(whee! I went out drinking and now I'm gonna write fic!)
Ed was not in the habit to lending himself out, even as a contract worker, but the call had been irresitable, just about as irresistable as the man making the call.
"But you're the best I know," the bastard had purred over the phone, "and it is for the Emperor, you do want to insure he has the very best security."
"Security," Ed had questioned, "but why me? I'm not packing clapping fire-power anymore, or have you forgotten that little detail?"
"Edward, I trust your judgement and your resourcefulness. I'll give you a whole squadron to boss around and I promise not to go behind you and change any of your orders," the bastard said, sweetening the pot.
"It's tempting," Ed muttered, leaning back against the work bench in the barn he'd help construct behind the Rockbell household. It held his lab and a great deal of the machinery he and Al were forever tinkering with now.
"And I'll pay you very well and buy your train ticket to Central," the furher-in-waiting said. After all, how could he say no to the future leader of his country? Well he could say no, but what was the point?
"Fine, deal," Ed said. "It will be good to see you guys, plus see Ling, I guess. I wonder if the Emperor thing has rubbed off on him?"
"Well, I guess you get to see for yourself," the general told him before bidding him goodbye and hanging up the phone.
**
"What are you doing?"
"Giving you a pat down, you're here to meet the Imperial Train, right? Everyone on the platform is getting a pat down."
"But you know me, you know me very well, you've known me most of your life."
"Am I the head of security or the head of security? You arranged this yourself."
"I think it's cute using your position to feel me up."
"Don't think I didn't hear that coming. You're starting to slip in your old age, you know what they say, all work and no play make the General a dull boy."
The general's response got lost in a long loud blast of train whistle and all the uniformed men on the platform hustled into positon and stood at attention. The royal engine, painted in traditional xingese colors came gliding into the station, the breaks squealing loudly as it came to a puffing rest. For a moment, there was no movement and only the sound of various bursts of steam from the idling engine, then those too, faded away.
The main door of the first eleaborate car opened and out spilled many men, all dressed in similar fashion. They swarmed over the platform, taking position almost side by side with the amestrian troops and two of them, dressed more elaborately than the others, came to where Ed and the general were standing and bowed low.
Roy gave a slight bow and Ed nodded his head, not sure if he should bow, then thinking that maybe he should bow, but before he got the chance the men and Roy had straightened back up.
"General Mustang," one of them said in heavily accented amerstrian, "we are honored at your personal attendance. His majesty, son of the august moon, emperor of Xing, extends his personal appreciation as well."
"We are just as honored for this visit," Roy returned smoothly. "Please convey to the emperor that all the arrangements have been made to see to his comfort and personal safetly."
no subject
Ed was not in the habit to lending himself out, even as a contract worker, but the call had been irresitable, just about as irresistable as the man making the call.
"But you're the best I know," the bastard had purred over the phone, "and it is for the Emperor, you do want to insure he has the very best security."
"Security," Ed had questioned, "but why me? I'm not packing clapping fire-power anymore, or have you forgotten that little detail?"
"Edward, I trust your judgement and your resourcefulness. I'll give you a whole squadron to boss around and I promise not to go behind you and change any of your orders," the bastard said, sweetening the pot.
"It's tempting," Ed muttered, leaning back against the work bench in the barn he'd help construct behind the Rockbell household. It held his lab and a great deal of the machinery he and Al were forever tinkering with now.
"And I'll pay you very well and buy your train ticket to Central," the furher-in-waiting said. After all, how could he say no to the future leader of his country? Well he could say no, but what was the point?
"Fine, deal," Ed said. "It will be good to see you guys, plus see Ling, I guess. I wonder if the Emperor thing has rubbed off on him?"
"Well, I guess you get to see for yourself," the general told him before bidding him goodbye and hanging up the phone.
**
"What are you doing?"
"Giving you a pat down, you're here to meet the Imperial Train, right? Everyone on the platform is getting a pat down."
"But you know me, you know me very well, you've known me most of your life."
"Am I the head of security or the head of security? You arranged this yourself."
"I think it's cute using your position to feel me up."
"Don't think I didn't hear that coming. You're starting to slip in your old age, you know what they say, all work and no play make the General a dull boy."
The general's response got lost in a long loud blast of train whistle and all the uniformed men on the platform hustled into positon and stood at attention. The royal engine, painted in traditional xingese colors came gliding into the station, the breaks squealing loudly as it came to a puffing rest. For a moment, there was no movement and only the sound of various bursts of steam from the idling engine, then those too, faded away.
The main door of the first eleaborate car opened and out spilled many men, all dressed in similar fashion. They swarmed over the platform, taking position almost side by side with the amestrian troops and two of them, dressed more elaborately than the others, came to where Ed and the general were standing and bowed low.
Roy gave a slight bow and Ed nodded his head, not sure if he should bow, then thinking that maybe he should bow, but before he got the chance the men and Roy had straightened back up.
"General Mustang," one of them said in heavily accented amerstrian, "we are honored at your personal attendance. His majesty, son of the august moon, emperor of Xing, extends his personal appreciation as well."
"We are just as honored for this visit," Roy returned smoothly. "Please convey to the emperor that all the arrangements have been made to see to his comfort and personal safetly."