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Post by mustang on Jul 6, 2009 12:13:02 GMT -8
Roy Mustang sat back in his chair looking down at the paperwork like it was going to talk to him. His eye twitched slightly as he looked up to the door hoping that someone would come through. Hell, right about now a Hughes-munculus would be good. He paled at the thought and shook his head before looking down at the paperwork. With a small sigh, he grabbed his pen and started to sign. It was a beautiful day outside. Hey! How long had it been since Black Hayate had been fed? He thought about it and looked to the door.
His eye twitched slightly.
"Havoc, anyone," he said as if telling the door to open to reveal someone! He didn't care. After looking to the door for about five minutes he sighed annoyed and looked down to the paperwork. "I don't have time for this," he said as he started to sign the papers again. He slipped one to his, "done," pile and signed the next one not really caring what it was, only wanting to get it over with.
Luckily for him, Major Hawkeye enjoyed doing paperwork, or she seemed to, so when he slacked off, she picked it up, or... pointed a gun at his face. He however, was unaware of the fact that she did pick up the slack. He moved this paper to the, "done," pile and moved on to the next one. His only hope, the Major wouldn't walk through that door with another pile of paperwork.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 6, 2009 12:56:18 GMT -8
Black Hayate had needed to get out of the office for a moment, so she'd quietly slipped out for a few minutes to take him on a short walk around the grounds of Central; he was a very well-behaved dog and knew enough to burn himself out on these short walks so he could rest more comfortably in the quiet of the office. At this point he was a common sight and on some days she could simply open the office door a bit, let him out, and he'd be back unbothered within a little while. It was one less thing to worry about.
A bit refreshed herself with the fresh air she quietly opened the door to the office with her dog at her heels, automatically looking over at the desk where the General still sat, filling out his paperwork nearly dutifully. Likely it was the fear of more paperwork that kept him moving, or the sheer hope that one day it would be done. That almost made her smile a bit as she moved to her own desk and picked up her nearly-empty coffee cup. "More coffee, General?" she asked in a polite tone as she came closer to his desk, Black Hayate curling up in one corner.
Oh, and she still had to tell him about the altercation she'd gotten into with that- thing- at the carnival. He wasn't going to like it, not at all. In fact, if he remained calm she would be greatly surprised. She could understand his feelings on that- she didn't like the fact of what it represented either.
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Post by mustang on Jul 6, 2009 14:02:04 GMT -8
"Coffee sounds good. Thank you Major," he said as he signed another paper and slid it over to the, "done," pile. He paused in he signing and looked up to Major Hawkeye, just to MAKE SURE that she had no more paperwork. He gave a relived smile as he saw none and moved his head down to his paperwork before back to Major Hawkeye. He smiled, and leaned back in his chair.
"Say, major, did you happen to look into the room where the others work? How are they doing," he asked nonchalantly, to be honest, he really did wonder how they were. He missed their shenanigans in a way, the office was always busy with them around. And that meant less paperwork for them. Not to mention that his current attempts at a conversation with Major Hawkeye were just another attempt to sway him from his paperwork.
"How's Central today," he asked, still attempting to get her to talk. To avoid suspicion he signed two more papers and slid them to the, "done," pile and looked back to Major Hawkeye, a slight curiosity in his eyes at how Central and the others were doing.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 6, 2009 15:09:23 GMT -8
Oh yes, the point where conversation hoped to distract her from the paperwork- but considering the news she was about to give him, perhaps it would be alright this once to play along, acting none the wiser. She'd known him a for a very long time, his habits were quite well-known, though not in the way most people would expect. Under the professional veneer was real, true friendship, won through her secret past, a war and years of service and camaraderie.
Quietly and carefully she took his coffee cup from where it rested on the desk and, with her own, carried it to the coffeepot, filling both. Hers was black but for a small bit of cream, his own prepared the way he seemed to generally take it, and then the short trip to put them back. Once the Generals was on the desk she sipped her sedately before answering his first question. "The others seem to be doing quite well sir, though nothing of particular import. For once they are mostly focused on their jobs aside from the occasional meandering conversation about Havoc's girlfriends. They are also very invested in your campaign for President."
