Description: Ibuki confronts Cammy in the Pao Pao Cafe about Shadaloo. But it doesn't look like the looming Giant Chin in the background will get in the way of them being friends. So far...
Late afternoon is a great time to be at the mall if you're a teenager, lots of people, lively atmosphere and lots of great places to eat and shop. The smell of the food court is great especially with the Pao Pao Cafe's wide variety of dishes creating a unique and savory blend of smells in the air for the small pristine retaurant. A number of the small tables are occupied by different groups of teens and the few booths are occupied by yet more groups..all save one.
That one sole booth is occupied by the teenage ninja Ibuki, though she doesn't look much like her fighting self at the moment, dressed in a simple t-shirt, vest, and knee length skirt, it almost looks like a school uniform but it's not quite like any of the local uniforms so it stands out in spite of being 'average'. She's dining on some pizza and some corn on the cob with a soda of some variety near at hand as well.
The girl is obviously excited about something but doesn't seem to have anyone with her to talk about whatever it is with. Thus the brown haired girl is humming to herself, some cheery j-pop number that reflects her generally positive mood at the moment while she eats her meal at a relaxed but efficient pace.
Cammy isn't exactly lively normally, but visits the Pao Pao quite often normally. She's been avoiding it for this last month, due to some unpleasantness involving assassinations, eyewitnesses, and people she attempts to shield from these harsh realities. But it's been a while. She's sure it's safe now, and if it isn't, she's only endangering herself.
The red cloaked "disguised" doll therefore heads on into the madding crowd of students, to stand in line by the counter. Oblivious to Ibuki, as she is busily and hungrily staring through the glass at all the goodies on display. Mmmm, cheesecake. *drool*
For her part Ibuki continues to munch on her food, she's not expecting anything unusual here in this public place that is a total teenager hang out spot. Thus the ninja isn't watching the doors or paying as close attention to things as she probably should be, but she's a teenager she needs to unwind and not think about her ninja life at all from time to time!
Though her other life does intrude on her from time to time as well, as a couple guys at a nearby table pull out a magazine that has pictures of Ibuki from her match with Alma at the end of the last season's Neo League...the one of her in the slinky bikini and they start talking about how hot and sexy she is and the things they'd like to do with her and the normally vivacious and flirtatious girl just flushes red and tries to ignore those boys.
It's at about this point that Cammy walks in and makes her way over to order, the ninja is too embarrassed and out of it to notice the red cloaked girl immediately, though after a few moments of sitting mind adrift she catches the red out of the corner of her eye and looks at it to see Cammy. She immediately springs up with a cheerful, "Cammy!" Then suddenly her conversation with Sagat hits her and she gets slightly frowny faced and conflicted for a moment before a smile is forced back onto her face though it doesn't quite reach her eyes as normal, "So, getting lunch?" She inquires a tad softer than she normally does.
Cammy makes her choice mentally, before going back to concentrate on some real queuing. Like Arthur Dent, she knows how to queue. Her reverie is disturbed, however, by the exuberant Ibuki - who as far as Cammy is concerned is not a ninja, merely an Ordinary Schoolgirl, if video game Japan even has such a thing of course. And that magazine is not exactly the thing Cammy will read, so Ibuki's secret is safe for now a bit.
"Hi, Ibuki." she replies, turning to focus her blank gaze on her friend. "It has been a very long time. Though I have not been in Southtown as much lately, so that isn't too surprising.". She shrugs a small shrug when asked if this is lunchtime. "Lunch, sort of..." she says vaguely, pointing to the cheesecake on the plate behind the glass. "A small snack. Very small." the doll says. "It's got fruit in it. It's healthy." she adds.
Ibuki realizes that Cammy says her name out loud a bit too loudly and looks to the guys but they're too engrossed in their discussion of her 'charm points' to notice and thus she is saved from any lecherous advances for the moment. She smiles, a rather small one for her, in reply to Cammy's response, "Yeah...I guess it might be, though there is nothing wrong with a little unhealthy food every now and then." She pauses, "Come join me once you order okay?" With that she sits back down.
Sighing deeply to herself, she'd been in such a good mood a bit ago now due to those jerks she was embarrassed and Cammy was exciting her uncomfortable factor due to having not resolved her game plan after Sagat had warned her to stay away from the girl. Thus she sits quietly...with a pensive look on her face while she barely nibbles at her food. Though once Cammy arrives her face melts into a somewhat sunny smile as she puts on her game face...for this.
