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Post by crystalblackpaws on Dec 30, 2008 17:14:52 GMT
Elric, Edward, thief, brat, little girl, freak, nosy.
The words pounded inside her skull, but none of them meant anything. Sinking her teeth into the soft bread she managed to sort through some of the things she had been called today. Edward Elric, why did that name keep showing up? It sounded like a guys name, and she most certainly wasn't wasn't a guy. And she most certainly wasn't little either. She swallowed and let her eye lids slide over her bright red eyes for a moment. Central, she had finally made it. And she had already made enemies. Heh, wait till dinner. She opened her eyes and stood up. Her legs wobbled slightly but she soon regained her balance. She brushed some crumbs off her jacket. She let her arms down to her side and let her eyes follow her right hand. As if seeing something no one else could she tightened her fingers and released them. An extension of my arm? She held her arm up as it to grab the sun. An yet every landing, every time I run, it only gets in my way. She put her arm down as the sleeve dared to slide away. Even with years of practice she was still off balance, leaning constantly to far to the right.
Pulling the jacket tighter she walked to the edge of the building, peering slowly around the corner. No familiar faces, and with that she walked out. A gentle breeze managed to sneak through the buildings and tugged at her hair. She had taken the clip out and let her hair hang down naturally for once, with all the crashes she had today she was glad she had. If the clip got damaged she would never have forgiven herself for being so careless. She didn't even know why the stupid thing meant so much to her, but she kept it with her at all times. Alot of things didn't make sense any more, the only thing she truly understood was stealing and surviving.
The end of her jacket fluttered out behind her, making her hard to miss. And yet mostly she avoided all the eyes of others. She could feel them digging into her skull, lips twitching as she held back the urge to scream. It's like they had never seen a girl before, or perhaps a girl wandering the streets of Central. Maybe in time she will find out who this Elric kid is, or perhaps was, and why they mention him when she's around, but for now she was content just enjoying the sights. |
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Post by hawkeye on Feb 22, 2009 18:31:34 GMT
A small dog was charging down the street with a leash flapping wildly behind him, it was very obvious the dog was no stray, his glossy coat and collar could attest to this… Also the furious blond running after him was a bit of a give away. “Black Hayate, heel!” The little dog for once paid his master no heed, this in itself was unusual, the dog was no longer a pup and was about as well trained as they came… but everyone made mistakes, Riza included. Someone once told her that nothing was perfect, but that’s what made it all the more beautiful, right now she would argue with that point, chasing after a hyper young dog was not beautiful. “Hayate, in!” Sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder why the hell she’d said she’d take him, it was true none of the others were suitable, and it was also true that she was probably the most capable in training him… Or she had been until this at least.
It wasn’t that Riza was unfit, she was anything but in fact, however run a couple of miles through a crowded are tended to wear very thin very quickly. “Get back here!” This time her tone was fringed with more frustration than previously, to be honest this likely had something to do with the fact he had rounded yet another corner, probably around the 15th, but she wasn’t sure anymore, she’d lost count about half an hour ago. Every turn was the same really, never going anywhere, never seeing anything interesting. As it turned out though this one was different, the first thing she noticed was Hayate jumping up excitedly at some blond, said blond look disturbingly familiar to her… The blond had a strangely strikingly similar appearance to that of Fullmetal. “Excuse me!... Could you please take hold of his lead?!”
Picking up her pace somewhat she approached the young blond she stopped in front of her with rosy cheeks… “Sorry about that…” If she had any regard for those painfully familiar red eyes she didn’t show it on her stoic face. “1st Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye.” She offered the youth a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you miss.” Shifting her vision to the dog that stood silently behind the young girl she sighed and shook her head. “Hayate, here…” This time the dog complied and came to sit in front of her with his head hung low. “Bad dog!” Leaning down she took the dog by his scruff and lifted him so his face was in front of hers. “You know better, and you know what happens now.” She shook her head as the dog gave her a pleading look, working with Roy Mustang she had long since become immune to said look… |
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Post by crystalblackpaws on Feb 22, 2009 19:03:58 GMT
All was relatively calm, at least until a dog turned the corner ahead, yapping loudly. It began down this street, and headed straight for her, but it actually stopped, well it was still jumping around like mad but it wasn't running any more. First thing she noticed was he had a leash, and sure enough as soon as she noticed that a voice called.
