spellbinders | [WORLD TWO | THE OTHER HALF]

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[WORLD TWO | THE OTHER HALF]

Who: Others not on the list of the Chosen 12
Where: Around Shehui
When:
Open/Closed: Open to All, though top levels shouldn't be made by Chosen 12 members -- however, direct telepathy links can be sent to Chosen 12 members, and Chosen 12 members can respond to open telepathy prompts. This post is meant more for those who aren't part of the Chosen 12 so they can react with others or plot their next move.

[ While your name isn't on the list that has been circulating, it doesn't mean that you're unaffected by this issue. Did someone you know -- someone you have a fondness for, perhaps? -- wind up on that list? And did they manage to evade the monitors or have they been captured?

You may have the resources to do something about it, or you may want to stay out of harm's way. Either way, changes are on the horizon -- and that horizon is now looming closer than ever before. ]

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That still sounds negotiable.

[ he'll behave. probably. ]

Anyone in the cells that are capable?

{ aka: more people like you, less people like the crying child that is ruby. ]

General.

[ don't make her say it again.

there is an...extended pause. very extended. ]

I don't have information on the others. I can't be sure.

I heard you.

[ which is the closest he will get to promising he won't do anything stupid, because breaking into a jail is the definition of stupid, but he's hardly allowing her to sit in there without doing anything about it. and roy has long since learned that lying to riza hawkeye is a pointless endeavor.

. . . and that's a hard no from riza on whether anyone else is capable, which is great. ]

You already know what to do. [ say nothing. watch for people who cannot watch for themselves. play stupid if necessary. don't make yourself a target. don't act like you know what you're doing. play by their rules until an opportunity affords itself to strike. ] If anything changes, let me know. Big or small. Any detail provided would be useful to know where we're going. Stay safe over anything else.

[ do not play hero, says the person who always plays hero. hypocrite. ]

[ if expressions could be communicated through telepathic communication, roy would be getting a lot of :| ]

I do. [ and she hates it. hates that she's here again. hates that it's her, and a bunch of children. hates that she has no idea what they're up against and how to even react to it. but whether or not she likes it doesn't change the fact she's here.

riza sighs, even if roy can't hear it. back into the same place once again. ] I'm checking in with everyone now. Should have a better idea. No one seems harmed, or informed in the least. They're keeping us for something else.

[ he doesn't have to tell her not to play hero. she will do what needs to be done and nothing more. but him, that's who she's worried about. ] Everyone is safe for now.

[ indeed. but of the two of them, it's likely best riza was the one taken, and not roy. riza, under pressure and being told what to do, plays it smart, and can quietly navigate being watched without much showmanship. roy, on the other hand, threatens to shoot the fuhrer in front of the entire high council of the military, and only manages to escape with his life because he's "special."

it's not a good situation, by far. but if anyone is good at circumnavigating a government who wants answers, and a government who is capable of getting blood out of a stone, it would be roy mustang and riza hawkeye. ]

At least this time it's not my fault. [ some morbid humor, because the last few times this happened to her, it was definitely his fault. ] But it would be my luck that I would mind my own business and still wind up pissing off the unseeing eye of the government.

[ this is so fucking stupid. ]

I imagine they want information, of some kind, as to why we're here. The only problem with that is that none of us have any idea what this Qri wants or why we have the abilities that we do. Even if they interrogated the people who don't know how to withstand an interrogation, they won't get anything of value, unless they're seeking something else. But I can't think of anything we know that they don't. They hold the damn cards.

[ which is frustrating, because roy is typically the one who is six steps ahead, and now he is not. ]

We need to figure out what the common thread between all of you is and why they selected you, instead of the ones on the outside. There has to be something we don't know, that they know, that we can use to our advantage. Governments only take people when there's something to be lost if we're allowed to wander around. What is it?

[ it is definitely best, as far as riza is concerned. she can keep a cool head in these situations, and can maneuver under a watchful eye. roy, on the other hand, gets restless and angry and feels that shows of confidence get him further in the end. sometimes, he is right. others, he nearly gets beheaded by men like scar.

for now, riza hates it, but she'll handle it. she'll do what she can and she'll figure out what information there is from the inside. there might not be homunculi breathing down her neck, but the pressure is still there. ]

That we know of. [ morbid humor for morbid humor. ] Especially considering the list of captives. You know most of them, don't you? [ aka she recognizes a lot of the names from him, which is the first connection she'd drawn. ] Ruby, Haru, Geir, Madoka, Jade, Julius, Jusis, Shirley, Orga, Noctis, and Akechi are the names I saw. I don't know yet if they've all been brought in.

[ they are never going to escape this bullshit government issues, are they. ]

If they're after information, they haven't mentioned it yet. There has been no talk of interrogations, conversation, or why we've been chosen to be brought in. I'm checking in with everyone to see if I can find a connection, but so far nothing.

