A/N - Apologies for the extended absence.The usual excuses apply: Exams, homework, assessments, etc. Thanks forwaiting...
Snapshots, Sketches and Scribbles
The Negotiator
One thing that Riza had always admired and feared of her Colonel was his ability to manipulate words. His tongue was quicksilver: Chatting up women was second nature, and articulation with the superiors was his forte - countless times he had evaded demotion by smoothly justifying his actions. Exclude a word here, an insertion in the correct context; exploiting syntax with a smile was his favourite weapon beside his pyrotex gloves.
Riza imagined Roy could talk schools of fish out of the ocean, the Moon out of the sky. Hell, if he could convince an entire regiment of officers to willingly sacrifice their lives on his behalf at a single command, this man was capable of anything.
He was doing it again now: Talking a situation his way, bending the rules as well as the will that opposed him with a deft tongue and a voice that was so deep, soft and comfortable, that one could not help but surrender their trust to its owner.
Riza sighed, awed and somewhat annoyed as Roy won again.
As she returned to snuggle beneath the covers, pressing her back against the warmth of his bare chest, she warned him that she was only going to oblige him for another five minutes. His response was a victorious chuckle into her neck.
Roy wasn't too bothered by her threat: His skills in negotiation knew no bounds.