ᴏᴏ1 ( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) | ᴏʟᴅ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs.

[insubordination]

[ time spent in this . . . chaotic landscape of shifting dimensions and new worlds has been something of a hit the ground running experience for roy. he's located a select few people he's found somewhat competent, and he's also located (more importantly) the people from his world that he trusts. specifically, alphonse and riza. edward, it seems, has been taken back to amestris.

hopefully.

but to those who haven't met roy mustang, you are suddenly faced with an image of a relatively young man in his late-twenties/early-thirties, with messy-ish black hair and piercing eyes. he looks like someone who knows what he's doing, to a certain extent. certainly comfortable with the notion of a bunch of strangers listening to him speak, at any rate. and when he speaks, to those that are familiar -- he's definitely military. from his posture and his commanding tone.

that being said, he definitely looks somewhat less-than-put-together, for someone with military experience.

roy is a work in progress. ]

I hope you've all enjoyed the . . . festivities. [ roy, for one, has not enjoyed feeling like big brother has been watching his every move and being told to stay in a room due to some arbitrary lockdown, but he supposes the party has been nice. or something. whatever. ] But I'm afraid I'd like to address something slightly less charming and more pragmatic than celebration.

Since being in the -- employ of the deity who brought us along on this adventure, I've noticed that there seems to be a lack of structure among those of us who are here, for better or for worse, against our will. Many of us have abilities that have been stripped from us without our consent or knowledge [ and while roy has his tone level and calm, as if speaking about the weather, it's fairly obvious that this is a bitter sticking point, for him ] and while I'm certain many of us are capable of living life without said luxuries, I'm certain many others have difficulty. Regardless of what camp you're in, you're definitely not alone.

That being said, when I first arrived here, I came at a time of relative crisis. From what I've been told, there's not much of a structure for coping with said crisis, particularly with our current residents, and the population seems to be rather young. [ WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TEENAGERS ] I'd like to speak with those here, particularly those who have been a part of this journey for some time, on the formation of said structure. Particularly with those with experiences or talents that could lend to said cause of a response team of sorts, or even those who want to have a more forward-minded effort toward understanding our fellow man on this bizarre journey we've all found ourselves on.

[ here, roy pauses, and he gives a somewhat sheepish smile. ]

I don't really expect so much information for free, so, by example: my name is Roy Mustang, Brigadier General of the Amestrian Military. Central Branch. State Alchemist. Currently on assignment in the Ishval region, to headline the reconstruction effort. None of that will carry much weight with most of you, but to make an extraordinarily long story short, I recently took part in an attempt to save the world, with a surprising amount of success. I'm particularly good at organization and delegation, but fail spectacularly at micromanaging. I also enjoy a good game of chess, and entertaining company.

[ pause. ]

And for the naturally suspicious, I'm certain Alphonse Elric will speak highly of me.

[ go bother the teenager for references if you need them, thanks. ]

ooc: this is dated before the communication issues!! we're good. :)

Comments

[teratias]

Well, a fully participatory democracy - every man has a voice - might in fact buck every suggestion you just made if the vast majority are voting for something that doesn't sound like a road to buerucracy. You're also creating something that begs for committes and that means politics. With, as you so kindly said earlier, younger individuals.

[Teenagers and politics, Roy. It's a bad combination.]

So if you're that keen on getting organizations, I think you've got to be looser than what you're used to in that lengthy CV you just gave.

[Waver's also of the opinion that magic and politics are the worst combination, but that's a small angry child yelling for another day.]

Yeah, don't worry about the rehash. [Waver flaps a hand, dismissive.] Currently my research is about refining one's abilities in their lifetime rather than relying on genetics to improve magecraft in the next generation.

[Also, he summons dead Macedonian kings sometimes.]

[insubordination]

[ some of the most all-knowing individuals he knows are teenagers, man, this is the lot he's been given in life. ]

Amestrian politics aren't really the type of organization that needs to happen here.

