Description: Cammy finds Aranha and gets to quiz him about witch cakes. Which the Doll already is beginning to think are nothing more than a figment of Naerose's twisted imagination... but she is persistent!
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Aranha was in London taking a tour of the city and various sightseeing locations just before he and his team mate were to investigate Stonehenge. On one hand he thought the witch was nuts but on the other hand he realized that he didn't want to deal with things alone if what things going on were anything like what he was dealing with in the Sunshine City temple.
Either way, Aranha still had time to kill so he was riding the subway on the way to Madame Tussaud's museum. The train car is practically empty and there's no one to disturb him as he plays music on his Oakley Thumps sunglasses.
Thank goodness. He doesn't have to deal with witch related stuff for awhile... Hopefully.
An empty tube train? A rarity, or an odd hour, or an ill travelled route, or perhaps something more nefarious, like how Vega clears out shopping malls with his mere psychic presence.
Cammy has something of a psychic presence though nowhere near as bad as Vega. Maybe more mundane methods were used here - like, choosing which route in which to strike, perhaps. In any case, the train is practically empty, but not quite empty, empty. Where she comes from is anyones guess - one second Aranha is staring out the window, reading the tube map or whatever it is you do while waiting for the trip to end, the next second he is suddenly not alone, as someone is settling down on the seat right next to him. A red cloaked figure, who he is no doubt familiar with.
"Good afternoon." she announces, agreeably enough.
Aranha head bobs to whatever music is on his shades. Whatever it is, it isn't played loud enough that it could be heard from 5 ft away like most people around his age. Hearing is just way too important a sense for him to throw away.
When Cammy makes her presence known however, a sigh is released from his lips as his hand moves up to a set of buttons on it to stop the music.
That same hand moves to the bridge of his shades to slide it a bit down his nose exposing his brown eyes as he looks at the Shadaloo assassin. "Ok. I know I still haven't pissed you guys off lately unless it's my continued breathing is what is putting you guys off so why have you come to me, now?"
"'You guys'" Cammy echoes, assuming a hurt look. It's not very convincing. "I just want to talk to you, me, to you, nothing to do with anybody else. No shadowy organisations, no overly pious government agents or anything like that. Not everything I do involves work, you understand.".
She gets up off the seat next to him, reaching out to grab at one of the vertical handrails, so she can lean against it while looking down at him, the cloak parting slightly with the movement to reveal a hint of the blue uniform beneath. "I would just like to ask you for your help in a tiny, trifling issue that I have at the moment.".
Aranha pauses for a second as he takes a moment to quietly consider Cammy's words. A slightly annoyed look on his face transitions to neutral, then to a amused smirk. "Not everything involves work? Color me surprised. And humor as well." After all the effort placed in assuming a hurt look does point to a sense of humor even if it wasn't all that convincing.
Then he pauses for a moment and the amused expression then transitions back to neutral. "Trifling issue? Ok... What did one of my team mates do now?"
He then prepares his long suffering sigh that he's pretty sure is coming.
Cammy doesn't actually know who Aranha's team mates are. If she did, then things would probably be far simpler. But the Individual she is thinking about does have a certain infamy - and a certain thematic consistency as well.
"I have made a deal with a rather... confusing... or confused. Individual. Part of this deal meant that I have to obtain a recipe for witch cakes for her. And she did mention your name as someone who knows how to make witch cakes.".
"That said..." Cammy goes on with a slight sigh. "I did meet a chef of some fame, and he apparently had no idea what a witch cake is. At least, so I assume - pride did not allow him to admit that he had no idea what I was on about, but I am fairly certain that the recipe does not involve jalapenos.".
Aranha remains quiet while Cammy talks. In fact, he remains quiet a few moments after she's done talking. If one were to look at his face they would be able to see what looks to be the facial expression one wears as a sudden migraine takes hold. He takes a deep breath.
He then looks at the blonde doll. He does recognize the signs of a particular person but there's a bit of confusion at why he was named as one of the people who would know. "I have never heard of witch cakes before. She has never even mentioned witch cakes to me. I do know of who you speak and I must say she is seriously touched in the head."
