Questionable Orders (completed)

[Shula Brighton]

Things had been heating up all over the place, within the military and its personnel since the disaster at the City Festival (and boy wasn't THAT something nobody would stop bringing up. Shula could only hope she'd soon forget the whole ordeal), but all over the country, too. These were tense times, and it felt more and more like they were all walking on glass and adding more weight one person at a time just to see how much it could take before it all cracked and fell in. It certainly felt like things had caved in on Shula's desk, the little major up to her shoulders in files. Soldiers requesting transfers to and from other bases, requesting leave (and still she wondered why these files landed on her desk and not their CO's desks), requesting things that had been requested months ago before she inherited this desk... Really, it never ended, and all Shula wanted was a decent break.

As she sighed heavily, it would seem that the universe heard her silent request and answered it, her CO approached her desk casually, a modest folder in her hand. Colonel Pearlstein, as far as bosses went, as a pretty okay lady. Good sense of humor, very casual with her subordinates and loved teasing her newest addition to see how quickly she could make the little Ishvallan blush or growl. Both were highly amusing, and due to the blonde's forgiving nature made it so that she would take thea teasing well enough to not hold a grudge. A heavy palm pressed against one of the few empty spaces on Shula's desk, bright pink nails catching her attention and causing her to look up. Uschi's smile was wide, dimpled and mischievous. The petite blonde raised her eyebrow up at her superior as the plump woman's grin grew. She was up to something. "Brighton... You look like you could use some air!" Shula held her breath. Oh Lord, what'd they want now?

"Nonsense, Ma'am.. You know I'd never dream of being anywhere else. Really, didn't they have any other grunts to play fetch and tote? Some private somewhere that had just started or someone who'd been hired solely to be the office gopher? She looked down as the file was dropped in front of her on top of her other work, subtly telling her to drop what she was doing and look at this. How the hell did anyone expect her to get any work done like this?

"It's not from me, hon. Brigadier General Harvenheit. Higher than my head and picked you just for this since it's your department." The major blinked in thought. But she worked for Spade, not Harvenheit... Shula bit her lip in thought, opening the file to look it over. If it was sent to her because it was her department, it must have had to do with the housing, surely... There was a quiet moment as Shula read over the file, chewing it over. In West City there was West HQ, and the whole area had briefly been completely taken over, only to be given back as an act of peace. In West City there was West HQ, and the whole area had briefly been completely taken over, only to be given back as an act of peace. Amestris was a military nation and everyone knew that, but as things got more tense there were a lot of people who wanted nothing to do with the military at all, which made things complicated.

"We were looking to send more soldiers that way, and had a new housing complex in the works," Pearlstein continued. "but then there were more than a few disgruntled civilians when they found out the new buildings would be intermittantly distributed through suburban civilian neighbourhoods and not at the base itself." Shula raised an eyebrow, still reading into the file.

"And once it got to be more heated, there was a protest that ended up stopping construction... But that doesn't usually stop these things." Pearlstein shook her head.

"It was going to continue, but then after the last protest a soldier went missing and didn't leave any leads about what happened. He just vanished." Shula paused a moment in thought.

"If that's the case, then I can see why it would stop production... but why call all the way to Central, and why not send in MP's or someone to investigate? It seems a little out of my depth in all honesty, ma'am." Pearlstein sighed faintly, giving a small shrug, sharing in her subordinate's confusion. But it was just as she'd said... the orders came from above her head and asked specifically for Shula to have a look at the housing issue personally. Plastering her usual cheery grin back on, the Colonel patted Shula's shoulder.

"You'll be fine! He probably picked you since you have a good way with people. They like you, warm up to you easily. So he probably figured you can help neutralize the situation a little better than sending someone who'd just go and try to throw a match on the gas. But those are your orders, and the information about the missing soldier is in there... You leave tomorrow. Be ready to go." With a final pat the plump woman turned and left, leaving Shula's door open as she sighed heavily, thumping her head down on her desk.

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar checked a nearby clock while tightening his outer jacket. This time he was dressed casually in civilian clothes. He looked like a gentleman with good taste for his age bracket. He waited outside the office where he had found out earlier was shula's new office. He was happy to see the rank of major on a little plaque hanging next to the door. As soon as he ducked away from the colonel woman and just glancing at her as she passed he waited a few moments and checked his gear. He had of course body armor under his jacket which made him seem tougher than normal and he only had one pistol that was tucked under his belt that was covered up by the edge of the jacket.

His dirt bags were lined up around the belt and made obvious in sight. After all they were for people to try and take or cut loose. As soon as they did it opened them to a attack of his, so he of course wanted it obvious. After he was done checking himself he pulled out his fake orders that said he was to work with shula on this mission. Of course they were extremely well-detailed and the only real way to check to see if they were real or not was to call either reila or harvenheit. Either of which shula wouldn't have access to call. He knocked on the door and waited a moment before walking in.

Since shula hadn't seen him before in civilian clothes he figured it would take her a few moments to recognize him. He was even more obviously well-built and muscular than before. Which made him somehow even more intimidating, he looked like a bodybuilder/mobster with ordinary clothes while being out of the ordinary. He plopped his false orders on her desk before grinning to her and speaking with a obvious bit of humor, as if he thought the situation was funny. " Evenin' little lady. My my, I remember those beautiful red eyes back when we sparred last. Congratulations on the lisence and rank up. "

He combined flirtiness with a obvious phrase he used last time with her. He grinned wider before holding out his arms wide. " Guess what? I'm with you on your mission. After all, can't leave a lady without a bodyguard." He obviously was more experienced and far higher in both rank, physical strength, and alchemical ability. Just looking at that showed he wasn't there completely as a bodyguard, his skills as the chief of intelligence made it seem like he was doing all the real legwork and analysis on their mission. In reality he probably would only advise and help out to make sure it ended on a good note.

