Two Mini Mustang Fics (written for fma_fic_contest)
These are future fics. In the first, Grumman is Fuhrer. The second assumes that Roy becomes Fuhrer in the relatively near future.
Please forgive the cross posting.
********
Title: “The Lies Have It"
Author: ssadropout
Series: Manga, FMA:B
Word Count: 618
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Grumman, O.M. Armstrong, and Mustang
Summary: Post chapter 108/ Episode 64- The new power brokers have a discussion about how much the people of Amestris should be told.
Warnings: Foul and obnoxious language from Olivier.
Subject: Prompt 77, Lies, “The Lies Have It”
****
“The people seem to be eating up the story of King Bradley’s heroic death, and it’s really working for us. A stroke of genius!” Fuhrer Grumman posited. “Not to mention that it appeals to Mrs. Bradley. We need her on our side. You brought her over to us, Roy, but we don’t want to lose her.”
“I disagree with this tactic, Sir. The people should be told what really happened. Well, maybe not about Bradley and Selim being homunculi- that would not be believed by most; I can hardly believe it myself. But these lies are wrong.”
“You’re a naïve idiot, Mustang,” interrupted Olivier Armstrong. “I was wrong about you being at all better than my crybaby brother. Oh, don’t pout, Pretty Boy. That won’t work on us.”
“Olivier…” Grumman soothed. “Let’s try to keep this conversation on point.”
“Oh, you always defend your pet puppy, Grumman…”
“That’s enough, Olivier. We’re here to discuss policy.”
“Yes, Sir,” Armstrong insincerely conceded, her expression more sour than ever.
Mustang was determined to defend his position. “The people think we put down a military coup, but we were the coup. The truth will come out. I’m not the only one who opposes this untruth.”
Olivier had a solution for this. “Who else is a weak fool who can’t count his balls, probably because he doesn’t have any? I’ll take care of him.”
Ignoring her nth outburst, Roy continued, head shaking side to side, “There are any number of reasons that could cause a person to expose the… misinformation. That isn’t the issue. The issue is that if our pretense is somehow revealed, it will hurt us and damage our ability to lead Amestris. The public’s trust in us will be eroded.”
“He may have a point, Olivier. Journalists, power-seekers, and our enemies- they could find out and use it against us. The people’s gratitude and trust are our strongest supports. The honeymoon would be over before we knew it.”
“They can’t handle the truth,” Olivier grumbled.
“Don’t underestimate the people, Olivier.” This was from Roy.
“That would be impossible to do!”
“Come on, Olivier. Look at your Briggs soldiers. They’re smart, strong, independent…”
“That’s because I trained them. I can’t train every damn moron in Amestris.”
Mustang’s head dropped, his chin banging his chest. “Why did you even support us, Olivier?”
“If you don’t know the answer to that, you are even dumber than I thought, Mustang.”
“Back to the topic, Generals, unless you want to be here all day.” Grumman was not in the mood for those two’s squabbling.
“In my opinion, it’s our weakest element. We’re heroes; we are the beneficiaries of tremendous good will. What we did was even better than what the people think we did. We, well, especially Hohenheim and the tiny teenager, saved everyone’s lives. We shouldn’t boast or brag, but the tale we told will be interpreted as a scam.” Roy had to refrain from banging his fist on the table.
The three sat there in heavy silence for several seconds. Grumman looked thoughtful. Mustang looked patient. Armstrong looked like she wanted to smash in a face. Grumman’s voice ended the lull with a sigh.
“It can’t be done, Roy. We have to build our relationship with the citizens before we are that candid. To admit that we have already misled them would undermine the process. We need to prove our worth first. We stick with the program.” The Fuhrer paused. Armstrong smirked victoriously. Mustang rolled his eyes.
“Well, then. The lies have it! Cheer up, Roy. I have some good news for you. Earlier this morning, I signed the order to abolish the fraternization rules.”
“Pet puppy!”
(Grumman and Mustang in stereo-) “Shut up, Olivier!”
********
Title: “Vows and Promises”
Author: ssadropout
Series: Post FMA:B or the second anime
Word Count: 500
Rating: G
Characters: Brief mentions of many characters, some of whom have been promoted. Please also see the summary.
Summary: This is an excerpt from Roy Mustang’s inauguration speech. (Please imagine the crowd’s and individuals’ reactions. XD)
Warnings: Future fic. Spoilers- Mentions of key moments throughout FMA:B
Subject: Prompt 76, The Truth, “Vows and Promises”
The truth? FMA isn’t mine, and it doesn’t want to be mine.
