Description: Cammy reveals Quon's new sensei - Sagat! And has a long and rather moving conversation, which actually ends well for a change, with Quon getting a token of Doll esteem.
Recently, the weather in Southtown has been cooling off. Though part of it was because of the cloudy skies, another part of it just the fact that it's getting closer to winter. As a result, Sound Beach is almost deserted. Almost because there is a lone Chinese man sitting on a towel as he looks off into the distance.
Quon thought it was kind of odd that requests on a time to meet up to train have suddenly dropped off. And a nervousness came over him. Did someone tell Cammy that he interfered with one of Shadaloo's shipments? Did Vega suddenly not like the idea of Cammy teaching Quon? Is Cammy or one of her associates going to be sent after him?
At this point, Quon figures that if fallout is going to happen, he isn't going to be able to avoid it. Shadaloo already knows where he lives, probably knows where his parents live and there's pretty much no use in him hiding because Shadaloo will eventually find him.
Poor nervous Quon. His questions are apparently going to be answered soon, as off in the distance, down the beach aways, is a red dot. A red dot that is slowly approaching. Even from a distance it's quite recognisable but as she draws closer the dot resolves into the familiar form of a cloaked Cammy.
Cloaked against the cold as well as against prying eyes, this time. She seems to know where Quon is, as she's making a Bee-line (hah) straight for him. She doesn't look very happy, either, looking rather downcast, instead of merely... blank.
Eventually she's within conversation range. "Hello, Quon. I got some bad news. I got some good news, as well, though.".
The Chongquan practitioner looks up the moment he hears that familiar voice. Those feelings of nervousness only become stronger as she talks about good news and bad news. The downcast look on her face doesn't give him any reassurance. After all, he did know that Cammy liked him, even if she expressed that sentiment in deeply disturbing kinds of ways.
He takes a deep breath as he prepares to hear what the Killer Bee of Shadaloo has to say. "Let's start with the bad news."
Cammy is trying her best not to be disturbing anymore! "Well. I'm afraid I can't train you anymore." she says, shaking her head slightly, while frowning thunderously. "I hope this does not bother you too much. I'm a bad teacher anyway, and I will still come and see you." she reassures, though maybe that doesn't make Quon as happy as it makes her. "So it is not goodbye or anything like that.". There is a small smile at that.
"All is not lost though as far as your career is concerned, there is good news as well. However, I've noticed in the past that whenever I talk about Shadaloo or some of my associates, you get all upset. I don't want to upset you so I've been trying not to mention such things lately, but the good news involves my associates, so. I'm not sure if you want to hear it. Do you want to hear it?" she asks, curiously.
There's a few moments where Quon doesn't have a specific emotion coming to the surface. Basically, he's trying process what he's hearing and trying to figure out how he wants to react to it. After a moment of processing it, a combination of emotions pretty much hit him all at the same time in a way that is hard for even him to understand.
Relief, confusion, surprise, and anxiety pretty much all hit him all at the same time in a massive tangled ball of emotion. His jaw drops for just an instant before he closes his mouth forcing himself to at least control the outward appearance of his emotion.
Quon's voice takes on a cautious tone when he finally responds. "Let's hear it then."
"It's not bad news." Cammy reassures. She walks up alongside him, and then reaches out to give him a slight nudge with one gauntleted hand, to get him walking down the beach, so she can walk alongside. It would be a lot more pleasant if there wasn't a biting cold wind coming in from offshore.
"I spoke to Sagat about training, he said that I shouldn't be training people, Lord Vega probably wouldn't approve. I have only mentioned you in passing to Lord Vega so far as I am sure that you, and me for that matter, are far too insignificant to merit his full attention, and he does not like to bothered. But Sagat knows him well so, that is why I am not training you.
However, Sagat did offer to train you himself! I did press him very slightly but he really is quite a helpful man and did not need much encouragement. And he is one of the best teachers of all with much teaching experience, not to mention being one of the best fighters in the whole world. So... I think you are very lucky.".
She glances up at him with a faint smile, assuming Quon will be ecstatic!
Quon rises up to his feet at the Doll's urging glancing at the towel for a moment before he begins to walk with her.
As Cammy walks with him and talks with him Quon is silent, listening to the reasons she can't train him any more and who she has lined up to teach in her stead.
Sagat? Both confusion and surprise become stronger in this still tangled ball of emotion he's feeling as stops for just a heart beat. "Sagat?" He then moves to catch up with Cammy as he tries to figure out how to respond. On one hand, this was the same man who saved his life in a bit of parallel to how his Sifu saved his best friend's life when he knew he didn't have to and when he knew that Quon's life was endangered by opposing the faction he was associated. On the other hand he knows that receiving training from Sagat still, puts him squarely in Shadaloo's radar and as a result not much has changed about the situation.
