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I was talking to Shiro, and he mentioned some stuff about the place he was before, the Coven. And some things that happened. He said you were one of the people there with him.
I guess it's probably not a great subject, but I'm curious. That Qri person sounded... terrible.
But. Do you think this Witch is actually different?
I guess it's probably not a great subject, but I'm curious. That Qri person sounded... terrible.
But. Do you think this Witch is actually different?
[ this conversation could go in so many directions, and while it may not be exactly what riza wants to focus on now that she's finally - physically - healed from it all, she also sees no reason but to be entirely honest with him. ]
Yes and no.
It's too much of a coincidence that there are Witches willing to use universe-breaking powers to bring people, against their will, to do their bidding.
But Astoria has already proven herself different from Qri.
She has shown herself to us, she has opened communication with us- neither which Qri did.
Qri spoke through others, yes, but never actually communicated to any of us.
Yes and no.
It's too much of a coincidence that there are Witches willing to use universe-breaking powers to bring people, against their will, to do their bidding.
But Astoria has already proven herself different from Qri.
She has shown herself to us, she has opened communication with us- neither which Qri did.
Qri spoke through others, yes, but never actually communicated to any of us.
Yeah. I suppose that's a step in the right direction.
Except for the kidnapping part. I'm still pretty pissed about that.
I guess... I don't know. I've got some trust issues. I'm not sure how much good we actually did in El Minha, and I can't shake the feeling that this Witch is more than she's told us. Like there's another shoe that's gotta drop eventually.
[So sometimes his cynicism borders on paranoia. He's not always wrong.]
Except for the kidnapping part. I'm still pretty pissed about that.
I guess... I don't know. I've got some trust issues. I'm not sure how much good we actually did in El Minha, and I can't shake the feeling that this Witch is more than she's told us. Like there's another shoe that's gotta drop eventually.
[So sometimes his cynicism borders on paranoia. He's not always wrong.]
Qri had also kidnapped us, before. Another thing the two have in common.
But the truth is- I don't trust Astoria.
I don't appreciate being told where to go and what to do, no matter if it's for good or not.
Whether or not we did good in El Minha doesn't matter- we may have helped, or we may have caused the instability.
Either way, we were asked to interfere in a place and a culture that wasn't ours, by someone who was also a foreigner.
[ riza will help people and riza will do her part, but she is also a soldier and is used to completing orders she doesn't quite believe in. ]
What do you think is going to happen?
But the truth is- I don't trust Astoria.
I don't appreciate being told where to go and what to do, no matter if it's for good or not.
Whether or not we did good in El Minha doesn't matter- we may have helped, or we may have caused the instability.
Either way, we were asked to interfere in a place and a culture that wasn't ours, by someone who was also a foreigner.
[ riza will help people and riza will do her part, but she is also a soldier and is used to completing orders she doesn't quite believe in. ]
What do you think is going to happen?
Yeah, we were sent there whether they wanted our help or not. And we had no... background, understanding. Anything.
I don't trust her either.
But I don't know what's going to happen. Either she is what she says, or eventually the benevolent good witch charade is going to come crumbling down. Maybe she's just trying to get us to trust her. Someone with that much power... and all we have to go on is her word.
Shiro told me some... bad things... that the Coven ran into. They sounded really awful, actually. Were there any warning signs before? It sounds like this Qri was never as communicative as Astoria, but... things didn't start out as dangerous and bad as they ended... did they?
I don't trust her either.
But I don't know what's going to happen. Either she is what she says, or eventually the benevolent good witch charade is going to come crumbling down. Maybe she's just trying to get us to trust her. Someone with that much power... and all we have to go on is her word.
Shiro told me some... bad things... that the Coven ran into. They sounded really awful, actually. Were there any warning signs before? It sounds like this Qri was never as communicative as Astoria, but... things didn't start out as dangerous and bad as they ended... did they?
[ there is so much about keith that reminds her of a younger, more bright-eyed roy and she is just going to keep that to herself!!!! ]
Her word and the knowledge that she'll pull us along no matter if we want to be pulled along or not.
