[Valentine's Day means absolutely nothing to Olivier, a woman who swore to uphold the honor of her family and country before all other things; romance is not something she has time for, nor a diversion she's tempted to indulge in. She has her Mayfield-bound trysts, but they, too, will fade, just as the memories of home begin to grow dimmer with each passing month
( ... )
[There's a slight pause before he replies. What the hell does he even say? They had gone from being the fiercest of enemies to practically friends under Mayfield's curious amnesia. He couldn't in good conscience return to being her enemy. Not yet. Not without at least speaking to her first.
...And, a little part of him that niggled at the back of his mind said, maybe he didn't want to be her enemy at all. Maybe, in fact, he wanted to proceed in the opposite direction. This thought feels like a betrayal- of what, to whom, Nagi doesn't know.
But it's easy to keep your voice calm when it isn't your own.]
...I have recently regained some rather interesting memories. Do you know of what I speak?
I knew there was a good reason to hate you. A traitor to my country isn't going to be easily forgiven.
[Olivier seems hesitant; for once, her words lack conviction. The grudging respect she'd admitted to previously was actually heightened and complemented by having this vivid image returned to her. Nagi was, apparently, formidable, and gutsy enough to stand up to the harshest and most terrifying things Briggs could throw at anyone. Things that happened on the northern border of Amestris were never spoken of anywhere else, besides in hushed tones with sideways glances. She had no mercy in her heart
( ... )
[She takes a deep, very necessary breath. This is not something she'd like to discuss with anyone here ever again, let alone someone who might try to use it against her. Composure in this situation is everything, though, so she'll play his game.
The situation she was in was beyond her control. How could he know that? It shouldn't even be relevant, but something they've built here compels her to explain.]
I know what he is, and what he did to my country. I know what he did to my soldiers, what he sent Kimbley to do when his dogs shunted me back to Central. Do you really think the massacre at the border was my doing? Even you should know better than that.
[The last offensive against Drachma. The decisive moment, only a few weeks after her own notable encounter with Nagi. The last point of the transmutation circle. Just thinking about it enraged Olivier. She would never forgive any of them for that, not Kimbley, not a single scientist, not a single higher-up. Her men were not pawns to be used to carve out lies
( ... )
[She drops her tone low.] Only a few months, and I hated him well before that for being an incompetent fool. As much as I hate to admit it, the brat told me. The Fullmetal Alchemist. They kept me at Briggs for a reason.
...Don't lump me in with them. I had nothing to do with that, or the army they were trying to create. I don't deal with monsters.
I was fighting to be Fuhrer. Maybe it was my own ambition that propelled me, but I wanted that plan stopped the moment I found out about it. I would have killed him with my bare hands if I'd had the chance. Him--all of them.
I made myself a war criminal while trying to wrench my country out of his hands. I've destroyed my own name. Isn't that enough to satisfy you?
[The "don't you dare" is implied in the sharpness of her tone. She won't stand for this. She has no idea why she's taking it personally, but the tightness in her chest and the blinding, deafening rage echoing in her head are driving her slowly to the edge of composure
( ... )
[Nagi closes his eyes and leans back, exhaling deeply. The rage seeps out of him like steam. He knows this hurts her. He also knows she can take it.
And he had to make sure. He had to make absolutely certain before this partnership, or rivalry, or friendship or whatever the hell it was went any further. No matter how he felt about Olivier, no matter how much he admired her, anyone who was loyal to Bradley and participated in the system that had ripped his life out from under him was someone he would either kill or die trying to. No one was exempt
( ... )
[Olivier is as close to on-edge as she gets, but it's easy enough to deliver the truth. Nagi shouldn't be able to miss the note of pride in her voice, nor the smallest shadow of frustration that still lingers.
It should've been her kill.]
He's dead. I saw the body myself.
If you want details, I'll give them to you, but not like this. The phones aren't secure.
As for a truce... I won't go back on my word. I believe I've already expressed my feelings on the matter at the party, and this revelation doesn't change a thing. We have to work together if we're going to get out of here.
I see. [And it's times like this that Nagi's glad his voice is mechanical; otherwise she'd hear the note of relief in his voice.
Bradley is gone. Dead. His life's mission is over, and it happened entirely without him. He feels cheated, but what does it matter if it wasn't him to deliver the blow? Bradley is dead. He can't hurt anyone else, and maybe now she can rest in peace.
Nagi exhales, deeply.] Shall we meet up in person, then? I'd like to see you face to face.
[He waits. He'd have waited longer, if need be.] Are you expecting a fight? And here I thought you believed me a peace-loving coward. [He's amused, the battle in the blizzard ringing in his mind.]
My sword isn't here, of course. But if having yours makes you feel better, by all means.
