Day 17: Lunch

[hopeless_havoc]

Havoc gave his nurse a smile before heading strait for the food. He was surprised to see he was the first one here. But that meant no line for food. And that was a good thing in Havoc's mind. He grabbed a tray, piling it with whatever he could, and took a seat facing the entrance so as to see the colonel or Hughes as soon as they came in

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[lustful_thing]

Lust was rather disappointed to be pulled away from her conversation with Scarecrow to go to lunch. The man was fascinating. He was brilliant, polite, responsive and seemed to have a loose grasp on morals. In short, he was exactly what Lust enjoyed working with. She'd have to speak to him again. Of course, she would be seeing him tonight, but that was only for a moment. She knew better than to keep Scar waiting.

Speaking of... Scar was already being pestered by the soldier. Lust scowled a bit, and debating going over anyway but decided against it. She'd be seeing Scar tonight as well. Instead, Lust took her tray and found an open seat away from anyone. There were new patients, wonderful. Perhaps some of them would be useful. This latest batch had been quite a good one, in her opinion. Smiling a bit to herself, Lust pulled out her journal and flipped it open as she began to eat.

[muted_flame]

Speaking to that girl had been rather unnerving, if only because she had seemed to be referencing back to things he didn't exactly want to think about. While Landel's was definitely taxing, it did take one's mind off of other things--like the horrible situation back home. It was also an upsetting reminder of what he needed to get done

[lustful_thing]

"Colonel." Lust inclined her head politely when the alchemist took a seat across from her. Her eyes went immediately to his, focusing on the aubergine one. She still wasn't used to it and wasn't certain what to think of the colonel's strange eye.

The more pressing question on her mind, however, was what was the colonel doing joining her for lunch? She supposed there simply hadn't been much choice in the dining hall, but there were plenty of empty seats that weren't too close to others. But his two military companions were both here. Of course, one was already busy with Scar...

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Lust asked, grinning slightly.

[muted_flame]

Roy certainly didn't miss the way she looked at him. She wasn't merely making eye contact; she was staring at something in particular. And he could hardly blame her, really. It was hard to avoid and meant more to her than it did to most

[lustful_thing]

"Scar's in a particularly foul mood these days," Lust mused, as her eyes found the two men across the dining hall. The Ishbalan had been getting more and more difficult to handle. He'd only managed one sentence without hostility towards her today. Most likely, the other soldier would find himself on the end of Scar's short temper.

"I wish your friend luck." She raised her eyebrows as the colonel smirked. Were it another man, she would believe he was being flirtatious. But it was the colonel He was mostly likely being sarcastic with her, but Lust hardly cared. She smiled in return, a rather sultry grin. What harm could it do? If he took offense - as he had the previous times Lust attempted to entice him - he could walk away. There was always the chance he'd decided to return her overtures.

"Though I must say, I certainly appreciate spending my lunch hour with a handsome and intelligent man."

[muted_flame]

"Isn't he always?" Roy asked, rolling his eyes and appreciating the fact that he could. Trying to do such a thing with one eye just didn't have the same effect. "And if anyone can get him to calm down, Hughes can." That was the sort of person Hughes was. He didn't get riled up easily, was open, and spoke logically. Roy could usually manage the same thing, having had to act pleasantly around all manner of vulgar military men before, but certain people got to him. Scar and Kimbley were both spectacular examples.

Considering he had opened the door as far as flirting went, Roy was certainly able to take whatever he dished out. He liked to think how much this would send Scar's blood boiling. "I can't imagine you usually get that opportunity, considering the other patients," he responded easily, smiling amiably. This was definitely a nice way to get his mind off of things, though knowing himself and Lust, their discussion would turn more serious eventually.

[lustful_thing]

"Moreso than usual," Lust said, resting her chin on her hand. And she knew it was mostly her fault. And what she was doing now wouldn't improve it any. It would only push his buttons further, but Lust supposed that the more evidence she had to present him with, the better.

"Oh really?" That was in response to Mustang's comment that his friend could calm Scar down. She would believe it when she saw it.

"No, it's rather rare I find both attractiveness and intelligence in a companion. I have found it's either one or the other for the most part. And while both are pleasant traits in a man, I prefer when they come together." He was flirting. Lust leaned forward, still smiling, enjoying this. She had only had to be patient.

[muted_flame]

"Do you know if it's for any particular reason?" Roy asked, glancing over at the two men for a moment before returning his gaze to what he considered a much nicer view. So he was in the mood for playful flirting. So what? So long as he didn't actually do anything, Hughes had no reason to feel betrayed and Scar had no reason to feel--well, anyway. "Or is it just this place that's getting to him?"

Providing a nod and a small chuckle, he nodded. "I'd have to agree. Most of the women I take out on dates are vapid dolts," he explained. Which was why he was always left completely bored while some blonde clung to his arm as they watched a play or opera. "So it's nice to meet someone sharp and attractive. Especially since the feeling is mutual." They could do well for each other, really. Now that Roy was a bit more like what she was, maybe he was more open to the idea.