[ and then- ah. yes. there's what she was expecting to talk about since the beginning of this conversation. ]
There were quite a few people from the Coven who had been there much longer than the General and I had. But of the experiences we did go through- no. Or at least, not really. There was a general unease and uncertainty to us as a whole, but nothing that lent itself to what happened.
Her word and the knowledge that she'll pull us along no matter if we want to be pulled along or not.
[ and then- ah. yes. there's what she was expecting to talk about since the beginning of this conversation. ]
There were quite a few people from the Coven who had been there much longer than the General and I had. But of the experiences we did go through- no. Or at least, not really. There was a general unease and uncertainty to us as a whole, but nothing that lent itself to what happened.
There's that too. We're definitely along for the ride, but at least so far once we're there we were left to our own choices and actions.
[So far. His cynicism is showing. It usually is.]
Not gonna lie, I was really hoping there were some sort of warning signs. But I guess that means we keep our eyes open. No matter how rosy Astoria tries to paint all this.
[So far. His cynicism is showing. It usually is.]
Not gonna lie, I was really hoping there were some sort of warning signs. But I guess that means we keep our eyes open. No matter how rosy Astoria tries to paint all this.
That is the catch- we can technically do whatever it is we would like to do when she sends us out like that. She wasn't in El Minha at all- which could mean it really is up to our own decisions on what happens.
Not enough of them, if there were. One moment everything was fine, another a list of our names were being read over the broadcast system.
You always need to be on your guard in these types of situations. It's usually the most comfortable-feeling places that are the most dangerous.
Not enough of them, if there were. One moment everything was fine, another a list of our names were being read over the broadcast system.
You always need to be on your guard in these types of situations. It's usually the most comfortable-feeling places that are the most dangerous.
So far, yeah. So far our hands haven't really been forced.
Sounds like good advice. Not comforting advice, but real advice usually isn't.
There are just... a lot of moving parts with all this. And we're gonna wind up dropped somewhere else before we know it. Right now we're still trying to figure each other out on top of everything. I guess that's the one part we do have some control over. We're pretty far from being a team at this point, but we could all learn how to work together better.
Sounds like good advice. Not comforting advice, but real advice usually isn't.
There are just... a lot of moving parts with all this. And we're gonna wind up dropped somewhere else before we know it. Right now we're still trying to figure each other out on top of everything. I guess that's the one part we do have some control over. We're pretty far from being a team at this point, but we could all learn how to work together better.
That doesn't mean it will stay that way.
I'm sorry. I tend to air on the side of realistic more than comforting.
It's a tactic that works- you keep the populous moving and they'll never really have the time to settle and start poking around at things. It'll be one world, then a break, then another, if this is anything like what we went through before.
Pulling together and working together is going to be the only way any of us will survive. It's just a matter of convincing a lot of strangers to learn to trust each other.
I'm sorry. I tend to air on the side of realistic more than comforting.
It's a tactic that works- you keep the populous moving and they'll never really have the time to settle and start poking around at things. It'll be one world, then a break, then another, if this is anything like what we went through before.
Pulling together and working together is going to be the only way any of us will survive. It's just a matter of convincing a lot of strangers to learn to trust each other.
[ if she's being honest, they've gone from operating under the assumption that the other side always held more cards, to wondering if cards are even involved at all. she has no concept of what astoria wants, what qri wanted, but for as much as she doesn't like feeling hung out to dry, she knows roy hates it more.
but he's making a good point - she'd been there with them when they'd gone to get the boys, and while she hadn't seen the same things he had, she had seen what it had done to him. ]
With how far we are from home, would there even be laws forced on them? Or would all of that shift around too? [ a beat, where she's just looking at him, waiting to see if he had any answers, if there were any answers to be had.
considering how riza doesn't have an answer for that one question, the one on both of their minds - what happened to maes keeps her silent for just a few moments longer. through the comment about hell, through roy's frustration, until she simply nods.
they continue walking in silence for another few moments before she speaks again. ]
And if Astoria brings him here?
but he's making a good point - she'd been there with them when they'd gone to get the boys, and while she hadn't seen the same things he had, she had seen what it had done to him. ]
With how far we are from home, would there even be laws forced on them? Or would all of that shift around too? [ a beat, where she's just looking at him, waiting to see if he had any answers, if there were any answers to be had.
considering how riza doesn't have an answer for that one question, the one on both of their minds - what happened to maes keeps her silent for just a few moments longer. through the comment about hell, through roy's frustration, until she simply nods.
they continue walking in silence for another few moments before she speaks again. ]
And if Astoria brings him here?