The second question provided a bit of an opening so she took it, her expression calm for the moment. "Well, I was investigating that bar, the Seven Sins, and ended up running into a very intoxicated Brosh. Seems he'd visited another bar just before hand and stumbled in. He broke my cover but I wasn't able to learn any more than what we generally have on file." Her eyes flashed a bit at the telling, hoping the General would take some light-hearted good humor from the tale and that it would lessen the next blow. That would be the one to likely come as an unpleasant shock. "The carnival was also in town." Hopefully the reminder of how Mustang, Hughes and herself had visited one ages ago would come to mind, or the topic and the aversion to paperwork would cause him to ask about it.
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Post by mustang on Jul 6, 2009 15:56:01 GMT -8
"They're actually working," he asked widening his eyes in playful shock, "well, I'm surprised," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. He was blissfully unaware of the irony behind his statement, or was it self ignorance? Either way, he was unaware. He did notice something however, Major Hawkeye seemed to have something more to tell him. He gave a mental sigh and decided not to push it. He knew fairly well that if it needed his attention she'd tell him in her own time.
The fact that the others were interested in his campaign didn't exactly surprise him either. He had expected that, or at least knew they'd BETTER support him. And Brosh drunk? That was... strange. Roy couldn't help but laugh at the thought. How he wished he were there! He sighed a bit in disappointment after he had his laugh.
"Brosh, drunk. Now that would have been a sight. Probably something to do with Maria," he said knowing fully well Brosh's feelings toward the now Captain Maria Ross. He smiled a bit, then came her comment on the carnival.
"Ah, yes, the carnival," he said smiling nostalgically, remembering that day that she, he, and the late Hughes all went. He looked down to his paperwork then turned his chair around too view outside. Hmm... maybe he should go to the carnival. Get a breather. Mingle with the people. That may help his campaign, plus he was really sick of the paperwork. He turned his chair back around to face the Major and looked up to her.
"To bad about the seven sins though," he said rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I'd hate to hire a freelancer to do the job, he muttered just loud enough for her to hear. He shook his head slightly annoyed. He'd have to explain to Brosh about bar hopping in uniform was BAD THING. He shrugged and looked to Major Hawkeye.
"You enjoy carnivals don't you, Major? Maybe we should go sometime, for old times sake," he said and looked to the paperwork, and quickly back to his coffee and took a drink hoping that she'd got on with whatever she had to say quickly.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 6, 2009 16:26:46 GMT -8
"From the way Brosh was acting I don't think he'd been drunk in a very long time, if ever in his life," she replied with the slightest note of amusement- not at Brosh, of course, but at the situation. For some reason she did seem to stumble on people during the oddest times of their lives. "And likely he wasn't enjoying it in the morning, but he survived. I don't think he'll be making the same mistake in the future either." Whether or not it was about Ross was merely gossip and not suited to the office.
So he had remembered the carnival- and wanted to put off the rest of the forms on his desk, of course. And she did love to go- but this one, considering the circumstances she'd last left in, was a bit spoiled for her. "I actually went and checked this one out already-found some surprising things, more than I did at the Seven Sins. I ended up in a fight with two homunculus and though I'm not sure of their origins I think I can venture a guess."
Moving to her desk she set down her coffee and pulled out a case file she'd been working on for the incident- but kept hidden up until now. Considering the information contained within, it was only right that he, besides herself and those others present, be the first to know. "These are the sketches I had done of those I got into the altercation with." Opening the file she set it with the picture of the girl, Sloth, in front. "She ended up shot, dug the bullet out with her own fingers and healed quickly after, as well as creating gusts of air to deflect my rounds. The other-" At this her voice actually dropped slightly, with a note of sadness because it was the worst thing a person could possibly hear. "You'll know when you see it." Pulling aside the sketch of Sloth she exposed Hughes- or rather, Wrath. Not that there was a difference in appearance anyway.
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Post by mustang on Jul 6, 2009 20:05:33 GMT -8
Roys' eyes widened a bit at her mention of already going to the carnival. Well, the Major was enjoying herself it seemed, while he was stuck around the office doing paperwork. His eyes widened farther when she mentioned the Homunculi. He blinked once or twice before a stern look came to his face.