****
I come before you today, humbly and, I hope, wisely and strongly. As you know, I have made terrible mistakes and committed atrocious acts. I’ve murdered many and have no possibility of forgiveness or atonement. There is no defense for what I’ve done. I continued killing the people of Ishbal despite knowing that I was wrong. My rationale was that I was following orders and trying to be patriotic, but I was really being a coward. There were State Alchemists braver than I- men who jeopardized their careers and freedom to avoid what I was too weak to reject. The only saving grace of the man that I was in that corrupt desert war was that he decided to spend the rest of his life striving to make it so that no person in Amestris would be coerced into following immoral orders. I promised myself and a small group of soldiers that I would rise in the military ranks and become Fuhrer. And that once I became Fuhrer, I would rid Amestris of its military government and establish a democracy. I also mentioned something about miniskirts, but that promise will have to be shelved. Sorry!
Events didn’t occur precisely as I’d planned, but they did turn out pretty well. Fuhrer Grumman, who has long been my mentor and will soon be my grandfather-in-law, has stabilized our country, negotiated peace and established trade with our neighbors, overseen the beginnings of rehabilitation of the Ishballan people and region, and instituted a council composed of representatives from all corners of our land.
These changes would not have been possible without our great heroes: Edward and Alphonse Elric, the late Von Hohenheim, General Olivier Armstrong, Colonel Alex Louis Armstrong, Stig and Izumi Curtis, not to mention the lovely and lethal Major Riza Hawkeye. My dear friend Brigadier General Maes Hughes uncovered the conspiracy against the Amestrian people and gave his life for us. Many others sacrificed life and limb.
Fuhrer Grumman is a tough act to follow, but as I tell him, I am younger, stronger, and better looking. I shall continue his initiatives, but I also plan to launch several of my own. My indispensable team and I, in conjunction with Fuhrer Grumman, have drawn up a plan that will allow all adult citizens of our nation to participate in democratic elections for council representatives within the next two years and a democratic election for Fuhrer one year after that.
I may be able to light Captain Havoc’s cigarette from across the parade grounds- really, Jean, don’t you think that it’s time to quit- but, like you, I don’t know what the future will bring. I vow that I will spend my time as Fuhrer working to build happy and healthy lives for all. Our progress may not always proceed smoothly, but I will do my best. I will see to it that you will be able to choose your Fuhrer, and if I do well enough, perhaps it will even be me.
Please forgive the cross posting.
********
Title: “The Lies Have It"
Author: ssadropout
Series: Manga, FMA:B
Word Count: 618
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Grumman, O.M. Armstrong, and Mustang
Summary: Post chapter 108/ Episode 64- The new power brokers have a discussion about how much the people of Amestris should be told.
Warnings: Foul and obnoxious language from Olivier.
Subject: Prompt 77, Lies, “The Lies Have It”
****
“The people seem to be eating up the story of King Bradley’s heroic death, and it’s really working for us. A stroke of genius!” Fuhrer Grumman posited. “Not to mention that it appeals to Mrs. Bradley. We need her on our side. You brought her over to us, Roy, but we don’t want to lose her.”
“I disagree with this tactic, Sir. The people should be told what really happened. Well, maybe not about Bradley and Selim being homunculi- that would not be believed by most; I can hardly believe it myself. But these lies are wrong.”
“You’re a naïve idiot, Mustang,” interrupted Olivier Armstrong. “I was wrong about you being at all better than my crybaby brother. Oh, don’t pout, Pretty Boy. That won’t work on us.”
“Olivier…” Grumman soothed. “Let’s try to keep this conversation on point.”
“Oh, you always defend your pet puppy, Grumman…”
“That’s enough, Olivier. We’re here to discuss policy.”
“Yes, Sir,” Armstrong insincerely conceded, her expression more sour than ever.
Mustang was determined to defend his position. “The people think we put down a military coup, but we were the coup. The truth will come out. I’m not the only one who opposes this untruth.”
Olivier had a solution for this. “Who else is a weak fool who can’t count his balls, probably because he doesn’t have any? I’ll take care of him.”
Ignoring her nth outburst, Roy continued, head shaking side to side, “There are any number of reasons that could cause a person to expose the… misinformation. That isn’t the issue. The issue is that if our pretense is somehow revealed, it will hurt us and damage our ability to lead Amestris. The public’s trust in us will be eroded.”
“He may have a point, Olivier. Journalists, power-seekers, and our enemies- they could find out and use it against us. The people’s gratitude and trust are our strongest supports. The honeymoon would be over before we knew it.”
“They can’t handle the truth,” Olivier grumbled.
