Enter the Abyss [open]

[kane]

Kane put her hands in her pockets and stared at the ground. The bench she was sitting on was uncomfortable as ever, and it was still damp from the light rain that had come through hours before. She hadnt moved in that time. She didnt want to be seen going back to her...well, she wouldnt call it a home, but, shelter. The rain had chilled her to the bone, and she damned her stubbornness and suspicions of everybody for making her remain glued to the bench rather than seeking shelter out of the rain.

She hurt, now. Her ports ached from the cold and wet, and a residual, light throb from the changes in pressure. She sighed and tilted her head up as she leaned back against the stiff wood. Dusk was just beginning to fog up the daylight that was fading quickly. Sighing, she turned to look at the setting sun. It was like a fire that had the ability to devour all of Central, along with everybody in it. However, she couldnt help but think of the ancient warning when she looked at it. "Get too close to the sun, and you burn..."

The nearly enigmatic yet maddeningly obvious statement was well-known. Putting her hands on her knees, she pushed herself up, turning her back on the light. "You burn, huh?" she asked herself, vanishing into the shadows of a surprisingly well-lit alley. "I wouldnt call an experience like that burning." She moved her right arm slightly, rattling the rusty bolts and screws in it. "I'd rather call that and the after pure terror..."

She turned corners without thinking. She knew the path by heart and could walk it blindfolded. She'd seen to the route for years, and so far had lived in peace, away from society, as the surrounding buildings were vacant, with intent to be rennovated. As she turned a final corner, she stopped. An odd feeling prickled her spine. She sensed there was somebody else in the alley. Raising her eyes cautiously, she looked up. So far, there was nobody in sight...but...she had the most curious feeling. As though she was in fact, being watched.

If that were the case it would be easy enough for her to slip into the sides of the old, abandoned remains of Laboratory Five.

[anime1dragon8]

Sarah was walking past lab 5, enjoying the rain, when she saw the dark figure among the ruins and then disappear. She was naturally curious, but knew the ruins were off limits. 'Hell, that's never stopped me before, so why should it know?' She thought and, chuckling at the thought, slipped into the old Lab remains like dozens of times before.

Sarah had found the ruins last year, and had explored as much as she could, but all that, she had never seen the figure before. So, she want through the entrance she thought she saw the figure enter through calling, "Hello? Anyone there? I don't bite come on out" softly.

Honestly, she almost hoped she would find someone. Another friend would be nice, since she had few in, well anywhere really, and it would be nice to have someone else to talk to. But a good fight would be cool too, since she had been relatively nice lately. Either too much work to be done, or she was still laying low from her last failed prank. She laughed softly, remembering on just how badly that had gone and spacing out for a second.

[kane]

Kane froze as she heard a voice other than her own speaking. She had, in fact, been watched. How the hell had she not noticed it sooner? She could have found more decent cover rather than risking turning to face whomever the voice belonged to. However...she was already spotted. Sighing slightly, she looked down at the ground. If it was a fight that she wound up having to get herself out of, she would do just that. She had her alchemy and...though admittedly an 'obvious' untrained style of fighting, she could still hold her own in a physical fight for at least a while.


Swallowing, she clenched her fists in her pocket. The voice was feminine...that much was good. Most of the people after her were men. Well...they werent so much after her as they thought she was already dead. And they wouldnt attract her attention. They would just kill her flat-out. Clenching her jaw, she pulled her hands out of her pockets before turning slowly to face the owner of the voice.


Kane cocked her arms in a defensive posture, her fists curled tightly around the black leather of her gloves. She kept the transmutation circles hidden beneath her fingers. "...who the hell are you?" she called, her voice sharp and cold. If there was one thing she knew, it was to trust nobody. There was only one person alive that she knew she could trust in this world, everybody else had yet to prove her otherwise.

[anime1dragon8]

Sarah walked for a while, calling out to the figure and looking around. She was curious, she had never been this deep in lab 5 before and it was an intresting sight for her/. the design of the building almost seemed darker, and nearly untouched from the whatever must have happened for it to fall into ruin.

Sarah kept calling, hoping that someone would answer. After a while, it seemed like no one would, and then she heard it: "Who the hell are you?". Sarah tensed. So she had been right after all. She slowed a little as she saw the figure in the darkness, clearly in a fighting stance.

