001 | Voice

[a_sin_for_him]

[Nothing makes any sense whatsoever. Lust feels like she's in a radio drama only she doesn't have the script and everyone's speaking a different language. She understands, but understanding doesn't help her make sense of it any. How she got here or why. And the spherical blue abomination she's found herself with looks more like something that should be on a little girl's toy chest, not following her. It isn't as though he's difficult to take care of, or even an annoyance, she only questions the judgement of placing any living thing in her care.

She's thankful at least, for the fact that she's finally escaped her master's reach. Strange as this place is, she's no longer a tool for some miserable husk of a woman who should have been long dead. And she's thankful also for the information device, even without much context for the information it holds. And the fact that it can apparently be used as a communication device. Most comfortable with telephones, she initiates the voice function.]

Much as I hate to simply call out to the void, I'm afraid it's likely my most fruitful option.

Do I understand that I'm expected to work?

[She's never held down any sort of job in her life. How did one even get a job?]

Comments

[a_sin_for_him]

I see.

[The part about no one knowing who they were or anything about them. The rest...Lust doesn't feel up to thinking on deeply right now.]

Are there many, from our world? I know of one other.

[envy_the_sinners]

Other homunculi, Greed and Envy. They both seem to be from our world. Another boy recognized me as Ishbalan.

[What had that brat's name been? He can't recall, now. Scar hesitates for a moment, but she would find out soon enough anyway-]

Edward is here, and a friend of his. They know the "other" Scar, though. Apparently he had some connection with the girl's family.

[a_sin_for_him]

Greed as well?

[That...may prove awkward.]

This is all ridiculous.

[envy_the_sinners]

Perhaps. But it's easy enough to adapt.

[And it's way better than living in Amestris had ever been. Should he even mention this next bit?-]

Greed explained some things to me.

[a_sin_for_him]

For you.

Did he?

[She almost doesn't want to know.]

[envy_the_sinners]

Are you okay?

[Whoops, that's out before he thinks about it. This "voice only" is messing him up more than he thought it would. Suddenly, talking about other things from home can wait.]

[a_sin_for_him]

I'm in perfectly fine health.

As far as I can tell.

[As Lust deliberately ignores what Scar was actually asking.]

[envy_the_sinners]

That wasn't what I meant.

[And he knows that she knows.]

[a_sin_for_him]

I'm confused, Scar. I don't know what you want me to say. One moment I was dying and then...

[She trails off with a frustrated sigh.]

[envy_the_sinners]

You were dying?

[Why does this keep getting thrown off track?!]

You corrected my statement that acclimating here was easy, so I assumed that you were having difficulty.

[There's a frustration in his tone, now. God, why did he even try in the first place? I knows better!]

[a_sin_for_him]

Yes. Not very long after you.

And I told you. I'm confused and in no state of mind to try and put it into words.

I'll be alright. Envy's here.

[envy_the_sinners]

[HUFF HE DOESN'T LIKE ENVY

Scar does actually sigh, pausing to consider. Not long after him? Well, at least it hadn't been right after him. He wondered (because he refused to use the term "worry," even in his own mind) if she would be able to get out quickly enough.]

That was what was explained to me. How all of you worked in a group.

[A scant little of it had actually been a surprise, either.]

[a_sin_for_him]

In theory. In practice...

[Lust shrugs, though Scar can't see it.]

Envy has...always looked after me.

[envy_the_sinners]

That was the impression that I got.

[It's easy to piece together how muddled allegiances are, now that he knows as much as he does. Especially now that he's had a month to let everything settle in his mind.

What now, though? Scar pauses awkwardly. And it isn't often that he's actually aware of his own awkwardness.]

It's easier to... understand certain things, now.

[a_sin_for_him]

I had defected when I came to you in Lior anyway.

[Attempted to, at least.]

[envy_the_sinners]

That was foolish.

[And also something Scar has come to consider. He would never have asked Envy or Greed specifically about Lust, but...

The fact that she had followed him, even when she had absolutely no chance to take the Stone for herself, speaks volumes.]

[a_sin_for_him]

I don't care. I was tired of being someone's tool.

[envy_the_sinners]

[Silence, for a moment.]

This 'master' of yours, then. How did she... find you?

[a_sin_for_him]

She watches. Everything. She has eyes everywhere. She's always looking for a new addition to her collection.

[envy_the_sinners]

"She" arranged for my death, then?

[There's that tension, again. That he had been a puppet in his own design all along...]

[a_sin_for_him]

Not exactly. She wanted you dead when I left, it hadn't been part of the plan before. That's all I know.

How much of a hand she had in the actual events that came to pass...

[Lust could only guess, never know for certain.]

[envy_the_sinners]

And you were taken out for running?

[Because from what he's gathered, that's just how they operate.]

[a_sin_for_him]

The second time.

I was taken back and given another chance. I used it to turn traitor, throwing my lot in with the Elrics.

[envy_the_sinners]

I see.

[Yeah, everything pretty much makes sense now. There's still hesitation, when Scar speaks. He's not entirely sure of what to say to any of this. It makes him more angry at this Dante woman than anything else, really.]

That doesn't matter, though, here.

[a_sin_for_him]

No, it doesn't seem to.