Nothing could truly come of this, though. The hell they'd get for it wouldn't be worth it.

[lustful_thing]

"Yes, I know why. It's personal." Lust shrugged and glanced down, not wanting to discuss Scar with Mustang. "Perhaps tomorrow he'll have calmed down some...." Whatever was between them, it had to break. For better or for worse, it couldn't continue.

"Women, for the most part, are vapid dolts. Though I don't believe its their fault, more society's. Humans are rather funny things." She shook her head. "Though I suppose that applies to both of us, doesn't it? In some capacity." She realized that Roy was as close to what she was in this entire place. Something that wasn't a homunculus, but not quite human, either. Though she assumed she was still less human than he.

"I've had many an intelligent companion," she went on, her head tilted seductively, "but the handsome ones have been few and far between."

[muted_flame]

Personal? Well, Roy had to wonder at that, though it was obvious that Lust wasn't going to get into any detail. He figured it was between the two of them. He'd never seen the two intimate in public before and Scar hardly acted as if he thought of her that way, but... Well, he and Hughes were discreet, it was possible they were the same. Despite that, he didn't think that was it. No, it had to be more complicated than that

[lustful_thing]

"More's the pity. Woman are, when it comes down to it, more capable in certain areas than men. But it works to the advantage of those women who see beyond their own apron strings. Women, Colonel, are not taken seriously. They - we - are seen as simply pretty faces. And beautiful women are taken even less seriously. Men see a pretty face and pleasing figure and don't dwell on whether or not that pretty face holds intelligence. Women, when it comes down to it, are more dangerous then men." And it was something she was grateful for. Men were much easier to manipulate when they didn't suspect.

"Hmm?" Lust tilted her head and lifted her hand, reaching out touch her fingers to the temple beside Mustang's violet eye. "You can't claim to be completely human, Colonel. More human than me, more human than anything else, but not entirely. Not with that. And you're far, far more than simply a pretty face." Lust's voice dropped with a husky chuckle. "But then again, so am I."

[muted_flame]

Roy listened attentively to her speech. Everything she was saying was true. He was guilty enough of falling for nicely-shaped eyes and--well, other things, though many other men could be much worse. He thought of Havoc, who had easily been falling into Lust's trap. His subordinate might call him a hypocrite for getting so close to the homunculus, but the difference was that he would know if she was trying any sort of manipulation. He wouldn't fall for it

[lustful_thing]

"I started out as human, too," Lust said softly, trailing her fingers along the colonel's cheek and jawline before letting them drop to the table between them. "But I suppose our circumstances are far too different to be compared. Not that I imagine you mind." She chuckled again and shook her head. He didn't seem very bothered with his eye, perhaps he'd grown accustomed to it and realized the small enhancements he'd told her of were useful.

"A pity we can't have this conversation in private," she said, unable to resist. This was what she had been made for, and though she fought against her nature, she always returned to it. It was all she knew.

[muted_flame]

Those fingers that he knew could so easily become claws sliding down his skin left him a bit unnerved. Roy didn't want to get himself into any serious trouble, though he supposed a bit of harmless touching hardly mattered. If she enjoyed it, he could handle something that tame. "You don't remember, though, do you? Not very well, at least. You think of yourself as a homunculus before a human, right?" He thought of himself as a human before a homunculus, but left that unsaid; she didn't need to know that he was even close to considering himself to actually be one.

He frowned and shook his head. "I'm not completely okay with it, either," he warned. "I wanted to get out of this unmarred." Even if they could be considered "good" changes, they were still changes.

Her comment was unnecessary and most would probably find it inappropriate, but he understood it was part of what she was. That didn't mean he actually responded, though.

[lustful_thing]

"I remember more since coming here," Lust admitted, slowly but seemingly casually. "Bits and pieces, scents, sights, voices, conversations. They're all in here, somewhere." She tapped her own temple. The memories were buried, hidden, pushed away because they were human things. "It's a strange thing, to remember a life you never actually lived. Or perhaps I did, I don't know. But yes, I consider myself a homunculus before a human. And I will, until they manage to strip me of everything and leave me human." Which she supposed they had the power to do.

"You are unmarred, Colonel. You're not leaving behind any limbs. Your wits and senses are in tact. I would consider that more than reasonably unscathed."

[muted_flame]

It was discomforting to think that all homunculi had those memories somewhere within them. That meant that Sloth, the homunculus born from Edward and Alphonse's mistake, had, in a way, been their mother. He felt that was a thought he'd keep to himself. They were still children, unable to handle that sort of thing. He hadn't seen either of them for a while, but did his best not to worry. They were children, yes, but they could generally take care of themselves.

"Even if you are completely human physically, won't you always think and feel like a homunculus--like Lust?" he asked, his tone more curious than confrontational. He wasn't meaning to upset her--it was pure interest that had him asking questions.

"I'm still different from what I was before. As much as people keep telling me I'm human..." He sighed and looked down at the table. He wasn't. Not anymore. Not when he could cover his fingers--and with a bit of practice, most likely more than that--with black carbon.