zu'u los sizaan | Glowfic Constellation

He guides her over to a chair, then steps out for a moment, though not in the direction they entered (she's left with two soldiers still, though). She can only sort of hear his half of the conversation, oddly enough, though it's muffled enough that without the building helping her eavesdrop she wouldn't be able to hear it at all. (The building can't really figure out where the other half of the conversation is).

"Major Miles, here. I need to speak to the General - "

"I'll hold."

"Yes sir. I've been questioning the chimera that appeared. She has shown no signs of hostility. Her explanation of how she got into the building undetected was incomplete - something about a 'portal.'" He repeats the word in her language. "She claims to understand but not speak Amestrian, and to be from somewhere called 'Shikoku' and speak a language also called 'Shikoku.'"

"No sir, I don't recognize the name."

"She also showed no signs of recognition for any names associated with our enemy. Either she's a very good liar, she's been isolated, she's from somewhere else entirely - we know that at least one other person had figured out human chimeras - or she has amnesia. I think we'll make more progress with her if someone who can figure out her speech is brought in."

"Yes sir."

And the conversation ends.

Surolam taps her fingers on the chair. While she's waiting, she decides to ask the building a few more questions, since it seems less hostile towards her now. "So what's the general like? How long do you think it'll take them to find a translator?"

She's horrible! She killed most of High Command, and killed one of Father's children, and her soldiers were the ones who took over the building and killed many of the mannequin soldiers (which the building was supposed to be guarding). She isn't the worst of the enemies of the state, but that's not saying much. (She hasn't been here long, so the building isn't sure about her actual personality.)

The building isn't sure when they'll be able to find a translator. A lot of their people are injured still, after all.

"Mannequin soldiers? You mean like...androids?" She pauses, not sure if that word is something the building can understand. "They look like humans, but they were created by someone?"

Well, the mannequin soldiers didn't look or feel much like humans. They were lesser homunculi, if that's what she means.

She frowns. She thinks that word is somewhat familiar...it refers to a sort of construct, doesn't it? And even if they didn't act human...her talons clench her clothes. She has stronger natural empathy for nonhumans and noncreatures than most typical people do, and she can recognize that, but still...

"And who is Father?"

The proper ruler of Amestris, who created the homunculi and ordered the construction of the building. Father even helped make the building with his alchemy, making it strong enough to withstand the march of time and the many wars.

So he's basically the father of this building as well, huh. She tilts her head, murmuring sympathetically for the building's loss.

The building thanks her.

The Major returns into the main room.

"It'll be a bit before we can get someone in to learn your language. In the mean time, why don't we find somewhere for you to stay until then?"

She nods, getting up. "Will it be far?" she asks, tapping out a short step and then a longer movement on the floor with her cane.

"Depends. Can you navigate stairs?"

She nods. "It would be most disadvantageous if I couldn't," she says, even though she knows he can't understand her.

He guides her then to the corner and down two flights of stairs. The room she's put in has a semi-comfortable chair, a desk with writing supplies, and no windows, though there's a light from the ceiling.

"Do you need anything while you wait?" the Major asks.

"Books?" she asks, miming opening and closing a book. She's really like a newspaper, but she's not sure how to mime it clearly. And she doesn't know how much they understand of her blindness, but she knows Braille books are more common than Braille newspapers.

"I'm not sure we have any books in Braille. ...How well can you see? Would you be able to read a normal book?"

Well, they know what Braille is, at least. She makes her way to the table and writes several large-print letters, holding up and pointing at it. Technically they're a bit smaller than the ones she can actually see and interpret, but as long as they understand she has some visual impairment, she shouldn't need to be too specific. "This size?"

"I'll see what I can find."

She nods and smiles, trying not to show too many teeth. "Thank you."

He steps outside the room and talks to one of the two soldiers he brought with him, who departs and returns in a bit with two books with slightly larger print than normal. The Major hands them to her, saying, "Are these readable?"

She opens them and makes a show of looking through them, then nods. "Thank you," she says again.

He seems to have figured out what that means, at least. "No problem. I have work to attend to, but these two will be right outside your door. Let them know if you need anything else."

She nods again, before heading to the desk and sitting down at the chair, moving around a bit until she's comfortable. What are the books about?

One is Basic Tenets of Alchemy, and the other is a historical romance set during the start of the Aerugo War.

Well, romance pings her personal likes quite strongly. So after a brief pause as she considers looking more into what this "alchemy" is, she decides to start with the romance book. Maybe it'll still give her some insight into what's gone on here.