Description: Cammy and Gabriel drink tea in a cafe and do small talk. Then Maki shows up and gets angry. But before too long peace and tea sipping resumes!
Cammy is settled in a cafe, a rather luxury cafe in fact, by the window. Two small plates are on the table in front of her, one with a slice of fruit cheesecake upon it, the other one with ... whatever it is Gabriel likes to eat. She's clad in her red cloak, as always, with her Doll uniform hidden away underneath it - disguise, along with the ability to shrug it off into something more suitable for combat, which given NESTS these days, could happen at any moment. So innocent.
Her hood is down though, all the better for talking, as she quietly chats with Gabriel opposite her about... something... over tea and cakes.
"Black tea. It is not traditionally japanese, but English, I'm sure you already know this. I prefer Oolong. Most of my training is actually Chinese, but it is hard to find an oolong brew of sufficient quality here. I only drink tea which is brewed at the right temperature and time from loose leaves. None of that low quality tea bag, " Gabriel remarks, over a cup of tea. She only has a small scone to accompany, which is actually quite an appropriate treat for tea. Gabriel is dressed in her usual university uniform with a black silk jacket over top, a violin case with her and a look of being holier than all thou around her art. She only seems to like Cammy at all. And by like we mean not actively dislike.
Meanwhile, there's another lady in red... OK, a tomboy in red. More specifically a ninja skilled in the arts of Bushin-Ryu, who happens to wield a tonfa and just so happens to go by the name of Maki. And it seems she's happening to be passing by the cafe where Gabriel and Cammy are currently enjoying some tea. For now, Maki just seems to be walking along minding her own business as it is. That is, of course, untill she passes by the window where Cammy is. At first, Maki just seems to give a brief glance and then keep walking... untill she takes a few steps further.
Almost immediately, Maki does a double-take and turns around to look at the window. She knows that hood and cloak, and it's definitely not a cosplayer of Little Red Riding Hood! Maki stares at the cloaked woman, wondering if she's seen her at all.
Cammy nods at Gabriel, and favours her with a thin smile. "Well, in fairness I think it is mainly Chinese and Indian historically, the English borrowed it and adopted it. A bit like curry. But certainly in the modern world I suppose it is seem to be English.". Not that Cammy minds of course, she likes black tea, almost as much as she likes cheesecake. "I think black tea is underrated, it's seen to be old fashioned, I suppose.". The Doll is enjoying a bit of socialising with someone with a personality, unlike the other Dolls, it seems. Someone not back at the base too, who is going to get suspicious at the fact that Cammy can smile. Sort of.
As for Maki, well. Cammy's gaze is focused entirely on Gabriel, so she doesn't notice her. Though anybody who has seen Cammy before would find it hard to mistake her even through the frosty glass - that long blonde tuft of hair is as unique as the cloak.
Then it falls on Gabriel to notice Maki, however she doesn't look over, that would be rude and Gabriel is a girl of high class.
"There appears to be a cretin staring at you most impolitely. I dare so do you know that mongrel?" Gabriel is not one to show kindness to people who .. don't fit her definition of someone she should be getting along with and unfortunately Maki fits that. Perhaps it is her style of dress (it is) that sets her off. With a tiny lift of her pinky finger (you don't point with your pointer finger, that's rude too) Gabriel indicates the window.
Maki, meanwhile, just simply stares in disbelief at the fact that Cammy just so 'happens' to be in that cafe having tea with that other woman whom she does not recognize. But Maki still can't believe that a person like Cammy has the guts to show up here. Her fist grips her tonfa harder with every moment... untill she sees Gabriel pointing at her, albeit indirectly.
Maki starts to step away from the window, trying to move out of sight, but she's moving a tad bit on the slow side to keep an eye on Cammy. "Come on, you want some?" Maki grits through her teeth. "Then get me... if you dare!"
Cammy blinks at Gabriel - and then her gaze is drawn to Maki, through the glass. "Umm. Well. Yes, I do." she admits. She doesn't seem quite so ... sneering... of Maki. More a bit bemused. What's she moaning about?
