Give me reason to believe

[notcominghome]

Who: Maes Hughes notcominghome and Solf J. Kimblee explosivecombat
Where: Rocket Base
When: Earlier in the day before Hughes made this video call
Summary: Hughes has just arrived in Johto but the memory of what he's just seen and figured out is still fresh, as well as the danger it poses to his family. Thankfully Kimblee arrives just in time to explain the situation.
Rating: PG-13
Log:

This can't be real.

[There isn't even a scar. Hughes places his hand over his chest, confused and perplexed as each resounding beat in his chest provides affirmation that yes, he is alive. But that just can't be possible.

He had been shot. Shot by...no, not Gracia. Not Maria Ross either. It was a youth with wispy hair and a cruel and mocking smirk. And Hughes, he'd been left to bleed out in that telephone booth. His hand couldn't reach the telephone in time-

His eyes widen and Hughes jumps up and rushes towards the door. There's no time to wonder about how or why he's alive; he needs to get to a phone! The door crashes open, alerting the attention of a Rocket Grunt nearby. Funny, the Grunt had always thought that room had been unoccupied. Must be a new recruit. Maybe he should say hi-

Whatever he wanted to say is cut short when Hughes grabs him by the shoulders with an iron grip.]

Hey you.

[It's taking Hughes more of an effort than normal to maintain his calm, but he's managing it..]

I need a telephone. It's urgent. Please.

[Fingers dig into skin and Rocket Grunt A squirms, but Hughes doesn't let go. There's a slight shake in his voice, one he can't exactly keep under control.]

I need to call my family.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

[...Well. That is new.

Kimblee has been spending more time around the base than he hasn't lately; it's thankfully devoid of sound at night and there are more than enough people to entertain him during the day, and while he's normally content to be out doing field work it's more than a little monotonous and generally unpleasant, being out on the routes all the time.

But then, he's always been a bit picky with regards to being dirty.

Today has actually been going halfway decently, as most days around here go - the network is fairly quiet for now and there's not all that much going on, and he's perfectly content to be idle and waste time jumping on things in one of the training arenas when he's not poking at people who insist on thinking their questions are any more interesting than anyone else's; they're not, and his aren't either, because human nature is predictable and this whole place is predictable and if he's going to be blunt he's really getting quite bored with how well things are going.

Needless to say, the sudden altercation in the hallways is welcome, simply because it's interesting; perhaps one of the new recruits is up to something, perhaps one of the old recruits decided to deck someone, perhaps the Ashford twins are doing mad science or Dist metal-coated another bee, who knows...]

And what, if I may -

[The words die in his throat almost immediately once he sees exactly who it is in the damn hallway; that was...unexpected. Greatly, greatly unexpected. He's not sure what he thinks of it, and he doesn't exactly have time to decide now.]

Well, well - it's been quite some time since I've seen you around here, Lieutenant Colonel.

[And it's "Lieutenant Colonel" this time, because he's feeling surprisingly charitable; last time he'd started out with "Brigadier General" (because it'd been cruel, because he's a terrible person and he embraces how terrible he is, because he had known better but now he's fully aware that he knows better and he can't make himself do it even if he wants to because that isn't how we should-)

...Lieutenant Colonel. Yes. Right.

Kimblee's keeping his distance for now; he has no idea what Hughes is coming in from, and he's already got a death grip on a grunt, so it's best to not instigate any more than he really has to.]

If you'll kindly let that man go, perhaps I can be of some assistance to you.

[notcominghome]

[That's a voice he hasn't heard for a very, very long time. Hughes lets go and straightens up to meet Kimblee's gaze; there's confusion and surprise, but there's no humour in his voice when he speaks, no smile in his eyes.]

The Red Lotus Alchemist...it's been a few years, yeah.

[Add a dozen more questions to the mystery pile. He hasn't seen Kimblee since Ishval but he had definitely heard the news of what Kimblee had done to deserve jail. Hughes is wary and given what's just happened to him he thinks he's got every reason to be suspicious, but he hasn't lost his ability to think things through carefully. Kimblee had said it'd been some time since he saw him around 'here'; but where 'here' is couldn't be anywhere in Central, not unless Kimblee either blew up his cell and escaped or someone released him, and both situations were impossible.

...but the impossible had been proven possible, hadn't it? He'd witnessed it with his very eyes, the last moment before pain exploded in his chest.

It wasn't her, but it resembled her enough to sow doubt and confusion inside him. Ultimately a cheap, dirty trick that ended with him slumped against the wall of a phone booth, the phone receiver well out of reach.

He keeps the turmoil within well hidden, but he adopts a more...well, you wouldn't be casual in this situation, but at least he sounds less guarded, less wound up. Kimblee must know something about how he came to here or at the very least, maybe he could help him get into contact with his family. Still, he has to be sure this isn't a trap.]

Thanks for the kind offer, but you'll have to forgive me for being a little suspicious. After all, you're supposed to be in jail.

