[ 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.
[ 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.
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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
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( offline )
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.
( offline )
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.
( offline )
[ 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. ]
( offline )
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.
( offline )
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. ]
( offline )
[ 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.