"Homunculi," he asked rather rhetorically. He looked down at the paperwork and sighed remembering his fight with Bradley, and the loss of the vision in his right eye. He shook his head before looking back to the Major. She now had a file that he'd never seen before. As she showed him the picture of the young girl he took a drink of his coffee. One thing you couldn't say about Major Hawkeye was that she was a terrible artist.
He blinked as he circled his hand in the air signaling to move along to the next sketch. She did just as he started circling. When he saw the picture of Maes Hughes his eyes widened and chocked on the coffee running down his throat. He quickly laid the cup on the desk turned and spit out the coffee currently in his mouth before violently coughing the coffee out of his lungs. He did this for a good two minutes straight before he could get a decent breath. He stared down at the sketch for about five seconds and pushed himself away from the desk. The chair rolled back and he stood, a look of complete shock etched across his face.
He walked over to the window and slowly took a deep breath. He couldn't let her see him to BADLY phased by this outcome. After all, he was a leader, if he broke down, she'd lose confidence in him. He took another breath and clasped his hands behind his back before thinking about everything.
"Bradley," he whispered before turning back to Major Hawkeye, he looked down to the sketch of a leering Maes Hughes. Leering and sneering like he usually was in life. Mustang blinked staring down at the sketch remembering the time that he met Hughes. Only a teenager in training. Now look where he was. He'd gotten here, so close to his once dream of becoming the leader, but he'd lost his best friend in the process. Not only that, but now a homunculus was walking around wearing Hughes skin!?
Mustang burned with fury. He tossed the paper back on the desk and looked to Major Hawkeye.
"I want wanted posters all over the city, get me something from hughes remains. If this damn homunculus wants to roam around with Hughes body, he better prepare to meet his best friend," Mustang said and walked to his desk and folded the file up before handing it to the Major. He swallowed as he set and started to quietly sign the paperwork in front of him and move the signed papers to the, "done," pile. Roy was no longer in a good mood.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 7, 2009 10:24:52 GMT -8
She watched the transformation that went through him, the different levels of hurt he achieved as each piece of the puzzle fell into place with him. And the worst thing was- to accomplish his final goal, she couldn't actually let him do as he wished. There was the campaign to think about, his image and the rage and revenge that shone in his eyes. This homunculus may have been called Wrath but instead he seemed to bring out that trait in others instead, especially the General. She wished she could tell him where he was, what he was planning, and let him express all of his outrage, but it was almost completely out of the question.
"Are you sure that's a wise idea?" she asked him, her voice still low with just a touch of sympathy for how he was feeling, though she knew he would never accept it willingly. Thus, she covered it with reason. "You know very well who he looks like, and most people are completely unaware of the existence of homunculus. It would appear you were hanging out wanted posters of an old comrade- not to mention to those who know about your friendship to him, as well as Gracia and Elysia. Instead, I'll find out what I can, his whereabouts. He's known as Wrath, no doubt that means he should be grabbing some attention."
Not wanting to upset Mustang any further she gathered up the file and closed it, putting the rumpled papers back onto her own desk. Smiling slightly but with confidence she met his gaze again. "As for the last, I'll take care of it for you sir, if I have to dig into the graveyard in the middle of the night. I can take care of this, you won't have to be involved." Would he be able to kill his best friend, even if it was only a sham. To keep him from that pain she'd do it herself, and gladly.
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Post by mustang on Jul 7, 2009 12:31:43 GMT -8
"You know very well who he looks like, and most people are completely unaware of the existence of homunculus. It would appear you were hanging out wanted posters of an old comrade- not to mention to those who know about your friendship to him, as well as Gracia and Elysia. Instead, I'll find out what I can, his whereabouts. He's known as Wrath, no doubt that means he should be grabbing some attention."
Roys' eye twitched as he heard the name. Wrath. He shook his head with a slight sigh. She was right. Mustang put his pen on the desk as he leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, and thoughtfully rubbed his chin. He was blinded by anger for at the previous moment. She indeed could do that, but she was linked to him. Rumors would fly that he had ordered her to dig up the remains. He shook his head.
"No, Major, if anyone saw you that would also endanger the campaign. You are linked to me, if anyone were to see you there would be rumors. Besides, there's your rank the think about Major," he said as he leaned forward. He leaned his elbows on the desk and placed his fingertips together and thought about what actions they could take.
