I arrive to the bar salon of Madame Christmas around 1:45 am. I like to be punctual no matter the situation. I hadn't had the chance to notice earlier, but the look (dress, shoes, stocks, etc.) I had created came out pretty nice considering everything that had happened.
I reach the bar to see large woman that I can only image is Madame Christmas. She is wearing black coat with white fur trim, a gold and pearl necklace. By the looks of her she must be in her fifties if not older. I sit behind the bar and wait for her to finish up with a customer on the other side.
"What it'll be hun?" she asks me. She is not really looking at me, but she is putting away some bottle of gin or some alcohol that she used to make the other man's drink.
"Uh, I'll have a pop." I say and I know I sound unsure of myself.
"Hmmm." she looks away from her task and scans me as if trying to decipher why I would go to a bar for some pop. She nods and proceeds to get it.
I look around the place. It's nice. Dimly lighted. Full of women. Oh, my god. Is this a brothel? She is a "Madame" after all. Why would Mustang want to meet here? Is he implying something? Does he know these women? Wow, that is not the type of man I would peg him for.
"Something wrong dearie?" Madame Christmas asks in her rough voice.
"No, I was jus-" I begin. She gets me my drink.
"You were just looking around and realized you weren't the only female here? That these other women are far more scantily clad? That your date would bring you to such a place seems...unclassy?"she prophesizes while lighting a cigarette.
I don't even know what to say.
"Don't worry about it hun. This place is the only dive open at this time. He means you no disrespect. Anyhow, I ain't been in the brothel business in ages. Don't worry you pretty little head about that." she says and puts my straw in my glass.
I proceed to slurp it down to avoid further conversation on the matter.
I feel ridiculous. Why would I come dress like this to see my superior? Doesn't this read a bit whore-ish? I wonder what my self conscious is telling me about Mustang. I should go to the bathroom and change.
I begin to get up; when I hear Madame Christmas yell "Oi! Roy!, it has been forever!"
The door shuts behind him. "Ah, I know Madame Christmas. I do apologize. Central has just been very busy to get use too." he says tiredly.
Roy? I am pretty sure that is Mustang. But, just to be sure-where is my mirror? I look into my purse to find it empty. I then figure I will create a mirror. A little hidden alchemy never hurt anyone, right? Poof. I have a mirror. I then proceed to pretend I am powdering my nose to see if it is indeed Mustang. I look and I see a tall dark haired man in a fine suit. However, when he turns around I can see his tie and shirt are disheveled. He looks tired too. Poor Mustang.
"Roy, you look tired. Your usual, then?" Madame Christmas offers and proceeds to make his drink without hearing his answer.
"No, I will have a water." he snaps.
She looks at him surprised and ask "Business or Pleasure?"
"Maybe both." he offers and I can only image he wearing is devilish charming smile.
"With you, it's never both." Madame Christmas corrects him and stares him down.
"Damn, it's already 2:15. Where is she? Women are always late." he says obviously annoyed.
The women in the corner, which I assumed were harlots, begin to laugh. One of them says "Well, if you are tired of waiting you could always spend some time with me?"
"Or me?" another giggles.
"Or all us?" another says in a deep voice.
I turn around surprised by the deep voice to find two ladies of the night and one...well.. lady-man of the night. I see that Mustang blushes, smiles, and waves his hands frantically back and forth saying "You are too kind, but no thank you. I could not imagine myself the lucky man to do that. You girls? Uh, you girls can do better."
"Leave him alone, girls and you too Ricky!" Madame Christmas shouts half laughing. "Go on, I am about to close tonight." she says waving them out with her hand.
They begin to leave, but Ricky stops in front of Mustang. He is dressed like a woman, and honestly doesn't look half bad. He says "Well baby, if you change your mind. Here's a number you can ring me at." Mustang stands in shock and manages a nod and a thank you. As soon as Ricky leaves, Mustang seems less stressed and throws the card in the nearby trash.
There is slight pause until all that can be heard is my loud slurping of the last of the pop. I realize they are both looking at me. Mustang, however, cannot see my face.
"I imagine you want me to leav-" I ask.
"No, no, you are fine. You aren't starting any trouble." Madame Christmas reassures me with a welcoming smile.
"Okay, then. Another, please" I say.
"No problem." she says. "So Roy, I heard that ruckus earlier this night. Was that Scar?" Madame Christmas continues.
"Uh, yea. He attacked a woman. We don't know you who she was. Two state alchemists attempted to rescue her, but it appears she ran off or Scar kidnapped her." Mustang reports and continues " He also escaped. I don't know what Central is going to do abou-"
SLAM.
