The Occupational Hazards of a Journalist
By - AhriRose
Summary: Olive Blake is a recently hired writer for the local paper, Central Today. By a stroke of luck she's given her first interview. She's still debating on whether that luck is good or bad, considering she's interviewing the recently convicted Crimson Alchemist.
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize does not belong to me.
Fullmetal Alchemist © Hiroshi Arakawa
Warning: This fanfiction contains OC's as well as some things that may be considered AU. Enter at your own risk.
Chapter One: Congratulations or Condolences
The newsroom was bustling with energy as people hurried from desk to desk, gossiping amongst each other. Several people gasped, while others wore looks of distinct fear as they shook their heads furiously.
Executive editor Winston Whitley paced about his office, his face wearing one of excitement as he began to gush to one of his editors, "Mathew this is going to be the story of the year! If we can get him to crack —get him to reveal some insider information— Central Today will wipe the floor with The Central Times!"
Mathew looked apprehensive as he gulped, "Sir… No one's going to be willing to interview him." Winston waved the young man off, his grin still in place, "We'll get someone to agree, make some half-assed promises."
"You don't even want to know how many strings I had to pull with Central Command to allow an interview with their most dangerous prisoner," Winston boasted, "Let alone the favors I had to use with Central Prison."
"And the Crimson Alchemist?" Mathew's face paled as the words left his mouth.
Winston snorted as his movement still, "Crazy bastard was more than willing to allow a reporter to interview him."
"Who-who are you ch-choosing?" The young man was visibly shaking, likely hoping he wouldn't be the reporter chosen for the job.
The older man began to allow his thumb to trace the dimple in his chin, pausing in thought as he surveyed the newsroom through the large window in his office. Mathew followed his gaze, twisting in his chair to eye each employee with a look of pity.
"Her," Winston's eyed a petite blonde slouched over her typewriter.
Mathew followed his gaze with a deadpan expression, "Her? You do remember that she officially started last week… right?"
"Why not?" The older man's lips upturned into a smirk, "She graduated top of her class, two years early, and she's got a the mental aptitude to deal with that psychopath."
The younger man rolled his eyes, the action going unnoticed by his superior, "It's because she's your niece isn't it?"
"Next best thing to me getting the interview," Winston sheepishly admitted while his hand rubbed the back of his neck. With a cough he straightened up, "Plus she can't quit." Mathew gave him an incredulous look.
Winston shrugged, "My sister didn't raise a quitter, she won't let Liv throw in the towel over a simple interview."
"Yeah," Mathew mumbled, "Just a simple interview with one of the most dangerous criminals in Central Prison." Winston sent him a withering glare, unimpressed with his vocal musings.
Around midday was when Olive Blake was called into her uncle's office, feeling equal parts anxious and elated. She had heard the murmuring around the newsroom, hardly anyone had gotten anything done today with the rumor floating around.
The Crimson Alchemist, Solf J. Kimblee, was to be interviewed by someone from Central Today newspaper. There would be several pages dedicated to the interview, depending on how much information the criminal decided to share.
No one was under the impression they could persuade him to give information. The consensus was that he would give the information he wanted; nothing more, nothing less.
When she heard the news she had suspected her uncle would pick her. Whether it was lucky or not she hadn't decided yet.
As it was, Winston Whitley was an arrogant man.
He boasted about his accomplishments to anyone in the vicinity of him, uncaring if they were listening or nodding off, something Olive was guilty of. He was incredibly proud of his newspaper, which he inherited from his father.
"You asked for me?" Olive sank into the chair moments after her gestured for her to sit.
Winston gave her a dazzling smile, "I'm sure you've already heard the splendid news! We received approval from the Fuhrer himself to conduct a series of exclusive interviews with the Crimson Alchemist, isn't it just grand?"
Olive gave her uncle a nod, an unconvincing smile appearing on her face.
"I've been using the pull I have at Central Command since he was apprehended, and calling in favors once he was sentenced! We're the only paper covering this. It'll be a complete exposé on his life and crimes in Ishval." Winston wore a grin so wide he looked as if his cheeks would split at any moment.
"And you called me in here because…?" She attempted nonchalant, but only succeeded in sounding bored.
Winston didn't seem to care either way, "I've chosen you to conduct the interviews! Now don't you worry— there'll be guards in the beginning, but I'm hoping if he behaves I can get them to give you two some alone time, maybe he'll reveal some secrets with a one-on-one session."