Cammy drains her teacup - wouldn't do to waste good tea - and blinks. "I know her." she admits. "I don't think we really know each other very well though, so why she is so angry... I have no idea." she explains to Gabriel.
She tilts her head at Gabriel through the glass, blinks, and shrugs. "Why so annoyed?" she asks, curious. And it is honest curiosity, as Cammy does not know Maki very well after all, and would like to know. It's not like Maki knows Cammy is a Shadaloo assassin after all.
...right?
Gabriel shrugs a little, giving a mildly indifferent sniff and resumes sipping at her tea, "She does look particularly angry, are you must certain you did not do something to offend her? Well perhaps she could explain herself." Maki isn't close enough to yell to so instead she turns toward her and makes the standard japanese beckoning sign of holding her hand up and waving downward. The way she does it, so casual, it would scarcely seem to go with the angry reaction just seeming Cammy has created. Then again, Gabriel doesn't think she's ever been on the other side of Cammy's foot before.
"I knew it... she's the one who beat me in that Neo League fight!" Maki says as she storms into the cafe and, without even stopping for the host to seat her, goes over to where Cammy and Gabriel are. "You! You're the one who kicked my ass in the Neo League recently!" She narrows her eyes at Cammy and says, "I have no idea what you were on at the time, but if you think you're better than I am, you are quite wrong, little girl! Do you hear me?!"
Cammy blinks at Maki. How bizarre. "You are angry because you lost?" she asks her, Doll-calm. "I lose occasionally, it seems pointless holding grudges, though. Especially over irrelevant things, like the league. Bah. Who cares.". The league is not Lord Vega's will, and Vega doesn't seem to care about it much - therefore, Cammy can't really get too excited about it herself.
She gets up from her chair though, just in case claret is imminent. Well. It does look very likely, right now! "Maybe you should concentrate on my friend instead of me. After all. I beat you once, I can beat you again, no? No need to prove that, again." she says with a thin smile at Maki. Though in truth, the normally placid Doll is a bit narked by Maki's performance, as the raised gauntleted fists proves, if Maki really is that singleminded.
Was Cammy. . throwing Gabriel... under the bus? ??? Gabriel looks up and is a little confused honestly, "I'm not certain I know where this is going, are you suggesting she take her anger out on me? That does not seem to make very much sense." But the suggestion is nothing for Gabriel to get offended over, after all, Cammy is Cammy and Gabriel isn't really going to argue with her or get into any sort of fights with her. Rather she's going to probably going to do whatever,
"I'm.. not sure I've.." Figured out her moves.
"Wait, did you say 'Lord Vega?!'" Maki's teeth grit even more. "I knew it, you have connections to Shadaloo! So that's why you were so harsh on me!" She steps a foot back, almost as if to assume a semi-combat stance to emphasize her next line. "I'm not mad because you beat me, but it's because you used any means necessary to win, even going as far as to use your techniques taught by your 'Lord!' Indeed, Shadaloo may not be part of the Neo League, but that doesn't mean you can bring your dirty tactics into the ring and expect to get away with it!"
Maki then opens her eyes a little more to look directly at Cammy. "Why should I fight you here? If there are no rules here, who knows what kind of dirty crap you'll pull on me out here? How do I know your 'Lord' isn't around the corner waiting to ambush me or some crap like that?!"
"I'm not just mad because I lost, but that you pretty much utilized what I'd consider some pretty nasty techniques on me," Maki replies, sternly glaring at Cammy still. "I suspect you've got more up your sleeve than I think you have! Who specifically are you?!"
Cammy looks down at Gabriel, and shakes her head. "Well, you don't have to." she says mildly. "But maybe you need practice, is all.". But why hide behind Cammy? After all,she looks so small and innocent, right?
