(no subject)

[saintedsinner]

Alright, so that didn't work too well. -=failed camping trip is fail.=-

What did I miss while we attempted to 'get away from it all?'

And how can we get some of that tree food, huh? They have some good quality stuff, as far as I've seen.

Comments

[Voice]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think so.

Where are you?

[Voice]

[saintedsinner]

How'd that go? There wasn't an ego inflation or anything, was there?

Back at my place. You know where it is?

[Voice]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure!

Yes. I'm good at noticing a thing or two.

[Offline]

[And he's at their door and knocking not too much later. Being an investigations officer paid off more often than it didn't.]

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=comes to the door, smirking a bit at Maes and then tsking at the pink cow.=-

You make a terrible guard cow, Marge. -=it's an inside joke.=-

Come on in, Hughes. What can I do for you?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

I don't know. [He glances at the cow, considering.] She's pretty intimidating. She could scare off, oh, say, an entire kitten. I think.

[Grinning, Maes comes in.]

I had an idea, after talking to Snap a bit. Are we alone? And what do you think of taking on a bit of a project?

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

Yeah, as if. You should see the cats we have roaming around here because of Al.

We're as alone as we're going to be? Winry's off making cool gadgets, Al's around outside somewhere...

So what's the project?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot wind up getting eaten. They're cats, and... [Maes gave a solemn shrug. It was how animals went, and cats were nothing against the bunnies or killer cats.]

Good. I want to set up a network. One watching the city, there to step in should there be an emergency, but mostly just watching and collecting information. Basically, it's time for me to get back in intelligence, and I think you could be helpful.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=He shrugs as well. And he's hoping that some bunnies get the cats. No offense, Al, but really, there's too many!=-

You want me to be in your intelligence scheme? -=blinks a bit.=- Helpful how?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

[He agrees, unfortunately. Pets eat a lot of food, and while he has nothing against people having a pet or two, raising litters is wasteful.]

A lot of people pay attention to Al and talk to him. You're his brother; you're watching over him already. You could keep an eye on how newcomers approach a few kids who seem to be mostly on their own and possibly vulnerable at first. That would take a burden off my back, too.

Plus, you've got alchemy. If things go pear-shaped, you're right there and you can get people out. I'm asking for awareness, and reporting to me if something seems off or suspicious.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=Ed is right with you on that! He wouldn't even have a cow if he could get away with actual steaks and Al not killing him for slaughtering a cow. At least that's what he keeps telling himself.=-

Mmm... You have a point there.

-=There's already been a few people that have made Ed's hackles raise by the way they've looked at Al or Winry.=-

Am I supposed to keep this a secret from Al?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

[At least cows give milk and eat grass. Cats... they purr and are nice, and Maes wouldn't want to give up Bradley, but.]

Thanks.

[Maes considers for a moment.]

For right now, let's keep Al out of it. He's... got some issues with spotting who is actually suspicious. Or rather, he sees them and befriends them and gets trapped by them. I'm not sure I want that repeating.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=Maes noticed that too? Ed grits his teeth. His kid brother definitely has issues.=-

Right. I have no problems with that. -=a license to make certain he's okay? Hells yeah.=-

What kind of code do you want to make up for this? -=finally remembers some manners and offers Maes a seat.=- Anything to drink?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately it doesn't take an intelligence officer to spot that.]

Good.

Oh, yes, please! Water, it's getting hot out there.

And as far as code goes... Thankfully we have the network, which helps. But if we want to communicate in person... Two fingers extended and then a glance at the person if they're just suspicious. Three fingers and a glance if you think they're an active threat?

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

Sounds good to me. -=offers water. Alchemically chilled.=-

So you're doing alright, now?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

[He takes the glass and sips.] Thank you.

And yes. It took some time, but I'm getting there again. Thank you.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=nods. Hughes should never look broken. Ever.=-

So the investigation thing is part of getting back on the horse, right? Who do you know so far is being shady? -=it's a starting point.=-

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Right now there are a few that are obvious - Saul, Envy, Greed, Madara, Kurotsuchi, Sebastian. Then there are the ones that are shady but either haven't tried to hurt someone that we've seen, or are biding their time - Kamui, Carmen, Hisoka.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

Who're Kurotsuchi and Hisoka? -=the other's he's heard of or dealt with personally.=-

The other's I've heard of. And Saul died recently, didn't he?

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the scientist who likes cutting people apart to see what their abilities are, from what I can tell. He's the reason that a very powerful young man lost control and attacked the city about a year back.

Hisoka is ...close to a clown? There's something about the way that he talks that gets me wary, but I've seen nothing actually happen.

Saul did. But he's back.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

-=already committing them to memory.=- I'll keep an eye on them.

-=gets a glass of water for himself.=-

So I gave Winry a ring for her birthday.

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

[Maes nods and raises an eyebrow.]

Did you now? And what's this ring like?

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

It's nothing fancy. Some scrap metal shined up and I made an emerald for it. -=shrugs it off. It's nothing fancy, he says.=-

Just a birthday get. She gets all sorts of tools and scrap anytime she needs it, so...

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

Mmhmm. I'll have to take a look and see this ring, then.

[offline]

[saintedsinner]

What? Y-you don't have to do that! Like I said, it's not a big deal! It's just a birthday gift!

-=It was very pretty. No skulls or anything.=-

[offline]

[brig-gen-maes.livejournal.com]

Of course, of course!

[Maes grins.]

But how can I resist checking out fine craftsmanship?