! and she's not quite as emotionless as she first appears. "You are not a high priority at the moment. But I was in Southtown on other business.". She's not just a postgirl either!
"Lord Vega wishes you to know that you have not been forgotten, and Shadaloo is still interested in your progress. He does not wish you to be permanently damaged, as he wishes to harvest your power at a later date, when you have further developed.".
Cammy pauses momentarily, and then adds, "I would not be surprised if we meet again, to assess your abilities further as you develop. Lord Vega is always interested in the power of the worlds top fighters, and I am always very happy to serve him in this regard.". Oooo fighting data to collect, always fun. "But that is not for today.". Sad.
If Ingrid is insulted at the insinuation that Cammy was not dispatched on this singular mission she does not show it, taking that bit of information without comment. "Is that so?" She replies to the message delivered, "You can tell Vega that I have not forgotten his plans for me, nor will I ever. If I cared little for myself I would stunt my own growth so that I was never again a viable target- but what a waste of talent that would be."
Now uncrossing her arms she turns her back to Cammy, retrieving a second cup to pour some coffee for herself, quite sure she won't be getting as much rest tonight as she had originally intended. "I would not doubt that. If you are a prized fighter of his he may well send you to 'test' me, as he has done before. As for top fighters..."
She alludes to this before sipping her coffee, a vaguely amused smile on her face as the cup is lowered, "I am not surprised he is tracking them. It seems he vastly underestimated them in his last bid for power. But I'm afraid I am not among them yet. Perhaps if he had not stunted my growth I would be but not now. Rest assured if I ever am it will be I that seeks him out, and not the other way around. You may care to know I wish for very little more than his death. Had I the power to bring it about I would not hesitate to use it."
This said she looks at Cammy directly for a moment before smiling again, "I can't help but notice you haven't touched your coffee. Pardon me for not asking; would you like sugar or cream?"
"Lord Vega will be happy that you are cooperating in his plans. Even if you are not happy about it. He will not care about that." Cammy says evenly, apparently taking the rather nuanced reply from Ingrid as assent or close enough.
She frowns as the conversation moves on to past Shadaloo failures, and shakes her head, the long thin braids remarkably well behaved given the head motion. "Lord Vega will never permanently die." she tells Ingrid with absolute confidence in her voice. "So you should not bother trying. You will only annoy him, and that would be bad for you. And he will succeed in all his goals soon enough. He is a great man. The greatest man on earth.". Her eyes unfocus for a moment, thinking about Master Vega happily, and how wonderful it will be when he is dictator of the whole world, rather than merely Shadaloo. What would she do then? Nothing probably, her life would be complete. She sighs happily at that notion.
And then she glances down at her coffee, and shrugs, putting it to one side, having not drunk it for a reason. A suspicious mind is a healthy mind - and Cammy's mind is oh so healthy. Maybe Ingrid wouldn't stoop to spiked drinks but Cammy sure would if need be! "My apologies, caffeine is not to my taste at this late hour." she lies. "You have your message. Train hard for Lord Vega.".
From someone elses mouth it might sound like a taunt, but for Cammy it's merely an emotionless instruction. She pushes off from the wall to reclaim her red cloak, and wrap it about her body, covering up her uniform once more.
Ingrid shakes her head, "No, he wouldn't. He cares of nothing for the feelings of others unless they can somehow be twisted towards his own ends." To the notion of Vega being immortal she replies, "Time will be the judge of that," with open eyes, "He has cheated death, but simply because the means of his destruction has not been found does not mean it doesn't exist. Succeed or not, I will certainly try when I feel I have the strength to do so."
As Cammy reflects internally upon Vega the blonde studies her, head tilting a slight amount, able enough to guess the cause of her peculiar emotions based on her comments of her masters greatness. "How sad," she says suddenly. "Such devotion is to be admired, but not when given to such a twisted individual. He would throw you away in an instant if it meant achieving his goals, and yet that would not even bother you, would it?"
As the Doll makes to leave Ingrid takes the coffee cup and dutifully empties the contents down the drain of her sink, "I would not have been offended if you declined. But at least it is not a waste; it would have just gone cold anyway. Have a good night, Doll Zero. I appreciate that you have delivered your message in peace, but do tell me the next time you decided to drop by. Being surprised is an inconvenience, and I would not seek to avoid you when I know hiding from your master is an exercise in futility." How would you hide from the worlds most powerful psychic, anyway?
"Lord Vega is a great man. And he made me what I am. Without him, I would be nothing. It is not sad. I am very happy to serve.". Apparently being used up wouldn't bother Cammy at all - at least not in her current frame of mind, focused on her tasks. She has been known to wander on occasion.
"I had second thoughts. Maybe next time I will bring my own." she answers, regarding the coffee. "And maybe I will warn you... Maybe I won't. I prefer running across people on my terms, rather than theirs. I am glad that you were so reasonable though. A pleasant assignment.". She rubs at her back unconsciously, thinking of Adelheid blasting her through a shack in Thailand. That was not so pleasant. Being willing to get hurt and enjoying getting hurt are two distinct things.
Cloak back on, she retreats to the door. "Until the next time, Ingrid...". And she slips out, hood shadowing her face from the camera out there that she noted earlier.
Log created on 17:02:06 11/01/2010 by Ingrid, and last modified on 19:33:05 11/01/2010.