Olive gulped, her brow beginning to sweat at the knowledge, "One-on-one? Don't you think you should ask my mother? Or one of the other reporters, someone with more experience? This will be my first interview… surely you don't think I should be in charge of such a… delicate case."
"Effie?" He sneered at his sister's name, "She's gotten enough recognition through the years. I think she'd agree that it's time to pass the torch."
The young woman shrunk back into her seat, unsure of how she could possibly get out of this.
"Now don't be frightened," He noted her appearance, "All you'll have to do is ask a series of questions, I've already got them written out, but feel free to bounce off them and ask your own. I scheduled your first interview tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp, but you'll have to schedule the rest with the Crimson Alchemist himself —his own request."
Olive shivered at the mention of his name.
"Devote all your time on this, but take your time. Don't scare him off by shooting off questions," Olive felt her mouth twitch at the notion of her scaring such an infamous murderer.
"Make sure you dress nice. Wear something warm. My buddy Dave told me the cellblocks are kept pretty chilly."
"How long do you this will take?" Olive stealthily crossed her fingers behind her back, a hopeful expression crossing her face.
"The interview tomorrow? Roughly an hour, max visitor hours is one hour per visit, but don't feel obligated to stay the whole time if he isn't cooperating. To get what we want it'll take a few months at least."
Her face immediately fell at the information, her fingers uncrossing simultaneously.
"Now get out of here," He gleefully chided, "Rest up for tomorrow!"
Olive noted the relieved faces as she left her uncle's office. Not a single person had the decency to even look sympathetic as she grabbed her things and left the building.
Her stride was slowed, shoulders hunched, as she all but dragged her feet.
It was nearing noon when she finally made it home.
Home was a two-story house, with flowers meticulously blossoming in the garden just below the kitchen window. Five bedrooms and three and half bathrooms, much more space than needed for three adults.
Olive lived with her mother and uncle, who lived together out of necessity at one point. Now they lived together for convenience.
Effie Blake was a gorgeous woman who fit most of society's conventional beauty standards; tall, curvaceous, blonde, blue-eyed, with a flawless porcelain complexion. People always assumed she'd grow to be the wife of some high-ranking general or perhaps a faraway prince.
She had settled for a private in the Amestrian military, Reed Blake, who was called to the front lines at the very beginning of the war of Ishval. Unfortunately he passed soon after arriving.
People gossiped, thinking her composed outward appearance meant she was indifferent.
Truly she had been devastated by the loss of her husband, but she had to be strong for someone else; her daughter.
"You're home early," Effie spoke effortlessly from her spot on the couch, sipping her tea as she eyed her daughter.
Olive cringed, "Yeah… Uncle Win gave me the 'interview of the year' with—"
Effie gasped, placing her teacup on the coaster on the coffee table, "—the Crimson Alchemist?" She cut off Olive, standing as she continued to shout, "The bastard! Giving my daughter her first interview with an infamous criminal! I see what he's doing Liv, he's trying to outshine me!"
Her daughter instantly wilted, sighing as she attempted to tune out her mother's rant.
"I've been given several pieces to write, sure… how-to's and gossip columns, but this! This is something a true reporter would do, and to give it to an amateur!" Effie fumed, her fists trembling as she gritted her teeth.
"Well maybe he'll—"
Her mother cut her off again as she waved her hand, "—No! Absolutely not! I refuse to grovel at that pig's feet."
Olive sighed, "I wasn't suggest—"
"—No," Olive simply rolled her eyes at the interjection, "No you'll do the interview, and you will do fabulously! This is your shot to become a well-known reporter! To be a journalist just like your mother!"
She continued to rave about her accomplishments as a writer, but Olivia had begun to inch her way toward the staircase. She'd rather miss out on eating lunch, than be subjected to her mother's erratic ranting.
Later that evening Olivia found herself sitting in the middle of the long dining table, her mother and uncle sitting at either end.
"Make sure to maintain eye-contact," Effie encouraged.
Winston snorted, "Terrible advice! Keep your eyes fixed on the notepad, you don't want to forget to ask something important!"
"This isn't a single interview," Effie sneered, "If she looks uninterested he might decide this isn't worth his time!"
"Worth his time?" Winston chucked half-heartedly, "The man's in prison! He's got all the time in the world… well, before he's executed."
The exchange continued in a similar manor, leaving Olive to eat in silence. It was something she was accustomed too, and often led her to wonder why the siblings wanted to continue to live together.
Notes: Thanks for reading!