[And she won't press the matter- after all, she didn't think the older woman the type to lie about her injuries, and if they were as superficial as that then it wouldn't be right to waste the supplies from a logical standpoint.
But there is something she's considering asking, and it maks her reply to the question a bit slow.]
Once the prison break began I was not in the area, so I don't think I should encounter any trouble.
[But she hasn't left her workshop since the incident so she can't say for sure]
... You said you were a military officer, correct?
[Back then, when she'd asked people to share their skills.]
[With any luck, the guards sniffing about for any hint of the escaped prisoners won't pay any mind to a small girl, hardly able to stand on her own let alone fight. Whatever other thoughts Riza might have on the subject are halted momentarily by Sieglinde's question.]
That's correct. I serve as an officer in the State Military in my country of Amestris.
['Serve' not 'served'; there's no doubt in her mind that she'll find some way to return to Central after all this is said and done.]
[Why was she asking, anyway. It was a good question- but after all that had happened... After she'd needed to rely on so many others for her protection... Riza just happened to be not only someone she considered steady and reliable, but the person she'd ended up talking to when the thoughts were stewing in her head.]
I was wondering what it was the military of your country used- as weapons, I mean.
[She'd seen those things before, after all. Guns. Stared down the barrel of one not long ago. Ciel was just as small as she was, (okay, slightly taller, but), but he had used something like that to protect them. Did this woman use the same?]
[It could be a simple enough question asked out of idle curiosity, but Sieglinde had never struck her as the type of person to ask for the sake of asking. The shift in conversation has Riza's lips settling into a frown, but she answers truthfully enough.]
For the most part we use various firearms, though there are some people who are more comfortable with swords and traditional bladed weapons.
[And, because it only makes sense to give her own experience:] My own proficiency is with firearms, both long-distance rifles and handguns.
[Kind of hard to snipe people with a short stubby sword.]
There's a long pause between replies as she considers whether to ask, if she really wanted to do that. If she really wanted to have anything to do with weapons, when she'd been raised from birth unwittingly to have her intelligence used as one. For her country. For the glory of the military.
But if she could... She could protect herself, couldn't she? So others wouldn't have to?]
[Riza waits patiently through the length of the silence, anticipating some heavy question to arrive at the end of it. She's not disappointed, though she is surprised by the request, lips thinning as she follows up the first pause with one of her own.
She's seen children fight, heart aching even though she'd understood the necessity of the situation. She'd given Edward a gun without any prompting less than a few months ago. This is hardly a request she can deny simply on principle.
There's a question that she needs to counter with first, before she agrees to anything.]
What would you do with that knowledge?
[Voice carefully neutral, all judgment suspended for the time being.]
Protect myself so that everyone else doesn't have to.
[That answer, at least, comes without pause or waver. She had no desire to hurt anyone... But she also had no desire to see people hurt on her behalf.]
[Sieglinde's answer is the one she'd hoped to hear, though the words do little to soothe the ache inside at the thought of another child taking up arms. Closing her eyes, she lets a few heartbeats pass before she replies.]
It won't be easy, and I can't promise you'll hit your target every single time.
[But she won't refuse, not if Sieglinde's determined to learn.]
I am a witch, Riza Hawkeye. I do not balk at that which is not easy.
[She had, admittedly, never encountered anything she didn't take to easily... But that's because those had all been pursuits of the mind. Physical learning is entirely new to her... But she had the stubbornness to not balk from the possibility of practice or hard work.]
[The word 'debt' has her lips twisting downwards, a brief pang of discomfort shooting through her. She owes a bigger debt than can be repaid to those who had fallen at her hands. This is hardly ample recompense in the least, but if she can help keep someone else safe, perhaps she'll be able to sleep easier at night.
It's a small step at least, one in a long string of many.]
Seeing you safe will be payment enough.
[There's no debt between them for this, not really.]
[Its funny. Aren't they both just struggling to find a way to pay back their debts? Riza for those she'd killed, and Sieglinde for the weapon she'd unknowingly created.
... Funny.]
It is I asking you for aid, so I will make myself available, patients willing.
[That much is easy enough to agree to. The patients will always come first, for the both of them. She lets a few moments of silence pass as she picks out and throws away times and places.]