[Shula Brighton]

Something was just off to her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. If someone was missing, shouldn't there be a team of people investigating it, and shouldn't finding him be the top priority over squabbles about housing territories? Shula sighed, laying her forehead on her desk in thought. Harvenheit's signature on the orders were legit, but why was he sending them to her? True, this was her department, but it still seemed so far out of her depth.... And if she were being sent out, wouldn't he have to clear it with Spade first? Maybe she should call up to his office and tell him herself? But if it had already been cleared with him and she went up to tell him she'd be wasting his time and just look like she didn't trust her superiors...

She was about to phone up one of her coworkers to poll (seeing as how they had been there longer than she had and could tell if something was amiss better) when there was a soft knock on her open door. Shula lifted her head, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she glanced over. "Yes? It's open." Red eyes looked up to catch the tall and rather muscular man that walked through her door. His face seemed familiar, but who...

"Evenin' little lady. My my, I remember those beautiful red eyes back when we sparred last. Congratulations on the license and rank up." Shula's eyes widened, her confusion instantly shifting to a beaming smile as Murazar opened his arms wide, knowing that the little major would pop up out of her seat like a Pop Tart and fling her arms tightly around his midsection, squeezing. If Shula had a thick fluffy tail, it would be wagging as she hugged.

"FOX! I've missed you!" She gave him another firm squeeze, more than happy to see the mercenary in her office and stating that he'd be working with her on this assignment. In all honesty that made her feel loads better, but only opened up for more questions. He was a mercenary that worked with the Military... The hell was Harvenheit sending her into? Slowly she let go, going back to her desk and pulling a chair around for him to sit nearer than the wide width of the desk. She picked up the orders he'd dropped on her desk and looked them over. Yeah, he was going with her alright, and she'd take her cues from him. Even if he wasn't officially military, he still outranked her in all ways.

"I'm actually really relieved they're sending you with me... I looked over my objective and it was a little disconcerting. What do you make of it?" Shula lifted the file for Mura to look over, even though she knew he'd probably already read it at least twice by now if he was assigned to go with her. Maybe he knew more about why they were investigating something that should have been handled by West HQ.

[Murazar Dauthi]

He smiled as she hugged him all excitable-like, he couldn't help it she was like a sweet puppy that you couldn't be serious around when she was bouncing off the walls. He spoke softly as he plopped into the chair she offered and skimmed the documents she was given. His intelligence in briggs had already reported this before central got the reports, it paid to be a part of the underworld after all.

" Well, my thoughts are kidnapping and extortion. Thats usually how something like this would go, although since theres no outright declaration it falls to you since your also a state alchemist to handle this since he's only missing or possibly AWOL. I'd suggest packing light and have a firearm on your person with some magazines, although be discreet and bring only civilian clothes. Military clothes will probably warn anyone in advance if he's kidnapped. "

He set the folder down and motioned to himself at how different he looked in middle class clothing. He leaned back in his chair propping it on only two legs, he seemed relaxed or lazy. Which was completely different than before, it was a pretty good way to disguise how he usually held himself. He seemed to know what to do to be a spy. He spoke up again this time seriously and looked her in the eyes with a bit of worry." Dont worry so much about this. When we leave i'll give you a heads up on how we should do this, since we cant exactly go around asking direct questions like the police or anything like that. We'll have to use elicitation and acting to make everyone think we should belong there. I'll teach you the basics along the way. So when do we leave?"

He smiled and leaned forward, his chair seemingly making no noise when it landed on all fours. His motions were as quiet as humanely possible, it seemed as if he was also listening for everything and not just Shula. He was trying to see if anyone was listening in, her rather hoped not.

[Shula Brighton]

Listening carefully, Shula bit her bottom lip lightly in thought. Her first thought was to ask why anyone would want to kidnap a soldier, but that was a rather silly question; at any given time most soldiers knew a lot more than they thought they did. Sure, there was plenty of information that was honestly classified and people knew how to keep their mouths shut upon penalty of being shot, but there was just as much that you could learn by listening during lunch or when the secretaries were gossiping. As she'd learned from her CO at South, even the most trivial bit of information could become vital later, even things as mundane as someone's favourites or allergies or even how well they played chess.

But the more she listened and thought of what this little excursion entailed, the more she felt uneasy. She'd gone on little missions and field trips before, but nothing like this. Uneasiness written all over her face, Shula looked down at her lap uncomfortably. "Every mission I've ever been assigned to was pretty straightforward," she confessed. "I've never had to officially do anything where it wasn't, well, official-looking and wearing my civvies. Or not just directly ask the people I need to and be done with it... Or go armed."

Though it was standard issue and came with the territory, Shula didn't like the fact that she'd been assigned a gun, knew how to use it, or that she was trained with the intent of killing someone with it. Her aim had always been well enough, but she'd often lose points and earn a lecture for hesitating, for holding back. She always had held back. In sparring she always held back until she had absolutely no choice but to push harder in order to not get her ass pounded into the dirt. Regardless of how she felt, she knew that was part of her job and the choice to take this job.

"We head out tomorrow afternoon according to the notes, and I'll follow your lead... I'm really glad you're going with me. From the sounds of it, this needs subtlety, and my last CO used to tease that I'm as subtle as a brick."