Realistic is way more comforting than sugar coating. That's what I think too. We've got no guarantees about any of this, and no real evidence of how far we can trust this Witch.
Yeah, that's the trick. We weren't ready for what happened in El Minha. It took us too long to react, in the end. And it wasn't a cohesive reaction. We're going to need to do better if something worse or more dangerous comes along.
[ there's a shrug, at her first question -- the rule of law, and of alchemy, is something that's been a comfort to him, even if he's constantly pushing the boundaries on the first. certain things must be true. hydrogen and oxygen compromise water; fire requires fuel and oxygen to burn; manipulating the airflow can cause certain things to explode. science is comforting, and here, science means nothing.
but at her second question, about maes, he pauses in his walk, to stop completely, because it's something he's been focused on. weighed heavily, repeated in his mind since shehui. ]
It's prolonging the inevitable. It would be cruel. He would be trapped here knowing he was going to be sent back to his death, once that woman is done with him.
[ finally. but, almost a little reluctantly: ]
But he deserves a chance to live, even if it's only for another few days. He deserves to know what happened. But I don't know if that's something he actually would want, or if that's something I need to hear.
but at her second question, about maes, he pauses in his walk, to stop completely, because it's something he's been focused on. weighed heavily, repeated in his mind since shehui. ]
It's prolonging the inevitable. It would be cruel. He would be trapped here knowing he was going to be sent back to his death, once that woman is done with him.
[ finally. but, almost a little reluctantly: ]
But he deserves a chance to live, even if it's only for another few days. He deserves to know what happened. But I don't know if that's something he actually would want, or if that's something I need to hear.
El Minha was also the first world we've been to, with Astoria at the helm. There's no telling how dangerous the next one will be, or what we'll need to be prepared for.
But not everyone thinks that way, either. We have an entire crew of people here against there will who are all going to take this very differently.
But not everyone thinks that way, either. We have an entire crew of people here against there will who are all going to take this very differently.
[ roy stops, and riza finds herself taking two more steps before she comes to a stop herself, turning around to face him even if his eyes are elsewhere. in the back of her mind, she thinks about shehui, about how he looked standing across from her, standing in front of the tent, how do you grieve for someone who isn't dead.
so much of her chest is wrapped around that moment, the shaky way roy had looked at her. she wants to fix this, but she knows she can't. that it isn't something she can swoop in and take off his plate. he's not in that same place, now, but she worries. she always finds herself worrying.
but for now, she exhales softly, her eyes wandering just for a moment to see where black hayate has run off to a bit of grass, sniffing at what is probably more of those small white bats, before she turns back to him. ]
You need to be honest with him, General. You're correct, he does deserve to know. He would want to know.
so much of her chest is wrapped around that moment, the shaky way roy had looked at her. she wants to fix this, but she knows she can't. that it isn't something she can swoop in and take off his plate. he's not in that same place, now, but she worries. she always finds herself worrying.
but for now, she exhales softly, her eyes wandering just for a moment to see where black hayate has run off to a bit of grass, sniffing at what is probably more of those small white bats, before she turns back to him. ]
You need to be honest with him, General. You're correct, he does deserve to know. He would want to know.
He's not stupid, and I'm a horrible liar to the people who can tell when I'm lying.
[ it's not dismissive, but firm, and an acceptance of the unspoken warning (if you won't tell him, i will). lying to maes about his death is a different matter than lying to the elrics; maes will know, and maes will immediately call him on it, and then likely be furious with him. there's no getting out of that. ]
I already know what he's going to say. That it's not my fault, that I need to keep moving forward, that I made a promise to change the future so the past wouldn't repeat itself. I'm not so sure I want to hear it.
[ and roy pauses before huffing to himself, irritated. ]
-- what he would say, if he was here, and if the stars align and he arrived.
