Pieces

[Guest]

Having arrived in South City not even an hour ago, Wynter Geist had quickly been escorted to the military headquarters by the soldiers sent to accompany him. He hated that word. Accompany. It sounded poisonous to the 2nd Lieutenant. Why did he need anyone to do such a thing? All he was here for was research materials. Well, more specifically, the sand found here. Filtrated and purified before he was to retrieve the load, even he knew how odd the request sounded. He would need a truckload of the material for the next phase of his alchemy studies. Though he knew his limits with small amounts of sand, he had yet to attempt his form of alchemy upon a larger body.

Stepping onto the grounds, the other two men followed at an even pace, four feet away from him just as they were instructed to be. Sometimes being higher in command had its perks, and, for Wynter, being able to keep his social anxiety at bay was one of them. Still came the the more troublesome part of this trip. He would need to meet with and speak to another alchemist within these walls. She also based her alchemy on sand and glass, but in a less weaponized manner than Wynter's had slowly become.

Having read a short file on the girl, her name being Hana Essa, he already knew he held higher authority than herself, which helped to keep the soldier calm. Another fact he had memorized was that she was half-Ishvallan and worked here in Ishvallan Relations. She specialized in a job which required communication skill, something the man-child lacked in copious amounts. He could only hope Ms. Essa wouldn't be the type to talk his ear off...

[Guest]

Hana was quite new to all this military procedure. It was odd, and she wasn't even sure exactly why they had accepted her into their ranks. All she really had going for her was a mastery of three languages, a photogenic memory, and a basic understanding of alchemy. Although here she was, dressed in loose military fatigues that were slightly to big for her, but she didn't mind. It meant that air could flow more easily through them, especially in this intense heat. A request had been made for some purified sand, and it had already been loaded into a sealed truck, ready to drive off when ever the owner came to claim its contents. All she knew about this person was his name, Geist, and that he was a 2nd Lieutenant.

It always made her slightly nervous when meeting superiors, she was so light spoken, and she was always afraid to do something wrong and getting reprimanded by someone, but so far she had done nothing of the such, yet. She stood outside of the complex, by the truck that contained the material. Holding a clip board underneath her arm, and a book between her two hands, as she idly read, waiting for the coming of the Lieutenant. Her book was some book on fantasy and fairy tales, something she enjoyed reading in her spare time when she wasn't studying up on her alchemy. The only good thing that had come from joining the military was a much larger library to read from. She still wished she could go back home, but at the same time, there wasn't any place she really wanted to be where her brother wasn't.

The bad thing about Hana, was she often got absorbed in her books, and this had gotten her in minor trouble many times before. Without her knowing, the person who she was supposed to be waiting for was making his way ever closer to her, all the while her little eyes were scanning back and forth across the pages of her book. Getting lost in the castles, and flying on the backs of dragons. The world had become quiet around her, and she even stopped being self-conscious about the hideous burns across her face for only these moments that she got lost in the book. Her hair pushed out from her face so she could read properly, all the while, the man getting closer and closer, and poor little Miss Essa being oblivious to it all.

[Guest]

Tugging slightly at the collar of his jacket, the young man slowly approached the woman standing next to the covered truck. Looking back to the soldiers with him for confirmation, one gave a nod. This was the girl they were looking for. The only thing Wynter really cared about right now, however, was how quickly he could get out of this restricting garment. He had no problem with the military's dress code, the suits always fitted nicely, he only wished they allowed him the more comfortable, slouched movement he was used to.

"S-soldier? H-Hana Essa?" He stuttered out before giving a cough. She seemed rather absorbed into her reading, which Wynter could relate to. However, his shelves were more likely to be filled with non-fiction titles. Giving a solute in greeting, he finished his introduction without fumbling about with his wording for once. "2nd Lieutenant Wynter Geist."

Quickly pocketing his hands after they'd been greeted to one another, he stepped around her to inspect the vehicle. Yes, depending on how full this truck was with sand, its contents would more than suffice for his needs. Images of constructing things from the precious material filled the alchemist's mind, and one of his accompanying soldiers, a black haired man with thin glasses, finished speaking for him as he daydreamed.

