Tea and Biscuits

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma and Robert made it to this cute building, Gene kind of leading the way clueless in the direction he was supposed to be going, looking back at the two every so often not so much to make sure they were there, but to make sure he was going the right way. He did several times walk the wrong way and get called back over by Velma with the question of 'where do you think YOUR going?' Gene of course still had Velma's bag, and he was known for taking off with Velma's things and stashing them. Although that was not his intent this time, he felt a little embarrassed every time.

Velma and Gene stood side by side looking at the place, Gene was unsure and looked to both Velma and Robert for reassurance. He was still standing proud, his eyes just gave him away. Velma smiled at him and patted him on the head before directing her attention back to Robert. Still dressed in just a shirt and shorts she felt a little out of place, but she did not show this. She just smiled pleasently and spoke, "We're here! Shall we?" she said in an upbeat tone of voice. Gene peeked out from the other side and looked up at Robert with a 'are you sure I'm allowed?' look on his face.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"Lady's first," Robert said opening the door to allow Velma and Gene in before him. When they had finally entered, he came in behind them and shouted toward the kitchen, "Rebbecca, you have customers waiting!"

As they waited for a response, Robert pulled out a chair at a nearby table for Velma, before sitting down himself, and picking up a menu. When they had been there for nearly half a minute, a women nearly as tall as Robert, with long blond hair tied back in a ponytail came out from the kitchen, wearing an orange sundress, and carrying an already made tray of tea biscuits, which she placed on the table.

"My name's Rebbecca," the women said looking to Velma with a smile, "I hope my brother hasn't been bothering you; he tends to be bit over bearing when he goes out to train...and judging by your state of dress, you're his latest victim. He's been going around sparring with all the soldiers idling about the training grounds lately, and now most of them avoid it."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

After Gene heard this he stood by Robert trying to be a gentlemen like his new friend Robert, Velma smiled at them. "Oh well thank you gentlemen" she said as she walked in, Gene looked up at Robert before following Velma. The place was quiet, and Gene was trying his best to behave himself, being careful not to make the owner kick him out. When Robert pulled out a chair for her she once again expressed her thanks, Gene put down the bag behind her chair and sat next to her looking around excitedly at the little shop that he was finally able to follow his beloved owner into.

Then Roberts sister came out and introduced herself and spoke to her briefly. "My name is Velma, nice to meet you! This handsome devil is Gene, my best friend and traveling companion." she introduced herself and her beautiful white German shepherd with a kind smile. "Oh no I went easy on him this time, so he just won by default" she said looking over at Robert in a teasing way. "I think I might be the one bothering him at this point. I like him so far!" she finished as she patted Gene on the head.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"It's not a bother," Robert said picking up one of the biscuits and taking a bite out of it, "I didn't have much to do today anyway."

Looking at the menu, Robert decided on what he wanted then turned to his sister saying, "Can I get a raspberry, green tea mix today Rebbecca? Three sugars as always."

When Rebbecca nodded in response to her brothers request, she turned to Velma and said politely, "And what can I get you and your little friend? There should be bones left over from the steaks I served yesterday, if that's alright for him."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Gene woofed in agreement, careful not to be to loud, and wagged his tail as she suggested the left over steak bones, those were his personal favorite, you could give this dog any kind of bone, but he went crazy over steak bone. Velma giggled at Gene, and nodded to Rebbecca "He'd like that very much, and...did you want tea too?" she asked Gene, and he woofed again. "I think me and Gene will have black tea with a little bit of cream." she told her and folding the menu. Gene seemed to be rather excited, he got to have his favorite treat and his favorite tea, he was definitely being spoiled now.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"A dog drinking tea?" Robert said with widened eyes as Rebbecca went to the kitchen to prepare their order, "That's something I've never seen before."

As they waited for Rebbecca to return, Robert munched on another biscuit, as he lapsed into thought, frowning slightly as he did so. He was unsure if he was ready to return to the Easter rebellion, because he had set out to try to get to a higher position so that he could try and start the peace efforts going, but there was clearly someone in the military who sought to prevent him from doing so.

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma cocked her head to the side questioningly, "Really? Its actually quite good for him, and he just loves it, he prefers other sort of beverages opposed to water, I guess he just got tired of it." she began as Gene laid his head in her lap, she placed her hand on his head gently, and continued. "I have to make a pot of coffee every morning because he needs his morning coffee as much as I do" she said with a laugh.

