Ice Queen and Cold Void [Olivier]

[ashur grey]

Ashur had stopped in the small town for only about twenty minutes before he had set off for the cold trek to Fort Briggs. His primary reason for leaving so quickly was because the weather was clear, but was also in part due to the civilians in town who had been acting extremely annoying in Ashur's eyes with their constant rambling about never getting many people through their town and their questions about him.


He had stayed long enough to have something warm to drink, then he set out ignoring the offer to be given a ride close to the mountain where the fortress sat. He preferred the thought of walking to the place, he had gotten to the town early anyways and he thought some time to think would be nice.


While the day itself appeared to be decent what with the sun shining so bright, but the problem was the golden-white sphere's rays gave no warmth to the air or flesh. Still. . . Ashur was not worried about a little cold, he was a soldier and soldiers adapted or died. So Ashur found himself quite comfortable, the reason being that the alchemist was utilizing a small amount of sub-red to help keep his body heated. He wore only his standard black uniform and a light cloak atop of that, his cane like gun tucked under the right side of said cloak and of course the dark red spectacles that helped to see and utilize sub-red.


After some time Ashur found himself staring at the imposing Briggs wall. Even Ashur was just slightly amazed by the sheer mass and the beauty that came from it's practicality. After all as a soldier and an alchemist he could easily find beauty in something simply because it functioned. It always made Ashur think back to a soldier who had a pistol plated with silver and gold who had gotten himself killed when it jammed, with the soldier with him surviving with nothing, but an old revolver.


Sighing slightly Ashur stopped utilizing the sub-red luxin, the glow from his tattoos fading back to the dull black of old ink. Thankfully the warmth remained, the warm air he had pumped between his cloak remaining trapped by the cloth. Ashur stood there, debating what exactly he was supposed to do. Was he supposed to knock or just wait until one of the guards posted on the wall felt like letting him in?

[olive]

"If we move this section of troops down to the northern quadrant... over here..." Olivier tapped the spot on the map with the butt of her sword. "...we might just be able to have an advantage point over the enemy. If they advance, we can always call in the fifth row over-"

"Sir!"

The snap-to-attention voice of one of the soldiers under her command made Olivier turn in annoyance. Seldom did her tactical speeches get interrupted since most were too afraid to do so. "What is it!?" she asked. "This had better be good!"

Was it just her, or did the soldier seem to shake just slightly under the probing eyes of the eldest Armstrong? The man snapped his feet together and saluted, his eyes straight ahead as he replied.

"There's a man, sir. Uh... ma'am... Outside the gate."

"A man? What man? Don't be obscure, idiot!"

"H-he... he was was just standing there a minute ago. What are your orders, sir? ...Ma'am?"

[/b]

"Oh for frak's sake, just call me sir if it makes you happy," Olivier shot back in a chilly tone. It was no wonder she was called the Ice Queen of Briggs. This soldier must have been new to the fort since he was acting like this. "Now, about the man..."

Five minutes later Olivier began to strode down the hall with four soldiers behind her, carrying loaded weapons. The last time someone supposedly friendly had showed up at her 'door' was when the Elric brothers had come. Olivier knew exactly how to handle Alchemists, but unfortunately it wasn't all the same for every soldier in Briggs. If this guy had traveled out here, thinking he was just going to waltz into her headquarters without a command... well... he had another thing coming. Besides, Olive didn't even know if the man was an Alchemist or not. However, he had to be something special if he had survived the harsh reality of this place to get up here.

"Wait a minute... I know him from somewhere..." Did I see him at a planning meeting? Maybe his face was on one of the Alchemist files I was reviewing... hm...

"Sir?"

"None of your business!"

"Yes sir!" The sniper who stood beside of Olivier was a long time resident of Briggs. He was used to her icy exterior.

The Major General looked down on Ashur from the top of the wall, one hand on her sword hilt that was strapped to her belt and one hand on her hip. She didn't like this at all. One person in the middle of a frozen land without any warmth? This was suspicious and Olivier did not like suspicious things. This was her turf and she didn't want strangers to come in and sully it with their muddy boots. The soldiers here were under her command, but when someone new showed up you never had any idea where their loyalties lay. You didn't understand who they were really and what exactly their intentions were. Finally, Olivier walked downwards, heading out of the main entrance and into the frost bitten wind.

She unsheathed her sword and pointed it in his direction, one eyebrow lifted. The snipers and soldiers were ready to help her take him down if need be. "What do you want?" That's all she said. Not 'who are you' or 'where did you come from' or even 'what's your name?'. No, Armstrong's didn't beat around the bush. No one crossed the line and lived in this place. [/size][/justify][/blockquote]

[ashur grey]

Ashur had caught a glimpse of movement at the top of the wall, one of the figures pausing to look down at him before disappearing. It seemed that he would finally be allowed to enter, at least that was what Ashur thought before a woman stepped out and drew a sword to point at him. Her question of what did he want struck a chord in Ashur's mind.


