[Action]

[eventohell]

B106.... B107....

[Ah, there it is. B108

Riza opens the door to her new home. She wasn't sure how long she'd be here, but she was at least grateful that the Headmaster was kind enough to let her stay. He seemed like a very understanding man from the get go and even allowed her to take some classes as a Cadet despite the age restrictions.

Turning the light on, she discovered that the room was simple-just the way she liked it. Well, the empty side looked simple. Riza opened her mouth, ready to call out that she was home out of sheer habit, when she realized something. The dorm room lacked something. A certain sound of paws pitter-pattering across the floor. She sighs. No Black Hayate here.

As promised, Riza found her Course Catalog with acceptance letter on a table in the kitchen. Quickly skimming through the letter, she looks over to the other bedroom. She knew she'd have a roommate, but it seemed said roommate was not in at the moment.

Taking a seat at the table, she decides to flip through the catalog and set up her classes while she still had the chance. Headmaster Cid said she only had a certain amount of time before she had to turn in her course schedule. She didn't have a bag to unpack after all.

After a few hours of setting things up on a piece of paper, she decides to go ahead and take her course schedule to the Headmaster's office. Riza assumed her roommate was attending her classes, as this Twilight Sparkle hadn't arrived yet.

If you see her in the hallways, take a moment to talk with her a while. Maybe then she can get some in-tell on what this place is about.]

Comments

[incinerare]

[When he first saw her from a distance, he'd paused, thinking he must have merely seen someone similar and his mind had decided to trick him. Still, it was possible that the same thing which had brought him here had also brought her. He was cautious though as he moved to approach her. It was entirely possible she could be like Ed, and not be from the Amestris he was familiar with.

Judging by the length of her hair, if it was his Lieutenant, it wasn't the one he'd been pulled away from over a year ago. He'd cross the bridge of timeline issues when he got there, first he needed to be certain it was her.

Have a certain familiar black-clad road block in your path, Riza.]

Lieutenant?

[eventohell]

[In her mind, she's looking at a mental layout of the first floor of Balamb Gardens. Riza knew at some point there should be an elevator, with a set of stairs leading up to it. Trying to keep as close to the inside wall as she could, she ducked in between students and staff alike.

As soon as she squeezed through the final gathering, she was immediately blocked by another male uniform. Riza was about to give him a curt remark, when she heard a familiar voice.

She looked up, closed her eyes for a few seconds and reopened them.... Yes, he was still there.]

C-Colonel?

[What voice she had, was a bit groggy from her healing neck wound. She was shocked to see him here, to say the least. Did she fail in protecting him? Was her sacrifice not enough? ]

[jointheclub]

[Sauntering cheerfully down the hallway comes the Itemcrafting Instructor, casually appraising a length of long, oddly shimmering hair that he holds in one hand. This is perhaps not terribly strange... but behind him, a large sack hovers in the air as if following him, responding occasionally to a gesture from the wand in his other hand.]

Later that evening...

[marearcana]

[There is a purple unicorn in your dorm room.

Fortunately, she's been expecting someone.]

I'm guessing you would be Riza?

[And if you were asking what kind of person would be named "Twilight Sparkle" you now have an answer.]

[eventohell]

[She's looking for those stairs again....

Only to find herself blocked by a large levitating sack?

And suddenly she finds herself remembering a few select lines from her acceptance letter about off-worlders wielding unusual powers. This must be what they meant.

Riza peeks around the sack and sees a man waving a stick at it over his shoulder, with the most incredible look on her face.]

How in the hell...

[He seemed more interested in the shimmering substance in his hand than the floating sack, as it was teetering a little too close to the man. Reaching underneath the sack, she gently taps the man on the shoulder.]

Sir? Excuse me, but I think you are about the loose control of your cargo.

[jointheclub]

Hm? [He looks up from his scrutiny of the hair and half-turns, causing the sack to bump him in the shoulder.] Ah, yes -- stop that, you.

[He twiddles his wand absently at it, causing the sack to retreat to a more proper distance. He then turns his smile on Riza.]

Thank you for the warning, Miss...?

[incinerare]

[Well that cinched the fact that this woman was who he'd thought her to be. His eyes noted neck injury and a subtle sorrow came and went from his face.]

When did you arrive, Lieutenant?

[eventohell]

[Her back straightened some and her hand nearly shot to a salute. But she was able to stop herself in time, and offer her hand out to shake his instead. Old habits die hard.]

Hawkeye, sir. First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye.

[Riza offers the old man a gentle smile. Somehow, he reminded her of the General from Eastern Headquarters.

'Must be the hair.', she thought.]

[jointheclub]

[He shakes her hand with a broad smile, then leans in conspiratorially.]

The salute would have been more appropriate, you know. Cadet to Instructor and whatnot. But you'll learn, never fear, that's what classes are for!

[eventohell]

[She watched his eyes go for the neck wound, and caught those few seconds of sadness. Shit. She should have covered that up.

His voice sounded like it had that slight hint of regret, but it was still Mustang nonetheless. Riza gave him a small reassuring smile.]

About a week ago.

[As much as it hurt her to ask, she felt compelled to....]

And you, sir?

[eventohell]

[She was in the middle of taking a nap. It had been a long day and she was still recovering from blood-loss. Was that the sound of hooves on linoleum? Since when did her dog have hooves? Riza turns over and opens her eyes expecting a black and white dog, but found A PURPLE UNICORN IN HER DORM ROOM!

She shot up in the bed, closed her eyes, and reopened them-hoping that it was her pain medication playing tricks on her. Nope. And what's even crazier? The purple unicorn spoke. Despite the fact that she was shocked, she was able to contain her surprise to a degree.]

