30 Reds, Tucker

[emelie]

Wrath stares at Nina dumbfounded by her friendliness and draws a sketchy looking square as a house. He then looks at Nina, "How is that?"

[carduus]

Nina smiles. "That's good. Let's make some windows too!" She draws one window and nudges Wrath to draw the other.

[This is so sweet - ouch! ]

[emelie]

((Almost too sweet It's cool though cause I am getting to play a side of Wrath I haven't before and it's fun. Gives him some depth beyond the Mommy complex and Ed's limbs obsession.))
Wrath looked around, he knew he had a job to do but oddly enough and more then he wanted to admit, he was actually enjoying himself. A small smile crept across his lips but he quickly hid it from Nina and Tucker. Mommy, isn't here yet, so maybe it's okay if I keep playing with this girl until she gets here. Wrath thought to himself as he drew a window on the house.

[carduus]

Like this, they continued to play until Tucker looked up, obviously exhausted and hands dirty from paint as he was correcting parts of the array, and called Nina to himself.

Nina obeyed, but before she did, she quickly hugged Wrath and then ran to her daddy, who lifted her up and looked tiredly over the room. "Do we have a room here?"

[emelie]

Wrath was so taken back by Nina's hug that he froze not sure what to think or feel. He just stood there shocked. It wasn't until Tucker spoke did he come back to reality. He walked over to Tucker. "Were you talking to me?"

[carduus]

Tucker nodded.
"Could you tell us where our rooms is? I need to rest."

[emelie]

"Oh yes, you humans alway need futile things like rest and food. Come with me." Wrath led them down a long dark corridor that seemed to go on forever. Finally the reached a dark room. He turned on th light to reveal a a small room with two cots and a toilet. Wrath had led them into one of the prison cells that was connected to the laboratory. "I am sorry sir but we can't risk you running off again. We need you to stay and perform your duty. So make your self comfortable and rest, Sir. You have a very busy day ahead of you." He smiled evilly as he headed for the door.

[carduus]

What?!

Now, Tucker was tired and hungry and irritated and this homunculus was a kid! Right! He could assess at least some authority. He was a dad to Nina, surely those other children can't be that different...

"Boy! I am not going to tolerate this! I demand you put us into a proper room right away! My daughter is NOT going to sleep on a lousy, rat chewed cot!" To avoid Wrath just walking out, he grabbed him by the wrist of his right hand and held tightly, looking determined.

[emelie]

Wrath raised his knife arm towards Tucker. The sharp slick metal shined in the light. He looked at Tucker with a evil grin. "You better reevaluate the situation. You are unarmed and I have this. So if I was you I would let go before I personally help you let go."

[carduus]

Tucker thought quickly and then smiled tiredly, but still wickedly [Oh look! Tucker gathered up courage! Guess cuz Wrath is a small kid...]

"And if I was your boss, I would be quite mad at you for chopping up the Alchemist who is supposed to prepare the Philosopher's stone..."

He does not loose the grip, but becomes more aware, that the wee one could cut him :S

[emelie]

"True. But you aren't the only one who could do it, we still have that Elric boy searching for it, so you aren't as valuable as you think you are. Hell for all you know you could be just a pawn to lure him here, so you better just watch yourself and do what I say."
Wrath was hoping that Tucker was buying all this because all Wrath was doing was lieing through his teeth and buying time until Sloth showed up. He really had no idea what the real plan was.
Where is she?

[dimilas]

- "Calm down, Mr. Tucker. As has been explained to you earlier, working with us is far more recommendable than against us."

Sloth placed her hand on Wrath's arm, gently pushing the hand holding the knife down. she gave the young Homunculus a smile before looking back at Tucker.

- "Now, if you'd like to improve your conditions here, you are of course free to discuss them when handing in your results. Needless to say, it's better to have some good results to show if you wish anything to improve."

She made no move towards Tucker's hand, instead looking him straight in the eye. If he understood, he'd release Wrath's arm. If not... well, there were a surprising amount of organs and body parts a human could do without, and still be able to use Alchemy...

[emelie]

A smile spread across his face. He always felt secure and safe when he was with Sloth. He glared at Tucker waiting for him to release his grip on his arm.

[carduus]

Upon the entry of the second homonculus, Tucker's courage wavered dramatically. His hand slid off Wrath's and he took a step back, looking away from Sloth's gaze.

[emelie]

"Good choice, because Sloth would have killed you if you didn't let go." He headed to the door and turned around pulling out the cell key dangled it out in front of him. "I hope you enjoy your night, sir" He said with an evil grin on his face.

[carduus]

Tucker sighted and slid down heavily on his cot, head in hands, feeling weak, useless, a complete coward, lacking the strength even when his beautiful daughter had to endure all of this with him.

What if he won't be able to make the Philosopher's stone? Will they kill him then? Or kill Nina for his 'motivation'?!