Cammy doesn't plan on walking very far, so woe betide anybody who tries to swipe Quon's towel! "Sagat, yes.". She blinks. Thats not really the response she expected. "You know Sagat. You told me before.". Well, he didn't really tell her, but she kinda worked it out, or sensed, that he knew him. "I spoke to him, in Thailand. A great warrior. That is why he is second only to Lord Vega. I'm not sure when you will meet him. In his own time, I suppose, but he did say I could tell you the good news at least.".
"You aren't very happy about this?" she asks, glancing up at him with a slight frown. "I would rather have kept our original agreement as well." she admits. "But I cannot do something which Lord Vega would not approve of.". Lord Vega takes priority, even over poor Quon, apparently.
"I... I haven't quite figured out how I feel about this." Or rather, he has figured it out but he's not able to separate it out into a single concrete emotion. He then shrugs not even bothering to look at Cammy.
"It's probably for the best though." He sighs and continues walking, as his emotions finally unify and settle into a daze as he wonders to himself how he manages to get himself into these types of situations.
"I understand. I am sorry for the shock." Cammy tells him, shooting him a sympathetic look. "We will need to find other things to do now, though.". Other excuses for her visits. "I suppose sparring is out, until you get better maybe. Ibuki mentioned volleyball, maybe we could play that. In the summer.". She glances around the rather desolate beach, and then back up at Quon.
"It's really very cold. What are you doing out here on such a cold day?" she asks. "Thinking?" she guesses, the Doll prone to wanderings lost in thought herself, so it's an easy assumption to make.
"Yeah... Thinking." He doesn't follow her gaze with his eyes as he walks with her. After a few moments he decides to elaborate. "About school, the future, the upcoming King of Fighters tournament. It's just a lot of stuff to deal with right now."
He pauses as takes as much time as required to take ten steps before he continues. "I can't help but wonder if I'm trying to burn the candle at both ends."
"I like thinking as well sometimes, though cold beaches are not the best place for it unless they are particularly melancholy thoughts. You think you are doing too much?" Cammy asks. "You mean, school and fighting at the same time? You do seem quite busy with school. I suppose it depends what you want to do in life.".
"You are old enough to decide on a career though now I think, I guess you just have to pick. The same as almost everybody else... except the likes of me. At least you have a choice, though.". The Doll is content enough with her own situation, but self aware enough to recognise it for what it is it seems. "When do you finish college? It must be soon. You could study hard until that is over, at least.".
"In about four years. I could probably do it in less if I took an additional course load. But then that would end with me burning the candle at both ends with a blow-torch." He grins a bit with a bit amusement at that thought.
"However, that's the thing. I picked my path with a specific destination in mind. School to learn the craft of acting and to network. Fighting to get my name out there and show what I'm capable of." He shrugs once more. "But just because I'm doing both with that one specific goal in mind, doesn't mean that I'm not driving myself nuts to get there. It only means I have myself to blame."
"Acting. No wonder you like Fei Long." Cammy observes, putting two and two together. "Maybe I will talk to him one day, if I can find him... and if he will talk to me. For some reason few do - thats why I like you I suppose, you are still talking to me. I still think maybe I should force him into helping you out.". A pause as she thinks. "Hmmmm. I will think on it, if you like." she offers. "Maybe I can find someone else who puts on shows and needs actors, or can act. I'm probably not the best person to talk to about career advice though, and I suspect Sagat wouldn't be much good at it either. I guess you just have to decide for yourself. Or find someone to decide for you, that does make life much more simple, I find.".
She turns slightly, to begin slowly arcing back towards the abandoned towel with Quon in tow. "I guess I don't help, putting you off your work with my visits." she says a little sadly. "Am I very disruptive to your plans?" she wonders. "You should tell me if I can help somehow and I'll try and make up for it.".
The Killer Bee, all so eager to help. Just point at her a problem, and go! A shame about the assassin thing - 'death solves all problems, no man, no problem.'.
Is Cammy disruptive to his plans? Both in the short term and long term, hell yes! With Quon be giving voice to this? Hell no! Besides, it's not like Cammy hadn't figured it out on her own. But she does want to make up for it. However, he knows enlisting her help could be bad for two reasons. One, Cammy is an assassin's dagger and when one is an assassin's dagger, almost all problems look like a throat to slit. Two, he's not even sure what type of reputation Shadaloo has in film industry but he doesn't imagine that it's good publicity. Especially since the Thailand and Southtown wars.
Quon shakes head. "No thanks. Greatly appreciated though."
Cammy is a little discomfited by that response, and eyes him for a long moment. "You are an actor. So I guess you are acting sometimes around me. I think you tolerate me - but you do not really like me. I'm not sure why, but that is how it finally seems.".
She sighs, this thought not sitting easy with her. "One day, I will probably forget all of this, and start over. I think it's happened quite a few times before. When that happens, would you remind me of our friendship, or would you just let me forget?" she asks, curious. In truth this has been on her mind a bit ever since she spoke with Sagat and he told her Vega might not approve. Lack of approval often means the vat in Cammy's case.