Cammy is soon enough done with the queue, and heads over to Ibuki, where she pays great attention to ensuring that her red cloak does not billow around everywhere while in the act of settling down, to reveal army boots or, even more incriminating, Shadaloo uniforms that may or may not be hidden beneath. Even if people don't recognise the uniform it tends to lead to fights, like with Karin, and now is the time for food, not fights. The food, incidentally, being a restrained slice of cheesecake on a china saucer, with a cup of tea.
"Hello." she says again. "I have not seen you for a long time. How is school?" she asks, curious. She doesn't do this school thing, after all. And then, in the spirit of conversation, she volunteers some information of her own. "I have been quite busy lately, so many things to do. So I have not been in Southtown much lately. Helping Quon with some issues, in part at least. A friend of his had something stolen.". She sips at her tea, having selected the most innocent of her activities to talk about.
Ibuki certainly isn't here to fight, heck she wants to finish her meal and chat with her friend, but she's not sure how to do that at the moment due to what Sagat had said, so while Cammy is making herself comfortable, Ibuki is getting anxious. Competely overchewing her food while she scoot around in her seat as though she just can't find the most comfortable spot anymore and then once Cammy speaks to her she looks up and has a wane smile on her face as she looks at the cheescake.
"You do like having your cheesecake don't you?" Ibuki says with a subdued chuckle. "It has been a while and school is going well at the moment, though I kinda have a big test coming up soon." Though 'school' is currently self training in the woods for the 'test' i.e. the tournament. She then nods at the Doll as she explains what's up, "So have you had any luck with finding whatever was stolen?" Ibuki asks after a moment, she pauses and opens her mouth as if to say something more then closes it and looks indecisive about what to say next...
Cammy may have once been described by someone as having the emotional skills of a lemming, but she is, in her own ways, quite perceptive as well, and it doesn't take very long for a frown to crease her features. She leans forward fractionally, as she puts the cup of tea down, blue eyes locked on to Ibuki's brown ones. "Something is wrong?" she asks. "You do not seem to be the way you normally seem." she explains, a little vaguely.
But hey, there's cheesecake here, so she only stares for a little while before settling back again, and nibbling on food. "I do. It tastes very good. I see, it must be your big test which is responsible for you not being so happy as before.". She shakes her head slowly as she munches. "I have not found the exact culprit, though I have found some things which appear to be linked, so no success, but progress, perhaps.".
And then she goes back to staring again as Ibuki quietens. "What?".
As Cammy questions her about whether something is wrong or not, Ibuki frowns in response still not sure what to say to her friend and looks pensive as she tries to think of how best to respond to those 'accusing' questions of Cammy's. The chocolate eyed girl searches the small cafe looking for something to offer distraction or an answer to the Doll's questions but she finds nothing and starts to answer when Cammy offers a temporary reprieve, "...I guess it is the test coming up." Though in truth she's quite excited by that.
She watches Cammy slowly eat her cheesecake, while she takes a bite of her pizza and makes sure to chew it slowly so she can have time to think and then nods dumbly in response to the Doll's explanation of her search, "That's good..." She says after an unusually long pause after Cammy finishes speaking.
Then her head snaps up to look into Cammy's eyes as she asks her 'what', "....Are you part of Shadaloo?" There is no hostility no anger just worry for Cammy and a general unsureness in her tone as she asks. It seems the ninja girl can be rather fearless at times!
Cammy is already full of suspicions by the time Ibuki summons up the will to ask the question that has been on the tip of her tongue for so long. In fact, she's already frowning by the time the words come out - the frown, though, rapidly becoming a look of disappointment. She lets out a faint sigh, and hurriedly finishes off her cheesecake. Usually claret is imminent about now, even from so called friends, based on past experience.
"You do not seem very certain of yourself. Do you want me to lie?" the doll asks. She is only half joking, though, as she promptly goes on, with a shrug. "Yes. Does it really matter?" she asks, voice pained, and already somewhat defeatist. "I am not on mission now. I do not think it matters.".
