Curse You, 1914 Style Restrictions [Open!]

[snapsforyoutoo.livejournal.com]

Roy thought that he had left heat of this kind back in Ishval, and he can't say that he's finding it much more pleasant than he did the first time. Also, he can't decide whether the humidity thrown into the equation makes the experience better or worse.

At least he has real clothes again. It has taken him a few months, but, finally, he has found slacks and a jacket that suit his tastes, as well as a decent shirt and functional suspenders. The shoes could be better, but he's willing to cope as long as he doesn't have to put the plantsuit back on for a good long while. Unfortunately, the aforementioned heat is trying to convince him that the clothes in which he is most comfortable are highly, highly impractical, the waves of hot rising from the pavement singing "Exchange the shirt for something lighter, Colonel! Try a T-shirt, maybe, or maybe just forgo the shirt entirely! We promise you won't regret your decision!"

He's fairly sure that he will regret the decision, though, so he settles for rolling his sleeves past his elbows, folding his jacket over his arm, and snagging a pair of dark glasses to block out the sun.

Now to find Riza, and perhaps shade and cold drinks.

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[snapsforyou.livejournal.com]

He pauses with his glass near his lips, eyes flickering into focus as her words register. He is intent on the subtext of that sentence--the last one, to be precise--and he decides to take a nice, long time to answer here. Wouldn't want to say the wrong thing, would he, what with this being turf as delicate as it is.

Sipping at his drink with an air of thoughtfulness, he fixes his eyes out the window again. In most circumstances, his silence would be answer enough, but there's a lot to be said here, so this is obviously not a set of those circumstances. This is Riza Hawkeye he's dealing with here, after all.

It's true, he has considered stepping beyond the limitations of professionalism before, and he has to admit, the inclination has been lurking at the back of his mind fairly much since he saw her in the Obs. Deck a few weeks ago. The decision still remains to be made, though, because their dynamic as a functioning, efficient team hinges on the hypothetical dynamic that would inevitably surface--and potentially interfere--if they involved themselves in something... non-platonic.

He looks back at her, considering, and with a blink he remembers that the decision has been made for a long time.

Setting his glass down, he eyes her across the table, expression pleasantly blank. Meditative.

"We are not on active duty right now, and are in fact unlikely to be so for several months at least. As things stand, the largest issue is that we will soon be involved in a battle for what appears to be the whole of existence, and life or death situations tend to become emotional despite all preparation." In other words, 'what's the point in keeping it professional at this point?'

A faint smile grows on his face as he returns his attention to his alcohol, flashing her a look as he says, "As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a line to be out of, Riza," and takes a swallow.

[carrycorpses.livejournal.com]

Riza found it amazing how sober she felt as this conversation continued. Even though she could feel the buzzing in her mind, the situation of this unintended conversation was enough to sober her so she could think and speak levelly. The face was set, and instead of looking towards him as he looked out the window her eyes turned the pup at her feet. Said dog's ears perked and he turned his head worriedly at his master, and wagged his tail.

With a small smile she returned her attention to Roy as he put the glass down. Amber eyes found themselves set on the cup as precipitation flowed down the sides. Her mind listened to the words and the double, easy meaning behind everything he said. Life and death situations, huh? A voice thought quietly. She certainly wasn't unfamiliar with those by now, she thought. For several seconds those moments passed her eyes; being strangled by Gluttony, finding by Lust Roy had 'possibly died, and then him collapsing in front of her, the threat from Pride, neck being slit, and finally the horrifying moment of seeing Roy go blind. No, she wasn't unfamiliar with that part at all.

Her attention turned to him, and she saw the look and heard the words. As he swallowed his drink, she let out a sigh. It took her several minutes to think. Her hands were covered in blood... but so were his. In so many ways they fit more than in a platonic way. Salamanders never burn, the small smirk of a smile tried weaseling it's way onto her features. She warded it off before speaking.

"Active duty or not, if we are to part of a battle for the 'whole of existence', we still must help protect the people we can. That is our duty as soldiers. And as for life and death situations," she paused to close her eyes a moment, "I'm well aware of the emotional torrents that come inevitably from it. And considering that much, no it can never be prepared for but it is something we face in our line of work. After all we could wind up in a ditch someday and that would be it." Yes, she used his own words against him.

She's quiet a moment.

"...No, there are many lines I feel can still be crossed, sir, but you are correct. I suppose that is not one that is a line anymore in this situation," she said carefully. There was nothing there stopping them beyond themselves, was there?

[snapsforyou.livejournal.com]

He lifts his eyebrows at her, letting her finish speaking before he interjects, because the beginning of that almost sounded like doubt at their ability to protect people. Which, he supposes, makes sense, considering her state of mind of late concerning her belief that she has become a liability to him. "Liability" still isn't the word he would use, but that is not the point at the moment.

"I'm quite assured that if we tried to protect almost anyone on this ship, we would get shot. Remember that the crew members were selected for their ability to fight and fend for themselves, and, a few of the smaller people aside, they all take that very seriously as a matter of dignity. They would be offended if we even suggested it, honestly," he says, and really, there's a lot of truth to his words. Which is not to say that he won't keep his eyes on the people around him, but when dealing with superheroes and incomprehensibly powerful warriors, the point is rather moot.

