Post by Kuri-Kara on Apr 5, 2010 20:50:28 GMT -5
Chapter 1: The First Day
First day, The young woman sighed. Ill miss being a regular secretary for Major Hughes. Her rather short hair was a golden brown, reminiscent of caramel. Her piercing blue eyes were very pale, almost as if they were the color of a pale winter sky. Though she seemed tall, she was only about 56, just above average height for a 21-year-old young woman. Her calm demeanor made her seem older than she was and had gained her the respect of many colleagues at Central Headquarters. Though that calm was a mask, and hid her inner confusion and hesitation about her new position. I better get used to saluting, and being saluted. As of today Im a captain... But Ive been demoted to Eastern HQ."
As she walked into the new office she was told to report to, the first thing she noticed was the fact that it seemed fairly organized, there were several tables in the middle of the room that were pushed together, and at those tables were her new colleagues. One was tall, with pale hair, another was a short dark haired boy, then there was a carrot top, and then the only two striking members of the team; a choppy blonde with blue eyes, and a blonde haired woman who was cleaning a gun. Im not impressed with my new conditions. Im Captain Ari Leroux, reporting in for my first day. I was transferred to this office from Investigations where I worked under Major Hughes. I hope you will understand and assist me if I am uncertain on how things work here in the east.
To the man in the chair behind the desk staring out the window, the feminine voice was surprisingly melodic; there was a strange pull to it. Turning to face the girl he had arranged to transfer into his office to do most of the work for him, he saw her startling appearance. Neat uniform, but the woman was apparently flat chested, her long legs were hidden by the pants of her uniform, and from what he could tell her graceful figure also seemed hidden. You must be kidding me. Youre the secretary I transferred in here?! But what happened to the Ari Leroux I met before?
Oh, you must have seen me while I worked under Hughes, sir. I assume you are the playboy of the State Alchemists, Colonel Roy Mustang, are you not? Ari asked, a smirk playing on her lips. If you dont approve of my appearance, I guess I could do something about that tomorrow.
Well what about wearing a miniskirt? The choppy blonde suggested with a chuckle earning applause from his fellow officers except the blonde woman who was now piecing together the gun she had been cleaning. Im sure Mustang wont mind that.
Well why dont you wear a miniskirt and see what you think of it? Was the only retort the choppy blonde had earned for his effort, wasnt it obvious that she wasnt exactly feminine while at work? It was then that she was distracted and slightly entranced by the deep chuckle she heard from Mustang.
Well, Hughes didnt tell me what spunk his secretary had. Just that she was hard working. The one youre exchanging friendly words with is First Lieutenant, Jean Havoc. The one piecing together the gun is First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. The one eating the sandwich is Second Lieutenant Heymans Breda. The dark-haired one you have completely failed to notice staring at you is Master Sergeant Kain Fuery. The last member of my staff is Warrant Officer Vato Falman. The black haired, onyx-eyed man explained. As he sat there at his large desk he merely grinned at the new woman. He figured she was trying to keep from being noticed as she was new to the eastern region. Ive heard youre talented at alchemy, and I guess from the looks of that ice spreading over that tabletop the rumor is true.
What the hell? This guy knew about my alchemy?! No one knew about that except Hughes and a few others back in Central. Unless Yes, he might be the one that knew Euda. Ari thought before straightening, removing her hand from the table, not having realized she had activated the circle inscribed on the pendant of her bracelet. Excuse me? How could I be talented at ice alchemy, the only thing I know of such a science is that the basic foundation is equivalent exchange.
Interesting, Ari doesnt recognize me as the man that her sister entrusted her safety and well-being to. Roy thought with a smirk. Euda would be disappointed in you. He knew that would strike a nerve with the woman, especially since he was aware of how Ari had nearly attempted a human transmutation with her sister Euda Aldrich after Euda had miscarried but Ari had failed to find the will to activate the circle and her hesitation lead to her sister also losing the will to activate the circle. Instead the two ended up destroying it and dumping the materials. The thing was he wanted to see the fire that burned in the girls eyes the first time they met. Roy had been watching Ari from a distance since then, making sure she received the help she needed or sought while in the military academy, also he had asked his old friend, Maes Hughes, to take her on as a secretary during her last few months of training in the academy. Now finally when the time had come to gain a new alchemist on his team besides the famous child prodigy, Edward Elric, he helped Ari get promoted to Captain and transferred to his office. Let me give you a tour of Eastern HQ, Captain. After that I will let you get settled in the office.
Do I have a choice in the matter? Ari asked sharply, now sure that it was Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, who her late older sister had been friends with. But she was a grown woman, she understood why Euda asked Mustang to protect her when she was still a teenager, but now she was perfectly capable of doing things herself.
Not exactly, Roy chuckled.
The chuckle didnt affect her this time, for this time Ari was prepared. I request that Havoc give me a tour instead. Anyone except you, those papers piling up on your desk need to be dealt with and you have no wife or child to return home to so I have no reason to do your work for you.