Yes, and you would be Twilight Sparkle?

[eventohell]

Oh! I apologize then, sir.

[She quickly snaps to that salute, with a smile still on her face.]

[jointheclub]

Ha! Sharp look, I like that. You'll do well here. [Not that he particularly cares for the more military aspects of this school, but it is what it is.]

Horace Slughorn. Itemcrafting Instructor. [He touches a hand to his chest with mild false modesty.]

[marearcana]

Yes, that's right. Did I disturb you? Sorry...

[eventohell]

No. Its fine.

[She looks around the room, still processing the sweet voice that was coming form the purple unicorn's mouth. As much as she wanted to believe that this was really happening, she could't. It wasn't natural for an animal to speak. Unless...

She very much doubted that the Sewing-Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker resided in this world. He was dead.

But so was she, or at least she thinks she is.... She shook her head in frustration, earning herself a nice headache. This was just too much for Riza right now.

She didn't want to give a terrible first impression, so she gave Twilight a small smile.]

Its nice to meet you finally.

[eventohell]

Thank you, sir. I expect it comes from all the time I spend in my country's service.

[jointheclub]

You've had some experience, hmm? Never a bad thing, not if it helps you fit in here better.

[eventohell]

I suppose not, sir.

[She thought for a few moments, before lowering her hand with a sigh. It wouldn't hurt to ask.]

Professor Slughorn, do you know where the Headmaster's office is? I seem to have forgotten which way the elevator is and I need to deliver my schedule for the upcoming Quarter.

[subjection]

[ Claire's mood is not so good at the moment- something that's not too unusual, actually, though it's only compounded by the fact that the elevator is being slow for some reason right now. She presses the call button yet again while she frowns, but then turns to glance at Riza as the other woman approaches, gaze lingering on her face for a moment longer than it might have usually only because of the lack of recognition. Fortunately, it's only a moment later that she notices the paperwork in her hands and-- ]

... New cadet?

[eventohell]

[Finally finding the damned elevator, she tries to patiently waits with a light pink haired woman until the doors open. Yeah, she's not in a good mood either.

One would think that a circular building with one set of stairs leading to an elevator would be the easiest thing in the world to find. But its not. She's standing there thinking to herself of ways the building could be better designed, when she hears the question. There was a hint of disinterest in the woman's voice, but it also called for a want of confirmation-a question nonetheless.]

Yes, I am.

[She pauses a moment before adding to it.]

Is it really that obvious?

[subjected]

[ At that, there's one of the strange SeeD-type salutes from Claire- an automatic response. ]

Welcome to Balamb Garden.

[ And if there's any sense of irony in that caused by her own negative opinion of this whole offworlder mess and their presence here, it doesn't show in her demeanor; by now she's well-used to feeling one way but acting another.

As such, her answer to the question is as nonchalant as ever. ]

I didn't think I had seen you before.

[marearcana]

Likewise.

I actually got nominated for Homecoming Princess recently, if you couldn't tell. I'm actually kind of baffled as to why; I haven't been here that long.

[eventohell]

[She salutes to Claire but not the same one that Claire has given her.]

Thank you.

[She takes note of Claire's stance. Realizing her mistake, she corrects her salute to the proper one. Looking the woman in the eyes, Riza could have sworn she had seen a smirk on the corner of Claire's lips, but cast the thought off as an illusion. That's only something the Colonel would do, and she had a feeling this woman would be different from him.]

You haven't. I only arrived a week ago.

[She felt an ugly pause coming on. She hated pauses.]

Back home, they call.... [She thinks a moment before correcting herself.] called me First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. Its been a long time since I've been called Cadet.

[jointheclub]

[There's only a brief flash of calculation, pondering if this girl is worth his continuing attention. She certainly hasn't proved herself a waste of effort yet, so he smiles broadly.]

Of course, of course. Come with me. [He beckons her on as he turns back to his original path, the charmed sack still trailing behind him.]

[subjection]

Everyone starts as a cadet here, regardless of whatever rank they might have held beforehand.

[ And well, Riza's sure to have already heard that, but still. Claire is obviously not the friendliest type around, preferring to stick to stating the facts, and even if this woman is older than her (likely, if she was a lieutenant and considering how young Claire had been when she was commissioned herself), she doesn't really care. As such- ]

I'm Instructor Claire Farron. I teach Military Movement as well as Intermediate Firearms and Projectiles.

[eventohell]

Understood.

[It would figure. But then of course, Claire makes it especially obvious that she could care less for Balamb Garden at the moment. Riza makes note of the woman's name, rank and classes mentioned.]

At some point, I'll most likely be taking your courses, as my specialization will require it.

[eventohell]

Homecoming Princess?

[Now there is a term she was unfamiliar with.]

[eventohell]

[She follows, making note to avoid a collision with the large sack and the large crowds.]

[jointheclub]

[The dorms have gotten a bit confusing since his time here, so he understands, never fear. He leads her confidently through the corridors to the lobby, then gestures with his wand at the column rising in the center.]

There you are, one lift. The Headmaster's office is on the third floor.

[marearcana]

I don't quite get it either, really. It's part of some event, and I'm not sure why they'd attach the word "princess" to someone so easily.

It seems to a popularity contest.

[subjected]

[ A pause, as Claire gives Riza yet another brief glance-over? Check. She keeps a pretty close eye on those pursuing the life of one trained in the art of firearms, it's true. ]

Then I suppose I should wish you luck until then.

[ ... Somehow, she gets the feeling that this particular woman won't be needing her classes that much, though. ]