"What nasty techniques?" she asks, a little bit offended. "Zangief uses nasty techniques. When he grabs you he covers you with sweat... so disgusting.". She shivers, remembering the experience. "All I did was give you a good kicking.". Says Cammy, channeling her inner football hooligan. She even has a hooligan suplex!
"I was announced at the time I remember. My name is Cammy." she mutters, a bit exasperated.
"Hair and sweat," Gabriel corrects and then says, "And you probably do not want to know what goes into that." She frowns a little and continues, "I have been known to use a grapple or two, but I maintain a very clean appearance at all times." She sighs a little, "I'm not certain what we are doing here right now actually can someone please explain this situation to me?" She looks from Maki to Cammy
Maki sighs and shakes her head, looking at Cammy. "There's something about you that doesn't seem right. It might just be me, but I also sense some kind of strange power within you." She then looks to Gabriel and says, "I am Maki Genryusai, long-time practitioner of the Bushin-Ryu style of martial arts. And this woman just happened to beat me badly in a Neo League fight."
Maki then looks back to Cammy. "I have no idea who Zangief is, but that is not the type of nasty maneuver that I was referring to. But nonetheless, you're obviously on something!"
Cammy shudders, she was trying to forget the hair. "Uhhh..." she mutters, wrapping arms briefly around herself. "I was trying to forget the hair. I needed an hour long shower after that. Disgusting. And I don't know what is going on. I have met Maki twice, that I remember anyway, and that is all. One of them just being in a Neo League fight, as she says.". She shrugs. "I guess she wants a rematch..." she says, a bit hesitantly.
"On something? You mean drugs? Maybe once upon a time.". She doesn't really remember! but being decanted from some test tube probably did involve drugs. "You want a rematch?" she asks Maki. "Is that why you are so angry?".
Maki suddenly tenses up and then releases herself. "No, I'm not supposed to be angry. I overreacted it seems." She takes a deep breath and calms down, before looking at Cammy again. "This may seem strange, but after our encounter before the Neo League match, I've always scrutinized you quite a bit." Her face turns a little crimson.
Turning to face Gabriel, Maki says, "I'd been in Metro City and had just finished taking out a punk who was bothering a woman. This girl here approached me and claimed she was trying to get more information on fighters. I'd later fight her in the Neo League, and based on these things, I had a feeling something was up with her." Maki sighs, stepping back a little. "I know, this may seem weird, but I guess I'm a bit of a moody woman."
Gabriel bows to Maki, looking more polite than she probably actually is, "Pleased to meet you, I am Kai Gabriel." She straightens again, brushes off her coat and as way of accepting the explanation, simply responds, "I see." She glances from Maki to Cammy and shrugs a little. "I may need work, but I have many problems stemming from me having been overseas, I do not think I am prepared to fight at my best. Perhaps, with some instruction.."
Cammy nods at Maki, and shrugs. "Something was up with me." she repeats, in her flat Doll-voice. "So some say. But it takes all types, no?" . The Killer Bee settles back down into her chair, as it looks like bloodshed and bruises have been averted. "Maybe you should have some tea, given we're in a cafe.".
She glances over at Gabriel when she speaks, and nods. "I see." she echoes. "Well, I am not unfamiliar with problems, so thats fine. I am not much of an instructor, though. I don't really remember being taught, I am a natural, see." she says, with another one of her thin smiles. "If you wish I could try and find someone though for you, I know many fighters. I do, after all, travel the world trying to meet them.". The last said while glancing over at Maki. This at least is a half truth. She really does search the world with searching questions about fighters.
Maki says in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, "I am technically a master of Bushin-Ryu arts, but I must say this is not the ideal place for sparring. Unless, of course, something comes up." She looks to Cammy reluctantly, narrowing one eye at her. "Have tea with you? I'm not sure I like the idea of that..."
"Oh who doesn't like the idea of a spot of tea.." It's less a question and more a statement as Gabriel shrugs and sighs before saying to Cammy, "I'm not sure, but that might be nice." A pause before she continues, "But it would have to be someone who used a style similar to my own, and that would be difficult to find I think." A glance at Maki, a shrug, she takes a nibble of her scone.
