“You didn’t mention that you already knew about the new disturbance down in Lior, Taisa,” Havoc observed.
Roy Mustang and his officers strode down the steps of their neighboring country’s embassy in East City.
“No, I didn’t,” Roy agreed, smiling.
Hawkeye sniffed.
“Of course not. You don’t gain the upper hand by giving things away, Havoc.”
Havoc grunted around his cigarette.
As the party sorted themselves into the two official cars that had brought them from headquarters, Roy contemplated Hawkeye’s words.
Normally, they were a truism. But there were times…
Edward Elric was a good example of the rule’s reverse. As he was for a good many rules, Roy reflected, a grin tugging at his mouth.
Their liaison was a source of amusement, as well as pleasure and comfort to him. And Roy had noted early on that one of the easiest ways to get the upper hand with Edward was to tell him the absolute truth.
It entertained Roy to no end that he could stop one of Edward’s tempers simply by thanking him.
To be sure, part of the effect was probably pure surprise, since Roy rarely dealt so straightforwardly with Edward outside of bed.
There was another level to that, of course, Roy mused watching the city sweep past. Edward placed an extremely high value on truth. Roy often thought that it might be a product of Edward’s power. Being so powerful, he had never been tempted to the petty stratagems that those without power resorted to, while also being in a position to see all too much of that pettiness at close range. Edward was the first person Roy had met of whom he might believe that the strength of his spirit was the measure of his power.
The exchange that Roy offered for such intimate knowledge of Edward was to speak the truth to him while they were together.
Which was not to say that the truth was always straightforward, or even that straightforwardness was always straightforward.
Roy smiled.
Edward was not the only example of the rule’s reverse, though, he thought, as the cars pulled back up to the military headquarters. The thought lingered, and as they began to part ways at the door of Roy’s office he spoke.
“Hawkeye-taii.”
His senior aide paused and looked back. “Sir?”
“Sometimes one does, in fact, gain an overwhelming advantage precisely by giving oneself away,” he said, slowly.
He waited while surprise, confusion and finally understanding chased each other across her face.
She drew herself up and offered him a salute worthy of the Central parade ground. Her response was low and intense.
“Yes, Taisa.”
Roy returned the salute, gravely.
End
Roy: Just for my curiosity, why did you promote Hawkeye but not me?
Branch: Because she rocks my world. She’s the kind of muse I can do target practice with.
Roy: *eyes Author thoughtfully* Fair enough.
Branch: *waves, starry-eyed* Hey, Lisa, want to go get a drink?
Lisa: Why not? We’re done for the day, right Taisa?
Branch and Lisa: *wander off, arm in arm*
Roy is so messed up
you have his psyche down pat…
ever thought of doing something serious…like not yaoi?
big brother-ish?
Re: Roy is so messed up
Oh, I *did*
And then Circumstances ambushed me, latched onto my ankle and refused to let go.
Perhaps in a little bit. Big brother is definitely the canon relationship I see him in with Ed. I need a little more canon material, though, before deciding which plot-spaces I want to fill in.
Re: Roy is so messed up
what material are you missing…maybe I can help you there…
I’m dying for some Roy angst
Re: Roy is so messed up
Really, I just need to see more of the storyline. One thing about writing pairing-fic is that it gives me an automatic axis to hang character interaction on (sex). If I’m not using sex as the axis, I need some other strong theme to take its place. Scar and his own very messed up head promise one, as soon as I know more of his background. Roy’s agenda offers another, but if I make that the centerpiece I’d like to know what it actually is rather than speculating.
I should just break down and buy the manga, I suppose, but I really can’t read Japanese much at all. Looking up the kana in individual words is about the extent of my ability. Not particularly helpful.
Still, ep 15 looks promising, as far as angsty background goes. Perhaps I’ll be inspired…
Re: Roy is so messed up
Yeah I think you’re better off with the anime if you are looking for Roy background…they seem to be developing that in the anime an bit more…
The manga basically consists of him trying to figure out what is going on, who people are working for and using Ed to an extent…its shown in the manga that he is a bit more brotherly to Ed…when Roy first meets Ed after Ed tried to revive his mother, the meeting goes rather differently…Roy winds up getting super pissed at Ed (who is majorly depressed and not speaking) for trying something so stupid…
But I don’t remember the manga even showing what happened Ishbal…maybe it have in the monthly releases in Gangan but as of book six its been more Ed and Al centric…
The only thing you do know for sure is that Hughes and Mustang were longtime friends and his death hurt him
Re: Roy is so messed up
Hughes’ death will defnitely be an angst gold-mine. In the meantime, we’ll make do with Ishbal.
Hooray for Hawkeye. She is the shitty bomb. *sagely nod*