She noticed that Robert had a slight frown on his face, "are you ok?" she asked studying his face for any sort of clues.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

Robert blinked at Velma's question, having not been aware that he had zoned out. "Sorry about that," he said laughing and scratching the back of his head, "I was just thinking about something...I told you earlier that you'll be receiving an assignment soon, but I neglected to mention that its likely I will also be reassigned. The rebels in the East are causing a lot of trouble, and the Senate has voted to send as many State Alchemists to deal with the problem as possible, and that unfortunately includes me. It doesn't help that there are rumors of alchemists with strange abilities popping up all over Amestris. One ravaged West City almost single-handedly, using some kind of energy blast transmutation, while another one with metal weapons that seem to come from inside his body has appeared in the East, attacking both sides of the conflict. The one in the West insists that he is a Homunculus, and that there are 6 more of them running about. Its all some hoax that springs from a legend...something of the same nature happened with the old establishment, after the first Eastern Rebellion 100 years ago. The idea that humans could be artificially created is just ridiculous."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma listened to him carefully, staring into her cup of tea, Gene perked up his ears and looked at Velma as if to ask 'what does that mean?' Velma looked up at him finally and smiled understandingly. "Does this mean we can't be friends?" she asked him after a short pause when he finished talking. Gene still looked rather confused.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"Why in the name of all that is sacred would you think that?" Robert said in genuine surprise, "I was just thinking out loud, and putting out the fact that we are both being sent into a war zone, where things are worse than ever, because there is an unknown faction meddling in the affairs of both sides...I'm only worried that this war might escalate...its already gone on far too long."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

"Oh I see, I thought...Never mind, its still bad news" she replied then looking down at Gene, Gene gave her a sort of 'I could handle myself' sort of look. Gene did go everywhere with her, He was a very good police dog when she had the position. A very talented canine indeed, his personality and quirks were rather strange, but that only reflected Velma. "Well, what are we here for?" she said jokingly trying to lighten the mood a little bit. "The only reason's why we are who we are is because someone apparently thinks we're bad ass enough to handle things like that right?" she laughed a bit nervously continuing an obviously unfunny joke that probably would get a bad reaction. Gene had already been looking at her funny for saying it.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"I believe the military has its uses," Robert said shaking his head, completely missing the joke, "but there should always be diplomatic efforts going on during war time, to minimize casualties...unfortunately the higher ups don't agree with me."

Just then, Rebbecca came back with their tea, and the bone for Gene. Placing the tray on the table, she grabbed one of the teacups and the bone, and placed them on the floor next to Gene, petting his head with a bright smile in her face. "Anything else I can get you two?" she asked as Robert took a sip from his tea, "The cook won't be in until later, but there are some cold cuts left for me to make sandwiches."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma looked down at her hands for a moment, thinking about everything he had just told her, and how they both might be going to be joining the war here fairly soon. This was the time that she prepared Gene for being out in the field once again. Although he had very good training from Velma, he needs to be warmed up. She remembered what happened last time, when she had to nearly jump in front of a bullet for him. That dog is a little bit heavy, and having to carry him from the battlefield to somewhere safe so she could heal him correctly. She looked down at Gene and messed up his fur on the top of his head before Rebbecca came back in.

"Oh no, I'm fine thank you!" she said politely to Rebbecca, Gene woofed in gratitude toward Rebbecca as he kissed her hand shortly before he turned to his tea and sniffed it before lapping at it carefully. Then plopping down and began gnawing upon his bone happily. Velma looked up at him with a worried look. "so it doesn't look good then huh?" was all she could say as she took a sip of tea.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"Saying that its bad would be a bit of an understatement in my opinion," Robert said taking a sip of his tea, "I was there a few years ago...some of the things my fellow soldiers did were downright inhuman, and they use the excuse that the people we're fighting are 'just' enemies we need to exterminate. I guess the thing about being a State Alchemist, is that you don't go through all the military brainwashing that comes with normal service...mind you, there are some among the State Alchemist program that are even worse than some of the normal soldiers."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

