unexculpable | ➤ 2nd Transmutation [backdated to after milkfield event]

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➤ 2nd Transmutation [backdated to after milkfield event]

A. » Action「1652 Albright Lane/Around Town ☼ Midday 」

[When Ed went outside, there was a postcard waiting for him on the doorstep. He stood in the doorway with a frown and stooped down to pick it up. Who would be sending him a postcard? He flipped it over and froze. His mouth went dry, his eyes widened, and his stomach started tying itself in knots.

What the hell was this?

Biting his lip he folded the postcard and shoved it in his pocket, heading down the street.

(He'll be walking around for most of the day, so you can run into him pretty much wherever you want. Just specify a location in your tag!)]

B. » Action「Park ★ Late Evening 」

[Walking along the path in one of the more secluded areas of the park, you'll be able to see a bright blue light a few yards away. Get closer and you'll be able to hear an electric crackle whenever the light shows up. Approach it and you'll find Ed in the middle of a transmutation. Guess who got his alchemy back?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He stared at Hawkeye for a moment, confusion written all over his face. Lieutenant, you have made things a million times more difficult for him. There were times when he could lie well enough, but usually his form of lying was just... lying by omission. He was way too honest for his own good.

He couldn't just smile and nod. He wasn't that kind of person. And this was Olivier! She wasn't stupid. Far from it. Even if he wanted to he wouldn't be able to lie to her. No matter how convincing it was, Olivier would not give this up.

He quickly looked away, dropping his eyes to the ground once more staying completely silent. He would neither agree nor disagree with Hawkeye's statement.]

[She sighs and shakes her head. Fixing her best look of concern across her face.]

Was it really that bad, what ever it was that happened, Edward? [She puts her arm around him and pulls him close to her side, he might notice her grip rivals even that of her brother.] C'mon, let's get you a nice hot cup of coffee to help you get over the trauma. Then, I have an idea that'll really test out your alchemy. It might help the Lieutenant keep her distance from Lust, too. [It's only then that she looks at Hawkeye, smirking at her over her shoulder.]

Well, what do you say, Fullmetal?[Did you just feel her grip your arm a bit tighter Ed, because she did.]

[I may have to kill you was typically the first thought that would cross her mind at Armstrong's thinly veiled attempt to behave like she ~~actually gave a crap~~ wanted to help Edward out. Few things disgusted her more, but she was a little bit too caught up in thinking of a way to get them out of this situation. She knew Edward wouldn't be able to lie. He had also made it abundantly clear that he was unable to at least play along with whatever story she could come up with.

Also, yes. It was that bad, Armstrong, because even with Hawkeye's ability to both tell a good lie and keep a straight face, she can't manage to keep the color from draining from her face. It was taking every ounce of self control to not allow any other sign of panic show in her expression.

~~Somehow, she has a feeling that when Armstrong finds out what really happened, she is probably going to wish she had never known.~~

And yes, she is so dumbfounded by Armstrong's comment that she can't trust herself to even open her mouth.]

[If she thought that look of concern fooled him, she was very wrong. He knew damn well that Olivier was not here to comfort him. She wasn't going to take him by the hand and sit him down and tell him everything would be ok. To be honest, he would be even more terrified if that had been the case, but the arm she wrapped him was unsettling either way. And yes, he definitely noticed how strong her grip was, not only did it rival Major Armstrong's, but it was downright forceful.

He swallowed hard, face paling as he giving Hawkeye the most apologetic look he could muster. This shouldn't have involved her at all, but she was here and Ed couldn't play along with her fabricated story. He might have unintentionally screwed them both over.]

S-sure.

[She doesn't miss how pale both of them had grown and wonders how bad it really was. For a moment, she considers letting them tell her in their own time, but realizes how soft that would make her, and she couldn't be soft, especially not in a place like this. So she leads Edward away, keeping her grip on his all the same so that he can't wriggle away, because if he does, she knows Riza wouldn't hesitate to put a stop to this interrogation.]

Once we get to my house, I'll tell you my plan first. I think it will relive some of our worries.

Edited 2011-09-02 17:32 (UTC)

[Hayate huffed at being left where he was sitting. He'd have stayed mad with the Lady General for taking Ed away when he noticed that Mommy looked upset, and so did Ed. And the Lady General looked a lot happier than everyone else.

Riza snapped to get Hayate's attention, her frown deepening. Every single instinct she had was telling her to get out of this situation before it could get any worse, but she couldn't leave Edward to handle General Armstrong alone. So begrudgingly, she followed, still attempting to think of a way out of this situation.] Hayate, come.

[They walked back to Olivier's house in relative silence. Ed, for one, didn't say a word the entire way there, trying to ignore the firm grip on his shoulders. Lieutenant Hawkeye was following them as well and Black Hayate kept running back and forth between her and Ed, trotting along beside both of them for various intervals in an attempt to make them feel a bit better.

As soon as they reached the house, they were all ushered inside without a moment's hesitation and led to the living room. Olivier took her arm off his shoulders. She wouldn't have to worry about him trying to escape now. Not that he was going to in the first place. All three of them took a seat and Ed shifted uncomfortably in the tense quiet that followed.]

Olivier waited until they were seated, and then eyed them wearily.

Fullmetal, why don't we test your alchemy first. I was thinking...apparently we can't tunnel out, but we can tunnel. So, I thought we should make an underground training and meeting place that fam connect to important houses. Just to keep away print eyes.

[Hawkeye stood and watched. She was currently just an accessory in the room, it felt, but she wouldn't leave Edward. Her nerves were not being eased by the small voice in the back of her mind that reminded her how powerful alchemists could be--even ones who had committed themselves to doing good.]

