[Now that things have settled down - there are still guards swarming the city but at least none of them are pointing a sword directly at her chest - Riza takes the time to sit down and send out a few messages of appreciation.]
Hello Sieglinde. Thank you for your help in setting up the medical station during the break-in the other day. I hope you managed to stay safe throughout it all.
[She was physically and emotionally exhausted from the healing both magical and mundane she'd done the last few days, but she at least makes an effort to appear more put together.]
There is no need to thank me. Thanks to the efforts of others I was able to remain safe.
[For someone so young, Sieglinde's composure is great,far greater than Riza's seen in people twice her age. It's admirable, enough that Riza dignifies it by not commenting upon the exhaustion evident in the lines of her face.]
You were able to do what not many of us here are able to do.
[Simple cuts she might be able to disinfect and bandage, but Sieglinde's abilities and knowledge far surpass hers. Those are skills Riza highly values, especially when her own skills lie in producing the exact opposite.]
I'm fine for the moment, though walking openly through town has become difficult. [Curse those ultra-alert patrols marching through.] But if there's anything you need, let me know. There's a few of us who have free movement still.
[She definitely appreciates it not being brought up- it's harder to act mature when people actually call you out, after all.]
I did what I could.
[And she's acutely aware that it's all she can do, which is what makes her expression more sullen, a bit more somber. After all, once the runes had all been taken out... if it weren't for Sebastian's protection...]
- and you are uninjured? If there are any items you or yours need, I can provide them if you can make it to my workshop.
[Thankfully, Riza's not much worse for the wear, shaking her her head in mollification.]
Only several bruises and cuts. [Far more minor than the injuries she'd sustained way back in the day.] I wouldn't wish to bother you over such minor things.
[There are other who've sustained far greater injuries and on whom Sieglinde's time and effort might be better spent. Most of them seem to be recuperating well now, in need mostly of plenty of nourishment and rest rather than in-depth medical attention.]
There are several of us of fetching supplies on a regular basis. We seem to be able to get everything we've needed so far, but I'll contact you if anything arises. [More importantly:] Is there anything that you want or need that we can get for you?
[Someone better have been bringing Sieglinde food and keeping her company....]
[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}
backdated to 12/7; BREAKS IN YOUR IC INBOX
Hello Sieglinde. Thank you for your help in setting up the medical station during the break-in the other day. I hope you managed to stay safe throughout it all.
;///;
[She was physically and emotionally exhausted from the healing both magical and mundane she'd done the last few days, but she at least makes an effort to appear more put together.]
There is no need to thank me. Thanks to the efforts of others I was able to remain safe.
[Thanks to Sebastian, mostly.]
And yourself? Have you been compromised?
;
You were able to do what not many of us here are able to do.
[Simple cuts she might be able to disinfect and bandage, but Sieglinde's abilities and knowledge far surpass hers. Those are skills Riza highly values, especially when her own skills lie in producing the exact opposite.]
I'm fine for the moment, though walking openly through town has become difficult. [Curse those ultra-alert patrols marching through.] But if there's anything you need, let me know. There's a few of us who have free movement still.
no subject
I did what I could.
[And she's acutely aware that it's all she can do, which is what makes her expression more sullen, a bit more somber. After all, once the runes had all been taken out... if it weren't for Sebastian's protection...]
- and you are uninjured? If there are any items you or yours need, I can provide them if you can make it to my workshop.
[She hasn't left it in days herself.]
no subject
Only several bruises and cuts. [Far more minor than the injuries she'd sustained way back in the day.] I wouldn't wish to bother you over such minor things.
[There are other who've sustained far greater injuries and on whom Sieglinde's time and effort might be better spent. Most of them seem to be recuperating well now, in need mostly of plenty of nourishment and rest rather than in-depth medical attention.]
There are several of us of fetching supplies on a regular basis. We seem to be able to get everything we've needed so far, but I'll contact you if anything arises. [More importantly:] Is there anything that you want or need that we can get for you?
[Someone better have been bringing Sieglinde food and keeping her company....]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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?
no subject
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?]
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
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?
no subject
... Funny.]
It is I asking you for aid, so I will make myself available, patients willing.
no subject
[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?
no subject
[Though a part of her thought Sebastian might object... So.]
And ALASTAIR has recently granted me a... Peculiar beast. I should not have trouble.
no subject
'Peculiar beast?'
no subject
... 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.]
no subject
It is strong enough to bear my weight, yes.
[Its just... Not trained yet, really.]
no subject
How do early afternoons sound for you? Patients allowing, of course.
no subject
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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