use_everything | [IC Inbox]

[Two sentences in and already this guy annoys Ed. Something about the way he speaks reminds him of Bradley—formal and somehow agreeable at the same time.

It really did nothing to help his impression.]

Haah? Who the hell calls it "remote communication"? Are you gonna answer my questions or not?

[Abrasive, indeed. Certainly not, in this case, a detriment. In some odd way it seemed familiar.]

My aim was simple. He struck me as an officer with integrity. My interest is habitual, but my offer genuine. Though I admit curiosity, who have you met?

Greg and Miles. But that's not really what I meant by aim. Any idiot would be smart to try to get us on their side, but that doesn't tell me shit about what your goals are. What do you want to use us for? What's your endgame?

And don't try to sell me some bullshit about how you just want to work with good people. That's just empty talk that doesn't mean anything. You work with people to get something done, so what the hell is it?

The endgame hasn't been entirely decided. [That was honest. The Emperor was still enthralled with his vacation, even with forceful intrusions of reality, such as Lucifer.] For now, readiness and a concentration on protection is not remiss. I can think of any number of names I would not like to see from my world.

[There's a light snort on Ed's end of the call; not quite derisive, but not very impressed either.]

Tell me about them. I want to know what you'd expect us to go up against if these names from your world show their faces.

You seem to have made the presumption that I'm negotiating from the position of weakness.

Or undermining your superior's authority by negotiating at all.

If you wish to exchange information, that is acceptable.

Equivalent exchange, huh? Well, our biggest enemy wants to devour the souls of every living person in our country to gain immortality. It wouldn't even be the first country he's destroyed that way.

[There may be some yelling in the background, but it's fine. That can be ignored.]

[That does, in fact, answer that question of where his superior is. "Fullmetal?" The answer takes a moment, as Aral gives it due consideration, turning it over. He has to take it out of the context of the supernatural and into the motives of men... and then, then it's not so hard at all.]

... There are those that simply transplant their brain for the same hideous task. The evils of my world are little more than acutely brilliant men with morals that may be soothed by their own arguments of 'necessity.'

Here we have found ourselves in a quarrel with theist's deity representing sin and evil. With your experience, you may find that tactical evaluation of more use to you than my personal demons.

Just hum . . . ans . . . [It takes a moment for Ed's brain to catch up to the conversation now—the idea of actual deities is just too repellent to him. The pause drags out while he processes that and changes gears to focus on something he can actually address.]

. . . What powers has this deity got?

Just humans. [It's dry, incredibly so. But he doesn't push the point or justify it.]

The extent is largely unknown at this point. We do know he is invulnerable to all injuries except what is delivered from one weapon. He may teleport and is both superhumanly fast and strong. The rest is conjecture.

I take it your enemies typically are of the inhuman variety?

Edited 2016-04-10 19:15 (UTC)

Most of the major ones are. Creations of that big country-destroyer guy.

[It's too bad Roy can't see or he'd be able to spot the gears starting to turn in Ed's head. A guy that can only be hurt by a single weapon??]

What weapon is it?

I see.

A sword, currently in my possession. I assume it has mythological significance beyond merely being unrealistically sharp.

Are these creations of concern to you?

[The yelling in the background has a new voice now, and it's getting more irritated in general. Ed is continuing to do his best to ignore it.]

Ah—it will if we sign on with you, but the leader of Rise is looking into us too so you've got some competition. [Probably not Mustang, but Aral doesn't need to know that.]

You're wise to evaluate your options. It - Do you need to attend to something, Mr. Elric?

. . . I think it can wait a few more minutes. [For some reason? He sounds a little surprised that he's not being pulled off the phone yet.]

I just have one more question for you—so we can weigh our options well enough. Are you offering anything aside from the added protection of working together?

[Together was more than Vorkosigan had proposed to the Colonel... and was quite interesting.]

Should you opt to work together with us, there is the sundries of regular pay, an experienced research and intelligence network in its beginnings. We've set aside a significant research and development budget to bring us up to the technological standards we're accustomed to, and will outfit accordingly.

[That . . . is a lot of information to relay back without sounding awkward. So instead there's a brief rustling of paper while Ed jots down the list of perks that they could get with this guy.]

Not bad . . . If there's nothing else you wanted to ask, then we'll be in touch after we've spoken with General Armstrong.

Ah, I believe you've forgotten your exchange. As we have moved from casual alliance into mutual investment...

What are you willing to offer?

Edited 2016-04-10 20:35 (UTC)

Two out of the four greatest scientific minds in our country. The Colonel's got plenty of experience with military strategy too.

[Winry is also here, but she sure as fuck isn't getting signed up for this unless she asks for it herself.]

And political acumen; it was a good conversation. [There's a thoughtful, pleased sound over the line.] It would be good to have scientific advancements among all of this magic.

Do let me know what you agree upon, Mr. Elric.

Like I said, we'll be in touch. It was good talking to you, Aral. [Enlightening, at least.]

[And the line clicks off.]

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