Video

[heart_wrenching]

[ Even after the video starts, the image is mostly obscured, the figure still way too close and fiddling with her device. ]


Is this really broadcasting now? Amaaaaazing. I can't even see the microphone or camera! It's almost unbelievable.


[ When she finally sits back the area around her is a mess. The tables are strewn with tools and machine parts, knobs, springs, coils, piping. If one looks carefully, one may be able to spot a number of control panels suggesting she has possibly dismantled every major appliance in the home. Like ya do. ]


Well, hello! I'm a new imPort, my name's Winry. Winry Rockbell. And . . . does anyone out there know how to build a "microwave"? Well, rebuild, technically. The locks and turntables are pretty straightforward, but then there's all these wires . . . who knew electricity was going to be such a big deal, anyway?

Comments

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor's default expression looks downright gloomy. There's a wisp of quiet friendliness to him now, though, as he offers out the bag. ]

That's right. I thought you might like one of our leftover pastries-- we just have to throw them out otherwise.

[heart_wrenching]

-!! Thank you!


[ Oh she is all over a pastry. ]

[vorbarra]

[ That's gratifying, at least. His smile gains a little more traction. Gregor turns to lock the door behind him while she's preoccupied with the pastry, then turns back to her. ]

It's just down the street.

[heart_wrenching]

[ That's... somehow endearing. She'll follow behind him if he's leading. ]



Don't mind Ed. He'll be just as excited to see the library.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor really doesn't mind him, which might be evident from his easy response as he starts to walk. ]

I hadn't realized you knew each other. You must be from the same place as Colonel Mustang, then. You all seem to be equally interested in libraries.

[heart_wrenching]

Well, the same country. Ed and I have been friends our whole lives, pretty much.

[vorbarra]

I'm glad you both arrived at the same time, [ Gregor says honestly. ] I showed up with someone I grew up with as well. It made things immeasurably easier.

[heart_wrenching]

[ She misses a beat, it's a quick beat though. ]

Yeah. It's helped so far for sure.

[vorbarra]

[ Hmm. ]

Adjusting to being here is a considerable undertaking. If you've any lingering concerns, perhaps I can answer them.

[heart_wrenching]

Oh . . . thanks.

[vorbarra]

... We seem to be in a lull at the moment, at least. You arrived at a good time.

[heart_wrenching]

A lull... in the war?

[vorbarra]

Yes. Since I've been here, all of three months, we've been kidnapped, occupied, and fought them off.

[heart_wrenching]

[ Deeply unimpressed: ]

Some lull. Are people really involved just because we're imPorts?

[vorbarra]

We're not occupied right now, [ he says with maximum dryness. ]

And yes, we are. More targets than anything else, I think. The prevailing sentiment is that we'd like to be detached from the conflict completely... but that's not possible while we reside within one of the participating countries.

[ Or that's Gregor's opinion, anyway. It's not particularly a popular one. ]

[heart_wrenching]

Not to mention, we're on their payroll. Not that different from home at all, I guess.

[ After a moment she sighs and shakes her head. She's an idealist, and proud of it, but not naive or privileged enough to think that one can keep uninvolved from a war, just because one wants to. ]


But, targets . . . for the Russians?

[vorbarra]

[ This is an opportune moment to make a pitch, but Gregor only says, ] We don't have to be. If you find a job to support yourself with, you can un-register.

And-- yes, right now, that's largely the case. They see us as weapons with no handler. [ Grim and sober by the end there. ]

[heart_wrenching]

[ AND BOY DOES SHE DISLIKE THE IDEA OF BEING A WEAPON. Though she's of course more angry for the Elrics than herself. Like rofl good luck trying to get her to be anyone's weapon, but Ed's already suffered for that. And if Al really is here, then . . . ]

I read that. Is it really that easy? We'd still be identified, and still have these weird powers.

[vorbarra]

It's more of a political identification as far as I can tell. Registration lets the U.S. government say they have X number of imPorts under their control-- the rest of us are loose, random variables.

Even registered, you aren't forced to be a combatant. Whether you register or not has more to do with your ideology and finances than the war.

[heart_wrenching]

So you're . . . unregistered?

[vorbarra]

I am, though I was registered for a while.

[heart_wrenching]

And they really didn't hassle you about it, huh?

[vorbarra]

No, they didn't. Should I take it you'd prefer not to register?

[heart_wrenching]

[ Her eyes flicker to Edward. ]

I haven't decided.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is very much a soft touch with his pitch. ]

Hm. That's probably wise. You can always change your mind later. I will say that my company is hiring and attempts to provide an alternative to registration, and we are specifically looking for a mechanic capable of repairing the artificial intelligence we have on staff, so keep us in mind.