“Don’t underestimate the people, Olivier.” This was from Roy.
“That would be impossible to do!”
“Come on, Olivier. Look at your Briggs soldiers. They’re smart, strong, independent…”
“That’s because I trained them. I can’t train every damn moron in Amestris.”
Mustang’s head dropped, his chin banging his chest. “Why did you even support us, Olivier?”
“If you don’t know the answer to that, you are even dumber than I thought, Mustang.”
“Back to the topic, Generals, unless you want to be here all day.” Grumman was not in the mood for those two’s squabbling.
“In my opinion, it’s our weakest element. We’re heroes; we are the beneficiaries of tremendous good will. What we did was even better than what the people think we did. We, well, especially Hohenheim and the tiny teenager, saved everyone’s lives. We shouldn’t boast or brag, but the tale we told will be interpreted as a scam.” Roy had to refrain from banging his fist on the table.
The three sat there in heavy silence for several seconds. Grumman looked thoughtful. Mustang looked patient. Armstrong looked like she wanted to smash in a face. Grumman’s voice ended the lull with a sigh.
“It can’t be done, Roy. We have to build our relationship with the citizens before we are that candid. To admit that we have already misled them would undermine the process. We need to prove our worth first. We stick with the program.” The Fuhrer paused. Armstrong smirked victoriously. Mustang rolled his eyes.
“Well, then. The lies have it! Cheer up, Roy. I have some good news for you. Earlier this morning, I signed the order to abolish the fraternization rules.”
“Pet puppy!”
(Grumman and Mustang in stereo-) “Shut up, Olivier!”
********
Title: “Vows and Promises”
Author: ssadropout
Series: Post FMA:B or the second anime
Word Count: 500
Rating: G
Characters: Brief mentions of many characters, some of whom have been promoted. Please also see the summary.
Summary: This is an excerpt from Roy Mustang’s inauguration speech. (Please imagine the crowd’s and individuals’ reactions. XD)
Warnings: Future fic. Spoilers- Mentions of key moments throughout FMA:B
Subject: Prompt 76, The Truth, “Vows and Promises”
The truth? FMA isn’t mine, and it doesn’t want to be mine.
****
I come before you today, humbly and, I hope, wisely and strongly. As you know, I have made terrible mistakes and committed atrocious acts. I’ve murdered many and have no possibility of forgiveness or atonement. There is no defense for what I’ve done. I continued killing the people of Ishbal despite knowing that I was wrong. My rationale was that I was following orders and trying to be patriotic, but I was really being a coward. There were State Alchemists braver than I- men who jeopardized their careers and freedom to avoid what I was too weak to reject. The only saving grace of the man that I was in that corrupt desert war was that he decided to spend the rest of his life striving to make it so that no person in Amestris would be coerced into following immoral orders. I promised myself and a small group of soldiers that I would rise in the military ranks and become Fuhrer. And that once I became Fuhrer, I would rid Amestris of its military government and establish a democracy. I also mentioned something about miniskirts, but that promise will have to be shelved. Sorry!
Events didn’t occur precisely as I’d planned, but they did turn out pretty well. Fuhrer Grumman, who has long been my mentor and will soon be my grandfather-in-law, has stabilized our country, negotiated peace and established trade with our neighbors, overseen the beginnings of rehabilitation of the Ishballan people and region, and instituted a council composed of representatives from all corners of our land.
These changes would not have been possible without our great heroes: Edward and Alphonse Elric, the late Von Hohenheim, General Olivier Armstrong, Colonel Alex Louis Armstrong, Stig and Izumi Curtis, not to mention the lovely and lethal Major Riza Hawkeye. My dear friend Brigadier General Maes Hughes uncovered the conspiracy against the Amestrian people and gave his life for us. Many others sacrificed life and limb.
Fuhrer Grumman is a tough act to follow, but as I tell him, I am younger, stronger, and better looking. I shall continue his initiatives, but I also plan to launch several of my own. My indispensable team and I, in conjunction with Fuhrer Grumman, have drawn up a plan that will allow all adult citizens of our nation to participate in democratic elections for council representatives within the next two years and a democratic election for Fuhrer one year after that.
I may be able to light Captain Havoc’s cigarette from across the parade grounds- really, Jean, don’t you think that it’s time to quit- but, like you, I don’t know what the future will bring. I vow that I will spend my time as Fuhrer working to build happy and healthy lives for all. Our progress may not always proceed smoothly, but I will do my best. I will see to it that you will be able to choose your Fuhrer, and if I do well enough, perhaps it will even be me.