hates_trashcans (hates_trashcans) wrote in elsewhere_rpg, @ 2017-10-09 13:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | fullmetal alchemist: riza mustang, supernatural: castiel, tags for admin: year 01 |
Who: Marco & Lieutenant Hawkeye (bonus Castiel cameo)
What: Arriving in Elsewhere
When: Shortly after they all disappear from Knowhere.
Where: The forest around Elsewhere.
Rating: PG-13?
Status: Log - Complete
It had been pretty easy to get a decent idea of the layout of the woods and Dresden’s location from the air. Marco could have led Riza there as a bird, but he decided to both keep the weirdness factor low and get an idea of what the woods were like at ground level for when he explored them as other creatures later.
He waved at Riza when she showed up, and fell in beside her, “My best guess is Dresden’s about a 20 minute walk away. We’re going to be a bit slow since I don’t have any shoes.” It wasn’t a big deal; he hadn’t had shoes or good clothes a lot of the time, but it did make tromping through forests a bit more painful and time-expending than it would be otherwise.
And it was warm enough that he wasn’t freezing in his morphing outfit, so that was a plus, though they had no idea what nighttime was going to be like.
“What do you remember before we got here?”
***
Brown eyes swept down over Marco’s exposed form as she approached and was already unbuttoning the elaborate placket of her uniform. It wasn’t long, it stopped at the waist, but she’d get to that. “Twenty minutes will be fine.” She assured him before shrugging the coat off and handing it over to him. It left her in a turtleneck, short-sleeved cotton shirt (which was.. Er.. very form-fitting. That uniform did her no justice!) and the lower, flowing portion of her uniform-- along with the pants and boots. It also exposed the two guns hanging under each arm. She had another at the small of her back and one in her boots. Her hair clip doubled as a knife.
There was nothing wrong with being prepared.
“Wear that.” She instructed while unbuckling the lower portion of her uniform, to hand that over as well. At least it’d cover part of him.
“I was making coffee. I can remember dropping the pot, and it breaking on the floor. It passed right through my fingers. Black Hayate was barking at me. Then I was here.” And that was it.
Nothing more.
“What do you remember?” She spared another glance over to him.
***
“I didn’t know this sucky adventure had a dress code,” Marco quipped, feeling a bit weird as Riza started him pieces of clothing. Still, he shrugged them on, because he’d done the same thing to Al so he couldn’t really complain about it, “Or is it just that I’m too distracting?” Marco waggled his eyebrows at her.
Then he twirled around, “Oooh, fancy.” He remarked, taking the chance to look at Riza and give her a thumbs up. Roy had good taste. Settling down, the teenager rolled up the sleeves on the coat and hiked the bottom up so that he wouldn’t trip over it, “See, you should dress like that all the time.” Marco said.
He shook his head, “Not much.” Marco answered honestly, “I was drunk.”
“And this is the…” He thought about it, “Is this really the fifth time this has happened to me? Man, my life is fucked up.” Marco mused.
***
When he complimented her, those brown eyes just settled on his face once again-- this time sharply-- it was a Look that warned him to remember who he was talking to. She had four guns, Marco, and she wasn’t above pointing them-- or even firing them-- at the boy. That look said as much.
But soon, her eyes were forward again.
“Wonderful.” He was drunk. It meant he was still drunk.
Riza Hawkeye was not a very chatty woman. Where Roy could run his mouth for hours about nothing, his Lieutenant said more in a glance than she said in a day. She didn’t speak unless there was a need for it, words were never wasted.
A noise came from the left-- her side of this little parade-- and she shifted her stance and put herself squarely between the shorter man and whatever had made the noise, scanning the area briefly before she began to move again. The placement had been a subtle thing. There’d been no sharp movements, no grabbing, no jumping or pushing, just a shift of her body.
Funny, that Riza could be so subtle and Mustang be such a wrecking ball.
“Come on.” She insisted to him.