He trembled, until Nina approached him and climbed on to the cot, curling beside him and crying softly: "Daddy, daddy..."

He couldn't look her in the eyes. How could have he dared before? After what he had done to her mother. Feeling sick to the stomach, he quickly curled on the cot beside Nina, taking his girl into his arms.

After she had cried herself to sleep in the believed safety of her father's warm embrace, it was Tucker's turn to weep. He wept quietly. Few sharp intakes of breath and hot tears. He dared not to weep out loud - he deserved to not weep at all. But weakness overtook him and his own cowardice encouraged him. Thus Tucker continued to weep quietly, until he fell asleep with exhaustion.

[emelie]

Wrath grinned as he locked the strong door. He then realized he had forgotten to give Tucker the letter that Daunte.It contained special instructions in what he needed to do. Wrath slipped the letter under the door.

[carduus]

He woke up early the next day. His sleep was filled with confusing dreams that unsettled him and just added to his general shaky state. Careful, as not to wake Nina, he sat up and observed the little room.

By the doors he noticed an envelope and dived onto it, pulling out the letter and reading...

[Erm... what's in it? ]

[dante]

(A rather threatening letter from the evil old hag herself! Mwa, ha! >=D)

Dear Mr. Tucker,

Firstly, I would like to give you and your daughter a warm welcome to our little family. A little dysfunctional, yes, but I'm sure you'll come to feel right at home soon enough. Because my servants were only recently updated on why I decided to employ you, I assume you know little to nothing about your purpose here and what's expected of you. Hopefully this letter will clear everything up; if not, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I'll be more than happy to answer them.

The Homunculi, as I am told, explained to you that your job is to create a Philosopher's Stone. This is incorrect--you have two jobs: the first being the creation of Red Stones, the second to oversee the creation of chimeras for Furher Bradley. You will be provided with an abundance of the necessary materials to ensure the development of both. I mean no offense, but it is a generally accepted feeling that you lack the alchemical prowess and expertise needed to procure a Philosopher's Stone. There are two primary methods of creating Red Stones, and you will be using both during you stay--insertion of Red Water into the womb of a pregnant woman (POWs from Ishbal and Lior, if you'd like to know) and a long and tedious chemical process. As for the Chimeras, not only will you be creating the basic type, but you'll also be developing advanced humanoid chimeras. Notes elaborating the creation of these superior chimeras can be found in the first drawer of your nightstand.

I'm afraid it is necessary for me to mention that I expect your results to be fruitful--I cannot stress that enough. After looking over the results of one of your State Alchemist Assessment exams, it seemed to me that your work is usually mediocre at best and you lack a certain creativity found in most alchemists. Although I consider myself a lenient person, I have no qualms over reprimanding you... or your daughter instead--whichever is more effective. Losing the only speck of light in your poor excuse of a life, hearing her cries as she's taken away from the only person she has to love in the world, thoughts plaguing your mind every single night about what's happening to your precious little girl because of your failure as a parent and an alchemist. Or how about losing the expansive manor the State graciously provided you with? Wouldn't that be a shame, Mr. Tucker? If you impress me with your results and work hard, you won't have to worry about that.

That nasty bit of business now out of the way, I wish you the best of luck in your efforts. Remember to be co-operative and respectful to the Homunculi overseeing your work station! Expect to see me in person relatively soon.

Sincerely,

That Person

P.S. It has come to my attention that you are being difficult toward young Wrath. Picking on children, Mr. Tucker? How admirable. Even though he is a child, he is still your superior. The boy didn't say it outright, but I concluded it from a question he asked me. Needless to say there will be serious repercussions if I receive a complaint from him.

[carduus]

[*tucker faints* No, he doesn't! That woman sure knows, what she wants!]

Tucker reread the letter over and over again, especially the parts talking about what he is to do and what will be done, if he won't try.

However, he felt his pride being touched. ...it seemed to me that your work is usually mediocre at best and you lack a certain creativity found in most alchemists...[/b] I created the talking chimera! Rarely before has someone combined a human and an animal in a transmutation! He fumed inwardly, colour brought up to his cheeks at his inward rage, deciding in his mind to work hard and show that doubting hag what he is capable of.

After all... they were his new 'employers', so he better try. Add to that, here he could try to bring to life his darkest, deepest, most twisted imaginations in the field of chimera alchemy without having to fear persecution by law.

A wicked grin cracked his features and he looked towards his sleeping angel, Nina, thinking Here, darling. Here will daddy be able to finally prove his worth as a Sewing Life Alchemist. I guarantee you that, my darling.

He made a mental note to watch out for Wrath and keep his cool around the small homonculus.

After that, not even in the blink of an eye, he dived towards the nightstand and rummaged through all the materials supplied. Papers soon covered the cell floor and in the middle of it all sat Tucker, eyes gleaming and a smirk tugging at his lips as bits and pieces felt together in his mind, combined with the new information and his own, dark imagination.