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Post by rizahawkeye on Jul 7, 2009 23:32:27 GMT -6
Sheska stayed behind. She felt bad watching him from a distance...but she couldn't help it... Sometimes she just felt nervous around him...
Well... more nervous than usual...
Riza watched as they entered the store. She was enjoying the air and being off the train. It was a decent change from Central... though she missed the COlonel .
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Jul 8, 2009 2:53:16 GMT -6
After another weary hour of trudging through sand and merciless sun, the group of four arrived at HQ. He marched them directly up to Franks office.
He made no salutes, no formal preambles or proper introductions. He was simply too tired, too impatient and too pissed. He sighed and a couple drops of sweat fell on Archers' desk.
"Alright, here's the situation. F.U.B.A.R." he said with some agitation. Things were going pretty well, really. And this assassin showed up. I was close to wrapping up the mission, pretty as you please."
He wondered what dry and icy remark Frank would make as to why his failure was unacceptable, how he could have done better, been more resourceful, etc...etc...blah, blah, blah. It would have been very convenient for Envy to show up, morph to a semi-Cornello looking double for the sake of saying he was protecting Cornello from open exposure. But he'd flown off on other more pressing business, if the bird even was him.
He then proceeded to empty the assassin weapons and poison out of the pockets of his drooping pants. He'd forgotten to retrieve the belt from the dessert, so he'd been hitching them up over his flat ass the rest of the way...with Sheska walking behind, no less. Just perfect.
"In case you're wondering, I relieved this woman of her weapons since she was planning on killing me where I stood. Apparently, in the line of duty, I may have killed her parents in Ishbal. With your permission, I'd like to have this woman arrested and tried.
"And furthermore, sir, I respectfully request you keep Sheska out of field work. Drunks harassing her aren't the problem; it's the people after my neck that are putting her in danger. Keep her at a desk for her own good."
Regretfully, this meant he'd only see her on the rare occasion he reported in person. Not looking good for him. As for the little minx, she was better off between bars too. He'd kill her if he caught her again. No one gets the drop on Zolf Jay Kimblee and lives to tell the tale.
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Post by aspiredeathe on Jul 8, 2009 10:50:53 GMT -6
Jean wandered round the small store, Barry in tow as he looked at the items. Some fruits looked rather odd, yet held a nice smell signalling ripeness. He was rather tempted in buying some, yet wasn't sure what their mission budget was. Still, having fresh food was handy when in such warm places.
With a leisurely pace, he walked towards his collegaue, holding up a bunch of cherries with a big grin "Eh, Riza. Think Zolf would mind if we brought some of these back?" And then in a lower voice so that only she could her "See if you can sweet talk some information out of the store owner. Places like these are like gossip central." He took a step back, frowning slightly at the fruit "Hnm, maybe apples would be better." And with that he walked back to the shelves, continuing his search of cheap yet decent fruit.
"What do you think Barty?" To onlookers it may seem as if he was talking about the shopping trip, yet the look in his eyes clearly suggested otherwise.
He then wondered just how Barry saw.
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archer
2nd Class Private
Lt. Colonel
Posts: 20
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Post by archer on Jul 8, 2009 12:37:42 GMT -6
Archer blinked, finding Kimblee despite orders, amongst others, showing up at the headquarters. He spoke not but merely raised a brow at his coming, and listened silently to the man's rant. Fubar...? Probably some old soldier jargon. Regardless, Kimblee seemed agitated. Unduly so, considering his experience. A fight was something his report told him Zolf relished, not feared. Examining Sheska, he drew his hands together, considering the words.
"Girl..." He paused, then shook his head. "My apologies- Miss, are you aware that attacking a State Alchemist is considered a crime- One that could result badly for you?" In reality she was lucky to have survived at all, considering the Crimson Alchemist's style of combat. It appeared this was an odd night. "If not, then I expect your ignorance will be your best defense in court. However..." Frank considered the girl. If she was enough to scare Kimblee into this state of worry, she could be of some use..."There are alternatives..." He trailed off. Best to let her realize her situation before allowing a way out.
