"As you know, this means war."
Only one thought had gone through Riza's mind when Ed had returned to the Nexus in a state of pure, cold, rage. She carried out with that thought without a word, and had retreated to her room to quickly change; then out came a heavy box from the back of her closet shelf, and the gun within was loaded for the first time since she couldn't remember
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Riza saw him through the peephole, but made no move to approach the door until roughly five minutes had passed, and she heard the tip of the cane knock a peculiar rhythm on the door. There. The area was clear and no one was observing them; it was safe to open it and let him in.
She said nothing as he moved through the open door with a level of grace and speed that hadn't seemed possible with how he'd shuffled along before, and concentrated on securing the door.
Before Riza could turn around, the smooth handle of the cane rapped sharply on her head. "You fool child!" Graman scolded, even as he pulled her into a one-armed hug, his other occupied with holding the cane and something under the robes. "Your grandmother and I have been worried sick! You leave your puppy with us and leave, no letters, not even a phone call! You were raised better than that! What were you think- no, don't answer that" - he pushed her out of the hug and gripped her shoulder, still scolding her - "but if you just vanished into thin air and something happened to you, your mother, rest her soul, would nail my hide to the side of H.Q., even if it meant coming back from the grave to do it! You'll get this information as soon as you tell me just where in the nine hells you've been, and it had better be good!'
Riza was stammering, trying to recover from the crack to the head, then getting pulled and pushed around, all amid a verbal barrage. The safehouse was still for a few heartbeats. Well. He wanted an explanation, and they had a limited amount of time. Only one way to do that, apparently.
"I've been stranded this whole time on another world called the Nexus," she informed him calmly.
Graman blinked. Another few heartbeats of silence. "Child, either you've trumphed young Mustang as the master of absolute bullshit, or life just took a twist down a very strange road."
"It's the latter," she said, keeping the same calm, dry tone. "And on that note, you might remember Edward Elric, the former Fullmetal Alchemist, and my boyfriend."
Graman started to turn to where she indicated, then he paused and glanced back at Riza for a long moment. Then he switched hands with the cane again, giving her another rap on the head with the handle. "That's for doing that on purpose," he informed her before turning back to Ed, and pulling some files out from under his robes. "So you're alive after all, young lad. Your brother's going to be quite glad to hear that."
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Oh no, not smirking at all.
When Graman finally addresses him, he nods curtly, now finally smirking. "Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated. I've just been trapped in another world, although you could say it was comparable to hell, so maybe those reports weren't so exaggerated. What've you got?"
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"Not as much as I'd like to be able to provide you with," he said. "We know the group started with survivors from Liore, but they're not being too exclusive about who they let into their ranks."
He shook his head. "We're fairly certain they're actually operating out of Central, at least to some degree, because they've been able to stay on top of military movements to avoid them. Now, it's possible they've got someone on the inside, but not likely, given the animosity between the parties. There's a map with other places they've caused some ruckus in the last few days, and groups like these usually operate out of cell organizations.
"As far as your brother goes, reports have him on a train bound for Youswell, but if that was his destination, which I doubt, he never arrived. There's a few train depots before there that are nothing more than pickup and dropoff stations, and don't always have anyone around them, and he probably got off at one of those, since there's been no reports of any battles on any trains. We know your brother came back to Central, and left a day later after getting a telegram. He never said who it was from, but when Lieutenant Havoc and Mister Armstrong found the place, the desk clerk informed them that all he said was, and I quote, 'stupid people doing stupid things again'. Then he asked for a train schedule."
He tapped the files. "There's reports and maps and anything else I thought might possibly be of use in there. I also called Mustang a few days ago to see if there was anything he could do, and he said he'd look into it, but I haven't heard from him since."
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He's quiet as Graman talks, and doesn't react past a faint snerk at the 'stupid people doing stupid things again' part, until Graman mentions Mustang being involved. "... well, not sure what he can do from up North in the cold, but if he's got something, then he'd better contact us with it."
He sits down, thinking. "He was last up near Youswell, but you said they operate out of Central. If they're really as stupid as Al said they were, then it's possible they took him right back to Central. That seems... really stupid, of a special variety, though. So maybe not."
He shakes his head. "Anyway it goes, I can't see them taking him anywhere near Liore. If they thought he was me, and they blame me for their problems, which they probably do, given they were after me in the first place, they wouldn't want me near that place anymore. That, and I doubt they'd want to attract military attention to their city again."
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...wait, what?
"Central," Riza said suddenly. "He's somewhere in Central. Possibly either in a highly populated neighborhood, or somewhere in range of one."
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The scowl that had been ever-present in his expression since he first saw the headlines about his brother darkened. "Unfortunately for them, they're overestimating my give-a-damn."
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"There's a current map of Central in there," he said, then raised his finger, giving them each a warning look. "My influence only extends so far. Child, you're listed as AWOL," he said, glancing to Riza then looking to Ed. "You're missing in action, but as a State Alchemist heavily affiliated with Mustang, they'd undoubtedly have questions for you. You're going into the military's heartland, even if the Parliment is the ones holding the reins of power these days. You're going to need to travel discreetly, and remain in complete control over when and where you blow your covers, if you do choose to do so."
The stern look disappeared, replaced by the jovial, grandfatherly sort of indulging smile that made those who met him dismiss the strategic and manipulative mind behind the old face. "Now, I believe I recall a request for weaponry?"
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The reminder about the weaponry brings a dark grin to his face. "There was a request like that, yeah. Mostly for Riza." He holds up his left wrist so Graman can see the red stone there. "I have my own weapons."
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He smirked at that, and reached over, putting a key in her hand. "You know where they're kept. Go help yourself, and bring the key back when you're done. Get the boy out of there, and then we'll have lemonade and cookies while you tell us about this Nexus place and relax before the military comes looking for you."
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He perks at the mention of snacks. "Ooh, lemonade and cookies? Great! We'll bring the tales of gut-wrenching violence!"
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