She looked rather disgusted by the idea of the military brainwashing, and just the whole idea in general, "So is that was war is supposed to be about to them? Tell me about the place we are going to," she asked him looking at him with her full attention. She seemed calm and cool headed, and further proved that by casually taking a sip of tea and checking on Gene. Who was happily gnawing on his bone taking a break every so often to lap at his tea, then continuing with a short wag of his tail. She's never gone to war before, and kind of expected that she would be sent into it, that's what she gets for becoming a state alchemist in time of war. Velma had to admit, she was rather worried, more worried about her new friend and Gene. But that only meant that she had to train her healing transmutation, hopefully her current ability was quite enough. She was able to heal deep wounds in all, maybe even remove a bullet, but that could be done physically. Velma was also worried about herself, if she died out there before seeing her brother again, he would never know. Which made her a little bit more determined to find the town she was born in. But how could she when she might be sent off soon. Maybe she could find maps that may be useful, it may not be on the map, but she knew what was close by that was on the map. She has yet to find any map of that area though.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

The Land to the East is primarily Amestrian territory, with the exception of two areas," Robert said closing his eyes, "the original land of Ishbal, and the city of Liore, which the new government gave to the Ishbalans as a peace offering, 100 years ago during the reformation, as an apology for the atrocities committed against their people."

Taking a sip from his tea before continuing, Robert stopped to think for a second, collecting his thoughts. "About 10 years ago, a group of Ishbalan conservatives, who were against the changes of law being instituted in Ishbalan culture, to better cooperate with our nation, set off a bomb in the center of Liore. A lot of innocent people on both sides died, since Liore had become the most multicultural part of Amestris in recent years. In any case, both the reform Ishbalans, and the Amestrian government were furious, and they kept trying to pin the blame on the other. In the mean time, the rebels who had set the bomb, started focusing on Amestrian cities, seeing our government as the source of the changes over the last century. As things got more and more out of control, the reformists, and our government tried to cooperate to catch the rebels, but by then, the common people of Ishbal had grown tired of our military presence in their lands, and 80% of the population had joined the conservative faction."

Finishing his tea with one last drink, Robert sighed before ending his monologue, "The war has been going on since then, and that was about 30 years ago, when I was still a baby. There are very few reformist Ishbalans left, but our government is making the same mistakes as last time, and treating them all without remorse. The land is already a desert out there, and Liore which was once a beautiful city, is now the center of the conflict, since its on the border of both lands."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma listened to everything Robert had to say, she was quite troubled by what she heard, but never the less, she kept her cool and calm demeanor and nodded to him, acknowledging him as he finished. Yet had no idea what to say, this was definitely a pressing issue that was coming upon them. She was quite unsure of her future, would she find her place of birth? Would she see her brother, the last person who was alive in her family, again? Gene looked to be done with his bone, and his tea, and sat back up to put his head in her lap. Looking up at her as if to ask 'what'd I miss?' She smiled kindly to Gene and looked up at Robert.

"Right, when are we going?" she asked at last as she took the last sip of her tea and looked Robert in the eyes the whole time. It was hard for her to come to terms with what she had gotten herself into, but there was no backing out now. Her and Gene would do their best in any situation thrown at them. If only Gene could lead her back home. She figured that because she forgot about her home, he did the same trying to keep up with her. Her life until now has been hard, and it looked as if it was just going to get harder. But what did she become a state alchemist for if she was just going to turn yellow at the sound of trouble. That was not her, and she will act more like herself. Not turn into her quite scared inner child.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"I'd give it a month as the longest," Robert said with a sigh, "but I think its more likely one or both of us will be sent out by the end of the week, what with the interventions by the mysterious new faction calling themselves Homunculi."

"You shouldn't be so serious all the time big brother," said Rebbecca who had been standing behind Velma the entire time, "you'll scare away my normal customers. I understand how you feel about the situation, but don't you think you should relax a little bit? Over thinking it won't make anything better after all."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma thought on what to ask for next, Gene perked up his ears and listened to Robert's sister talk to him. And only really heard the last part of what she had to say...'relax' and she nodded in agreement and gave him a smile. "Maybe you could show me where there are maps, I need to find something before we have to leave" she asks sweetly as if it lessened the chance of him questioning her, and increased the chance of him showing her.

Gene perked his ears up as soon as he heard what Velma had planned to do and looked up at Robert awaiting his answer. He knew this meant that she was getting back on track to finding her brother. Gene knew that meant that the family could be together again, at least for a little bit. That's all that mattered to Gene at the moment, also protecting and helping his master in anyway possible.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"A map?" Robert replied, "There should be on at headquarters..but those are being used by the intelligence department probably...well if you go to the Central Library, I'm sure they'll have an Atlas with detailed maps of the different areas as well as city maps, but what exactly are you looking for?"