Ibuki notes the frown and actually manages to put on a sheepish grin as Cammy to look rather sour after having been asked that particular question. So in that long moment of silence the ninja girl follows the Doll's example and eats her meal more quickly giving the question time to settle. She sighs deeply a few times as well feeling the atmosphere get worse and worse between the two of them.
This bad situation only serves to subdue Ibuki's normally boundless spirits even more as she stops eating completely and starts to say something again when Cammy speaks up. "No!" She shakes her head emphatically on that particular note, in response to Cammy's follow up question her features become a bit more determined, "No it doesn't matter, unless you're not a member because you want to be. Otherwise I could care less." This response holds Ibuki's normal spark, she's risking her peace and life as a normal teenager here but...friendship is super important too, something she believes in dearly, even if Cammy is a fairly new friend. She is very focused an intense while she waits for Cammy's answer.
Cammy positively beams at that, a rare sight. Though it doesn't last very long. "See! You understand. It does not matter. I think you are the only person I know who understands. I knew we were well suited to one another.". And then, a whole bunch of stuff all comes tumbling out of the doll, who has never had anybody she could speak to about this subject before. "Quon, he does not really understand, I think. Though he is still very nice to me, anyway, I think. I know he is worried, though. And he is afraid of me." she says, a little sadly. "And his friend, Rust...". She scowls at that name. "He has been very bad to me, since he found out. Maybe he will drive Quon away from me. I would not be surprised. Now he is being taught by those Kyokugen fools, people all convinced of their righteousness.". Says the zealot, in unintended irony.
Ibuki reaches out and pats Cammy on the shoulder gently if she's not stopped, "I can see how living a double life would be hard if you worked for them." Ibuki muses with a sheepish chuckle, "Though I do ask one thing, should you ever be ordered or hear about orders to have something done to me...can you give me a heads up first?" Ibuki claps her hands together in a pleading gesture and winks one eye closed, making it appear she's partially kidding about it but perhaps she's a bit serious as well but trying not to be a jerk by making demands of her friend.
Then Cammy spills her guts to the ninja girl and it's a lot to take in all at once. It takes Ibuki a long moment to piece it all together, "Hmm well, I won't lie it is probably a little intimidating given what organization you work for and all, but as long as your two sides don't interact much I think it shouldn't be that much of a problem...right?" She offers a tad optimistically in response to Cammy's sadness.
Ibuki is a bit amused at the fact that Cammy is prejudiced due to the fact that Rust is associating with the Kyokugen school and just moments ago was so upset and worried that Ibuki would be prejuidiced against her for being part of Shadaloo, "Well, Cammy perhaps you need to let Rust see how much you care about Quon...trust is easier to be given when one sees something worthy of trust right in front of their eyes, right?" The ninja quoting one of her village's older and wisest sages, hoping it might help her figure out a way to get on better terms with Rust and perhaps Quon too...
Cammy is prejudiced with good reason! she keeps being attacked!
She blinks as she's patted, and ponders that question seriously. "Mmm. I do not know. I do not really know much of what goes on, only Lord Vega and the Elites know that. And they would probably order me not to say anything, so...". She shrugs, leaving it unsaid. She can hardly go against Vega's orders, he's not nicknamed Dictator for nothing.
"I have told Rust! Many times. It is pointless talking to him. It is pointless proving him wrong, or being worthy of trust. He does not care. He is completely illogical on the subject, seeing conspiracies everywhere, where there are none. I have given up, it is too pointless.".
This isn't really a happy subject for Cammy, so she wrinkles her nose, sighs a little, shakes her head - and then eyes Ibuki. "I did not really mean to blurt all that out. I have an agreement with Quon, we do not talk about Shadaloo.". See no evil, speak no evil! "I think, now that you know, we should have a similar agreement.". A pause, as cogwheels turn in the dolls brain, and then tilts her head, giving Ibuki a sidelong look. "How do you know about all this anyway? What made you ask the question?".
Ibuki could be the same way seeing as she did face off with Juli once before, though at the time she'd not made the connection to Shadaloo.
Ibuki can't help to look a little bemused as Cammy denies her one request so simply, "Well if they don't think to tell you not to say anything give me the warning okay? And if they don't ask about me don't say anything okay?" Ibuki counters with ninja logic on things, if no one thinks to order her otherwise she's allowed to do so yes? Sitting back into the booth, Ibuki starts eating her food again.