***
There it was. Marco broke out into a genuine grin at Riza’s glare, “Now I feel better. It just isn’t a fucked up adventure until a beautiful woman is threatening to cause me serious harm. It was wonderful, I’m pissed I had to sober up to play a game of Sliders.” He blew her a kiss and concentrated on forging a path ahead of them, only to stop when Riza decided that something was a threat.
Why-
Oh. Right.
“That’s a rabbit.” Marco told her. These woods didn’t seem much different than the ones at home, and he was glad for that at least. He’d done his time stomping around weird places; at least this one had recognizable species.
***
She set another threat of death upon him with those eyes. A rabbit. Yes. She saw that. But what if it had been a two-headed grizzly holding a flamethrower with a grudge against blondes and boys in spandex? You had to be cautious. Riza easily fell back into step with Marco, her chin lifting a little.
They really weren’t that different in height, but the Lieutenant carried herself with such certainty that she seemed taller at times.
Poor Marco would have to deal with silence as they walked. Sorry, Riza wasn’t known for her conversation, she was known for her accuracy and her calm demeanor, along with her brilliance. Mustang was lucky to have her, she made him look amazing-- she took care of the office, the men, all the paperwork.. Mustang took care of being the most incredible State Alchemist in Amestris, and Ed.
She took another glance at him as they walked before looking forward again, clearly assessing the situation as they moved through the forest.
***
While Riza stomped through the woods like they were some sort of battlefield, Marco was more careful, taking his time to not make undue amounts of noise or disturb any of the local wildlife. He wasn’t Cassie, this wasn’t an excuse to ‘save all the little animals’, it was more that the smaller animals were a great early-warning system for if (when) something fucked up was about to happen.
Although Riza didn’t seem like the type to talk much, Marco wasn’t the sort to shut up much.
“So… you do the strong and silent thing, huh? Roy’s into that?”
***
While it may have sounded like stomping to Marco, thanks to his superhuman, er.. Everything.. To the normal people around, she was rather quiet. Heavy boots, yes, but she was a light woman who moved with stealth and purpose, all of her steps measured and planned, everything about her precise. Riza never did anything without thought and care. And more thought atop it.
It was why she spoke so little, she thought and rethought all of her words to death. They weren’t needed.
But when he questioned what Roy was ‘into’, she glanced over at him again.
“The General and I are childhood friends. He’s my superior. Don’t read into things that aren’t there.” Wise advice from a woman who knew how to deal with people who saw the way Mustang mooned after her. It was nothing. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, they were friends, he was a womanizer, that was it.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
***
“Yeah, sure. Okay,” Marco answered with a smirk that was somewhat ruined by one of Riza’s sleeves becoming unrolled and flopping off the edge of his arm. He rolled it up again without comment, keeping pace with her easily, “Except he obviously likes you, and if that bothered you, you would’ve done something about it by now.”
It was obvious to Marco that if Riza really wanted to dissuade someone from something, she was more than capable of doing so, childhood friend or not.
“I don’t really care, it’s just something to tease Roy about,” Marco said with a shrug. Everybody except him had figured relationships out; he’d gotten used to that. Hell, even Ax had almost had a girlfriend before it turned out she was there to commit human genocide. And he was light-years from his own planet at the time!
But people were funny about their relationships, so poking them was funny.
“Plus I’m kind of curious who you rely on, because it’s pretty obvious that if you snap, Roy’s fucked, and I like,” Roy, “learning alchemy. And I’ve done a bunch of shit without help and it sucks and you can’t do it forever.”
***
She glanced over at him again when he announced that Roy liked her. Yes, she knew. Everyone knew. The entire nation knew. But she’d kept the Colonel-turned-General at bay for nearly a decade, and when they went home, she’d continue to keep him there. “There are laws against it, where we’re from.” The Lieutenant explained calmly-- not that she had to, but she knew Roy liked this boy and he seemed to like Roy in return. He deserved to know and understand. “The General is fond of bending rules to fit his needs, whereas I follow them to the letter.” Their relationship, if they had one, would be illegal. He didn’t care. She did. So while perhaps they both wanted it, it would never happen because Riza wouldn’t allow it.
