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Entry tags:
Drabble Post - Bluff
Another entry for my "Ground Rules" series of FMA shorts. This one began as a 200 word short (or "double drabble" I've heard them called), but I've tentatively expanded it to 500 words. There's a marker to show the additional material. Material I may or may not keep.
Bluff
2nd Lieutenant Heymans Breda watched the newly christened Fullmetal Alchemist as he shifted through his paperwork. They were alone in the office, and the young alchemist had commandeered an empty desk for himself and his books.
Elric was the new kid in the office. Literally. And, that position came with certain “duties”. It was tradition.
And, none of the Colonel’s “ground rules” forbade it. In fact, he half-suspected the limited scope of the rules had been tacit permission to test the kid.
He had seen the pile of assignments Mustang was collecting on the corner of his desk. They were all simple missions, but they would take the boy across the length and breadth of Amestris.
It would be good to know beforehand if Elric was street smart as well as book smart.
So, Breda sauntered over to the new kid with a stack of official-looking forms. Official-looking, but functionally useless. Except for their entertainment value. Fuery had dutifully filled them out along with his real work for a month before someone slipped up and Hawkeye put an end to the game.
“Hey, boss,” he greeted. “We’re a little short-handed, so you get to help me with these.”
Elric eyed the forms blandly. “Sorry. I’m doing research,” he said at last and turned back to his books. After a moment’s silence, he added, “Section 8, Article 12 – ‘A State Alchemist’s research takes precedence unless otherwise ordered by a superior officer.’ That’s a paraphrase.” He flipped a new book open. “Nice try though.”
Addition:
Bemused, Breda studied the kid a moment more. Well, well. Elric had called his bluff and not even quite pulled rank on him.
‘Smooth, kid.’
His eyes shifted to the book Elric had just opened, one of three he seemed to be studying. Breda felt his jaw drop as he recognized the tattered volume.
Everyone in the office knew that book. It was a well worn, hand-written account of every prank Eastern Headquarters had weathered in the last ten years. Its authors were innumerable and unknown. Just like its origins. Though there was a persistent rumor involving General Grumman himself, and it would be just like the old man…
Wherever it had come from, it was now inexplicably in the hands of the very person it should have been most recently used against.
Sensing Breda’s stare, Elric turned back toward him. As he did so, he picked the book up by a corner and dangled it in front of the surprised lieutenant.
“This is part of my research.” He grinned and propped his head against his left hand. “I won it off Havoc. He made a little bet with me before my hand to hand assessment.” Elric looked smug. “And, this was the only thing he had on him that was any use to me.”
The grin had widened to demonic proportions.
“Fascinating read.”
Breda laughed. He couldn’t help it. Slapping Elric on the back, he moved back to his desk.
The little brat would do just fine.
-------------------------
I'm noticing that my work is having a distinct lack of Al. This needs fixing. It's like... like... like if I wrote SK fanfiction with T-Bone and not Razor!
Bluff
2nd Lieutenant Heymans Breda watched the newly christened Fullmetal Alchemist as he shifted through his paperwork. They were alone in the office, and the young alchemist had commandeered an empty desk for himself and his books.
Elric was the new kid in the office. Literally. And, that position came with certain “duties”. It was tradition.
And, none of the Colonel’s “ground rules” forbade it. In fact, he half-suspected the limited scope of the rules had been tacit permission to test the kid.
He had seen the pile of assignments Mustang was collecting on the corner of his desk. They were all simple missions, but they would take the boy across the length and breadth of Amestris.
It would be good to know beforehand if Elric was street smart as well as book smart.
So, Breda sauntered over to the new kid with a stack of official-looking forms. Official-looking, but functionally useless. Except for their entertainment value. Fuery had dutifully filled them out along with his real work for a month before someone slipped up and Hawkeye put an end to the game.
“Hey, boss,” he greeted. “We’re a little short-handed, so you get to help me with these.”
Elric eyed the forms blandly. “Sorry. I’m doing research,” he said at last and turned back to his books. After a moment’s silence, he added, “Section 8, Article 12 – ‘A State Alchemist’s research takes precedence unless otherwise ordered by a superior officer.’ That’s a paraphrase.” He flipped a new book open. “Nice try though.”
Addition:
Bemused, Breda studied the kid a moment more. Well, well. Elric had called his bluff and not even quite pulled rank on him.
‘Smooth, kid.’
His eyes shifted to the book Elric had just opened, one of three he seemed to be studying. Breda felt his jaw drop as he recognized the tattered volume.
Everyone in the office knew that book. It was a well worn, hand-written account of every prank Eastern Headquarters had weathered in the last ten years. Its authors were innumerable and unknown. Just like its origins. Though there was a persistent rumor involving General Grumman himself, and it would be just like the old man…
Wherever it had come from, it was now inexplicably in the hands of the very person it should have been most recently used against.
Sensing Breda’s stare, Elric turned back toward him. As he did so, he picked the book up by a corner and dangled it in front of the surprised lieutenant.
“This is part of my research.” He grinned and propped his head against his left hand. “I won it off Havoc. He made a little bet with me before my hand to hand assessment.” Elric looked smug. “And, this was the only thing he had on him that was any use to me.”
The grin had widened to demonic proportions.
“Fascinating read.”
Breda laughed. He couldn’t help it. Slapping Elric on the back, he moved back to his desk.
The little brat would do just fine.
-------------------------
I'm noticing that my work is having a distinct lack of Al. This needs fixing. It's like... like... like if I wrote SK fanfiction with T-Bone and not Razor!