She has to pause though as Cammy practically explodes at her, well for a Doll anyway, "I've dealt with Rust a few times, he isn't a bad person at all you know? Most people are going to be too afraid of your ties to get close to you..." She chuckles, "If I weren't umm...how do my teachers put it...recklessly brave, I'd be a similar situation as Quon and Rust." Ibuki admits freely after a few thoughtful pauses, "As I said sometimes seeing something right in front of them can change people's opinions if you make it impossible to argue the facts!"
It seems Ibuki's normal energy has returned as the decision to remain Cammy's friend was somewhat cathartic, "Well if you think that's a good idea I guess, I'm a bit odd I guess in the fact that most things don't really bother me like they should." She chuckles a little sheepishly again, boundless optimism is a double edged sword sometimes. But she nods her head in agreement if pressed. Ibuki cants her head in reply at first and is quiet for a long moment, "Sagat warned me to stay away from you...and his old connections are moderately well known, plus he was seriously hinting at the peril I'd be in and whom it'd be with. Shadaloo's not as secret as it'd like to be...at least not anymore." She throughs up a hasty but moderately well thought out cover story.
"If they do not order me not to warn you maybe I will warn you." Cammy eventually volunteers, though it takes her some time to think it over. "May be. It depends. If I think Lord Vega would be unhappy, then no. And if Lord Vega asks, of course I will tell. I cannot defy Master Vega." the Doll explains to Ibuki, a little surprised she has to explain all this stuff. Ibuki clearly does not know the proper order of things, ie total submission to Lord Vega. "But. If I am not asked, I will not tell." she offers.
"And no, Rust is bad! I know him better than you do." Cammy replies, stubborn. "I have given him many many chances! And shown him the utmost restraint and forbearance.". The doll arches a brow when told about Sagat. "Sagat did? Why did he do that?" she wonders, a bit bemused. "Maybe I will ask him. And no, I suppose not. Rust knew Shadaloo, after all. OK! We have discussed all aspects of Shadaloo as pertain to us now I think. So now, we can avoid this subject in the future?".
Ibuki is somewhat bemused by Cammy's answer, here she was a 'regular' girl willing to be her friend and all she asks for is a little warning she she become a blip on Shadaloo's radar and she gets very wishy washy responses. Taking a drink of soda she let's out a little sigh and then shakes her head, she'd made her decision so she wasn't going to regret it, "I guess that will have to do then." And no Ibuki shall never understand that nor care to understand that 'fact'.
"I...I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one but we're entitled to our opinions." Ibuki replies equally as stubborn. She nods in reply to the follow up comments though but doesn't push the issue anymore, though perhaps she'd drop by to speak to Rust soon and tip him off that he should be a tad less aggressive with the Doll least he find himself on the painful side of a kick to the face, he'd tried to warn Ibuki after all it was only fair she repay the favor.
"Yeah he did." Ibuki start and then shrugs, "A bit ago, though not long after your chaperoned date with Quon." Her grin rather wide as she says date. Ibuki shakes her head, "Might not be a good idea, he might visit me again if you do ask him. Please don't poke the tiger, he might scratch me." Her tone slightly comically bemused as she says this, "Agreed no more Shadaloo business unless you can tell me something bad is coming my way!" Her enthusiam only growing to a cheer towards the end of her statement, it's not wise to yell Shadaloo's name, especially in Southtown.
Cammy nods, and smiles, a little relieved, and glad to have all that unpleasantness behind. It's too late for Rust though, he already had a painful kick. "Very well. I will not talk to Sagat. He is very busy anyway, and does not wish to be nagged by his underlings, I am sure. Let us move on, onto more agreeable subjects. I am glad we have an agreement now.".
She drains whats left of the tea in her teacup, now rather cold, and then ponders what to talk about. "What is your test about?" she wonders, after a while. "I do not remember having done a test before. At least, not one like I imagine your one will be like. With... desks and papers and such. It doesn't sound very fun to me. I am glad I am not at your school, I think." she says, thinking. Or at any school, of course.
"You want more soda?" Cammy then asks.
Ibuki is unaware of it being too late and will still try to save the poor man's face some damage that's already been done to it most likely. "Well that's a relief." Ibuki then nods simply in reply to the rest of what Cammy has to say about Sagat being busy, "Then it's probably a good idea not to bother him." She adds after a moment.