[Murazar Dauthi]

He nodded lightly before standing up suddenly and grinning, "Well then, since we have so little time we'll have to get you packed. That and we need to talk about our cover and where we're going to start. Even if your following my lead, you need to know as much as I do in case I either go down, go missing, causing diversions, or get recalled. Considering we dont look anything alike we can't claim to be relatives, we can't claim to be friends since it would look odd unless we had two more girls around and another guy, and we can't claim to not know each other because I can't leave you alone on this one or you'd get kidnapped or killed. So that leaves only a handful of things."

He paused grinning and motioned for her to give him the answer, he also accompanied the gesture with one to put the folders away and close up shop. " I'll let you think of the answer to our cover for being together. Although the answer might be a bit embarressing for you, unless you can act a bit of course. In the meantime put everything away since we'll be gone awhile, dont want curious people finding all the documents you have right? After that if you dont mind we'll talk on the back to your house so you can pack and we can go out and get something to eat. I'll try to teach you as much as I can from then and until we arrive, after that it'll be improvisation after that mostly."

He scooted his chair back to where it was previously, however he was delicate about it. Almost as if he wanted to place it so it would look best in the room. He kept the grin on his face as he leaned against the wall and thought about their cover. The only cover left is really a couple of some sort, which at the least is going to be humorous and embarressing to her. After all there really is no other kind of cover that would raise absolutely no questions the second they see us. If anyone asks us any questions, whether they believe our cover after asking afterward or not wont matter. They'll discover us faster by putting two and two together when we start asking around discreetly. Someones bound to smarten up, or if we make a mistake or two.

He pulled out his wallet and checked for their fake I.D.'s, not only his, but hers as well. The names could easily be changed or kept the same as their real ones. Despite that he wanted to make sure they were there along with his cash and other cards will seemingly nonsensical information. Mostly notes that looked like shopping list or things to do. In reality they were encoded messages for specific situations in case they run into problems and he had to get shula to do something or warn her.

[Shula Brighton]

Taking note of the gesture, as Murazar moved his chair back to where it belonged and looked most inviting, Shula shuffled the papers back into the file, glancing once more over her vague objective and itinerary before shutting them and putting them into the filing drawer on her desk and locking it. He had a good point; other people didn't need to be privy to so much. Just like her former CO had told her many times.. you never know when a little information will go a long way. She bit her lip a moment in thought. Fox said they'd need a good cover in order for people not to immediately suspect them, but that going as friends wouldn't work since it was just the two of them.

"Mm... you don't think friends would work? I go out alone with some of the secretaries all the time, or share my lunches with Acra and nobody questions that we're just friends. But I guess this is different than just going on a casual jaunt to the next town to go window-shopping, isn't it?" She needed to trust the mercenary on this one and follow his lead easily so as not to raise suspicion, and he'd said that there weren't many options left for them to be. But he'd covered them all, so what else was there?

As Shula locked up all of her important filing cabinets, she listened as Mura said he'd go home with her to pack. Pack? How long was this going to be? Then again.. this wasn't like any other mission she'd ever taken. It wasn't just a case of playing fetch for the Military and signing some papers. There was a person mission involved... she had to help find him or at least find out where he went to in order for the housing to continue, and if there were still issues with that try to help find some middle ground so people didn't end up killing each other. She'd probably be a few days, at least, and he needed to help her blend in better...

"Um.. Sure, I don't mind you coming over.. You'll know better than I will about what to wear to blend in. I don't wear anything fancy or anything, but I don't wear a lot of subtle colours, either." Most of the colours she wore were reds, golds, lots of bold sunset colours and pastels. She'd need clothes and... and her pills. Damn. She'd be with Fox almost nonstop; hiding her medicines from him was going to be fun. Shula put the thought aside for now, deciding she'd cross that bridge when she got to it and finished closing up her office. "Ready to head out when you are, then... Do I need to tell anyone else that I'm leaving now, or do they already know?"

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar chuckled lightly as she was nearing the conclusion, he was going to play around alot and more than likely be humorous just for the sake of being funny. He replied grinning as he stuck his thumbs in his pockets and relaxed his arms. " More than likely I was thinking something along the lines of maybe a boyfriend/girlfriend bonding vacation. For cover anyway, it would make perfect sense why we were in that town, together, all the time, and being incredibly inquisitive about everything as young couples are usually." He paused as if for dramatic effect as if his grin couldn't get any wider or foxish.

" Thats if you dont mind of course." He paused a second as he nodded and motioned for them to go before saying as he decided to walk alongside her and let her guide them." Two things, yes i've taken care of those arrangements along with higher up. Next if you have any kind of problems, drug abuse, alcoholic, relationships, emotional, medical, you name it. Anything that I need to know about, whether you think I do or you think you can just deal with it by yourself. Tell me now, i'm very curious and i'm very good at searching for problems. If I find it, you can be sure this mission will get pulled and will go on your record. If you tell me ahead of time, either here or at the house along with a proper explanation, of which most of them are if you've gotten this far in life. Then i'll do my best to help you along, I dont give a damn if I cant help. The best I can do is at least keep you from trying to hide it from me since i'll be around you all the time. So if there is something, speak up. You tell me yours, I tell you mine."

He of course had one or two that might push how hard the mission would be , but he would only say what they were if she told him something. Everyone had a problem or a secret, especially at how close they were working together, how complex the mission was, and how insanely fast it was supposed to be accomplished. The stress levels would rise exponentially within hours of arrival until it was solved and completed.

[Shula Brighton]

"Ah.... Ah, um....."