"This is the shipment of sand the 2nd Lieutenant ordered, correct?" A short pause for confirmation and he continued speaking. "Allow me to apologize on behalf of him. Wynter, as odd as he can be, is quite the brilliant mind. The problem is that he is an extreme..." The soldier paused once more, looking over to the boy still examining the truck. Shaking his head, his focus then returned to Hana. "...introvert."

[Guest]

She had been oblivious to the three approaching. They were now standing mere feet away from her, and here she was, absorbed in the contents of a book. The minute she heard her name she visibly became startled, her book falling from her hand as she stood straight as a board and gave the Lieutenant a salute, as the Lieutenant did the same. "Ishvallan Relations, pleasure sir." Was all she managed to utter out, since it was clear that the Lieutenant already knew who she was. Her voice had been rather quiet, if not a bit on the nervous size, as Lieutenant Geist stepped around her and started to examine the truck. Her back somewhat slouching as she let out a sigh and the hair that she had been holding back slid over the severely burned part of her face.

A man with black hair and thin glasses approached her as he spoke. Asking if this was the shipment of sand for the second lieutenant and she gave a brief nod, as he continued speaking. Slipping her book underneath her other arm as she did, as the man apologized on behalf of Wynter, saying he was odd, but quite smart, which didn't sound to far of from what people called her, but the man explained why with a shake of his head, telling her how introverted the Lieutenant was. "Uh... Don't worry about it. I-I got something that he has to sign though." She blurted out as she retrieved the clip board out from underneath her opposite arm. Holding it in both hands now as she approached the man known as Geist. "Lieu-Lieutenant Geist?" she said, with a hesitance in her voice, "I have some forms you need to fill out so..so you can take the truck." She said, the loudness of her voice just underneath that of someone who was speaking casually.

She said with a wavering in her voice. As she held out the forms to him at arms length, looking up at him, all he could see was her one eye, the other hidden behind a length of hair that covered the mark on her face, something she was extremely self-conscious about. If the Lieutenant cared to look further, he could also see that the top of her right hand had much shared the fate as her face and a good part of her body did as well. It somewhat played into the kind of confidence that she held, and a good reason for how she acted. Although once she warmed up to a person she could be quite lively when speaking. While she waited for his response, her one eye had briefly looked the man over. Wondering how old he was, and guessing that maybe he was a couple years older than her, but he was much taller, to the point she had to slightly look up at him. "What an interesting person." She thought to herself, almost hoping the man would stay and perhaps learn something interesting from him. It was around noon time, and a drill sounded out, signaling that it was lunch time, her stomach somewhat making an audible growl to agree with the sound of the drill.

[Guest]

"Hmm?" Wynter gave a short turn towards the girl before taking a step backwards, his back now pressed to the truck. "Uh... Oh. Y-Yes, of course."

Taking a pen from his pocket, he jotted his name down on the form, as well as the date, without even taking the clipboard from her. Pocketing his writing utensil just as the bell for lunch rang out, he gave a short hum before turning to look at his subordinates.

"Y-you two can g-g-go eat. I w-will be out here when you've f-finished." Giving the young man a solute, the two men turned and headed on their way. Wynter, however, turned back to the truck. He wasn't very hungry for the time being, having a lot on his mind. It wouldn't be long now before he was tested to become a State Alchemist. Truthfully, he was growing more nervous as the days passed.

"M-Ms. Essa, you practice alchemy a-a-as well, correct?" He spoke, looking down now. He still hadn't gotten a good night's sleep since he begun his studies within Central HQ. The work's strain was showing, his eyes growing darker each day. "D-Do you... h-have any experience with the State exam?"

[Guest]

She watched him turn towards her, taking a step backward as his back made contact with the truck. Acting almost as shaking as her, and if possible, more shakey than she was. Seeing that he was just as nervous or even possible, more nervous actually boosted her confidence. Her back straighten up, and a smile lightly touched her lips. As he took a pen from his pocket and jotted his name where it was required along with the date, although it seemed he didn't even want to touch her, as she held onto the clipboard as he was doing so. He looked at the two subordinates and told them they could go eat, and said he'd be waiting out here for them when they were finished.