[ with half a grin (self-serving at best and secretive at worst), though roy quickly continues: ]

Youth doesn't necessarily preclude life experience, but with some rare exceptions, I've found people above a certain age tend to know more than the younger ones. [ mildly enough; he knows how it feels to be assumed stupid because of his age, but roy also isn't asking a bunch of teenagers to sign up to defend a city because sometimes, kids should be kids, okay ] But fine, I'll eat my words, and admit that involving said youth in said politics in true democracy may be a poor decision. That's the entire point of the questioning, isn't it? Hashing out good ideas versus bad ideas.

[ all of that aside: ]

Is that so? [ pause. ] So you're a professor.

[ is roy being purposefully dense

yes

100% yes ]

[teratias]

[Being Roy Mustang is suffering.]

What you've offered just has a lot of holes to poke in it. [Waver shrugs.] Also you're missing out the element that the minute that someone suggests that there should be people of a certain age in charge, you're inviting knee jerk reactions of no! because people have been living with minimal authority and are overall comfortable feeling a certain level of independence.

[Waver will admit, emergency response services would be advisible. So he lets out a sigh.]

Pitching a squad for emergency responses would probably work, and carry no politics or stupid in-fighting. Going beyond that, and everything I've said holds true.

[Waver...cannot actually tell if Roy's fucking with him or not. He's right about Waver's future, admittedly.]

Like anyone pays me.

[insubordination]

If you're constantly looking for the perfect solution, you'll never solve anything.

[ gently enough, with a slight tugging of the corner of his mouth. ]

And I'm sure there will be plenty of people that disagree with me. [ there's a slight shrug of his shoulder, at the notion. ] That's fine, and to be expected, and welcomed. But it doesn't change the fact that being organized is always better than being in disarray. Getting everyone on relatively the same page, even if not all of us agree with what that page should look like, would be a good start.

[ there's a slight pause. ]

So, Professor. [ congratulations kid that's your name now ] What do you bring to the table, in this hypothetical emergency response team slash newfound democracy slash endless stream of political committees?

[teratias]

I said nothing about perfection. But it shouldn't be punctured so easily either.

[It's a downright novelty for anyone in a position of authority to actually value Waver's opinion, never mind ask after it. It was a hallmark of his time at the Clock Tower, and being verbally evisterated by a professor was just the high water mark of it all. Even Rider had treated him that way (it was getting better before Qri showed up).

So it takes him a few moments to stop being blind sided by that fact, before he realizes the actual answer to the question is nothing. He's got precious little to offer besides criticism.

And there is no way to spin that either. Waver grimaces, struggling to find something, anything that he put forward instead of 'nothing.']

Advisory in setting things up and then reviewing actions to define how stuff can be better responded to next time.

[Begrudgingly, he adds:] I'm pretty sure making smoke signals with the magic I got here is a minor applicable thing, and it doesn't work in all situations.

[insubordination]

[ the hesitation gives it away immediately, and the first 'skill' he provides almost earns a laugh. a professional criticizer -- funny, and sometimes, extraordinarily useful. but he says it without saying it at all -- i don't really have anything to offer.

roy lets that hang in the air, to the point where the silence is almost palpable, before he speaks. ]

You've told me that your research is focused on the enhancement of particular abilities throughout one's lifetime, rather than relying on a presumption of genetics to grant power. I'd assume this means not only are you able to compile research quickly, efficiently, and remain well-organized, but you must have a great deal of knowledge in the thing you're researching in order to come up with that idea. The art of practice, self-discipline, and teaching specific skills to be mastered through time, rather than sheer dumb luck. All of those skills are useful when you're considering organizing people.

[ roy pauses. ]

The smoke signals, too, are useful. Do you know Morse code, and if not, are you willing to learn?