The blush that spread across soft brown cheeks quickly darkened enough that her cheeks almost matched her blood-coloured eyes. They needed... to pretend to be... lovers?? Ohgodohgodohgodohgod..... "Umm... Iguessifthat'swhatisneededtodothis,thenyes.... The wheels in Shula's head screeched to a halt only to start back up at warp nine. But... But I've never had a boyfriend! Hit on and flirted with and asked a few times, but never said yes to ANY of them! Why would I?! I have other things to think of and worry about and focus on and oh GOD what is pretending going to entail...

As her mind raced along, panicking a little, she almost didn't hear Fox continue to give her his two stipulations for them working together. It was almost funny that he had to lay the ground rules considering she was the one taking orders from him. The gears in her mind froze once more, now honestly looking like a rabbit in headlights as the the colour drained slightly from her face. It was a long moment before her brain restarted and tried to process that he was serious. And she could only hide her medications so well. But really! May as well point a gun to her temple... Shula swallowed, her voice hushing drastically, the tiny girl looking nervous.

"Not.... Not here, okay? There's too many people who could overhear here, and..... If it got anywhere NEAR my record, my career would be over. So... I know you're the one who ultimately holds the gun on this one, but you have to give me your WORD you won't say a thing.... Please..."

[Murazar Dauthi]

He rose a eyebrow and chuckled as she blushed, spoke extremely fast and was incredibly embaressed. He paused and waited until she replied that she did have a secret and required a oath from him. He knelt and held a arm across his heart like a knight from old before speaking softly and calmly with a ring of honor in his voice." I swear I will by oath of life, limb, or eyesight keep your secret. " He looked up and winked before adding flirting a little bit to see how she'd take it. " Do you want me to add a 'milady' to that?"

He rose and decided to once again walk alongside her before taking her hand into his. If they were going to act he would have to break her little by little into the role. At least enough to publicly make it seem like it was real. He held her hand to his cheek, warm... soft skin. Beautiful eyes... Focus! I dont need to really fall in love for her. As much as I could, I have a job to do and... and I can't decide if I should burden any woman with my troubles and soul... The last thought was quiet and morbid, as if he really wanted to chase after shula or reila. He just believed it would hurt them too much if it got serious.

He spoke up smiling to her, looking into her lovely eyes. " Now your going to have to calm down a bit. I dont mind the blushing so much, but you know have you ever dated anyone before?" It was a curious question, one he kind of needed to know. He had dated every great once in awhile. Mostly fleeting moments that passed quickly because he was either too much of a gentleman and not wild enough or the woman could only stand the danger of his job so long. He hoped the fact they were pretending to be dating wasn't scaring her that bad.

[Shula Brighton]

Shula watched as Fox smiled and knelt down, holding her hand as he promised not to tell anyone. Really, such a distracting gesture... Simply promising he wouldn't tell anyone would have been well enough. "Ah.. No, no. It's not like I'm a princess or anything." She laughed faintly, letting him take her hand as the left the building to head back to her house, trying not to think too much about that fact. But he'd promised, and he was right; she would have to trust him for this mission to work and to work well with him. But... Nobody outside of my family knows. Even my coworkers at South didn't know, not even Dave and Lizzy, and they were my closest friends... She shook the thought away, finding her hand pressed to Mura's cheek.

She was quiet for a moment as he held her eyes until she finally looked away slightly. "Um... Please don't laugh, but.. no. I've never dated anyone. Not allowed." It certainly wasn't a lie. Even though she was living alone and an adult, if she even hinted that she wanted to date anyone her family would be on her case faster than Spade could run to the liquor cabinet on a Tuesday with nobody to do his paperwork. Her mother wouldn't approve of anyone who wasn't a good Ishvallan boy. Her mother's parents would want to set up an arranged marriage with a good boy they approved of from out in the settlements. Grandfather would investigate him to within an inch of his life. Papa would worry that a relationship's emotional strains would be too much for her as the emotional affects the physical, and Aaron might not give anyone else a chance to do what they wanted before finding a way to kill whoever threatened to tarnish her purity. She only didn't want to hurt anyone, so better to avoid it at all.

"I was raised traditional Ishvallan... So there's a lot of things I don't get away with. As it stands, just the fact that I'm an alchemist AND in the Military... Well, you can guess how dinner conversations go. My mother would never consent to me having a lover."

[Murazar Dauthi]

He smiled to her and kept holding her hand, his hand was calloused around certain points indicating a life of hard working and generally fighting. So different from hers, you could tell alot by a persons hand after all. He replied with a raised eyebrow as she explained herself somewhat. Ah a tradional thing, similar to old cultures that haven't cut those ties yet. Although she must have broken or bended alot of circumstances, rules and traditions to get where she is now. " Ah, I understand. Its tradition then. Although i'm guessing why you were holding a secret so dangerous to yourself that no one, but those who absolutely need to know are told of it is kept hidden. That might be another reason, perhaps a stronger one of why you haven't even married or dated into your own culture yet..."

He didn't understand the cultures as if he was born in them, but he had studied them well enough. More than just body language or gesture to do or not to do. Also things like history, tradition, rules, rulers, land, disputes, tribes, the list of things he learned could go on and on. He smiled politely as they neared the doors before tapping her nose lightly with his other finger. He was going to go slow with the flirting and steadily pick the pace up until they reached the town they were supposed to be in. He just hoped she would learn to flirt back, although he was sure she might be able to make his heart stop so to speak.

