Description: Vega pays a visit to the Doll Chamber to meet with Satsuki for their scheduled 'one on one' time. Vega inquires about her condition, and then some mild banter and war discussions ensue. All in all, it's about as social an encounter as Vega ever has with personnel and serves to demonstrate what separates the Dolls from the lesser creatures.
The sound of heavy, military-issue, leather boots on metal echoes through the presently empty hallway as a two hundred and forty-five pound man clad in pressed crimson fatigues makes his way toward the Doll Chambers. Though he only manages perhaps slightly above average height for a man, this military leader apparent towers above all other men in this place with his presence. Soulessly white eyes face forward, his visage is a stern mask... no emotion or concerns perceptible in it at all even given the situation these days. This man is cloaked in a deep purple shroud that hangs to his knees, the shining steel adornments upon his uniform barely showing from beneath.
Today was a good time to visit the dolls, he'd made arangements ahead of time to do so with one in particular. Though they were merely tools to him, as everyone was, it was necssary to keep up with them... interface with them... and show whatever manner of concern for their well-being as he could. They still had those /feelings/, after all. Dangerous things those.
In a moment ora so, the large metal doors of that bland, lifeless, metallic hallway open to a circular room so much more decorated and full of life by comparison. It was awash in colors, and aesthetically pleasing decor... it was a woman's room after all. Thirteen of them to be exact. As Lord Vega enters the chamber, the announcement comes with very little fanfare... "...I am here."
Satsuki's corner of the room is pretty boring - there's a kit for cleaning her sword snug against the wall, and her sword hangs on the wall on a couple of hooks. Other than that, it's devoid of decoration or amusements. Hearing the sound of Vega's boots, and feeling his presence, Satsuki's brow flickers, her breath catching - then she exhales again, her even breathing resuming as she lets the fear run through her, away. She opens her eyes, and stands up, waiting for him to arrive. As he enters, she salutes, and remains standing at attention, her body posture rigid and soldierlike as she stares straight ahead, although her eyes and breathing are still calm.
That stern visage adorned by peaked crimson service cap turns, empty white eyes falling upon the shorter woman's face. For the briefest moment, even though he didn't /see/ it, he thought he could sense a trace of fear. That wasn't a good sign. Those white eyes narrow a bit... but not daangerously. More of a keenly focused stare...
"Satsuki, status report." comes a very simple, very familiar command. It was his way of saying he wanted to know what was going on with her, what her present task was... how she's doing it... and how she was feeling lately. mental and physical well-being were always top concern. As for what he does besides this... basically nothing yet. He just stands there, akin to a biological statue... watching for her reactions very carefully...
Vega is asking how she personally is doing! This means she is special and important, having the attention for just this brief moment of the most-
Useless pride. Not a judgement, just a statement of fact. You are like the river, Satsuki, let it flow on by. Her eyes, momentarily brightened, become tranquil again. "Yes, Lord Vega. Minor damage to left arm, cut a little deeper than usual as an experiment, body is still figuring it out. Physical condition is otherwise fine, and damage should heal within a few hours. Thoughts and emotions are under control. Have been patrolling the base, no anomalies detected." Her eyes move over to the Savior of the World's face, and she tilts her head to one side. "Is there a new task?"
Vega nods, slowly, as he takes in what information Satsuki gives him. His confidence in her integrity is restored as he does. The momentary sense of fear must have been an anomaly. Still... might best to have her check-in to the laboratory for a routine maintenance... "Good..." comes a very brief, but positive reply.
Then casts those ghastly white eyes of his around the room, momentarily, perhaps to take in the Dolls's environment for clues as to the rest of their well-beings. Or perhaps to see if they are around...
Thoroughly satisfied with his momentary inspection, both of the physical and psychic state of the room, he finally turns his hulking frame toward the smaller woman again. His arms cross over his mountainous chest, each hand disappearing beneath the bulk of his biceps, as he addresses her again. "...Perhaps you shoulld visit the laboratory, in order to make certain you werent compromised more than you think. The situation here in Korea, and particularly in the US, is... trying. I may have an important task for you very soon." That should always a good thing, if Vega had important tasks for any of the Dolls it meant they were still well within his good graces.
His features change a bit then, pristine teeth bared as a smile winds its way into his previously stern visage. "...Very soon, the resistance will fall however. The world will soon understand why challenging my revolutions is a dangerous prospect." Better to be complacent in his rule than to resist, resistance always had /dire/ consequences.
Satsuki's eyebrows flicker. Vega's methods are frustrating at times. His lack of trust means that she'll have to spend time at the laboratory, then more time after the laboratory treatment just to quell those useless emotions they implant. Already, the desire to bow down before him/latch onto his arm/spout meaningless praise is- Yay! Vega smiled! He's-! ...Focus, Satsuki.
Her energetic smile softens into one that is more 'acceptance of the world' than anything, and she inclines her head. "It is unfortunate that that is the only way they will learn that challenging Lord Vega's will is foolish." She isn't likely to get a private audience with Lord Vega, so it's unlikely she'll have the opportunity to voice her concerns over the brainwashing - it would be poor form to say it in front of anyone else, after all. A slight shrug of her shoulders.