[There's a small click, and another silence, then the sound of someone exhaling. If it takes a little vice to keep her from rising to his words, so be it. She won't be baited, and she won't let any of the relief slip into her tone. After all this, she's not really up for fighting just yet. The image of his retreating form and her own palpable disappointment feels fresh again.]
Don't flatter yourself. You're a damn coward, and I could kill you with my bare hands. I just don't want to give you nightmares by not warning you that I'm armed. You might cry.
By all means, feel free to try to kill me. It's not as thought it will last here, is it? And I'll be interested to see if you're more successful the second time around. [He's not entirely sure why he's teasing her like this, and he has the vague sense of being a deer trotting past the cave of a hungry wolf.
Maybe it's because, however much he doesn't want to admit it, the words do string. Traitor. Coward. He's spent years convincing himself that these words don't apply to him, and to have them thrown in his face by her makes his blood boil.] The park. Nice neutral ground. I'd prefer to be alone, but if you'd feel safer with a few bodyguards, I won't mind.
Reply
...And, a little part of him that niggled at the back of his mind said, maybe he didn't want to be her enemy at all. Maybe, in fact, he wanted to proceed in the opposite direction. This thought feels like a betrayal- of what, to whom, Nagi doesn't know.
But it's easy to keep your voice calm when it isn't your own.]
...I have recently regained some rather interesting memories. Do you know of what I speak?
Reply
[Olivier seems hesitant; for once, her words lack conviction. The grudging respect she'd admitted to previously was actually heightened and complemented by having this vivid image returned to her. Nagi was, apparently, formidable, and gutsy enough to stand up to the harshest and most terrifying things Briggs could throw at anyone. Things that happened on the northern border of Amestris were never spoken of anywhere else, besides in hushed tones with sideways glances. She had no mercy in her heart ( ... )
Reply
[Which of them is the real traitor, Nagi wonders. He, at least, has only betrayed something so meager as a country. It's time to get some answers.]
I only have one question for you, Olivier.
Do you know... are you aware... of what Bradley has done to your people?
Reply
The situation she was in was beyond her control. How could he know that? It shouldn't even be relevant, but something they've built here compels her to explain.]
I know what he is, and what he did to my country. I know what he did to my soldiers, what he sent Kimbley to do when his dogs shunted me back to Central. Do you really think the massacre at the border was my doing? Even you should know better than that.
[The last offensive against Drachma. The decisive moment, only a few weeks after her own notable encounter with Nagi. The last point of the transmutation circle. Just thinking about it enraged Olivier. She would never forgive any of them for that, not Kimbley, not a single scientist, not a single higher-up. Her men were not pawns to be used to carve out lies ( ... )
Reply
Reply
...Don't lump me in with them. I had nothing to do with that, or the army they were trying to create. I don't deal with monsters.
Reply
Reply
I made myself a war criminal while trying to wrench my country out of his hands. I've destroyed my own name. Isn't that enough to satisfy you?
[The "don't you dare" is implied in the sharpness of her tone. She won't stand for this. She has no idea why she's taking it personally, but the tightness in her chest and the blinding, deafening rage echoing in her head are driving her slowly to the edge of composure ( ... )
Reply
And he had to make sure. He had to make absolutely certain before this partnership, or rivalry, or friendship or whatever the hell it was went any further. No matter how he felt about Olivier, no matter how much he admired her, anyone who was loyal to Bradley and participated in the system that had ripped his life out from under him was someone he would either kill or die trying to. No one was exempt ( ... )
Reply
It should've been her kill.]
He's dead. I saw the body myself.
If you want details, I'll give them to you, but not like this. The phones aren't secure.
As for a truce... I won't go back on my word. I believe I've already expressed my feelings on the matter at the party, and this revelation doesn't change a thing. We have to work together if we're going to get out of here.
Reply
Bradley is gone. Dead. His life's mission is over, and it happened entirely without him. He feels cheated, but what does it matter if it wasn't him to deliver the blow? Bradley is dead. He can't hurt anyone else, and maybe now she can rest in peace.
Nagi exhales, deeply.] Shall we meet up in person, then? I'd like to see you face to face.
Reply
You really want to know? Fine. I'll meet you somewhere. I'm not coming unarmed, though.
Reply
My sword isn't here, of course. But if having yours makes you feel better, by all means.
Reply
Don't flatter yourself. You're a damn coward, and I could kill you with my bare hands. I just don't want to give you nightmares by not warning you that I'm armed. You might cry.
Where do you want to meet?
Reply
Maybe it's because, however much he doesn't want to admit it, the words do string. Traitor. Coward. He's spent years convincing himself that these words don't apply to him, and to have them thrown in his face by her makes his blood boil.] The park. Nice neutral ground. I'd prefer to be alone, but if you'd feel safer with a few bodyguards, I won't mind.
Reply
Leave a comment