Cammy has to smile a little at the expression on Aranha's face. Really, she's had that sort of sensation herself the last couple of times she had to deal with Naerose. It's nice to know she's not the only one.
"Oh, you know who it is that I am talking about, then. Naerose, the red witch. She can fly at least, so she isn't a complete liar. I thought maybe I would attempt to uphold my side of the bargain... I fear that witch cakes do not actually exist, though. Except in her own mind. If what you say is true, it would appear that I am correct.". Cammy looks over Aranha for a moment with a particularly piercing, analytical gaze, and concludes, "You do not exactly have a reputation for your culinary talents, so why she mentioned your name specifically, I have no idea.".
"I'm surprised you didn't look at Naerose's publicized fights..." He then adds with a mutter, "... That she doesn't even remember taking part in." That migraine look on his face looks even more intense. "Nor does she even believe that she's taken part in inspite of the fact that I've shown video of her fighting."
"But considering I have the good sense not to cook for her ever, my theory is that she believes only what she wants to believe." He takes a moment to get his thoughts together. "Did she ever describe the flavor or texture? Those could at least point to technique of how they are made."
"Oh, I helped arrange a fight for her with someone who I knew would oblige. Hakan. She even went out of her way to demonstrate her flying techniques for me. Admittedly... they were not very effective. Which does rather undermine all my efforts to observe them." Cammy explains. "She said she would demonstrate in exchange for witch cakes, and she has done her bit, I must admit.".
She shakes her head. Only a little bit. The braids are kinda stuck, underneath her coat! "No, she did not describe them. I did see her attempt to make one. It was... random.". She shrugs. "I have looked on the internet, there are cakes shaped like witches, they are labelled witch cakes. She can have one of them.".
Aranha nods. It's a simple motion but it conveys so much. An understanding of the situation, how it came to be, and an unsderstanding the technique in question. "I see."
He adjusts the shades for just an instant and then he turns towards the doll bombshell. "I shall be in contact with Naerose in the near future. Before you use one of those recipes I could try to find out more about it and see if we could either narrow it down to a specific recipe or figure out if these are the witch cakes that she is talking about."
He pauses for a moment. "But if I do this for you... What's in it for me?"
Cammy narrows her eyes a bit as Aranha starts getting all deal-sy. "Given Naerose's apparent mental state, and given the pile of rubbish she made when in a cooking competition which was allegedly a witch cake, I am not entirely sure that this exercise is worth much more effort on my behalf. Especially given I have already got what I want, and it is only my own personal integrity which is making me wish to fulfill my side of the bargain. Given that, I am not sure what is going to be in it for you.".
But... the Doll shrugs. "I do not know. What do you want?" she asks. "If it is something commensurate with you dealing with Naerose for me, that is within my power to offer, maybe there can be some arrangement.". Her tone is rather flat when it comes to this part of the reply. Dolls don't exactly have much to bargain with, unless Aranha wants a cat or a rabbit perhaps.
"I can't think of something right now. How about an owed favor to be collected at a later date of equal value, with a further stipulation that it must not interfere not with your affiliations." He rubs his nose. "I can give you an email or phone to contact me."
He'll give a throw away email and a phone number to a disposable cell phone. He doesn't want Shadaloo having easy access to him on a regular basis.
Cammy supposes that can't hurt. Of course, the Dolls ultimate loyalties trump any deals she might make anyway, should it interfere with the Master's will. "Very well. It will have to be something fairly minor though." she warns. "Chasing fantasy cakes is, after all, fairly minor.". She smirks. "I suppose a box of aspirins would be a fair payment for dealing with Naerose.". The Doll actually has an email address already, something suitably anonymous - she draws out a slip of paper from one cloak pocket with the address written on it, and passes it to Aranha.
Soon after, the train meanwhile rattles and lurches to a halt at the next platform. "Thank you for your cooperation." the Doll offers by way of farewell, and abruptly heads off, evidently planning on leaving just as suddenly as she arrived. And besides, these trains do not stop at the platform for very long.
Log created on 15:38:10 01/28/2011 by Cammy, and last modified on 18:19:48 01/28/2011.