The finer answers in life! [BBS/Action; Open]

[gotgreedy]

Nice little gadgets we've got here. Shiny technology left and right... and all of them a little short on instruction manuals. Kind of a shame, really.

So this letter tells me 'Time Compression' is what I have to thank for this brave new world opened up to me, but I'm guessing that's not a proper name. (I'm hoping it's not.) So someone want to give me the ten-cenz story of who pulled this stunt off and why?

Oh yeah, I'm supposed to ask if anyone's seen a couple people named 'Fu' or 'Lan Fan' around. Don't ask me for more details, it's a yes or no. Don't ask me why I'm doing these sorts of favors.

Greed

[So having figured out the BBS system, the homunculus is feeling ambitious! That's why he's parked out in the cafeteria, playing around with his laptop and trying to figure out what else it can do for him. He's not having much success, but he hasn't bricked it yet, and he's cheerfully taking his failures in stride. For the moment.]

Comments

Action

[rewritethis]

[He'd figured it was only a matter of time.

Ed thundering through the halls of Garden glaring fixedly at every single person he walks past isn't actually that uncommon, but he's rarely looked so tense about it. So far he's checked off the Quad, plenty of corridors (you can never be too sure), some of the areas just outside and the Training Centre. Yes, he could probably have thought up some less haphazard way of conducting a search like this, but that would've taken time - and who knew what could be going on unseen for every second he wasted? After all, if Time Compression could pull in one of these bastards (and it had to be one of them; even without the signature and the currency mention, he wouldn't have doubted it), it could just as easily grab hold of someone like her...

Next up, since he happens to be nearby anyway: the cafeteria. He strides in through the door, elbowing past several of the people lining up at the front as he pushes towards the centre of the room, and glances around with narrowed eyes. It's busy at this time of day, and he'd probably have a clearer view if he stood on a table - but hell, he knows what he's looking for. Spiky hair, shark teeth, jacket, sunglasses, not much of an inclination to stay hidden... This should be the easy part.]

[gotgreedy]

[You don't make an entrance like that without attracting some attention. Greed looks up as Ed pushes his way to the center, then grins broadly.]

Hey there, loyal henchman!

[He stands up from his seat, arms spread broadly. Taking another quick look around, he verifies that no one came in with Ed, though that doesn't prove anything....]

You here alone, or are the big guys still tagging along with you?

[rewritethis]

[Ed spins round and sees... nobody remotely familiar.

Under ordinary circumstances, he'd be charitable (if kind of unrealistic - who else could he be mistaken for?) and assume this person just happened to have the wrong guy, but his nerves are a little too frayed for that right now.]

Who the hell are you?

[eventohell]

[She was hoping to have a nice quiet breakfast this morning, when she walked into the cafeteria. And maybe a nice study session in the library afterwards. But all plans were put to a halt when she saw the familiar face of Ling Yao, the twelfth crown prince of Xing.

Thinking on their last encounter, she wondered if there was anyone else that was "time compressioned" from her home that she was unaware of. Maybe his companions made it too? She slowly made her way to the prince, contemplating on whether or not to greet him in the Xing manors or not. Not that it really mattered, even the solutes here were different from home.... ]

Ling.... its good to see you.

[She settles for something simple. This place was confusing enough as it is.]

[gotgreedy]

[Greed blinks, then rubs at his neck.]

I'm Greed, remember? Your boss? You're not getting out of serving me just by pretending you forgot me, you know.

[gotgreedy]

[Biggest sign this isn't Ling: his eyes are open. And he looks her over with a possessive eye, and a self-assured grin.]

Sorry. That's not me. You're looking for the person whose body this used to be.

[rewritethis]

[The name makes his breath catch in his throat. None of the rest even registers, which is probably just as well.]

You? You're not...

[He doesn't have any business staying stunned for long, though. His mind's already racing. Given how long that old hag had been around, how many people she must have preyed on, and the fact that there are only seven pretentious sin names to go around, the situation almost adds up... but how would some homunculus' namesake from a bygone age recognise him? There's no way!

His forehead creases, and when he replies, it's practically a growl.] I'll ask you again. Who the hell are you, and why are you here?

[gotgreedy]

[More confused blinking, before Greed bends down to peer at Ed like a doctor checking a patient's eyes.]

This'll probably get a laugh, but I'm starting to think you're not faking it. You really don't remember me? You hit your head or something?

[He's actually legitimately concerned! Ed is his henchman, after all, and Greed doesn't appreciate damage to his property.]