He spoke lightly with humor attached to it." You know its alright for you to be a princess. Even if its just this once, i'll do my best to make you feel like one. " He grinned lightly, he was of course serious even if he didn't sound so. He was going to try his best although he was sure he would succeed. Although he hoped he wasn't going to get distracted by... Well he'd tell her as soon as she told him or her problem. His was dire and a crutch he relied on far too readily and far too much on compared to having friends to lean on. He always did think handling problems by himself was the way to go, he hadn't learned yet that friends were mean't to lean on and help solve his problems. Being alone wasn't always necessary.

[Shula Brighton]

As they went down the street, Shula was glad at least that her house wasn't far from Central HQ at all and that it was within walking distance. It felt so strange to be walking out in public and holding someone's hand, especially someone like Fox. Her hand seemed so small in comparison to his, the ends of his fingers and around the meat of his palms rough and calloused. Her grandfather's were like that, too, from years of working hard and handling weapons and alchemy that hand toughened them over time. But they were warm, and she at least knew that with him around she'd be safe from most dangers. Digging for her house keys, Shula fidgeted slightly as she let go of his hand. He was right; her secret was what kept her from having a lover. And friends, and a life.

She smiled faintly up at Fox as the door unlatched. "Well, it isn't much, but welcome to my house." Shula opened the door and stepped aside to allow her guest in first. The townhouse was clean and devoid of all but the bare necessities as far as could be told. The only thing in a decent quantity were the neat rows of antique books in the tall bookcase against the wall, the neglected TV small and a fair distance from the sofa. "The bedrooms are upstairs.. But is there anything I can get you to drink? I don't keep a lot in the house, but it's all pretty healthy."

Shula sighed inwardly. She was avoiding the subject of what he couldn't tell anyone else or what else had been preventing her from dating, and she knew it. She'd tell him, she promised she would, but... that wasn't just something she felt comfortable diving right into. Some hot tea and having a chance to put her thoughts in order would at least help. She moved to a storage closet in her small laundry room and pulled out a modestly-sized suitcase. "And thank you, Fox... For coming with me on this one, and coming here to coach me..

[Murazar Dauthi]

Fox smiled in return as he entered her comfortable abode and gave a quick glance all around when she wasn't looking. He followed her and sighed lightly as she obviously stalled, after all the last topic they left off on was the problem she had and now she was trying to buy time with food or drink. He decided he needed to push ahead, if she didn't have time to plan out anything she was less likely to cover up all of the facts. He needed to know as much as possible to know best how to deal with what he was working with.

So he decided to walk up in front of her very closely and simply put his forefinger on her nose and smiled sadly before tapping it a few times gently." Now, now, before we get onto pleasantrys, packing, and talking. First I need to know what i'm going to do which requires the a explanation, answers, and I need to see the problem or something that you use to deal with it. In return you'll get to know mine and you can ask in return ask questions."

He was using gestures and physical acts that were normally reserved for a girlfriend if he had one. Which by and large, most of them were cute little gestures or just funny in general. He had a sense of humor that wasn't morbid or grim, it was just buried deep to protect his fragile self. Which he would have to tell her about because he was always at danger of breaking. He decided that wherever she went into the house he would walk over, find himself some cups and tea, then create something to take the nerve off. He asked smiling sweetly to her, " You like your tea hot or cold? Sweet or bitter?" He could always brew some up real quick that wouldn't be half bad. He had learned that from his time in the desert with those nomads. Chai tea for bitter, and some hot jade tea for sweet.

[Shula Brighton]

Heh... Fox really does know how to cut right to it to get what he wants. I can appreciate that... And here I thought all Amestrians liked beating around something for ages. She was stalling and she knew it, but it a subject she was so secretive about, Shula really did want to try and organize her thoughts so she just didn't sit down and blurt out everything to Fox. He really wanted to know and said he'd help her if he could, but he wouldn't want to know all the mundane details about her life. She'd lived in a large box since she was 6. That could really only be so interesting unless he wanted to know exactly how many planks of wood made up each room's floor.

Shula sighed faintly, heading toward the kitchen and gesturing for Murazar to follow her. Leaning up against the counter, she opened a cabinet to reveal a Lazy Susan covered mostly in bottles of spices, but as she turned it around it was full of bottles of pills. Pausing for a moment, she began to pull them out. Cipro. Multivitamins. Immunity-boosting supplements from Xing. Advair and albuterol refills. Prescription strength Ibuprofen. Vicodin. Kyrtril. Things to help her breathe, stave off the pain, try to give her a healthier advantage, strong antibiotics and pills to keep her from throwing up. She didn't look up from the somewhat intimidating number of bottles, instead touching the sides of one of them lightly.

"These aren't all at once daily... Most of them are just maintenance or just in case. The big thing is just a monthly IV treatment, but in context of the mission missing one or two won't hurt me, so don't worry about that. The treatments have helped a lot, so typically on a daily basis I just take the multivitamins and supplements, but most people take those too, plus the anti-inflammatories. The pain killers only get touched if I absolutely need them. It's under control, though, so there's really nothing you need to worry about." She went quiet for a moment as she went to fill the tea kettle. She wasn't lying; the IVIG therapy had been helping her stay stable for the most part. She clicked the little gas burner on under the kettle and sat down at her table, finally smiling up at Fox softly. "And... hot and sweet is always good."

[Murazar Dauthi]

His mind too a tumble as he saw her continously pull out medications. He read the names and milligrams before she even set them down. By the time he got the answer of hot and sweet he began to make it while replying a little flirty before jumping into the medication and her problem. " Just like you then? Alright." He paused and while he was making the tea he began to ask questions and make comments while every once awhile looking at her.