He gave them a brief salute, and at that same time she was also hoping to be dismissed but that was not the case. She was addressed by him, asking if she practiced alchemy as well, and she gave a brief nod to this question. As he then asked if she had any experience with the State Exam, and she shook her head in turn before she spoke. "I don't think I have a firm enough understanding on Alchemy yet to even take the State exams, I've only been apart of the military for a couple of months now, and I've been reading a lot of books, but I still have much to learn." She said, with a new found confidence in her voice. As she bent down to one knee and started to draw a symbol in the sand. First drawing a triangle, then a square, than a circle, afterwards, in the circle she drew an infinity symbol, with a cross coming off of it heading downwards.

Placing her hands on the edge of the symbol the transmutation could now be done, as before his vary eyes a six inch replica figure of how he looked was made. Hana picked it up, and then stood up, as she handed it out to him. A pretty well representation of him if she did say so himself. "See? I can do sculptures, weapons, the biggest thing I've ever done was about as tall as me. I still have a lot to learn though." She said, still holding out the little life like sculpture to him, hoping he would take it. If not, than she would just keep it for herself, one way or the other.

[Guest]

Hearing her explain her position, Wynter gave a worried and shaky sigh. Maybe hoping someone below his rank would have any advice on the matter was a bit naive. Even then, he gave a big smile as he watched her transmute a glass statue of him from the sand on the ground.

"I... I can r-reverse the process." He replied, slowly taking the statue into his own hands. "W-would you like t-t-to see?"

Not even waiting for her to respond, Wynter tossed the glass statue into the air. In one quick motion, he took his pen back from his jacket pocket, drew the proper transmutation circle on the palm of his right hand, dropped the pen, and clapped. Jutting his hand out, it met the base of the statue, and he closed his hand around it. Before her eyes the glass she had made was returned to its previous state. Sand.

As it slid through his fingers, he gave a small chuckle before coughing and straightening back up. Retrieving his pen from the ground slowly, he tapped it to his chin momentarily, walking back around Hana.

"I-It's good to see th-that... I'm not th-the only one studying glass alchemy."

[Guest]

She cocked her head gently to the left as he mentioned that he could reverse the process, and asked her if she wanted to see. Although as she shook her head for a definite yes, he was already doing the process, as he tossed the glass statue up in the air, she was paying attention to him. Watching him take a pen out and draw a transmutation symbol on the palm of his right hand, taking a snap shot in her mind to remember the symbol, to see if she could apply it to her own glass alchemy at a later date. A clap was heard as he jutted his hand out, meeting the base of the statue and watching as hand slowly slipped through his fingers there after.

She gave him a small clap, as he chuckled and straightened up. He retrieved the pen from the ground and he taped it on his chin for but a second before speaking again. As he was happy to see that he wasn't the only one studying glass alchemy. "Well, honestly, I thought it would be beneficial to study in it. With the large amounts of sand and heat around us, it would of been a waste for me not to study in it!" She said, growing a little more cocky with each passing minute. Since her superior was so, nervous, and also soft spoken, she almost felt as if she had to take the upper hand in the conversation, so she was taking the initiative now and doing so. "I am also happy there is another glass alchemist! Maybe we could share notes? Who knows, we might be able to help on another out!." She exclaimed as she bounced a little with happiness.

Her hair briefly swept away from her face, showing the severeness of her burns, she quickly caught the wind swept hair, placing it back in its rightful place as she gave just the hint of a blush. Clearly embarrassed by her disfigurement, although it seemed her superior officer had paid it no mind, which was quite ensuring in her case, since most often when she talked to people they couldn't keep their eyes off the ugly side of her face and the burn that rested on the palm of her hand. She gave the Lieutenant a brief smile, once again showing her serenity and glad to be talking to another like minded alchemist like herself.