Excuse me!... Could you please take hold of his lead?!
She blinked with surprise and grabbed the leash. She handed the leash over as the women got closer. Her eye twitched slightly as she noticed that she was wearing the uniform of the military. And who's going to grab your leash? She growled in her mind. She had never been fond of any one who so willingly threw their lives into some one else's hands. Despite her raging emotions she managed to keep a calm face.
Sorry about that…
She nodded slightly. It's okay, could have happened to any one. She in truth was alittle disappointed the dog had headed for her. She had been hoping to find a nice place to rest, or maybe practice her aim.
1st Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye.
She grudgingly to the womans hand, almost completely forgetting which hand she had just offered. It was highly unlikely that this Riza person had ever met some one in her boat, but if she had than some unwanted questions might be raised. She acted with a cool head for once. But then, the matter of name. She ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. Maybe if she just avoided it she wouldn't have to answer. As always when she was holding something back her fingers twitched, making faint snapping sounds.
It’s a pleasure to meet you miss.
If you knew who's hand you just shook you wouldn't be saying that ... Her thoughts trailed off, she was a criminal plain and simple. Like wise. She managed to smile pleasantly.
Hayate, here…
She watched the dog, gritting her teeth. It was wrong to keep anything tied back, but then again animals had always been kept as pets. Perhaps she felt such a strange relationship with the animals due to her treatment in younger years, and even the name she had taken on.
You know better, and you know what happens now.
Something about that made her spine tingle, but she would not intervene. She was merely a bystander, at least for now thats all. |
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Post by hawkeye on Feb 22, 2009 19:58:38 GMT
Taking the leash she nodded her head gratefully. “Thank you.” What had gotten into him? Such behaviour really was not like him at all… Perhaps there was something wrong with him…
It's okay, could have happened to any one.
It shouldn’t have, none of this should have happened. “Yes, I suppose so.” Whilst shaking the girls hand Riza was somewhat surprised to find the hand was not actually a hand in the sense of flesh, instead it was of metal… Auto-mail? How interesting, it had been a long while since Riza had had any contact with a wearer, in fact it had likely not been since she had last seen Edward… It did tug at her interest of course, for a child to lose a limb at such an age was rare, but the girl had done nothing wrong, so Riza had no need to push the subject further.
Like wise.
Inclining her head to the girls smile, it seemed false though, hollow. It wasn’t uncommon for people to hate those within the military, they often presumed they had given their soul, indeed some had… Her reasoning had been different though, all she’d wanted was peace, but she never bothered to explain this. Sometimes she simply found it easier to allow people to hold onto that petty hate, it was rarely worth the effort and could just fuel the distaste.
The dog in her hands tilted his head to the side slightly, as if asking what she had in mind for him. “You’re sleeping in your own bed…” It wasn’t a very severe punishment (even though it merited a small whine from him), yet it worked well with the small dog, he preferred the warmth and company hers provided. To Riza physically harming and animal without a true reason was uncalled for, indeed she’d not once struck Hayate and in truth she probably never would. By no means was Riza soft, her disciplinary methods were harsh to the individual enduring them, yet rarely did they involve actual physical pain… Usually all she needed was to aim one of her guns at said individual, it more often than not got the point across very quickly.
