Chapter 10
Our Tragedy
Disclaimer: The presidential debate is not patterned after any of the existing debates. I put my own spin to it ;) Also this chapter is pretty dialogue heavy but I think you shippers might enjoy this one...or not...lol.
The heat inside the auditorium was getting to be more intolerable.
Riza Hawkeye swallowed hard as she positioned herself on the right wing of the stage. From where she was standing, she could hear Amestris' Daily's representative, Lilian Harvey, getting spectators even more riled up for the much awaited event. "Welcome to this year's Presidential Debate!"
"Today, we invited two out of the six presidential candidates to help us understand what these hopeful individuals envision for Amestris..."
Lillian Harvey. The twenty-eight year old shook her head. "Couldn't they have picked a better host?" she whispered to her grandfather's political adviser.
In turn, General Ortenzi shut the 5-Year Infrastructure Plan of East City before moving his gaze toward the first granddaughter. "Yes, well..." he remarked uneasily. "Ms. Harvey is quite infamous for instigating the most controversial presidential debates; but, what can we do when the public likes controversial?"
When he saw that the candidate fell silent, Ortenzi decided to probe her even further. "Are you worried Ms. Hawkeye?"
Riza Hawkeye shook her head. "It isn't me who I'm worried about."
In curiosity, General Ortenzi follows her gaze to the left wing of the stage where a certain raven-haired Brigadier General can be seen conversing with his campaign manager.
When Brigadier General Mustang felt their eyes upon him, he immediately looked to the right wing of the stage where an old friend his stood; but by then, she had averted her gaze and was now talking to Fuhrer Grumman's advisors.
"Chief?" Breda impatiently waved a hand in front of the man's face.
"Hmm?" Roy absentmindedly asked, his eyes still pinned on his co-candidate.
"Do you want a copy of the rebuttal that Fury wrote for you or have you read through it enough?"
Brigadier General then shook his head before turning to Lieutenant Haysman Breda. "It's alright, lieutenant, Fury was able to brief me before we left camp."
Confused by his behaviour, Breda looked at his fellow officer, Jean Havoc who was busy watching over the right side of the wing as well. "So..." Jean Havoc cleared his throat before clapping a hand on his superior's shoulder. "Are sure about this?"
"The presidential debate? Yes, I'm sure."
Havoc cocks an eyebrow. "Okay, let me rephrase the question: are you sure about running against Hawkeye?"
The raven-haired officer heaved a sigh before smoothing the creases of his military jacket.
"Havoc, I wouldn't be standing here if I were unsure."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome presidential candidates former First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and Brigadier General Mustang to stand!" Lillian Harveyannounced.
With that, Brigadier General Mustang and Riza Hawkeye abandoned their respective posts and proceeded to enter the stage area.
Once they came into view, the audience of 300 started to cheer wildly while yelling out their preferred candidate.
Riza Hawkeye could feel the sweat build up on her forehead once she had reached her podium. After taking a step on the podium stand with the placard that read "Riza Hawkeye" on it, the first granddaughter watched her co-candidate settle into his podium.
He looks so calm. Riza thought, reminding herself that the man was probably used to such publicity by now.
Roy Mustang was hailed the "Hero of Ishval" by many and through the years, the man has accumulated more supporters than he could ever hope for - how could someone who is loved by all be afraid of a little publicity let alone a presidential debate?
Brigadier General Mustang, who was about three meters away from where she stood, acknowledged her with a light nod.
Back at the left wing stage, Jean Havoc and Haysman Breda continued to watch Lillian Harvey proceed to carry out her task of chatting up the presidential candidates.
"Okay before everything else, I would like to go over here -" The tall and lanky host grimaced as she comically took a big stride towards the first granddaughter's podium. " - to Ms. Hawkeye."
Though Riza was technically new in the field of politics, the crowd still gave her a round of applause.
"Because there is one question that I have been dying to ask her."
The audience laughs and the golden-haired candidate nervously smiled.
Lillian Harvey's emerald pools shifted from the audience to the candidate beside her, "Like most of the citizens here, I am curious as to why you are interested in running for the position."
Slowly, Hawkeye nods her head as she listened intently.
"Several tabloids say that you are running simply because your family wishes to stay in power. How would you respond to that?"
Riza leaned in to speak into her mic, "The truth is, Lillian, my grandfather didn't really want me to run. It was my own decision to do so."
This causes the people in the auditorium to break into whispers.
"So, what made you want to run, Ms. Hawkeye?"