"And that's true," he says, looking at bit grim, but after a moment, there is a noticeable twinkle in his eye. "But, as you said, neither of us are strangers to life-or-death situations, which means that we both know that there is absolutely no point to avoiding emotional baggage. It all comes out in those moments, whether it's been voiced or not."

As for the rest of her words, he simply smiles at her and leans back in his chair. He doesn't feel the need to say much of anything right now, though he's quite sure that a great deal remains to be said.

[carrycorpses.livejournal.com]

She closed her eyes at his words, shaking her head. "I hadn't meant that in such a way, sir, as I'm sure you know. People were chosen to fight and fend for themselves, perhaps, but that only makes it more evident that we're not the only ones in the world, in the universe. If we come in contact with people that are defenseless, I wouldn't want to not do anything," she stated carefully. Defenseless people, even children. Protecting people was what Riza knew and felt a soldier should do.

Ishval had tried shattering that. And indeed, she'd questioned the fact of why soldiers, meant to protect people, were killing them. Defenseless people, for the most part. After a moment, she opened her eyes and listened as he spoke once more. The look in his eye could hardly be ignored and she shook her head, with the thinnest of smiles.

"Neither of us have done well against it professionally, either, it would seem," she whispered to herself in thought. But would those moments even be considered professional? She doubted if anyone else had been around, beyond Alphonse, Mei and the chimera... it would be considered such, but she shook her head. Either way, apparently there would never be anyone to court marshal them for things like that either. They were safe in that remark. Dropping her eyes a moment, the thin smile remained as she thought.

Perhaps she could test these unknown waters some, because now she didn't know what was going on or where this was going anymore. Why it'd started really. But it had always been there, hadn't it? They just needed the initiative. She thought a moment, and then spoke almost humorously.

"Since you're calling me Riza again, should I go to calling you Mr. Mustang, then?"

[snapsforyou.livejournal.com]

"Ah, well, point taken," he says, amending his previous thought. He'd looked that part over--the crew may be able to look after itself, but the point is not for them to be safe. He agrees with her wholeheartedly on that point, and he doesn't have to say anything for it to be understood--protecting the defenseless is a key to his purpose in everything. He smiles simply.

The depth and double meaning in that whispered statement is caught entirely, and he chuckles, because damn is it true. He wouldn't have done half the things he'd done since waking up on this infernal ship if he had talent for avoiding emotional baggage.

He stops chuckling when he hears that question, though, and his rather blank stare in her direction speaks to the absurdity of the suggestion to his mind. Mr. Mustang?, he thinks, blinking in a very baffled manner. Are we kids again, or what?

"Riza. You're not twelve anymore," he says rather blankly, a thick layer of mirth hiding somewhere under there. Because really, this is quite amusing.

[carrycorpses.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad to hear it," she said slowly. Really, she was. She didn't want there to be misconceptions of behavior between the two of them. Already, things were difficult enough to think through with the apparent trappings of time against them. Still, they could still work efficiently, just as always. She had no fears there.

Turning her eyes toward him at his chuckles, she rose a brow. Ah. Apparently he had caught that whispered phrase. However, any amusement from that dissapated at the baffled expression on his features.

Riza couldn't help but smirk her thin trademark smirk at that. There was something rewarding in that confused look, but beyond that, Riza's eyes remained the same to keep her words hidden a moment longer.

Picking up the drink, she took a moment to respond. "Nonetheless, sir, I'm afraid it's been years since you called me Riza, so I am quite unaccustomed to this behavior. If you do not wish for me to call you Mr. Mustang, what, then, do you want me to call you? Because I'm afraid I'm at a loss otherwise," the words were light and simple, obviously wanting affirmation for whatever just exchanged between them, "...Or does calling you Mr. Mustang make you feel much older than you care to believe?"

[snapsforyou.livejournal.com]

He gives her a highly bland look at that, because Riza? Dear? You're being deliberately obtuse, and he's not sure if it's a good thing. So he's not going to reward you with an expression. At all.

Tonelessly, he says "I have a first name, you know. I believe you're aware of the mechanics of it. After all, it only contains one syllable."

[carrycorpses.livejournal.com]

Her expression is point blank. She realizes she's being obtuse and she'll continue to be such for a bit longer. It's amusing watching the expressions on his features she's normally not the one pulling out. Still, she kept the face straight and almost lackluster.

When he spoke, Riza resisted the urge to sigh. First names. The thought of that was strange in itself, especially considering she couldn't remember a day in her life where she called him Roy. It was always Mr. Mustang, Colonel, Sir, Colonel Mustang and so many more variations.

She kept the thoughts to herself.

"Of course I am well aware, sir, but you'll have to forgive me as I've never been allowed permission to call you such," Riza responded, the words continuing to have that easy double meaning. Permission, you must understand that much Roy. She's still probing about what's happening now.