[ but then there's...that. that thing picking away at the back of her head. the thought she's had since she made the connection, and further after she's started talking to everyone here. ]

Unless they're wanting to push others into action. [ roy mustang. ] Possibly others who they haven't brought in. [ roy mustang ]

[ the thought had occurred to him, too, but he had dismissed it, simply because roy is no one here. he's just another prisoner brought here against his will. he's no more special or unique than anyone else. but the lingering thought is still there . . . quite a few of the people taken were the same ones who contacted him about organizing. ]

This isn't Amestris. [ that is the first thing he says, but from his tone, it is obvious that he quietly is weighing what riza said to him inside his mind. ] I'm not special, wanted, or unique here.

[ he, arguably, isn't special, wanted, or unique in amestris, either, but we all know that would be a lie. ]

The only thing I've done is ask people a question.

[ which, as they both know, could result in much worse things than arrest, depending on the question. ]

[ there's a pause. ]

But, if they would like an introduction, they can have one. I'm not staying behind.

[ he isn't so arrogant to believe it's him, but roy certainly isn't going to sit around and wait to be told what's going on, particularly when the people taken are the same people who offered to help. ]

[ no, it's not. and riza realizes, now, that she might have been taking that for granted. let her guard down for too long. it's no amestris, so roy has no official target painted across his back, but they are still at the beck and call of whatever magical being has brought them here. manipulated into helping them by being brought around to different cities, different places, and now being brought in for...something, but whatever authority at be there is.

it's no amestris, but there is still something going on. ]

The only people brought in today are those of us who are here because of Qri. Unless this questioning will be done by this Qri, we were most likely targeted because of that.

[ aka, guess what roy, you're still special, wanted, and unique. ]

Sir, I don't think that's necessary yet. [ and okay, so this is riza butting in, maybe, but over the years she has kind of earned that right. ] We don't know why we're here or why we were taken. If given enough time, I can probably figure out what it is they know and what they don't know, and why they've decided to act now. I just need more time.

[ would she rather all of these kids were out? yes. but she's keeping an eye on everyone (trying to) to make sure no one will get hurt. ]

[ if it were any other individual, roy would ignore their warning. but riza is the one who curbs his impulsivity, who reminds him that immediately jumping down the well is not the right thing to do. and it's because it's her, roy gives it a long, quiet, thoughtful pause.

but, unfortunately for riza: ]

I'm not in charge, here. I don't have the room to tell people to wait, or not wait, and I would rather go, with them, than wait, and not.

[ there's a pause. ]

You don't have time, not when we don't know what could be done. There are too many unknown variables to act, and there are too many known variables to not. The people you're trapped with aren't soldiers.

[ it was worth a shot, and beyond that, roy has spoken. she will follow orders, always, and even if that's not a direct order, he's made his opinion clear. ]

Of course. It makes sense.

[ there's the slightest feeling she spoke out of turn, the slightest bit like she was about to act too quickly without taking things into account, and in feeling that there is the slightest amount of guilt. but it's swallowed back, pushed aside. an silent yes sir. ]

There are only unknowns at this point. They haven't brought anyone into questioning, or asked anything of us yet. When I hear more, though, I'll keep you updated.

[ he can hear the tone, that riza feels she perhaps pushed too hard. and roy weighs inside his head for a moment to reassure her that it was fine, but it would be a bit of a wasted breath. instead, he's quiet, considering what she said. ]

I'm thinking clearly.

[ that's his first reassurance. ]

If I were the person in charge, and I had a group of hostiles underneath my thumb, and I needed information, I would let them sit in the unknown. I would keep them in a place where they could have little to no contact, as much as I could manage. And if I knew I took people that had families, or people that would miss them, I would act quickly, quietly, and avoid all conflict.

[ but that's the problem, isn't it. ]

They can't understand us, when we speak this way. But they've clearly gone to certain extent to make communication difficult. That is no mistake. They don't want you to be found. Which means they have no real intention of letting you go. And that audacity, and brazenness, toward a group of people they know have unique abilities, means we cannot wait.

[ he is fine, riza. (sort of.) ]

I know you are.

[ even through the crackling, the moments of static and the questionable connection, she can hear it in his voice. he's serious, he's motivated, but he's not out of it. he's not upset- not in the way where she'd need to worry. ]

Are you talking about the monitors? Or Qri?

[ because that's where her concern stands. does this all powerful being have control over all of these places, or are they tossed under the proverbial bus every time they appear somewhere new.

but the general is right - the others who she is here with are not soldiers. if something were to happen, she wouldn't want to leave fighting to children. she can't risk them, just because she doesn't know what's going on. ]

I'll keep everyone together until you make it inside.

[ aka, she's following your orders here, roy. he might not be the one overall in charge, but as far as she's concerned, he's the only one she'll take orders from. here, or anywhere else. ]

The monitors, Qri. For all I know, they might be the same thing. I may be talking about both.

