Meeting place

[Guest]

It was a night time most auspicious, dark were it not lightened by the intact street lamps around Central glaring through the windows of an empty warehouse. Corpses were littered around, sliced up and skewered around said empty warehouse, leaving the presence of only the one wearing a trench coat on top of his Security Uniform. It had a symbol on the collar, that of a Colonel's. Befitting the man whom had spilled blood.

Seated on top of a box in the middle of this expansive warehouse. A light making the warehouse dimly lit as it would house many important manufacturing, hence it was large. But also precisely for that reason, a got remote place for a meeting, after all, the previous inhabitants aren't here, deceased and such.

This individual was a familiar one to the one whom he had invited -- Nikolaus Stuka. Grumbling over the fact he could not help himself to a smoke, yet was more composed for it. Reading himself a book he fetched about alchemy, not that he would be interested in using alchemy, rather more interested in itself. Brush up his knowledge about it after all. It was mostly on one theory that he read up about; destabilization and imbalance in lieu to Equivalent Exchange, contradictions to it and how the energy resonating from the tectonic shifts can be induced into a paradox.

Awaiting another certain individual as his senses were peeled for a comrade, a spiritual kin per se. After all, things are to be interesting sooner or later, and it's best to let him know of it, a source was to be needed.

[Envy]

Envy was surprised to find an intact building. There wasn't that many of them after what happened to Central. Which was another thing to look into. But not now. First thing to do was to discover who had invited him to this warehouse. And more importantly, why he was invited. His appearance was quite fresh and while many people had seen him, not so many actually knew about him. Envy had been on a very similar situation before. And like that time, he could just kill the person. That was the disadvantage of deserted meeting place. He got closer to the warehouse's entrance. It was slightly opened, just enough to get inside. Like a redundant invitation. He took few more steps to enter.

Once inside, Envy closed the door. It was surprisingly well lit, which made looking around that place much more comfortable. First thing to notice was a man in middle of the warehouse. He looked familiar. In fact, he was familiar. Nikolaus Stuka, a military officer who had worked for Father before his death. Also, they had met not long before Central's incident. Though it was very brief. This solved the mystery of his connection with Envy's current appearance. But nothing more.

Envy proceeded in looking around the warehouse. There were dead people everywhere. This made him to have a smirk on his hood shadowed face. ''I like what you've done to place'', he announced as he started to walk a bit closer to Nikolaus. He also proceeded on taking the hood from shadowing his face. Envy spoke again after stopping. ''But I'm also surprised that you voluntarily wanted to see me. What's up with that?''

[Guest]

He could always tell a myriad of souls. They were so prominent, able to be read no matter how hard they are to be hidden. He still could not tell what Homunculus this person was, never having been told. Only having glimpsed at Wrath who lacked the vice he embodies. Rather was more of a Lust. This one... this one is a brooding figure. Silent and deadly. Perhaps Sloth?

A photo was thrown to the Homunculus, a boomerang. Rotating as it sliced through air to reach the Homunculus. It had the details of a young man, an officer. Major rather. He was in the security, it can be told by the black uniform of the man in the photo, and his name was written at the back, birth date, and the fact he was a loner and had no family. An orphan. He was disposed of and turned to ashes by Nikolaus, after all, he was the perfect cover. Barely spoken, and not many know him. His face was vague, but resembled the Homunculus in a sense.

"Ah! Glad to see you are a fellow man of fine tastes. We shall dabble in this more together! At perhaps another time." Stands up the officer, closing the book with a single hand, slipping it inside his coat before pulling out his hand, turning around to face Envy, "A predator requires to play the role of the prey, to be the wolf in sheep's skin. From now on, you are Major Eldritch Sherman of Security Department. How does mining out for what revived Father sounds to yourself, kin? To destroy these pretenders called RIOTE? Beautify this filth for Father's potential next coming."

[Envy]

While it may be hard to effectively throw a photo, it didn't make Envy to watch in awe. He was more interested in what it was, which made him to catch the said object. He looked at the picture of a soldier, flipped it around to see a text behind it, then back to look at the picture better. An ideal person to use as a military alias. Envy's gaze focused on the man as he opened his mouth. First few sentences weren't that important. Following ones, however...

"A predator requires to play the role of the prey, to be the wolf in sheep's skin. From now on, you are Major Eldritch Sherman of Security Department. How does mining out for what revived Father sounds to yourself, kin? To destroy these pretenders called RIOTE? Beautify this filth for Father's potential next coming."

Envy's face changed itself from slightly interested to confused and much more interested. What that man had just said? Mining out what revived the Father? Destroying RIOTE? The first idea was intriguing, but likely impossible to do. But it was still plausible. The only confusing thing about that was that it was a human who suggested it. The second one was just plain confusing, seeing as RIOTE had already been destroyed. ''What are you talking about? RIOTE was already annihilated some time ago. To destroy something, it has to exist''. Envy stopped with his talking to have a quick thought. ''Or are you implying that they have reformed?''

[Guest]

Nikolaus paused. So this Homunculus hadn't heard? Alas, it is to be Nikolaus's role to play the messenger, a fitting role perhaps, or perhaps none at all. A generous thing would be that he can choose his own role from what was given to him after all. To what shall inherit the Earth most wickedly. Such do the blood in their veins demand. The myriad of souls seething and making them each a country in their own right with legs plastered.

"They have not reformed. They are merely but... pretenders. Children suckling upon the glory of what was once destroyed, pretending to be what has ceased to be. I hope you remember our dearest and most beloved Fuhrer, Hild Schwarz, for you see..." He glances around, seeing the bodies littering the location, and further at the wall as if envisioning the outside before returning a glance to the Homunculus, "She has betrayed the country entrusted to her profligate face, and now runs like a little tart on testosterone juice with some bratty kid as they got some whacked out version of RIOTE. HAH! I laugh at that organization. No, that rebellious rabble. Want to laugh with me? You're welcome to."