Riza then stole a glance at her fellow candidate. "A friend of mine opened my eyes to the harsh realities of today's society - and that made me realize that the only way of reforming Amestris as a whole is by first and foremost starting with ourselves."
Lillian Harvey whose thumb was beneath her chin, nodded in agreement. "And just what types of reform do you have in mind?"
"Right now, I want to focus on the social aspects of Amestris. You see, Ms. Harvey, due to the rapid expanding urbanization here in our country, there are myriads of indigenous Amestrians being displaced. A lot of people lose their homes, their right to the land just to give way to government projects." The first granddaughter explained. "I hope to alleviate this problem by proposing housing projects."
The brunette then turned to co-candidate, Roy Mustang, for an answer. "What do you think of Ms. Hawkeye's proposal, General Mustang?"
The raven-haired alchemist tugs his mic closer to his lips. "I commend Ms. Hawkeye's efforts but, I don't think we should be focused on social institutions."
The crowd starts to jeer. "Boo!" they shouted in contempt.
"Selfish bastard!" A women yelled rather loudly.
Deliberately ignoring the hecklers, Roy Mustang continued to speak. "Rather, I would want to focus on economic institutions. The number one social issue we have right now is poverty in some rural areas - by improving our economy, doors will be opened for more job opportunities. Once the economy is stabilized, everything else will follow through."
"Well said -"
"With all due respect to you, General, just what aspect of the economy do you wish to improve on?" Riza cut off Lillian Harvey and instead, eyed her co-candidate . "Last year, you already opened East City's ports to foreign vessels to improve trade relations with other countries. This year, what do you hope to achieve? Do you hope to open more ports?" she raised her brow.
He cracked a sly smile. "Very funny, Ms. Hawkeye, but I was thinking that we could export Amestris' natural gas to other countries. And if that does not satisfy you, another strategy that I believe to be effective is the lowering tax rates in order to encourage foreign nationals to invest in us."
Fury sure does his research, Hawkeye eye's land on the single cue card that Mustang had in his hands.
Thank God for Fury. Mustang breathed in relief.
The host, who seemed rather detached from the conversation, tapped on her own mic before speaking, "As usual, General Mustang has made a good point - hold on - I see someone raising their hand in the audience -" she narrows her eyes as she points out to the someone seated on the third row. "You, in the blue shirt!"
The man in the blue shirt was then shortly approached by staff who handed him his own microphone.
Lillian Harvey, who was already getting bored of the 'debate', decided to spice things up by entertaining questions even if the Q&A was still on the latter part of the program. "Sir, I saw you raising your hand, what would you like to ask our candidates?"
The middle-aged man adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses as he spoke into the mic. "Well this question is really for General Mustang -"
Once the man saw the raven-haired General look at him, the man in blue continued. "I wanted to know your stance on political dynasties."
Riza Hawkeye lifts her head upon the mention of 'political dynasties'.
"You see your, co-candidate, Riza Hawkeye-" He pointed to the blonde. "- was born into a political dynasty and it has been said that she is greatly lacking in terms of her political prowess. What do you say to that? Is she even competent enough to run against you?"
The Brigadier General could not help but steal a glance at the first granddaughter who was now being berated by the audience who reacted even before he could even respond.
"She's incompetent!" A low voice shouted.
"That bitch doesn't know anything about politics!"
"GIVE THE THRONE TO MUSTANG!" Shouted another
Despite being booed and insulted on stage, the blonde still held her head high and even turned to face her opponent.
He clenched his fist. "What makes you think she's incompetent?"
The middle aged man was silent.
"You're implying that Riza is not worthy to be my opponent and I want to know why."
Jean Havoc, who was watching from the shadows, had been completely terrified by this. "He's going to start attacking the audience at this rate!"
"Because I don't think she is. You are here because you earned every rank you worked hard for through the years but she is here because of Grumman's political advisers and cronies. I believe this is evident in the huge gap between your current rank as Brigadier General and her former rank as first lieutenant. Just think, how is it that a soldier who only carried the rank of first lieutenant is able to run? - Simple. It's because she's Grumman's granddaughter."
"Okay, Mr -"
"Mr. Winters." He replied.
"Mr. Winters," Roy acknowledged. "I was actually able to work with Ms. Hawkeye back in Central command a while back and I would like to point out that she is one of the finest military strategists that I have ever met. Without her genius and skill, the coup de tat against the Bradley administration would have never happened. When you say that she is incompetent, I very much take it as an insult -"
"- because she used to be part of my team and I don't hire just anyone, Mr. Winters. I do thorough background checks and make sure they are the best in the academy. Political skills can be taught and learned but Riza's ability to sincerely empathize with the public is something that not every politician has. I know incompetence, sir and my opponent is not one of those things."