Setting him back on the floor she gave him a quick scratch behind the ear, earning some furious tail wagging from the dogs. “Silly thing,” her voice was softer than before. “You could have gotten hurt…” With a small sigh she stood and watched the girl for a moment, she was so young, 10 or 12 at the most, why was she alone? Surely no parent would let a child so young walk around the city alone? “Are you lost?” She didn’t seem it, she seemed to know exactly where she was… For one she didn’t have that forlorn ‘I have no idea where I am’ look… But she hadn’t given a name and her finger snapping seemed to be a nervous tick, throwing up mistrust, did she actually have anyone? |
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Post by crystalblackpaws on Feb 22, 2009 21:09:04 GMT
Yes, I suppose so.
So far so good, no questions, no strange looks. If all went well she would be able to walk away with no harm done. She curled her toes slightly, if for once one day could go by with out any trouble she would be amazed.
You’re sleeping in your own bed…
She tilted her head slightly, that didn't seem bad and yet the dog didn't seem happy. Such an innocent creature, isolated from the problems of the world.
Silly thing, You could have gotten hurt…
She bit her tongue at this. Even the animal got better care than her. Even when she lived with her uncle, life had never been easy. But that was behind her now. Even if she wanted some on beside her there could be no one. Her family was gone, and she always had to run away before she could make friends.
Are you lost?
Looking at the ground she muttered. Yes ... Shaking her head she looked up. N-no! She started to twitch her fingers again. She steadied her hands and placed them through her hair. Even if I was, it wouldn't really matter. She let out a small chuckle, though it pained her to even stay calm. She lowered her hands and closed her fingers. Now was not the time to have a mental break down. I ... I should be going now. She turned around when faint voices reached her ears.
Haven't seen her, no sorry. Couldn't have gotten far.
On second thought I'll stay here. What was worse, some angry shop owners or a military lady? Right now she would take her chances with Riza. |
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Post by hawkeye on Feb 22, 2009 23:30:25 GMT
Yes ... N-no!
Quirking a brow at the girl’s apparent indecisivenes Riza wasn’t exactly sure what to say… That was a first perhaps; Riza was usually fast off the bat with a sharp retort, but this kid… She seemed nervous now, unsure as to what to do next, for some reason that pulled at Riza. By her co-workers she was seen as outwardly cold, icy even, yet she did have her soft spots. Children and animals in trouble being perhaps the worst of them, it was naturally a seldom known fact due to Riza constantly playing her card close to her chest, she was a private woman though an through.
Even if I was, it wouldn't really matter. I ... I should be going now.
She believed that, Riza could see it… “Yes it would,” she stated firmly. From her voice it was obvious Riza wasn’t going to change her opinion on the matter, this young girl whose name she knew not could have argued that matter with Riza all she wanted. She would have lost, no ifs and most definitely no buts. “If you believe that then things will only get worse for you.” Perhaps she wouldn’t have said this had she known what the girl had been through, perhaps but unlikely. Riza tended to be somewhat blunt when it came to others opinions of themselves, working with a man traumatized by war she had simply become accustomed to it.
Haven't seen her, no sorry. Couldn't have gotten far.
Wha… Her thoughts were interrupted as the girl spoke once more.
On second thought I'll stay here.
Furrowing her brow slight, was it just a coincidence that those voices had sounded before the question, or was there more to it? “Is someone looking for you?” She managed to keep any hints of suspicion from her words, again something she had learned from years within the military. “And I didn’t get your name.” Whilst it was true was now prying her tone of voice simply suggested she was but making idle conversation with the girl, though it was actually true that Riza’s version of idle chat was usually addressed in the same manner as a serious meeting. It was a rather disconcerting thing to be on the end of. |
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Post by crystalblackpaws on Feb 24, 2009 2:02:13 GMT
Yes it would, If you believe that then things will only get worse for you.
She frowned at this. Worse? She would have made some rude comment about how it couldn't possibly get worse, but she left it for the moment.
Is someone looking for you?
Depends on your definition of looking for ...
And I didn’t get your name.