Perhaps that might clear things up a little for the boy.
He’d said he didn’t care, but the way he said it told her he really did. The blonde woman was incredible at picking up the subtle things. One of the many reasons she was so very good at her job.
I’m kind of curious who you rely on.
One of her eyebrows went up slowly. The other soon joined it. “I rely upon myself, Marco. There aren’t many people out there who are worthy of your trust, you shouldn’t give it up so easily. You should rely upon yourself, too.” Of course, she never suggested that to Mustang, because he couldn’t. He needed her. He needed Hughes. He needed his men. Mustang wasn’t built to be an island, Riza was.
***
Marco considered Riza’s answer, and nodded, “That makes sense. If people get involved, and things get messy, stupid decisions might be made.” Cassie had helped Jake a lot, but she had also… fucked everything up. And Marco didn’t know if he’d ever forgive her for that. Would he take a bullet for her? Absolutely. Did he like her? Not at all right now, “So your job is more important to you than Roy.” He wasn’t judging. At the end winning had been more important to both him and Jake than the people they were closest to.
It was about priorities.
Although it seemed to him that Roy would probably make stupid decisions about Riza anyway.
He blinked and then barked out a not-completely-happy laugh when Riza told him to rely on himself.
“Dude, that’s how I know how much your situation sucks. I took care of my Dad for 2 and a half years, and right now at home I’m the one who shows up and makes sure Jake does things like shower, and have easy to eat food and shit.” And of course Jake had stuck himself in a cabin in the middle of freaking nowhere, so it was a pain in the ass.
“And the whole not having anybody to talk to works right up until it doesn’t,” Marco said seriously, eyeing her, “And then things go to hell.”
***
Was her job more important than Roy? “My job is the General. He needs me. I can’t leave.” Even if she wanted to-- and sometimes, she did-- she couldn’t resign. She couldn’t give up her uniform for his ring, because he couldn’t do his job without her. He couldn’t do the things he needed to do. Who would protect him? She had saved his life more times than she cared to remember. Without her, he’d be dead.
There was no leaving the military for Riza, not unless Mustang did, and he had no plans to leave-- only to become Fuhrer.
“I suppose that’s the difference between us. I don’t need anyone to talk to. I don’t need help. I don’t rely on anyone but myself.” And Mustang, when he was capable, which (to his credit) he was incredible at knowing when she needed the support, even if he was miles away. “But there’s no shame in needing it when you do. I’m a lot older than you, Marco. I’ve had plenty of time to accept and adjust to my position.” Of having no one. “You’ll get used to it, also.” And he wouldn’t need anyone, either. There was no ‘going to Hell’, you just dealt with it. You did what you had to and you moved on.
***
“I get it. If you left, he’d fall apart,” Marco said seriously, “And his job would fall apart, and then he’d be worse off. Man, your situation sucks.” It really did. Briefly he wondered what would happen if he got them both drunk, or maybe gave them molly or something. Did this place even have molly? Hey, could alchemy make drugs? He made a mental note to ask if he ever had access to somebody who knew again.
Then she started giving him the ‘I’m the stoic’ speech, and Marco rolled his brown eyes at her.
“Oh, bullshit.” Marco told her.
“You just think if you actually told anybody when you had problems that they wouldn’t be able to handle it or it would just make them worse and hell, for all I know you’re right, but that’s why I asked. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you haven’t hit your breaking point yet because I think it’d be terrifying and I don’t want to see it, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have one.”
Analyzing other people was easy as long as you ignored the parts that applied to you.
Then he snorted, “Although props for being one of the few people who doesn’t try to tell me somebody will give a damn at some point.”
***
Those Killer’s eyes locked onto Marco as he said that. It was eerie. How in the world...? The sniper tightened her jaw some as he continued to speak. He was right, of course. Right about everything. Except she had hit a breaking point, once. She’d broken. She’d screamed. She’d cried. She’d fired four full clips of ammunition into a woman she thought had killed Roy Mustang.