" Alrighto, i'm gonna ask a bunch of questions and follow-up questions. After that, its my turn to reveal my dangers and problems if you dont mind hearing them." He paused a moment before producing a few quick motions and a straight line with a small straw and throwing it away as the image of a flower appeared on the surface of the tea and he set it down in front of shula smiling and sat down himself with his own cup of tea. " Whats the medical problem you have? What should I do if something happens to you? How did you get the medical problem? I need to know what to do in case something happens and I need to save you or help out. If I dont know, well. Better to not think of it."

He sipped his tea and crossed his legs assuming a gentleman-like posture. Something like you'd see out of a old movie. He smiled slightly to shula indicating the tea was alright, he really wasn't his best although it was alright.

[Shula Brighton]

Shula sighed lightly, sitting down at her kitchen tackle as she undid her uniform jacket and casually pushed it over the back of her chair, leaving her in a loose pale blue tank top still tucked into the uniform pants. She watched quietly as Murazar started to fix the tea for both of them, feeling a bit odd to let him do it since he was a guest to her home. Then again, her brain was feeling more and more fried; at this point she would probably mix up her canisters and make something very-not tea.

"Just like you then? Alright."

She smiled faintly, glancing down to the cup as it was handed to her. The flirting would really take some getting used to. Her coworkers and bosses teased her often enough she'd started to be able to brush some of it off, but others still made her blush intensely. It was like a favourite game in her office. Fox wasn't one she was used to getting that kind of attention from.. This mission was going to kill her, wasn't it? Her faint smile became slightly playful "Guess it's a good thing my alchemical special isn't dirt or everyone would have nothing to work off of."

Red eyes looked back to the impressive collection of pills, then back to her tea, enjoying the warmth invading her hands. At least he did seem to have a valid reason for needing to know her conditions and not just for the sake of being nosy. She shook her head lightly. "No, I don't mind. That's fair, at least. And you gave your word that you wouldn't say anything, so I won't say anything about yours. Fair's fair." Shula took a tentative sip and slowly smiled warmly, letting out an appreciative noise. Hot sweet tea was never a bad thing.

"What I have is called CVID. It's an auto-immune deficiency, kind of like the sneaky, introverted cousin of AIDS. It's not hereditary, but you're born with it... So it's just a genetic wild card that I've had all my life..." She paused to take another sip, trying to think of how to answer everything as simply as possible. "But apart that I can't give it to anyone else, it does what AIDS does; kills your immune system so you can't fight off anything at all. The biggest threats are respiratory ones... Chest colds become pneumonia without warning and take forever to go away, even with medicine. So once a month I get an IV infusion of white blood cells, and for the most part it gives me a fairly normal life and I'm in the hospital less. So really, unless this mission takes over three months, I'll be fine. I just need to bring those with me." Shula tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, glancing out the kitchen window at her garden thoughtfully for a moment before looking back to Murazar.

"If something happens to me in a general sense, you can either call my grandfather since he's a retired Brigadier General and has friends everywhere, or you can medicate me if I can't medicate myself. But if it gets bad enough... I guess a hospital. But really, unless I'm attacked by someone who is the living incarnation of all diseases, I should be just fine." Shula smiled softly, taking another sip and hoping that answer was good enough. There was plenty she wasn't telling her friend, but she really felt he didn't need to know all of it. The asthma from the coughing was self-explanatory, and the disease caused arthritic pain in her hands, arms and legs, so watching her take pain killers and anti-inflammatories would probably explain themselves as well. But the other things... he didn't need to know. She had a future of coughing, pain, and eventually lung transplants needed, followed by an early death from respiratory failure... And the little disaster at the carnival did nothing to help her short lifespan. If it gets bad enough, hopefully he'd do the kind thing and just let me go...

[Murazar Dauthi]

He winked to her and smiled cheerfully, " Well, I doubt someone with a fire as their alchemy can't be even a little bit hot since i'm looking at her right now." He couldn't help but keep flirting, she was a cute little lady and he enjoyed her company and friendship. He sipped his tea again and kept his hands around the warm tea cup. It felt nice to feel warm, briggs where he was normally stationed was freezing cold. Here it was just chilly or warm which was a nice change.

He nodded once she finished and replied calmly after setting his tea down which was half empty by now. " Alright then, i'll be sure to make sure we have medicine on hand just in case a emergency happens. After all we're doing a dangerous job and the worst always seems to pop up unexpectantly." He paused and set down his tea while staring at it before speaking slowly," Now for my problem. I have two, the first is simple. I'm a alcoholic, I rely on it to deal with stress and I can't abandon it at this point and time. I'm not a violent drunk, more or less I pass out. So if I get drunk, just deal with my stupid antics and put me to bed. If its too bad or a emergency pops up, just splash ice or hot water on me to wake me up."

He paused again as if this one was worse. The screaming was raising again, usually they were nearly inaudible or he ignored them. He spoke in a voice that was not his own. At every sentence and pause it changed to another persons voice. It went all the way from a beautiful teenage girls voice, to a business mans voice, to a old grandmas voice, to a strong soldiers, to a hard cold womans voice and so on. It ended on his normal voice in great sadness at the end," My new alchemy steals souls. There are a great variety of current side effects and ones to come. My new alchemists nickname is Soul Catcher. The side effects will eventually cause insanity. Firstly I hear screaming all the time, the decibel level changes depending on how good of a mood i'm in or how bad of one i'm in. So right now they're quite loud since this topic drudges up a depression in me that cannot be cured. Secondly, I can and sometimes without my consent change voices to those of who I have taken souls from. Third, I very rarely blank out and lose control. Usually thats only around people I dont feel familiar with, so you shouldn't worry about that."