In a broad sense he did not know what he wanted. At times he still considered just disappearing, from Amestris or possibly from existence. For now though he was here and all he wanted was to follow his orders which is what had him in this stark country. These thoughts blinked through his mind after just a second and immediately Ashur snapped to attention and gave a perfect salute, the tip of his right middle finger stretching over the temples of his spectacles to touch his right eyebrow. He continued to hold this salute as he spoke, his voice clear and emotionless.


"Ma'am, I am here to begin my new posting at Briggs. I was informed of the orders and requested to make my way here before the papers were finalized. I felt there was no point to loiter in Central."


It was mostly true, he really had seen no point in waiting around for the ink to dry on papers. Partially though it had been his desire to get out of Central, more specifically to get away from his family. He had left money at his sister's cafe', but had done so without even seeing her. . . After that he had hopped on the first train heading North.


Anytime there was no train heading north he had created a luxin pump cart to go along the tracks, he had made it to Briggs in record time by doing such. He was surprised that no one had at least called ahead with the orders. . . Then again officers almost always thought someone else would take care of things like that.


Perhaps I should have called ahead myself. . .

[olive]

"Hm. You should have called."

Darn right he should have called! What am I supposed to do now? Everyone will think the great Olivier Armstrong is a pushover if I let him in without his papers.

Yet... if I leave him out here, then he'll freeze to death and my hide could be in a barrel if the main headquarters finds out. Olive sucked in a breath sharply through her teeth and thumbed the hilt of her sword impatiently. What to do... what to do...

"Bring him inside. But... place him in the holding cells until I can get his papers. We don't want an Alchemist walking around loose in this place, got that solider?"

The soldier closest to her stood rigidly in attention and then pointed toward the Alchemist, fingers tightly together in an command position. "Bring him to the holding cells!"

Everyone was quick to obey, of course. They walked forward and surrounded him. Olivier watched with interest, however, she was still trying to remember those tactics that that had been interrupted for this issue. Stupid men trying to muddle her brain up with their insistant attitudes! How was she ever going to get anything done around here if people were that idiotic? Was Olive really going to have to crush these new batches of guys with the end of her sword, or were some of them really worthy of her time? Speaking of which... this Alchemist... she wondered exactly how much time he was worth. Those papers better get here fast before her frustration took over.

"Alright, follow me..." idiots. "When we get there, I want a word with this man. You are all to leave immediately after depositing him, understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Good."

The trip up - or should I say down - to the cells was quick. When they finally got there, Olivier waved her hand impatiently and the soldiers left, not even bothering to lock the door. Everyone knew Olivier's temper could flare at any time, especially if she thought they were trying to make sure she was 'safe' in here with an Alchemist. Who cared if the door of the cell was locked as long as the great Olivier Armstrong was around?

"Your name, what is it? Be quick, I don't have time for slouchers."

ooc; 'kay, this should not have taken me this long. >,< Sorry!

[ashur grey]

OOC: It's fine, I understand that stuff happens. Like my slow reply is due to low muse coupled with a slight surgery (Nothing serious). So sorry for my lateness as well. xD



IC: Ashur let himself be taken by the guards, ignoring the rifle that was kept pointed at him. Oh the guard was not shouldering it the entire time, but he noticed that the barrel stayed on his center of mass for the most part. It was a smart measure to take with an alchemist he supposed, even if the soldier could not shoulder it in the time it took Ashur to make luxin he could at least fire it from the hip.


Once in his little cell Ashur found another surprise, when he held out his hands for shackles he assumed were coming he simply got a stare from the guard before being told to just sit and wait. Another oddity to be sure, but one that the alchemist did not mind. . . then again it was not like shackles would prevent him from doing alchemy.


In short order he was face to face with his new commanding officer. A woman that many if not all men would call beautiful, but with a stance that seemed to whisper she could kill anything and everyone if she wished. Which of them would win was a fight he was not looking forward to seeing within this lifetime and then, she was speaking in rapid succession, her voice stern. Standing Ashur gave a quick salute, formal as ever and then answered her question with a sure and level voice.


"Colonel Ashur Grey, Formerly stationed at Central Ma'am."


Ashur made sure to continue to stand straight at attention, eyes staring forward as if he was having a staring contest with the wall across from him. Once again he followed general procedure to the letter, formal as always. Whether the general had heard of him or not was unknown to Ashur. He was known to many soldiers as the Furher's dog or a slew of other names making fun of his formal standing and allegiance to the now dead leader.