If he had the Major do it, not only would it endanger the campaign it would also endanger her rank. If he had a freelancer do it, there was no guarantee that he could accomplish it or honor the agreement, or keep quiet. Then, something came to mind. The homunculus where named after the seven sins. The Seven Sins bar. He wondered if there was any kind of connection. Probably not, but still he'd log that away for later. He sighed and shook his head.
The General shook his head as he leaned back into his chair. He leaned his shoulder on the arm rest and rubbed the bridge of his nose as his eye twitched a bit. He was obviously annoyed by the whole predicament.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 7, 2009 14:12:46 GMT -8
"Then sir, perhaps I could take that vacation time I've been saving up and Elizabeth could look into it for you," she suggested in a reasonable and quiet tone, raising a brow just slightly as she moved more paperwork around; the sound of rustling paperwork was quite good for covering quiet voices, another reason why there was so much paperwork at the office. "She's quite resourceful and known to be trustworthy. Besides, it would give me a chance to catch up on that vacation time that keeps piling up and I have to file more paperwork to avoid."
Smiling slightly she took another sip of her coffee and though about what he'd said. Yes, she'd finally made Major- but that was no excuse for her not to do the job that she'd been sent to do. It was her personal goal to see Mustang become President, to change the world for the better, and she would do it even if on occasion she had to force the idea slowly through his thick skull or down his throat. Being friends as they were there was also likely the element of a thought that she couldn't handle the homunculus on her own. That, of course, was foolish. She could face any peril that any alchemist could, and had even faced some that would make the strongest quiver.
"If nothing else and you insist on it she could also simply tell you the information, so you could take care of it yourself. That is, if you don't think she can handle it." At that she only raised a brow, she was far too old to act as though the idea of that surprised her. After more than fifteen years of knowing one another there was little she didn't realize about his personality.
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Post by mustang on Jul 7, 2009 14:46:35 GMT -8
Mustangs' one good eye glanced up to Riza, the other, well he couldn't even feel it. He looked to the Major and a smile cracked through the serious face. Through all the crap he'd been through. The ishvalain war, and those events five years ago. She had always been there. When he killed the homunculus of Bradley, she had been there to save him after he was shot by some psychotic archer.
He nodded and moved his upper body forward toward the desk and grabbed his pen and started to sign the last page of paperwork and moved it over to the, "done," pile with the rasp that usually accompanied.
"Of course major, on one condition," he said before looking back up to her, "if you ever feel the need to see my wondrous face you're welcome to darken my door anytime," he said with a cocky smirk.
He leaned back in his chair and tapped his index finger against his chin thoughtfully looking off to the left signaling that his mind was working. Elizabeth was quite resourceful, but he looked back to the Major.
"Yes, have Elizabeth go and gather what information she can. I want to know what we're up against," he said and sighed. Her going on vacation meant more paperwork. Oh well, not like his day wasn't ruined anyway.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 8, 2009 11:30:11 GMT -8
Smiling slightly she looked down at his statement; he was wishing her luck, in his own way, and implying that she would indeed be returning. Of course, for the sake of appearances all things had to be carefully coded and considered, but his words were at least sincere in intent if not the phrases and attitude in which he said them. "If I find myself with nothing better to do I'll stop by," she replied in her usual, cool tone that most heard in response to such untoward comments but under this one her eyes were understanding. "As for Elizabeth, you know very well that I don't talk to women of that stripe, sir. She'd most likely want to hear from you, anyway."
Moving back to her own desk she began to fill out her paperwork to request leave, the form quickly being finished and put into the stack of papers she had also completed. The pile would slowly get larger throughout the day, contributing more to the stack that constantly say on the General's desk, but while she was here she would convince him to do it. After all, if she didn't then she wouldn't get the required leave time. Hopefully her statements would amuse him enough to keep the conversation going a bit longer, to take his mind off of what would really be going on during her leave and bring back his own mood.
It was too bad that the carnival was completely out of the question now. It would have been a great deal of fun. Smiling to herself she buried herself into her paperwork again. With the last thing ready she picked up the stack neatly and set it onto the desk on the edge, behind the other stack he was working on. "I set my leave to start in a week, unless you object," she replied in her regular businesslike tone. "I would consider it a personal favor if you could make sure to have that far into the paperwork done by then."