Sarah sighed a little, as this could get intresting. She walked a little further so the figure, whom Sarah could now classify as a teen a few years younger than herself, could at least see her. She than called out: "My name's a Sarah, I'm a state Alchemist. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

[kane]

As the unfamiliar person approached, Kane felt her body tense even more. Just being around another person in general in a place like this made her edgy enough. Having said person approach was something else entirely. Kane stepped back once more to put more distance between herself and the other girl...not that much older than her. Why had she approached? Kane thought the rather gruff questioning of her identity would have been enough to tell someone to keep back, but apparently that wasnt the case for this girl.

"My name's Sarah, I'm a State Alchemist. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

A State Alchemist, huh?


Well... Kane thought, curling her lip into what could be considered a cross between a snarl and a frown. A State Alchemist. Isn't that just perfect? she asked herself sardonically. Nope. Not really. It was anything but perfect.


Fuck.

The 'State Alchemist' set off a new alarm bell in Kane's mind. It wasnt an alarm of fear, no. It was more one of anger and distaste. Kane hated State Alchemists. They had been so warped by the corrupted government that ran Amestris that they appeared to have lost any sort of sense to think for themselves. All they were now were attack dogs that didnt act with a mind of their own. 'Be Thou For the People' was the creed of the Alchemists, and the State Alchemists of the present day did anything but stick to that. It was disgraceful.

Forcing back her negative feelings, Kane decided to answer in a maddeningly unhelpful but truthful manner. "I dont remember my name," Kane began. It was true, too. She couldnt remember what her real name was. "And I dont need a reason to be here. Im simply here because I am. Got a problem with that?"

Though it was ill-advised and frowned upon to be anywhere near the rubble that remained of Laboratory Five, it wasnt set-in-stone that it was illegal, was it?

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[anime1dragon8]

Sarah could tell that as soon as she said the words, "State Alchemist" the girl seemed to tense a little more, obviously not liking the path that Sarah had chosen. 'Damn, probably shouldn't have added that until later' she thought nervously.

She was so deep in thought that she almost didn't hear the other's response. 'I don't remember my name. I don't need a reason to be here. I'm simply here because I am. Got a problem with that?" Sarah smirked in the darkness. 'Another smart ass huh? well, this could get interesting seeing that i don't deal with many like myself these days.'

"I have no problem with that what so ever, I just was wondering who the hell had enough guts to explore Lab 5 besides me. Trust me, I'm not that kind of State Alchemist if that's what you're thinking." Sarah took another step, calmly, but then stopped hoping that she wouldn't scare the teen away, and trying not to let the other see the katana on her hip.

[kane]

"I have no problem with that what-so-ever, I just was wondering who the hell had enough guts to explore Lab Five besidees me. Trust me, I'm not that kind of State Alchemist if that's what youre thinking." Kane narrowed her eyes at the State Alchemist. What the hell did she think Kane was thinking? What grounds did she have to assume what Kane was thinking?! Clenching her teeth, she kept her lips curled in what was closer to a snarl. The State Alchemist continued to approach, taking one small step at a time. Kane took another step back, raising her guard.

"Stop coming closer!" Kane growled, keeping her defensive posture readied. "If you intend to continue, get rid of your little sword." Kane clenched her fists. She had managed to see enough of a silhouette of the woman to see what was abnormal from the basic anatomy of a person, she had at least one sword on her person. Swallowing, Kane bit her lip before continuing, a bit of a scornful smirk riddled through his words.

"And guts? Feh..." she said distastefully. "You've got to be kidding me. It doesnt take anything to walk around a pile of rubble with distasteful rumors and possible truths. If this takes guts than I'm a fucking bird or something..." Kane's voice was hard and cold as ice, only triggered by her hate for State Alchemists. Normally she would have just been wary, but simply being around someone that sold their soul to the military made her unsettled in the worst possible way.

[anime1dragon8]

"If you intend to get closer get rid of your little sword" Sarah raised an eyebrow. This girl had good eyes. Sarah could see incredibly well in the dark because of her father's experiment, but she had no idea that this ones eyes were on a similar level. Plus, she had been careful to keep her katana hidden, So she was defiantly impressed.

As for the next comment, the Alchemist's brow creased. 'This girl must not spend much time outside', she thought, 'because most people are terrified of this place, either that or what the military would do to them if someone caught them snooping. "Don't you think that's a little harsh?" the alchemist called, halting and untying her prized weapon from her belt and leaning it against the wall.

She then leaned against said wall and looked at the teen from the corner of her eyes. "There, I got rid of my katana, but it will only stay off if you show me that you're not going to attack me, deal?"