He takes a deep breath. He realizes that only thing he can do is be honest. While he's pretty sure he can't say /everything/ he can at least tell most of the truth. He takes another deep breath. "To be honest, I'm afraid of you. Afraid of your capability that surpasses mine by far. I'm afraid of letting myself get close to you because I know just as easily your Lord Vega could decide that he wants me dead and you to be the one that causes my demise and there's nothing I can really do about it. I'm afraid of having everyone I care about endangered because of my association with you."
He pauses when she asks him if he would remind her of their friendship. He's silent. It's obvious from the look on his face that the wheels are turning and he's taking a good long time to think about what he feels the best response would be. Not from an honesty standpoint. He had already decided on that. No, he's thinking of the best answer from the standpoint of Cammy's well being. "I... I would let you forget. If the day comes that I would have to die by your hand, I would want you to live without regret."
Cammy shakes her head, sighing! "I thought you were afraid of me! But I have tried so hard to put you at ease, though. You are not afraid of Rust, are you? He knocked you out! I have not done anything to you. Not one bruise. I have been very careful about that.". She mehs, thinking this is all very unfair, but also knowing that things like fear are not necessarily logical.
"Lord Vega, you are beneath his notice." she assures. "He does not care about college students - I know this, as I am always on the look out for people who may be interesting to him and almost nobody ever is. I will try not to mention him again though, and then maybe you will forget about him.". She ponders. "Maybe we should spar after all, then you will be less afraid of me.". Because Cammy will be sure to throw the fight!
And then, to the much more substantive issue. "And as for the other thing, well. That is not the reason I expected. I hope you are not lying to me about this, and telling me what you think I want to hear - not that I will know either way - but... that is very noble." she admits. "And very sad. We should enjoy what time we have, then, as maybe Sagat is right.".
She glances over at him, thinking of something more profound to say. But the Doll is not really very good at this sort of thing, so all she does is get tonguetied. "But he might not be." she eventually says, after a long moment.
"But I've seen footage of what you're capable of in archived fight videos. I've fought Mr. Rust personally, and quite frankly the difference between skill levels is like night and day. And you can't tell me that isn't true because I don't even need that gift you received to know that you know it's true."
He actively avoids the beneath Vega's notice comment. He already knows that he has indeed given Vega a not so good reason to notice him even if he's little more than a fly that has the misfortune to buzz around his ear comparatively. He won't bring it up. He doesn't want to trouble Cammy any more than he already has.
"I'm not lying, or acting. You wanted my honesty I'm giving it to you. Lying to you now would only hurt you more than the truth would in the long run."
"Rust still beat you, quite soundly." Cammy says stubbornly. "If he can beat you, and I can beat you, then what's the difference?" she asks. "And he did not care about you being hurt at all, I would not like it, so you should have less to fear from me, in my opinion. I've not done anything to you." she says, a little plaintive now.
It's probably fortunate that Cammy does not know that Vega knows Quon, sort of. At least she lives in blissful ignorance! Even Sagat didn't tell her about what Quon has been up to.
"And, I believe you. Thank you.". She peers at him quietly, thinking of how best to show how much she appreciates it - and then she remembers Vega's hat. She loved wearing his hat. She still remembers that whole episode happily now, long after she gave it back. Her hat doesn't have a hundredth of the gravitas of the Lord of Shadaloos, but, maybe Quon will appreciate it? She reaches under her cloak, rummages a bit, and then draws out her tiny blue garrison cap, which she presents to Quon. "You can borrow this for a while." she offers.
While Quon hasn't given Cammy an active reason to hurt him, his actions in China have given him reason to believe that the possibility is still there, no matter what Cammy may say. Hell. For all the Chongquan practitioner knows, just his association with her might be enough to call in the order.
But Rust not caring about his well being? News to him. but he wasn't able to get feel for emotional state like she seems to be able to on him. It might actually be true. But he doesn't have enough to go by.
When Quon receives her garrison hat he's stunned speechless due to realizing how powerful a gesture it is from the doll. It takes a moment for him to emotionally recover but when he does, it feels almost instinctive to hug her in appreciation. "I don't know what to say..."
Cammy is, for a brief moment at least, truly happy. And she smiles a brilliant smile at Quon, a real smile, rather than the usual muted half smile that is about as much as the Doll can normally manage. "I am glad you appreciate it." she tells him happily, knowing that she's actually managed to do the right thing for a change with poor Quon.
And now it's almost time for her to go anyway, as the two of them return to Quon's towel. She has to do some Shadaloo work sometimes after all, she can't spend all afternoon loitering on a beach. Also, she's anxious to leave on a high note now she's actually managed to have a high note at all. "I have to go now. But I'll be back some time soon." she promises, and gives a wave, before she turns to head off and do something a bit more Killer Bee-ish, like threaten one of Hakan's daughters again or something.
And as Cammy walks off, Quon watches in stunned silence as he holds Cammy's hat in his hand. The best he can manage is a wave and a bit of a smile.
Log created on 08:07:51 11/23/2010 by Cammy, and last modified on 12:22:42 11/23/2010.