[ BUCKLE UP KID YOU'RE ADOPTED ]

[teratias]

You should have specificied what kind of skills you were after then. I was only thinking immediately practical ones, like first aid. [Waver's...not used to this okay? There's a little touch of Rider in this, but that is an emotion to explore in another time and place entirely. Waver's just going to pretend like he isn't defending himself from someone trying to make Waver sound better than he is.]

Anyway. Even if that holds true, it doesn't make sense to throw that in until you have the more practical group assembled.

[There is a pause at the words Morse code, and the expression on Waver's face is less unfamiliar and more wondering really, that's made it across worlds?]

That I can learn.

[HE DIDN'T WANT THIS HE JUST WANTED TO ANALYZE SOMETHING]

[insubordination]

[ organizing people is the most useful skill, in terms of assigning tasks and building a competent force of people. but roy has the suspicion that that lesson is lost on this child, for the time being, and so: ]

If you don't have practical first aid skills, you can learn, and organize the other people into effective teams based on their available skillset.

[ that being said!! ]

I'll write out the alphabet in Morse code. Memorize it in two days time, and I'll show you how to translate it into smoke signals.

[ NOW YOU HAVE HOMEWORK UR THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO CRITICIZE HIM NOW YOU REAP THE REWARDS ]

[teratias]

Hn. [He was going to leave that argument alone for now. It was as close to conceeding a point as Waver would ever get at this point and...

...wait a goddamn minute.]

Now wait just a second. Who's the professor here, exactly?

[HE DOESN'T LIKE THIS THIS GUY IS TOO SMOOTH FOR HIS OWN GOOD.]

[insubordination]

[ roy arches his eyebrows, before he points to himself. ]

Brigadier General.

[ and then he points at waver ]

Professor.

[ now that that confusion is out of the way: ]

You'll be fine, I have faith. You're full of ideas and determination to spout them, and I'm down one thorn in my side, we'll get along famously. Two days, to learn twenty-six letters, is that doable or do you need more time? I'll also need you to come up with short and to-the-point signals to teach to the rest of the individuals who volunteer for this task force, and be prepared to present it to the community at large in the next week or two.

[ :) :) :) :) :) ]

[teratias]

...Hey, this isn't an actual command outpost. If you want democracy, you don't get to pull rank.

[Waver just refuses to give anyone the last word. Either way, he grumbles at all of this. How?? How did this happen?! How did he fall for this cunning plan?!]

The first should be do-able barring disaster, but give me three weeks to ensure mastery and development based on them. Fair?

[WHY IS HE NEGOTIATING THIS?!]

[insubordination]

Three weeks. Perfect.

[ roy completely ignores the first point, because it's irrelevant, and he honestly doesn't give a damn if anyone calls him by his proper rank, here. he only pointed it out to ruffle feathers. ]

I'll expect an update in a week.

[ checkmate. ]

ps thanks for this post i made the error of rewatching all of fma

[teratias]

Week and a half, in case there's any stupidity afoot here.

[Sadly, Waver's too easily ruffled, and he ought to know that by now.

But nope. Arguing is way, way more important.]

GOOD EVERYONE SHOULD REWATCH FMA AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR that's how i got this asshole back tbh

[insubordination]

[ :) ]

Give me an update in a week, if you need the extra three days.

[ mildly enough, though roy doesn't sound too bothered by the timeline. ]

And I thank you for your volunteer.

IT FELT LIKE SEEING OLD FRIENDS AGAIN i'm so glad for roy being here now

[teratias]

--Fine, and you damn well know I didn't volunteer. You're just like...well. [Fuck, Iskandar isn't this bad.]

You're lucky I know how to deal with people who talk their way into stuff with force of personality.

SAME honestly i feel like i grew up with these characters like my family

[insubordination]

I'm fortunate I have someone with such expertise on board; you're doing wonderfully so far.

[ you will be an excellent stand-in until edward comes back, roy will absolutely treasure ur presence ]

PRETTY MUCH. FMA03 was my first big animu love

[teratias]

[At least he doesn't loose his shit over being called short.]

You're only proving my point.