Then he decided to speak directly to Sheska. "My my, what a night you've had. Did you obtain anything of use? If not, I will send someone else, if less qualified, to do it. Otherwise, you are dismissed Miss Sheska." At last he turned to Kimblee. "What if I said..." He began, pondering how he would react. "...That I wanted to invade Cornello's sanctum." Action was necessary when all else failed- And so did Frank relish the chance to take it.
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Post by syradarkangelle on Jul 8, 2009 16:31:52 GMT -6
She looked at Archer,as she answered, "If i was attacking a state alchemist that would be a different thing,I was attacking him because of who he is,but in my defense he attacked me first,I had not raised a hand merely showed my eyes,I guess a man like yourself could understand I was pissed off after being manhandled and my toys taken," she smiled and then added,"But the soldier I killed in Lior that was just for fun,he did not bleed so pretty,it came out of his mouth,and then her fell in his own blood and made it splash in all directions."
She then smiled and said,"But Zolf spaded me of my alchemy abilities,if I activate a transmutation I go boom,or something like that. But in all fairness he could of gave me the benefit of doubt,I mean had I had parent supervision growing up i might not be as obsessed I am with seeing people bleed."
She wrapped her arms under her bust actually pressing them up making them almost come out of the top she had on,as she waited for his response,and then added," I could always lie,though i am not really good at that."
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Post by rizahawkeye on Jul 8, 2009 19:27:31 GMT -6
Sheska nodded nervously,
"O-of course, sir..." she answered, giving a small, mousy smile to Kimblee, "I enjoyed our time out... I've never really done field work before... and it was...exciting..."
Riza looked up, startled from her own thoughts.
"No... I don't think he'd mind..." she said, "It might be a welcome suprise."
When she noticed that Jean wasn't addressing her, she shrugged... lost in her own embarassment.
She had to stop zoning out.
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Jul 8, 2009 20:06:02 GMT -6
He was so agitated and pissed, he almost forgot Roze was standing in the room as well. Cover blown. Oh well, that was the least of his worries at the moment, considering how his list of priorities had reordered itself.
It never ceased to amaze him how Archer actually thought he'd ever be a top-notch, reliable soldier who'd follow orders to the letter. This wasn't the first time he'd ignored orders and acted on his own accord. He suspected Frank wouldn't indulge most soldiers so tolerantly. Of course, most soldiers in his command couldn't blow things up with their bare hands.
As for raiding the Sanctum? "Bring it on," he answered, "I could use some outlet for my frustrations."
He'd chuckled in amusement as Siran gave her explanations..and exposed her cleavage. When she did it, he'd laughed and said to Frank, "She tried that on me too...she sashayed her behind the whole way here. Guess that's all she has to wield now." He chuckled again in self satisfaction.
After explaining the whole FUBAR (fucked up beyond all repair) incident and answering Franks inquiries, he turned to Siran and shook his head.
"Amazing..." he said with disbelief, "He tells you ignorance might be your only defense, and you blow it by confessing conspiracy. That carries almost as heavy a penalty as the actual thing. Man...no one needs to hand you a rope long enough to hang yourself with...you got enough to hang yourself with. What is it with you? Do you got some kind of self-defeating virus inside you? You better have more than a nice rack if you're gonna pull your ass out of this."
"Any further orders, sir?" he asked Frank. He was hungry, thirsty and tired. And despite the look on Franks face that assumed he was unsettled about the assassin herself, he was just plain pissed.
His eyes softened a bit as he turned to answer Sheska, "Yeah well...I had no way of knowing this woman wouldn't kill the whole lot of us." he lowered his eyes a bit, to hide the sad and defeated look in them. "Well...at least we had a nice lunch. And Sheska? Treat yourself to cake more often."