"He might as well give his vote to Hawkeye." Second Lieutenant Breda rolled his eyes.
Wordlessly, Mr. Winters hands the microphone to one the events staff who were just as speechless as he was.
"How about an intermission?" Lillian Harvey managed to break the uncomfortable silence in the auditorium.
"Here, chief." Breda handed his superior officer a chilled bottle of water.
Just as the raven-haired General twisted the plastic cap open, Jean Havoc waltzes in the dressing room with a very distressed look on his face. "Mind explaining what happened up there?"
Roy inhaled deeply. "Are we doing this right now?"
"I saw a perfectly good opportunity to invalidate your opponent but instead, you praised her."
The flame alchemist responded to this by downing his bottle of water.
"Look, I get that people have the wrong idea about Hawkeye but that doesn't mean you have to go around defending her because I'm pretty damn sure she can prove herself to them. She doesn't need your help." Second Lieutenant Havoc sighed at his commanding officer.
On his last gulp, Roy shifted his onyx pools to Havoc.
"The intention wasn't to help her. I was simply answering Mr. Winters' question and to be honest, I really do think she is a viable candidate."
"Yes but that is something she can prove herself." Breda replied sternly. "You, on the other hand, should be focused on building up your public image."
"My public image is fine, Breda." Roy argued as he slouched against the sofa.
Breda's immediate response was to drop a single newspaper on the man's lap. "With all due respect, you are being too cocky, sir."
Curious, Brigadier General Mustang picked up the material. "Today's paper?"
"I think you should look at page four, sir."
And when Roy had done so,
He frowned deeply enough to mar his own forehead, "We're third in the polls." he announced while his eyes remained glued to the page:
Amestris Daily Mock Elections Rankings:
1) Schroeder, Davidson - 1,567 votes
2) Hawkeye, Riza - 1, 348 votes
3) Mustang, Roy - 1,320 votes
-Nothing Follows-
When his eyes landed on the name "Schroeder, Davidson", the raven-haired alchemist turned to look
at his campaign manager, Haysman Breda.
"Schroeder is topping the polls."
The distressed alchemist massaged his temples. "This is bad."
If there had been a rockstar in politics, it would be - without a doubt - Davidson Schroeder.
"Even Hawkeye is ahead of you, chief." Havoc looked over his superior officer's shoulder.
"It's just a mock poll though. These numbers aren't final." Roy Mustang gritted his teeth. "We can still pull up the numbers."
"-Not if you continue to coddle me, you won't." A very aggravated Riza Hawkeye said.
The three men in the room gulped upon being graced by the presence of the first granddaughter - the person they least expected to be knocking at their door.
"I would like a word with Brigadier General Mustang." Her eyes were pinned on her co-candidate.
"Alone."
With that, Havoc and Breda took it as their cue to scurry out of the room.
"Look, if you're angry that I defended you in front of that ignoramus, then fine, so be it but I'm not apologizing for what I did."
In response to this, Hawkeye threw him an annoyed look. "You don't get it do you?"
Roy paused and turned to look at her. "Get what?" he asked, quite confused by the current situation he was in.
"I don't need you to look after me."
"He was being a prick!" He haughtily defended himself.
But his statement had evidently pushed her buttons even more. "Are you just going to lecture every naysayer I have on how they're wrong about me? You know, you can't do that especially when you're running against me!"
"He was disrespecting you."
"I literally have a group of anti-Hawkeyes rallying outside this auditorium. I don't suppose you would like to lecture them as well?" Riza rolled her eyes.
Roy considered this.
But those damn rallyists were such a pest too!
They vandalized every 'Riza Hawkeye' propaganda poster there was and even went so far as to knock on every door to convince people not to vote for the first granddaughter.
He watched his former aide take a seat on the couch beside him. "Roy," she called on him lightly.
The raven-haired General lifted his head altogether.
"I can fight my own battles so please don't do that again"
"I know." He says mumly, not knowing if she had heard him or not.
From his peripheral vision, he could see that the blonde had abandoned her seat beside him and was already headed towards the door.
When her fingertips touched the door knob, Riza heard a small chuckle coming from the Brigadier General.
"... I can't help it, Riza." Roy lets out a small laugh, causing the first granddaughter to stop at her tracks.
He rose from his seat.
"Because the fact is, I care about you too much."