[kane]

Kane kept her jaw set in a mistrusting snarl as the young woman continued to speak "Dont you think that's a little harsh?" Kane felt herself instinctively prepare a retort, but almost let her jaw slack into an ungraceful drop as the State Alchemist actually sought to remove the weapon from her side. She placed the blade against the wall. Kane's mind had frozen in a state of minute stupor. What was this State Alchemist's deal? She would so readily disarm herself? There had to be some sort of a catch, right? What was --

"There, I got rid of my katana, but it will only stay off if you show me that youre not going to attack me, deal?"

Kane almost rolled her eyes, but managed to contain her expression. If the State Alchemist thought that deal would stay, she was crazy. Well...it actually would, so long as Kane didnt feel threatened in any way. "I cant make you any promises." Kane said, the set frown on her face audible in her voice. "So long as I dont think you're a threat to me you should be fine. If you prove I can trust you, then you're even better off." Kane paused before adding. "But I dont trust anybody in this country besides myself."

She held her defensive posture, but straightened a bit, balancing a bit better as she drew to her full height - albeit not much, barely passing the mark of five feet. She used what little light was provided from the lightpost a ways off behind her to try to further examine the woman who had approached. From what Kane could tell, there was nothing more out of the ordinary that was painfully obvious, like that of the katana on her hip. Unfortunately, due to the dim light, Kane couldnt tell any specific dimensions of the other stranger.

If we wind up fighting, I need to know what sort of advantage she would have over me... Kane thought, annoyed with the time of day and lack of light.

[anime1dragon8]

"So long as I don't think you're a threat to me you should be fine. If you prove I can trust you, then you're even better off. But I don't trust anybody in this country besides myself." Sarah sighed at this, thinking how untrusting the teen in front of her was. 'I wonder what happened to her to make her this cautious.

"Then I better not do anything to make you freak out, or my guess is that that will land me in deep shit, right?" Sarah smirked, trying to make the other smile. 'But still,' she thought, 'this one looks like the type that is used to defending her territory, so I'd better be careful.'

Sarah took a few more steps toward the girl and then leaned on the wall again, trying to progress slowly and not spook her into thinking the alchemist was going to attack. She then looked at the teen and tried to figure out something to say. "So, how long have you been here?" she paused for a second and then asked the other question she was dying to know. "Why don't you trust Amestrians?"

[kane]

Kane remained tensed as the figure before her sighed, loud enough for Kane to hear in the quiet of the night. Swallowing, Kane felt her body relax very slightly. A sigh was a good thing, normally. It meant that the other was relaxing as well, which meant their guard was dropping. That being the case, Kane let some of the tension in her back and neck release, visibly dropping her shoulders, the squeak of rusted metal from her automail quiet, but still audible this night.

"Then I better not do anything to make you freak out, or my guess is that will land me in deep shit, right?" The tone of her voice was riddled with a near-sarcastic note. Was she smirking? That was the only expression Kane could imagine having with a response like that. Kane's curled-lip snarl dropped to more of a flat expression. At least this State Alchemist is smart...

Before Kane could properly respond, the woman continued on, taking a few steps closer. Kane felt her body instinctively tense up again. However, this time she did not move. "So, how long have you been here? Why dont you trust Amestrians?"

Kane blinked, a bit affronted by the question. Coughing slightly to clear her voice, she spoke again. Luckily, by this point, her voice had lost the cold, mistrustful tone, but the sharp edge was still there, although her voice was somewhat softer. "As far as not making me freak out...damn straight." she said, giving a small smirk. "I'd recommend not getting into a tangle with me."

Sighing and setting her jaw somewhat, she responded, the hard edge a bit more prominent. "I'm only passing through the area. I've been in Central for as long as I can remember. And another thing..." she said, a bit more of a growl waving through her words. "Dont say "Amestrians" as though I'm not. I'm an Amestrian citizen myself. I just dont trust people. Its how I work. Nobody has proven they can be trusted, and Im not exactly willing to trust others."

Kane knew that in that statement she had suggested that she'd come across a good number of people that couldnt be trusted, but what didnt occur to her is that she'd left a potential window for the State Alchemist to see open - her exact nationality. Luckily it was dark, so her dark hair, pale skin, and somewhat slanted eyes - traits of her Xinganese blood, were left in shadows. Now all Kane had to do was wait for a response.

[anime1dragon8]

As far as not making me freak out...damn straight." I'd recommend not getting into a tangle with me." Hearing this Sarah chuckled a bit, seeing as how the tone in the girl's voice had seemed to settle a little, as well as to the response in generial. It was always fun to have someone resort to her in this manner, even though she didn't quite understand why.