He paused before grinning wickedly, he was damn near close to a Soul Reaper or even Death himself now. The only other person who could take souls was the homonculous Pride, and he was showing just how dangerous it was to try and compete with a legend as a mere mortal. He didn't however explain how the process worked or the advantages of it or even why he took souls in the first place. He sipped his tea with a frown on his face, expecting some kind of reaction. Interest, Horrow, Fear, Sadness, Pity, Anger, Hate, Curiosity. Something. Everyone had a reaction to it.

[Shula Brighton]

Shula let out a little breath as she finished summarizing the cause and most of the symptoms while leaving off the grand finale. She'd never told anyone who wasn't family, even back at South she'd never even let on to Gustav, and he'd been her best friend since the start. That honestly felt.... kind of good, like a slight relief to having to keep such tight wraps on her secret would take some of the stress off of her. Things were already tense enough at work and the last thing she needed was the be the subject of the gossip train and be discharged due to being unfit. Fox promised he wouldn't say anything, and she'd trust him on that one.

Finally, a small, grateful smile moved to Shula's lips as she looked back up to Fox, her face a silent expression of 'thank you'. She wasn't so worried about a sudden collapse in her health on the mission, but at least him knowing most of the truth would make speaking openly easier and she wouldn't have to sneak around everything. She took another long sip of her cup, draining most of it as Fox began to keep up his half the bargain.

"Now for my problem. I have two, the first is simple. I'm a alcoholic, I rely on it to deal with stress and I can't abandon it at this point and time. I'm not a violent drunk, more or less I pass out. So if I get drunk, just deal with my stupid antics and put me to bed. If its too bad or a emergency pops up, just splash ice or hot water on me to wake me up." Okay, that wasn't so bad. Some of her friends had been just under the line for alcoholics, and Spade was the biggest one she'd ever met. She nodded softly.

"I can work with that and I'll keep an eye on you if that happens. One of my friends used to employ a weekly binging ritual and I usually ended up playing nurse, so that's not a problem." She took another sip, finishing her cup as Murazar's voice shifted to what sounded like a girl her own age. That... was a really good impression... Her eyes widened in surprise as disbelief as the voice changed every sentence, explaining that he was, more or less, like the Grim Reaper and collected souls. He... Was for real, wasn't he? But why would anyone want such an alchemy, especially if he could hear them screaming or they could just shift over and speak for him without his knowing? Shula listened quietly, paying attention and looked at Murazar as he seemed to be wait for her to say or do something. Her face was a mix of emotions, floating somewhere between fear, sadness and a few others until it settled on slight confusion mixed with the others.

"So you... take them and keep them inside of you like that, and they're all still aware?" That just seemed... cruel, and inhumane. But death was something she felt rather sensitive about. So you collect human souls and I'll be releasing mine sooner rather than later... Aren't we a fine matching pair.

[Murazar Dauthi]

He paused and then spoke normally after clearing his voice. He couldn't look her in the eyes, instead he chose to look at the table. His eyes never left it, the confidence in his voice waivered. He didn't know what to say, so he just used instinct. " No, they aren't aware in the sense that they can think or anything like that. They simply feel the pain of being seperated from whatever afterlife we have and the seperation from their bodies. "

He sipped the tea and stared at it for a long period of time before speaking again. Being a alcoholic was problem that could be fixed and handled. Being a soul stealer, was one that couldn't leave now that he had it. The power was far too great to leave alone, the knowledge no other alchemist knew. Even if he went completely insane he had to discover the all the secrets he could. He had to know it all and record it if he could trust anyone with it.

So far he couldn't trust anyone with it, instead he had told shula a most dangerous secret. All of it, not even bits and pieces. All the bad parts anyway, he sipped his tea again and awaited her answer.

[Shula Brighton]

Murazar really meant it, didn't he? He really did take souls from living people and keep them for himself for whatever reason. His eyes wouldn't lift to meet hers as her stomach knotted slightly. It was like her grandfather had told she and her brother once, long ago; some secrets are better not knowing. This probably topped her list so far of things she'd have probably been better not knowing. A cold stinging tugged at her heart as she thought about it; he had their souls and their bodies were still alive, both halves sharing that pain for Ishvalla only knows how long... She went quiet a long moment, her eyes falling to her lap.

Her mother had worked hard to raise Shula and Aaron to hold traditional Ishvallan values, and Ulrich had done his best to respect them, only really butting heads with the iron-willed desert woman when he felt he needed to. Alchemy, by Ishvallan faith, was forbidden because it sought to improve upon what was already naturally perfect. In most cases, Shula saw alchemy as a tool that she'd hoped to use to improve her life and the lives of those around her, and maybe someday find a way to help use it make the country a better place. But she'd always been an idealist. But an alchemy like this, where the body and soul could be kept separate and still functioning.... That just seemed so wrong. It defied all natural law. But then again, I defy natural law just by living.. The medicine and white blood cells that come from other living people...

But at the same time... Why would anyone willingly do that? Keep all those people within himself... There was a reason, surely, but she wasn't going to ask what it was. If he wanted her to know, he'd tell her. And while she hoped it was a really good reason, part of her doubted any reason could be worth the cost on both ends. But I'm fairly biased, aren't I? My friends, my coworkers, my own family... All of the people I loved there and the thousands and thousands more that I didn't know all were killed for what someone else surely justified as a "good reason." And even though it was nothing personal, it still stung and left a spot that still hurt sometimes.