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Post by mustang on Jul 10, 2009 17:47:04 GMT -8
"If I find myself with nothing better to do I'll stop by,"
Nothing better to do? Wait. D-Did she just literally say that? What was better than looking at his glorious mug? Uhm... NOTHING!! Mustang couldn't help but crack a smile as he reached over to his now TWO piles of paperwork and grabbed a quarter inch worth of paperwork and set it in front of him and grabbed his pen before looking down to it with a bit of an eye twitch and grabbed his pen and began to sign them.
"As for Elizabeth, you know very well that I don't talk to women of that stripe, sir. She'd most likely want to hear from you, anyway."
Oh, she was talking about THAT Elizabeth. Heh... not the broad from the other day. He smiled a bit and nodded before placing his pen back on the desk and leaning back in his seat turning a bit so he had his side to the Major, the chair creak as he did. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and nodded.
"Yes major, you're right," he said setting up straight and puffing his chest out a placed his hand on his breast-bone, "I'm sure she would rather hear from me, I mean wouldn't," he smirked and looked to the major from the corner of his eye rather shrewdfully.
After a couple moments of silence, Mustang was back to signing papers. His pen marking across the paper was the only noise that could be heard. Finishing one paper, Roy moved it to the, "done," pile and was going to start on the next page, but instead set his pen on the paper and looked to the Major.
"Major Hawkeye, I'd rather not see Elizabeth come back harmed. Clear," he said firmly and looked back down to his papers and began to do the work he hated so. He hoped the Major had caught what he meant, but he knew she did. Major Hawkeye was a smart woman, their years of friendship had told him that much.
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Post by Riza Hawkeye on Jul 13, 2009 15:04:00 GMT -8
"I'm sure she'll keep that in mind, sir," Hawkeye replied in a clear enough tone, laughing to herself as she saw his look of surprise. This would be a dangerous mission but she'd never let that dissuade her before- she'd be damned if she did now. All it required was a bit of care and thought, both of those being something she was quite in the habit of practicing. She wasn't a delicate flower, but a shining bit of gunmetal in the sun. His words came from friendship and care though and so she accepted them where she would not have from others.
Moving to her own desk she sat back down and sipped her own coffee as she looked at the work before her. For every stack of paperwork on Mustang's desk she had two, and all of it with only a short time to see done, if not more. Fresh papers came in every day, and this was a managable stack considering the hour. Picking up her pen and putting on an expression of intent disinterest she used her flowing handwriting to fill out page after page.
It was really too bad that the carnival had such bad connotations now. It would have been fun.
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Post by mustang on Jul 16, 2009 9:45:39 GMT -8
Roy Mustang took another sip of his coffee and set it back down on the desk where it had resided only seconds before, a slight ring of steam appearing on the surface of the polished desk where the cup had been sat. He craned his head down toward the paperwork, it seemed to laugh up at him. Like it was superior to the Flame Alchemist. He gave a slightly scoffing smirk and grabbed his pen.
His quick and fluid handwriting pasted his signature onto the document quickly as he then grabbed it and moved onto the next stack, then repeated the process, the sound of the sifted documents and the makes of his pen somewhat echoing in his mind taking him back to the days of old. Back to when he was only a Lt. Colonel. Before the previous system feel apart thanks to the betrayal of Bradley. Back when he first saw Edward and Alphonse, the two in Winry Rockbells home, Edward with only a couple stumps for an arm and leg, and Alphonse a ton of metal.
He blinked as his mind raced through the memories, killing Bradley, getting shot by some manic archer, it took him a bit to realize that the echo from his pen had stopped. The rustling of the papers had ceased. There was nothing but contemplative silence from the General. He took an inward sigh as he once again began to sign the documents.
He took another and moved it over to the slowly growing, "done," stack then signed yet another form, then repeated the process growing ever more redundant. With a bit of a conniving smirk he stopped, thinking. The Major must've been a tad disappointed. She did love carnivals ever so much. Looking up from his work he looked to the sharpshooter and smiled, before nonchalantly looking back down to the paperwork. Sure, it'd bring up memories, but good memories. It wasn't as if he'd let a homunculus walking around wearing Hughes skin ruin his day... right?
"So, Major, have any days open for the carnival, or are we just going to wing it," he asked nonchalantly. He knew she wouldn't object. Hell, who would? It WAS him after all.
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