There was a brief pause, he smirked, occurring how ridiculous all these things the world is happening, "Ha.. haha... HAHAHAHAAHA! This was all but a joke all along. This whole charade, is the world doomed to repeat history and itself?" Nikolaus raises and stomps his left sole unto the ground, "No! Fuck that shit. We'll make a change, a difference. You will rather. So what say you? Come along as my make-believe 'subordinate'? I will treat you nicely, we have lots of hot food and hot bosoms back at prison ready to be deflowered. Unless of course you embody another vice, another Sin."

[Envy]

The explanation Nikolaus was giving to Envy was very interesting. And amusing at the same time. Those stupid ants had created a new, yet very similar organization. Though he had to admit that this new one was much more dedicated to their job. But the person explaining all this, Nikolaus Stuka, seemed to be even more dedicated to his objective. He even wanted to work with homunculus to make it happen. Or he needed homunculus TO make it happen. This man had served Father from the beginning. It wouldn't be too far fetched to think that loyalty towards said person was strong. Envy was directly related to said person. So, in theory, this man wouldn't try to harm Envy. ''That sounds about right. And I like it''

Envy took few steps towards Nikolaus. ''Personally, I like your way of thinking. And even though I don't like humans, I might make an exception with you. My answer is yes''. After those words were said, Envy was starting to get engulfed in light. It moved across his skin, changing his looks as they traveled along his body. Finally, after few seconds, his appearance was different. It was his original appearance and it was shown from current trust towards that man. ''And my name is Envy''

Spoiler:

[Guest]

Father. The one thing Nikolaus knows of, and is obligated to be loyal to as it was the doctrine he was taught by. Grew by. And killed by. It was something that meant a lot to Nikolaus, no, to Number 149, Nikolaus Stuka wasn't a real name. The only thing real was the loyalty. Nonetheless, a feeling of camaraderie was felt with Stuka with this Humonculus, Envy. Now he had a definite Sin for this one, and knew of his capabilities. The perfect spy without equals.

There was one lingering curiousity delving within Nikolaus's heart as he wondered truly of the other Homunculi, besides Wrath, and Gluttony, whom they were. Gazing at Envy's preferred form that happened with alchemical energy statically flickering, silver hair flowing his form, unknown and hadn't occurred to him he was familiar for he wasn't. This was his second meeting with the Homunculus.

"Envy the jealous, Homunculus that takes forms of the very things that he despises... as far as the lore I was taught goes." Mused the Colonel, "Welcome to Security Corps, home of Security and the Corps, but do tell, have you met any of your brethren in vice? The other Homunculus? I am oh so curious about them. Their identities is all I request, before we be on our jolly ways, for war. A fine opportunity for the silver of the soul that is blood, no?"

[Envy]

Envy's expression changed from interesting into dull in the seconds Nikolaus presented his request. Telling identities of other homunculi he had met? Quite unreasonable. But Envy's advantage was on the fact that Nikolaus didn't knew any of his contacts, expect for Wrath. So he could just choose which ones to identify. Envy's expression changed to pondering. Not because he actually would have to think about it, but just to make an impression of pondering. Followed by a smirk, indicating that his mind was made up.

''Very well. I shall share my knowledge, you shall share yours and we both shall go to war. I think we've reached an agreement here''. Few steps moved homunculus closer to human. ''However, I think we need a better place for this kind of planning. No matter how much I like the atmosphere of this place''. Envy took quite a few steps towards nearest corpse and crouched to look closer. ''How have you found a way to have hobbies like this without losing your position?''

[Guest]

Nikolaus nods, looking a quick glimpse at the corpse next to him to realize the beauty in the macabre he reaped. Before looking at Envy's expression, it was vacant to the Colonel. It hadn't looked like it was pondering, but on the contrary, as if it was merely thoughtless, dull. But he hadn't dwelled on that much. It was only the suddenly certain expression that got him to raise an eyebrow. The Homunculus moving closer to himself, and then farther to the corpse, the same one he glanced at.

"A trade eh? Equivalent exchange, a non-alchemical one." Nikolaus muses pleasantly, "Homunculus, the math is simple. Who would care about a bunch of filthy peons? They have no value in the world, and in times of chaos... things like these are as common as the air we breathe, it is nothing but the mundane and the common. I do my job either ways in cleaning them up, nobody has to know about it."

Stuka glances at the exit, still no presence but the two of them, inclining his attention back to Envy, "Oho, witnesses prowling around eh causing jeopardy? In the end, they report to me, I am the law, but I'll see you out and along. Who knows? Next time, I'll bring you to these warm ups, they are ever so wonderful. I am sure you'll enjoy cleaning the filth up as much as I do."

[Envy]

Envy turned around to look at the man again. His expression had changed yet again, now to a smirking and interested. He was starting to be fully convinced from this man. His way of talking couldn't be faked. He was serious. Interesting human indeed. Worthy of forming an alliance with. But whether it should be temporary or permanent was still undecided in Envy's mind. He stood up and faced the man. ''If all the things you have said were true, I think you would make a better homunculus than most of the one's I've met. Let's just hope your actions sound as wonderful as those plans''.

Envy's gaze went to exit and his body started to move towards said object. ''Let us leave. To a place where we'll decide the fate of the filth''. Envy stopped halfway to his destination. ''And trust me, I do enjoy ''cleaning'' the filth''. He waited for man to come too, even to let him a bit ahead of him, before continuing to travel to the exit. ''Who would have thought that I would end up working with a human. But he truly is a wonderful human''.

//Exit//

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