[He's not trying to be accusing. He really isn't. But if he couldn't trust the military, and if he couldn't trust a face to be the person it is supposed to represent, there's very little room for him to believe that Kimblee's offer is a genuine one.]

[explosivecombat]

[He smiles a bit at that, actually, though he doesn't seem terribly bothered by the comment; it's stopping well short of an accusation, and if anything there's something almost bizarrely nostalgic about his...situation being questioned.

He's out of prison? What, did he escape?

Apparently, in one version of events he did, the one that happened an entire world away where he's got some sort of horrible haircut and he looks to be about ten years younger. So it's not unheard of for him to do something like that, depending on who you ask.

He never would have, of course. But that's an existential crisis for another day. As it stands, Hughes has told him a lot just with that one statement, and he's quick to switch tracks; his expression remains placid, that smile still crossing his features, but he's going to have to reassess how he comes at this, isn't he. Hm.]

Ah, that's right, you aren't aware - I was granted a pardon by the Fuhrer a few months ago.

[notcominghome]

That's definitely news to me. I didn't think the Fuhrer was such a forgiving man.

[That correction hardly puts Hughes at ease; that Kimblee had been given his freedom by King Bradley only serves to agitate him further, though he takes care to maintain his steady composure. Until he can determine what Kimblee's role is in all of this, or if Kimblee even has one in the first place, it wouldn't be good for Hughes to get on the bad side of the Crimson Lotus Alchemist, especially if he was offering to help.

Though really if Kimblee wanted to end him he could've done so with a clap of his two hands.]

Were you the one who brought me here?

[From the phone booth, he wants to add, but again he's not sure what Kimblee's up to.]

[explosivecombat]

He normally isn't.

[And it's blunt because it's true, and because Kimblee's been working on that be-less-of-an-aggravating-asshole thing but we really can't expect him to pass up an opportunity like that, now, can we. If anything, it'd probably be strange if he did.

More helpful, yes, but strange.]

As for the rest - believe me, Lieutenant Colonel, if I had a way to bring people here from Amestris and back, I wouldn't be here myself. I'm in the same situation you are.

[notcominghome]

And what sort of situation is that then?

[Nothing's making sense here; again, if Kimblee's really on the Fuhrer's side, Hughes would've been nothing but a stain in the wall by now. And the way Kimblee's phrasing things...it sounds almost as if he's being held here against his will.]

When you put it that way, you make it sound like someone's kidnapped you.

[...which, again, doesn't make sense because if they've both been kidnapped, they'd hardly be able to wonder around this place without any form of shackles or chains.]

[explosivecombat]

Do you have a better explanation for what's going on?

[His words aren't sharp, but they're not exactly patient, either. Come now, start putting pieces together, he's not going to hold things in place while you snap them in.]

[notcominghome]

No I don't. But no matter how you look at it, this whole situation looks highly suspicious.

[Hughes isn't exactly at his most patient either. He's trying to keep things calm and rational, but at this point his ability to trust in convicted killer is sort of impaired by the fact that he's just been murdered, thanks. And the facts just don't add up. Kimblee's here when he shouldn't be anywhere outside bars, Hughes is alive when he's supposed to be dead, they're in a strange building that's not even in Ametris, and he really doesn't have time to deal with all of this he has to call his family and make sure they're going to be OK. Nothing about this situation should be possible in the first place!

That's the problem, isn't it? He's still operating along the lines of what he thinks is possible and what isn't. And that's preventing him from reviewing all the facts of the case properly. He lets out a small breath. He can choose to listen to Kimblee right now, possibly risk himself dying a second time...or maybe Kimblee genuinely wants to help him. It's a gamble for sure but...he can't really not take it right now.]

Apologies, Major. You're trying to help but I'm not making things easy. I'll listen to what you have to say, but...I need to know first.

Is...is my family alright?

[explosivecombat]

[He'd wondered when that would be brought up; it's perhaps surprising, how quick he is to lighten up a bit when that's asked. He doesn't soften, really, because he almost never does, but he shifts a bit, clasping his hands lightly behind his back, his stance open.

Don't worry, he's got gloves on. He always does nowadays.]

They are, yes. Last I heard of them, they were doing well, though I didn't go out of my way to check. With my reputation, I'm sure you understand.

[He pauses for a moment - not quite hesitant, but...]

I'm aware of what happened regarding you as well. Your family wasn't brought into it.

[notcominghome]

[That was all he needed to hear. The tension completely leaves his body, leaving him both relieved and weary, and he even manages a weak smile.]

Thank you Major.

[Now that he's assured that his worse fears won't come to pass, it's easier for him to speak with Kimblee candidly. Especially since the other man's just revealed that he's aware of Hughes's fate.]

So where's here then? I didn't expect to wake up in a bed. Maybe a cell, but definitely not a bed.

[Or even wake up at all.]