At this point, the blonde had been praying that the conversation would not be prolonged.
"Roy, please."
Her back was still facing him but from the soft sound of his footsteps, she could tell he was drawing nearer and nearer.
"You were my partner for ten years, my former aide and my friend."
She tightened her grip on the doorknob.
He took another step forward. "These past few months had been hell, I know. And I'm sure a lot of things in your life had changed; but despite all that, do you know what remained constant?" He questioned her.
"My grandfather's persistence in finding a candidate?" She quipped, letting go of the knob in order to face him.
"Close." He laughed. "But no."
Roy watched as the first granddaughter turned her head away.
"Isn't it obvious, Riza?"
By now, The Brigadier General was standing exactly two feet from where she stood yet she refused to look at him in the eye.
Isn't it obvious.
Riza gulped.
May the Gods of Amestris help her indeed.
"It's always been you."
What was that supposed to mean?
The first granddaughter flicked her tongue against her cheek before focusing her gaze on her co-candidate. "I don't really understand where this conversation is headed." And to be honest, she desperately wanted to remove herself from her current predicament before things would escalate to the point it would complicate itself.
Come on, Riza.
Say something.
Quick.
She panicked, trying to look for a way out.
"Listen, I better get back." Hawkeye told him briefly before turning her back to him once again.
The frown on his face was evident at this point.
But if he couldn't say it now...
...when will he get the chance to say it again?
Her hand was already reaching for the doorknob when he remembered what Ed had told him a few weeks before:
"Just forget Grumman's shit and tell her how you feel!"
And in that split second, he opened his mouth.
...
There was no turning back now.
He clenched his fist.
And his eyes shut.
"I love you, Riza."
...
In pure shock, the first granddaughter stopped at her tracks. "What?"
...
"I love you." He repeated, hoping to get his feelings across.
"I always have. What I feel for you - it has always been constant, unchanging."
But his co-candidate did not face him even upon hearing his words.
She just stood, unmoving.
"...Why?"
His face fell.
Had it been a mistake?
"...Why now?" Riza Hawkeye bit her lower lip.
Roy found himself unable to respond to this.
Her eyes were brimming with tears when she faced him. "...Of all the times you could have told me..." she repeated, her voice cracking on the last note.
"Why now?"
And without hesitation whatsoever, he answered her.
"If not now, then when?" He returned the question, drawing near her.
Instinctively, she backed away but the cramped space would only allow her to back away an inch or two.
"We're standing on opposite extremes." Riza mumly told him.
Brigadier General Mustang responded to this by lifting his right hand to her cheek. "Yes, we are standing on opposite extremes." he agreed, wiping her tears away with a deft swipe of his thumb.
"But does it really matter?"
She pressed her lips together. "You know we can't be together."
"After everything we've been through, how could you say that...?"
He then felt her hand atop of his and slowly, she lowered his right hand back to his side.
"Because I'm afraid that will always be our tragedy."
He wanted so desperately to tell her she was wrong.
That they did have a chance together,
That everything will blow over,
That -
"I want the two candidates in position! We're going to be live in ten!" The executive producer's booming voice echoed throughout the hall way.
A few seconds later, Roy's posse had come rushing in with their arms laden with folders and whatnot,
"Roy, take your place on the stage!"
"More water?"
"Do you need to strategize on more points or?"
"Here's another bottled water."
Soon, his team was already crowding around him, briefing him on the show's next segment and how everything will go.
"The next segment will be more Q&A's, chief." Breda explained. "So you might want to dial down on being defensive and try to engage more in a friendly manner."
Havoc clapped a hand on Roy's shoulder "Yeah I agree, less aggression."
"Hey, bud, focus! Are you even listening to what I'm saying?"
"Jeez. He's spacing out already. Everyone! Take your places!"
...
Unfortunately, by the time his team dispersed, Riza had already left.
...
The timing could not have been more imperfect.
A/N:
Hello loyal readers of The First Granddaughter, 2016 elections are coming up here in The Philippines and I was inspired to write. It was fun delving into the world of politics even for a little bit ;) Okay, I'm kidding. I know nothing about politics so if ever anything was misrepresented here, I apologize.
...Also, this is my spin on the Presidential debates :D So please do not compare it with the presidential debates in your countries though it would be very interesting to hear!
Most of you are probably wondering when is RoyAi happening?
And maybe, this chapter may have even saddened you... :(
...
In due time, people!
More power to you guys! Break's almost here so hurray! I have more time to write (And do thesis)
Much love,
SakuraTeardrop
(Who is slowly losing her mind)