[and finally he speaks]

... That's not a bad idea. Wouldn't be that difficult either.

[She nods and leads the way to the backyard. Edward and Riza might notice that a corner of the backyard is now full of freshly planted daisies.]

I want the meeting place to be back here, but we can't go having whoever decides to walk around the backyard falling into it. [She's gesturing to the lawn.] And, I can't have those daisies dying.

I figure we can have tunnels connecting other houses so that we don't catch the attention of unwanted eyes through masses of warriors showing up at my place of residence once a week. [That's right, she can't call it her house quite yet.]

The tunnels will work well, but we'll need to devise a way that an entrance from inside the house to the tunnel isn't easy to find.

[Hawkeye can talk about tunnels. Talking about tunnels doesn't require the discussion of what Armstrong seems to really want to discuss, and that's good.]

We wouldn't want newcomers to stumble upon the entrance.

That won't be a problem. I can make it look like there isn't an entrance at all. You might want to put something on the wall there so you don't forget where it is.

[This is Major Olivier Mira Armstrong, she doesn't need to be reminded where things are!]

Would you like to work from the basement then?

Edited 2011-09-05 01:18 (UTC)

[Oh great. The basement, where nobody will hear them attempting to get away.]

I suppose if that is where the tunnels are going to lead to that would be the only logical choice, General.

[... shit.]

It would make sense.

[Olivier led them back into the house and down into the basement, taking them to the wall that would face the backyard if they weren't underground.]

I suppose we should stand back.

[She doesn't bother locking the basement door. She knows if Ed was going to try and escape locks wouldn't stop him.]

[Riza takes a step back, Hayate on her heels. As Olivier does the same, she shoots the woman a questioning look. Really? Did you really need to suggest that we stand back? I've worked with an alchemist for fifteen years, I know when to stay out of the way thank you..

Hayate whimpers, starting to sense the tension in the air.]

[good idea.

Ed stands in front of the wall for a moment in thought as he worked out the details of the transmutation in his head. he takes a deep breath, claps his hands together and presses them to the wall. electric blue light spreads outward from his hands, crackling as it dances across the surface.

mere seconds later Ed pulls away, but it doesn't look he actually did anything. The wall looks exactly the same, showing no signs of being tampered with. he cracks his knuckles, pushes against it and then the wall moves backwards and to the side revealing a small tunnel wide enough for at least six people to walk side by side. the ceiling is just as high and accommodating as the basement, but the tunnel itself only extends a few yards.

he allows himself a small smile.]

Not too bad.

Edited 2011-09-05 04:14 (UTC)

[Olivier grins and grabs a nearby flashlight. Edward had relaxed considerably during his transmutation, and she was sure Riza would follow as long as she thought the kid was in danger, so she shoved Edward into the passage and pulled the door closed, pleased with herself when Riza jumped in.

Before he can get his bearings, Olivier has one of his hands, just so that he can't transmute a way out. She turns on the flashlight.]

So, this seems like a cozy place for our little chat about your trauma.

Edited 2011-09-05 04:23 (UTC)

[Riza glares in the darkness of the newly formed tunnel. It was dark, but her eyes adjusted quickly. Years of working in a dark tower alone granted her at least that skill.

But it did not grant her skill in interrogations, and she knew what that was coming. So, because it seemed like a good idea, she walked up to Armstrong, standing just a meter or so away, and tried to make herself look just a teensy bit more intimidating ~~though really she's not feeling intimidating at all because she knows what's coming and that there is literally no way to avoid it. That won't stop her from trying!~~]

Leave Edward alone.

[Please? ;-; ]

[Ed wasn't expecting that at all. He figured he might hear something along the lines of "good job" or "nice work". Getting shoved into the passage he just made? Nope. Did not expect that. Probably should have. No, he definitely should have, but it was too late for that. Oliver had closed the door and grabbed his hand before he could steady himself. He wouldn't have tried to get away, it would have been pointless, but this ensured that he wouldn't be able to. Showed him that he was not the one in control right now.

The color drained from his face as his eyes flicked upwards to meet hers. He really didn't want to talk about this. Not yet. Not here. Ed knew he couldn't hide it forever and he didn't want to either, but this was not the way he wanted Oliver to find out about what happened.

He swallowed hard when Riza spoke up. Why... why was she still defending him?]

No, Lieutenant. It's fine. Really.

Edited 2011-09-06 03:19 (UTC)

[She loosens her grip on his hand, she can tell from his voice and the look in his eyes that he isn't going to fight. She gives Riza a hard look.]

Does this have something to do with the event?

It is not fine, Edward.

[It is in fact anything but fine. Had Edward made the decision to tell of his own accord, that would be fine--even if Riza wouldn't agree with the idea. She levels her gaze with Olivier, frowning. But she knows that lying will do them no good here, and she quickly averts her gaze. That wasn't quite an answer, but the action itself spoke loud enough.]

[he looks down, wincing slightly at the tone of her voice.

Ed nods silently. yes, Olivier, it most certainly does.]

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That comment is below the belt about 50-million different ways, just fyi

scream. Olivier you are horrible. BRB PANICKING FOREVER.

Don't Panic, she can sense that!

Sense away, Olivier. Also, totally tagging mostly as Hayate.

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clocking in soon...godmodding is ok

FFFF sorry I didn't even think you had posted Aly -_-;;;; I would've tagged during the day

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Yay for the tag in which Hawkeye does nothing!

Re: Yay for the tag in which Hawkeye does nothing!

Heck Yes, Interrogation time

/terror has

Re: /terror has

she feels kind of bad...

As well she should. Jerk.

now now children, don't fight