[ to hell with them all, quite honestly. ]

I've told the people I can get in contact with to reach out to you. Keep yourself safe. I'll be in touch. Report every hour.

[ he has to know she's safe, and all that. ]

They could be the same, or they could be different.

[ she's more worried if they're different. if they're going to have to deal with two separate entities vying for power. or if qri is so threatened by them to kidnap members of its own coven. ]

Yes sir.

Unknown variables are irrelevant, at this point. We won't discover the answers until we go inside and see who shoots.

[ which is unfortunate, at best, and dangerous, at worst. roy dislikes making a blind move in chess, but sometimes, you have to leap into the darkness in order to figure out what awaits in the depths. and if it were him, that would be fine, but it isn't just him.

the players are already in motion, anyway. debate is pointless. ]

If it is the monitors, then I suppose we'll see if this Qri comes to our aide. If it's Qri, then we know how benevolent our abductor truly is. And if they're the same, then we know the true face of the enemy. Either way, we obtain a piece of information we didn't have before. It just won't be as subtle as we'd like it to be.

Who is on your team?

[ because he says shoots and she thinks of the children, of people like ruby and her sister, like all of the kids they've run into since coming here.

it curls her stomach. ]

It won't be subtle at all, but sometimes we're not lucky enough to have the choice. [ even if she wishes they did. god, she wishes they did. but roy is right - they don't have a choice. ]

The people on my team aren't my team.

[ which is a delicate way of saying this would be handled, cleanly and efficiently, if he had hawkeye, havoc, breda, falman, and fuery. the six of them are beyond capable. instead, roy has to enlist as he goes, and pray for the best. ]

A group of individuals have volunteered on respective teams. I would trust half of them with combat experience based on my knowledge of them. I volunteered for the infiltration team.

[ because he's not sitting outside while she is inside. :') ]

I've put in my opinion on what I should do and where I would be most effective, and guided others to do the same. Other than that, there's not much else to be done, aside from ensure the people who won't be killed are put on teams to balance out the deficiencies.

[ there's...a moment of understanding that comes with that. of knowing how different this would all be under different circumstances. but they're also soldiers, and they have to adapt.

but that's not what she was asking. though even in asking, she realizes they don't really have the luxury. ]

And the plan? You have an infiltration team, what else?

[ but then there's that, that little piece he says that throws her off guard. people who won't be killed. she hadn't even thought of that until now, wrapped her head around the idea that the abilities they've acquired, here, could do as much. even if that isn't necessarily the case, it's a chilling thought. ]

An attack and a decoy squad, neither of which I volunteered for.

[ it's said a bit dryly, and with a minor amount of irritation. he didn't volunteer for lack of want, because being in the thick of it is what he is good at. if roy had the ability to utilize his alchemy, this would (arguably) be over. he can raze armies with what he can do, or if he wanted to prove a point, he could use the truth to rip open a hole in the wall and slam people into the air with pillars of stone.

roy, while here, cannot do any of these things. so he must do what he can, which is this. plan, strategize, talk his way in and out of things, cooperate, delegate. put forward what he can, while he can. ]

Two teams distract the attention of those outside, to divvy up their forces. The third breaks in to get people out. All people who volunteered seem capable.

[ at first, she's almost curious as to why he didn't volunteer for them. but in that dry irritation, riza can tell that there's more at play. more information he's taking in. so she doesn't push it, and brings her attention back to the task at hand. ]

How large are the parties? When we were brought down, the monitors' numbers were numerous- I saw over two dozen of them, just being walked down here.

[ information. that's what she's needed for, here. to give as much insider information as she can. ]

[ it's probably best she doesn't ask. roy would just be salty. ]

Total numbers haven't been included yet, but I know the main parties strategizing the teams are myself, Jay, 9S, and Dirk Strider. A lot of people volunteered for infiltration, likely out of a want to get inside the prison to rescue their loved ones. I would strike at least three off the list.

[ and will, if he gets his way with it, but. you know. here they are. ]

The outside forces, including attack, decoy, and various healing and medical teams, are at least fifteen to twenty people. Infiltration, another ten or so, likely to be split into separate parties.

I don't know Jay or Dirk Strider.

[ which isn't a comment to their strengths. she just honestly doesn't know them. ]

You'll likely be facing a higher number of opposing forces. Just be prepared for them.

My speciality.

[ in a relatively light-hearted tone, in an effort to put her at ease. ]

I have my honest doubts that either of them are older than eighteen, but that seems to be the state of the city. We'll work with what we have.

Sir.

[ please don't be reckless, please!!!!!!

but of course there's that, and riza simply sighs. ]

It shouldn't be surprising, with what we know. But...

[ she definitely wishes there were more adult coven members. she really really does. ]

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[WORLD TWO | THE OTHER HALF]

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