(no subject)

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee, awake in the wee hours of the night, is feeling a bit bored and frivolous.

So, he sits at the bar with a glass of gin, a mirror, and a catalogue of fashion sunglasses. Each time he comes across a pair that he likes, he asks the Bar for it so he can try them on, even taking selfies with his smartphone to see how he looks in photos with them.

It's an utterly vain way to pass the time. But whatever.

Eventually he collects a small pile of favorites, but can't decide which one to keep.

Comments

[i_am_your_host]

"Ah, well, if he's a legitimate threat, then I suppose it's your duty," he says. "Do you know what kind of alchemist he is?"

[deadeye_shot]

"He's called the Freezing Alchemist, because he manipulates the properties of water," Hawkeye says, neglecting to mention that he's been killing soldiers by boiling the water in their bodies. "He's quite skilled."

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh," he says, his eyebrows rising, "I can see how someone with those skills could be potentially lethal if they really wanted to be. I'm sure you and the Colonel have a plan to thwart him...?"

[deadeye_shot]

"So far, the plan is to track him down and disable his gauntlets, which is where he keeps his transmutation circles," Hawkeye says, looking like she wants to chew on her lower lip. "After that, we'll arrest him. I doubt things will go according to plan."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee frowns slightly, tilting his head. It's sounding more dangerous than he first thought.

"Have you known about him previously or is he a relatively new problem?"

[deadeye_shot]

"He joined a group of dissenters after the Ishvalan conflict, but this is the first time any of them have surfaced as a credible threat," Hawkeye says, a few strands of hair resting against her cheek. "We're keeping an eye on the group. Hopefully there's nothing more than ineffective grumbling. The Freezing Alchemist used to be a soldier."

[i_am_your_host]

"That sounds serious," he remarks. "Are they trying to start some sort of...revolution?"

[deadeye_shot]

"I'm not sure what they want, but revolution isn't out of the question," Hawkeye says, sighing through her nose. "It's a small group, but they're growing more powerful."

[i_am_your_host]

"Ah, politics, is it?" he says, a bit tight-lipped, as he casually flips a page. "What was the Ishlavan conflict about, if I may ask?"

[deadeye_shot]

Hawkeye gives the impression of pulling a face without actually doing so. She remains still, except for her lips, which tighten at the corners and pull down subtly. "The Ishvalan conflict was a civil war. Tensions had been brewing there for some time when an Amestrian soldier accidentally shot a child. A rebellion broke out, and... Fuhrer King Bradley ordered the extermination of the Ishvalans."

She stares into her coffee cup as she says the last bit, her fingers clenching around the mug.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee's blood runs cold, the pit of his stomach drops, and he turns his head to look at her, his eyes dark and wide.

There are so many things he could say. So many that he hardly knows where to begin.

"I see," he says after a moment of silence.

"Did it really have to be genocide?"

[deadeye_shot]

"Nothing justifies genocide," Hawkeye says fiercely, her normally flat voice choked with emotion.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee blinks, a flutter of eyelashes. At least now he knows where she stands.

But still, there are so many more things he could say.

"Yet you are still part of your Führer's regime," he says quietly. "And if you defied him, or expressed your dissenting opinions, you would be punished."

[deadeye_shot]

Hawkeye watches him with an unblinking stare. Her throat feels dry, but she doesn't dare look away to pick up her coffee cup. "Yes," she says, back to the flat affect she had up until her previous venomous statement. "The Fuhrer is not entirely responsible for the genocide. He and all of us under him who contributed will one day hopefully be brought to trial for our war crimes."

She licks her lips, a small concession. "I first joined the military because I wanted to follow the colonel, and aid him in his dream of protecting people. I was young and naive. I'm staying a soldier because I want to prevent further hands from being bloodstained. Mine already are."

[i_am_your_host]

If Emcee seems as if he's somehow taking this personally, it's difficult for him not to. But then again is she really different from the likes of Galen Erso? It just hits very close to home. He wishes it didn't.

"Then I hope that you and the Colonel working together will bring about the changes you desire," he says as evenly as he can.

[deadeye_shot]

"Thank you, Emcee," Hawkeye says, finishing off her cold coffee. There's not a day that goes by that she doesn't regret what she's done, but she's not about to burden him with that pain as well. "I apologize for upsetting you. I'll take my leave. Please take care of yourself."

She presses her hands on the bar and stands, offering him a small bow.

[i_am_your_host]

"Take care, Lieutenant," he says with a quick, polite smile and a slight dip of his head. "Give my regards to the Colonel."

As soon as she leaves, Emcee orders another stiff drink (he's not a lush for nothing) and continues to flip through the catalogue as if nothing had happened.

[ooc: thank you for the thread and the unexpected emotions!]

[deadeye_shot]

{ooc: Augh, you're welcome, and thank you. I didn't expect it to turn out that way!}