She’d be dead now if it weren’t for Alphonse.
Brown eyes shifted forward again.
“Maybe someone will, but you can’t count on it happening. And you can’t rely entirely upon them when they do.” Her words paused though and she considered them a second before looking back to him. “You come first, always remember that. When it comes down to it, you worry about you, because all of the rest of them will be worrying about themselves.” It was just the way of the world and there was no use deluding the boy.
Sure, there were people out there who would sacrifice for others, but not many. Thankfully, they seemed to be concentrated within this strange little family that somehow seemed to circle around York. It had been centered around Harry, she’d noted, but when the two separate circles had joined, it’d been through the one-eyed Spartan.
For some reason, Hawkeye found that strange.
Her steps slowed again and she turned her head to look out into the brush around them. She thought she’d heard something.
***
He noticed that Riza stiffened up, but didn’t comment on it. Knowing he was right was enough. Sure, he needled people all the time, but only when there was a point. (Or if he thought it’d be funny, but neither case applied here).
You come first. Yeah, right.
Now it was Marco’s turn to raise an eyebrow, “Then why not just shoot yourself?” He asked seriously, “I don’t know. Most people care about at least one other person. You care about Roy, for example.” Even if she was an idiot about it, “Roy cares about you. Ed and Al care about each other.” He shrugged.
“Besides, you put Roy first, so that makes you kind of a hypocrite.” Marco grinned again.
He also turned his head when Riza did, because that sound was made by something bigger than a rabbit. Marco went still and looked around, listening for anything that would be odd (or at least that he thought was odd, he didn’t know.)
***
His question came, Why not just shoot yourself? and Riza lifted her chin a little. “There’s someone I have to protect.” She answered, just as seriously. “And I put him first because that’s my choice, as ridiculous as it is.” But she didn’t advise anyone else to do something so stupid.
At least she knew it was stupid.
There was no more time to discuss it, though, because there was a noise-- far bigger than a rabbit. Riza’s hand strayed to one of her guns for the first time since her arrival, fingers touching at the grip gingerly.
Then the snap of a twig had her jerking it out and pointing it in that direction. She didn’t fire, though. Not yet. Not until she could see the threat.
And it was a good thing, because a moment later, it was a man who came from the darkness of the trees and brush, a man who towered over the both of them at nearly six feet-- dressed sensibly, a suit, a tie, a long beige overcoat and equally sensible shoes.
Riza lowered her gun with a breath, then put it away.
The man’s too-blue eyes lingered on the woman, then turned onto the boy.
Don’t mind the blood along the cuffs of his overcoat or smeared near his belly.
“Lieutenant.” He greeted her blandly, then let his eyes turn slowly to the boy, though his head never moved. His arms never moved. His body remained eerily still. It was debatable whether he was breathing or not.
“It’s good to see you, Castiel.” Riza replied with a click of her gun into its holster, secured up right.
***
It was stupid, but Marco did the same thing. Except Jake wasn’t here. And if he could never go home, Jake would never be there. Then what?
And, like Riza, Marco focused his attention on their surroundings, subconsciously scanning his eyes in directions that she wasn’t covering (the minute they both concentrated on one area, something else would come from the opposite direction and eat their faces). So once Riza spoke, he turned around…
And was confronted with an insurance salesman slash serial killer.
Okay.
Sure.
Castiel.
Well, Riza clearly knew him. Marco’s eyes narrowed though.
“What are you?” He asked bluntly, crossing his arms. Because Castiel didn’t move like a human; he wasn’t using a human’s instincts to pilot his body. Marco would know.
***
“I’m an angel.” Castiel replied without any pretense or build up. There was no need for it. It was a simple declaration. “An archangel.” He elaborated after a second, it was something he still wasn’t used to.