Finally her words found their way back to her as she stood up slowly, taking their empty tea cups to the counter behind them. "...While I'm sure you have your reasons, I can't really condone what you practice... But that's because it conflicts with my spiritual beliefs and personal experiences. However..." Shula turned back around, her voice still soft, sad but trying to be understanding. She stepped up behind the mercenary and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, barely able to reach around him. Her temple leaned against the back of his neck and shoulder as she squeezed him and held, not making any motion to let go for a moment.

"I won't change trusting you or being your friend because of it, and I'll do what I can to help you if and when you need me."

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar smiled sadly, and a tear began to form at his eyes as she hugged him around his shoulders. She had cared more than most people did, and she was one of those few who knew his secrets. One of them anyway, he touched her arms and held them with his hands while he nestled his head against one of hers. The tears dropping slowly on her skin, he spoke softly trying his best to not choke on his own words. " I have no afterlife awaiting me, Shula. All I can hope for is god to forgive me when I finally run out of life and to see that the darkest of all souls tried his best to conduct the brightest of all deeds. Although I expect no forgiveness."

He paused held her gently, yet as if he didn't want to let go. She was the only thing anchoring him from losing his mind. The screaming became so instantly intensified so greatly that he froze and removed his arms from her to hold onto his head. He barely got the words out that came next," I...can...hear...them.." He closed his eyes and breathed in sharply before speaking quickly, as if scared witless that if the word didn't get out to her he didn't know what would happen." Change my mind. Drudge up a memory! Quick! Childhood. First battle. First girlfriend. Family Death. Anything! Just be prepared to hear it outloud."

His breathing became rapid and he held himself by the stomach and rocked back and forth. His power activated, it was harmless to shula and himself. Anyone or anything else would have their souls in the process of being stolen. Everything around him for five meters turned pitch black and seemed to barely exist. Whispers stole out from his mouth as the people whispered dark promises and screams. It appeared more than likely he had stolen the souls of all the evil people in world and not one good one. He rocked back and forth crying, it was obvious that his mind was cracked and barely holding together.

[Shula Brighton]

The small drops of moisture fell from Murazar's cheeks onto her arms, causing Shula only to hug him a little tighter sympathetically. This was his power and his choice, but... he was suffering for it? Then again, she could kind of understand that; she herself had things she would be willing to suffer for or pay any price for. So who was she really to say he needed to be punished when he was already being punished? But... the thought of there being nothing waiting for him in the end, no chance of being forgiven for his grievances... "Darkest of souls or not... Good or bad, you're still a person." She couldn't even bring herself to hate the person who had destroyed South City. Knowing that they were all dead and for no real reason broke her heart, but whoever it was... It was not her place to hate them.

As Murazar let go of her in favor of holding his head, she began to feel a little nervous. He could hear the souls of however many people he'd claimed, all screaming in his head forever. What... what should she do? What COULD she do?? He needed a memory or something to focus on, and as the light drained from the kitchen Shula instinctively gripped the back of her guest's chair, the man holding himself and rocking as his breathing became somewhat erratic.

Calm... He needs you to stay calm! "A memory? His past might just make him too sad, first loves especially. First battles... his power made him sad... And then her grandfather's wisdom came to mind. "When your heart wants lifting, think of pleasant things... Fox... Tell me. What is the most beautiful thing you remember experiencing in all your travels?"

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar's mind blanked out as the screams subsided to their normal quiet decibel level. He spoke aloud blankly as the room returned to normal and he froze. " Friendship. I always have felt so alone, and i'm used to it. Once I went to Briggs, once I went to central. I met so many people who became my friends. I lost some of them, but most of them are alive and trying to help me or support me."

He smiled as tears silently slid down his face. He continued as he leaned back in the chair and kept his eyes and head facing away from shula. He spoke calmly and back to normal, normal except for the sadness that was just a hint of what it was. " Thank you Shula, now you know a bit of my darkest secrets. I hope however you never have to see my power in action."

He stood up although shakily and shook his head before turning to her and smiling brightly, the tear marks were still there although they were going to fade soon. His violet eyes were red and puffy he still looked like he was trying to hold a mask to his face. He clasped her hand and smiled mischeviously before speaking just how he looked. " Lets get your things ready before we go tomorrow. You'll need a good nights rest." He never said he needed one or was going to get one. He only spoke of her, not himself. Sometimes selfishness would be a good thing out of him.

[Shula Brighton]

As light began to return to Shula's kitchen, she slowly exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and let her grip on the back of the chair relax lest her fingers start to dig through the wood. That... was a little intense. Her friend and partner that she'd have to trust more than she had most people could absorb souls of people, and use their voices, AND they could speak on their own and sounded more than a little frightening. Those whispers, the screams... It's okay. They're not going to hurt you, and Fox is a good person... He won't hurt me either.

A faint smile moved back over Shula's face as she took a few breaths to calm herself with, focusing on what he'd said. The most beautiful thing he'd ever experienced was real friendship. Though she agreed and hoped she never had to see his power actively separating a soul from its body (or have to try and stop him from doing so), she could completely agree that finding real friends who cared about you that you also cared about was an incredibly beautiful thing. As he stood up, Shula moved to step beside him.

"I haven't got much in the way of clothing, so packing shouldn't take too long for me. I don't figure I'll need my dancing costumes or supplies." Shula headed out of the kitchen, turning to the stairs. She really hoped they wouldn't be gone too long, but more importantly she hoped this would all turn out alright... Someone was missing, people were upset, and that was an area already tense from issues with Creta. She paused at the base of the stairs, turning to hug her companion. "We'll both need a good night's sleep. And Fox....? Thank you. For opening up to me. Now... Let's go pack."

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