Ah yes that ... uhm just call me Lucky. Almost by instinct her right hand pushed the jacket away, fingers curling slightly. She bit her lip, now was not the time to act with out thinking. She curled her lower lip slightly, she doubted Riza would 'look' the other way if she was to do something rash right now.
To stop herself from doing something stupid she bit own on her hand. Ghhh... I can't do this ... I can't do this. Lips twitched as she glanced around. The only open path was to go around. She was ready to dart off and figured she would at least leave with words. Well glad to help you with your dog. She did a small farewell gesture and was about to spring away when her foot snagged and she tumbled forward. Gnah! Her arm driven sharply into her chest, and face hitting the ground. She groaned and gasped for air as blood tricked from her nose.
S...stupid... Shaking she tried to stand but her ragged breaths limited her motion. Her free arm reached for her belt, she would not be kicked when down.
She dragged her knees up, ready to get up, though her other half did not wish to be moved. Eyes darted around, had they caught up yet? Was she safe? So many questions raged inside her head. Although her left arm was clearly uninjured she did not move it from her side. Well this is demeaning. Her right arm supported her front completely, putting quite a bit of stress on it. But right now she wasn't thinking about that.
She ran her tongue along her upper lip, clearing some of the salty subtance. She always thought of blood as your flow of life, like the water flowing through the rivers, it gave a constant flow to keep you alive. She had much time to think these things over, and often over thought them.
[OOC: Not great D: Brain fart] |
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Post by hawkeye on Feb 24, 2009 22:54:34 GMT
Worse?
The girl obviously hadn’t understood her meaning fully… Folding her arms across her chest Riza nodded her head to her slightly. “If you don’t value yourself no one will.” Sometimes you had to hold your head high to get others to respect you, if you were meek and gave in you would soon be penalised for it. The world was a cruel place, it was a lesson that started being learned at a young age, and perhaps the most valuable one there was.
Depends on your definition of looking for...
Riza refrained from raising her brow, how many definitions of the term were there? Only one proper one, to seek, and that was what Riza had meant… The evasion the girl was showing to her was somewhat suspicious, but she was a child speaking to an adult, one in the military to boot. Had the roles been reversed Riza would have been somewhat similar, after all, even now she wasn’t exactly open, nor straight forward. Even those close to her found it difficult to understand her, still, the way this child was acting; it was different, perhaps wrong in a way… She seemed so on edge, confused and torn, something was telling her to leave, yet something else told her to stay. It seemed to Riza this girl had some kind of inner conflict going on…
Ah yes that ... uhm just call me Lucky.
Riza nodded her head at the girl slightly. “Its a nice name.” Had it come from anyone else that may have seemed sarcastic, mocking even, but Riza was not known for her naming skills, after all she had named her dog Black Hayate. It wasn’t exactly what you would call a common name, but she liked it, and he probably wasn’t to bothered what she called him as long as she looked after him. Which she would, friends, family (what little she had) or pets, she’d never see harm come to them, not whilst she was able to prevent it at least…
Ghhh... I can't do this ... I can't do this… Well glad to help you with your dog.
Watching in mild concern Riza contemplated restraining the girl from further harming herself, though quickly thought better of it. From what Riza could tell Lucky would most likely not appreciate that in the least… ”Hmm, thank you for your assistance.” She gave a small wave to the girl and was about to take a step forward until she heard a thump followed by a groan from the girl… Looks like things weren’t going to be so easy she thought not unkindly.
S...stupid...
With a small sigh she turned around and walked toward Lucky. “Everyone makes mistakes…” Rummaging around in her pocket for a moment she quickly pulled out a handkerchief and offering it to the child. “Its clean…” She paused watching the girls hand slip back to her belt, fingers twitching slightly as if knowing exactly what was going on… “Please don’t make me do something I’ll regret, Lucky.” In all honesty she had no wish to hurt the child, even if she had a gun there was little chance she was fully adept in the use of it… When it came down to it Riza would pull her own trigger if she had no choice, though she would be loathed to do it…. |
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Post by crystalblackpaws on Feb 25, 2009 0:59:46 GMT
If you don’t value yourself no one will.