The white daisy hung limply from her hair, but hadn't fallen out completely at least.
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Post by syradarkangelle on Jul 8, 2009 20:28:06 GMT -6
She looked at him,as her red eyes seemed to darken almost looking crimson," No, I do not,after all the guy always struck first. Just as you did,every soldier I have killed has done the same thing,most of them cornered me and said,'to be a good little girl,and they would not report an ishballan survivor' maybe if they had been thinking with the right head they would be alive."
She took her hand and pulled out a dagger that held her hair in place,the braided strands falling against her back," if I was gonna kill you i would have before you placed that spell on me."
" Well if i get sent to prison one more Ishballan you have helped kill,"she whispered to him," they will never let you go,they will always use your gifts when they need a genocide,but you probably already knew that."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Jul 9, 2009 2:22:52 GMT -6
He looked at her blandly, "Of course they use my talents. I'm a soldier. I expect that much. So what's your point? " he asked. This woman made him weary. He dropped into a soft leather chair and sighed and ran his palms slowly down his face in exasperation.
All he could so was shake his head. This woman was stubborn beyond reason. "I can see now how you must have killed those soldiers: You argued them to death! Till they had blood coming out of their pores and tear ducts. Sweet bleeding Christ!"
"Frank, are you just gonna sit there and let her wield a knife like that in your own office? Hell! If I had to transmute I don't think I could manage at this point. Yeah! That's it!" he spoke, raising a finger in mock realization and sitting bolt upright in the chair, "She baffled them with bullshit, and when their heads were spinning, she gutted 'em all."
He sighed deep in weariness, "At any rate...I'm done on this side, flip me over."
Like most of the unstable women he'd met in his life (which was most of them, especially the couple he'd dated), she changed her mind more often than her underwear no doubt. If she could have killed him, why hadn't she tried? Women...they were a riddle wrapped in an enigma...
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archer
2nd Class Private
Lt. Colonel
Posts: 20
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Post by archer on Jul 9, 2009 10:55:06 GMT -6
Archer couldn't help but grin. The pair of them were an amusement he did not see often. The problem with complete order...Is that you yearn for an occasional chaos... Unsure of what the young girl was doing here, Frank ignored her. He was used to Zolf's mishaps- To treat him like a normal soldier, or rather, a normal alchemist was foolish. Yet it payed off for him. The busty woman seemed quite hot-headed- Perhaps he could fuel that to a more profitable venture. "I'm afraid...That I am confused." Archer said finally.
His eyes stared directly upon the red eyes. "If you hate the Ishbalan war, it makes little sense to me...Why you'd not simply kill the Fuhrer." Smiling still, he said not a word after this proclamation, letting the statement sink in. He stood up, walking towards a table where some tea brought in earlier lay. Slipping a finger around it, he raised it to his lips, sipping the hot liquid slowly, before turning again to Kimblee and his prisoner. "I dislike the need to lie- So I shall be honest with you miss- I'd rather not kill you here. This carpet was just put in, after all. And if I sent you else where, you'll likely die, or if you manage to get off the charges, you'll probably kill another member of the government." Such a cruel cycle- Death all around. A one man war was no fun.
"However..." The blade the girl held gleamed, but Frank did not move. There was little point. Acting against a fool's action only encouraged them. He was not some dog. "What if I said that I could give you the head of the one who started the Ishbal war." He said at last. There multiple meanings to it- Being seen as the state government as a whole, an individual who let off the shot, and then finally the Fuhrer himself. It was not being a traitor if one left things unsaid. Rather, it was opportunity formed through wordplay. "I do not lie- As I do not deny my desire to see this priest's head hanging upon the front door..."