"I do not know your style, I am sure it is very different from my own, though..." Cammy tells Gabriel. "I will ask.". Maybe Sagat, she thinks. He's so helpful! Sagat is becoming Cammy's first port of call when she has a problem, practically. Lord Vega is just so busy. And, well. Evil.
"And, tea is good." she agrees with Gabriel. "And it is a cafe, if you don't buy anything, maybe they will get annoyed. They would in England anyway. Japan, I am less familiar with.". Though Cammy drained her cup just in case, so now she's going to be dry, or overly caffeinated.
Maki taps her tonfa against her thigh, almost like she's debating the whole thing. After a few moments, she reluctantly takes a seat, albeit sitting as far away from Gabriel and Cammy as possible. She places a simple order, and then keeps looking at the two women. "I'll let everything off this time, but be careful, OK?" She seems a little calmer, but not comfortable.
"I'm not sure I know what you're letting off, Miss Maki," Gabriel states, "No one did anything wrong, I think you need to consider anger management and perhaps it is we who should be letting things off. Don't you think..?" Gabriel asks Cammy with a slightly raised brow. Then takes a sip of her tea. "Excuse me, waitress, I would like you to bring some White Peony for our guests here, with some nice ginger snaps." She indicates Maki before saying, "That is a very mild and subtle tea."
"I do not know why you are complaining." Cammy mutters at Maki. "If I really did anything unfair then the NeoLeague people would have complained probably. Though, it is a street fight, what is unfair in a street fight, anyway?". Cammy does have her quasi-military style after all, probably inspired by defendu and other such no-nonsense army style martial arts - none of which are really too concerned with fair play or sportsmanship.
"White Peony?" Cammy asks, suddenly suspicious. "It's not white tea, is it?" she asks Gabriel, lip curling. White tea....eurrrrgh.
"And yes, it does not do to be ruled by your emotions. Some fighters do manage to effectively harness their emotions, it is true, but they are a rarity I think.".
Still not making eye contact, Maki says idly, "I suppose it would be better if they had some tapioca here as well. But honestly, I'm not too picky. I'll try anything at least once." She doesn't look at Cammy but glances in her general direction while idly fixing her blonde hair. "I suppose I should work on controlling my emotions."
"Why of course it is white tea, " Gabriel states, though not surprised that Cammy might feel that way. White and black tea, on top of having names that would indicate them sharing very little in common, actually don't share very much in common. Black tea is typically brewed at boiling and for up to five minutes, more tea creating more flavor, where as white tea is typically brewed at a chilled 79c and for only a couple of minutes. Furthermore you may not add more leaves to make white tea stronger. You may NOT! White tea is just a mild flavor. The tea is delivered.
And what flavour it has... is nasty. At least in Cammy's limited experience thereof. The Killer Bee looks at it, suspiciously, when it arrives, reaching out with one fingertip to poke at the cup, a little irritated. Her mind is easy to read. . o ( Ugh. Now for the sake of politeness, I actually have to drink this stuff... )
"I guess I'll try anything once as well..." she says, voice even more Doll-flat than normal, her tendency to retreat behind a robotic exterior when something bad is happening coming to the fore.
Though white tea isn't /that/ bad. It won't need an hour long shower afterwards at least.
Sipping the tea, Maki nods a little as she savors the taste. "Hmmm... not bad." She says, not saying much else as she delicately places her cup down and stretches her arms over her head to release a little tension.
"Well, now we have another person to speak of trifles with, "Gabriel states plainly and opens her violin case to reach inside of it. You can see the contents from here. Sure enough there is a violin, but on top of it is her blade, her sword her.. IT's just a long narrow shard of broken glass! There isn't even anything wrapping the 'hilt' Which is just a piece of glass the right size to be grabbed onto. She'd have to cut herself to 'wield' this 'sword'. What she pulls out though, is a credit card. Somehow has to pay.
