She was blonde, which was different from Dante's usual choices. But in the wake of that colonel's death, Hohenheim's son had taken an interest in the woman, and that was good enough for Dante.
Riza Hawkeye, it'd turned out, was harder to lure in than Rosè or Lyla or any of the girls before her. Dante knew immediately that this new woman was too paranoid, too cautious, and far too steadfastly loyal to Edward, and Edward, of course, was every bit as paranoid as his father.
Dante had to send Lust and Gluttony to physically retrieve the lieutenant. The drugs it took to keep her from fighting, to keep her from trying to escape, were much stronger than she was used to having to use.
No wonder Hohenheim's son had taken an interest in such a strong woman. That suited Dante just fine.
"Are you awake?" she purred as she slipped into the room, a tray of food in hand. Riza's eyes were glazed and hazy as she lifted her head to look at her. "You need to eat. You'll be no good to me if you get sick, you know."
The woman couldn't muster a stronger response than something that resembled a glare, too drugged to control her own body. Dante smiled, crouching in front of her. "You know, if you wouldn't fight so much, you wouldn't have to be tied up like this. Don't you realize what an honor this is for you?"
Her had drifted across the woman's face, tracing the shape of it. Yes, it was a lovely face. No wonder Edward had taken the woman in after her previous lover died. "I'll make sure you can be with him forever. Wouldn't that be lovely, dear?" There was a faint noise in response, probably an attempt at words, but nothing came of it besides that low groan.
Dante smiled. "Of course, there's always a price to pay. Equivalent exchange, my dear. Isn't that what you children live by?" She pressed her lips to Riza's, testing what her new body would taste like, how it would feel for Edward to kiss her. Riza's lips were chapped and dry, and Dante wasn't certain if that was only an effect of the drugs, or the way they normally would. That wouldn't do at all.
"Just a bit longer, my dear," she whispered, her own lips brushing against Riza's ear. "They will bring me the Stone, and this time, I will not fail. This time, I will stand by his side. The sins of the father, after all."
She straightened, leaving the food on the ground by Riza's chair. "Lust will be along to help you eat later."
Dante left with that, ignoring the pitiful sounds of sobbing behind her.