"Dont say "Amestrians" as though I'm not. I'm an Amestrian citizen myself. I just dont trust people. Its how I work. Nobody has proven they can be trusted, and Im not exactly willing to trust others." Now this was intresting. The girl was an Amestrian herself, but didn't trust people in generial? Sounded like a bit of a kindered spirit to Sarah. So, the question was. what happened to the other and why did Sarah catch the squeaking of unkept atomail?

"So you just don't trust people in generial, huh? You almost sound like someone else I know." Sarah mused, hoping that by possibly sharing a little about hrself, the teen would open up as well.

[kane]

Taking a deep inhale before sighing slightly, Kane felt the muscles of her lower back and shoulders relax somewhat. The woman before her chuckled slightly after her first statement. What was there to chuckle about though? The fact that someone had been so defensive only moments ago, had lightened up enough to actually hold a more normal conversation rather than a completely defensive and passive-aggressive one? Whatever the reason, Kane didnt particularly care.

"So you just dont trust people in general, huh? You almost sound like someone else I know." Kane frowned in distaste. Who on earth would be like her in the sense that she didnt trust people? Not something I'd wish upon others...being a paranoid nut... she thought to herself. It was a poor state of mind to live in, and she hoped there was nobody else that lived as she did...both mentally and literally. "I'd hope I didnt." Kane growled in response. "People should trust other people, but I dont for my own reasons. Anybody else should seize the opportunity while it exists or they let themselves."

The response was curt, and short. She didnt expect much understanding from that.

[anime1dragon8]

"I'd hope I didn't.People should trust other people, but I don't for my own reasons. Anybody else should seize the opportunity while it exists or they let themselves." Sarah raised an eyebrow and sighed. this girl was strange, and obviously didn't get out much. 'and yet she doesn't trust State Alchemists, smart girl on some levels'. Sarah thought.

"Well, then you obviously don't know how cruel some can be to others when you're not suspecting it. Everyone has a story, and because of that story, some choose to lock others out. I just never thought I would meet someone like me here." The alchemist gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth, causing flesh to meet metal in a painful slapping sound. She hadn't meant to say that. 'so much for not trusting her.'

Sarah then waited in the darkness for and reaction. Was the other going to yell at her again, or attack? Was she going to run or was she going to start asking question about Sarah's past? This could get hairy.

[kane]

Initially, all Kane heard from the State Alchemist before her was a sigh in response to her words. Kane almost sighed herself. It wasnt as though she wouldnt have reacted the same way -with a mere sigh in response- to the words she spoke. She felt the muscles in her back relax very slightly as she continued to lower her guard slightly. The State Alchemist hadnt come any closer, nor had she made any sort of movements besides speaking. Kane was about to open her mouth to speak again when she was cut off by the young woman's response.

"Well, then you obviously dont know how cruel some can be to others when you're not suspecting it. Everybody has a story, and because of that story, some choose to lock others out. I --" That was enough for Kane to hear before a fire of rage - which she had worked for a couple of months to begin containing - burned within her. She tensed up momentously, not because she felt threatened or was about to attack, but what the State Alchemist had said pissed her off. The anger that had washed over her had prevented any more words from reaching Kane's ears.

Clenching her fists, she stepped forward stiffly, somewhat into the light of the moon and streetlamps than she just had been, letting the dim light illuminate her expression, her pale skin accented somewhat by the ice blue fire burning in her gaze. The light had made her face more visible than it had been previously for the first time since she had encountered the State Alchemist.

"Dont give me that load of shit like you think im too naïve to know what I'm talking about!" Kane shouted, sweeping her right arm from closer to her left hip, and upwards in a straight-armed arc out to the side. The sound her automail made this time was more audible, higher-pitched, and the sound alone made Kane's back crawl. The sound of rusted metal brushing against another sheet of rusted metal was one of those sounds that Kane could go about her day quite happily without. Her left fist remained clenched by her belt and she heard the snarl enter her voice again. "Dont assume Im too ignorant to believe that cruelty doesnt exists in this world!" she said, the shout continuing until she finished the last word.

Her gaze maintained its intent, burning fire as she clenched her teeth, adding some white in the light against her pale skin as her lips were curled in a snarl again. "Everybody has their story..." Kane said, re-stating what the State Alchemist had just said. "But it's an inherent behavior to trust people. Its just the world that drives it out of people, more often than not by pain from something or other. Its only up to the person who's had it driven out of them if they're willing to risk it again. Do not lecture me like I dont understand things." she finished on that, her limbs shaking slightly as her body trembled, the rusted bolts and screws of her wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles rattling somewhat.

Kane's tirade ended with enough time for Kane to shakily take an inhale to get her breath back. Wait..why the hell was the State Alchemist's hand clasped over her mouth as though she'd said something she could easily regret?

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