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Post by masterwarlord on Jul 9, 2009 12:34:45 GMT -6
Envy sighed. It seems he –wasn’t- paying attention the first time the brat spoke up and just let his mind doze off, dismissing his actual words as too childish. It was more just habit from what he’d seen of him before. . .It seems his childish routine was nothing but an act to avoid suspicion, based off how he was acting right now. ”Sorry, sorry. I’ll do my best to take you more seriously. After all, you’re technically older then Sloth.” he chuckled slightly.
”Get others to join us? You know how socially adept I am. If you want more people to join us, you’re gonna have to take care of it. . .Although I did form a –very- loose alliance with Greed, who has Gluttony with him, I wouldn’t count on their help too much. As for other homunculi, the only other one I really see betraying the bitch is Lust, so don’t bother with recruiting homunculi. What we need are alchemists, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna go get.”
Envy looked off to Kimblee in the distance. . .They’d made a surprising amount of ground while Envy was busy blabbing his gums. . .Good god. Now they were in vision of another human settlement. He couldn’t show himself to him again. . .Bah. He’d just have to wait till later to finally talk with him, nightfall at the latest.
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Post by aspiredeathe on Jul 9, 2009 13:32:42 GMT -6
((Riza, Jean's hinting that you talk to the store owner as to gather info =p))
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Jul 9, 2009 15:00:00 GMT -6
Kimblee burst out in laughter all of a sudden, hugging his stomach. "Oh Frank! You just made my day. Confused?" The calm and dignified way he said it made it all the richer. But nothing he'd ever seen confused Archer. Well, the little minx had her ways, it would seem. He'd have to remember that...
"You know Archer...confusion is a very effective weapon. Maybe I misjudged this woman. She could be doing this on purpose. After all...she's still alive, so that counts for something, right?"
He looked at Siran, still laughing, "Lady...you missed your true calling. You should be a diplomat. Keep 'em guessing and make 'em hesitate, that's your real weapon."
He listened in fascination as Archer planted the subtle seeds into Sirans head. While his own strength-and weakness-had been his suspiciousness and paranoia....Frank could see a bigger picture, to his own advantage. He himself didn't have a bigger picture. He was straight forward: Blow shit up, stay alive, and for Gods' sake....don't get tossed in a cell again! True, being in prison had honed his paranoia till he grew eyes in the back of his head, but it was almost ten long years in the cultivation. No thanks.
But Frank as Fuhrer? That would be a distinct advantage for himself if he played his cards right.
"Well," he said finally, standing to his feet, "I got other fish to fry, so..." He saluted Frank, half-assedly and asked in a mock kid-at-the-kitchen-table voice, "May I please be excused?" he chuckled.
Envy might find this new information of some use and maybe Frank could be persuaded to join their own cause. Homunculi were powerful, and since Envy was Envy's cause....maybe he wouldn't balk at betraying the Fuhrer.
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Post by syradarkangelle on Jul 9, 2009 21:24:41 GMT -6
Wrath looked at Envy,and then said,"Ok,if you think they can help. I mean I can use Alchemy but not the type you need probably. We were never meant to be pawns,but centuries after centuries people have used Homunculi to get what they wanted. maybe it is time to turn the tables make them serve under us."
Wrath turned towards the city,"someone will come soon,to see what I am doing,at that point I will play the child part again,the one thing people do not take into consideration is even though we have a young body our mental capacities are higher than a normal humans."
Siran looked at Frank as she listened and also comments by Kimblee, " I did not talk them to death I turned them into statues."
She was about to lose her temper,as she added,"i didn't kill you because I was going to get info from you,yes eventually I would have done something to you,but you would have lived."
" Are you saying you want me to help you rid yourself of the Fuhrer.? There are much simpler ways,I am a centural native born and raised there. See there is no way i would be able to get close enough to him,and without my alchemy I could not make an escape quickly. The only people that get close enough are state officials,and people within his own office." she states,as she laid the knife down,"this was just a sign that I was not toally disarmed."
