maskormenace | {7th Transmutation; voice}

Okay. Obviously quite a few of you are aware of the bombings that went down in Washington DC and De Chima. And I believe I know who is responsible for it. Witnesses and someone else I talked to confirmed it, aside from my own experience with said suspect. Before I do name him, I want everyone to be careful not to underestimate him. I know there's the police but I don't want them getting hurt or killed trying to bring him in with his alchemy.

But, backing up here. It's Kimblee. Witnesses another imPort questioned mentioned him by description even if he was using the fake name of Karl Yatsov. He was seen talking on the phone in another language - presumably Russian and was seen later on, the 'marks' on his hands are pretty identifiable. They're alchemy arrays. Without those, he can't perform any transmutations. At least, not without drawing the array elsewhere to make up for it. In theory. I won't go into detail about alchemy unless someone asks for specifics, but all you need to know is he claps his hands with said arrays, and makes things blow up. In a nutshell.

The point is, the name is obviously fake, there are no records of any imPort here with the name 'Karl Yatsov'. If you have any questions about the witnesses, what Captain Ananke said on the matter, ask Edgeworth. If it's about the alchemy, then I'm probably the one to ask of the two of us.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know. For now. But that doesn't mean he won't get more frustrated with this. As for who....I would ask Armstrong but he's back home now. I'm not sure if you have one in mind but I could try figure something. Maybe the Lieutenant? I don't like this idea any more than you and that's from experience with having bodyguards with Scar, but....it's better than not at least considering it. I don't know what he might do in response, even if he probably did see this coming.

Miss Riza is looking after Mr. Mustang, isn't she? [The corner of her mouth slews sideways. She doesn't want to put anyone in danger, and that's something Mr. Kimblee would do. He scared her, yes, and she could see Ed's point. It didn't mean she could - would - like it.]

I wouldn't really know who to ask.

[Who could face up to Mr. Kimblee, anyway? He could start earthquakes, if he wanted, or bomb a building from far away. If he really wanted her dead, it wouldn't take much effort on his part.]

Well, yeah but that doesn't mean she also wouldn't at least consider if I ask. Mustang isn't as....obvious with this like I am, so I doubt he or Hawkeye are as...I don't know, paranoid about this? I figure you'd at least be more comfortable with that if I try think of someone you already know and trust.

[Which would be understandable. Which is why he is leaning more to asking Hawkeye in comparison to say, one of the Normandy crew given Winry doesn't know Shepard, Jacob or Kaidan yet, even if Ed himself trusts them.]

[Winry scrubs the back of her neck. She's uncomfortable with the idea of drawing attention to herself with a bodyguard, but if Ed really wants this...maybe it wouldn't be so bad.]

All right. Whoever you can get to do this...it's all right with me.

I'll see who I might manage to round up for it. I just rather at least try than regret not doing anything if he were to come after you. Not saying he definitely will, but....

[He's probably just repeating things in his attempt to explain. He knows firsthand how frustrating it can be to have bodyguards. But if this is what it might take to keep her safe until they figure what to do with Kimblee.]

I know. [Winry tries a smile on, but it's not a good fit at the moment.]

I know why you want me to do this...agree, I mean. I'm not...not going to argue. You're right, he is dangerous. And I don't...

[Want to make you suffer, if something happens to her. She knows you'd blame yourself, Ed, no matter if it was her own fault for what could happen.]

Even if I don't think he'd hurt me, it's...not worth not accepting any protection.

Exactly. I'll see what I can come up with and let you know, okay? I mean, he might not show up after you at all and just try stay in hiding. But just in case, I want to know you're protected if something does happen. I promise, once we have him in custody, I'll call whoever it is off and it'll be fine.

[Because, yeah, he absolutely would blame himself if he were to let something happen to her on his watch. Because of him.]

Okay, Ed.

[Winry sighs. She hates this, not being able to figure a way out of the situation. Ed's smart, she's smart, but Mr. Kimblee is such a wild card, they had to take extra precautions.]

We'll be okay.

['We'. Not just her.]

Yeah.

[Hopefully. He doesn't have the heart to crush that with realism against it. The way he had done back in Resembool and how she'd reacted then. Going against Kimblee should be easy if he manages against the bearded bastard, right?]

[Winry pokes him in the arm, recognizing that expression.]

We are going to be fine, Ed! We're going to - to figure out how to stop Mr. Kimblee from hurting more people. And we'll be okay. All of us.

[She's so optimistic like that. He can't help but admire it and cherish it in spite of his own more grounded outlook even if he has his own sense of idealism as well.]

Course.

Don't do that, Ed! You have to think it's going to work out anyway.

Sure I do. It's one of him and we'll outnumber Kimblee easily. Mathematics wise this is obvious.

[It's the practicality he's worrying on. That it is Kimblee. He's not outright saying as much, but obviously that still seeps through to fuel Winry's worry as a result.]

[Winry opens her mouth, as if to tell Ed he'd made her a promise before. But this is a completely different world. She cannot hold Ed to the promises made back home.]

Right!

[She can't keep saying they're going to be all right, either.]

{7th Transmutation; voice}

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