The door opens and three drunk men come in. I know they are drunk, because I could hear them up the block singing and ranting.
They come in singing and ranting about their jobs, their families, and their women.
"Why can't they just be happy?" one attempts to say.
"I know, right? I settled. She should settle." another slurs.
"Madame Christmas a round for me boys, and another for this fine damsel." the last one states as he is checking me out.
Madame Christmas nods. I am sure they are hitting on me; what do I do? I should be going to sit next to Mustang, but I don't wish to embarrass him that I have been here waiting for him and overhearing his conversations.
"You are too kind. But I don't drink. However, I would be honored if Madame Christmas would have my drink." I say politely.
"Ah, this is my kind of girl." she says taking a shot.
"No! I offered it to you and you are gonna drink it." one says.
"No, I am not. If you would please excuse me." I say as I make my way towards the ladies room.
As I walk away, I can hear them getting worked up. I get in the ladies room and decide I need to change. Do I change my outfit? My look? Do I hide until they come back? Do I create a door here in the bathroom and come in through the front and greet Mustang?
Before I can decide what to do, one of the men has come into the bathroom. He stumbles a bit and with a glass in his hand, he yell "You red-dressed whore, you are gonna drink this drink if I have to force it don't your throat."
"I would like to see you try." I offer.
"Why you-" he starts. But, I have already decided that I am going hit him over the head and knock him out. I take one to the brick from the wall using alchemy and position it above his head. I can tell he hasn't noticed anything I have done, because he is so drunk.
I command in my mind for the brick to drop and it hits him over the head. He is knocked out cold.
I decide I am tired of men and their pride. I walk out of the restroom and go to the other two men (who seem shocked to see me) and I say "You should go pick up your friend off the ladies room floor." They scurry to get their friend. After I tell them I continue walking to Mustang's table who seems a bit confused and in awe of what is happening. I sit down at his table; he looks even more puzzled.
"Uh, do I know you Miss?" he asks while attempting to see my face in this dark bar salon.
"Of course, you do Roy." I say and snap my fingers to create a spark which turns to a small flame in my palm that illuminates my face and smile for a moment.
He gasps and rapidly says "Major Caria!"
I sigh. "Yes Colonel Mustang, and I have been waiting since 1:45. You are the one who is late." I say with a smile.
He looks at me for a moment and starts laughing.
I don't know why he is laughing.
Then I sense it. They are behind me and they are going to attack.
"Roy! Move down!" I yell.
He stops laughing and looks and then listens to me. He barely makes it below the table before the bottle smashes where his head was.
I turn to the men standing in my high heels and snap "That's your best throw?"
"You bitc-" one yells.
"Yeah? You make that sound like it's a bad thing?" I say smiling.
I see a flower vase with what appears to be a weed in it on the bar. I know I am being watched by Mustang, so I must make this look like alchemy...or is there even a point? I really hopes this works; I haven't had to use Nash's alchemy methods in a while.
I begin to focus on the weed. I communicate with it. I tell it to grow strong and long. The weed listens as I amplify its anatomy and structure with my energy. I focus my hand and purple static shoots out and the weed begins to be so large. It encircles the men and traps them. The men are screaming and yelling in fear. Madame Christmas is merely stoic and unmoved. Mustang mouth is open in awe.
The weed traps them and I gesture it to come closer, so I can address my attackers.
"If I so much as see that you three are drinking, disrespecting women, or attacking people; I will make it so you die encased by my alchemy." I hiss.
"Now go!" I order. The weed releases them and they stumble, but flee from the salon. The weed slowly retracts into its pot and its original size and I walk over and say "Thank you." I walk back to Mustang's table at which he seems to be struggling for words. I take his large glass of water and I give it to the weed. I touch it with my alchemy and a purple spark hits it. The weed turns into a large red rose with several leaves and no thorns.
"Madame Christmas, this is for you. Thank you for your kind words earlier. I know I can trust you. If you should ever need me for anything give a leaf a pulling and I will know." I say.
She stares at me somewhat in disbelief "Well, you could at least fix my place up since your crazy root creature scratched up the floors."
"No problems" I snap and a gust of wind emits from me and everything is put in its proper place and put anew.
"So, Roy- I mean Colonel Mustang- should we have this discussion?" I say in a cocky and yet worried tone.
He stares at me for a few minutes and simply asks "What are you?"
I look back at him, deep and long. "Do you really want to know?"