She smirked then,as she looked at Archer, " Exactly how doy ou want me to help,I mean if he is the reason behind my parent's murder,he should be the one to repay the debt,Equivilent exchange and all."
"Kimblee,if you get the girl,you will remove the little present you left in me right. As far as I can see,she likes you regardless.Those kinds are hard to find." she then sat down herself,as she ran her hand through her hair, she turned her gaze towards Archer.
((OOC: too many people to respond too,if I got statements mixed up i apologize.))
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Post by masterwarlord on Jul 9, 2009 22:09:10 GMT -6
Envy nodded. “Sorry, but there’s not much I can really do to make use of you here. . .Your alchemy is too unstable, and you’d need more stones to pull off something of this magnitude. I know that guy out there doesn’t look like too much, but he’s a psycho. He’s exactly what I need to pull this off. . .”.
Envy seemed rather torn when Wrath brought up the idea of turning the tables and getting humans to serve homunculi. . .On one hand, there was still a psycho in him, but now that he was free he didn’t particularly feel the need to bring down other humans to his level. ”There’s no need to screw over the humans. We were born into this without a choice, no need to force it on everyone else. . .Though it is tempting. . .”. Envy sighed. ”I honestly haven’t thought all that much about what I’ll do when this is all over. With Dante out of the way I could pretty easily control the entire world by just taking out the leaders and assuming identities and shaping the world as I see fit, but then what do I do with it?”.
Envy was taking specific care to say “I” instead of “we”. He was already trusting him more then his gut feeling was telling him was necessary, but he supposed he just wanted to talk. It wasn’t often he actually got to have rational discussions, much less among his own kind. Wrath could possibly become an actual friend, god forbid, seeing that he was in actuality somewhat intelligent, shared his goals, and didn’t hate his guts like Greed. While Envy initially thought Wrath would be dead weight and it'd just draw attention to himself to work with him, that was based off his old thoughts of the bratty Wrath he previously knew.
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Jul 10, 2009 1:26:20 GMT -6
He was turning to walk out the door when she threw in a few cents more worth of bandying words. He burst into a fresh gale of laughter, "Turned to stone!....So that's how you did them in! They got bored 'stiff!" he chuckled, shaking his head again. She was an endless source of amusement.
He didn't particularly care for the way she discussed Sheska -getting the girl- as if she weren't in the room. He almost said so, but then he'd be doing it too, so he let it pass. Sheska probably got ignored like a piece of furniture all the time.
"I'll handle my own personal affairs," he said as he turned away, then looked back one last time, "Frank seems hell bent on utilizing you anyhow, so I wont have any choice in the matter...but you just cool your heels for a bit and I'll give you your 'toy' back."
With that, he left the room and strolled to the commissary. He looked around for a gift for Sheska. He wasn't quite ready to give up. He was too stubborn. He couldn't find anything suitable...flowers...chocolates...stationary...all too ordinary. A book, that was it. He browsed through titles, unsatisfied with the selection and then something caught his eye. A journal with a simple white daisy on it against a green background. A little more browsing, and he was rewarded with another find: a bookmarker with a lady bug design on it. Perfect.
He completed his transaction and asked the cashier, "Can you have this delivered to Miss Sheska in Frank Archer's office?" The gift was wrapped in simple brown paper wrapping and tied with a piece of twine. He'd enclosed a small note: 'Sheska, this book's for you to write. Hope I see you around.' He simply signed it Z.J.K.
Shortly thereafter, he walked out into the sunshine for his trudge back across the stretch of sand toward Lior. Envy would be more likely to show up between here and there, with no people to see them or disturb them.