Focusing on the young man for a second, he seemed to look right through him, right into his soul.. Then he nodded once, almost in greeting. “I just came from Harry and Mouse. They are both doing fine now.” Finally, he stepped further away from the brush and closer to the two waiting there. “We should get moving.” Cas didn’t have the stealth Riza did-- sorry, Marco. If the sniper sounded loud, the angel was going to sound like a herd of elephants.
He’d never had to be stealthy before.
Riza winced a little as she heard the man in the trenchcoat plod along, but wasted no time falling in step behind him, turning her head enough to ensure Marco was coming along with. She wanted to keep him in her field of vision.
Roy would never forgive her if she let something happen to him.
***
An angel. Okay.
Man, his life was weird. Marco watched him carefully, “You’re not going to smite me, are you?” He asked cautiously, “Does smiting hurt?” Maybe it wouldn’t be bad if it didn’t hurt, but if angels were real… “Do you know who’s going to hell?” Marco asked.
He was glad to hear Mouse was doing alright, though. The dog was weird, but Marco liked him. He’d never talked to Harry, but he and Mouse had some fun times as a dog. Playing with another smart dog was like all the benefits of being a happy dog and all the pluses of being human at the same time.
Then the angel started moving.
Really?
Marco threw his hands up in exasperation, “Why don’t we just march with a sign saying ‘get your prey here’?” He grumbled. The angel was never allowed to go in the woods with Marco.
***
The entire situation was lost on Cas, but Hawkeye? She cracked a smile. Well, she wasn’t going to be the one to say it. The angel did look back curiously, though.
“I don’t understand that reference.” Which was rare these days, as he recognized a lot of things, thanks to Metatron. Not that he really liked thinking back on those days. But, had Marco been making some sort of joke? Was it a reference to a movie? A book of some sort? Cas knew about most of those..
“There are no monsters in the immediate area.” A factual statement. Cas could feel them. Cas could see them, even from miles away. He was currently keeping an eye on Harry and Mouse, who were making their way towards the trio.
The angel couldn’t help that he was inept at being a human.
***
What reference? Marco gave the angel a weird, puzzled look, “It’s not a reference. I just wanted to know if you were going to kill me or not.” He had killed a bunch of innocent people, it wasn’t like the idea was crazy.
“Oh, well, as long as you say so,” Marco said sarcastically, “On the other hand, maybe we won’t be bothered because prey isn’t stupid enough to make this much noise.”
He was on edge and disgruntled. He didn’t know this angel from a hole in the ground, what if there were things Castiel couldn’t see? It wasn’t like Castiel would know. And if Castiel was thrown into this the same as the rest of them, something stronger than him was at play in this whole thing, and Marco didn’t like it.
In his experience, near-omnipotent beings were dicks.
***
Marco had killed innocent people, there was something dark in him, it had given the angel pause, but he chose not answer the question about smiting. The answer would be the same as it’d been for Harry: he would smite him if he had to. But it wasn’t as if Cas was without blame, either. Cas had killed thousands.
But they hadn’t been innocent. That was why they were dead. They were sinners. Heathens. All of them. They had died. They deserved to die.
But it was true, he had killed a bunch of people and a bunch of angels. Countless angels. But they had all needed to die. It was a difficult choice to make, but..
Did he regret it?
Yes.
Deeply.
“We are not prey.” Castiel told the boy again. Of course, he had no doubt that something would eventually show up to try and tear them into little pieces.. Cas was like a shining beacon in the darkness and he attracted all sorts of terrible, dangerous monsters. But as he’d said, he was stronger than them. Well, most of them.
“No, we aren’t.” The only female of the group would agree, glancing aside at Marco once again. “We’ll be fine.” They could take care of themselves.
***
No answer on the smiting. That was comforting. Better than lying, though. Could angels lie? The Ellimist could lie. Marco didn’t know. He hated it. He had no idea what was going on.
’We’re not prey.’
’We’ll be fine.’
Marco rolled his eyes again and gestured down the road as if it were a red carpet, “Then lead on.”
He obviously wasn’t going to stop them. So stomping it was.
Hopefully Harry and Mouse were close by.