infomodder | IC contact [Mask or Menace]

Oh?

[A little disappointed, but, business is business.]

All right. I understand!

I hope we can meet up soon.

[Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh disappointment. He's so so used to that tone of voice, but...generally from people back in his world. Not dealing with it here has been refreshing, so:]

I'm switching careers, there's—a lot of studying and testing to get back in my old line of work, and I won't control my hours like I did with the shop. [In fact, it sounds like someone had been doing a bit of studying, the conversation picking up as if Will just finally got his mind out of a book.] I wish I could, I do, but the quicker I get this done, the better. You know?

A lot of studying? I suppose I should let you get back to it, then.

[...curious.]

What are you - what is your old line of work?

[If not working with dogs, Winry might be disappointed.]

[She's not the only one disappointed.]

I used to work with the FBI. [And he realizes not everyone knows what that is, even here, the second the first letter comes out of his mouth, so he quickly follows the last with:] Law enforcement?

Oh! I see.

Did you work in Intelligence? I had a friend who did.

[There might be a wistful tone in her voice. She misses Mr. Hughes.]

[If only.]

Homicide. [That's one hell of a simplification.] Tracking down serial killers and teaching others how to do the same, specifically. Can't do it at the same level here, but I'll see how far I can get.

[...]

Have you heard of a man known as Solf Kimblee? He's an ImPort. He's very dangerous.

[Oh no.]

Not that I can recall. [Said slowly, mentally running through names he's put on watch in his mind.] Has he done something to you?

I guess you didn't see Ed's post about him. [More to herself than to Will.]

He's from my world, another alchemist. He specializes in explosions - those 'bombs' that went off recently? He made them.

He can create explosions with his hands. Back home, he nearly killed my...boyfriend. [That's still really new to her, the boyfriend part.] They've been in a fight here, too, but Mr. Kimblee didn't hurt him too badly.

[...]

Someone did, though. He - Mr. Kimblee - was in another fight, pretty beaten up. Broken ribs, his face all bloodied.

[Please don't ask her how she knows, Will.]

[Can he weed out who may or may not have murdered Freddie, study for his tests, take his tests, and look at the past three or so months of the Network all over again at the same time? Goddamn right he can.]

And the law here hasn't done anything about him?

The police force here - I'd be afraid to send them after Mr. Kimblee. He'd kill them without getting close. Unless they had a sniper...

[She shudders, because killing Mr. Kimblee is awful, too. She doesn't want anyone to die.]

If you talk to Mr. Mustang, he's with the police, I think? Roy Mustang. And Riza Hawkeye. They both served with Mr. Kimblee in the war. Or you could talk to Ed, if you want; he's fought Mr. Kimblee a few times.

[There's a significant pause on Will's end, not quite certain where this is headed, and not quite certain of how to phrase anything that won't sound either insulting or extremely callous. He has to taste the words before he just spits them out. Better to go silent for a few moments than come across as arrogant or unfeeling or rude.]

Is this just a warning, then? From you to me.

This is a warning, Will. Mr. Kimblee likes using people as bait. I've been his hostage in the past, when the military wanted Ed to fall in line with their plans. When he couldn't make either of us...cooperate [Here, Winry smiles, but it's not a pleasant one] he tried to kill Ed.

If you do go against him, don't go alone.

I don't have any reason to go against him. [That, at least, he sounds absolutely certain of. He is stating an absolute. It would be nice if it could stay that way.] Thank you for telling me. This is good information to have.

[And, fortunately, he can't return the favor. Not exactly.]

You're welcome.

...oh, one more thing - he's...honorable, in his own way. And he can be charming. I think...he sees all of this as a game. Other people's lives don't really matter to him, except in how they can be used.

And he's very powerful, with his alchemy.

He...likes teasing me. I think he'll be hunting Ed, because Ed made that post. I don't want him hunting other people.

[Winry sighs. There's probably more she could tell Will about Mr. Kimblee, but surely that's enough to start off with? And Mr. Mustang and Riza - and Ed - knew more about him than she did.]

[Welp. That sure sounds familiar. It also sounds like the person Will is going to avoid at all costs, because fuck that noise and fuck going through it again. Unless something comes up to prove Freddie had a run in with alchemy, this isn't currently his business.]

I know just the type. [Unfortunately for the world (worlds) at large, that sort isn't very uncommon. People.] I'll keep an eye out, and let you know when things settle so we can see about this dog. Sound good?

That's great, Will. - Not that you know the type of person Mr. Kimblee is.

[She hastens to say. Because that's not a good thing, is it?]

Yes, that would be...good. I'll bring Miss Riza around to meet you when we can all get together. She may have her dog by then!

[It would be just fine, even if she didn't add that. He's not the one who gets extremely awful over misconstrued, minor rudeness.]

Hope she finds a good one. [It's a joke because there is no such thing as a bad dog. Just bad people or people who don't know what they're doing.] Talk to you later, Winry.

Bye, Will. Good luck with your new job!

[Connection ends]

IC contact [Mask or Menace]

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