She grumbled in annoyance, no one did now and she doubted they would start.
Its a nice name.
She blinked, did she honestly think that?
Everyone makes mistakes…
She coughed. Mistakes yes. But I can't afford mistakes. She manged to force herself so her butt rested on her feet. She took the offered handkerchief, perhaps she would have to admit defeat.
It's clean.
She nodded slowly and held it to her nose.
Please don’t make me do something I’ll regret, Lucky
She closed her hand and brought it to her lap. Regret ... regret what? She gritted her teeth. Tears threatened to fall but the managed to hold them back. For those who have the luxury of know their whole life maybe ... but anything would be better than darkness. She wrinkled her nose and dabbed at it again.
Through raged breathes she looked up, her eyes showing the raging emotion inside. Why don't you just leave? Though the question itself was acusing her voice was confused, almost scared that she would be left here. She wheezed as she tried to stand up, the pain worse than any injury. She managed to get to her feet, legs shaking, but she balanced long enough to stand up staight. Heh ... s-see good as ... new. Her knees stung as the fabric brushed against them, leaving her to think her nose wasn't the only victim.
She blinked and noticed a bit of blood had dripped onto her lower lip. She was far from attractive right now. She licked it off quickly and rubbed her eyes. ... Do... do you want the truth? She wobbled slightly before regaining her balance. I... I've never told any one before. She whipper under her nose where the blood now mixed with tears. But n-no one h-has ever cared. J-just another r-rodent to chase a-away. Her hands folded together and she looked down at the ground. She felt exposed, but it felt better than bottling it all away. |
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Post by hawkeye on Feb 26, 2009 17:05:59 GMT
Mistakes yes. But I can't afford mistakes.
It was odd that in some ways Riza saw herself in this child, she too felt unable to make mistakes, and when she did they always weighed heavily upon her heart… If she made mistakes people usually got hurt, and it wasn’t always her who suffered the pain, it was that aspect of the failure she could not bare. When those close to her got hurt because of her it felt as if her whole world had fallen in on itself, as of yet this had happened once, just once… But the thought of that night still haunted her regularly. “… A wise man once told me something, Lucky. ‘There is no such thing as perfection. This world itself is imperfect. That's what makes it so beautiful.’” Pausing for a moment she ran her fingers through her fringe before looking to the sky. “He made me realise that everything makes mistakes, and that’s how it should be.” Truthfully she still blamed herself, she possibly always would deep down, but she would always be thankful to him for forgiving her…
Regret ... regret what? For those who have the luxury of know their whole life maybe ... but anything would be better than darkness.
She truly was a curiosity, this Lucky seemed to speak in riddles… As if she perhaps wished to speak, yet something was stopping her… The way she spoke made Riza suspect some kind of abuse, or something terrible had happened. She didn’t have her memory though, and that metal limb… Was it possible that this girl… Yes, perhaps she had tried human alchemy, after all Alphonse had lost his memory… So it was possible… “Perhaps…” Or perhaps not. Nothing was better than death, that was the eternal darkness, the one that would eventfully claim everything. It was the one thing that one day all would suffer, to want it to come prematurely was foolish, foolish and wrong.
Why don't you just leave?
Layers within layers, if you looked hard enough you could see the girls fear and confusion… Confusion that a totally stranger seemed happy enough to help her perhaps? It was probably something like that… “Because it would be wrong of me to.” It was a simple statement, and one that gave little real reason, but that was just Riza. Ask her a question and there was the chance she’d worm around it to a degree you couldn’t really argue with. She had after all given a reason had she not? It was something that served her well often a time, she could simply evade the true meaning of the question put to her, in effect she could lie by telling the truth. Funny old world.