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archer
2nd Class Private
Lt. Colonel
Posts: 20
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Post by archer on Jul 10, 2009 14:18:43 GMT -6
"Yes, Kimblee, you may leave." He has no issues with the man's leaving. He did not believe this Siran to be particularly dangerous- Or rather, not to him at the moment. And Frank was not completely defenseless either. Taking a second sip from his cup, Archer shook his head at the woman's question. "No- I do not want your help to kill your Fuhrer, but rather...I'd be willing to help you in the regard." The important point of this was not to make his offer seem to forced, but rather, a choice in her best interest. One that she'd agree to, even had Frank not had her arrested. "I did not believe you able to kill King Bradly on your own. If it was simple as that, Kimblee would have long had the pleasure of taking the man's life." Simple and honest- Why lie when the truth serves far better?
"First and foremost, there are officers within the military unable to use Alchemy." He, of course, was one. "Infact, I'd say the man would be more willing to trust such individuals who cannot, say, cause a man to explode with a bare touch. It is why I trust the girl, Sheska- She has no real power, and so I trust her with much of my work." It was all a matter of bait- Catching their interest and then pulling her into his grasp. Everyone had something they desired, and the Lieutenant Colonel had something she'd want. "There are ways to infiltrate his sanctum- You happen to be one of the best candidates. Why? Besides your forementioned alchemy...You're nobody." He explained. "Unlike the dear Crimson Alchemist, you have no record, no fame, no evidence of your power. As such, you would be able to get close where others cannot. I can reasonably tell you that you could accomplish it- And keep your life."
"As for proof...It should be clear the Fuhrer is responsible. The leader of the state government, who declared military action against the Ishbalians, as well as the one who sent Alchemists to take care of the resistance..." He smirked. "If that is not enough...What then, if I said I had evidence that the Fuhrer Bradley, head of the state government, wanted the war to happen?" The hook had been thrown- Now it was up to Siran to decide whether or not she wanted to follow the line. People are simple- But then, if they were not, how could the Fuhrer has so expertly created his veil?
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Post by rizahawkeye on Jul 10, 2009 17:12:32 GMT -6
((Fixed it. ))
Riza stood, waiting for them. There was nothing else she could do. The mission seemed to be out of her hands... and for the first time... all Riza Hawkeye could do was sit back and go for the ride.
She knew what she'd be needed... her gun was always ready.
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Post by syradarkangelle on Jul 11, 2009 0:05:48 GMT -6
He looked at Envy and gave a crooked smile,and then said," I liked staying with Izumi ,she did not use me as a weapon,she treated me like I was normal,I wish to be treated like that."
"I guess you are right,but, at least have them treat us equally that would be worth the trouble we are going through," he said then took a breath,"surprised that woman has not sent someone to check on me. I just feel much anger sometimes and then I feel pity. Then i start thinking if I was the son of Izumi I would be about the same age as the elrics. But even she wanted something,the child she lost,for a while I gave her that."
Siran looked at Frank,as she said," you beleive i could get close to him,because I am nobody,It is a good thing no one has seen me or i would be known on the spot as The Crimson Princess."
She looked at Archer,"he was trying to make a Philospher's stone and made up the war to acheive it and used Kimblee to make a genocide,My mom was Ishballan i know the reason behind what happened I figured them out,when Kimblee was arrested. I will do whatever you want of me so i do not have to go to prison."
She did not want to utter those words,because some men took them the wrong way,but she doubted Archer would stoop to that level.
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Post by aspiredeathe on Jul 11, 2009 6:52:52 GMT -6
Jean paid for some fruit, nudging Barry in case the man hadn't noticed they were leaving and made his way outside.
"Well, that wasn't a total waste." He held up the food with a small smile "I don't think these people like outsiders much." The store owner had pretty much grunted off every attempt at conversation. Maybe he'd bought too little?
"We really have to think this through, we need an angle, I think." He shoved his free hand in his pocket as he walked. Though, it would be handy if they actually knew what they were supposed to be asking for, Kimblee hadn't really given the m much to go on after all.
He let out a small sigh, before looking at his companions with bright eyes that asked for ideas. Otherwise they'd be walking around like this all day. And if Jean was to get a tan, he'd want to have earned it.
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