Cammy peers nosily into Gabriel's violin case now that the thing is actually open for the first time. A violin inside, thats actually almost quite novel. But the 'sword'. She blinks. "How do you use that?" she asks. "Assuming you do use that at all. If you do, no wonder you are reluctant if you are out of practice.". It would be a bit like knife catching without practice - potentially painful.
And oh, money is coming out too. "Thank you." Cammy says simply, and then sips at her tea dutifully, her face placid and serene throughout. Being a Doll has it's social pluses after all. Ugh.
Maki notices the knife and goes a bit wide-eyed, but then relaxes as she sees that Gabriel is merely pulling out a credit card. Maki nods a little, before standing up as she finishes her tea and looks to the others. "I'm sorry that things had to be like this, but I will say it was nice to meet you, Gabriel." And then she turns to Cammy and says, "You didn't exactly get on my good side today, but you're not on my bad side either, yet. So consider yourself lucky."
"I use it exactly as you think I would use it. Think of it as self flagellation to pay for sin." Gabriel says and nods toward Maki. It wasn't so bad a meeting all said and told, "This weapon is one of the few things I do remember, but you're right, I do not resort to it very often. Not very often at all." Gabriel comments.
Cammy arches a blonde brow at Maki. She didn't even do anything! But "lucky?" - that's almost an insult. Or a threat. "Lucky me." she tells Maki, with a voice as dry as the Mojave. "I think I will stop these Neo League fights, people take it too seriously. And besides. I prefer it when people don't all know me anyway. Fame, meh. Very overrated, I think.". Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me!
"Self flagellation to pay for sin. Religious conviction, then.". Cammy just looks blank, that is not something she really has considered. Beyond her devotion to Lord Vega of course.
The quote doesn't really faze Maki. She simply shrugs, takes her tonfa, and starts to head out of the cafe. "That is your decision," Maki comments idly. "But I'm always up for a challenge if we should meet again."
The other two seems to be sharing a moment. . Gabriel just watches on and then sips her tea. "You seem to have the most colorful encounters, " Gabriel remarks, "I wonder if we'll have to actually defend ourselves next time. Should I bring out my violin or the shard of glass do you think?" Gabriel seems to be enjoying Cammy's company of late.
Cammy waves to Maki. "Alright." she replies, a little bored. And mehs when Maki is finally gone. "I guess I do. I foolishly agreed to participate in the Neo League, but I met her previously, she was not aware that I was a fighter. I guess she was a bit surprised. And suspicious of my motives. But there is nothing more to be suspicious about really, as I am done with her now, for a while at least. Until she gets better. And I do not know, I did think that there would be a fight at one point." she admits. "Which would probably get us barred from the cafe." she says a bit mournfully. She /likes/ this cafe, dammit.
"You fight with the violin as well? Won't it break?" she asks, looking down at Gabriel's choice of weapons with curious blue eyes.
"Oh no, I'm not Yurika-san. I just play the violin, but I've been told I need practice. " Gabriel admits, looking wistful at the prospect that she might just suck . . A lot. Then she folds her hands in her lap as the time spent is put on the credit card she'll never have to worry about. Oh technology.
"Well we should probably not spend all of our time in cafe's anyway." Gabriel states.
"I don't think I play the violin at all. Everybody needs practice, at everything, if they want to be any good. No, you are right." Cammy says, and drinks down the rest of the white tea abruptly. And makes a bit of a face. "I read white tea is good for you." she says a bit weakly, as she gets up from her chair. "Anyway. I hardly ever spend any time in cafes." she admits mournfully. "Not with anybody to talk to, anyway. So this is unusual for me, really. It was a pleasant enough time, we shall have to repeat the experience. Maybe next time, I will have something more substantive to talk about.".
If she has had the opportunity to report to Lord Vega before then!
Log created on 15:37:35 11/26/2010 by Cammy, and last modified on 19:07:46 11/26/2010.