Vega's trust, of his most loyal dolls at least, was extensive. Far more than the trust provided to lesser creatures, in fact. The suggestion to visit the laboratory comes less because he didn't trust her, and more because they were among his most /important/ tools. Second only to his remaining 'heavenly kings', Balrog and M. Bison. He couldn't have them in less than top shape, after all...
"Indeed." comes Vega's reply, as she acknowledges that challenging his will is a fool's action. "...But all is well. Shadaloo is regaining her lost strength, and with my newest body my power has grown considerably. I suppose it is fortunate they are mounting a meager resistance, I am most anxious to test the depths of my power." His smille grows, subtly, as he says this... as thoughts of destroying those fools utterly fill his mind. "...How aware are you of the events here in Korea and Metro City?"
After asking that last question, Vega begins to move again... slowly making his way toward the right side the chamber. He did, of course, expect her to follow him. "Your side of this room is always rather barren..." He idly notes, making it sound as if he were more interested than he were... "...I like it, the simplicity is appealing." This was entirely true, of course. Vega liked it when people were focused, hard working, and simple. The colors and excessive decor of the other Dolls' rooms reminded him far too much of their still existing personalities. Those could be threatening.
Satsuki trails after him. "This is a case where paying attention, unfortunately, does not mean knowledge. Seeing the news on the TV, it's mostly propaganda. There are rumors in this compound as well, but they're out of date, if perhaps a bit more accurate." This time when he looks at her side of the chamber, she is ready for praise. So it doesn't hit her heart as hard, and fades away quicker.
"Thank you, Lord Vega. But I must admit, it's not so much of an aesthetic, as that I don't care for physical objects, beyond tools." A slight smile. "Or rather, they distract from meditation."
"Rumors...?" That catches his attention immediately, drawing the Shadaloo Lord's eyes back toward the smaller woman's face. "...Of what sort...?" Vega didn't know of any rumors, so if people were talking about something he was involved in and he didn't have info on it... it was slightly suspicious.
Though e turns toward her again, it's not a threatening or imposing face he presents to her. He even goes so far as to relax his posture... trunk-like arms uncoiling and falling to his sides in a semi-relaxed posture. As much so as his militaristic disposition allows him to. "...Whatever they are, I can assure you that the attack on Metro City is just a ruse. Otherwise, that concrete jungle and the country it dwells in holds no importance for me."
Tools, eh? Vega had to smirk a bit at this. T'would seem she were a woman after his own heart so to speak. Material things, tools especially, were useful indeed, but they had only their purposes. To be consumed by them when there was so much more important things to focus on was foolish. Some who did not know Vega would peg him for a very materialistic man... but there were far more important things to the Shadaloo dictator. Like power, and pride! Even the chaos he sowed was far more motivating to his dark and twisted spirit than anything which he owned.
"...I suppose my time here has been well spent." He admits, as he feels the urge to put an end to the discourse now that he has ascertained her condition and feels comfortable with it. "You are one of my most loyal subjects, Satsuki. My concern for you is not fleeting, you are very important to me." ...And he had much to be concerned about regarding the dolls lately, especially with Marz being to obsessed with Daniel Jack... "...Continue to serve me as well as you have been, and make sure you get plenty of rest. I will have much use for you in the coming days." While Vega isn't leaving just yet, he is making a strong suggestion he intends to. Soon Satsuki will be free to resume whatever she had been doing prior to his arrival, assured that she is still in er Lord's good graces.
A smile touches Satsuki's lips. "Perhaps 'rumor' is too grandiose a term. Little words about who had gone to the fighting, who has come back wounded, any news the latter had of how these things are going. Fragmented little dots that give but a impression of the truth. Soldiers speak of these things to each other, although it's not the sort of minutae they'd bother Lord Vega with."
She blinks at the revelation that it's a ruse. "Interesting." She blinks at Vega's gratifying words as well, and tries to let them flow past as well. She salutes with a little more energy than is strictly needed.
"A sword, while unused, is not a sword. I look forward to being used, Lord Vega."
So it was minutae, was it? Well, it was just as well he didn't hear it then. Vega had no time for the useless banter of bored foot soldiers. "I see, better that I did not hear it then." He remarks, off-handedly about the 'rumors'. "Yes, a ruse. I suppose you will learn soon enough the why of it, if you have not already begun to arrive at the correct conclusion it yourself." He did not question the intelligence of his Dolls, after all. Their keen minds were part of what made them so dangerous. He was, perhaps, suggesting though that he'd hold a meeting soon... as he often did during times such as these. That or, perhaps, something would happen soon to make it all too clear.
At her speaking of swords and their uses, he has to nod in agreeance at the analogy. His dolls, Satsuki especially, were very much akin to high quality blades in so many ways. They often quite literally cut cleanly and with lethal efficiency. Their effectiveness certainly enhanced their beauty. "You are a blade most keen. Letting the edges get dull would be a horrible waste..." A waste he'd never tolerate either.
Having said all of that, Vega promptly departs... making his way toward the automatic chamber doors again at a measured pace. "Rest well." It's a simple, direct, parting comment. It was not a request however, it was very much an order. ... Then the large metallic doors slide open again, granting the massive man in crimson military attire his passage into that barren, lifeless, corridor again. All was well, Vega felt, that could be. Today he felt better than he had in quite some time... especially with all of the recent successes. It almost made him want to... kill someone. Or a lot of someones. Hahahahahaa!
Log created on 16:49:03 08/13/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 00:30:09 08/14/2012.