What about Dairus and Heinkel?

[rewritethis]

[He flinches, but doesn't step back - which only really serves to make the complete lack of recognition in his eyes more obvious.]

Don't give me that! I'm the one asking the questions!

[And he's raising his voice now, without a shred of self-consciousness about any attention from the rest of the cafeteria he might be picking up.]

[gotgreedy]

Well, that's definitely you. Same fire, same charming way with people. I told you who I am, I'm Greed. And you're supposed to be working for me.

Maybe there's a hospital around here I could get you to. Unless you're wanted on this world too...

[rewritethis]

["Charming way with people"? Nope, no idea what that could possibly be referring to.]

If I didn't know you were lying, I'd say thanks for the concern.

But fine, let's leave the second question. Just tell me: [He looks this "Greed" squarely in the eye.] Dante. Is she here?

[gotgreedy]

Hey. I don't lie. We've been over this.

[Greed squints at Ed. Now the complete lack of recognition shoe is on the other face!]

Who?

[eventohell]

[Just by the tone of his voice, her defenses were up. If this wasn't the prince of Xing, then who was he?]

Then who are you exactly?

[Riza wasn't too keen on the possessive gaze he gave her. In fact, it just plain creeped her out.]

[gotgreedy]

[He leans back, casually cocking one elbow on his table as he grins up at her.]

The name's Greed.

[rewritethis]

[Judging from Ed's expression, if this conversation carries on going nowhere fast, someone might get a boot in the face.]

What do you mean, "who"?! It's a yes or no question!

[This still isn't fitting together - and he really, really doesn't want to think about it too hard, but he remembers what the explanation turned out to be last time a situation like this didn't seem to fit together...]

[gotgreedy]

Except I just got here and I don't know who you're talking about. Wait a minute, you act like you've been here longer than I have -- why the hell are you asking me if this chick is here? I'm the one who should be asking you if people are here!

...Wait, I did, and you never answered. Hey. Show me your hand. Let me see your automail.

[eventohell]

[Greed... She knew the name from somewhere. Her gut told her that a bad feeling might come with that name as well.]

And may I ask, how are you affiliated with Ling?

[If this person was simply in control of Ling's body, then where is Ling?]

[rewritethis]

[At this point, he does take a step back, although his hard glare doesn't waver.]

If you know about that, you don't need to see it.

[And if the guy says he doesn't know her, he's lying about something, that much is clear. The challenge is figuring out what.]

[gotgreedy]

Not much of a fair trade, is it? I don't like giving something for nothing. How about you answer some questions for me first?

[But he might have answered one question for certain just by rubbing his chin -- because that makes the tattoo very obvious indeed.]

[gotgreedy]

[Greed just looks pained, sliding a hand into his hair.]

Pain in my -- look, is it the cold weather one? Because the last time I saw you it was the one you got up in Briggs. If it's not that then we definitely know something weird is going on here.

[eventohell]

[She saw it then. The blood red tattoo of a snake eating its tail. Right on his hand. Flashbacks of the incident with Gluttony hit her and she sorely wanted to pull out her gun. Using peripheral vision, Riza forced herself to think rationally of the people around her in the cafeteria. What would happen if they became injured in her line of fire? Past experience told her that Homunculi will not go down without "dying" a few times. Plus, she had no idea what this Homunculus was capable of doing.

She took the safer route and settled herself in a chair across from Greed.]

Alright. What is it you want to know?

[gotgreedy]

Smart girl. I like that. Let's start with a name. We'll trade off question for question, make alchemists everywhere happy.

[rewritethis]

Yeah, somehow I think I guessed that anyway.

[He inclines his head, and just for a moment his expression betrays something other than open hostility. Then he looks back up, and it's gone.]

I'm not looking for a fight. [Definitely not yet. He knows how much preparation it'd take to win, not to mention how much of it might not even be possible here.] If it's true you're not with her, I'll leave you alone. But I'm not gonna buy that till you give me one good reason why I should believe anything you say. You already gave me a few reasons not to.

[gotgreedy]

{Greed draws himself upright, scowling.]

I told you I don't lie. But since you don't remember, clearly, I'll tell you I broke with the other homonculi again. Being a follower just doesn't seem to suit me.

[eventohell]

[She was well aware of the Alchemist's Equivalent Exchange. After all, she works(ed) under Mustang. It does seem fair after all. And maybe she'll come out of this with a few answers for herself too.]

Riza Hawkeye.

[if he asked the right questions, he might even get her affiliation with ling as well.]