[Guest]

"Sh-Share notes?" The Second Lieutenant blinked before looking back to the girl. "I'm n-n-not sure, umm... P-Perhaps we could at a later d-date?" The end of his sentence trailed off, becoming almost inaudible as he turned back away from her. Not looking back, his lip quivered slightly. New faces, new people, working all around him? He didn't know the first thing about South HQ, and here he was waiting on his subordinates to finish their meal? Not only that, but this girl... This job forced him into talking with people he'd never have known in a normal life.

Ha. Normal. No, this was the only place he could be. Well, Central HQ anyway. He knew just as well as his mother that being skilled in alchemy usually brought you to the military. Still, it didn't mean he should be expected to get along with everyone. He shouldn't even be talking right now, dismissing both his subordinates was a mistake on his part.

Then it hit him.

"Y-You may go now, i-if you'd like. It is your l-lunch hour.""

[Guest]

It seemed like she was getting no where with this man. As he said they could share notes at a later date. A small frown appeared on her face briefly, she was always looking for something new to read and learn. Knowing full well it would of been a big step in her research towards better glass alchemy if she could of got a hold of some of his notes or even some of his research for that matter. Oh well, it seemed the man wanted to keep all the knowledge to himself, and she supposed that with his State Exams coming up that it was almost okay that he in fact was. Then he told her that she could go now since it was her lunch hour, another brief frown appeared on her face and quickly faded away.

"Are you sure that you do not want any food? Our food is a little different down here at South HQ." She said quickly, knowing the man was quite jittery and even quite shy is what it seemed, before speaking in. "My orders were to stick with you until you left, to make sure that you found everything you needed, I can't well forsake my orders for a bit of food unless you also accompany me." She said as a small smile briefly flashed across her face. Those were her orders, and until he left she was stuck with him whether he liked it or not. While she feared his rank and the power it came with, she feared people of higher rank who gave her orders a lot more. There was no telling what they might do to punish her, maybe they'd force her to clean toilets or scrub the mess hall with a tooth brush, she didn't know.

[Guest]

Slouching forward and giving a slight sigh, Wynter lazily turned back around to look at the girl. She was going to be rather persistent about this, he could already tell, but orders were orders. He'd have to continue to stay in her company while here.

"I-I suppose I c-c-could join you for lunch..." He managed to stammer out. He had no real clue where anything was in this place, so he'd be forced to follow the girl. He hated feeling like a lost puppy in places like this. The sacrifices he had to make for his studies...

Thinking for a moment, he pondered on how much longer he would be here. Time passed by quickly when he was working, but not nearly so when he had nothing to do but wait. Waiting. Such a waste of precious moments that he could be dedicating to alchemy. Wynter was beginning to feel trapped, he needed to breathe. Stepping next to Hana, he gave a shaky smile before nodding.

"Sh-Shall we b-be on our way th-then?"

[Guest]

She watched him slouch forward and turn back to her. It seemed as if he was not happy with her persistence, but it was her orders and she was determined to follow him until he left. As he finally stuttered out that he supposed he could join her for lunch, which caused her to give him a wide grin in return. That was reassuring, since she was indeed hungry. Since he had no idea where exactly they were going she had to lead the way. So she did, and within a few short minutes they were in a mess hall with several other people. Today's lunch, looked like some sort of curry over rice. It didn't smell to spicy which was good since not many people enjoyed spicy food. She grabbed a tray and held out her plate.

A nice large spoonful of rice was laid down, and then the curry was poured over it. It had two or three different kinds of peppers, onions, carrots, snow peas and chicken. It smelled wonderful, there was also a few other things on the line. Like water and milk if it the curry did happen to be to spicy, and there was a dessert if you wanted it, it looked like coconut cake which she gladly took a piece. Waiting for Geist behind her to also get his plate and his food that he wanted. As she sat down at an empty table, guessing he wouldn't want to sit at an table that was crowded with people. As she waited for him to sit down before she began eating, remaining quiet more or less the entire time before he sat down. "I hope you enjoy the food before you have to leave. I am assuming you and your associates will be taking the truck and leaving as soon as lunch is over yes?" She said, as she grabbed her fork and started to dig in.

[Jay Furor]

~BUMP~

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