Heh ... s-see good as ... new… Do... do you want the truth?... I... I've never told any one before… But n-no one h-has ever cared. J-just another r-rodent to chase a-away.
Even she couldn’t help but frown slightly at Lucky’s words, a rodent was a pest, vermin, and sure some humans were just plain annoying, but never worthless. If she were to believe a human could be a rodent then she could believe that Ishbal had been acceptable, which she didn’t, and never would. “Lucky, some people are unkind… You seem to have learned this, but that doesn’t mean that every human is out to get you.” Looking to Hayate for a moment she sighed, how had a child been pushed to this? “You are not a rodent.” Shaking her head in annoyance she dropped to look Lucky in the eyes. “I’ll listen to you if you wish, but not here.” After Hayate’s little stunt she had been left without her lunch, it seemed she would be eating out today. “I’m on my lunch break, you are more than welcome to join me for something to eat.” She smiled softly at the girl before straightening up. “Call it a thank you for helping with Black Hayate.” |
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Post by crystalblackpaws on Feb 27, 2009 2:22:42 GMT
… A wise man once told me something, Lucky. ‘There is no such thing as perfection. This world itself is imperfect. That's what makes it so beautiful.’ He made me realize that everything makes mistakes, and that’s how it should be.
She blinked slowly. It made sense and yet she refused to accept it.
Lucky, some people are unkind… You seem to have learned this, but that doesn’t mean that every human is out to get you.
She sniffled and dabbed her nose again. But I always seem to run into the ones who are.
You are not a rodent.
Despite the look on her face (which as positively sour), she was feeling better, she had been noticed, and treated like a child.
I’ll listen to you if you wish, but not here.
She nodded, she took a shaky step forward, hoping that where ever they went she wouldn't be recognized.
I’m on my lunch break, you are more than welcome to join me for something to eat. Call it a thank you for helping with Black Hayate.
She smiled. Thanks She cleared her eyes and seemed to be relaxed. She twitched slightly, there was something she had to mention now. Um ... Lieutenant ... Riza? There's something that ... um might affect where we eat. She twiddled her thumbs. Several shop owners ... aren't on best terms with me ... Her lips twitched as she grinned slightly, teeth chattered as she looked nervously up at her. Despite her 'I'm innocent' face it was clear that there was more to the simple girl than meets the eye.
She jumped slightly as she felt her pants slide down her hip, her belt having been knocked loose with the fall. The metallic feeling against her skin causing emotions to swarm through her head. She bit her lip in an attempt to force them down. |
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Post by hawkeye on Mar 3, 2009 22:22:38 GMT
But I always seem to run into the ones who are.
“Lucky, my job means I always run into people who wish to kill me and those close to me, yet sometimes you must simply learn to live with it… You’ll understand this one day.” It was sad in a way that someone so young felt like this, but it was life, and despite the fact that things were changing life was still cruel. Okay, so not every aspect held that ridged bitterness it once did, but for some things had not changed, in fact they may simply have gotten worse. With Bradley gone things had just gone to hell until things started to smooth over, but then that business with the other worldly human machines had thrown things into disarray once more… At least Mustang had returned, that was some small positive to all the destruction that had been caused.
Thanks… Um... Lieutenant... Riza? There's something that ... um might affect where we eat. Several shop owners ... aren't on best terms with me...
Comprehending Lucky’s words Riza quirked her brow, it was a damn good job she was off duty, else she’d have been forced to arrest the girl… Not something she would have enjoyed by any stretch. “You pick somewhere then, I have no preference.” She really didn’t, having spent many an occasion in areas with food that was less than fabulous she’d soon learnt to shut up and eat what you were given, something was always better than nothing, right? Indeed on many an occasion it was, however there was one thing that not even she would consume… Briggs’ coffee, even she found the stuff to be vile, it was just so… So detestable… Yes, that was most definitely not something she would be drinking any time soon.
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Ugh, sorry but my muse for this thread has died a serious death... |
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