It'll have to be in the outskirts, closer to the forest. [No point in terrifying the locals.] Will you be able to travel that far?
[ALASTAIR.....so generous and kind. Though Riza can't help but take a momentary step back from the conversation at hand at Sieglinde's particular description.]
[Really, she would define it more clearly if she could, but it's nothing she'd familiar with- so... She moved a bit in her chair to put the creature on the screen behind her, napping on the floor.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[And she won't press the matter- after all, she didn't think the older woman the type to lie about her injuries, and if they were as superficial as that then it wouldn't be right to waste the supplies from a logical standpoint.
But there is something she's considering asking, and it maks her reply to the question a bit slow.]
Once the prison break began I was not in the area, so I don't think I should encounter any trouble.
[But she hasn't left her workshop since the incident so she can't say for sure]
... You said you were a military officer, correct?
[Back then, when she'd asked people to share their skills.]
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That's correct. I serve as an officer in the State Military in my country of Amestris.
['Serve' not 'served'; there's no doubt in her mind that she'll find some way to return to Central after all this is said and done.]
Why do you ask?
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I was wondering what it was the military of your country used- as weapons, I mean.
[She'd seen those things before, after all. Guns. Stared down the barrel of one not long ago. Ciel was just as small as she was, (okay, slightly taller, but), but he had used something like that to protect them. Did this woman use the same?]
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For the most part we use various firearms, though there are some people who are more comfortable with swords and traditional bladed weapons.
[And, because it only makes sense to give her own experience:] My own proficiency is with firearms, both long-distance rifles and handguns.
[Kind of hard to snipe people with a short stubby sword.]
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There's a long pause between replies as she considers whether to ask, if she really wanted to do that. If she really wanted to have anything to do with weapons, when she'd been raised from birth unwittingly to have her intelligence used as one. For her country. For the glory of the military.
But if she could... She could protect herself, couldn't she? So others wouldn't have to?]
Are you able to teach me?
[When it comes out finally it's in a rush.]
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She's seen children fight, heart aching even though she'd understood the necessity of the situation. She'd given Edward a gun without any prompting less than a few months ago. This is hardly a request she can deny simply on principle.
There's a question that she needs to counter with first, before she agrees to anything.]
What would you do with that knowledge?
[Voice carefully neutral, all judgment suspended for the time being.]
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[That answer, at least, comes without pause or waver. She had no desire to hurt anyone... But she also had no desire to see people hurt on her behalf.]
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It won't be easy, and I can't promise you'll hit your target every single time.
[But she won't refuse, not if Sieglinde's determined to learn.]
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[She had, admittedly, never encountered anything she didn't take to easily... But that's because those had all been pursuits of the mind. Physical learning is entirely new to her... But she had the stubbornness to not balk from the possibility of practice or hard work.]
I will be in your debt.
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It's a small step at least, one in a long string of many.]
Seeing you safe will be payment enough.
[There's no debt between them for this, not really.]
Is there a time you'd like to begin?
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... Funny.]
It is I asking you for aid, so I will make myself available, patients willing.
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[That much is easy enough to agree to. The patients will always come first, for the both of them. She lets a few moments of silence pass as she picks out and throws away times and places.]
It'll have to be in the outskirts, closer to the forest. [No point in terrifying the locals.] Will you be able to travel that far?
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[Though a part of her thought Sebastian might object... So.]
And ALASTAIR has recently granted me a... Peculiar beast. I should not have trouble.
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'Peculiar beast?'
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... This.
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That's very interesting coloring. [And composition. Just look at that skull thing??] It looks sturdy enough to carry you around though.
[Which is probably the important part here anyway.]
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It is strong enough to bear my weight, yes.
[Its just... Not trained yet, really.]
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How do early afternoons sound for you? Patients allowing, of course.
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That will be fine with me.
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Would you be amenable to starting a few days now? There are a few things I need to take care of first.
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Of course- that will likewise give me time to finish dealing with the follow up care from the recent violence.
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I hope everyone makes a speedy recovery. Please try not to overwork yourself.
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[She always did- and she's sure Riza will in her own work as well.]
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I'll see you soon then, Sieglinde.