Leaning back thoughtfully in her seat as Cammy asks her about her test, "Well it's more of a general aptitude test, seeing how far I've come on everything I've been learning." She raises an eyebrow, "You've never had a test before?" Ibuki actually sounds a bit surprised by that before Cammy continues and the ninja, "Oh! Yeah that type of test is pretty common at high schools. And no they aren't much fun either." Ibuki grins a bit as she says this, "But school does make it easier to make lots of friends and to hang out with them." She looks at Cammy closely, "I don't think you'd mind that."
At the offer of soda Ibuki nods, "Sure!" She points to the machine indicating what she'd been drinking just moments ago.
Cammy gets up and gets a soda for Ibuki, and after a moments reflection one for her, too, if only because two birds -> one stone. Then she returns, and flops back down again, less bothered about concealing the army boots she's got on from Ibuki after their little chat. "There you go.". And Ibuki gets free soda.
"I see. Your test is not that sort of test then?" she asks. "General aptitude... at what?" she wonders. It seems like Ibuki was implying it wasn't a school test after all... with the desks and the papers.
"And I don't know, maybe I would like that. I can hang out at schools without doing the tests, though. Don't you remember?" Cammy points out. "I met you outside that school.".
"Thanks!" Ibuki says as she is given her cup refilled with soda. She takes a deep drink of it and then sets it back down very easily noticing the fact that Cammy is much much more at ease with her now that she doesn't have anything to hide from her.
Ibuki, however, still has some things to hide, "Hmm? Oh no it's a standard school test." Ibuki replies smoothly despite her previous vague comment being misconstrued, "Everything I've been learning in class, though the last little bit of classes have been self study to see how far we can progress under our own direction."
She chuckles, "I do remember. Actually I'm thinking about transferring to that school to be honest, though I'm looking at all the high schools in the area before I make my decision." She tilts her head slightly as she grins at Cammy, "Though lots of schools aren't happy with students that don't do their classwork and less so with non-students hanging around."
"I see. Self study.". Cammy echoes, Ibuki smooth enough and, more importantly, confident enough to fool the psychic. "And yes, some schools are less umm, forgiving, than others. Gedo is very unforgiving. Such a pain, visiting that place, students hassling me all the time, it really was quite tiresome when I visited, to see what was there. Still, I have little reason to go there now. That rich school though, whose name I forget, they were much more welcoming.". In fact, she got the red carpet treatment there!
She drinks soda primly, before adding, "Oh, that reminds me. I may have to ask Rusts neighbours about his missing address book, to see if anybody happened to see or hear the thief.". She leans forward a bit again. "Pointless, I am sure.". Her favourite word when mentioning Rust, apparently, is 'pointless'. "But it would not be such a waste of time if I have someone to talk to while doing it.".
Ibuki nods, "Yep." She then listens carefully to Cammy talking about Gedo and the Seijyun High, "Well Gedo doesn't have a good track record with Shadaloo from what I understand." Ibuki adds helpfully and then she helps a bit more, "You mean Seijyun?" She grins, "Yeah they seem to go to a lot of effort to impress prospective students."
Drinking her soda again she puts it back down, "Hmm?" Ibuki looks thoughtful, "You never know, it might work out if you try." Again Ibuki is boundless optimism so nothing is 'pointless' to her, "I guess I could go with you if that's what you're asking." She chuckles playfully as she sets her cup down empty, "Though for today...I kinda have to get back to studying now, but I'll be free later this afternoon to help if you want."
"Maybe. It was a while ago now. My memory is bad." Cammy explains apologetically. "It sounds familiar, so probably. And yes, that is what I was asking.". She blinks, frowns slightly. "Was I being too subtle?" she wonders, thinking it was perfectly obvious to her what she was getting at. "Studying. For your test. Yes, that makes sense.".
She promptly gets up, and drinks down the rest of the soda. "In that case, I will leave you for now, so as not to disturb you. Hmm. Quon studies too, maybe he can help you. Or you can help him. Or something. Alright, I'll email you later perhaps about that investigation.".
And the Doll heads off, back into the crowds outside the cafe!
Log created on 06:52:13 03/03/2011 by Cammy, and last modified on 11:56:26 03/03/2011.