[ betraying his secret hope, that it happens. childish. ]
[ it's not dismissive, but firm, and an acceptance of the unspoken warning (if you won't tell him, i will). lying to maes about his death is a different matter than lying to the elrics; maes will know, and maes will immediately call him on it, and then likely be furious with him. there's no getting out of that. ]
I already know what he's going to say. That it's not my fault, that I need to keep moving forward, that I made a promise to change the future so the past wouldn't repeat itself. I'm not so sure I want to hear it.
[ and roy pauses before huffing to himself, irritated. ]
-- what he would say, if he was here, and if the stars align and he arrived.
[ betraying his secret hope, that it happens. childish. ]
Edited 2018-07-09 20:43 (UTC)
Not until we're there. And even then, any dangers may not be immediately obvious.
You've got a point there. We're not a team, not by a long shot. And none of us asked for this; even the people who are on board with the Witch's plan didn't volunteer for this. We've got a lot of obstacles, that's for certain.
[ she appreciates the truth to his words, knowing that she'd step in, knowing that she wouldn't let him try and take the easy way out. she knows how difficult it will be, knows how much that puts on him in the process.
the catch is something she misses, when he first starts talking. the going instead of would. she finds herself wanting it for him, and with his catching of his own wording, feels herself get almost disappointed. ]
Yes, if he does arrive, I imagine he'd say just that.
[ riza feels...almost awkward, in the following moments. unsure of what to tell him, of what to say to fill the space. black hayate comes bounding back out of the grass, directly up to roy with an easy excitement, and riza is momentarily glad for the distraction. ]
Down.
the catch is something she misses, when he first starts talking. the going instead of would. she finds herself wanting it for him, and with his catching of his own wording, feels herself get almost disappointed. ]
Yes, if he does arrive, I imagine he'd say just that.
[ riza feels...almost awkward, in the following moments. unsure of what to tell him, of what to say to fill the space. black hayate comes bounding back out of the grass, directly up to roy with an easy excitement, and riza is momentarily glad for the distraction. ]
Down.
[ indeed, the distraction is welcome, and he offers half a laugh. ]
Ah, leave him be.
[ as he pets black hayate, dutifully, but the dog (loyal to riza but excited for attention) abruptly sits at attention . . . but still allows roy to give him all the pets he demands. ]
He's a dog, let him be a dog.
[ this is why roy wasn't allowed to keep the dog. ]
Ah, leave him be.
[ as he pets black hayate, dutifully, but the dog (loyal to riza but excited for attention) abruptly sits at attention . . . but still allows roy to give him all the pets he demands. ]
He's a dog, let him be a dog.
[ this is why roy wasn't allowed to keep the dog. ]
And it's going to take everyone who is trapped here to get passed those differences to get anything done.
There were people in the Coven - the witch from before - who were there for months, almost a year, and didn't have much more to say it for it other than experience. No information, no plan to get out, nothing.
There were people in the Coven - the witch from before - who were there for months, almost a year, and didn't have much more to say it for it other than experience. No information, no plan to get out, nothing.
He's a dog who is better trained than that.
[ but her admonishment is more fond than anything, knowing that in the face of roy's attention, black hayate would only listen to her if absolutely necessary.
it's why she exhales, shaking her head slightly. ]
Either way, I'm- [ she catches herself before the words slip out - i'm glad you're alright - and quickly checks herself. ] I'm glad at least this place seems peaceful enough. A short reprieve before we're thrown into another world.
[ but her admonishment is more fond than anything, knowing that in the face of roy's attention, black hayate would only listen to her if absolutely necessary.
it's why she exhales, shaking her head slightly. ]
Either way, I'm- [ she catches herself before the words slip out - i'm glad you're alright - and quickly checks herself. ] I'm glad at least this place seems peaceful enough. A short reprieve before we're thrown into another world.
...Riza? [He sounds tired. As tired as he sounded in Shehui when it got bad.]
Sorry to bother you if this is a bad time. I just need to talk for a little bit.
Sorry to bother you if this is a bad time. I just need to talk for a little bit.
Yeah. I just got done with some things I had to take care of. [Getting his temporary arm fitted into place.]
I can come to you or the other way around.
I can come to you or the other way around.
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